MARILYN LEE

Beverly A. Rearick: What genre do you write?

Marilyn Lee: I write contemporary erotic romance.

Beverly A. Rearick: What genres would you like to write?

Marilyn Lee: Contemporary erotic romance. I love it.

Beverly A. Rearick: Where do you get your ideas?

Marilyn Lee: Ideas are everywhere. Newspaper articles, overheard bits of conversations, dreams, observing people, and a host of other places.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you pattern your characters after any real people?

Marilyn Lee: I wish. If I knew any men like Reed or Dan, I'd run them down until I caught them. (Very big grin.)

Beverly A. Rearick: What authors do you admire?

Marilyn Lee: M C Beaton, Betty Neels, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Sandra Kitt, and many others.

Beverly A. Rearick: What authors do you read?

Marilyn Lee: Along with the authors listed above, I also read Jo Dereski, Arthur Conan Doyle, Valerie Wilson Wesley.

Beverly A. Rearick: What genres do you read?

Marilyn Lee: I read romance, mysteries, and sci-fi.

Beverly A. Rearick: What other genres do you see yourself writing?

Marilyn Lee: I really enjoy writing contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense. I'd like to write an erotic sci-fi or horror with a to die for vampire hero or heroine.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

Marilyn Lee: Exactly what I'm doing now. I can't imagine any thing else I'd like to do.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you see yourself ever not writing?

Marilyn Lee: Romantic comedy. I'd love to, but I have no clue how to write a romantic comedy.

Beverly A. Rearick: What books do you have planned in the near furture?

Marilyn Lee: A Thing Called Love, an erotic romantic suspense will shortly be published. I am currently working on my next erotic contemporary romance, Forbidden Fruit.

Beverly A. Rearick: How did you get started writing?

Marilyn Lee: I've always wanted to write and I can't remember a time when I wasn't planning and plotting storylines in my head.

Beverly A. Rearick: What age were you when you started to write?

Marilyn Lee: I think I was around eleven when I first started putting my ideas on paper.

Beverly A. Rearick: When is your next book due?

Marilyn Lee: A Thing Called Love, an erotic romantic suspense is due out from Renaissance E-Books in August 2001.

Beverly A. Rearick: Was there any author or authors that helped you get your start in writing, or helped you break into the field?

Marilyn Lee: My mother is a poet and I have an older brother who used to write, so they were my initial inspiration.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel makes your books unique or stand out from others in your genre?

Marilyn Lee: I don't write to a formula. I write what I like, what feels right and then I look around for a publisher. I've been fortunate in that the publisher of Renaissance E-Books allows me to write my stories my way.

Beverly A. Rearick: What made you choose the genres you write?

Marilyn Lee: It's a combination of the genres I love to read. I love to read romance novels; the spicier the better. And I love mysteries. I also like reading stories that illustrate how love unites people across all barriers. A Thing Called Love encompasses all the elements I like most in my books.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you have a favorite place you like to write?

Marilyn Lee: It's a combination of the genres I love to read. I love to read romance novels; the spicier the better. And I love mysteries. I also like reading stories that illustrate how love unites people across all barriers. A Thing Called Love encompasses all the elements I like most in my books.

Beverly A. Rearick: In what order do you write? For example starting beginning to end, combining parts, in random order or in development cycle?

Marilyn Lee: I generally start at the beginning with a vague idea of the ending. Of course the ending or the beginning can and does change if the middle doesn't cooperate.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you feel that the e-books offer authors a bit more freedome of expression in their books?

Marilyn Lee: Without a doubt. I blend genre to my hearts content. A Thing Called Love is part romance, part mystery, part multicultural, and part erotica.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel is, or isn't being done to promote authors?

Marilyn Lee: The publisher of Renaissance E-Books does a good job of promoting his authors. He also keeps them updated on what opportunities for promotion are available, which is helpful.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you feel that the marketing departments have their finger on the pulse of readers?

Marilyn Lee: Not really. They certainly never knew what I wanted to read.

Beverly A. Rearick: How do you feel about the review rating systems?

Marilyn Lee: Although I enjoy a four star review as much as any writer, I'd be just as content with a well-written review that allows the reader to draw his or her own conclusion.

Beverly A. Rearick: Through what venues do you feel most of your books are being sold?

Marilyn Lee: Since they're both ebooks, most of my promotion is geared to the online community. I've recently participated in a print ad, but I'm uncertain how much of a return on that I can expect.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel needs to be changed about the industry?

Marilyn Lee: I think epublishing is one of the best things to happen in the publishing industry.

Beverly A. Rearick: Do you think small press and e-books will be the wave of the future?

Marilyn Lee: Without a doubt. A few years ago, I couldn't imagine reading a book that wasn't on paper, now most of the books I read are electronic. I love reading on my handheld readers and my laptop.

Beverly A. Rearick: What of your published books is your favorite? Why?

Marilyn Lee: Although I love the erotic love scenes in Dream Lover, if I had to choose, I'd have to gave A Thing Called Love a slight edge because it has a mystery element that Dream Lover doesn't.

Beverly A. Rearick: What do you feel is the worst piece of advice anyone ever gave you about writing?

Marilyn Lee: Write what you know. If I only wrote about what I knew, unfortunately that wouldn't be very much. :-)

Beverly A. Rearick: What is the best?

Marilyn Lee: Not to give up your dream. Keep writing, no matter how many times you receive those informal rejection letters.