Book Binge: Can you tell us about your first book sale?
Larissa Ione: Well, basically, I’d quit writing after Hurricane Katrina – my family and I lost everything, and while we were doing the cleanup, I received a rejection on a story on which I’d been working closely with an editor. So I was homeless, I’d lost my computer and all my works-in-progress, and I’d gotten a rejection. I pretty much gave up writing after that. I just couldn’t deal with any more stress, any more rejections.
Then, while I was living with my parents and dealing with FEMA and insurance companies and all kinds of nightmares, the writing community, my friends, and my critique partners came to my aid (and let me tell you, I’m indebted to HUNDREDS of people, and I will never be able to thank them enough.)
To make a long story short, I got back up on my writing horse and started writing again. I figured I had nothing left to lose.
So I started writing in a way I’d been afraid to do before – I really let myself go. And I sent work out again.
And one day, when I was at a very low point, had had it up to my eyebrows with the insurance companies, I got The Call from Red Sage. They wanted to buy one of my novellas for an anthology! I’ll never forget that day. I got off the phone and asked my parents if they had a bottle of champagne chilled – if you knew my parents, you’d realize this wasn’t a crazy question – they are ALWAYS prepared to celebrate ANYTHING with a bottle of champagne.
Broke a hundred at bowling? Let’s celebrate! Got your hair cut? Let’s celebrate!
So anyway, they had a bottle in their garage fridge, and boy, did we celebrate! Selling to Red Sage was WAY better than getting my hair cut.
Two weeks later, Stephanie Tyler and I sold our Sydney Croft series to Bantam Dell. And nine months after that, I sold my Demonica series, my dream series, really, to Grand Central.
I totally credit Hurricane Katrina for my sales. Had it not been for the storm, I might still be trying to tailor my voice to fit stories I thought might sell – not stories I wanted to write. Out of the bad, came wonderful good.
BB: How long did it take you from when you first picked up the pen (or keyboard) until you got published?
LI: Well, I wrote my first full-length novel at the age of 13. But I didn’t truly get serious about publication until 1997, when I was 30. I wrote on and off, and finally sold in 2006. So nine years. For some reason, I usually think it’s less than that, because I was writing in completely the wrong genre for me (historicals) until 2002. So for some reason, I my standard answer to this question is 4 years, but if I really trace things back, it’s closer to nine.
BB: What is your writing process like? Do you outline or just let your characters take you where they will?
LI: I used to be a plotter. Like, anal plotter. Then I started working with Stephanie Tyler on the Sydney Croft books, and let me tell you…that girl gets hives at the very mention of the four-letter word, “plot.”
So suddenly, I had to work a lot more loosely than I was used to, letting the characters guide the story. And although I’m not truly a pantser now, I’m not a plotter, either.
BB: What is your typical writing day like?
LI: Depends on whether it’s the school year or not. Right now, since it’s summer, I get up whenever I wake up, start my coffee, and boot up the laptop. I usually spend the first hour of my day checking email and updating blogs, and then I get to work. I work until around four or five, when I get on the elliptical. I shower, make dinner, and then it’s back to work if I’m on deadline. If I’m not, I probably read. Very unexciting!
BB: What kind of research do you do when writing a book?
LI: I prefer hands-on research where I can. There is no substitute for touching, smelling, seeing, doing, tasting…*g* I actually became an EMT so I could write my medical characters more accurately!
But there are times you just can’t do hands-on, so I like to do as much research from watching documentaries and reading books as possible, or I talk to people who know the subject. I don’t like internet research for some reason. I use it when I have to, but I much prefer to watch TV or read.
As a writer, what is easier…writing a series or writing a stand alone? For me, writing a stand alone is much easier, but I prefer writing series. Once I get into a world, I want to stay there. That goes for reading, as well. I much prefer to read series books over stand-alones.
BB: What does it take to make a series work? How do you make a reader want more, more, more?
LI: There are a lot of ways to do that…like keeping running plots going through the books. But I think the best way to make readers want more is to create fascinating characters people will want to read more about.
BB: Where did you get the idea for your Demonica series?
LI: I’ve always loved anything paranormal, and I’ve always had a fascination with emergency medicine. So one day, I was watching an episode of Angel, and he got hurt. Bad. Being a vampire, he couldn’t exactly go to a hospital for help, so I started thinking…what if there WAS a hospital for underworld creatures like him? And that’s how the first book was born!
BB: Do you already have the arc or number of books planned in the series?
LI: There are three books planned, but once I turn in book 3, I’m going to propose at least one more. Ideally, I’d like to write 2-3 more. I’m also working on a spin-off series set in the same world but with new characters and a different location. I don’t know if it’ll fly, but we’ll see!
BB: Can you tell our readers why they should read Pleasure Unbound?
LI: Well, I didn’t pull any punches with this series, so if they like dark, gritty, and steamy, it might be right up their alley. People keep saying it’s different from what’s out there. Hopefully that’s a good thing!
BB: What do you have in the works currently?
LI: Well, I’m just finishing up the third Demonica book and the fourth Sydney Croft ACRO novel. After that, there are two more ACRO novels to write. So I need to come up with a proposal for something from my Demonica world. I might also be working on a Star Trek novel proposal soon, as well!
BB: What made you want to be a writer?
LI: I always wanted to be a writer. From the time I read my first book. But it wasn’t until middle school, when I started reading Jack London and Stephen King, that I dared to dream that someday, my books might be on the shelves alongside them. Well, maybe not right alongside, but in the same book store. Stephen King and Jack London were truly my inspirations.
BB: What advice would you give aspiring authors?
LI: Don’t edit your stories to death. I know so many aspiring authors who have been working on the same manuscript for years, revising it every time they get a critique or a rejection. In time, the story loses the raw spark that inspired it in the first place. Your voice can be diluted by a million different voices. Write your story and trust your gut when it comes to outside advice.
BB: Are there any other genres that you intend to write in?
LI: Science Fiction – when I write that Star Trek novel.
BB: Who is your favorite romance author?
LI: Oh, geez. There are so many! But Linda Howard was my introduction to contemporary romance, so I’ll say her.
BB: What is your favorite romance novel to re-read?
LI: Mackenzie’s Mission, by Linda Howard
BB: Pepsi or Coke?
LI: Pepsi, but I don’t drink much soda (and yes, I’m from Oregon, so I should say “pop,” but I don’t! *g* )
BB: What’s your biggest weakness (shoes, books, chocolate, etc)?
LI: Animals.
BB: Chocolate or Vanilla?
LI: Vanilla
BB: Coffee or Tea?
LI: Coffee. Lots.
BB: Favorite movie?
LI: Too many to list!
BB: Favorite T.V. show?
LI: Again, too many to list. Pretty much anything science fiction or medical. Or paranormal.
BB: Favorite color?
LI: Blue
BB: Mexico or Hawaii?
LI: Hawaii, but I’m really a cold-weather person, so Alaska would really suit me better…
BB: Fly or Drive?
LI: *shudders at the very idea of flying* So…driving! Or train.
BB: Beach or Mountains?
LI: Tough one, but let’s go with mountains. Hubby and I plan to retire in Colorado Springs because we both really love the Rockies!
BB: Thanks for taking the time to be w/ us today, Larissa!
LI: Thank you so much for having me, Casee and the rest of the Book Binge ladies!