Lila Munro is a writer of contemporary romance currently residing on the coast of North Carolina. She is currently under contract for two novels with Wild Horse Press, and a third with Whiskey Creek Press. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. She loves to hear from her readers.
Tell us your latest news.
There are so many exciting things going on right now. First off, my debut novel, The Executive Officer’s Wife released August 10. In October, my second novel will come out through Whiskey Creek Press. It’s called Bound by Trust, and, although it is still rotates around a military hero, the heroine has a much bigger problem than Libby Calhoun did. I have tons of stuff simmering away on my literary stove top. My main focus right now is a series called The Sergeants of Lima Co. It’s about three marines who each find who they believe to be the girl to fulfill all their fantasies before they deploy again. The problem is these women not only come with more baggage than Coach, they worm their way into these boys’ hearts. I believe these books will live up to the standards and expectations my reader’s have, spicy, monogamous relationships with plenty of conflict and happily ever afters.
What initially inspired you to become an author?
I have been writing since I remember being able to spell. I was forever making up stories as a child, in fact one Christmas I asked for a typewriter and Santa delivered. He brought a mini-child-size typewriter and I wore it out pecking away. During my sixth grade year, I had a wonderful creative writing teacher that really encouraged me and was the first to tell me I had a knack for carrying a story line. I think that’s where the seed was initially planted. From there I wrote sporadically, though it wasn’t until a little over a year ago I decided to do something about it. I’m a military wife, and after moving to a new duty station was unable to find a job. I decided staying at home wasn’t all that bad, and, after reading several romance novels that left me wanting at the end, I decided to resurrect the writer in me and give it a shot. A few months later I received my first contract and things have been full ahead ever since.
What is your favorite book and why?
You know, my tastes vary so much it’s really hard to pinpoint any one single book that I would label my all time favorite. I read everything and anything under the sun from romance, to mainstream, to classics, to philosophy…you name it, I’m game to read it. I would have to say my favorites have evolved over the years as I’ve grown. As a child I was enamored of Laura Ingalls and Nancy Drew, then later in the teen years I was swept away by Stephen King, later still, Anne Rice. Yes, I went through a paranormal fascination of vamps, but todays vamps just don’t do it for me—I need mine to be the dominant blood letting type, where the euphoria of the relationships comes from the sharing of souls rather than a sexual release. During college I was heavily into the classics, Hemingway, Bronte, and Dickenson. Now, I just read what ever mood strikes. I will say as far as romance goes, Allison Kent is up high on the list because she was one of the pioneering erotic romance authors. I also like Vicki Lewis Thompson for her ability to weave humor in her stories and when it comes to getting my highlander fix I like Monica McCarty.
Do you have a particular time of day to write? We love to hear about a writer’s process.
I wish I had a schedule of sorts, and I would love to say I am in charge of such things, but I must be honest with you, my muse does the work schedule around here. Sometimes I spend a few minutes a day writing whether it be new material or revisions, and other times I write for hours at a time, frappe and Oreos nearby. My muse is infamous for waking me up in the middle of the night. She either has some new material planned for us, or she is telling me the solution to something that wasn’t going quite right the day before. Organized melee—that about sums up my writing schedule.
What do you find to be the most difficult part of writing?
Edits and revisions. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to fixing things. And since the release of The Executive Officer’s Wife and pending release of Bound By Trust, I’ve become far harder on myself. I feel like a bar has been set and I must keep raising the bar and making it over. I’ve taken the things I’ve learned through reviews and professional editors and applied them to all my WIP’s and anything else I have pending. I have a very low tolerance when it comes to mistakes from me, in particular those that are easy fixes and I somehow miss them the first go around.
Do you have a favorite author?
Again, as with the favorite book, my tastes vary so much that I would have a difficult time pinpointing just one. I love to read as much as I love to write and do so at a voracious speed. And now that I have a Kindle, my husband can forget conversation on road trips. They are much easier to carry than a bag of books and I can download on the road and save stops at book stores.
Tell us about your first published work.
