I am so excited to host Lauren Kutney this morning! Lauren and I met at a writers’ conference in San Diego in January and we bonded over mediocre airport hamburgers. She is a delightful woman and an enormously talented writer. Here she is in her own words.

What made you sit down and write your first novel? Have you always been a writer? Is it something you’ve done all your life?

I’ve always had a creative mind. When I watched TV shows and movies, I could often guess what the characters would say or do next—and I’d find myself thinking about how I would write it differently. I love the idea of creating a world people can escape to, even just for a little while, to forget about their own lives and problems.

As I got older, I became the Feature Editor for my high school newspaper and absolutely loved it. That experience confirmed what I already knew: writing would always be a part of my life.

What made you want to set romances in this time and place? How do you think it makes your stories stand out from other romance novels?

There’s something about fantasy and romantasy elements that I just love. I think it’s because you can fully create your own world—with no holds barred. I was also a huge fairytale lover growing up—like most girls—so I’ve always enjoyed stories about princesses and royalty.

What I think makes my book different from many others is that I really wanted to focus on telling a story that helps young people understand that love comes in many forms. A lot of people think that if they didn’t have a traditional upbringing, love might be out of reach for them. In my book, we explore love through friendships, romantic relationships, and the feeling of belonging to a community—even if that wasn’t something the main character experienced growing up. It’s also about overcoming adversity and the inner demons we all struggle with on a daily basis.

Where do you get your characters? Are they purely figments of your imagination, or are they based on real individuals?

Mostly in my head…lol. I think, as writers, we often put a little bit of ourselves or our family experiences into our novels. I can be a bit sassy, so I definitely see some of myself in Elena. Growing up, I had a lot of friends who were adopted, didn’t have both parents, or went through their parents’ divorce at an early age. Listening to them talk about how those experiences shaped them really influenced how I wrote this book.

What is your writing process? Are you a ‘plotter’ or a ‘pantser’?

I’m a little bit of both. I definitely outline and plan the beginning, the big plot points in the middle, and the end. But there are times when I’m outlining a chapter, and something pops into my head that takes the story in a completely different direction. Sometimes it works out great because it leads to a major action scene or conflict that really enhances the story. Other times, I get an idea for another story and have to stop myself from running with that before finishing my current one. But hey, it’s better than writer’s block!

How do you go about researching your work?

One of the great things about writing fantasy is that I can create a world where anything can happen (laughs). When I use a real city or town, though, I’ll often dive into a lot of research—through online searches, documentaries, maps, etc. Many of my books involve some suspense, so getting the details right, especially with weapons and terminology (which happens to be a hobby of mine), is really important. I also like to talk to experts in those areas to get their thoughts on whether something feels realistic.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Like most new authors, I’ve spent the last 17 years working in HR. Currently, I’m an investigator for a large financial institution, which is probably why I love writing suspense. My role allows me to dig deep and solve problems—and trust me, there are plenty of those to solve.

Outside of work, shopping is my favorite pastime; nothing beats a good retail therapy session. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me catching up on my favorite TV shows and movies. I also love reading, volunteering with the youth at my church, and spending time with my two rescue dogs—Ralphie, my loyal Shepherd, and Henry, my sweet American Bulldog. Supporting organizations like Coastal Boxer Rescue, Wounded Warriors, and St. Jude is important to me, as giving back is something I deeply believe in.

Do you do any other kind of writing besides romance?

No. I stick to what I am passionate about and that is all things romance.

If you could give one piece of advice to a beginning writer, what would it be?

Never, never, never give up. Just write and get it on paper. This business can be hard, and you will have a lot of people tell you no, but if your story is worth telling, keep going and don’t let anyone stop you. Even if only one person reads your book, to that one person, you likely changed their world.

Thank you, Lauren! I am looking forward to reading your book, The Lost Princess!