Lion Dancing For Love by Laura Boon

Please welcome Laura Boon author of Lion Dancing For Love

Laura Boon will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Lion Dancing for Love

by Laura Boon

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GENRE: Contemporary romance, small town romance, novella

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

In my final year of high school, my English teacher signed me up for the school newspaper without asking about my level of interest. He was high-handed that way, but I’ve always been grateful. He planted the seed. Then, when I went to university, I discovered the creative writing department. It was a lightbulb moment for me. I’d always thought there was me, the reader, and these wonderful ‘others’ who were the storytellers. I realized I could be a storyteller too. It took me years to work up the courage and gain the skill to actually do it, but I am very grateful to those early educators for opening my eyes to possibility.

2. How did you come up with ideas for your books?

My first idea for a story is often around a place. Then I ask who lives there? What’s going on in their lives? For my new release, Lion Dancing for Love, the place was the main street of a typical New England town. The was Corey, who was born and bred there, and Caitlin from San Diego, who was only there for a short holiday.

3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I’m an accredited editor, which is very helpful in terms of structure, grammar and punctuation although I have to say, it is really hard to edit your own work. Trying gives me a real appreciation for the feedback of my wonderful editor. I’m also a passionate reader. I think reading is the most important thing any writer can do. It’s the easiest and most pleasurable way to absorb story structure, notice the impact of detail, keep up to date with trends in your genre, etc.

4. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

I came from a tennis playing family. I wasn’t the best player, but I was good enough to get a scholarship to an American university. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I came over thinking all of America would be like Dallas, the soap opera, and I left with a real appreciation for the complexity of the American landscape and its people.

5. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

I am currently writing book two in my Romancing the Alps series, which started with The Millionaire Mountain Climber. It’s a quartet, so I’ve got three books to go. I also have an idea for a Regency historical romance that I’m very excited about.

6. If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

I’d cast Kelsey Chow (Splitting Up Together,Yellowstone) as Caitlin and Josh Duhamel (Chips, Love, Simon) as Corey.

7. Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder your writing?

I belong to the most amazing writers’ group. They are my first readers, my support on bad days and my cheer squad on good days. They’re also excellent at working through short pieces of writing as a group and giving great feedback – very gently. It’s very important to have a support group who understand your crazy desire to write. However, if they’re mean or undermine you, you should leave straight away and try to find another one. Better your own company than a negative voice that follows you for the rest of your career.

8. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

I joined the Romance Writers of Australia and individual members both gave me advice and encouraged me to submit my work. RWAus also provided the opportunity to submit. At their annual conference, they conduct speed dating pitch sessions with editors and publishers you can sign up for. In the end, I hooked up with my publisher directly, but the experience and confidence I gained from RWAus was life-changing.

9. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I am both a plotter and a pantser. I start with an image of the place where the story will take place, then the characters come to me. Then I do a very rough chapter breakdown of the major events. It all has to fit on one page so only one sentence per chapter. I like to be able to look over the whole story at once so I can easily switch things up. Also, my characters frequently disagree with my initial plans, so my outlines change all the time, at least four times per book!

10. Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?

My hobbies include playing tennis, traveling, languages, chocolate, stationery and books, always books. These experiences sneak into my stories alongside life experiences like bad jobs. Good and bad, it’s all source material. <j>  In Lion Dancing for Love, Caitlin collects early 20^thcentury crime novels written by women. I’m not a collector, but I do have a fondnessfor women crime writers.

BLURB:

Licking her wounds after a bad relationship, San Diego accountant Caitlyn Summers travels to Willow Springs to help her friend gear up for the annual Maple Sugar Ball. She isn’t planning on staying long, but one encounter with the delicious Corey Duncan has her re-evaluating her plans.

Corey swore off love when his wife Annie died from breast cancer. Caitlyn is too young, too citified, and vibrates with a passion and energy that will upend the safe, comfortable rhythm of his life. Corey has to choose between playing it safe and taking a risk on love. Caitlyn needs to find the patience to let Corey lead. If not, the Maple Sugar Ball might end in a sticky mess, instead of a slow dance with the man who has captured her heart.

Will their fire burn hot enough to erase doubts and past hurts?

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EXCERPT:

“You don’t have to be good at it. You have to be able to follow and count to three.”

She put her hands on her hips. It was his turn to raise a brow. “I can follow—if I choose to.”

He chuckled. “Such sass. Prove it.”

He held out his left hand, and she moved forward and placed her right inside it. He twined their fingers and pulled her into position. A heady combination of scents rose from her, vanilla and pheromones and something uniquely Caitlin. Her skin was slick against his. “Rest your head against my chest,” he murmured.

“I don’t recall that as an official position.”

“It’s the one I favor. Stand on my feet. That’s it.” He adjusted her arm, so she had a good hold around his neck and drew her even closer. “Step with your right foot first…back across, together. Forward, across, together. Back, across, together. Forward, across, together.”

Halfway through the song, he let her feet slip to the ground. At the end he kept a firm grip on her waist while he hit replay, then led her through a series of fast twirls, their bodies so close they were almost one. When the song ended, they collapsed in a heap against the wall. She was giggling.

“What?”

“I get why it was considered scandalous when it was first introduced.”

He smiled and tipped her chin toward him with a finger. “It’s only scandalous if you do it properly.”

He brushed his lips softly across hers, then claimed her mouth as she breathed into him.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

About Laura

Laura Boon stole her first romance from her father’s bookshelves as a teenager, The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and was immediately captivated. After holding a variety of positions in publishing, from bookseller to sales rep and publicist, she eventually found the courage to write her own stories. She was born in Zambia, grew up in South Africa, and went to university in America. She now lives in Australia with her husband and their adorable dogs Beau and Arro. When she is not reading or writing, she enjoys sleuthing for artisan chocolate and beautiful stationery, watching tennis, and walking alongside Sydney’s beautiful harbor.

Social Media Links

You can find Laura online at:

Web: https://lauraboon.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraBoonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LollyRussell

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraboonrussell66/

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18376534.Laura_Boon

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-boon

Lion Dancing for Love Buy Links

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Dancing-Love-Deerbourne-Inn-ebook/dp/B07NQ6VGD7

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lion-Dancing-Love-Deerbourne-Inn-ebook/dp/B07NQ6VGD7

Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/Lion-Dancing-Love-Deerbourne-Inn-ebook/dp/B07NQ6VGD7

The Wild Rose Press (publisher): https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6584-lion-dancing-for-love.html

https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/lion-dancing-for-love/id1453327736?mt=11

https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/lion-dancing-for-love

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Laura_Boon_Lion_Dancing_for_Love?id=kGGNDwAAQBAJ

https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/274-deerbourne-inn

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Laura Boon will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2978