Good morning!
Today, I am thrilled to have Lois Kasznia visiting my blog. Lois shares my love of romance and hockey, and I've loved learning more about her. Read on for more about this up-and-coming author.
Welcome, Lois! Author’s lives intrigue readers and other writers. Tell me about your typical daily schedule.
I am self-employed and always busy. I take care of assignments first thing in the morning to get them out of the way. The rest of the day is devoted to my writing.
I have an overactive imagination and often my characters come from my dreams. I keep a pad and pen on my nightstand (which drives my husband crazy) to write down the ideas while they’re still vivid in my mind.
Do you have a pre-writing routine to prepare yourself to get down to business?
Each morning, I powerwalk between three to six miles, depending on the weather. This exercise gets my blood pounding and my mind on what I plan to accomplish. As a side note, I’ve been pulled over by the local police, five squad cars, no less, for walking without a license. Apparently, I look similar to another woman named Lois who has dementia and my utter confusion of being held, convinced them I could have dementia as well. How many people are named Lois? Now, when they see me, they wave and I wave my license back at them! Another story, perhaps?
I’m back in my office by eight-thirty ready to write. I then read what I’ve written from the day before, make adjustments and move forward. I try to go as long as I can without noticing my word count until I’m done. I want to make sure my work flows smoothly and not cramming words that don’t need be there.
What’s your writing style? Slow and steady? Quick and prolific? All over the place?
I try to be slow and steady with my writing. My early works were random and lots of editing needed to be done. I’ve had at least eight different editors with my books and each had a different style. My latest editor has been the best and has taught me so much.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since starting work in this industry?
To be patient and heed the advice of your editor and publisher. They know what they’re doing and they know how the industry keeps evolving. Listen to them! Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion about why you wrote what you did. And accept why the manuscript could use fine tuning to make it a better one.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on three books. I’m writing a billionaire series which is untitled. I have a completed work, Breakout Heat which I’m having reviewed one more time before I submit it and also a sequel to my first publication, When the Runway Went South.
What’s your favorite genre to write?
Romance of course! I also like Romantic Suspense. The first two novels I wrote were a series about adults luring young teens for sex on the Internet. Both were rejected and now I can see why. I will keep them for me.
Do you have a favorite author or someone you look up to in the industry?
I have author crushes on so many, I can’t even begin to tell you all of them. I get on a roll and read everything they’ve ever written. I read about five to six books a week of all genres.
Tell me your writing story…when did you decide this was what you want to do? How long did it take you to get “the call”? When were you first published? Etc.
I began seriously writing at a later age. For my job, I did Technical Writing which is very precise and boring. As I said, the first two attempts were rejected and I gave up. We moved to Dallas and bought a money pit of a house. I cried for a year and then decided to make the experience into a book and When the Runway Went South was born. I submitted it to Lazy Day Publishing in 2011 and was published in 2012. I was elated!
How many books have you had published and for whom?
I’m a newbie! I’ve published three books with Lazy Day Publishing before they were acquired by Blushing Books. I published three with them and my last two have been published by Resplendence Publishing.
What is your goal as a writer?
I have so many stories to tell from my adventures! I want to keep writing and improving myself as an author.
What do you love most about writing?
The creativity. I have a Master’s degree in Music and each time I complete a manuscript, I feel like I’ve created another composition to my repertoire.
What’s your latest release? Can you tell us about the book and how you got the idea?
My latest release is Cruise into My Heart in December of 2017. It’s based on a true story which I took some liberties with to make the story more enjoyable.
(Brynn: Link on text is to Barnes and Noble. Click the pic for Amazon)
What’s your writing space like?
It’s a small bedroom upstairs that I’ve converted into an office. I have my desk, laptop and printer. On the walls are pictures of my cover art. I also have a large window where I can look outside and see what my neighbors are up to during the day! Who knows? They may give my inspiration. Especially the teenagers across the street who make out in the car after school thinking their parents can’t see them. My muse is thinking about this.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I work out, read and catch up on social media. At night, I’ll watch a few television shows I like.
I’m all about ‘giving people something to talk about’. We all experience crazy things from time to time. Can you tell us something unusual that you’ve done or had happen to you?
I love Blues music. Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, etc. While we lived in Reading, PA, Buddy Guy showed up for a gig at local hotel and I went to the concert. During the middle of the set, a woman took off her top and ran down the aisle flashing her breasts to Buddy Guy. He carried on as if nothing had happened.
Four months later, I was in Chicago and went to his club on the South Side. Buddy was having a beer at the bar and I went up to him and told him I loved his concert in Reading, PA. His eyes widened and he asked me if I were the woman who went topless at the concert? I laughed so hard and told him no. Wasn’t me. We both got a good chuckle and he told me that’s the first time it had happened to him in a city such as Reading, PA. And he bought me a beer.
Tell us… What’s your favorite movie and why?
Urban Cowboy. I fell in love with John Travolta, Debra Winger and Texas. When my husband told me we were being transferred to Dallas, TX; I asked if we could leave tomorrow.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers?
Stay true to yourself. My first publisher, whom I loved, was bought out by another house that specialized in a different genre. They told me with The Sin Bin, I had to change it to promote spanking. Since it was a story about something that happened to me personally, I couldn’t do it. The heroine has heart surgery and I couldn’t see where spanking would fit in with the plot. It was rejected again and again and finally accepted by Resplendence Publishing which I am so thankful.
(Brynn: Link on text is to Barnes and Noble. Click the pic for Amazon)
Last questions…
Coke or Pepsi?
Neither. I don’t drink cola. I’m a water person.
Summer or Winter?
Summer! I’ve had enough snow to last a lifetime.
Cat person or Dog person?
I’ve been owned by two dogs, but never a cat. I love all animals and looking for another dog.
Bronte or Austen?
Austen.
Star Trek or Star Wars?
Both.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate.
Chips or Cookies?
French Fries from Whataburger!
Zombies or Werewolves or Vampires?
Werewolves (wolves/dogs) and Vampires.
Country, Classical or Rock?
I love all music. I am classically trained.
McDonalds or Burger King?
McDonalds for breakfast.
Where can people contact you and find you online?
My Website is: www.LoisKasznia.com.
I’m on twitter @LoisKasznia
I’m on Facebook as The Sin Bin and Lois Kasznia
My blog is: HERE
My email is: LoisKasznia@gmail.com
Thank you for visiting today Lois!!
Here's info in Lois' Latest book: Cruise Into My Heart
Cover Copy:
Who knows?
Chelsea Crawford, Chicago attorney, thought as she boarded the plane to begin her first ever, ten day Christmas cruise to Bora Bora. Would she find love in addition to warm sunshine and sandy beaches? Her question is answered on the plane when she meets handsome financial wizard Cameron Brooks. She learns that he is the brother and best man of famous model, Dylan Brooks, who is to be married in Bora Bora, to the daughter of a scandalous Hollywood couple.
To Cameron, meeting Chelsea was love at first sight. If he wasn’t responsible for his brother’s wedding, he would spend every moment with her, but he can’t. He tries to balance his time with Chelsea, but between his brother’s outlandish antics and the publicity seeking in-laws, things escalate out of hand.
Who knew?
Chelsea was Cameron’s aunt’s attorney! So what if his aunt doesn’t share his last name. But when Cameron accuses Chelsea of dating him for his money, it becomes a deal breaker. The cruise has ended and the relationship is off!
Cameron wishes he could take back his harsh words after a tongue lashing from his aunt. Now his family won’t speak to him. But how can he find her? He never learned Chelsea’s last name!