Lori: I went to school to be a high school English teacher, but didn't last very long in that job. I spent quite a few years as a waitress, sold wastewater treatment pipe, managed a photography studio and still run the office for my husband's contracting firm.

My boys are 17 and 14, and are involved in a lot of sports activities, which are great fun to watch.

Elwood is ... Elwood. Have you ever seen the T-shirt that says: Schedule for Today: Let the dog in, let the dog out, let the dog in, let the dog out ... ? That's him. *g*

When I'm not writing, I go to sporting events or watch them on TV with my family. I try to read for pleasure whenever I have a few minutes, but that isn't as often as I'd like.

Bee: What does your family think of your writing?

Lori: They think it's great, but since I've been doing this since the kids were the ages of 4 and 1, they also think it's just Mom's job.

Bee: When did you first start writing and what made you decide to write romances rather than other genres? Would you like to write a different type of book at some point?

Lori: I started writing about fifteen years ago. I wrote romances because that was what I loved to read. The only kind of book I might be interested in writing in the future would be a series something along the lines of Janet Evanovich or maybe Laurell K. Hamilton.

Bee: What made you decide to write about werewolves rather than another paranormal group?

Lori: I've always liked wolves and the legends surrounding them. I've also always been interested in Native Americans, and they have quite a few wolf legends, so that fit.

I also wrote a werewolf book years ago for Dorchester (FULL MOON DREAMS) and had great fun with it. I wanted to write more, but at the time paranormals weren't selling.

Bee: Do you have a writing critique group or friends/relatives that help you?

Lori: I don't have a critique group, but I do have a lot of writing friends who I keep in touch with by e-mail.

Bee: Tell us about selling your first book.

Lori: It was October 5, 1993, around noon. I was making lunch, still not dressed (this is what happens when you've got two kids under the age of 5!), and my agent called. I'd just had everything I had sent out rejected, I thought, so I wasn't sure why she was calling.

Well, there was one manuscript still at Dorchester that I'd forgotten about and they'd bought it!

I was so excited, I wanted to call all my friends and family. Wouldn't you know it - everyone was away that afternoon. I finally reached one friend because her husband called her at work to tell her - HE was so excited.

I didn't get to tell my husband until he got home from work. This was before cell phones.

Bee: Do you outline your books first or do they just flow?

Lori: I make a loose outline in the form of a synopsis, but I don't follow it very well. The books flow sometimes, and sometimes not so much.

Bee: What type of research do you do for your books?

Lori: I start out by reading several books on several topics, then continue reading as I write. Once the first draft is done, I go through and look up in books and on the Internet all the questions that I have.

Bee: How long does it usually take to write a book? Are any parts harder than others?

Lori: It takes me three to four months to write a book. And every book is different. They all have a hard part, but where that falls is anyone's guess.

Bee: Do you have any tips on writing love scenes?

Lori: A love scene shouldn't be any harder or easier to write than any other part of the book. As long as the scene is coming at a point appropriate to the story and characters, it should fit and flow. But I've always found it better to have an empty house and complete silence! :)

Bee: What authors do you read for pleasure?

Lori: Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Debbie Macomber.

Bee: According to your website, you have several books coming out in 2006. Can you tell us a little about the books and stories?

Lori: Actually I have five coming out:

CRESCENT MOON - 2/06
THE MOMMY QUEST - 3/06
"Dead Man Dating" (in the anthology DATES FROM HELL) - 4/06
MIDNIGHT MOON - 8/06
"Charmed by the Moon" (in the anthology MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING) - Fall of '06

CRESCENT MOON begins a new series of werewolf books set in New Orleans. Some of the same characters will appear in secondary roles with new characters in each. The first book, CRESCENT MOON, deals with a loup garou, or French werewolf, in the Honey Island Swamp.

The second, MIDNIGHT MOON, travels to Haiti for part of the book and delves more deeply into voodoo.

"Dead Man Dating" is the story of an incubus demon, a demon hunter and a literary agent in Manhattan.

"Charmed by the Moon" is the story of Jessie's and Will's (from BLUE MOON) wedding. Of course, nothing goes smoothly.

THE MOMMY QUEST is Dean Luchetti's story, the last of five books about the Luchetti Brothers from Harlequin Superromance.

Bee: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Lori: Keep writing. Every book will get better and sooner or later you'll find the editor who's perfect for you. The only way to fail is to quit.