Thursday, August 13, 2009

His Ship, Her Fantasy - Emma Lai



Please welcome my special guest today, the lovely Emma Lai, who's celebrating the release of her debut Faery Rose, His Ship, Her Fantasy, which is available from The Wild Rose Press!


Here's a little bit about Emma:


Emma has not always been a writer, but she has always been interested in relationships, not only between people, but also between countries. She has completed her studies for a Masters in International Relations and has plans to pursue a Doctorate.

She uses her writing as an outlet for the myriad of thoughts that crowd her overactive mind. In addition to Mates of the Guardians, a series of short stories focusing on a mysterious group of individuals on a quest to save the universe and their search for love, she is working on a contemporary romance book and a science fiction/fantasy book series. She also has more plans for the Guardians. However, there is no telling what else she will literally dream up.

Wow, Emma, Mates of the Guardians sounds an awesome concept. Can you tell us a little about the first short story in this series, His Ship, Her Fantasy?


His Ship, Her Fantasy is a short story (about 7500 words).

Blurb:

Ellie Woods is in love…with a ship. When an argument with the ship results in a bump on the head, she finds herself in the strong arms of Alastair. But, who is he, and where did he come from?

Alastair has loved Ellie from afar for years, but duty has kept him from revealing himself to her. When a grave threat reveals his true identity, he hopes that Ellie will choose reality over fantasy.

This blurb has intrigued me from the moment I first read it! How did the idea for the plot come about?

I had this scene stuck in my head of a woman arguing with her spaceship. I started with that and it evolved from there. It actually took a slightly different path then I originally pictured, but who am I to argue with my characters?

Very true! Our characters can be very stubborn, can't they!


I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

After I finished the coursework for my Masters in International Relations in May 2008, I decided to take the month of June to relax. For me, relaxing means reading. I got to get caught up on the pile of books I’d been accumulating.

Sometime during all my reading, an idea started to form, and it just wouldn’t go away. I’d close my eyes at night and find myself in this whole other world. I decided the only way to get it out of my head was to put it on paper, and that was the beginning. It seemed once I opened the door it refused to be shut.

Suddenly all of these stories demanded to be told. I ended up with the beginnings of two books. My mother-in-law, who happens to be familiar with the publishing industry, came for a visit in July. She read what I wrote and encouraged me to start sending things out to work on getting publishing credentials.

I had to put writing on hold for a few months so that I could study for my comprehensives, but after I finished them at the beginning of November, I couldn’t resist the call of my characters. I ended up writing His Ship, Her Fantasy in two days. After having my trusty readers critique it and a few edits, I sent it off to The Wild Rose Press. They immediately requested the manuscript and within a month, we had completed edits and I had my first contract!

What an amazing sale story! As you know, we 're all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I read a lot of books in all types of genres. I tend to fall in love with series. My current fantasy series is The Malazan Books of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. My current mystery series follows Pepper Martin and is written by Casey Daniels. For fantasy romance, I’m reading The Nine Kingdoms Series by Lynn Kurland. For time travel romance, I’m working on The Time Guardian Series by Skyhe Moncrief. I also like Regency, Victorian, and Western romances, and my list of authors is long.

I also watch a lot of movies. My favorites include Princess Bride, The Little Mermaid, Starship Troopers, The Lord of the Rings, Love Actually, and White Christmas.

Lots of my favourites in there too! Can you give us a teaser as to what you're working on now?

I’m still working on finishing my two original stories, which are a young adult fantasy and a contemporary romance. However, His Ship, Her Fantasy inspired a slew of other shorts. I’ve contracted the next short in the series, His Hope, Her Salvation, and have three other shorts that need to be finished. There is also a novella/novel inspired by the series that is in progress. I’ve also got a fairy tale, a paranormal, a contemporary, and a Regency time travel all started.

Lots more for us to look forward to! How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Readers can find updates on my books at my website…http://www.emmalaiwrites.com. They can also see what I’m reading and thinking about by following my blog…http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com.



37 comments:

Helen Hardt said...

Emma, I'm following you, LOL. Much congratulations again on your release! And I love the movie White Christmas, too ;).

Skhye said...

