Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Interview with L.R. Wright


I'm excited to interview L.R. Wright, author of Basement Level 5: Never Scared, today for day two of the Blogger Book Fair. Welcome and thanks for being here, Leslie!

1.    Tell us about your latest book.

Basement Level 5: Never Scared is about a woman torn between her past and her future. 

Alexa Martinez is in danger and she must make some hard decisions to ensure her children's safety.

Blurb:  Alexa Martinez was raised to believe that murder, deceit, and lies were a part of life. A trained killer, she follows in her father’s footsteps, specializing in political assassinations for Martinez Security—contracted through the CIA. She thrives on the power, money, respect, and—most of all—the adrenaline rush.

Despite the danger associated with her profession, Alexa strives to give her children a normal life. But when her past catches up with her, they become pawns in a deadly game of revenge. Operating from a secret base, five levels below ground, Alexa struggles to unravel the puzzle, uncovering secrets that will alter their lives forever. Now she must make a choice—is she willing to die to give her children a life outside the bullet-proof glass?

2.    What genre or genres do you enjoy writing?

I write romantic Women's Fiction, romantic suspense, and contemporary romance

3.    When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?


When I was a little girl, I often made up elaborate stories with my Barbie Dolls.  Eventually, I decided I wanted to pen a soap opera.  I never thought I’d actually write a book.

4.    Do you write full-time or do you also have a “day job?” If so, what is it?

I work full-time as a Judicial Service Officer.  Basically, I write child support recommendations.  Can’t say much more, but I can definitely write 50+ books based on the things I’ve heard. Lol

5.    What do you enjoy most about writing?

I’ve always been a dreamer.  I love writing because it allows me to put my dreams on paper.  I enjoy taking a flawed character and making them root-worthy. 

6.    Anything you don’t enjoy or struggle with when it comes to your writing?

I guess my biggest struggle is time.  I am so busy with kid’s schedules, husband, work… I wish I had more hours in the day to write.  I try to write every day, but I may barely even get in one hour a day or writing. 
 
7.    What other passions or interests do you have besides writing?

I have an awesome family, so I LOVE hanging out with them.  I also enjoy planning events.  In fact, I plan several per year.  It’s kind of like a side-job for me. 

8.    Glass half-full or half-empty?

Half-empty.  What can I say, I tend to be more negative than positive.  BUT I’m working on it.

9.    What would you consider your dream vacation?

I’d love to go to St. Thomas.  I’ve never been to an island. 

10.    What’s your favorite place you’re ever visited?

Um…. I guess I could say Chicago.  I love the city, the shopping, and the food.

11.    Which of your characters would you say you are most like? Least like?

I’m most like Sydney (she’s the main character in my WIP, It’s Complicated).  Sydney is intelligent, but she’s all over the place (LOL).  Trying to do TOO much (that’s the story of my life).  And she’s WAY too dramatic (that’s me, but I’m working on it).

I’m least like (although I would love to be like her) Alexa.  She’s confident, brave, fearless, loyal.  While I’m loyal, I haven’t really mastered her other characteristics.  I’m a work-in-progress.

12.    What can you tell us about your next book?

It’s Complicated is the story of a woman torn between two brothers.  Sydney only put 3 things on her Run-Away-From-Suffocating-Boyfriend-List:  Career first, Avoid scandal, and Stay away from relationships that suck the life out of you. 

She’s enjoying her uneventful relationship with her new boyfriend, Caden, until one betrayal, two fifths of Patron, and three years of pent up lust threaten to destroy everything. 

She wakes up with a hangover and… Morgan, Caden’s brother.  Oops.  So much for avoiding scandal.

Excerpt from Basement Level 5: Never Scared:

Whoever was trying to kill her didn’t know her very well, or they’d have sent enough men to do the job...

As Alexa neared the street, a shadowy figure turned into the alley. She froze. The sun had already gone down, so she wasn’t sure if he’d noticed her. Cautiously, she slipped behind a trashcan and leaned against the wall of the store.

