[Madhu, After Dark] Can you tell us a little about yourself? Who are you on the other side of the screen?

[Lauren, Featured Author] I'm a 31 year old Attorney and writer from Tulsa Oklahoma. I write edgy and sexy romances packed with adventure and intense emotion. When I'm not writing I'm off to movies with friends or taking my dogs for a walk. I love photography and drawing too!

[M] What's your background in writing, where did it begin? And did your profession influence your writing in any way?

[L] I started writing in the third grade when I realized I wanted to change the endings to stories like the Titanic. I didn't want Jack to die so I vowed to write the whole story over to save him so he and Rose could be together. I started writing to get published when I was in law school in 2009 and learned I was destined to write Romance. Being a lawyer makes me love escapist type books all the more so I love writing wild and fun adventures that wouldn't happen in real life.

[M] That sounds amazing. I would love to read the alternate ending to Titanic.
Also, your book Legally Charming has a twinge of Cinderella in it.
How did that idea come into shape?

[L] The funny truth behind Legally Charming is that the opening where the hero and heroine meet at a Halloween party was partially real. I threw a party in law school with my best friend and I dressed up in a beautiful Tudor era gown and had to sleep in my friend's boyfriend's brother's room for the night. It gave me a great idea about what would have happened if he had come home early. And the story of Felicity and the rich and sexy workaholic Jared was born. I wanted their story to be real and yet feel fairy tale like. I didn't want to write about another Jerk hero. I wanted to show readers there could be alpha heroes who treated some with respect.

[M] What do you think of the last draft of the book?

[L] I always like the last draft of any book I write. I know some writers get bogged down in rewriting things over and over but not me. Once I'm done I'm done and happy with the end result.

[M] What were your initial results when you first started posting first your book?

[L] Here on Wattpad? Not much because I could only post the first chapter since the book was published with a house and up for sale. Many readers were upset even though I left a paragraph explaining why I couldn't post the full book. It took me 2 years later to have a self published title I could post. Now I have half of my books fully posted here because they are self published and readers are enjoying them. :)

[M] That's awesome! :)
After you got your books published and what not, what would you recommend to the author's who are new to publishing, get a publisher or self-publishing?

[L] I would recommend learning the market if they want to make a living. Know what sells. You don't copy best sellers but you need to understand what makes their stories compelling. And learn how to hire quality cover artists and formatting.

[M] What has worked out in your favour out of the two?

[L] I honestly think about 90% of writers need to try to get a publisher or at least work with a seasoned freelance editor in their genre because most indie writers don't learn the craft of writing and it shows. The sad thing is readers don't seem to care about quality anymore and it's reducing the quality of writing. Writers who care about their books, need to take the initiative to at least shoot for a publisher first or at the last hire a really good editor who will teach them to hone their craft. Even when you self publish though you'll still always want to hire an editor for each book but the point is that you're always learning and improving. Good books make smarter readers and everyone wins that way.

[M] What are your biggest pet peeves when it comes to writing?

[L] My biggest pet peeve is first person style of writing. Too many authors lately write in first person. It has less style and less talent and work to write first person. Writers should push themselves to learn the craft and hone down the skills to write third person stories. They are a richer and more rewarding experience for the reader and they aren't limited by one character's viewpoint.

[M] Have you always written in a third person's pov?

[L] Yes. I was raised on reading third person books love that style above all else because you can tell so much more of a story with third person.

[M] What is your favorite book? Both on and off Wattpad?

[L] Heart of the Kraken is my favorite Wattpad book! My favorite non Wattpad book is The Host by Stephanie Meyer.

[M] So is it safe to say that Fantasy is your favourite genre?

[L] I love fantasy but I couldn't limit myself to one favorite genre. I could list favs in all categories. I prefer romance above everything else though. :)

[M] What is the one thing about writing that nobody told you about?

[L] Probably that once you take it seriously ad a career that you have to be obsessed with it to make it work. I spend 7 days a week 10 or 15 hours a day on my career which includes editing writing marketing and general business management with book vendors and also social media engagement with fans. It's a lot of work so you have to be ready to tackle all of it with no real vacation. I'm fortunate that I love what I do so I go after it 150% everyday :)

[M] It's awesome to see that you show a huge dedication towards what you feel passionate about! :)
What is the one thing you'd like to tell your younger self as of today?

[L] Thank you! I admit it can be daunting but when you love something it's worth the effort. I would tell younger myself to keep at it. I had to face a lot of criticism early in my writing as a teenager because my mother was a journalism major in college and she took a red pen to my world and it would have discouraged me. But I kept at it and I would tell my younger self to keep pushing through the criticism.

[M] I along with all your readers are extremely glad that you ultimately managed to push through the criticism and managed to achieve your goals.
Before we wrap up, what do you think is your ultimate goal as a writer?

[L] My ultimate goal is to continue writing stories that stand the test of time. Stories that change readers for the better and make them laugh sigh and swoon.

[M]That is an amazing goal you've set up.
Here's to hoping you'd cross them with amazing results! :)
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.