Author Q&A with Laura E. Thompson

Author Q&A with Laura E. Thompson

I am an author of several different genres, branching out every day, but primarily I am writing fantasy, romantasy, YA, romance, paranormal, and in the future, historical fiction and perhaps paranormal suspense. I am also an owner and Developmental Editor at Writer’s Journey Services. A company that provides comprehensive editing, cover art, fantasy maps, and marketing for authors at reasonable costs.

 

Tell us about your writing/ published book(s)
I have two fantasy series published. One is a YA epic heroine’s journey fantasy entitled Elven Quest. The other is a dark NA Romantasy with multiple main characters, entitled Witches of Tradbeldam.

 

Where’s your favourite place to write?
My couch late at night.

 

How do you approach starting a new book?
I often have multiple books being written at once I am not a planner so my writing is more about the feeling and inspiration I have at the time. But I love to bounce ideas of other trusted writer and reader friends on Discord groups and Social Media.

 

What’s your favourite genre to read?
Fantasy and Contemporary Romance

 

Have you always wanted to write?
Yes! I have been writing since I was a child and would be miserable without it.

 

What do you do when you have writer’s block?
Typically work on something else. I own an author services company and am a Developmental Editor so if I am feeling stuck on my own writing I edit other people’s or market for my books or my company.

 

Tell us about a scene that you loved but had to edit out of your book
I had a scene in my Witch series where the coven of witches decide to kill the current king. I liked it but ultimately decided it was too dark and didn’t fit with their characters so they chose a different path to gain power.

 

Do you like reading the same books you write?
Yes.

 

Do write under a pen name? If so, tell us about how you chose it
Yes. My fantasy books are under Laura E. Thompson, my married name. My YA coming of age series is published under my maiden name L.E. LaBarge because they are about my childhood, it seemed fitting. I will be adding a new genre, contemporary romance, to my writing later this year and will have a penname for that as well, which will be L.E. Minx.

 

How do you choose your book’s title(s)?
I am honestly terrible at creating the titles and always ask other writers for help. So I cannot take credit for any of them. I would say if you are having trouble ask others.

 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to write their first book?
Writing is the easy part. Self publishing can be easy. Editing and Marketing are the most difficult parts of selling books. My advice is hire good professional editors, vet them carefully, not all editing companies are created equal. Pay for decent cover art, but again do your research. You do not have to pay hundreds of dollars for a good cover there are options out there. Lastly, marketing is so difficult. There is no secret sauce, so talk to others, try new strategies, pay attention to what’s working for you. If you want to talk feel free to reach out to me on Threads or IG. Good luck!

 

Do you do research for your books? If so, what kind of research?
Yes, sometimes. I research to find character names. I often look up name meanings in baby books. And if I am writing in a specific time period I look up facts about language, and attire, etc. details of what they would say and do and eat, etc. at that time so that it is authentic.

 

How do you fit writing into your everyday life?
I’m a good multitasker. I write when I have down time at work. I write in the evenings while dinner is cooking. I write late at night after the kids go to sleep. That’s when I can fit it in.

 

How do you approach ‘world building’?
My stories are character driven primarily so the characters drive the world, I think about them first then think about what kind of world they live in. I like hard magic systems so my magic always has rules, boundaries, limitations. I make sure the world makes sense with those limitations but try to think outside the box of how to bring different groups of people within the world together.

 

How do you handle criticism?
I try to be honest with myself and ask is there any merit in what they said? Are there ways that I can improve and if so, do I believe I should? I can usually tell if someone is being critical just for their own sake or if it is meant to be constructive. I try to focus on the constructive.

 

Describe your perfect character to me
I like characters that are full of self-doubt, but learn and grow as the book progresses. Sometimes they are morally grey and learn to lean more into the positive as the series goes. Sometimes they’re tortured souls who just need love to change. Those are all my favorite types of characters and if all of those traits are rolled into one character then that is best.

 

Tell me about your current work
Currently I am writing book five of my Witches of Tradbeldam series. It has been three years in their world between the end of book 4 and the beginning of book 5. A lot has changed, and new characters and conflicts are introduced. They’ll need to re-evaluate their future plans and integrate these new characters. On top of that book, I am prepping my co-written spicy contemporary romance Mediterranean Waves due to release in December.

 

Tell me about your main character
The Witches of Tradbeldam series has multiple MCs. They are all members of the S.W.O.T. Sister Witches of Tradbeldam coven or the B.W.O.T. Brother Witchers of Tradbeldem Coven. But there is also one half witcher, half druid main character who is technically not a part of either group. He has dark and light magik inside him but walks within the light…most of the time.

 

Would you want your book made into a film?
Absolutely! That’s the dream! Or into an HBO or Netflix or Amazon show. Does anyone work for those companies and want to reach out to me? Haha.

 

How many books do you own?
Hmm… not sure if this question means how many have I published. I have twenty books written and have published nine so far. Many more books will be released from me for the rest of my life.

 

 

Laura is planning sales on her books in August, July and October so keep an eye out.

 

Follow Laura on Threads & IG so you don’t miss out on any updates!

@lethompson06_author

 

Laura E. Thompson’s Links can be found here