“Did you see her?” a male voice asked.

“No, I didn’t,” responded another man. “I checked the whole store. She’s nowhere in sight.”

“How did she slip past us?”

“I don’t know.”

She closed her eyes and wondered how she was going to get out of this. Grabbing an empty pop bottle, she pitched it behind her. Footsteps raced toward the sound. Once they were passed her, she bolted for the street as fast as she could go. It seemed too easy, but she went with it—until she ran right into a third man, who grabbed and hauled her off her feet. She struggled, kicking and punching him. Finally, he lost his grip and dropped her.

She immediately socked him in the balls. It stunned him, but not enough to disable him. He grabbed her hair as she slammed him in the knee with her good foot. His leg buckled, but his grip remained steady. She grabbed another stray bottle and bashed him in the face. Releasing her, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Another man advanced toward her and she kicked him in the chest. Yanking her knife from its hiding place, she thrust it into his neck. As a third man charged her, she pulled the knife out and plunged it into that man’s leg.

A groan pulled her attention back to the first man, who was struggling to his feet. She slapped him across the cheek with the butt of her gun. He slumped back to the ground. She leaned down and peered at his face. “Who the hell sent you?”

Basement Level 5: Never Scared can be found at:
Smashwords

Where to find Leslie:
















Facebook: Leslie Wright Author
Twitter:  @LWrightAuthor


Thanks again to Leslie for being here with me! Visit Leslie's blog for the interview she did with me. I am also visiting with Shah Wharton today as part of the fair so please visit me at her site here.

16 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Leslie! I bet you've seen it all at your day job. Proof that reality is stranger than fiction.

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  2. Now this book I can relate to. I read it last year and it's very good. Much success to you, Leslie. And good interview, Julie.

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  3. Thanks for having me, Julie! Great to be here!

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  4. @Alex - I've seen more drama at work than on television and in books. lol

    @Cathrina - Thanks so much!

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  5. Great interview! I always love learning more about authors and their books.

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  6. I absolutely love the title of this book! It just drags you straight in.

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  7. HUH! Well, I hope you ladies are proud of yourselves. I mean, really! As if this poor little ol' lady didn't already have enough books on her Kindle begging for attention, YOU two just made me add another one. How inconsiderate...

    Really, the blurb sold me. Sounds like a book I wanta read. (Dammit.)

    HA! Just kidding. I DID just buy the book, but I AM looking forward to reading it. (Not even mad, either... not even a little bit!)

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  8. Leslie and I could so be friends!
    I've never been to an island either.
    Penning a soap opera is something I would have attempted, too.
    I need an additional day each day.
    And I love the genre she writes!!!
    Congrats on the new book. Definitely going to add it to the TBR. But I need to read yours first, Julie. As soon as I buckle down and read, yours is next. Can't wait!

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  9. This sounds like an excellent read. So good of you to host this author.

    Judicial Service Author? Like Alex, I'd say you've seen a lot.

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  10. I used to write stories for my Barbies, too, lol. Congrats to Leslie :)

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  11. Congrats Leslie and an assassin mama is definitely an interesting story to tell. Nice interview.

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  12. Great interview! Looking forward to the book, not on my TBR list too!

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  13. Ooo! A really juicy plot, Leslie. I need to add this.

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  14. Great interview. I'm reading your book now Leslie, and it is amazing.

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  15. Great interview! I also used to make up stories with my Barbies, haha. I have a glass-is-half-empty viewpoint, too--never thought I'd see anyone else admit that!

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  16. Thanks everyone!

    @Susan Flett Swiderski, thanks for buying. Hope you enjoy!

    @Susan Oloier, we should definitely be friends.

    @mshatch and Heather Holden, Barbie Story Writers UNITE!

    @Susan Kane, if these walls could talk. ;)

    @Nana, Thanks!! Let me know what you think!

    And Thanks Sheena, Yolanda, and M Pax!

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