Today I am speaking with Shelly Laurenston. Good morning, Shelly, it is very good to have you join us today.

Shelly, I love the picture on your website. You have a nice selection of books, and coming attractions. Congratulations, I believe you just signed another 3-book deal with Kensington Publishing.

Yes, I did. I've been very lucky with my Kensington editor, Kate Duffy. She allows me a lot of freedom and since I'm such a "pantser" writer, this really helps me. She sort of lets me off-leash and I love that. So who knows what I'll come up with for this next contract.

I noticed The Beast in Him is out. Why not enlighten the readers about this yummy read?

Ahhh, yes. My sweet Bobby Ray Smith, aka Smitty. Nothing like a good ol' hillbilly wolf to get a girl's heart beating a bit faster. And being that Smitty is such a confident and smooth wolf I had to give him someone who absolutely drives him nuts and that's Jessie Ann Ward, African Wild Dog and resident geek. Smitty's known Jess since high school but they lost touch over the years and now that he's face to face with her again, he simply can't walk away. Especially when she's so damn irritating and doesn't seem remotely interested.

How can she not be interested? He is amazing after all…if he does say so himself.

I noticed you left Long Island and now live in the West Coast. Do you miss Long Island?

You know when I was growing up on Long Island I couldn't wait to get out of there. I remember CONSTANTLY talking about leaving, traveling the world, living in Paris, London, and Manhattan (because I should have an American base of some kind). Of course, I'd be blindingly wealthy with handsome men at my beck and call. To be honest, I never thought in my wildest dreams that once I got out of L.I. I'd ever miss it…but I do. I miss New York in general but I miss Long Island the most. Of course, the biggest thing I miss is the food. The West Coast is great and all but I miss real Chinese food and Italian. I miss real pizza. A greasy, heart-destroying slice that you can eat while walking down the street. And although I miss the changing of the seasons (nothing is more beautiful than October/November on the East Coast), I can't say I miss bundling up for snow season. That's the great thing about the West Coast. A denim jacket thrown over a sweatshirt and I'm ready to face that frigid, February 59-degree rainy season. That's right, New Yorkers…hate away! hehe

Do you ever use the areas you lived as part of any of the stories you compose?

All the time. My Pride series from Kensington Publishing is mostly based in New York with the third book, THE MANE ATTRACTION, taking place in Manhattan, Long Island, and Tennessee. My first anthology story ("My Kind of Town" from SUN, SAND, SEX) wasn't set in Long Island but North Carolina. The heroine and her coven, however, are from Long Island. I went to college in the South and my mom and her side of the family are out of North Carolina. So I just love the dynamics between Northerners and Southerners. I have fun putting that in my stories.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

I actually didn't submit my first MS in the official sense. I gave my first book, PACK CHALLENGE, to a friend of mine to read. She just happened to do the occasional online review and I figured she could give me honest feedback. She liked it a lot (I think she was surprised to be honest), but she thought it was a good idea to get other feedback. She asked the lovely ladies of Ashleigh Raine if she could put a call out on their loop for readers and one of those readers was a new editor with Triskelion. She liked it and immediately contacted me. Things just snowballed from there. Word of mouth has been my closest friend.

Do you enjoy writing an anthology with other authors?

Anthologies are easy because (at least with the ones I've worked on) you don't have to work hand in hand with other authors. I've either turned in a novella and the editor has come up with other authors she thought would fit well with my style or the editor contacted me with a very general idea and let me off-leash.

The bottom line is the reason I like writing is I get to sit by myself and create my world, my characters, my every thing. At my core, I am not a people person. I went to film school and had to work on my and other student's films with more humans than I care to be around at any given time. It was a good experience but all those people in my creative process just pissed me off in the end. Really, I don't know how authors do those series where the publisher creates characters, premise, plot, and the author writes everything else. And then another author comes in and writes book 2, having to use what the publisher created AND what the first author created. Talk about feeling trapped! At least, in my world that's trapped. Some authors love it.

Do you have some upcoming projects planned that you wish to share?

Well, my dragon series was picked up by Kensington and they are releasing my books in mass market under a new pseudonym: G.A. Aiken. The first book in the series, DRAGON ACTUALLY, will be out September '08 and it includes my award-winning story "To Challenge a Dragon" as well as the novella "Chains & Flames." The "Distressing Damsel" has been renamed ABOUT A DRAGON and will be available in MM December '08. Right now I'm working on the third book in the series and that should be out some time in '09.

