Welcome to FAR, Laura. Laura Rose is the author of Rescued a time-travel adventure full of steamy passion and discovery.

Thank you! It's great to be here.

Was Thomas Colwell inspired by any person, place, etc? Did he inspire Rescued?

Thomas is his own man. He first stepped out of the mist while I was listening to Loreena McKennitt, but he evolved as I did research on the time period. He's definitely classier than you'd expect a real highwayman to have been, but, then, he's fictitious (I think).

The idea of Elise planning her own abduction is tantalizing and unique. Did Elise suggest this or did the idea come first?

I'm not sure who suggested the idea. I learned it the same time Elise did - when Thomas told her. I truly love writing! I never know what's going to happen next.

Will there be a sequel to Thomas and Elise's story?

Probably not, but I never rule out anything. I'm working on a completely different Laura Rose project at the moment.

Did your time in Alaska prompt Rescued?

Although Alaska is a big part of me, I really based the story more on my memories of traveling through England and Scotland, and tried to imagine what it would have been like to be there in the eighteenth century. It isn't hard to do; the countryside of England just exudes history. I'm anxious to return.

Will there be further time-travel erotica from Laura Rose?

There could be - I do have an idea filed away. The next story, however, will more likely be a contemporary erotic romance. If I had a better memory and a background in history, time-travel would be easier to write!

Is there anything else you would like to share about your book?

Sure! I'll try not to give too much away, but I think Rescued is a fun read, full of emotion, sexual tension, and humor - the three most important elements for me. And Thomas is way beyond just sexy. I also worked to keep the historic elements as accurate as possible. As I said before, however, I'm not a true history buff. I hope people will enjoy reading the story as much as I did writing it.

Where did the pseudonym of Laura Rose come from? Was your preference for varied pseudonyms created to divide the diverse genres you write in? Does it help to keep the stories separate?

Laura Rose was a collaborative effort with my publisher. Laura is my sister's name, so I asked her for permission to use it, which she was gracious enough to grant. (I've tried to get her picture for my author photo, too - she got the looks in our generation!) My publisher came up with Rose and it just clicked. I do have pseudonyms for my different writing. I think it's important to let the readers know what they're getting, especially since my writing extends from cozy mysteries to erotica. I don't want to accidentally offend anyone. (Purposely offending people is a different matter…)

How open are you in your real life about the fact that you write erotic romance? Have you received any negative comments about it?

I try to keep the erotic romance separate from my work life. Many of my co-workers know I write romance and mysteries, and some know about the "other writing," but few know my erotica pseudonyms. My friends outside of work all know, however, as does most of my family. My mom is one of my initial readers.

I have received a few negative comments about writing erotica, although not many. Most of the comments have been from fellow writers, but my skin is thick. (After a few years in the writing business, you either end up with thick skin or you get out!) I believe everyone has a right to her opinion. I like reading well-written erotica, and I enjoy writing it. What can I say?

Did growing up in New Orleans motivate your writing? Or inspire your characters?

I'm sure it does both. New Orleans is a wonderful city, full of history, marvelous food, mystery, humor, scents, colors, and music. I try to work all those elements into my writing, which is easiest to do when writing about my hometown. My latest mystery, Death of a Dancer, is set in New Orleans, and I have an editor looking at a New Orleans-set contemporary romance. I find writing a wonderful way to enjoy the city without having to worry about the humidity and mosquitoes! And if New Orleans isn't an erotic city, then there isn't one in this country.

How has your job in the Forest Service influenced your stories and characters?

One thing the Forest Service has given me is a variety of settings for my novels; I've moved around the country quite a bit, and even traveled to Siberia with the government. I have books set in Colorado, Alaska, New Mexico, Texas, and Mississippi, as well as Louisiana and Georgia, where I lived before working for the feds. I also get a chance to visit places in the outdoors that many people don't see, and I try to include the sensory elements I've experienced there in my writing. I do have a mystery outlined that I plan to write one day in which the heroine is a Forest Service employee, but it's on a back burner at the moment.

Describe yourself in three words.

Fun-loving compulsive storyteller.

Is there any music that inspires the different genres?

Music always inspires me. I love to listen to Celtic music when I work - it's both soothing and moving. But I also listen to rock, classical, country, blues, and Cajun, depending on my mood. Music is wonderful for sparking memories, and it rejuvenates my soul. I mentioned Loreena McKennitt before. I also have a whole book inspired by Matchbox 20, and another written while listening mostly to Big Head Todd and the Monsters. When I work on my romance and mystery series that are set in 1920s Louisiana, I often find myself playing some of the older Cajun music, like that of the Hackberry Ramblers, or a little Dixieland jazz, just to get into the right place.

Do you have a specific routine before you write? Do you write in one area only or everywhere?

