There’s a saying, “I don’t look like what I’ve been through.” Laura J. Wellington is a leading example of this. At 35, she lost her husband to cancer. She was left to raise their children on her own. While some may fall victim to their circumstances, Wellington chose to persevere and be resilient. “It shows in my entire life. It is how I survived what I did and lived to tell about it through this book. (Be Careful What You Wish For). It shows in my continued happiness,” she states.
Laura J. Wellington is an author with books focused on women and children. She’s a TEDx Speaker, an award-winning children’s television creator, a serial entrepreneur in technology and entertainment, and founder of celebrity-lifestyle blog THREAD MB.
Wellington has won several awards, including The Forbes Enterprise Award, The Buzz Award, and The Dove Foundation Award. However, the most crucial prize she’s won has to be being a mom to five children.
Morgan Lee Reviews had the pleasure of interviewing Wellington. She discussed the inspiration behind her newest book, Be Careful What You Wish For, memorable advice given to her as an author and writer, and advice she has for aspiring authors.
MLR:What inspired you to write Be Careful What You Wish For and the Jasper’s Giant Imagination series?
LJW: My love for the “good story” and how it can impact, motivate, and touch the hearts of others.
MLR: Are there plans to write any more books?
LJW: Yes, there is an upcoming sequel to Be Careful What You Wish For in the works.
Along with being an author, in 2018, Wellington did a Tedx titled What’s She Got That I Don’t. She talks about a key component in relationships. Knowing who you are and being confident in that is essential because if you don’t, how do you expect to provide your partner with what he or she may need and vice versa?
MLR: With everything you’ve accomplished, what is one of your proudest moments? What is one of your non-glorious moments, and was there a lesson you learned in either of these?
LJW: One of my proudest moments was watching my oldest son graduate medical school. I felt like “my whole life was worth it.” One of my less than stellar moments was when I threw a chair in response to stress. I realized that I was human then forgave myself. You will find that incident in the book. The lesson that I learned is that “you have to take the good with the bad, including in oneself.”
MLR: Speaking of taking the good with the bad, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
LJW: Don’t be frightened to expose yourself in your writing. The craft demands it of you.
MLR: What is some memorable advice you’ve been given as an author and writer?
LJW: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” In other words, show courage in your work.”
And that’s what she continues to do. Above all else, she considers herself to be a “hands-on parent” because, as she states, “If you fail with your kids, what good is the rest?” Wellington later remarried and became a licensed foster parent. When asked what she wants people to take away from this interview she says she wants people to see more of her in the book, and hopes that in understanding her better, people will understand the main character, Evie. “I am enjoying meeting so many new and wonderful people through this book, including you. That is one of the benefits of doing what I do. I get to meet a ton of great people along the way.”
Morgan Lee Reviews would like to Thank Laura J. Wellington for partaking in this interview. Visit laurajwellington.com to learn more about her, and Be Careful What You Wish For is available everywhere books are sold.
A couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to read and review Best Selling author Jessica Lauryn’s novel, A Passionate Play. It’s a whodunit mystery filled with twists and turns and romance. What you have before you is a look into Jessica Lauryn’s work as an author, so without further ado, I give you Jessica Lauryn.
“I always loved books as a child, and when I was six, watching soap operas with my mother, I fell in love with romance. I kept the idea of one day writing for the soaps in the back of my mind for years. But along the way, I discovered romance novels and realized that writing a full-length novel was something I had to try for myself. When I graduated from college and was looking for my first job, I spent a lot of time asking myself what I’d do with my life if I could do anything at all. Writing kept coming into my mind, and I perused several non-fiction books regarding how to get started with a career in writing. I remember reading in one of the books that writers spend their entire lives in basements doing nothing but writing. I believe the comment was intended to discourage people, but I remember thinking that being left alone to use your imagination and write for hours on end sounded more fun than anything I could imagine!”
MLR: What advice would you have for someone interested in becoming an author?
