Guest Interview - Fran Lee

Today I get to welcome one of my favorite Friends - Fran Lee. I had the honor of meeting her in person last year at RomantiCon and she's just one of the sweetest women you'll ever meet. Oh and she writes fantastic books too. :o)



How did you start your writing career?
I wrote for many years, but never really did much about getting my books published until after I retired from my career with the government. I had subbed one many years earlier, and was told it was “too hot” for the publisher to handle. 20 years later, it was “not hot enough”. LOL! Had to heat it up a bit. I resubbed the revised manuscript in 2008, was contracted…and my first book Out of Her Dreams (http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7256-out-of-her-dreams.aspx) was released in 2009.

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.
I think my favorite character out of all of them is Lee Blackhorse from Nothing But Sex http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8365-nothing-but-sex.aspx
She is so much like me it’s scary. But then, why not write yourself into your character? LOL! Timid because of a very bad marriage, she eschews men totally until the right younger man knocks down her carefully constructed defenses. Humor and hot sex…and a gorgeous hero to die for. I loved writing her…

Tell us about your current release.
My most recent release is a compilation of two of my novellas, titled Hard Work, Hot Boss http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9509-hard-work-hot-boss.aspx , a print release that I like to call The Working Girls Collection. It includes Jillian’s Job http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7850-jillians-job.aspx and Woman on Fire http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8602-woman-on-fire.aspx. I was signing copies for readers at Romanticon a couple of weeks back. That’s always a huge rush!

Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?
Actually, I always wanted to be a writer. It just sort of came with the territory when I was born, I guess. I was jotting stories onto college ruled paper for many years before they invented the computer. LOL! Tells you how old I am, right?
When was your first sale? November 2008. I was contracted by Ellora’s Cave for Out of Her Dreams.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?
Well, mostly it’s just getting myself to sit down and start writing. Been pretty lazy over the past year. Got into a writing funk and sat around like a lump. Sigh. The hardest part is simply starting. Once I have that done, it sort of rips right along.

What does your family think of your writing career?
They think it’s great! Of course, a couple of them refuse to read my books because they blush when they realize that hot, sexy book was written by…gasp…MOM! But those who read them are always asking me for more.

Who are your books published with?
Ellora’s Cave Publishing http://www.jasminejade.com/m-554-fran-lee.aspx has 10 of my books, and Resplendence Publishing http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/145.html has three (all three are now in print as well).

What do you think makes a good story?
A deliciously believable love story with wonderfully real characters…humor…heat…and of course, a happy ever after. And the relationship MUST be realistic and loving. Even in “Romantica” there must be a plausible and gripping story…not just hot sex tossed onto every page to keep the pages turning. Romantica is erotic, sensuous romance…not erotica.

What books have most influenced your life?
War and Peace…Ben Hur….Anastasia….Seven Pillars of Wisdom…The Sheik…Jane Eyre…Pride and Prejudice…ummm…I could go on forever, so I’ll stop here.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist. Unfortunately that took more work than I was willing to put out. LOL! All I wanted to draw was horses…horses…horses. I always had a marvelous imagination though, so when I realized being an artist was out, I dreamed of being an author. Or a movie star. Obviously I never made it into movies.

What is your favorite meal?
Food!

What do you do to unwind and relax?
I watch movies and read.

What hobbies do you actively pursue?
Younger men. Um….scratch that. I have no hobbies. No life. I write. No time for hobbies now.

What would we find under your bed?
OMG! You DON’T want to go there…I haven’t looked under there in years! When the cats go under there, they probably feast on spiders and big mice. At least I always know there are no monsters under there.

Tell us about your favorite fan letter you have received.
A wonderful letter from a woman who told me she had re-read every one of my books at least five times and is eagerly awaiting the next one (Uncertainly Yours) that is currently in edits with Ellora’s Cave. I actually cried, it was so sweet.