The Executive Officer’s Wife is set in Jacksonville, NC and rotates around the military community based there. The heroine, Libby Calhoun, is the daughter of a USMC sniper being held captive. Chase Wayland, the hero, is a former marine turned bodyguard who has been charged with her safety. The road to happily ever after is a bumpy one for them and is filled with twists, turns, and plenty of surprises. There’s also a host of colorful supporting characters that help them find their way. So far, it’s received good reviews both professionally as well as from my normal reading audience.
Do you have a favorite of your own work?
My books are sort of like children to me. It takes a few months for them to grow inside me and come to fruition, then they are born on paper and begin to grow into mature works. I would no more choose a favorite child than a favorite work. They are all unique and have their own personalities and shortcomings. I love them all in a special way, but not one more than the others. I truly loved writing my first novel and it does hold a special place in my heart, but it’s not my favorite.
Where can our readers find you on the web?
I have my own personal website filled with useful goodies: my blog, excerpts, video trailers, and links to other great sites. I can be reached there at www.lilamunro.weebly.com . In addition to that, I also participate in a joint effort website with three other great gals. We call ourselves the wicked muses and everyone can check that out at www.wickedmuses.webs.com . I highly encourage everyone to become a member at Wicked Muses as we have some fabulous events and give aways planned for this fall and winter.
Where can they buy your books?
At present The Executive Officer’s Wife is available in e-book format through www.amazon.com , www.allromanceebooks.com , www.1romanceebooks.com , and www.omnilit.com . This fall it should come available in paperback. Bound By Trust, due out in October, will be available at all the same outlets and will also be available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com .
Anything else you would like to add?
I’d just like to say thanks for having me here today, it’s been fun chatting it up, and if it’s alright, I’d like to share an excerpt from The Executive Officer’s Wife.
“What’s her story anyway?” He motioned with his glass.
“You mean Libby?” Green exclaimed. “Don’t get any ideas about her. Playing with that’s like dabbling with hell’s fire. Her father eats men that think about being with her for breakfast and washes them down with dragon’s piss.”
“She looks all grown up to me. Who’s her father anyway?”
The men around the table looked at him mouths gaping.
“You mean you don’t know?”
Chase shook his head, confused. “Should I?”
Green smirked. “Wayland, some things are just better learned on your own. Maybe you should ask her.”
The conversation quickly returned to war stories.
* * * * *
Murray slipped behind the bar, stood behind Libby, put his hands on her shoulders, and squeezed. “How you holding up, sweetheart?”
“Pretty good, Uncle Murray.” She shrugged her shoulders, shut her eyes as he hit a sore spot, and inhaled sharply. Looking back up, she discovered the handsome stranger was back at her station and her heart fluttered.
“Hey, cowboy.” With a smile as fresh at midnight as it had been at eight, she quickly fixed a Jack straight up on the rocks and set in before him. “I believe that’s right.”
“Yes, you remembered,” Chase spoke over the crowd and jukebox. “Are you allowed to take a break? Or will you get off soon?”
“Uncle Murray.” She shot the older man a grin. “Do you think you can spare me a while?” What was she doing?
Murray’s eyes darted from her, to Chase, and back again. He feigned a scowl and acted irritated. “Just as soon as that tip jar is full.”
“Well, cowboy, there you go. Fill my jar and I’m free for the rest of the evening.” How he would accomplish it was beyond her.
“Lady, you got yourself a deal.”
Confidently he strode to the karaoke stage, his ostrich skin cowboy boots clicking a cadence. He picked up the microphone and flipped it on. “Excuse me, gentlemen. I realize I’m a newbie here, but it seems the lovely Miss Libby has thrown down the javelin and issued a challenge.” He held his glass toward her, smiled a wicked grin, winked one of his enrapturing eyes, and continued in his honeyed accent. “I was just wondering if I could get you all to help me fill her tip jar so Uncle Murray will let her dance with me.”
Barks of approval raised the roof as marine after marine lined up at the bar and dropped bills in her jar until it could hold no more. The last person in line was Chase, and he topped it off with another twenty.
“Okay, lady, how about that dance?”
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