JL:Write what you know and what you love! I would also take that statement a bit further and say that you need to fall in love with your hero with regard to writing romance. Write, write, and write some more! Be yourself, own your voice; let your imagination take you wherever it will!
And this is what Lauryn has continued to do writing both The Pinnacles of Power Series and her work in progress, The Rabourn Theater Series. “
“I am the #1 bestselling author of two Romantic Suspense Series, The Pinnacles of Power Series and The Rabourn Theater Series, a work in progress. In The Pinnacles of Power Series, amidst diamond heists and deadly secrets, five determined young men struggle against all the odds to get what—and who—they want. In The Rabourn Theater Series, as the Rabourn and Nathanson families battle for control of the world they love, five unlikely couples come together and discover a different sort of passion.
For years, Dangerous Proposal [The Pinnacles of Power Series # 2] was my favorite story for various reasons, not the least of which is that I fashioned the hero, Alec, to be like the sort of man I dreamed of meeting myself. Years later, having found my real-life hero, a man who reminds me of Alec in so many ways, I decided to expand my horizons. An Amorous Dance [The Rabourn Theater Series # 2] took me by surprise. In this second-chance romance, theater owner Hannah Rabourn battles for control of the world she loves against her greatest rival and former lover, Evan Masters. Evan wishes to have revenge for an injustice done to him long ago, and he plots to take control of Rabourn Theater by way of persuasion…and seduction. I worked with a slightly older heroine and hero than I typically have, and I was amazed by the way these two characters and their story took off as they battled in the boardroom and the bedroom! Their feistiness and determination blow my mind. As I was reading An Amorous Dance for the hundredth time during the final edit, I found myself still laughing out loud at the nervy things Evan says to Hannah throughout the story. I’m currently with my editor on book 4 in the series, An Intoxicating Interlude, and writing book 5, An Enchanting Song.”
Lauryn is determined more than ever and has worked tirelessly to see her dream come to fruition.“No matter what life throws my way, I always keep going. This year hasn’t been easy for any of us. But I try always to look at things positively and stay focused on my goals, of which I have many.” It hasn’t always been easy for her, however. She talked about some of her struggles and how she dealt with them.
“When my publisher cut their Mainstream line, it caused a major disruption for me as I was right in the middle of producing the Rabourn Theater Series. I attempted to find a new home, but few publishers are keen on publishing the final few books of a series that another publisher already has rights to. So I decided to self-publish the final three stories. There was a bit of a learning curve involved, but I found I liked having more control over the publication process, especially creative aspects like formatting and cover design. In the end, I became such a fan of what I was doing that I asked my publisher if they would reverse the rights to my previous titles. They agreed, and I’ve been working steadily to rerelease them all. Dangerous Magic [The Pinnacles of Power # 5] and An Amorous Dance [The Rabourn Theater Series #2] will release later this year!
When asked what advice she’s received either professionally or personally that’s been beneficial to her life, Lauryn stated, “Let me say that the single piece of advice that made me a strong writer was, show vs. tell. A fan of older publications, I have a natural tendency to narrate everything, and I fight this every time I write a new story. This is “telling,” essentially, whereas “showing” engages the five senses through dialogue, description, and action taking place in the here and now. It makes our stories move faster, and it brings them to life in a rich, colorful way. One of the most effective ways I’ve found for getting this accomplished is to write the story as I would instinctively (for me, this means just getting my thoughts out, and doing so by “telling”) and then adding the “showing” later on, as I edit. I do the best I can with a rough draft, but I work a lot faster by just getting my ideas down on paper. I do what works for me. But my stories definitely came to life (and I was published for the first time!) when I mastered the art of “showing.”
MLR: What or who inspires your writing style and the type of books you publish?
