I
have the privilege to interview the fantastic L. R. Wright, Black Opal
Books author of Basement Level 5: Never Scared, today. Welcome Leslie, I’m happy you
were able to make the time to chat with me. She also happens to be my W word for the day.
NP: How
long have you been writing?
LW: I’ve been writing in
some form since I was a little girl.
I’ve always had a penchant for making up stories. I dabbled in poetry as an undergrad and wrote
a journal that turned into my first full length novel.
NP: Where
did you get the idea for The Basement-Level Five?
LW: As cliché as this
sounds, it was actually from a dream. I
had a vivid dream about this cast of characters who escaped into an underground
lair for protection. The dream wasn’t just
one night, either. I dreamed about these
same characters for a whole week. They
wouldn’t leave me alone. LOL
NP: To
me there is nothing better than a female who can kick you know what. Were the
fight scenes difficult for you to write?
LW: I researched how to
write fight scenes. Ask anyone in my
family, I’m so different than my characters in this book. I was around people who fought, but I hate
violence and guns. Go figure.
NP: Who
has influenced you the most in your writing?
LW: My mother. She passed recently and I keep hearing her
voice in my head. I always think about
that television show, A Different World.
The first line of the theme song says I know my parents love me, stand
behind me come what may. That’s my life. I had an awesome mother. She stood behind me through everything and
always encouraged me to do better. But
as much as she did that, I had to kind of step out there on my own to the
Different World. Boy that was cheesy.
LOL But it’s true. It’s a different world out there. Another thing is my mother was an educator
for 30+ years. She instilled in me the
importance of reading and feeding my imagination with the pages of a book.
NP: You
have my sincerest condolences on the passing of your mother. She sounds like
she was a wonderful woman. Which movie or television character best represents
you?
LW: As much as I love movies, I have no
idea. Let me see… I guess I could say
Leslie Wright in the movie Just Wright. HA!
That character seemed to be closest to me, always in the
background. Everyone’s BFF. Finally she had enough and realized she
deserved better. That’s me, and I did
end up with the guy. LOL
NP: Do
you have any works in progress?
LW: I’m working on so many
things. Finished my second book and
shopping it around. But I’m really
excited about my next two books. One of
them is TOP secret, but the other one is another contemporary romance/women’s
fiction.
NP: Anything
you want to say to your current and future fans?
LW: Thanks for supporting
me. And I appreciate all the awesome
people I’ve met and I hope you enjoy taking this ride with me.
NP: Please
give an analogy of what writing is like for you.
LW: It’s like… a hot
flash. One minute I’m good and the next
it’s like someone sets me on the stove and scorches me from the inside
out. And when it’s done my hair is a
mess because I’m sweating and then I feel a gust of wind and I’m ice cold and
exhausted. What a ride. It’s like that when I’m writing. When I’m writing, and in a zone, I’m
hot. But then I go through the “I hate
everything about what I wrote” period.
That’s the cold. It’s like a
rollercoaster ride.
NP: Great
analogy. Thank you for letting me harass you with my questions.
LW: I had a good time. Thanks for having me, Nana. Sorry it took so long.
You
are right on time Leslie.
Here is the blurb.
Alexa Martinez was raised to believe that murder,
deceit, and lies were a part of life. A trained killer, she follows in her
father's footsteps, specializing in political assassinations for Martinez
Security--contracted through the CIA. She thrives on the power, money, respect,
and--most of all--the adrenaline rush. Despite the danger associated with her profession, Alexa strives to give her children a normal life. But when her past catches up with her, they become pawns in a deadly game of revenge. Operating from a secret base, five levels below ground, Alexa struggles to unravel the puzzle, uncovering secrets that will alter their lives forever. Now she must make a choice--is she willing to die to give her children a life outside the bullet-proof glass?
Where
can my lovely readers find your book?
Black
Opal Books: http://www.blackopalbooks.com/blackopalstore/product/35-basement-level-5-never-scared
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/155672
My
website: www.lwrightauthor.com (still
under construction)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lesliewrightauthor
Twitter: @LWrightAuthor
