Spotlight Interview with Erotic Paranormal Romance Author LYNNETTE BERNARD!

Author Bio: Lynnette Bernard is a fan of Broadway, the ocean, science fiction, romance, music, movies, books, and babies. She has two babies of her own that were the perfect children, who have turned out to be outstanding adults. She is a staunch advocate of “happily ever after” and changes the endings of any movie that she sees or book that she reads that doesn’t follow that rule. She has the hots for cowboys, shifters, vampires, and really nice guys and lives her fantasies about them through her writings. The cowboys of Colorado will always hold a special place in her heart.

The Interview:

GRACIE: I’m excited to have you here at The G-Spot, Lynnette! Please tell us a little about yourself (or a lot J) and how and when you got into writing?

LYNNETTE: Thanks, Gracie! It’s so nice to be here. Thanks for having me. J I have written stories from the time I was about 14 years old. My first book was completed at age 16. It was an historical romance set in Wyoming in the late 1800s. The story was a great story and I may rewrite it some day, but although I knew the basics of physical love, I had no experience. The story was definitely PG and I am proud of it; however, I would definitely flesh it out and spice it up to do justice to the characters’ love story. Now that I’m older, I have a better understanding of physical love, emotional love, and striving for dreams. I would never look back and regret anything. My future possibilities are endless and I am so thankful to be doing what I love—writing.

GRACIE: Is there any one thing or person in your life that inspired your writing? Any one thing or person that influenced the genre you write in?

LYNNETTE: My father always supported me in all my decisions and loved me unconditionally. He was a man who loved my mother with all his heart, and he loved every one of us kids without reservation or judgment. He was an amazing man, a loving husband and father, and the perfect role model. He was a deeply caring and kind man. All the men in my stories have these traits in their personalities because of my dad. Men would be an amazing gender if they all took their lessons from him. As far as the genre aspect, I’m a romantic through and through. I love reading romance stories, and I love writing romance stories. So, that’s all me. J

GRACIE: When did you get The Call and what was your first published book?

LYNNETTE: I always remember having a need to write from the time I was a pre-teen/teenager. I tried for many years to get my work published but I was caught in a constant loop of frustration. I couldn’t get an agent to represent me unless I had something published, and I couldn’t get anything published unless I had an agent to represent me. Luckily for me, the age of e-book publishing opened up a world of possibilities to me. I just had to submit my work in the format that the publisher wanted. I was very lucky that Siren Publishing took a chance on me. It took six weeks and a follow-up email to check on the status of my submission, but it was a positive experience and I was offered a contract for Laurie’s Loves. It was the most amazing thing for me that after all the years of writing—someone had finally given me a chance and believed in me. I am forever grateful to the wonderful people of Siren.

GRACIE: What do you know now about writing and the publishing industry that you wish you’d known before you started?

LYNNETTE: I now know that I can say “No” to suggestions. What I mean by this is very important. When Laurie’s Loves was going through the editing process, I was constantly trying to please the editors. They suggested changes that I felt would completely change the basic idea of the series. I was afraid to stand up for myself and take a chance that I would be told my book wasn’t going to be published. I ended up standing my ground and held firm to my beliefs, and you know what? Nothing bad happened. In fact, quite the opposite happened. My stories stayed as I had written them, and my readers contact me and tell me that what I stood my ground about was exactly what they enjoy the most.

GRACIE: Please, give us a little story behind the story and what inspired your Beckett’s Wolf Pack, Triad Mates series.

LYNNETTE: I’ve always loved the paranormal world. I especially love wolf shifters and vampires. In thinking about the series I was going to create, I wanted to create a world that held beautiful possibilities where people were kind, loving, and supportive. I wanted to write my own love story. Like Laurie Young, I was that person who had raised two children alone, with a crazy, abusive ex and two wonderful kids. I gave up everything to raise my kids and had finally taken a vacation after fifteen years of having no “me” time. That’s how the trip to the Circle Three Ranch came about. I also have dreamed of finding my soul mate and thought how wonderful it would be if my mate would be able to find me by scent, want to protect me and care about me, be completely loyal and faithful, find me desirable, and want a family with me. Jace and Jackson certainly fulfill that requirement. The abilities of speaking to each other, knowing each other’s feelings and emotions, and experiencing visions about the beauty of their future just kind of came to be as I realized that those things would help reassure Laurie and all future mates that the love they found was right, and allowed their love to progress quickly.