JL: One of my favorite things to do when I’m writing is to reform a former villain, a man or woman who’s lost their way for a time, having committed any wrong from white-collar crime to murder. I’m greatly inspired by characters and people who fit that bill, because, let’s face it, we all make mistakes, and it is incredibly uplifting to see another person bring themselves back from their lowest point—it reminds us that we all possess the same ability. It demonstrates just how powerful the phenomenon of love is, as love is always at play somehow when a villain turns his life around. And let’s face it guys when you take a former villain and place him in the role of hero you get to satisfy your dream of kissing him and even meeting them between the sheets!
Suspense inspires me (nothing too graphic or violent for my taste, I’m not one of those romantic suspense authors!), but I definitely want to see my characters in danger, perhaps several times leading up to the climax, or beyond it. Characters are often highly motivated to act on their desires when they fear their lives are in danger, and passion is what my readers and I want to see the most! That said, I’m also inspired by the amazing stories some of my closest author friends tell, and real-life scenarios and quite often, whatever crazy ideas find some other way inside the well of my imagination.
When she’s not creating best-selling books, you can find Lauryn with her husband in their newly purchased home or painting a room, or in her garden, which she joyfully admits that she loves flowers. As for what people can take away from this interview, Lauryn states, “I hope, no matter what your favorite genre is, you’ll always take the time to read for pleasure because we all deserve that no matter how busy we think we are!Books are such a wonderful part of life.”
Morgan Lee Reviews would like to thank Jessica Lauryn for this opportunity and wish her much success with her endeavors. Links to Lauryn’s social media will be available below, and as promised, here is a sneak peek of Lauryn’s newly released novel, Dangerous Ally! Enjoy!
Dangerous Ally Excerpt:
Feeling the warmth of tears in her eyes, Lilah rose from the table. She never became so emotional over nothing. What in God’s name was wrong with her?
Lucas’s strong hand came against her shoulder. She didn’t pull away. In fact, she had the strangest urge to just lean into him, like somehow, he would take away all her doubts.
“Lena’s happy in her life with her children, and with Alec Westwood. I’d never begrudge her that. All I ever wanted was her happiness.”
The way he said the words, she almost believed them. He seemed to care, or at least, maybe was trying to be a better person.
“You’re trembling.” He reached in before she could stop him. His finger brushed her quivering lip. Her instinct was to smack his hand. But the tingling sensation racing from mouth to spine kept her in place. Lucas’s touch was so soft. It made her crazy. She was consumed by the strongest desire for his lips to be where his finger was now.
He took her wine glass and held it out to her. “Here,” he said. “This’ll calm your nerves.”
Senses returning with a bang, Lilah held up two hands in protest. “Are you trying to get me drunk?” she snapped, not entirely sure whether it was him she was angrier at or herself.
“Am I that obvious?” Lucas laughed as if the whole thing was funny and set the glass back down.
She enjoyed being in the company of a monster—there was nothing lighthearted about it!
“I’m guessing you’ve probably been down this road too many times, hmm?” Lucas replaced his hand on her shoulder.
“What road would that be, exactly?”
His eyes looked into hers. “I’m sure I’m not the first man who’s tried to get you into a relaxed state, Lilah.”
“Actually—” Lilah hesitated, not wanting to get so personal yet feeling she could probably tell him anything and he’d somehow understand. “It’s been a long time, longer than you’d imagine. After I finished college, I had every intention of becoming a journalist, meaning I’d be out most of the time chasing a story despite whatever danger came with it. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, for as long as I can remember.”
Lucas nodded, coming closer. “You must have been very persistent. It takes a good deal of perseverance and sacrifice to become a success at such a young age.”
Lilah sure knew that. While her friends had been enjoying their last semester of college, she’d been frantically gathering writing samples, sending them out to every newspaper who would give her the time of day. But had her father noticed? Even when she became one of the youngest reporters at the New York Times, he’d barely raised a brow.
Deep down, she knew this was why she’d accepted Raphael’s offer, even in spite of the danger that came with it. A story about Raphael Ramone’s family laundry wasn’t going to impress Blake Benson. But exposing Lucas’s diamond smuggling operation would be a print-worthy unearthing that would win her father’s admiration as well as her first Pulitzer.
