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Today I’m thrilled to have L. B. Joramo, just call her Lani, author of THE IMMORTAL AMERICAN and coming soon, the second in the Immortal American series, THE BONES OF WAR with me in the Blue Rose Writing Room.
Tell us Lani, how long have you been writing?
I think the expression goes, “In the beginning there was light . . .” That’s how long I’ve been writing. Ha! At least it feels like it sometimes.
I loved stories when I was a little girl. My father would mesmerize me with what our family called “Walking Stories,” where he would hold me in his huge arms and walk around my room while making up tales. His hope would be to calm me, make me sleepy, but I’d get more excited and try to add to the yarn he was inventing. One of my first memories was of being awake in the dark and running with a story in my head.
By the time I was in kindergarten I was making books of construction paper and yarn to bind it all together. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, to continue the “Walking Story.”
I’m impressed! So, what’s one thing you absolutely can’t tolerate during your writing? One thing you can’t write without?
I need silence to write, but I live in reality. I have a family and too many pets, so it’s noisy almost all the time. I usually wake before my son and write. But I write during the day too, so I plug in my earphones and listen to classical music. I’m hoping for Christmas I’ll get some of those noise-canceling earphones.
I LOVE the internet while I write. I know, I’m not supposed to jump to it, but when I’m in a bind about a certain word, making sure it’s historically accurate, or some other facet of my story, I love being able to just look it up.
Oh my gosh, I have to have silence too, and as a historical writer, I must have internet access while I write. I want historical accuracy in my work. Tell us one unusual, weird, or curious fact you discovered while researching this book.
It’s not really odd, but the one fact that kept coming up was how very human and relatable the people of the late eighteenth century were. When I grew up I was taught to idolize our forefathers, but they were incredibly fallible, sometimes irritating, and often extremely likable.
The other tidbit that I just loved was how much some people swore! And not just the occasional “damnation,” but they used the big guns, the “f” bomb quite regularly. I’m oddly fascinated with the usage of swearing. Sorry!
I discovered quite by accident exactly where the “f” bomb originated and what word it originated from. Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever written any other genre? Do you plan on doing so in the future?
I don’t think I chose the genre, as much as it chose me. I know I sound crazy, but let me explain. When I first started writing the Immortal American, it was a weird fluke. I had this idea about an immortal woman, who lived through the American Revolution. I hardly knew anything about the War for America’s Independence though. Through writing this series, I not only began years of studying on my own, but am almost finished with my Master’s in US Military History. My area of expertise is the American Revolution, of course.
Yes, I write in other genres. Under a pseudonym I write paranormal romances. The Immortal American series is historical/paranormal with strong elements of romance, but not a romance per se. However, I don’t think I’d be a complete person without writing romance too. And now I’m writing a paranormal romance series that I hope can correlate with the Immortal American series.
Is there any genre you won’t read? Write? Can you tell us why?
I won’t read rape fantasy fetish material. By day I edit, and a manuscript crept into my path that was a rape fantasy. Only, the blurb for it had no such claim. The blurb made it sound fantastic, and I was so excited! I have to admit the grammar of the writing was one of the best I’ve ever read from an author. But, no, I won’t read rape fantasy fetish work. Everyone is entitled to their fantasies, but that is not mine.
Truthfully, I’m very careful about what I read. What historical figure do you wish you could have met?
I’ve been studying British General William Howe quite a bit in these last few months, so I would love to meet him. He was tactically flawless, never defeated. He took quite green and young army privates and made them into one of the strongest armies the world ever saw. If he hadn’t quit when he had, I seriously doubt that America would have gained its independence.
But I love so many other historical figures too! There are so many people I would have loved to meet! No wonder time-travel romance books are selling so well!
I’ve a couple time travels bouncing around in my head! What is something you are determined to do?
Keep writing. I’ve had some major professional pitfalls in the last three months—needing to fire an editor, new cover designer quitting, etc. Before that I’ve had some painful private ones—last year my brother then mother died in a matter of two months.
I think that because the professional difficulties happened when I hadn’t properly grieved over my loved ones, it became too much. I really thought about giving up for a while. And I did. I didn’t write for days. After more than ten years of writing every day, it felt like another grief to contend with. But I realized I didn’t have to. I could continue writing. Also, I have a beautiful friend who held my hand through every stressful turn in the last year of my life. She kept encouraging me and demanded I never give up. It’s thanks to that funny, bossy, and wonderful friend that I keep pushing forward. Thanks, Lana!
Oh, my gosh, my heart goes out to you! What’s one new thing you’d like to try?
Driving a Lamborghini. Oh baby!
Okay, now for the quickie questions: Ready? Go!
Favorite Disney Character? Jack, The Pumpkin King
Favorite Fruit? An apple
Favorite Hero? My dad
Favorite Eye Color? Brown
Best Vacation destination? The Caribbean Islands
Food you can’t stand? Organ meat
What annoys you? People who lack sympathy
Coffee, tea, or something else? Both and sometimes soda pop too
Nightgown or Jammies? Both
Prefer dogs or cats? Again both
A bit about L. B. Joramo:
My son is now content with our animals. I hope.
I write, research the eighteenth century, and hike around my beautiful big sky as much as I can. Usually with my son, praying he doesn’t want a coyote or some other animal as we tread along.
The blurb about THE IMMORTAL AMERICAN
Historical Paranormal: As black clouds gather for America in 1775 Violet Buccleuch transforms from simple colonial farmer to become the Immortal American.
While Boston roars with protests, Violet Buccleuch fights to survive. The lone provider for her mother and sister, Violet knows that soon enough she must surrender to the only option a woman of 1775 has: marriage.
For two years she’s delayed a wedding to Mathew Adams, her fiancé. He’s loved her since they were children, and Violet knows he will be a good husband. But he’s gone and committed the most dangerous mistake a man can make: He’s introduced her to his friend, Jacque Beaumont, a Frenchman and a spy, a dark, dangerous man Violet can’t stop herself from wanting.
Then Violet’s life is shattered—brutality, death, and the threat of debtor’s prison surround her. Both Jacque and Mathew come to her aid—one man rescues her farm, the other rescues her heart. As the Battle of Concord rages at her door, Violet is entangled between her loyalty to Mathew, even as she’s drawn further into Jacque’s shadowy, mysterious world–perhaps a world from which there’s no return.
Enjoy an excerpt from THE IMMORTAL AMERICAN
“There, there,” Jacque whispered.
I was in his arms, and he stared down at me with a lone tear descending his hollowed check, his black stubble slowing the moisture.
There wasn’t as much blood as I thought there should be, but then again I’d thought I was dead.
I shouldbe dead.
I couldn’t help but stare down as I watched something creamy white flash beneath the gaping wound. Like two sides of ivory clothe being sewn back together, my breastbone stitched itself whole. Gleaming white and completely healed, the bone, my bone, was intact. It was gristly to watch and felt as if searing hot needles worked on my body, but I couldn’t turn away. Just as quick as my bone reconstructed itself, I saw red-pink sinew suddenly appear and stretch over my unbroken bone. Lastly, my pink skin, like fingers reaching to intimately interlace with another’s, extended and blended the seams until there was nothing but a bruise under my bloody linen shirt. My corset was completely ruined by blood and the shredded hole in the center.
Here’s how you can contact L. B. Joramo
through her website — www.lbjoramo.com, blog – http://blog.lbjoramo.com, Twitter @LBJoramo, and she occasionally shows up for her Facebook Page @ LBJoramo.
Thanks again, Lani or L. B. Joramo, for joining me here today.
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