Today I am speaking with Rene Lyons.

Good Morning Rene, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to Fallen Angel Reviews today.

Rene, I love your website, the grayish color seems to pull the reader in like a magnet.

Thank you! I designed it myself.

Why don’t you tell us about your recent release?

Midnight Sun is the story of Sebastian of Rydon and Allie Parker. Sebastian is a damned Templar Knight and Allie is the town misfit. Together, with four other damned Knights, they search for a Druid relic and get caught in a web of revenge.

What is in store for Rene for the future and do you have works in progress as we speak?

Well, I have four more Templar Vampire novels in the works, one of which comes out next month. These chronicle damned Templar Knights who are traveling down a road of redemption. I’m also working on the Seraphim, which is a tale of fallen angels.

How many hours a day do you spend writing?

Since I juggle my writing around my toddler, I’ve found a wonderful balance of working two to three hours in the morning and two to three hours at night after I put her to bed. For right now, that’s the best I can do without sacrificing one or the other. But believe me, there are days when I’m either fighting my daughter to finish a scene or I’m fighting the muse for time with my family.

Do you have a character that is especially close to your heart?

Lucian of Penwick. I simply adore him. He started out as one sort of man in Midnight Sun, but once I got to his book, Tempting Darkness, he surprised me by transforming into so much more. He’s amazing and I can’t wait for his story to come out. I just hope readers love him as much as I do.

What is the best advice that anyone ever gave you?

Follow your heart and believe in yourself. That, and have fun with the writing. If you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing, no one else will.

What are some of your hobbies besides writing?

Reading! I’m a major movie buff and definitely consider that a hobby. Lol

I have found that some authors listen to music while they compose. Is music your solace while writing or do you have another comfort as you write?

I have play-lists for each character. I write to mostly rock (CandleBox, Godsmack). If I had to pick a theme song for the Templar Vampire series it would have to be The Price by Twisted Sister.

I've been seeing a number of discussions on the Yahoo groups about Happily-Ever-After. Do you feel that HEA is necessary to a romance novel?

Absolutely. Personally, that’s why I both read and write romance. I want to see that resolution of conflict and the acceptance of love. I need that HEA to feel the book was complete.

If you could go back in time, where would you go and when? What is one thing you would want to take with you?

I’d go back to 1070 (or so) England, which is during the time of William the Conqueror. He’s a huge hero of mine and I’ve studied him most of my life. I still get a kick out of the fact that he was a very tall man and his wife was only four feet ten inches short…same as me! What would I bring? Without a doubt, toothpaste!

Was there any one person or event in your life that finally inspired you to sit down and write your first book?

Yes. The death of my brother a little over a year is what inspired me to write for publication and not just for myself. Through his death I’ve learned that we just don’t have forever to sit on a dream. His death made me realize that if I continued to procrastinate in pursuing publication, fate might take the chance away from me. So, I sat down, and with my brother sitting on my shoulder, wrote Midnight Sun.

Do you have a favorite movie that you could watch over and over again?

I have too many! Braveheart. Gladiator. Underworld. Blade: Trinity. For laughs, EuroTrip and Bad Santa.

Could you tell us your biggest pet peeves?

Snotty people. Bad drivers run a close second, but I have to say, snotty people make my blood boil.

Rene, do you have a website other than www.renelyons.net that you would like to share, a blog or my space, perhaps.

Sure! I have a two blogs, a MySpace page, a Google Group, which I use solely for my monthly newsletter, and I just started a Yahoo Group.
http://renelyons.blogspot.com/
http://sistersgrimm.blogspot.com/
www.myspace.com/renelyons1
http://groups.google.com/group/renelyons
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/renelyonsauthor/

Do you have any indulgent behaviors one might find surprising? What’s your favorite comfort food?

Indulgent? Not really. Being a mom I’ve pretty much given up any indulgences. Strawberry ice-cream and Starburst candy are my biggest downfalls. I could live off a diet of only those two foods…if you can even call them food! lol

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

I’d love to thank the readers who helped to make the debut of Midnight Sun so much fun. It’s pretty scary to have your first book find its way into the world, but so far, I’ve received huge support from readers and wonderful reviews…Fallen Angel Reviews even named it a Recommended Read! It’s all been a dream come true and I’m blessed to have such great people to share it all with.

Rene, thank you for spending time with us today, and I wish you success in your writing. Keep those great books coming.

I can’t tell you what an honor it is to be interviewed by Fallen Angel Reviews. Thank you so much, Linda! It was such a pleasure to talk with you.

Interviewed by: Linda L