Interview with Author LAUREL O'DONNELL

Today I’m interviewing Laurel O’Donnell. Her book, Angel’s Assassin is a medieval romance and was released on September 2012.



Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.

Angel’s Assassin is an award winning medieval romance about Damien who is an assassin assigned to kill Lady Aurora in order to gain his freedom. The problem is that when he sees her, he is struck by her kindness. He comes to like the man he is when he is around her and must decide between Aurora’s life and his freedom.

Angel’s Assassin has won the 2013 International Digital Award for Historical Novel. It also won the 2012 Golden Rose award for the Best Historical Romance Novel. Just the other day, I was informed that Angel’s Assassin made it to the final round in the Heart of Excellence, Readers Choice Award. Wish me luck!

On a more personal note, Angel’s Assassin means a lot to me. I love the tale of redemption and the love that grows inside a man who thinks he is unworthy. It really is the book of my heart!




Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?

Angel’s Assassin is a medieval romance. It is set amidst the backdrop of castles and knights. Many of my novels are written in the medieval era. I have always enjoyed writing medieval romances. It was a grand era of gallant knights and their ladies.

I have also written a paranormal romance entitled Immortal Death and an urban fantasy series entitled Lost Souls.



How did this story come to be?

Truthfully, I don’t remember. It took me a long time (over five years) to write Angel’s Assassin. I had a lot of trouble with the ending. I wrote 4 different endings until I got it right. How do I know it’s the right one? Damien told me!



Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold?

No. My first novel, The Angel and The Prince, was a Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart finalist. My editor was a judge. She liked the manuscript so much that she made me an offer. The Angel and The Prince was the first novel I had ever written.



What is your writing routine like? 

I wish I was more disciplined. I have about an hour a day to actually write. I sit down at the computer and let the characters tell their story. Some days they are very cooperative and some days they are not!




Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

I love to hear from my readers. So, I have to say fan mail or email is the most rewarding thing. My time is so precious. To think that a reader liked my novel so much that they took the time out of their busy day to sit down and pen me a letter or email is very humbling.





Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I am a member of Romance Writers of America. And yes, they have helped. If not for their national contest, the Golden Heart, I might never have gotten in touch with my editor.



What character is most like you or least like you?

I suppose that all of my characters have a little bit of me in them. Scary, I know, especially when you consider the villains. I like to think that Aurora is the most like me. She is kind and generous and puts the needs of others before herself. That may be too idealistic. But I like to think that. J



What most inspires you in life?

Sunrises. Sunsets. Nature. So beautiful and peaceful.



What’s next for you?
I am currently working on another medieval romance, tentatively entitled A True Knight. It’s about tournaments and jousting. The heroine, Layne, enjoys things that a women in those days is not supposed to like. She would rather be sword fighting with her brothers then embroidering. The hero, Griffin, is a skilled knight. He believes that women should be elegant and reserved and have duties befitting the fair creatures they are. When Layne takes her brothers place during a joust and unhorses Griffin, well, let’s just say their worlds are turned upside down.




BOOK BLURB

Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. As a reward for his ruthless success, he is given a chance to earn his freedom from his cruel master. One last mission. One final person to slay...

Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. She lives her life trying to atone for her mother's cruelty by being a fair and just ruler. Secretly she fears that one day her mother's murderer will return for her.

When Damien enters Aurora's life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.

Can Aurora's light heal Damien's dark spirit or will his evil consume her? The eternal battle of good versus evil, love versus hate, dark versus light, all come to a shattering climax in this historical romance set in medieval England.



A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Laurel O’Donnell lives in Illinois with her husband, four children and five cats. She has always enjoyed escaping into the medieval era, including spending a summer interning at the renaissance faire in Wisconsin where she learned to sword fight and recite Shakespeare. Now, she spends her time reading a good book, swimming or, of course, writing.




How can my readers buy your book?

Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at www.laurel-odonnell.com

Check out my book trailer at: http://www.laurel-odonnell.com/medieval-romance-novels/angels-assassin/angels-assassin-book-trailer.html


You can find more information about Laurel O’Donnell and my book, Angel’s Assassin by

visiting my website, www.laurel-odonnell.com.



Just a few fun questions to answer if you don’t mind.

1) Hotel room or Tent? Hotel

2) What is your favorite thing to eat? Chocolate

3) What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

4) Who is your favorite author to read? Victoria Alexander

5) What’s your favorite movie? The Green Mile

6) If you were given only one Christmas present but it could be anything in the world, what would you choose? A trip to England

7) What’s your favorite color? Maroon

8) Mountains or Beach? Beach

9) What’s your favorite flavor of Skittles? Don’t like Skittles

10) What is your favorite childhood memory? Playing with my dog, Chipper



Thank you for allowing me to interview you here at Heart of Romance. Good luck to you in your future!!!