GRACIE: In Laurie’s Loves, what do you think it is about Laurie Young that makes her the perfect mate for alpha Jace Beckett and beta Jackson Scott despite her being human and even though she is their fated triad mate?

                                                        

 

LYNNETTE: I really think Laurie is perfect for them because she doesn’t think she is anything special. She has no designs on them and she treats them as acquaintances. They get to know her as just a friend even though she is much more to them. She is a naturally nurturing woman and someone who has taken on the role of caregiver to others—both in the pack and within her own life. She has fears, but her need to help, guide, and love children and the people of the pack drives her. She needs to comfort those she meets and Jace and Jackson need her kindness and her love. They have had a life of isolation despite their status as alpha and beta. She brings them the honest caring and acceptance that is completely free of any motives for self.  She is exactly what they need, and her character progresses through the Beckett’s Wolf Pack Series showing how she has naturally come into her own as the queen of the pack. She’s awesome and loving—just what her men and the members of the pack need.

GRACIE: In Babies for Nikki what do you think is fearless spitfire Nicole Sinclair’s Achilles’ heel and how do you go about stomping it?

 

 

LYNNETTE: Nikki’s fear is that she is the go-to woman to make everyone laugh, but people don’t see her as a desirable woman. She doesn’t think anyone sees who she really is, or values her as a woman. She’s used to being used and thought of as the person who will fix everything. To some degree, she is; however, she is much more than that. When she meets Alexander and Butler, she is at first skeptical and resorts to her sarcastic humor to protect herself. Only when she gives in to their love, experiences the visions, feels the emotions of her men, and hears their thoughts can she finally get over her lack of confidence. It’s important to note that it doesn’t matter what profession, or what a woman’s financial status, childhood insecurities never leave us. Whatever our parents or our friends torture us with as children never leaves us. It’s like a constant buzzing in our mind that reminds us that we’re not all that great. Some of us get over it to some degree. Some of us don’t. The love of our mate/mates is what will help us flourish and grow. Nikki can only see that she is a desirable woman who is deeply loved when Alex and Butler show her in their treatment of her.

GRACIE: What is it you find appealing about the author themes of healing and acceptance that seem to run through most of your books and series so far? Did your author themes choose you or did you choose them?

LYNNETTE: I think both, actually. I have a very spiritual heart and I believe in miracles. So much has happened in my life that supports this. I also have been on the receiving end of prejudice. I have always been frustrated by people making judgments about me, or anyone really, without taking the time to get to know the amazing people that we are. In the worlds that I create, acceptance is firm, and honest. There is the important theme of family that is shown through each series. Family is the ultimate happiness as far as I’m concerned. My characters want to create a supportive family and they want to have children. So, my books will always have acceptance, healing, and family.

GRACIE: Of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?

LYNNETTE: Oh, wow. That’s tough. I have to be honest and say that my favorite book is always the one I’m working on at the moment. I have to let the other books go or I won’t be able to work on the current book. I really have to say that making each book I’m working on my favorite gives that book the importance it deserves until the story is told.

GRACIE: I know this is like asking a mother which is her favorite child, but which of your characters is your favorite and why?

LYNNETTE: Again, another tough choice. Laurie is me twenty years ago. Nikki is me now. Jamie is me during college. Gracie is me as a big sister. Every man in the wolf pack series is awesome, and don’t even get me started on the men in the cowboy series! Every one of them is exactly what each of us needs. But, if I had to pick just one character, ummmmm, probably Deuce McKade. He is an amazing man who took over the caring of his brothers and friends. He’s strong, he works hard, he’s an amazing uncle and father, and his love for Gracie makes me cry. All the men in my books are really loyal, loving men who adore their mates. Every one of them is exactly what I would want in the mate who loved me.

 

 

GRACIE: What about your characters makes them unique?

LYNNETTE: Well, I think the sense of family and protection is a big reason why they are so unique. Most of all, the characters are kind. Kindness is the basis for their personality so you like them, trust them, root for them, and ultimately love them.

GRACIE: What is your favorite aspect of the writing process? Your least favorite?

