Emma Lai-His Capture, Her Rescue

Tell the readers about yourself.

I am an author by profession with ten stories--ranging from short to novella length--available and another three stories under contract. My tag line is “Writing is my life. Life is my hobby.” In other words, I live to write, and I love writing romances because of the happy endings. :)

As an author, do you take time off to read? If so, what do you like to read and who is/are your favorite authors?

I do take time off to read, though I don’t read as often as I used to. I read everything from romance to fantasy to science fiction to history to science. My latest thing has been sci-fi romance and my favorite author is Sandra Sookoo, though she also writes a wide range of stories and I’m a fan of her historical romance as well. I’m always on the lookout for new authors though, so feel free to offer suggestions.

How do you stay motivated when the Muse is uncooperative?

If I have a deadline to meet, I just push on through. Most of my stories are in my head before I ever set fingers to keyboard. If I’m in the mood to write and the Muse isn’t cooperating, I sort through my numerous wips and play with those that interest me. If all else fails, I pop in a movie.

If you could go anywhere on a romantic getaway, what would you do and where would you go?

I’m currently in the mood for a Caribbean vacation where I wouldn’t have to do anything more strenuous than walk on the beach. This is probably why I had fun writing Island Exploration for Sybarite Seduction’s Hooked Up Over Spring Break, which incidentally also features Sandra Sookoo and is on sale at All Romance eBooks.

Blurb for Island Exploration:

Hoping for a little r & r—research and relaxation, of the sexual kind—Professor Josh Harper booked a bungalow at an adult resort only to find adult meant couples. Lucky for him, a marine biologist grad student stops by and offers her assistance.

What is the hardest thing for you to write?

I have a hard time writing sad emotions, so it would be difficult for me to write a story featuring say a widow because of the back story. While I have no problem killing off bad guys, I just have a hard time killing off innocent bystanders, even ones that never really existed anywhere but in my head.  

The tag line on my blog is ‘Indulge Your Inner Romantic.’ What do you do to indulge?

I have all kinds of vices depending on my mood, though coffee is almost a daily indulgence. 

I’m celebrating the release of His Capture, Her Rescue on Wednesday. It’s the third story in the Mates of the Guardians series. While sweet, it’s packed with action. 

Masquerading as an American, Eallair, a Guardian Steward from another world, is searching Victorian England for the kidnapped mate of a fellow Guardian. When he meets Miss Harriet Cartwright, he knows her for the spirited, intelligent mate he has longed to find.

Since the death of their parents, Harriet has used her intelligence and sharp tongue to guard her sister from fortune hunters, but now that Prudence is close to choosing a husband, Harriet can consider her own future--one hopefully filled with adventure. When she meets Eallair, an American rancher who likes to travel and isn't put off by her outspokenness, she is intrigued.

But before Harriet and Eallair can explore their attraction, she and her sister are kidnapped. While Eallair scours the countryside for them, Harriet discovers Eallair's off-world origins. Now she must decide: just how much adventure does she want in her future? 

Website: http://www.emmalaiwrites.com

Blog: http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorEmmaLai

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/emmalaiwrites

I’ll be giving away a copy of His Capture, Her Rescue to a commenter from today and at the end of the month will draw the winner of a $10 gift card to All Romance eBooks from all the people who have left comments on my Fool for Love blog spots at http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com as well as those who visit me at any of my guest spots for His Capture, Her Rescue release (see my blog for the full list of places I’m at.)

Editor Emma Lai On Writing Shorts

I'm very pleased to have Emma Lai here today. I have been blessed with some extraordinary critique partners and now I can see why. So here is an editor giving you an inside look into writing short stories and when you get a chance check out the submission guidelines for both her presses. Take it away Emma.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is only days away. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it’s a challenge to writers to complete a 50,000 word novel in a month. The goal is to get writers to write and not worry about mistakes or edits. (For more information visit http://www.nanowrimo.org/)

Neither Twenty or Less Press (http://www.twentyorlesspress.com) or Sybarite Seductions (http://www.sybariteseductions.com) publishes stories above 20,000 words, so why would I, as an editor for the presses, be interested in novel writing? Because like NaNoWriMo, short stories are a way to get writers to write, to explore different facets of the craft. And because there’s no reason those stories can’t be polished for publication.

But, you say, I’ve never written a short story. 

Sure you have. Anytime you write a scene, you’re writing a short story. Think about it. Scenes have a beginning, middle and end. The key is to find that critical point in your story idea and write that scene and whatever supporting scenes and information are needed to maximize the impact.

Consider the following premise: two friends having a falling out and go their separate ways. They meet again years later. What happens? 

Keep it simple. What was the reason for the disagreement? What’s the simplest, most fun, sexiest, most dramatic, etc. thing you can think of to bring them back together, or even send them spinning off their separate ways forever? 

Congratulations, you just outlined a short. 

And just because it’s short doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve the same editing attention as a novel. It’s my job as an editor to ensure delivery of the best quality stories, regardless of length. I’m demanding. I’m exacting. I will read and reread stories; make comments; ask questions; suggest verbs, phrasing and words; and question the thoughts behind actions, but I will also answer questions, listen to concerns, and above all, I will respect the author’s creative decisions. 

So, if you’re up to the challenge of writing shorts for me, submit your story or story idea to Twenty or Less Press (fiction, including sci-fi, fantasy, children’s, and women’s) at submissions@twentyorlesspress.com or Sybarite Seductions (erotica) at submissions@sybariteseductions.com.

In the meantime, what questions about writing shorts do you have?