Today I'm super happy to have a interview with Lauren Stewart the author of the exciting new book Hyde, an Urban Fantasy (Goodreads). She was nice enough to answer all my questions so I can share them with you. Don't forget to check out my review of Hyde, an Urban Fantasy (here).
Mandy - Where did you get the inspiration for Hyde?
Lauren - Hyde is (not surprisingly) inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I’ve always loved the story (even though I hadn’t read the novella since high school) because its theme, good versus evil, is something every one of us struggles with. So I used the idea, but within the context of urban fantasy—a mixture of romance, suspense, paranormal, and humor.
Mandy - Do you have a favorite character in Hyde?
Lauren - Without a doubt, Mitch is my favorite. He’s an anti-hero, which means he is as far from a good guy as he can be. But writing his often-cruel sarcastic comments was great fun. Plus, I got to live in a bad boy’s head and really create a rationale behind his actions. He’s bitter and filled with self-loathing, but that isn’t who he is. I’ve known a few bad boys in my time, and getting the chance to actually give him a good reason for his bad behavior was something not many of us get to do.
Mandy - What books have influenced your writing?
Lauren - I read in almost all genres, so my influences come from everywhere. But in terms of paranormal romance or urban fantasy, I would have to say that JR Ward and Karen Marie Moning helped me develop a style and showed me some amazing ways to break the rules. And I love breaking rules.
Mandy - What kind of atmosphere do you prefer to write?
Lauren - Anywhere that doesn't provide a million distractions. Which, of course, means I can’t write at home. My mind would drift to how big the laundry pile is getting or that I really need to have my kids go through their toys. So, though it’s loud, my favorite place to write is my neighborhood coffee place. It’s easier to tune out that chaos than the chaos of the countless other parts of life we all juggle.
Mandy - Who’s your favorite author?
Lauren - That depends on the day. But the writers who I would wait in line to see or would pay $27 for their book the day it releases (not happily, mind you, but I've done it) are JR Ward for her BDB series and Karen Marie Moning for her Fever series.
Mandy - Did you know you always wanted to be a writer?
Lauren - Not at all. I never thought I would be any good at it. I've always been a reader who made an exorbitant amount of to-do lists. What I didn't realize, until just a few years ago, is that those lists were precursors to something I feel incredibly passionate about—writing. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Nor do I have any plans to.
Mandy - Do you prefer e-books, paperbacks or hardbacks?
Lauren - I love e-books. It’s so easy to feed my addiction and, unless I forget to charge my device, I’m never without something to read.
Mandy - Do you watch TV? If so, what’s your favorite show?
Lauren - Right now, I’m really into Grimm. I love the premise and, with only a few episodes of ‘meh’, it is getting really exciting. Plus, Nick is so cute! And he’s actually a good guy, which is not the type I usually like (fictionally speaking, of course). I just watched the pilot for Arrow, and that was really enjoyable. It may or may not have had to do with the guy being so insanely hot. I’ll watch anything that Joss Whedon touches. Plus, I admit to loving cooking shows. All of them. Not sure why, since I don’t cook, but it looks exciting when they do it.
Mandy - Are you a night person or a morning person?
Lauren - I’m a night person by nature. Although, having two small children means I have to pretend to be happy when they wake me up every morning to tell me something vital like, “Mommy, my tooth didn’t come out last night.” So, occasionally, it takes a lot of pretending.
Mandy - What is your favorite electronic gadget?
Lauren - My iPhone. It makes me happy. I wish it didn't but it does. I waited a really long time for my prior contract to run out, so all that anticipation makes me really appreciate the thing. Until it breaks. Then I shall curse every moment of it and Apple’s existence.
Mandy - What are five items you never leave home without?
Lauren - Keys, phone, coffee, laptop. And kids, I suppose, but only when they get out of their cages. J Do I need to tell you that I was kidding?
Mandy - Anything you want to say to your readers?Lauren - I have the absolute best readers out there. Hands down. They rock.
But I’d also like to tell ALL readers that you have no idea how powerful you are. The industry is changing and authors are changing. We want to get to know you. We want you to reach out to us. Not in a stalker-ish way, but let us know if you enjoyed our work. And please, if you did, tell your friends.
With the way online retailers work now, each reader can make a profound difference in the success or failure of a book. It isn’t as anonymous as it used to be when you walked into a bookstore and bought one of a hundred books laying out there. Every book you buy has an effect on what books pop up for other people with similar buying habits. Publishers don’t control that, authors don’t control that—you do.
Thank you so much for having me. Happy reading, everyone!
Thank you so much for being here today Lauren it's been a pleasure having your, and I loved your book.
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