LYNNETTE: I love the actual writing of each novel. I escape from the problems of my life when I am creating. I can create worlds where good people win. They can be happy, and they can have a loving, fulfilling future with their mates. I have said many times that I love escaping from the world and never leaving my “cave with wi-fi” for days on end. J

My least favorite is criticism in reviews by people who seem to have no concept of what my books are all about. If you don’t like ménage stories, don’t buy them. If you don’t like men who adore and love their mates, don’t buy them. If you don’t like inner conflict that my characters struggle through, don’t buy them. I sometimes want to defend myself against some incredibly cruel words, but I let it go. Not everyone is going to like my books and that’s okay, but I truly don’t understand why people have to be intentionally hurtful.

GRACIE: Are you a pantser or do you outline?

LYNNETTE: A little of both. I have a basic understanding of my book before I start, but I do come up with some of the scenes as I go along. The characters speak to me and make me give them scenes that are unique to them.

GRACIE: If you weren’t a writer, what other profession would you have chosen to pursue?

LYNNETTE: I’ve always wanted to edit movies. I’ve had experience writing and directing plays and movies, and I love the editing process. I would like to do that.

GRACIE: Who are some of your favorite authors and why? Name some of your favorite books and why they’re your favorites.

LYNNETTE: I have pretty eclectic tastes. I love romance, science fiction, the classics, plays, comedies, mysteries, historical, and erotica. Some of the current authors I read are: Melinda Barron , Stormy Glenn, Elle Saint James, Charlie Richards, Bianca D’Arc, Marie Harte, Gabrielle Evans , Eve Langlais, Evangeline Anderson, Allyson James, Amylea Lyn, Ann T. Ryan, Andrew Grey, Toni Griffin, and Cheryl Lynne to just name a few. There are so many, I hope I don’t insult anyone by leaving them out. I love all kinds of romance stories: M/F, M/M, M/M/F, M/F/M, the possibilities are endless. Love is love. That is the true test of any book that I read. The love story and the commitment the characters have to each other is what makes me love the book. As far as classic writers, my favorite writer is Shakespeare.

I absolutely love The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. That has to be my favorite book for young adults. It calls to your heart and allows kids to identify with the isolation of teenage life. My first love story that I read at the age of 16 was The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. It was my first foray into the romantic world and it hooked me on that genre for life. What a wonderful love story.

GRACIE: What are you working on now and what should readers be looking forward to from you in the future?

LYNNETTE: I’m currently working on the 3^rd Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections book. This one is Spence, Lainey, and Tim’s story. It’s called Claiming Lainey and is a ménage love story. When I’m finished with this one, I’ll be writing Book 5 in the Beckett’s Wolf Pack, Triad Mates Series. That one will be Wade, Meeka, and Reece’s story. It’s called Meeka’s Reluctant Mates. I plan on starting two new series this summer. One will be Auctioned Mates, and the other will be Wizard Mates. I truly love all of my characters and series. I wish I could stay home and write ALL the time!

Abbey’s Protectors, Book 4 of Beckett’s Wolf Pack, Triad Mates is scheduled for release from Siren Publishing on June 19^th. It may be sooner (I hope) so I’ll keep everyone posted on my website and on my Facebook page.

GRACIE: Do you have a website and/or how can readers contact you?

LYNNETTE: My website is http://www.lynnettebernard.com and my email is lynnettebernard@gmail.com

I absolutely love hearing from readers. I also have a Facebook page and would love readers to “friend” me. J

GRACIE: Where and how can readers purchase and/or read samples of your work?

LYNNETTE: I have excerpts of my novels on my website. http://www.lynnettebernard.com

My books are available at Siren BookStrand, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo. I see that they are also available as an Apple App.

GRACIE: What advice do you have for beginning writers?

LYNNETTE: Hone your craft. Make sure your stories are tight and interesting. Most importantly, don’t give up.

GRACIE: Anything else about yourself or your writing you’d like to share with your readers?

LYNNETTE: Well, I would like readers to know just how much I absolutely love what I do. I am my happiest when I’m writing. I can’t even begin to tell you how important it is to me to have this amazing opportunity in my life. Life can be very hard and we all need that one special thing in our lives that we can hang onto and hold dear to our heart that helps us see that there can be beauty and happiness in this crazy world. Writing does that for me. I am so thankful to be able to write.

GRACIE: Lynnette, thanks so much for taking time from your busy schedule to share yourself and your work with us at The G-Spot and giving us a little insight into your writing and the writing process! We’ll let you get back to writing those wonderful books you write! All the best!

LYNNETTE: Thank you for having me. It was fun. :) Happy Reading, Everyone!