What are the elements of a great romance for you?

I guess for me great romance is accepting someone with all their flaws and scars. Some of my heroines have literal scars like Sara in PACK CHALLENGE. She's got a scarred face that the hero, Zach, doesn't even see. All he sees is her and that's who he loves. The scary and dangerous She-wolf who turns him on.

And then some of my heroines have hidden scars like Talaith from ABOUT A DRAGON. She's been hurt and used and has built up titanium armor that really only a self-centered dragon, like hero Briec, can get through.

Then again, some of my heroines are just loud and uncontrollable but the heroes love them in spite of their…unique natures. I hate the idea of a woman changing who she is just to make a guy happy. A woman should love who she is and if there's something about herself that she's unhappy with, then she makes those changes for herself. Not for anyone else.

To sum it up, what makes a great romance is a hero with a high level of tolerance…and bail money.

What is the hardest part of writing and the easiest for you?

Hardest part is the first draft. Hate, hate, hate the first draft. It's like pulling teeth, like nails on a chalkboard, like hell on earth. I absolutely hate it.

The easiest part…draft 3. That's when the party starts and I can add in all the fun stuff because by then I've worked out the story itself.

Did I mention I'm a pantser?

Have you experienced writer's block? If so, how did you work through it?

Yes I have, but because your editor doesn't care about your writer's block (you can never forget this is a business and editors have bosses to report to), I've had to write through it. I've had that happen twice and it was hell. Both stories ended up being about seven or eight drafts before I was finally happy. That was hard. I wished I could have taken off a month and just not write to see what I'd come up with after a rest but I simply haven't had that kind of luxury, which is a blessing and a curse. As a writer, I'm glad I've got the contracts and the editors who want my books. As a whiny artist, I'm all "wilting flower"-ish when the words aren't flowing to my satisfaction.

And my dog has no patience for the wilting flower me. He's real rude about it too.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Having your readers tell you that you made them laugh…a lot.

Do you have any encouraging words for up and coming writers?

Trust your instincts, but question everybody else. You've got to watch your own back because no one else will. I'm not sure that's encouraging, but it's honest.

Do you have a website that you would like to share other than this one? shellylaurenston.com

Yes, my site for my new pseudonym and dragon books: gaaiken.com
You can find excerpts, release dates, and any news under my G.A. Aiken name. It should be live now or very soon.

Are you a member of any loops and do you feel the loops help get in touch with other authors?

I'm still a member of many loops but I really only have time in the day to play on my own: groups.yahoo.com/group/shellylaurenston
It's a busy loop so I try and warn people to go "no mail" or "digest" unless they want a flurry of emails from the MPGs (Magnus Pack Groupies). But everyone there is great and it's pretty laid back, plus it's on my loop that I have contests for my books, ARCs, and cover flats.

Just for Fun: What is your favorite candy?

On the East Coast it's Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, although I think they've changed the recipe since I've left New York…and that upsets me. If I ruled the universe, I'd totally make them change it back.

On the West Coast I love See's Dark Chocolate Nougat. I just bought some today. Yum.

You have been given a free vacation trip to, Africa, China or Hong Kong, which would you choose and why?

Hong Kong in a heartbeat. I grew up watching those amazing Run Run Shaw martial arts movies every Saturday at 3:00 with my brother and father. Ever since then, I've wanted to go to Hong Kong where most (if not all) of those movies were made. Plus…great Chinese food. What more could a nice Long Island girl like me want? Except maybe a date with a hot martial artist but that's for another day.

What is your favorite pizza?

New York pizza. I know there are true connoisseurs who can name "So and so's pizza parlor on such and such street off the Southern State Parkway," but I miss just seeing a pizza parlor while heading to the mall (because there's no Long Islander who does not have almost a mother-child connection with a mall), pulling over and buying myself a slice from a New York Italian cutie that I could spend time flirting with.

Anything else you would like to share with your readers?

Just thanks to all the readers who've supported me over the years from ebooks to print. You guys have been amazing, thank you.

Shelly, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend with us today.

And thank you for giving me time away from the dreaded first draft. I appreciate it.

Interviewed by: Linda L.