Romance Sub-genre(s): Contemporary, I feel it is the best fit for me.
Steam Level: I prefer to have characters that are monogamous, but very comfortable in their sexuality and desires.
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Describe yourself in three words.
Opinionated. Brutally Honest. Determined.
What are three fun facts about you?
I show Champion Boston Terriers.
I am an adoptive parent to three special needs children.
I married my High School sweetheart. We have seven children; six daughters and one son.
What do you do for fun when you aren’t writing?
I like to do crafts; macramé, ceramics, or crochet. I have a small garden on my back patio.
How did you discover writing as a possible career?
A very good friend encouraged me to publish the stories I was writing for personal entertainment.
How did you choose your pen name?
SELENE is the first name of my favorite Urban Fantasy action heroine. LAKE is the view from my childhood bedroom window.
Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
I usually find them in a dream, some come from memories, others are 'what if' the MC took the left road instead of the right.
What trope is your favorite to write?
Second Chance at Love
What is your favorite thing about being an author?
The freedom to explore aspects of myself through my characters.
What is your writing process?
Purge as much of my inspiration as possible, then build the word and story from that initial point.
What time of day are you most creative?
I am a night owl. There have been many times I've woken to find scribbles or dialog on post it notes on my bedside wall.
What is your ideal writing environment?
I want to sit in a comfortable chair, with music playing in the background at an almost decipheress level. Maybe gentle raining pattering against the trees outside.
As an author, what challenges do you face?
The demands of being a wife and mother weigh heavily on my time behind the words. TIME.
What is your least favorite part of being an author?
Marketing. All I really want to do is write and create.
If there was one thing you could change about the writing/publishing industry, what would it be?
The competitiveness. There always seems to be someone that wants to tear their counterparts apart. My only competition is with myself.
What advice would you give aspiring authors?
Take advice from someone you respect and admire. Take criticism with a block of salt.
What is something you’d like to write, but haven’t yet?
I'd like to write Suspense sometime in the future.
Which parts of yourself are reflected in your characters?
I infuse a tiny piece of myself in each of the characters I create. Caring, Sacrifice, Patience, Understanding, Devotion. etc.
Which of your characters have special meaning to you?
All of them are special as I'm putting them on the page.
How do you come up with character names?
I have several genealogy books and a directory I create names from; if my character hasn't named themself.
What is something you love to hear from your readers?
Doesn't every author hope to hear that the reader loved their storytelling?
When you read, which authors are your go-to authors?
Patricia Briggs, Kim Harrison, Caryn Mahan, Kylie Brant, and Melinda Leigh
Where can readers find you online?
Facebook - https://facebook.com/AuthorSeleneLake/
Twitter / X - https://x.com/SeleneLake
Website - https://selenelake.wixsite.com/author
Do you have any current ARCs or free downloads readers might be interested in?
You can find samples, excerpts, and tidbits on my website - https://selenelake.wixsite.com/author
What is your latest/upcoming release?
I'm currently working on a trilogy of novella's set in a rural midwestern county.