INTERVIEW WITH LORI J. GORDON

Today I’m pleased to offer insight into the imaginative mind of a Rebel Ink Press author---Lori J. Gordon. Join me for a peek into her writing life and her novel: Black Night, from The Lost Night Trilogy series. She has good news for her fans--she just signed a contract with Rebel Ink Press for Book Two in the series: Castle of Doom. Her other works include: Jenny Hits the Jackpot and Victim of Circumstances. I asked Lori the following questions:

How long have you been writing?

6 years.

Why did you choose the genres you write?

It’s what I always read.

How do you come up with your titles?

They usually don’t come until I’m halfway through. I have a hard time coming up with something and even after I finished Black Night I had no title. I just try things over in my head until it pops then I have to ask all my friends and family if it’s okay.

Do you work off an outline or just wing it?

I totally wing it and it often results in someone dying or something totally unexpected.

How many drafts do you write before you submit to a publisher?

One. But I have gone over and over it. I usually review the previous chapters before starting the next. I can’t just write to the end without editing along the way.

How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

Not enough! Seriously there are days I’m just too tired from my day job to concentrate. I try to get at least 1 hour in before work but with my crazy schedule it doesn’t always happen. I do a lot on my days off.

What is your writing goal – how many books of yours would you like to see published?

As many as I can write.

Are any of your novels in print format as well as ebook format?

I am only e-book. I would love to see my work in paperback but I am realistic and know I’ve probably hit the scene too late.

What did you find was the hardest or most difficult part in your path to becoming an author?

Finding a publisher.

Tell me a little about your novel and how it came to be.

Black Night, came to life when my best friend’s son told me I had an amazing way of telling a story and I should use this talent to write him something to edit for his English class. Being a huge Star Wars fan I decided to set my YA Romantic Adventure in Outer Space. He liked it so much I let others read it and they all wanted to know what happened next so I spun it into The Lost Night Trilogy.

Blurb:

Sienna James must face the harsh realities that exist outside her sheltered world when she falls in love with the grandson of a rival planet’s evil ruler. Attempting to break off the doomed relationship, Sienna is kidnapped and forced into a marriage designed to destroy her father’s empire.
          Johnny Black risks his life in order to rescue his unrequited love, Sienna. In order to escape, the duo must work together on a harrowing journey to the other side of their captive world. Sienna admits that for her, Johnny's always been the one. But when until a dark secret from his past is revealed, putting the couples love to the ultimate test, Sienna must decide if she can ever trust Johnny again.

Excerpt:

Over the next several months I found a number of excuses to visit Ryder where I hung out with bad-boy Marc. Because most of our conversations centered on me, Marc knew my weakness for coffee and we spent a lot of time hanging at the local coffee houses. Soon I found myself becoming much too comfortable with the guy I knew very little about. Deciding it was time to learn some of his secrets, I asked, “So, what’s the story between you and Johnny.”

Marc’s eyes went dark. “What’d he tell you?”

I flinched at his apparent anger. “Nothing. That’s the problem, he won’t tell me anything.”

“Good.” The hardness in his eyes frightened me. “Let me ask you something?”

I swallowed hard. “Umm…sure.”

“What’s up with you and Johnny?”

“Me?”

Marc drew his eyebrows in. “The two of you looked rather friendly the first time you came here. It makes me wonder why you keep coming back to see me.”

Once the shock of his words wore off, I realized the implications and I was furious. “You think I’m spying on you…for Johnny?”

“Aren’t you?” he challenged.

That didn’t sit well. “Look,” I raised my voice. “I don’t know what the two of you are hiding and frankly I don’t care. I…”

A wave of his hand stopped me. “Oh, you care, or you wouldn’t be so pissed at my question.”

“As I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted, I don’t care what secrets you and Johnny have. Johnny’s my best friend. We grew up together. He’s never treated me with anything but respect. He’d never ask me to spy for him.”

Marc snorted. “I guess he knows better than to use you…thanks to the reputation of your father.”

“Oooh,” I growled. “How’d I ever fall in love with a jerk like you?”

Marc’s eyebrows shot up. “What? What’d you just say?”

My cheeks burned as I wished for the ground to open up and swallow me. This wasn’t the way I’d envisioned telling Marc I’d fallen in love with him. But I’d said it and now he knew it. And while I just stood there, turning red with embarrassment, the hardness in his eyes was replaced by a gentleness that astounded me.

He took a step closer. My mouth dried up and a chill ran through my entire body when he pulled me against him.

“I love you, too,” he whispered before giving me my first kiss. A kiss better than anything I’d ever dreamt of.

Lori Gordon lives in Northern California with her husband and their Jack Russell Terrier, Skittles. When she’s not writing or reading, Lori works as a Retail Supervisor.

            Black Night is her third published e-book from Rebel Ink Press. All are available on Amazon and All Romance E-Books.

            Visit Lori at www.ljgordon.com or http://www.ljgordon.wordpress.com

 Thank you, Lori, for sharing your story with us and I wish you much success with your novels!