Hi, Christina and Emma! Great interview. I'm so excited for Emma after getting to read the story in advance. I wrote a review at
http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com/2009/08/12/news.aspx
You all will love the groaning ship!!! And it's not erotic! LOLLL
And I hope you're doing alright with the Time Guardians, Christina. Emma read HE OF THE FIERY SWORD. She can tell you in secret whether or not it's the place to start. I always fancied SACRIFICIAL HEARTS as the beginning place. ;)

You gals have fun here today!

Mary Ricksen said...

Emma, I got my fingers crossed that you continue the fantastic response to your book!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Helen! I'm a sucker for Bing Crosby's voice.

Emma Lai said...

Hey, Skhye, and thank you for the lovely review! I loved HE OF THE FIERY SWORD. I'm still making my way through the rest of the Time Guardians though.

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Mary! I hope you enjoyed the read!

Unknown said...

EMMA--I had no idea you were so accomplished. And working on a doctorate degree-very impressive. I congratulate you on your quest for higher--and higher--education.Your imagination astounds me! I can only think of stories that take place on the earth--terra firma--but that's me--a down-to-earth gal.Keep up the good work--it'll really pay off. Celia

Cate Masters said...

Great interview, Christina and Emma! Congrats on your release, Emma! You're number one! (I knew it would happen!) :)

Susan Macatee said...

Hi, Emma! I feel like I'm following you around.

Great interview!

Catherine Bybee said...

Hi Ladies...

Congrats on the book, Emma. And for the #1 slot on the bestseller list.

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Celia! Some of my stories have their feet on terra firma, but I'm a sci-fi gal...blame it on Star Trek!

Emma Lai said...

Cate, it doesn't keep me from feeling bad about knocking you out of the spot! Congrats on all your recent success!

Emma Lai said...

LOL, Susan! We do seem to be in a lot of the same places!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Catherine! Congratulations to you for Kilt Worthy...top 10 Bestseller, #1 Fantasy, #1 Time Travel, and #3 Quick Read at the Wilder Roses. Woohoo! (I didn't check all of the lists so there may be more :))

Debra St. John said...

Emma, You are one busy lady! Congrats again on the release!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Debra!

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Emma,
Great interview you certainly are an accomplished lady. Good luck with the release.
Regards
Margaret

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Hi! Great interview. Congraulations on the release, Emma! I can't wait to read His Ship, Her Fantasy. It sounds like a great read and saw where Night Owl Reviews gave you four hearts. Congrats again!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Margaret!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks Anna Kathryn!

Tanya Hanson said...

Hi Emma, so sorry to be so late in getting here today. What a great interview. And Love, Actually and White Christmas are two of my most favorite holiday movies!

A PhD? Whew. You inspire me, girl. Good luck with your stories! You rock!

oxoxox

~Tanya

Emma Lai said...

You're not late Tanya. We're early! Christina is sneaking off and wanted to make sure my interview got posted!

Cate Masters said...

Never feel bad about being number one, Emma! Enjoy the euphoria!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Cate. It helps that you're so sweet!

Ilona Fridl said...

Emma,
Your book sounds so fasinating! I hope you do well with it.

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Ilona! It's fun seeing the whole process unfold!

The Word Place said...

I can't imagine having enough energy to write a story after just finishing your master's! I was exhausted! But good for you, and I know we'll be seeing more of your work!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Judy! My Masters energized me. I found the subject fascinating. But, pregnancy has drained more of my writing energy than I ever imagined.

Debra St. John said...

Hi Emma, you really get around! Just waving hello again, today!

Shelley Munro said...

Congratulations on your new release, Emma. I love your sale story. :)

Emma Lai said...

Debra, when you're eight months pregnant and at home, you have time to run around and leave lots of comments. Fast forward two months, and I'm not sure what I'll have time for!

Emma Lai said...

Thanks, Shelley! I've been happily amazed all year long!

Cari Quinn said...

Great interview! Emma, I loved your call story...wishing you tons of success! :)

Emma Lai said...

Thanks so much, Cari!

Kaye Manro said...

Much congrats, Emma!

Becca Simone said...

I love sci-fi, but I could never write it. I do not have the imagination for it.

Congrats on all your success. I can't wait to read your story--I just got an iTouch. As soon as I figure it out, I'll be updloading your story to it.

:)Becca

Anonymous said...

That's really nice to read these conversation..keep going..


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