Author Interview with Elle J. Lawson

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
The Fling is my debut novel, and is a New Adult contemporary erotic romance. The story is about Amy, a 22-year-old recent college graduate who is ready to conquer the world if it wasn’t for her overprotective parents. She uses a once-in-a-lifetime academic opportunity to study abroad in Greece as a means to escape her parents’ watchful eyes, if only for a moment. She is hoping to find excitement and adventure in Athens in order to combat the boredom that has been her life up to that point. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) she finds just that.
Dr. Dimitri Speros is Amy’s incredibly attractive professor at the University of Athens Medical School. She is immediately enamored with him, but is disappointed to learn that he is happily married. Dimitri encourages her professional goals, building up her confidence and giving her the freedom to dream of the future she wants, rather than the one her parents want for her. He is exotic, sexy, charming, and their chemistry is off-the-charts every time she goes anywhere near him. For his wife’s sake, though, Amy desperately tries to rein in the attraction she feels.Everything goes according to plan until an unlikely ally – none other than Dimitri’s wife herself – bizarrely encourages Amy’s crush. What then starts off as an innocent summer fling, awakening her sexuality like no other has ever done before, eventually becomes a struggle for happily ever after when Amy and Dimitri are faced with the ultimate betrayal. They must learn to trust one another in order for their love to survive.

What inspired you to write it?
One day the fantasy just popped into my head, and the story unfolded and grew from there. I wasn't able to get it to leave me alone until I began to write it down.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?

My original idea for the cover was the scene from the nightmare, with a woman at the beach, with her back turned to the camera. I actually have this completed cover as an alternate. I didn't end up using it because I didn't want people to be confused about the book's content. By using the couple, as I have it on the current cover, I am making it clear that it's a romance novel.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Luke Evans as Dimitri, Amber Heard as Amy, and Monica Bellucci as Lydia.

Is it part of a series or is it a stand-alone novel?
This is a stand-alone, with enough of a hint to more story that a sequel could happen if the demand is there.

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
The story is set in Greece. It wasn't a conscious decision; it's just where my character told me he is from.

What is it about erotica that appeals to you so much?
I like feeling hot and bothered when I'm done reading, so this is what I tried to provide for my readers as well.

Are you a Fifty Shades fan?
Yes. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. No, the writing isn't the best, and no, the book doesn't adequately handle BDSM, and no, it's not exactly literary fiction -- but it wasn't meant to be. I enjoyed it and appreciate it simply for what it is, not for what everyone seemed to expect from it. I also enjoyed the movie, though Jamie Dornan didn't really do it for me. He didn't seem able to play a Dom. I thought Dakota Johnson did a great job, though.

What made you want to become an author?
Most authors answer this question with, "I've always been a storyteller" or "I've been writing since I was six!" Those answers are definitely not me. I was a technical writer for over 20 years, with no plans of ever writing fiction. Then I became an editor and the fiction-writing world opened up for me, and I made a mental note to encourage the story to come if it ever seemed close. Luckily, it did.

How do you come up with character names?
I went with my gut, without putting too much thought into it, actually. Preconceived psychological notions about how people with certain names act came into it, such as "Amy" being (in my mind) an innocent name, and also very American. Last names were chosen to accurately represent nationality. I tried to imagine myself as each character, and then asked, "What's my name?"

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
John Steinbeck is my favorite overall author. Of his books, it's a tie between The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden. My favorite erotica author is Thea Devine. I've bought and read every book she's ever written.

Who, or what, inspires you?
The ocean. Palm trees. Fish. A warm breeze. My zodiac sign is a crab. It suits me well.

Where is your favourite place to write?
As long as I have my computer in front of me, it doesn't matter where I am. The most important thing for me is to have solitude. That's why most of The Fling was written between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
I suppose I'll say Lord of the Rings.

Name two of your favourite authors.
John Steinbeck and Thea Devine.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
My pinky fingers are double-jointed.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Julia Roberts.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
Everyone is super religious. None of my neighbors or local friends are interested in reading my book. lol

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
Due to the nature of my day-job, I will always be involved somehow with writing, but maybe not always as author. I'm happy either way.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
I'd like to visit Scotland someday. I've visited a few places around the world, but still haven't made it to Scotland yet.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
Atlantis.

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to teach.

The Fling is Elle J. Lawson’s first foray into fiction writing, with most of her 20-year writing career being in non-fiction, technical writing and corporate communications. She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and her local chapter, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers.
Her education includes a BA degree in Communication Studies, an MA in English, as well as graduate-level certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Ms. Lawson now lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and their spoiled Chihuahua. She loves reading, movies, and travel to exotic locations.
If you would like a copy of ‘The Fling’ to read, review or feature, please contact Kris Barnes of Authoramp.
Elle is also available for interviews and guest blogging.Website
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Amazon (pre-order)