I mostly write in front of my PC in my "work room." I do keep notebooks everywhere, though, because you never know when a character will whisper something, and I have a terrible memory. I don't have an actual routine other than getting home from work, changing into comfortable clothes, and getting to it. I write whenever I get a chance, including every evening, holiday, and weekend day. I also have to slip in reading my e-mail, working on promotion, and submitting manuscripts to editors, of course - the business stuff. But that's usually fun, too. I just love doing this, so I don't have a problem getting motivated. My biggest problem is making myself stop!

If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

I don't know what it would be like to actually work with another author. I've participated in anthologies, and that was fun, but it was long-distance and fairly anonymous. I'd love to sit down and talk to a lot of different authors, just to get inspired by them. That's one of the benefits of belonging to writers' organizations - my local RWA chapter is great! And whenever I can, I attend writers' conferences. I was fortunate enough to sit and listen to Tony Hillerman talk last year at a conference. What an inspiring writer he is!

Who/What inspired you to write?

Like many people, I'm sure, I've always loved to read and wanted to write, but I didn't take that desire seriously until about 10 years ago. Believe it or not, I was inspired by a television show, Forever Knight. I got hooked up with a fan-fiction group on the Internet, writing episodes that would never air. What a blast! The funny part was that we had at least one professional New York editor in the group. She edited my "episode" - that was a learning experience! After a year or two of writing fanfic, the group I wrote with encouraged me to try my hand at writing a romance novel. I did, and it was terrible, but I stumbled across a very kind editor in a small publishing house who called me up and spent 30 minutes talking to me, telling me that I showed promise and then explaining why she wouldn't buy my book. I'll always be grateful to her for that. I lucked out and had my second attempt published.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jeez, my favorite author is usually the one I just finished reading, but if you're going to nail me down, I guess I do have a running list. A few at the top are Barbara Samuel (as Ruth Wind, she wrote the first "modern" romance I read that got me started on this path), James Lee Burke (he writes Louisiana better than anyone I've found yet), Ellis Peters (Wow! I wish she were still with us), Sandra Brown, Dick Francis, Mark Twain, Agatha Christie, John Straley, Amanda Quick, Jane Austen, Jorge Luis Borges… this could go on and on; maybe I better stop.

Who is the greatest romantic figure in history?

Yow, that's a tough one. If you're talking fictitious, I have to vote for Mr. Rochester, or maybe Rhett Butler. In real life, however, I think the question is much harder to answer. Ruling out the classical definition of "romantic figure," like the cowboy or the explorer, I think we have to look at the bigger picture. I see romance in everyday events-sacrificing something you want for the person you love, surprising your loved one with flowers, dancing in the living room-times have changed but the sentiment never does. I'm sure many people over the course of human existence have made sacrifices for loved ones that the rest of us will never know about. That's romance! Personally, I think my husband is one of the most romantic figures in history, but I realize others may not share that view. In fact, I hope they don't!

Is there a way other than your website for fans to keep updated?

Yes. I have a newsletter, and I give away a free, signed copy of each book to one of the newsletter members. To subscribe, send a message to: SarahStormeNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Do you believe writing is a gift you are born with or can it be taught?

I don't believe many people are born as great writers, but I think some are born (or maybe raised) as storytellers. If the desire to tell stories burns within you, you can learn to write them down in a way that will engage the reader. If you're not a storyteller, however, I doubt you'll ever become a great writer, no matter how skillful you are. For one thing, you won't enjoy it. Who wants to sacrifice for something they don't enjoy?

When you first began writing, what was the most difficult part?

I think the toughest part was overcoming the fear of sharing my writing with others. It didn't take long to get past that, though, once I took a deep breath and handed my manuscript to a few people. And then the most difficult part became finding out how the industry works. I'm still learning that one with daily lessons!

What final advice would you offer to writers who are seeking publication?

If you aren't willing to work at this like you've never worked at anything, don't even start. If you are willing, find a writer's group to join. The best group for sharing information and supporting its members that I've found is the Romance Writers of America, but there are many others. And most important of all: don't give up. You wouldn't believe how many people I've met who have written one book!

Finally, any last thoughts.

I want to thank Fallen Angel Reviews for all the support, and for working so hard to give writers a chance to connect with readers. You all are fantastic! And thank you, Dena, for the wonderful questions! I've enjoyed the interview.

And one of my characters in a book coming out next year (Alaskan Heart from Echelon Press) gave me a great piece of advice to share: "If you ain't havin' fun, you're just wastin' space!" Words to live by!

Thank you Laura for taking the time to answer my questions and give us a glimpse into your life and world. For more information about Laura Rose and her book, visit her website at http://www.sarahstorme.com/LauraRose.htm.

Interviewed by: Dena