10 Questions for Emma J. Lane

So, it's August and the world has gone Olympics mad. Me too. I love, love me some Olympics. I'll watch anything if it's an Olympic sport. Rowing? Bring it on. Diving? I'm there. Equestrian? Sign me up. How better to celebrate the London games than featuring a Regency author for this Musaling Monday.

Emma Lane lives in Western New York near Lake Erie on a few picturesque acres with her ever patient husband. They own and operate a small herbtique which keeps their days busy and interesting during the summer months. They have two brilliant grown-up children and a wonderful pair of grandchildren. In one way or another, the entire family contributes to her stories. They are her biggest fans and she is ever thankful for it.

And what would we do without fans?

1.      First the easy one. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm a native of South Georgia but have lived in Western NY for many years. Hubby and I have two brilliant children and two very handsome grandchildren. Although we traveled quite a bit in the past, I'm sort of a stay-at-home author now. We go south for a few weeks to catch up with relatives in the winter. I think they call us 'snow birds.' Oh, yeah and I'm an avid birder. I like hot fudge sundaes. 

2.      If you could compete in any Olympic sport, what would it be?

Olympic sport? Well, I used to play a very lot of tennis so if they still have tennis teams I'd sign up for that. Otherwise, swimming.

3.      What sport would you add to the Olympics?

Since it’s the summer Olympics, how about corn shucking?

4.      If you were stranded on a desert island, what five things (other than books) would you take with you?

Desert Island, huh? I'd take my husband, my two children and my two grandchildren. Nothing is more important than my family.

5.      What about books? If you could only have one book on that island, what would it be?

Choosing one book is painful, but it would probably be the Bible with Shakespeare a second.

*Interviewer note* Ooh, now the  geek in me wants to know which version of each. Revised Standard and Riverside?

 

6.      We all know the Olympic theme music. What would be your book’s theme song?

My latest Regency is all about returning soldiers so perhaps a marching song. "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Is that a Regency song?

7.      Can you caption this photo?

"Research, research! Didn't I see something in here about lives 10, 11 and 12?"

8.      What was the first story you remember writing?

Short stories for Magazines. I wrote what I thought they wanted to hear (and obviously didn't). Vignettes of women at home and their 'adventures.' As if housewifery could be exciting. Okay, there was the time I tried to make cornbread and had to bury the results in the back yard and the damn dog dug it up and showed it to my new husband. But other than that…well, there was the time I made tuna noodle casserole and served it without the noodles. Nothing very exciting. Disconcerting maybe. I wonder if that's when my hubby developed that poker face.

9.      Give a gold medal to someone special. Other than your own efforts, to whom do you attribute your success as a writer?

My mom was my best audience. Trite, but true. When I was far away from home (with various degrees of homesickness)  I would write long, highly exaggerated stories of my adventures. They were meant to amuse. My mom had this engaging chuckle we kids (7 of us)  all loved to hear so we would try to make her laugh. As I wrote nonsense in my letters home, I could hear her laughter. She always encouraged me to write. I wish I had started earlier, but I can still hear her laughter in my head.

10.   You know what time it is: Rejection haiku time. No one gets on the blog without a rejection haiku.

Surging hope

dashed into

starting over. 

Wow, seven kids? Your mom does deserve a gold medal! To read an excerpt of Emma's new Regency, Beloved Soldier Returns, check out her page on the Musa Publishing website. Emma's books are also available on Amazon. Amnesia, a forgotten fiancee, a Napoleanic War veteran, and family shennanigans. Do you really need to know more?