Lyn and I met in a thread on Amazon’s Meet Our Authors forum. I read her book Rescuing Lara (the first in her Romancing the Guardians series), and I highly recommend it. It’s not her only series. Six Cats in my Kitchen is another of her books that I have and Texas Devlins, the earlier series and will read all these soon unless my “to be read” stack falls over on me and kills me or something. I read a lot. I appreciate good, well told stories and I love to share books I’ve enjoyed. It makes me very happy to recommend a book or a series to a friend and have them tell me later how much they enjoyed it. 

Lyn was gracious enough to do an author interview for me to post here for you to read. So, with a link to Lyn Horner’s Amazon page… I’ll start this interview.

Hello Lyn Horner and thank you for being with us. Tell us about your most recent release.

Thank you so much for inviting me to visit your site, lalouziane! I’m delighted to be here.

RESCUING LARA, Romancing the Guardians Book One, was released on Dec.22, 2014. Set first in County Kerry Ireland and later in Texas, it features Irish folklore, a heroine sworn to guard an ancient relic, vicious enemies intent on stealing her secret treasure, and an ex-Special Forces hero who rides a Harley and vows to protect the injured heroine.

SWOON Checklist Ireland – check  

Ex-Special Forces hero who rides a Harley – check

Heroine sworn to guard an ancient relic – check

Texas hero who vows to protect heroine – check

That sort of did it for me folks. That’s why I got the book. 🙂

Can you tell us a little more about it Lyn?

This book is the first in a series of eight projected to form a hybrid type of serial – with NO Cliff Hangers. Each book will conclude with the promise of an HEA that leads into the next book. In book eight, the forces of good and evil will face off in an epic battle for the future of mankind.

Oh, a series. Love it! The battle of good versus evil. Love it! I enjoyed the story of Rescuing Lara. It had everything, sexy alpha hero, strong heroine who needs a little help, but is determined to go the right thing. Great settings for the story to happen in. Outstanding supporting cast. Suspense and thrills and some grievances that need to be resolved. It just doesn’t get much better than that. I can’t wait for the next one! 

Do you write in more than one genre?

Yes I do. My award winning Texas Devlins series is western historical romance with paranormal overtones. Romancing the Guardians, my new series, is contemporary romantic suspense, also with flashes of paranormal, as in extra-sensory powers of the mind. In addition, I have published a photo-illustrated memoir, SIX CATS IN MY KITCHEN.

Ohhhh cowboys. Yeah, I like them too. I cannot wait to read all the rest of your books. And I have cats too. 

Do you prefer being an independent author or one who is with a publishing company?

I am an indie (independently published) author. Going indie was not an easy decision, but I don’t regret it. No one tells me what I can and can’t write. If I want to combine different sub genres of romance, I’m free to do so. And readers seem to enjoy my cross genre stories, i.e. this comment about my new book, RESCUING LARA, by an Amazon TOP 500 reviewer: “. . . the plot is brilliantly set up as it slides across genres and takes on its own life!”

Such comments make me glad I went the indie route.

That is a great comment the reviewer made. Congratulations.

Do you admire your own work?

LOL Of course! If I didn’t, I would not publish anything.

I love that answer.

Are you jealous of other writers?

Hmm, if I want to be perceived as nice, I should say no, but the truth is I am often jealous of other authors’ marketing skills. That is my weak point. It’s taken me a long time to pick up what little I know about promoting my work and there are several avenues I have yet to explore. Oh, and I am extremely jealous of authors who write fast! I’m a slowpoke.

Ah… honesty. I have to say I feel the same. Marketing is tough and I’m a slowpoke too.

 

Describe your writing process. When and where do you write? 

I am a plotter. When plotting a new book, I shut myself away in a quiet room and let my imagination take flight, beginning with a story board and post-it notes. Once the general plot is worked out, I break it up into chapters on my computer with a few brief plot points in each. Then I start writing chapter one. Since I’m a linear writer, I usually write the chapters in order, although I’m occasionally inspired to jump ahead and write a particularly exciting scene.

