Thursday, October 20, 2016

having coffee with Jennifer Lassalle Edwards

This afternoon we are going to have a chat with Jennifer Lassalle Edwards about her new book SURRENDER OF LUELLA
WELCOME TO THE BLOG JENNIFER



  
Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m just a girl from Louisiana who now resides in Colorado with a husband and a furry menagerie. While attending college, I majored in Biological Sciences, Civil Engineering, English Literature and Respiratory Therapy/Cardiopulmonary Science. Heck, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. Probably because I refuse to ever become a stagnant adult. I believe in living life to the absolute fullest.
In pursuit of an abundant life of adventure, I have spent time as a burlesque performer, a roller derby referee, a bartender in the French Quarter, writing for a music site in New Orleans, and currently am an amateur fitness competitor. I have a penchant for all things that sparkle, and on a completely different note, am a self-professed food whore. However, one interest has never faltered through the years, daydreaming and penning those warped thoughts to paper.

 Tell us about your new book . I read it and I must say wow it was great.
Thank you! I have to say “The Surrender of Luella: Perchance to Dream Book One” all came about because I love to read different inspirational quotes in the morning while I’m having coffee. Quotes about creating your own happiness, you are in charge of your happiness, kept popping up. I began thinking about a girl who was very alone, insecure, perhaps with issues that all of us may suffer from, but personified. I asked myself what if her happiness was through her dream world, her daydreams and books that she read? Then, what if a chance happenstance made her dreams possibly come to life. I wanted Luella to be relatable to women as well. I think at some point or another, we’ve all felt as though we were an outcast or didn’t belong. Then, of course, kink, lol. But I wanted to delve deeper than just the kink, but the psyche of relationships, trust, and communication.
 
 
 
As a romance writer, how do you keep your stories fresh and not cookie cutter like most romance stories have become?
My thought process and the way I approach life has always been outside of the box. I try to think of situations and stories that I haven’t seen often. Many times, ideas come to me during the process of something I am involved in. For example, I had not seen many ‘gym rat’ romances, with bodybuilders, or that lifestyle. Ripped & Twisted came to me as I was prepping for my last competition. Hours in the gym a day around all of these people living the lifestyle sparked the story. Maybe it’s also because I am adventurous and try so many different things, that I can find settings and characters that other people don’t quite have familiarity with yet. And I like to sprinkle real life philosophies or advice into my stories too.
 
 Do you have any rituals when it comes to writing?
Only that I always sit on my sofa with my laptop on a pillow on my lap, and usually music playing.
As a writer who has written BDSM, did you find that FSOG  helped or hindered the industry?
Well, I feel two ways about it. I do believe it helped break the taboo of BDSM and kink in general. Do I feel it was a well written story? Not really, but hey, who am I to talk, she’s a selling machine! And I can’t deny that I read all three along with everyone else.
 
Other then writing what do you like to do if and when you have free time?
I cook, garden, and the gym and fitness have been integral in my life for sure.

 Who was your greatest influence and got you to pick up the pen and write?
Honestly, I’ve written since I could string sentences together. My mom has boxes of stories I wrote on loose leaf. However, I will say that while I was beta reading and proofreading for Al Daltrey’s first book, he was kind enough to read a few things I was working on. He was the one who encouraged me to put out my first novel. He was and still is a great mentor for me.
 
 
 
What is your favourite book or books you like to read? The ones that you go back to over and over?

Brahm Stoker’s Dracula

Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club
Steven King’s The Shining
NOW FOR SOME RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS

COFFEE OR TEA - Coffee
 REALITY TV OR SITUATION COMEDIES – Oh hard, lately reality
 MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL - Morning
 YOGA PANTS OR HIGH HEELS – Yoga Pants, though I have boxes of high heels that I buy and never wear!
 

 What words of wisdom would you give a up and coming writer?

Don’t do this thinking you’re going to make tons of money. Sure there are some that do, but I would say that’s perhaps 2% to maybe 5% of indie authors who hit it big. Do it because you have to tell your stories.
    Please, get a good editor or proofreader. There is nothing more distracting than a poorly written book.
 

FINALLY

Where can we get in contact with you.
My Facebook author’s page: https://www.facebook.com/JLEAuthor/
And a few other places to stalk me:


Amazon:

Goodreads:

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