History and mystery. . . an interview with Laurie Alice Eakes

May 10, 12:46 PMBaltimore Book & Blog ExaminerRobin Bayne

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Award winning author Laurie Alice Eakes has always been interested in books and writing, and her career is taking off. Her first hardcover novel was published in 2006 by Avalon books, and her novella. "Better Than Gold," is part of the "Wild Prairie Roses" anthology which will be released in WalMart stores this coming week. 

Laurie Alice recently answered a few questions for the Examiner:

1) Tell us about your latest or upcoming release. What inspired you to write it?

My latest release, Better than Gold was inspired from a mention in a book of western legends about missing government gold. What if many people were trying to find it... Thus the series was born. My next book was inspired by pure research into New Jersey history. I read a passage about glassworks starting in the eighteenth century, did a little work on glassmaking to get some background, found out it was a big industry in Scotland, so put a Scot in New Jersey and built from there.

Most of my ideas come from reading history books.

2) What is your typical writing day like?

I get up early. Six hours are usually enough sleep for me at a time, so I'm up early and spend two-three hours having my devotions then working. Then I make breakfast and take care of household things, errands, etc. I often take a little nap after lunch and get back to work again for a few hours. I focus more on word counts met than actual time spent, but I like to write six hours a day.

3) Among your books, who are your favorite hero and heroine?

Of course I love them all and for different reasons. Lily in Better than Gold, is a female I think many can relate to, her fear of loneliness and being alone and desire for that greener grass. But I love Colin in The Glassblower because he's... Well, appealing. Audrey in When the Snow Flies is special because she's so strong under terrible circumstances. I'd like to be that strong.

4) Tell us more about your hobbies.

 Hobbies? I need to get a new one. It used to bet writing. That's changed drastically in the past few months. So now I have to find something besides watching old movies and Foyle's War to be hobbies. Knitting maybe. I'm not very good at it, but I dislike sitting still, so it gives me something to do with my hands when I read or watch those movies.

Reading may be a hobby. I love recorded books because I can read while I'm doing housework or cooking. I read all genres pretty much.

And I love to be out in the country. This city girl doesn't get to walk in the country nearly enough, but I'd like doing it to be a hobby.

5) Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?

Write and submit. I just gave this advice to an aspiring to be published novelist recently. Don't write, send out, and wait for the good news. Write to completion, send out, and start writing something new. I got the advice to keep three submission s in the pipeline at all times. It makes rejection much easier to take.

And don't fixate on one time period. That time period may not be selling. If you want to write historicals, figure out what time periods and locations your targeted publishers are selling and write to that market. The publishers know what people buy. Exceptions occur, and it's easier to get published if you're writing to a known audience.

6) What are your favorite writing or reading groups (online or off)?

I have several, so don't want anyone to feel bad if left out, but I have to say that two unofficial offshoots of American Christian Fiction Writers are the best—19th Century Writers and His Writers, who are historical writers interested in European-set Christian fiction. We have a web site: http://historicalchristianfiction.com/

7) Which genres do you enjoy reading for pleasure?

As I mentioned above, I read all genres. My favorites are mysteries, romantic suspense, and historical fiction.

8) Anything else you would like to add --upcoming releases, local

Appearances?

Better than Gold was just re-released in paperback to be sold at Walmart in a compilation with the other two books in the series by Lena Dooley and Lisa Harris. It's called Wild Prairie Roses.

And my good news is that I just signed the contract for the second book in the New Jersey Historical Series for Heartsong Presents (Barbour Publishing) and have sold a four-book series to Avalon Books.

Visit Laurie Alice's blog here.