She lowered her gaze. “I haven’t given up anything so wonderful.”
Lucas lifted her chin. “But if it came to that, do you think you’d be willing to make that sacrifice, give up something you want—maybe something you want more than anything—to attain some ultimate level of self-victory?”
A chill came over her at his words. Lilah stepped back, unsure of what had just happened but wanting desperately to pretend it hadn’t.
Lucas cleared his throat. “Let’s get some air, shall we?”
Something she needed desperately. She followed him to the balcony, welcoming the cool night breeze as it caressed her hot skin.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, hoping very much to steer the conversation in a new direction.
“It is.” Lucas came beside her, bracing the rail with one hand. He slipped an arm around her back.
His body was warm, like a furnace, and he felt strong, as if he spent his days loading lumber instead of dabbling away at a computer.
Lilah shivered, goose bumps forming along her arms. It felt so nice being close to Lucas, too nice. Maybe she’d just stay there with him a few minutes longer. They weren’t exactly hurting anyone by being in each other’s company.
Lucas leaned into her, speaking in a tone she could only describe as husky. “Those men you never met,” he said, “that was their loss.”
Lilah blinked, keeping her eyes on the night sky. “Please. A man’s the last thing I need in my life.”
“Are you sure about that?” Lucas asked, his warm breath coming against her ear. “Or is it possible you’ve been hiding behind your work for so long, you don’t even know how things could be?” His palm brushed her bare shoulder as he turned her to face him. “No one knows what it’s like to be hidden from the world more than I do, Lilah. You can trust me on this. I think we’re more alike than you realize. And it’s possible we’re both missing out on something incredible.”
She didn’t push his hand away as it cupped her cheek, or his arm as it encompassed her waist. No, she let him do what he wanted. She wanted him to touch her.
The author of Decide to Profit: 9 Steps to a Better Bottom Line and Twine, Dorriah Rogers has had her share of highs and lows and has refused to let those moments of uncertainty and bleakness keep her down. Morgan Lee Reviews sits down with Dorriah Rogers as she discusses her inspiration for both books, what she’s hoping people will take away from them, and shares what she’s planning next.
MLR: What inspired the writing of Decide to Profit: 9 Steps to a Better Bottom Line and Twine?
DR: Decide to Profit was inspired by my professional career and the various interesting observations I had of my clients and the results we generated. I had a desire to share my learnings, as well as to use the book to provide further validity to my consulting practice. Twine was inspired by the death of my mother. For several years following her death, I was so distraught that I had difficulty focusing, would wake up in constant night terrors, and could not shake the guilt. I used writing as my solace and the place where I could release all of those feelings. I had no intention of it ever becoming a memoir; it was simply a therapeutic exercise. It was later, when I shared some of it with a former writing instructor, that she said, “wow, this is really good. You need to publish it.” And here we are.
MLR: What do you hope people take away from reading either book?
DR: For Decide to Profit, I hope readers take away an ability to improve their business in a straightforward and meaningful way. For Twine, I hope it touches people, helps them to realize that we are all broken in one way or another and that we all have secrets, some darker than others. Neither of those things needs to define us. Nor does it mean we cannot survive and thrive.
MLR: What is one piece of advice you’ve received that’s been instrumental both professionally and personally?
DR: For professional writing: Read two books. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King. Bird by Bird suggests just that – tackle writing one bird at a time. Writing can be daunting. You need to stick with it, be disciplined, get the words on paper. In On Writing, Stephen King suggests you “murder your darlings.” Follow that advice. Read your own words. Be your own worst critic. That sentence you wrote that you think sings? It could suck. Be painfully aware of that. Test samples on your friends and family. Ask them to be honest. And take that feedback to heart.
For my personal life: the same can be true. Life has been very daunting for me at times. Yet, I have tackled it bird by bird – one catastrophe at a time. Once I survive something, I try to do the next thing that much better.
MLR: What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are seeking insight when dealing with the writing and publishing process?
