Lynn Lorenz packs emotion into gay romance novels

March 23, 8:56 AMHouston Romance Novels ExaminerTeri Thackston

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Houston area writer Lynn Lorenz writes erotic romances for Loose Id, Liquid Silver Books, and Amber Quill. She thinks her real life hasn’t been very interesting, but growing up in New Orleans automatically gives her cache in the cool childhood department.

You write highly emotional gay erotic romance. Please tell us how you came to write that sub-genre of romance.
You know, it was sort of a natural progression for me. I’d always had strong men in my books and writing them came easy for me. Frequently, there was more tension between the men than the man and woman. When I stumbled across a sci-fi short story that dabbled in a gay romance, I enjoyed it so much that ideas started popping up and I wrote them down. Then I had an opportunity to pitch one to Loose Id’s head editor and she liked it, requested the full, and they bought it. I’ve been writing gay romance ever since, with a sprig or two of straight romance thrown in for taste.

 Tell us about your latest published book.
How about my next book, coming out April 7th? It’s the third story in my series Common Powers, called Edward, Unconditionally. Common Powers is about everyday men who have just a touch of special power to them, whether it’s knowing their lovers’ deepest desires, seeing in the dark, or premonitions. Edward can heal with a touch and when he travels to Texas to heal his grandmother, he meets the characters from the first two books. He’s quite a character, complete with a Georgia drawl, and English bulldog named Winston, and a Western wardrobe to die for. I’m hoping my readers will fall in love with Edward and follow his heart-wrenching journey to understand his powers and to find his HEA.

How long have you been writing? Do you consider yourself a born storyteller?
My mother used to call me a raconteur…so I guess so. I’ve enjoyed writing and telling stories since high school, but only now have written for serious publication in the last three years. Once I got serious about getting published and deciding what I wanted to write, I set some goals and worked hard to reach them. Of course, I had little to do with being published, except write a story someone fell in love with, because it’s really a toss of the dice.

What books or writers have most influenced your life?
I have my favorites…To Kill a Mockingbird, for one, but I grew up reading Robert Benchley and James Thurber. Honestly, I think it hasn’t been books that influenced me most, but the people I’ve known in my life. Since high school, I’ve always had gay men in my life, as friends, acquaintances, dates and even lovers…so understanding them, seeing their struggles, their hurts and loves, has come easy for me and I try to reflect that in my writing.

Have you noticed any particular theme in your work—something that carries over from book to book?
Two major themes in my books are acceptance and rescue. They’re sort of universal issues. Doesn’t everyone want to be accepted for who they are? And wouldn’t we all like to be rescued or to rescue someone? There are probably others some could point out, but those I feel are the predominant themes.

Do you focus on one story at a time or do you juggle?
I’m a juggler. I usually work on two to three stories at one time. It keeps them all fresh in my mind. If I get an idea about one story I can pop open the file and write it down, then get back to work on the other one. And of course, there always seems to be edits. Frequently my pub dates are only a month or so apart, due to writing for multiple publishers.

In your book what came first—characters or plot?
Sometimes it’s a single scene. I’ll imagine a situation, and then say… “What if?” If I envision a certain character, I’ll ponder over what makes him/her tick and what would be his hot buttons, what’s he searching for. Frequently, I wake up with the major plot points laid out, just ready to write it all down and lately I’ve been using a plot matrix to help me keep it all straight, which is odd, because before I’d claim to be a pantster over a plotter. Now, I say I’m a pantster with plotter elements.

You have a busy work and family life. What do you like to do just for fun?
I’d love to tell you I do something exciting, like rock climb, but really, I’m way too lazy for that. I enjoy just being with friends and family, talking, laughing, and just hanging out. That’s definitely influenced from my New Orleans upbringing where every conversation includes where you ate yesterday, where you ate today and where you’re going to eat tomorrow.
I love writing, and there’s no better thrill than having a scene or a book come together. It’s a rush when you can sit back, read your finished novel and say, “Dang. That was a good read.”

Do you have any advice for other writers?
(I’m not going to say write every day, or keep writing, because everyone says that.)
Be serious about it. Make a plan – write down your goals – and stick to it. Don’t say, “I’ll be published in six months” (which you have little control over), but “I’ll finish two novels this year” (which is all you). Write down “I’ll pitch to four editors and agents”, “I’ll write the query letters for the stories.” “I’ll launch a website.” Things that will motivate you and work toward evolving your career as a writer, putting you on a path toward your future. So many people think all they have to do is write a great book, but it’s more than that. You have to actively pursue being published.

Do you have a message for your readers?
Just “Thanks.” To all the wonderful people who opened their hearts and minds and took a chance on an unknown when they bought their first Lynn Lorenz book, whether or not they liked it. I’ve been so blessed with wonderful reviews, good sales, and fans who love to give me feedback on how I’m doing and I relish each and every one of them. It’s so humbling.

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