The Monster Within Blog Tour: Author Interview!

Welcome to Turning Pages!

Today it's not just me, but we have a very special guest! The author of "The Monster Within", Lola Raynes, please give her a warm welcome! Her book just came out yesterday and the cover looks amazing. Here's the summary, just to give you a little taste of what it's all about!

"Sometimes the monster that haunted you as a child truly is real... All it took was one phone call to bring Nicole Jones's life crumbling down around her. Now a nightmare she thought she'd left in her past is back, and he's not exactly bringing her candy and flowers. While fleeing, in a non-terrified fashion, she meets a menacing man in a dark alley. Then promptly passes out at his feet. Gideon Evans hasn't exactly been having the best run of luck, but all that changes when a buxom little blonde collapses right in front of him. Or at least he thinks it has. It doesn’t take him long to realize that bombshell is an appropriate description for more than just her looks. Now he's facing several problems, including a surprising enemy, his own dark past, and a rather inconvenient case of lust. Can they work together to battle the nightmare that's chasing them? Or will they succumb to the monster within?"

Lola was kind enough to take the time, and answer a few of our questions. Here they are..


1. How did you become a writer? Have you always wanted to be one? If you had the chance would be something else? 

I've always had an overactive imagination, so I guess you could say I've always been a writer... I just didn't know it. It took me a long time to get to a place where I wanted to share the little stories in my head with the world, but now that I'm here, I wouldn't want it any other way.

2. Are any of the characters in your novella based off of real people you know? 

No. I've been told that my personality (meaning snarky smartass) comes through in some of my characters, but that's the closest it comes. I think I'd feel really uncomfortable orchestrating a "nocturnal happenings" scene if the characters were based on, say, my best friend. You know?

3. Did you know exactly how your novella was going to end when you started writing the book, or did it just come as you were writing? 

I think I write wrong. Normally I just get little scenes here and there and then have to wait while the rest of the story materializes. This novella wasn't really different. The ending came to me as I was walking out of my day job to my car. Just one of those "OH OF COURSE, THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD END!"

4. How did you celebrate the release of your first novel? 

This is my first novel. And I think I'll celebrate with take out and a movie with my husband.

(Sounds like a wonderful night! Chinese?)

5. Are you already writing another? Do you have any new ones coming out soon? 

I'm in the process of writing the sequel and the characters FINALLY started cooperating. Still it's going to be awhile before it's ready for public consumption.

(I always feel characters get better and more interesting in the sequels!)

Thank you so much for stopping by Lola! And answering a few questions! Can't wait to read "The Monster Within"!!