Dr. J.’s Spotlight: Author Laura Lascarso

My connection with Laura Lascarso is fascinating. A common writing space is our link. We share a love for an ethereal retreat, a place that supports our creation and we alternate using it. There, we deposit the essence of who we are as writers. I like to imagine our energies mingle, as our muses and characters laugh and dance together. This October, at the Florida Writers Conference, we will meet in real life and share common space. Watch out world.

I am taken with Laura’s story, Andre In Flight. It is a male-male romance that captures the heart and spirit of love and desire.  This story demonstrates that sexuality can be an integral, as well as, an equal part of the human experience. Laura’s masterful storytelling lays bare the souls of the main characters as they grapple with their past, present, and future lives.

I am pleased to welcome her as my guest today. I hope you enjoy meeting author, Laura Lascarso.

Q: Describe your books and your writing style.

I write primarily young adult and new adult fiction, usually with a romantic twist. I try to capture a sincere intimacy between characters, because I think that’s one of the beautiful things you can do with fiction. You don’t just fall in love with the characters, but you fall in love with the relationships between those characters, the bonds they share, and the obstacles they overcome.

I usually have a theme I’m trying to explore as well. With ANDRE IN FLIGHT, I wanted to capture this idea of a love that spans lifetimes, but also with a bit of a dark side when love and tenderness veer into obsession.

Q. Talk about your process. Where do you write? When do you write? Are you linear or do you write scenes and put them together later? Who are your muses and where do you get your best ideas?

I have a day job, so most of my writing takes place after normal work hours, and in fact, I’m more likely to write after the family business has been finished, from about 9 p.m. to midnight. (I’m not a morning person.) I also try to get away for writer weekends. Dr. J. has been so very generous to provide her lake house for that purpose. 🙂 It allows me to go deeply into the story.

If my story is “working,” then the drafting of it usually goes pretty fast, two or three months. I’m a pantser, who’s learned to become more of a plotter. I have several manuscripts where I had to stop at about page 80 because the plot wasn’t working.

I got lucky with Andre, because that was one of the rare occasions when I knew the entire story before I began writing it. It doesn’t always happen that way. Usually there is a lot of “discovery” along the way (and sometimes a complete rewrite.)

I have a lot of muses—from headlines to poems to my own imaginings. I also look to the classics for inspiration.

Q: What are your favorite story lines to write?

I have so many! I think it’s like when I used to date. My friends would comment on how the partners I chose were all so different—they couldn’t find a pattern or a “type.” And I think my stories are like that. I like to think they all have heart, even while the story lines can be very different.

Q: When did you start writing male-male stories?

Andre was my first M/M romance, and I drafted it in 2015. I didn’t know much about the romance genre then—I wrote primarily YA. But I really like my publisher,Dreamspinner Press, and the readers have been very welcoming and enthusiastic, so I think I’m going to stick with it.

Q: How would your writing experience today, help a younger you?

I’m definitely still discovering new things about craft and story, but I think I’ve learned, overall, that you don’t have to choose any one route to publication, nor do you have to stick with it if it’s not working for you. I’ve been published mainstream and independent, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. I do think the key to being successful is building a readership, which is something I’m working on now, finding my readers and giving them more of what they want.

Q: What new exciting writing projects are on your horizon?

I had an M/M romance come out earlier this year in April, called The Bravest Thing, about a tumultuous affair between streetwise city boy and a hunky cowboy. Early next year, I have another M/M romance coming out, which is a best-friends-to-lovers story—my attempt at being a little more light-hearted and fun. And, I’m currently working on a revision of a near-future, adventure story, but I’m not sure yet where that one might find a home.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

Lately I’ve become a real soccer mom. Both my kids play soccer pretty seriously, and it’s something we do as a family. I also like to go to the beach, camping and hiking. My day job is communications for an environmental non-profit, which is a great creative outlet as well.

Q: Anything else you want fans to know?

I’d say that if you like one of my stories, I hope you will try more. I read all my reviews, and I appreciate the time and attention readers spend in writing them. It really helps spread the word for authors when readers recommend books to friends.

Laura’s Social Media links.

Website
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