Lenora Worth Interview

Q: How long have you been writing and what other careers or jobs have you had?

A. I’ve been writing all my life, but I sold my first book in 1993. So twenty years or so.

Q: Do you write in only one genre and if so which one and why? If not, which ones and why?

A: I write romance, romantic suspense and long contemporary romance. I love all three of these challenging genres. I’m a romantic but I also love action and mysteries. The longer books allow me to explore more in-depth plots.

Q: How does your faith play into your writing?

A .My faith plays a strong part in my writing. Even in my secular books, I always have a strong redemption thread. My faith is a part of my being so it hopefully comes through in my stories, too.

Q: How do you choose your settings for your books?

A. Since I’m a southern girl, I set most of my books around the South. I grew up in Georgia and lived in Louisiana for 30 years and now I live in Florida. So I have set books in all of those states and in Texas, too. I read a lot of Southern authors growing up and as an adult, too. I love that little bit of Southern Gothic in a book.

Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or are they totally made up?

A: They are made up, but I base their feelings and emotions and reactions on how I’ve seen people act. Human nature is a fascinating thing and since I came from a big Southern family, I’ve seen all aspects of human nature J

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Forced Alliance?

A: Forced Alliance is set in New Orleans and it’s about a female FBI agent who is trying to prove herself and the former con-man turned FBI informant/asset who is trying to help the FBI turn a big Mafia boss. When his mistress is murdered, they have to protect him and though they don’t like each other, they find themselves in the line of fire.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

A: Well, I had this walk-on character from another book and he kind of decided he wanted his own book. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Catch Me If You Can”, he’s kind of like that. Very smooth and charming but he did become a good guy even before the book starts.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers take away from this book?

A: I hope readers enjoy the story, of course. But I hope they understand that people do the wrong things sometimes but for the right reasons. We all need a second chance and God’s love gives us that chance.

Q: Tell us what you like about the main characters of this book.

A: I love how Josie Gilbert is so strong but also a little vulnerable. I love that Connor Randall is a tuxedo kind of man who becomes comfortable in being real so he’s able to give up the façade of being someone else.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?

A. I just finished a long contemporary (Superromance) that will be out next year. A Christmas story with a bit of suspense. And I have another suspense at the end of this year—about a creepy serial killer and set in East Texas. (Deadly Holiday Reunion.)

Q: If money were no object what vacation would you like to take and why?

A. I’d go to Ireland in a heartbeat. I’ve always wanted to go there.

Q: What is the silliest thing you have ever done?

A. I danced to the song by the Black-Eyed Peas—“I’ve Got a Feeling” while holding a New Orleans Saint gnome named Boudreaux. Hey, it was Superbowl Sunday J

Q: What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

A. Moving from Louisiana to Florida. It was difficult to leave behind 30 years of memories and my friends there. But hey, Florida isn’t half bad.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

A. www.lenoraworth.com and @elnoraw on twitter and on facebook

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell or share with us?

A. I just hope my readers enjoy my books. I love what I do and I appreciate all the people who buy and read books. We can’t have writers without readers.