DR: I would suggest you do it because you love it. The writing and publishing process is very difficult, and then when you add on the publicity and marketing element, it becomes even more difficult. I personally get great joy from well-crafted sentences and finding just the right way to describe a feeling, an observation, a situation. I write for those reasons, not because I expect to make a living at it (although I sure wish I could!) For example, I have already started my next book: The White Shepherd. I am writing it because I feel compelled to, not because my publisher has asked for it.
MLR: What else are you involved with that you’d like to share?
DR: I absolutely love horses. I have one. His name is Vision. He is my dressage horse and my absolute love. I adore spending time with him and letting him teach me everything he knows.
MLR: What do you want people to take away from this interview, and is there anything else you’d like to add to bring everything to a close?
DR: Hopefully, a desire to read my work and get to know me a bit better. I sincerely appreciate everyone with a passion for reading and writing. I share that passion. I very much enjoy hearing from and talking to my readers. My email is Dorriah.rogers@gmail.com if anyone would like to ask me any questions or give me their thoughts on either book. I also hope this interview generates more readers interested in Twine, and then hopefully advance interest in my next book. I would very much like to have a readership so that I can devote more time to writing.
And she is doing just that. She is a survivor. “I am a combination of three people: a mom to a 17-year-old, a professional consultant, and a writer. Those three elements are constantly at odds for my time and attention and require me to shapeshift on a regular basis. If I had my druthers, I would be a full-time writer contentedly tapping out chapters while my daughter watched lovingly, rather than a harrowed mother with an attitudinally-challenged teenager who travels all over North America for work, squeezing in writing whenever she can,” she says.
To find out more about Dorriah Rogers visit http://www.dorriahrogers.com. To purchase her books visit Amazon.com or everywhere books are sold. Morgan Lee Reviews would like to thank Dorriah Rogers for taking the time to do this interview.
Evelyn Montgomery published her first book at 35. She’s had the dream of becoming an author since the age of five. “Nothing feels better than accomplishing a life long goal,” she states. She has released four novels with a fifth on the way. Morgan Lee Reviews goes one on one with Montgomery as she discusses her biggest challenge as an author, advice she has for aspiring authors, and how she develops the content for her stories.
MLR: Who is Evelyn Montgomery?
EM: I am an indie author who writes contemporary suspenseful romance. Although I started out writing “sweet” romances, my first two novels have been rereleased and all four are now considered steamy.
MLR: If you had to describe yourself in one word what would it be and why?
EM: Outgoing. I talk to everyone and don’t hold back. I have no fear.
MLR: What was your inspiration for becoming an author, and what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
EM: I’ve always wanted to be a writer since as far back as I can remember. I would encourage everyone to follow that dream. It is never too late.
MLR: How do you develop the content for your stories?
EM: I don’t develop. I just write. I am not a planner or a plotter. I sit down at the computer and write whatever comes out. I wrote Deliverance in two weeks, and then did revisions and edits for another two weeks.
MLR: What has been your biggest challenge and reward since becoming an author?
EM: The most rewarding thing is the good reviews and feedback. The most challenging is learning to take bad reviews gracefully and realizing the reader may just not be your reader and pushing through anyways.
MLR: Has there been advice someone has given you throughout your writing journey that’s helped?
EM: Bad reviewers may just not be your reader. I keep that in mind every time I get a less than stellar review.
MLR: Is there anything else you are working on?
EM: Book 5, Rebellion. There is a sneak peek at the end of Deliverance. In this story you’ll meet Colton and Brittany. I also have 2 anthologies due out this holiday season.
MLR: Where can people learn more about you and purchase your books?
EM: I am available on Amazon. Come Dec. 4th, my books will be available on all platforms.
MLR: What do you want people to take away from this interview?
EM: Follow their dreams. It’s never too late. Don’t give up on yourself.
Morgan Lee Reviews would like to thank Evelyn Montgomery for taking time for this interview.
Morgan Lee Reviews 