eBook Reading and Writing

Lena Austin, a Realms of Love author, has contributed Pride to the Deadly Sins series at Changeling Press.

Lena has an erotic excerpt of the book at her site.

Lena is a respected author and scholar of the romantic fiction genre. Her work is widely published in electronic book form. Lucynda Storey recently interviewed Lena about a wide range of subjects. Read the Lena Austin interview below.    LS: What has been the greatest obstacle you’ve had to overcome in regards to your writing?LA: It takes courage for me to sit down and put what may be a silly idea to paper. I’m never sure my weird ideas will work. Like all authors, I’m a bit neurotic.

: It takes courage for me to sit down and put what may be a silly idea to paper. I’m never sure my weird ideas will work. Like all authors, I’m a bit neurotic.LS: How do you make your writing time productive?LA: I insist on a Power Hour. I close my door, unplug the phone, and post a sign on my door that says, “If you knock, I’d better hear sirens.” Then I flip on some instrumental mood music to drown outside noises, shut off the Internet, and pound keyboard. Often when the timer goes off, I’m too into the story to quit! LOL!

: I insist on a Power Hour. I close my door, unplug the phone, and post a sign on my door that says, “If you knock, I’d better hear sirens.” Then I flip on some instrumental mood music to drown outside noises, shut off the Internet, and pound keyboard. Often when the timer goes off, I’m too into the story to quit! LOL!LS: Where do you blog?LA: I used to blog on Live Journal, but now I’ve moved to Yahoo 360. Since it’s linked to my Yahoo Photos and email, I can be more responsive there. http://360.yahoo.com/voiceomt2002

: I used to blog on Live Journal, but now I’ve moved to Yahoo 360. Since it’s linked to my Yahoo Photos and email, I can be more responsive there. http://360.yahoo.com/voiceomt2002LS: What advice would you give writers for the feeding and care of your muse?LA: I call my Muse “The Hag” for a reason. She’s a hungry, insistent old witch. She will interupt a current work in progress if I let her, so if she’s determined, I’ll stop long enough to make notes and shut her up. Then I can go back to what I was doing. The Hag is secure in the knowledge the idea was preserved, and she’ll let me get back to work. Because of her, there’s a binder full of ideas and notes. There’s no escaping The Hag.

: I call my Muse “The Hag” for a reason. She’s a hungry, insistent old witch. She will interupt a current work in progress if I let her, so if she’s determined, I’ll stop long enough to make notes and shut her up. Then I can go back to what I was doing. The Hag is secure in the knowledge the idea was preserved, and she’ll let me get back to work. Because of her, there’s a binder full of ideas and notes. There’s no escaping The Hag.LS: What is the greatest life lesson you’ve learned so far?LA: “You don’t ask for it, you don’t get it.” If you can’t articulate your goals to the persons who can help you, they can’t understand your needs. Humans are hardwired to want to help others unless it’s been beat out of them. State your needs in small measured doses to the right people and you’ll get the help you need. You still have to work for it, but as long as they see you’re trying, someone will reach out a hand.

: “You don’t ask for it, you don’t get it.” If you can’t articulate your goals to the persons who can help you, they can’t understand your needs. Humans are hardwired to want to help others unless it’s been beat out of them. State your needs in small measured doses to the right people and you’ll get the help you need. You still have to work for it, but as long as they see you’re trying, someone will reach out a hand.LS: You are very prolific. How many short stories and novellas do you have? How many full-length works?LA: Oh, cripes. The answer depends on what you consider full length. Over 40k, I have six titles I can think of immediately. Under 40k, I have twelved. That’s in addition to one print book released, and one contracted.

: Oh, cripes. The answer depends on what you consider full length. Over 40k, I have six titles I can think of immediately. Under 40k, I have twelved. That’s in addition to one print book released, and one contracted.LS: Please tell my readers a little about your most current release, Sex World 2: Guardian.LA: I always wanted to play with the cliches of fiction. Two stood out in my mind as the most ridiculous of concepts, both from science fiction: “Human women kidnapped for breeders by an alien race” and “human races bent on pure logic.” What if they did exist?

: I always wanted to play with the cliches of fiction. Two stood out in my mind as the most ridiculous of concepts, both from science fiction: “Human women kidnapped for breeders by an alien race” and “human races bent on pure logic.” What if they did exist?Pardon the pun, but logically there would be difficulties putting this into reality. I just had to show the flaws.

My fun-loving sex engineers, who make a “business doing pleasure with you” were the perfect vehicles to show the illogic of both premises.

LS: What do you have planned for the remainder of the year?LA: A release in July from Changeling, a sequel to Dragon’s Egg, a Halloween story just for laughs, a holiday short, and if I get time, I’ll start on Sex World 3. (Pant, pant) I’m tired just looking at this list. LOL!

: A release in July from Changeling, a sequel to Dragon’s Egg, a Halloween story just for laughs, a holiday short, and if I get time, I’ll start on Sex World 3. (Pant, pant) I’m tired just looking at this list. LOL!LS: What was your impression of the Romantic Times Convention? What did you learn there?LA: RT was one of the best conventions I’ve ever attended for sheer fun and networking. Good pair of shoes you can dance in, a watch with an easily read face, a rolling tote, and your cell phone are priceless commodities. You will be caught with your pants down (litterally), your hair in rats, and other embarrassments. It’s up to you to not heap more on yourself than what Murphy thinks is funny.

: RT was one of the best conventions I’ve ever attended for sheer fun and networking. Good pair of shoes you can dance in, a watch with an easily read face, a rolling tote, and your cell phone are priceless commodities. You will be caught with your pants down (litterally), your hair in rats, and other embarrassments. It’s up to you to not heap more on yourself than what Murphy thinks is funny.