Meet Lani Diane Rich

Meet Lani Diane Rich aka Lucy March author of many books all of which I've loved. She’s one of my ‘go to authors’ when I am stuck and need to see good writing.

I bought my first Lani book when Jen Crusie announced on ArghInc that A Little Ray of Sunshine was free on Amazon that week. I got my free copy; devoured it; and went back to Amazon and bought another. And another and . . .you get the picture. Then I discovered she was writing as Lucy March. Oh, joy!

Lani wrote her first book, Time Off for Good Behavior,during NaNoWriMo. I love that because, Time and Forever, is also a NaNoWriMo book.

With Time Off for Good Behavior, Lani became the first previously unpublished NaNo author to get a deal with a major NYC publisher. It went on to win the RITA for best first book.

I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when you found you’d made your first sale.

I went into the process of trying to get published with my eyes wide open; I was expecting to get loads of rejections before I ever made a sale. So when my agent called to tell me there were two offers for Time Off for Good Behavior on the table, I was kind of shocked. The whole thing had happened so quickly, and eventually I decided to go with Warner Books (now Hachette) because I really loved the editor, Beth de Guzman. 

If it isn’t too nosy, how about the first time you kissed your true love?

It was in the Cincinnati airport. He was flying in from Scotland, and we'd met online and had been in love for a while before we ever met. I remember standing right on the red line they wouldn't let me past, watching for this man I loved so dearly, but whose face I'd never seen in person. And the moment I saw him, I just knew I wasn't crazy, that this whole thing was real. As I write this, he's sitting at his desk across our shared office, completely unaware I'm writing about him. We'll be married for three years in February. Kinda crazy.

That's a wonderful story. I believe in love before first sight and I so glad your story is as happy as my son's. Jim and Mary eet on a Star Wars Message Board in 2000. They married at Disney World in 2006 and they are in much in love today as they were when they first saw each other.

Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers) in your genre?

LOL, how much time do you have? I love Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Anne Stuart, Toni McGee Causey, CJ Barry/Samantha Graves, Patricia Gaffney, Robin LaFevers, Sophie Kinsella, Diana Gabaldon... Okay, I'll stop, you've only got so much space on your blog! My favorite heroine is Tilda Goodnight from Jennifer Crusie's Faking It, and my favorite hero is Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. 

Thank you. You've given me a couple of new people to read.

What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career?

I think the best moment was when I won the Rita for Best First Book. That whole eighteen months--between finishing a book, getting an agent, selling the book, seeing it on the shelves--was so surreal for me, and I never expected any of it, least of all to win an award. It was then that I felt like I might actually be good at the thing I loved doing, and I felt so incredibly lucky.

What is your favorite pastime?

Knitting! I make socks, gloves, scarves... anything that won't take too long. I have absolutely no patience for sweaters. 

We’ve all got them. What’s your favorite way to avoid writing?

See above, re: Knitting! 

Got a recipe you want to share?

Yes. Pour one glass of wine, and drink it while someone else cooks. Then clean up afterward. 

My kind of woman! I tried to prove to my husband I couldn't cook, but he and my tuna casserole with scotch and said it was good. I much prefer doing the clean up.

Any advice for new writers just starting out?

Don't ever forget that you came to writing because it's fun. Enjoy it as much as you can. 

tell us about your latest release.

My latest release is #2 in the Nodaway Falls series, called That Touch of Magic, which I wrote for St. Martin's Press under Lucy March. 
I loved A Little Night Magic, the first book in that series and pre-ordered That Touch of Magic. So much fun! I can't wait for the next one. 

What’s your current WIP?

Currently, I'm revising For Love or Magic, #3 in the Nodaway Falls series, and I've got a new Lani Diane Rich novel planned for Nanowrimo, Title TBA. :)  

Yes!!!!!

And finally, where can we find you?

Pretty much everywhere! My husband, Alastair Stephens, and I podcast about storytelling and pop culture at StoryWonk.com. You can find my Lani Diane Rich books at LaniDianeRich.com, and my Lucy March books atLucyMarch.com. On Twitter, I'm @lanidianerich, and on Facebook, I'm facebook.com/lanidianerich.

Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity to hang out with you! It was fun!

Thank you, Lani, for being here. 
In honor of Lani and NaNoWriMo I am giving away a copy Lani's NaNoWriMo book,  Time Off for Good Behavior

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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