Maybe it's just me, but it seems until recently finding a good medieval was easier said than done.

Occasionally, amongst the contemps and regencies, one would pop up—usually put out by an established author. Not that I'm complaining. I'm always happy to read a book by my favorite authors writing my favorite style of romance. I'm also happy to see that there appears to be a new wave of authors rolling in with some great tales set in medieval times.

Among those authors, you will find a lady by the name of Denise Lynn. If you haven't heard of her, you will be, and it's a name you will want to remember.

Already she has published two great books that are the beginning of her Falcon series. A bit of humor, lots of attraction, great characters, and even a bit of magic. I'm personally looking forward to the third novel, Falcon's Love.

You can find out more when you visit her website: http://www.denise-lynn.com/

Thanks, Denise, for taking the time to let us get to know you better!

1. Have you always wanted to be an author? How did you get started?

No. While I didn't mind writing reports and things for extra credit, and I've always daydreamed to pass time (never had a boring moment in my life), I never gave writing a second thought. I was going to be the world's best computer programmer and focused my attention in that field.

I was an avid romance reader—avid meaning 1 or 2 books a day—yes, it was an awfully expensive habit, but thankfully books were much cheaper in the "good olde days". My favorite author wrote a book with an ending that sent me way over the edge. I was horrified, aghast and all that stuff, I mistakenly made the totally ignorant comment that I could do better than that. My darling husband told me to put my money where my mouth was. Uh huh. Writing a romance is so much easier said than done, it took over 10 years before I could meet his challenge and by then I was a goner. Now my computer skills are geared toward WORD and my daydreams take on a life of their own. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

2. I know you are a huge medieval buff. What is it about that time?

I've been hooked on the middle ages since Disney released The Sword in the Stone. (ok, put your calculators away). What better time frame for stories of honor, bravery, conflict, strength and love? For me, at least. There isn't any medieval movie or book that I don't love. It doesn't matter if it's over the edge (Knights Tale, Black Knight, Men in Tights - that's manly men in tights) or on the more serious side (Camelot, Merlin, Stealing Heaven) I'm just enthralled.

 

3. Tell us about your family. I know you are married and have a son in the Navy.

Very married—hit the 25 year mark last year. My dh shocked me with a surprise wedding (um, is that re-wedding) in the mountains I love so. I swear, he's the romantic one in the family, not me. The son is now out of the Navy and working as a computer technician. Now there's a true blessing—someone to call when the box dies.

 

4. Your bio on your book also mentions 'a slew of four-legged "kids" '.

Just how many is a slew. And a slew of what? lol

A slew...this is embarassing....we have 1 dog, Katie (after Taming of the Shrew for good reason), she's 7 months old and a mix of Chow, Shepherd, Lab and heaven only knows—there isn't anything she won't eat. Literally. I don't suppose we need to count the 7 fish, right? I mean, they are in one tank and it's not like they have legs or run around the house. Basically, they are entertainment for the 6 cats. That was a mistake. 2 were intentional. One, Gwen, I rescued from the animal shelter, the other I "rescued" from my vet. They told me they'd have to put him down if I didn't take him.

Yes, call me a sucker, but Freddie is partially brain damaged from being put in a plastic garbage bag and hung on the vet's door. Obviously they revived him (the others in the litter died) and kept him at the office. Freddie got to the point where he didn't want other animals in HIS house, so they tried to give him away to 3 other families.

Well, being brain damaged, he needed a lot of attention at first that the others didn't have time for. As long as you don't move his food, water dish, or litter box, Freddie is a good cat. A little spacey, but a good cat. Three of the others were from a feral mama who had 7 kittens in my garage. I thought I could give them away when they were old enough. But when they were 3 weeks old, the neighbor turned his dog loose in my yard, so the rescuing was forced. While I saved 5 of them, I was only able to give away 2. The last one came from the neighborhood crack house. They weren't feeding him, his front teeth were kicked out and his tail was broken, they opened a window and he got out one night, so I nabbed him. We call him Twitch because he has these uncontrollable twitches. Can't imagine why. He's turned out to be a very good boy. Although, he hates the dog and he stays in "his" yard. Probably afraid someone will whisk him away. But that's it. No more. I'm done rescuing. I mean, there's only just so much room in our bed, ya know?

 

5. I'll bet you were a big reader as a kid. What did you like to read growing up? And, now as an author, what writers have influenced you?

When I was young, I read The Happy Hollister's (again, put away your calculators). By the time I was 10 I was "into" non-fiction. Rise and Fall of the Third Reicht, The Jewish Resistance, Auschwitz and JFK filled that summer. Don't ask me why, I've no clue. After that it was on to—Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, Dorothy Eden, Dorothy Daniels, and my first love—Sylvia Thorpe.

Then I picked up Bond of Blood and was hooked on historical romances forever. I don't know if any writer influenced me as much as inspired me. All I know is that some day, I want to tell a story as well as Roberta Gellis, Jude Deveraux and Anita Mills.

 

6. What are your 5 favorite movies?

Only 5? Actually, they change with the moon, but right at this moment I'd have to say:

City of Angels
Stealing Heaven
A Knights Tale
Merlin
Mists of Avalon

 

7. I really enjoyed FALCON'S HONOR. I just loved Rhian and Gareth. You've mentioned they were the hardest characters that you've had to work with yet. How far did they change from what you originally intended?

In the end, not far, but it took much teeth grinding to force them into line. It was during the process of getting them there that was the kicker. Gareth kept wanting to declare his love and take Rhian away, she was in total agreement, but that would have brought "The End" way too early in the story.

 

8. Tell us about your next book, FALCON'S LOVE. Will this one be about Gareth's sister, Marianne?

Nope. FALCON'S LOVE is the 3rd brother—Darius. He did terrible, shameful things and was cast out of his father's keep and life. Now that daddy is gone, he's back home, trying to rebuild his life. His shame?

He fell in love.

Hopefully, Marianne's story, FALCON'S HEART, will be the 4th book in the series. We'll see. I haven't sent it in to my editor yet. Too busy working on a contemporary Intrigue about Rhian's 21st century family at the moment. Now there's my ultimate description of hard—writing a contemporary after 14 years of writing medievals. I'm going with the temporary insanity plea.