Good afternoon Ms. Romaine. Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed.


I would like to start by asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself. What made you choose to write?

I've always written nonfiction but I mentioned to some friends I have always had stories I make up living in my head since I've been about five. They suggested I start writing them down and so I did.

Are you working as well as writing, or are you able to write as your full time job?

I work about 30 hours a week at various at-home jobs including selling books and CD's on line, doing medical transcription, and various other information brokerage jobs. I write every day and when I'm very engaged, I write for 2-3 hours a day. I wrote my 1st book in less than four months, fairly effortlessly - yet I was only writing about 2-3 hours a day. Some times it gets more difficult though, like many writers, and when stuck in a block, I sit down for 15 minutes a day and often only write a paragraph.

How long have you been writing?

I started writing fiction about 3 years ago. I have my 1st book out, my 2nd due out next year and I'm finishing my 3rd right now with a 4th and 5th in mind.

How do you write? Computer or pen and paper?

Computer - I've also tried voice recognition software which is using my voice to dictate into my computer.

Do you have a special secret ritual you do before writing, like candles or music?

Sometimes I meditate - 10-15 minutes - and I often use music to fit the mood - I've been listening to a lot of Neil Young lately.

How did you find out that your book was accepted, a call or a letter...email?

I emailed three queries for 1st book and received a request back the next morning for my entire manuscript which surprised me.

How did you feel? What celebrating did you do?

I was amazed! Could not believe it could be so easy and quick.

Can you please tell us a bit about your release, Leave No Trace?

Leave No Trace is romantic suspense with an ecoterrorism theme about a Department of Natural Resources officer who goes undercover to find ecoterrorists who are hacking into the web site. She traces them to Missouri and uses her aunt as an excuse to visit the area. When her uncle is murdered, she is accused of the murder and undercover, she runs but to track down the ecoterrorists and to escape being arrested for murder. She gets involved in a brief affair with the local sheriff before she goes on the run. Then the story is about the relationshp between her, the sheriff and her search for the aunt who has disappeared and the murderer of her uncle.

What made you choose eco-terrorism as the main issue in your books?

I live in a town where there is a fairly active ecoterrorism group - ELF - environmental liberation front - and I read an article about one of their ecoterrorist activities - tree spiking - I started thinking about using that as a background for a novel.

Could you tell us about any other books you have in the works?

My 2nd book, Blind Spot, is also romantic suspense with an ecoterrorism theme - this time urban ecoterrorism where a group is intent up on blowing up SUV's in a Detroit auto factory. My heroine is a feminist book store owner who has a one night stand with a bomb squad cop, gets prgnant and has a baby he doesn't know about. When the little girl is three, she is stalked and the bomb squad cop comes to the rescue to protect the daughter he didn't know he had. The entire plot resolves around the ecoterrorist threat against the bomb squad cop and how it relates to his Blind Spot, his daughter.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer these questions. If anyone is interested in learning more about Ms. Romaine, check out her website at http://www.lynnromaine.com. If you would like to purchase her book, Leave no Trace, you can buy it at: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook29464.htm.


Interviewed by: Serena