Author Interview - Alana Lorens

Another Monday, another wonderful book/ interview with Alana Lorens. This time, she's brought to us her romantic suspense VOODOO DREAMS. I think it's so cool that she's been able to write a different for every genre.

Alana was gracious enough to go through the entire interview process again- so read on to see what else I threw at her.  As a side note: I was able to read this book before the interview and I can honestly say it was a great read, just the right amount of creepy. So don't miss out.

But first, a recap for the first two books, here are the buy links : 

ENCOUNTER, SECOND CHANCES

Tell me three words that describe yourself starting with A, B, and C.

Attorney

Big-hearted

Crumbly

What are your three favorite things?

Delicious food, good company, and the flow that happens when a story is really coming together

Was there any particular inspiration for your characters or story?

I spent a lovely Mardi Gras holiday with my old reporter friend Hank, who lived in New Orleans, some years ago, and it was a beautiful and exotic place. As I moved around the city, I could just see some of these things happening—and I included Hank and his wife in the story as owners of the bed and breakfast where Brianna and Evan stay.

How much is your character like you?

Brianna Ward isn’t as much like me as some of the other heroines in this series. She’s single, working hard practicing corporate law, which never appealed to me. Her ethic is also attached to the mighty dollar—she sees success only in terms of how much money she can make. (Because her father died when the Pittsburgh steel plants all went under, and her family had some very hard financial times, this is the lesson she’s learned—you have to make sure you’re financially secure, or else.)  But her sense of adventure and curiosity is definitely all me—even when it gets her into some pretty big trouble!

Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

VOODOO DREAMS is the third book in the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers series . These are stand-alone stories that all feature a woman practicing law in Pittsburgh as the heroine. 

CONVICTION OF THE HEART is about Suzanne Taylor, a family law attorney who takes particular interest in domestic violence cases, and what happens when she takes a case that might kill her and her two daughters. Good this—or is it?—that Pittsburgh police lieutenant Nick Sansone has taken a very singular liking to Suzanne, just when she needs him.  

SECOND CHANCES is the story of Inessa Regan, who gets laid off from her firm after ten years, and doesn’t even know where to begin. She takes a client, a young Iraq War veteran with cancer, and he takes her under his wing, sharing his office with her and giving her the self-confidence she needs to fly on her own. Each teaches the other something special—and they become much more than associates.

Blurb: 

When her big trial goes bad, corporate attorney Brianna Ward can’t wait to get out of Pittsburgh. The Big Easy seems like the perfect place to rest, relax, and forget about the legal business. Too bad an obnoxious—but handsome—lawyer from a rival firm is checking into the same bed and breakfast.

 Attorney Evan Farrell has Mardi Gras vacation plans too. When he encounters fiery and attractive Brianna, however, he puts the Bourbon Street party on hold. He’d much rather devote himself to her—especially when a mysterious riddle appears in her bag, seeming to threaten danger.

Strangely compelled to follow the riddle’s clues, Brianna is pulled deeper into the twisted schemes of a voodoo priest bent on revenge. To escape his poisonous web, she must work with Evan to solve the curse. But is the growing love they feel for each other real? Or just a voodoo dream?

Excerpt:

The Garden District and areas west of Canal Street had been settled by Americans, while Creoles, European by birth and descent, had tried to keep to themselves in the French Quarter. First the Spanish, then the French, with a healthy dose of Italians and others, had settled in the old city, the atmosphere changing as political machinations on a national scale, beyond the immigrants’ control, ruled the ownership of Louisiana. But New Orleans had always been a place of luxury, and the exotic aura still prevailed, as it did in the man sitting next to her.

His speech cultured and softly accented, he continued to point out details of interest on their journey into the city. But she noticed his attention repeatedly drawn to the folded newspaper in his lap that bore pictures of debutantes and information about the parades.

“It’s a big hush-hush thing, isn’t it?” she asked, pointing to the article about the Mardi Gras events. “I mean, no one knows the identity of the King of Rex, not till the last minute?”

His mouth set into firm, disapproving lines, and emotion burned in his eyes. “By tradition, the name of the King is supposed to be secret.”

She’d been an interrogator long enough to suspect something behind that look. She had to ask. “You know who it is?”

Pinned down, he smiled for a brief moment, then it faded. “Copper knows many things.” He stared out the window, jaw set in a hard line. His lips moved, and as the moments passed, he finally whispered, “Copper knows those who cross him will suffer...”

Belatedly realizing she was hanging on his words, he snapped back to the present, and his sunny expression returned. “I discovered the identity of the King by chance. It wouldn’t be fair to ruin the surprise for others.”

Brianna knew none of the players, so it didn’t matter to her. Copper’s grudges were certainly none of her business. His words, now—those were a bit troubling.

Copper abruptly rose from his seat as they traveled around Lee Circle, with its tall statue of General Robert E. Lee, hero of the Confederacy. They crossed into the business district, which looked more like the Avenue of the Americas, like any other big city with its office warrens, filled to the brims with tiny cubicles for the clerical workers there. “My stop,” he said with an apologetic nod. “Enjoy your day in the Vieux Carré, my lady.”

“Thank you for your tour. And the beads, last night,” she said, feeling she should be gracious, at least.

Copper bowed slightly, and took Brianna’s hand, kissing it lightly with his lips, then giving it a squeeze. “You are most welcome. I will be interested to learn what you think of the city.”

He joined those exiting the streetcar at Julia Street, leaving her a little surprised at the old-school farewell—when was the last time someone had kissed her hand? If ever?

An odd bird, this Copper. Odd, too, that he’d appeared at her streetcar stop. She hadn’t told him where she was staying. Just a coincidence, right?

She watched him walk away, almost wishing he would have come with her, to share his insights on the city, rather than leaving her to depend on the cold, hard facts of her guidebook.

Though he had certainly implied they would meet again. Would he play some part in her weekend visit...an adventure, to use his word? Ridiculous. Letting her imagination run loose served no purpose, no purpose at all. Time to buckle down and get back to her plan.

Buy Links: ALANALORENS.COM         AMAZON

Be sure to come back next Monday as our series interview comes to an end.