Today we welcome Author M. Francis Lamont to our Fiction Friday spotlight. She writes in the erotic romance genre and if you love romance like I do she has something for everyone. From sexy badass bikers to the time of Camelot and King Arthur to the pits of the gladiators of Rome her stories mix grit, honor, loyalty, power, sex that’ll have you hooked from beginning to end. Let’s get to know her a little better shall we.
1). Thank you for joining us here today. Tell us a little about yourself and what started your journey to becoming a writer?
M). Thanks for having me. It is such a privilege being here with you. I have always been a creative person, the kid in charge of the story when we were playing pretend. This just seems like a natural progression from that.
2.) What do you enjoy most about being a writer/author?
M). I love bringing the stories in my mind to life on the page and finding out who they really are.
3.) What do you think the hardest part about becoming a writer and pursuing this as a career is?
M). The hardest part, for me, is having the confidence to do the self promotion work that is needed to make the works a success. There is a certain stigmatism attached to being a romance author who writes ‘those kind of books’ that has definitely been hard to get around, but I think I have found a way to be shamelessly proud of my work with the unwavering support of my closest friends. They treat me like a superstar and my books like they’re the best thing on the shelves.
4.) Where do you find the inspiration for your books? And are any of your characters based on people you know?
M.) Inspiration comes from everywhere. The Champions is definitely inspired by the cast and characters of Spartacus. They were all really gracious about giving character insight and have been cheering me on over the years. As for characters based on my friends, absolutely. The entire cast of The Dukes of Hell is a patchwork of my male friends, not that I would ever do those things with them of course, but the heart and soul of the Dukes are based on people that I hold near and dear to my heart. I wouldn’t have that series without them.
5.) Do you have a favorite character? Or do you fall a little in love with each one?
M.) I think every author is a little bit in love with all their heroes. I know that I am, and I hope it shows. Cassian was my first so he will always be special to me, but I think that Jack Barret, the hero of my Dirty Little Secrets stories, is the one that I love the most because I was hopelessly in love when I created him. He is THE hero.
6.) I know each of the amazing men you have featured on your covers has had some creative input with the characters they represent. And being as you’re the first author I’ve met that does that, so my question is why? And do you feel it adds to the story having that relationship with your cover models?
M.) I love that the guys have all been so kind as to offer a bit of themselves into the characters that I write. They are all so very special and have a great number of stories they could tell. Seriously, they could write their own books and I’d read them. I think that putting a bit of the man on the cover into the book adds a bit more humanity to the character and, since I consider them friends and colleagues when I am writing, I think it keeps me a bit more honest about the humanity of the character as well. I think that the guys like being more than meat on the cover too, so many people, writers and readers, forget these guys are human too and that they are so much more than abs and eyes. I am proud to say that several of these men, ones I’ve published and a few that are coming up, are honestly some of my dearest friends. We help each other with more than books and cross posting so their books are like an ode to them and what they mean to me. Not in a sexual way, even though they’re gorgeous, but how they had their hero moment in my life. I just hope I do right by them with the characters and, yes, I have changed the story or backstory, if they are not comfortable with something or have a better idea, It is a great feeling.
7.) After Seven books already under your belt, have you learnt anything about yourself during the process that maybe surprised you?
M.) I have learned how much I still have to learn. Anyone who writes and doesn’t think they still have things to learn is seriously kidding themselves.
8.) Which of your characters so far do you relate to the most and why?
M.) I’d like to think I am as fiery as Ruby, the heroine in Loch but I might be more like Caelia in The Silver Knight, or Gerard in the same story, simply because I really am that pig-headed at times.
9.) Do you get “writer’s block”? And do you have any advice for writer’s struggling with it? What works for you?
M.) Writer’s block is a real problem for a lot of people. I have found that, for me, having multiple stories going at once helps to deter this because if I get stuck on one story I can swap to a different one for a bit.
10.) Do you have any advice for first time authors? What area in the whole process do you feel is the most crucial and should not be skipped on? For example I was told never ever cheap out on a good editor, what are your thoughts?
M.) Always carry a notebook and pencil with you. You can’t edit an empty page so just write and, the part that is the hardest but I think is the most important: work on your craft EVERY DAY. A sentence, idea, paragraph or page. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re trying. Oh, and make sure you read all the copyright law you can.
11.) If you had to describe your books in 5 words, which words would you use?
M.) This one is really hard because they’re all different but; Hot as hell. Detailed. Inclusive
12.) What can we expect next? (I know what I’m excited for but I won’t spoil it lol)
M.) This is a really big year for me. I’ll be working on books that I invested in last year and part of that investment is going to the Historical Romance Retreat in San Diego at the end of September where I will debuting the second book in Cast form Camelot: The Blue Knight, with the cover man, David Cook, at my side. I will also be releasing my first book in my 5th series, Sins of Olympus, this year with the book Pride of Apollo. I’m hoping to get a few short stories released too, Midnight in Montreal is the first sequel to Paris Reflection in the Dirty Little Secrets set and I might even get a novella out in the Dukes of Hell series, Very, very busy.
13.) Anything you’d like to add before we wrap up?
M.) Don’t believe your haters, ignore the people who are going to dismiss your dreams because of their own small minds. Doesn’t matter if it’s your boss, your friends or family, don’t listen. Just go for it. Whatever your passion is, pursue it. Live with Passion, Live with Purpose.
14.) Last question, where do we find your books, apparel and all the goodies?
M.) All my books are on Amazon, All my e-books are on Smashwords and TeeSpring, I think they go by Spring now, officially, has the hoodies, tanks and all the other apparel. The direct links can all be found on my Books2Read page though which is the easiest for everyone to get to. Thanks for the opportunity to chat today and for being one of those women who lift others up.
Thank you again for joining us today I can’t wait to see what you come out with next. I’m a huge fan and anyone who hasn’t read one of her books be advised they are very spicy, but, RUN don’t walk and snag a copy.
Till next time,
Love a very tickled pink Magnolia xx
Rustic Magnolia 