Tracy:  Welcome to Roundtable Reviews. HIGHLAND HONOR is your debut. How long did it take you to write the book and then subsequently get it published?

Lori:  Thanks! It’s nice to be here. Yes, HIGHLAND HONOR is my debut novel. It’s also the book of my heart. Although it took me about five years to write and eventually get published, it seems like only yesterday that I put pen to paper and then fingers to the keyboard in order to tell Gavin MacGregor and Hannah Campbell’s love story.

Tracy:  While HIGHLAND HONOR is your first novel, it is not the only writing you have done, can you talk about the writing contests you have won?

Lori:  I’ve entered a few contests and am proud to say that I’ve either won or finaled in each. The first of which I'm very proud of is my final chapter submission that was selected as the winning entry to complete an on-line romance dedicated to raising funds for the American Red Cross. That in itself was exciting. But winning the Authors Mansion’s FLAMES Round Robin For Charity also allows me to claim co-writing credit with the likes of Virginia Henley, Sandy Hingston, Julie Ortolon, Sue Swift, Sherri Browning, Susan Krinard, Charlotte Boyett-Compo, Alina Adams, Jewel Stone, and Alison Kent. Then there's the yournovel.com Romance Writing Contest, which earned my husband and me a seven-day Carnival Cruise. The unique thing about this contest, was that my grand prize winning entry, "Beyond the City of Lights," is a short story with a bit of paranormal twist that can be personalized for those who order it. Last, but certainly not least, I'm happy to share that "A Match Made In Heaven" (which was inspired by my family's participation in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life ) is the 2003 Affaire de Coeur Annual Short Story contest winner. While another of my short stories, "Good Things Come To Those Who Wait," finaled in last year’s AdC contest.

Tracy:  You are a stay home mom first and foremost. How do you balance the busy demands of being a "mom" with your writing time?

Lori:  It certainly has been a challenge. But, thankfully, I have such an understanding husband and sons.  The road to getting published has it ups and downs and you need a lot of support and encouragement to help you persevere. Being a stay-at-home mom, I've also needed to be flexible with my schedule on top of finding the discipline to write when time and my sons' busy schedules allow.

When the kids were younger, I used to write through the night. Now that they're older, I try to write while they’re in school or take along material to read and revise while I'm waiting during their extracurricular activities. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a perfect mom. Take out has become one of our basic food groups and dust bunnies have taken up residence in every nook and cranny of our humble abode, but Dan and the boys never complain. So I guess, in answer to your question, I make due with whatever free time I have. In other words, I wing it. 

Tracy:  As your characters, Gavin and Hannah, begin falling in love. You manage to keep their passions under control building to that fiery scene. Not all authors manage to build such tremendous sexual tension on their first time out. Do you feel sexual tension is an integral part of romance? Why?

Lori:  Definitely. I believe sexual tension is what keeps a reader turning the pages. Heck it kept me typing away at the keyboard. No matter how tempted I was to just toss these two characters, who are intensely attracted to each other, together, I resisted because I felt that unless enough tension mounted, readers would lose interest. The thrill of wondering if and when the hero and heroine’s passionate encounters would lead to fulfillment (or rather consummation and that oh so spine tingling declaration of love) is so necessary in a romance. Hey, I love a happy ending just as much as the next reader but don’t want it to come along too soon.

Tracy:  What drew you to write about medieval Scotland?

Lori:  I read Julie Garwood’s THE WEDDING way back when and simply feel in love with the time period and setting. I was hooked on anything and everything related to medieval Scotland, especially the Highlands with its wild, ruggedness. There's such a raw, sensual appeal about the landscape and the people who inhabited it. I find it all so romantic as well as compelling. Besides who can resist a man in a kilt?

Tracy:  Who inspired your desire to write?

Lori:  I can’t really say that any particular person or turning point inspired me. For as long as I can remember, characters have flitted through my mind. Movies, books and music have been influential with regard to the topics I choose to write. But I think the desire has always been with me and, finally, after all this time, I've gotten up enough nerve to share my characters' tales through the written word.

Lori:  My WIN the "Brooch" contest has attracted a lot of very positive and enthusiastic attention from people who want to win what I and my heroine Hannah Campbell, consider a "prized possession." It’s the brooch worn by Romantic Times Book Club’s former Mr. Romance Mark Johnson on my book cover. The brooch is very significant to the story because…..well, you’ll have to read the book to find out why.  But, I encourage anyone whose interest may have been piqued to visit my website, read the first chapter excerpt, and enter to win. The brooch will be raffled off on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2004, so I encourage all not to delay and enter today!

Tracy:  What are you working on next?

Lori:  I’m working on a prequel to HIGHLAND HONOR, tentatively titled HIGHLAND HOPE. It’s the love story of Gavin MacGregor’s mother and father. I'm also plotting out two sequels based upon secondary characters Connor, Patrick and Allyce. But that’s not all. If all goes as planned, I hope to one day publish a short series contemporary as well as a historical romance set in turn of the century New York.