As for when and where I write, I open my laptop computer minutes after I wake up in the morning. Most days it stays on all day and into the night. Part of my day is taken up with answering email messages, posting on Facebook and twitter, and working on articles and interviews like this one. My favorite places to work are in my recliner or hidden in the bedroom with cats around me on the bed.

Great answers. Love that you write with your cats around you.

 

Do you listen to music while you write? If so what kind and why. 

Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. It depends on my mood and the type of scene I happen to be working on. I love Native American flute and Celtic music. Both have such a mysterious, haunting sound to them.

Those sound like great music choices, I like Native American and Celtic music also.

 

What compels you to write?

I’m one of those people who have to be doing something creative. If I’m not, I become horribly depressed. Although trained as a visual artist, I’ve always enjoyed writing. It became my major interest when my children were small. Writing a book is like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle. I’m addicted to it!

It sounds like writing suits you very well.

 

How many books have you written, and which one is your absolute favorite?

I’ve written and published six books plus a boxed set: TEXAS DEVLINS 4 BOOK BUNDLE. Oh, and a short Christmas story that will form the opening chapter in book three of my Romancing the Guardians series. The short story is title CHRISTMAS COOKIES FOR TRISTAN in case you or your readers want to check it out.

Another of my (very) short stories, a western titled The Lawman’s Lady, is included in RAWHIDE ‘N ROSES, a Western Romance Anthology featuring fifteen best-selling and award-winning authors.

My favorite book of the moment is always the one I’m currently writing. If I must choose an all-time favorite, it’s DARLIN’ IRISH, Texas Devlins Book Two. It took me decades to research and complete that book in its final form, with rejection letters and near misses along the way. It’s the first book I published and will always be my baby. WHITE WITCH, Texas Devlins Book One, is a prequel novella published later.

You have written a lot of stories for people to enjoy. I’ve read the novella and it inspired me to get the rest of that series. You’ve accomplished a lot and published some great books for us to read.

 

Do you write under a pen name?

Yes, Lyn Horner is not my “real” name. I chose to write under a pen name for the sake of my family’s privacy, especially my daughter’s. If you read my memoir, SIX CATS IN MY KITCHEN, you will understand why.

That just sounds smart to me. (I use a pen name too)

What are books for?

That’s a thought provoking question. First, books are for teaching. We learn about everyday life, human relationships, history and visions of the future by reading. For me personally, books provide adventure and escape into other times and places that fascinate me. Being a romance writer and reader, there is also the lure of great love stories.

I agree. I love romance stories.

What’s the loveliest thing you have ever seen?

A photo of my three-year-old son sitting in a rocking chair, holding his baby sister, kissing her forehead. It was taken the day we brought her home from the hospital.

It sounds lovely and very cute.

What else do you have coming out?

DECODING MICHAELA, Romancing the Guardians Book Two, will be released in June, 2015. Life and time permitting.

That sounds great to me, because I sure do want to find out what happens next in this wonderful series Lyn Horner is writing for us to enjoy. 

And now, Lyn Horner’s bio:

Lyn Horner resides in Fort Worth, Texas – “Where the West Begins” – with her husband and several very spoiled cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor before she took up writing. This hobby grew into a love of research and the crafting of passionate love stories based on that research.

Lyn’s Texas Devlins series blends authentic Old West settings, steamy romance and a glimmer of the mysterious. This series has earned Lyn several awards and nominations from the Paranormal Romance Guild, BigAl’s Books and Pals, and InD’Tale Magazine.

Besides reading and writing, Lyn enjoys gardening, hanging out with family and friends, and cuddling her furry, four-legged children.

Purchase Links

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1sSwh8y

Barnes & Noble Nook: http://bit.ly/13QMQey

Social Links

http://lynhorner.com

https://twitter.com/LynHornerAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/lyn.horner.1