Meet Lynn Raye Harris!
Lynn Raye Harris is a USA Today bestselling author who read her first Harlequin romance when her grandmother carted home a box of books from a yard sale. She didn’t know she wanted to be a writer then, but she definitely knew she wanted to marry a sheikh or a prince and live the glamorous life she read about in the pages. Instead, she married a military man and moved around the world. She’s been inside the Kremlin, hiked up a Korean mountain, floated on a gondola in Venice, and stood inside volcanoes at opposite ends of the world.
These days Lynn lives in Alabama with her handsome husband and two crazy cats. Since her debut novel came out in August 2009, Lynn’s books have appeared on the USA Today, Borders, and Nielsen Bookscan bestseller lists. You can visit her at www.LynnRayeHarris.com to learn more about her books, read her sporadically updated blog, or just drop her a note.
First question:
Eggnog or Mimosas? Are you old enough to drink?
Definitely old enough! And this time of year, I’ll take the eggnog – though I like a good Mimosa too!
We’re also taking pictures with Santa, did you bring a gift for him? (Maybe a new release or a pretty book cover…)
Hey, I thought he was supposed to be the one giving gifts! I’ve been extra good this year. 
Please enter. Drinks are served by the elves in the corner.
Oh yay! *off to get a spiked eggnog*
What’s your favorite holiday and why?
It’s Christmas! And not because of the presents, but just because of how people seem to act more kindly this time of year. Not always, of course, but I’ve read so many nice articles about people paying for other people’s layaways, donating money, toys, food, clothes, and volunteering their time to help others. Why can’t we do that all year long?
Did you ask Santa for anything good?
I asked for a few things – we’ll see what happens. I think he was paying attention this year.
What’s your favorite place to spend the holidays?
I actually like to be at home. I’ve gone on a Christmas cruise of the Caribbean (St. Thomas on Christmas Day sounds so great!) but there’s nothing like being home with family.
What is your favorite Christmas memory?
We used to live in Germany for a few years. My parents were there too (working for the US Government) and we would spend Christmases in this gorgeous old house they lived in. The foundations dated back to 1200, and the house was really cool and perfect for old-fashioned Christmases. We also had some really good friends who would spend the long weekend with us at my parents’ house. The six of us would watch movies, cook fabulous food, eat, laugh, talk, and then open a bunch of awesome gifts on Christmas day. It was a great time. We’re near my parents again in Alabama, so we’ll be getting together, but the friends are in Missouri and we haven’t seen them in a few years now. :/
Do you have personal resolutions for the New Years? Anything interesting?
My resolutions always involve me trying to be more productive. I’m determined to try some new things this coming year with my writing, so we’ll see.
Why do you write romance?
Because it makes me feel good! I love writing about people falling in love. There’s nothing sad about that. Romance is uplifting.
How long have you been writing for? And how would you describe your publication journey?
I’ve been writing for a long time, and my publication journey was meandering. Took time to get there, in part because I gave up for a while.
Are you a plotter or pantser? What is your routine?
Definitely a pantser! I usually just get to the computer and start typing. No idea what scenes will come out as I do. I know the characters and what their problems are, but not what will happen along the journey.
What characteristics do all your heroes/heroines have in all your stories?
All my heroes are intense alpha males who need taming, and all my heroines are strong women who have no problem taking this man on. Love that!
What advice would you give aspiring authors?
Keep writing and perfecting your work! Don’t give up, and don’t take the easy way out. By that I mean don’t turn to self-publishing just because you’ve been rejected. Make DARN sure what you want to publish is truly, truly ready. Sometimes, publishers make bad decisions and reject something good. But they also reject things that aren’t quite ready yet, so make sure what you have is your best work. You get one chance to make a first impression with readers. If that book isn’t quite ready, readers will notice. As writers, we have more options than ever now – and that is AWESOME. But make deliberate choices. Sometimes, though it’s hard, waiting pays off in that you become a stronger writer with a better product.
What are you working on right now?
A new story for Harlequin Presents!
What news would you like to share with your readers?
I’ll have three books out next year from Harlequin. STRANGERS IN THE DESERT will be available in March, CAPTIVE BUT FORBIDDEN is a July release, and THE GIRL NOBODY WANTED (Book 7 of the Santina Crown series) will be out in November. I also have a free short story on my website at http://www.lynnrayeharris.com/books/free-read-maddies-marine/, and look for something new from me in ebook next year as well. 
Where can readers find you?
- a. Twitter: http://twitter.com/LynnRayeHarris
- b. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorLynnRayeHarris
- c. Website: www.LynnRayeHarris.com
- d. Others:
List other books you have out:
All my books are available on Nook and Kindle in the US if you can’t find paperbacks.
THE MAN WITH THE MONEY, November 2011
BEHIND THE PALACE WALLS, June 2011
THE DEVIL’S HEART, April 2011
CHOSEN BY THE SHEIKH, anthology, November 2010
THE PRINCE’S ROYAL CONCUBINE, June 2010
CAVELLI’S LOST HEIR, January 2010
SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE, August 2009
Thank you so much for joining us at Romance Author Hotspot!
Thanks for having me!
PRIZE: THE MAN WITH THE MONEY, Nook or Kindle versions (US only) or paperback internationally
BLURB:
Jack…Red-Hot. Renegade. Restless.
Notorious gambler Jack no longer gets a buzz from the risks he takes at the card table. In fact it bores him. Until one night he wins more than he ever bargained for…
His prize is stunning Cara Taylor – she might be down on her luck but she certainly doesn’t need rescuing by a card-shark like Jack! Now she’s stuck with him she doesn’t know whether to love him or loathe him.
Excerpt:
A knock sounded on the door and she got up to answer. A man wheeled in a trolley with a champagne bucket and two glasses. Deftly, he opened the champagne and poured some in each glass. Jack came over and handed the man some cash, and then he was gone.
Cara sipped her champagne and watched Jack. He took his glass over to the window and downed it.
“I found a deck of cards,” she said as she took the bottle over and poured him another drink. “Why don’t we play a hand or two of poker?”
His gaze swung toward her.
“I know you’re used to winning,” she said, “but you’ve never played me. I’ll try not to embarrass you though.”
“What are the stakes?” he asked, and her heart soared. She’d intrigued him enough to shake him from his brooding.
“If I win, you take me to some awful touristy thing that I’d love, but you hate.”
“For instance?”
“I don’t know.” She cast about wildly, thinking of the sort of nutty things they’d had in Las Vegas, before making up something suitable for London. “A Jack the Ripper ghost walk. Or a Henry the Eighth turkey leg banquet.”
He almost grinned, she was certain. “And if I win?”
Cara shrugged. “We go somewhere you want instead.”
“Doesn’t sound like much incentive,” he said, taking a sip of the champagne.
His eyes narrowed, his gaze slipping over her body. Her skin warmed, her nipples tightening beneath the fabric of her dress. Any second and he would know the effect he was having on her.
“I have a better idea,” he said as his eyes met hers again.
“What’s that?”
“We play for the clothes on our backs. Or we don’t play at all.”
