Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
Open for Submissions
Exclusive Interview with
Laura Simmons
When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was in elementary school. I used to love writing stories and wanted to write I book when I grew up. I didn't write much when I entered my teen years and eventually stopped writing once I reached adulthood. However, that changed in late 2013 when I was inspired to write a reincarnation romance.
What makes writing your passion?
I love living my imaginative adventures through my characters.
How long have you been writing?
Since 2013.
What was the feeling when you published your first book?
A mixture of elation and terror. It is hard to describe.
What’s the story behind your choice of characters?
There isn't an actual story behind my characters. All I can say is that they come into my mind and tell me their stories.
What annoys you the most in pursuing a writing career?
I'm not exactly pursuing a career in writing. I enjoy writing stories and publishing them. I receive great satisfaction when people tell me they enjoy my stories and it inspires me to continue writing.
How do you get over the “writer’s block”?
I stop writing the particular section which is giving me writer's block and return to it later, after I have had time to think about it. Sometimes it takes weeks, other times a few days, and once in a while it takes several months.
We all know the writer’s path is never easy, what makes you keep going? What advice would you give to new authors?
Knowing that I have a small following of fans who like my writing keeps me going, along with the desire to leave no story unfinished. My advice for new authors would be to find a few beta readers who will give you honest feedback on your story. This will help you refine your story before publishing it. Everyone is different and will judge your story through their perspective, however, if their suggestions make sense in rewriting certain sections of your story, then I highly recommend taking their advice.
If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?
I'll skip.
Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with the bad ones?
Yes, I read all of my reviews. The bad ones always sting and cause me to have moments of doubting myself. However, sometimes they highlight things you can do better going forward. I have developed a thicker skin and bad reviews don't bother me as much as they did in the beginning. The majority of people who have left reviews for my stories have really liked them. Not everyone is going to like your work, some people will hate it, others will be neutral. It comes with the territory and I just read the bad reviews, take a deep breath, nurse my hurt feelings for a day or two, and keep moving forward. It also helps to go back and read all my good reviews for inspiration.
What is the feeling when you get a good review?
A good review makes me feel like dancing.
Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?
Yes.
Which of your characters you can compare yourself with? Did you base that character on you?
I'll skip.
What do you think, the book cover is as important as the story?
Absolutely.
Do you connect with your readers? Do you mind having a chat with them or you prefer to express yourself through your writing?
I love connecting with my readers and welcome anyone who wishes to chat with me about my work.
How do you feel when people appreciate your work or recognize you in public?
I feel wonderful when people appreciate my work. Since I'm not famous, no one recognizes me in public, and I'm okay with that.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
My favorite author changes over time as my taste in stories changes as I grow older. At the moment, my favorite author is Kathryn Le Veque. She writes medieval romance and I have read many of her stories. I don't write in that genre, but I love reading it.
What’s the dream? Whom would you like to be as big as?
The dream is for people to read my work, like it, and for me to sell lots of books so I can keep writing. Making some best seller lists would be awesome.
Would you rewrite any of your books? Why?
Yes. I would probably rewrite my first novel, Little Bits of Karma. I feel I have become a better writer since that book was published. I don't have any plans to do so yet, but if I were to rewrite one of my novels, that would be the one.
If you could switch places with any author – who would that be?
I'll skip.
What would you say to the “trolls” on the internet? We all know them – people who like to write awful reviews to books they’ve never read or didn’t like that much, just to annoy the author.
Fortunately, I haven't encountered any trolls yet.
What would you say to your readers?
I hope you enjoy my stories and if you don't, I understand.
Share a bit about yourself – where do you live, are you married, do you have kids?
I am happily married to a wonderful man. We have no kids, but we do have a sweet cat.
What is your day job if you have one?
I am an executive assistant.
What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
I love adult coloring books, reading, exercising, and watching TV.
Did you have a happy childhood?
Yes.
Is there a particular experience that made you start writing?
I'll skip.
Do you have unpublished books? What are they about?
Yes. I am close to publishing my fourth book. I expect to publish it in January 2021. It is the third book in my Karma Series and is a fantasy romance. It is tentatively titled, "Karma: The Resolution." I have changed the title multiple times and it is still subject to change.
What do you think should be improved in the education of our children? What do we lack?
I'll skip.
If you were allowed 3 wishes – what would they be?
1. Win the Lottery
2. Move to a lovely, mountain town
3. Remain in excellent health until my dying day.
What is your favorite music?
I like many different types of music, but my favorites are songs from the 1960's through early 1990's. I love the oldies.
Share a secret with us 🙂
I'll skip.