Today I am blessed and honored to have my good friend, K.I. Lynn on my blog! She's about to release her novel Breach, which is amazing. She and I sat down and had a chat about her book.

Me--What inspired you to write Breach?

K.I.--It started out to write a sexy, pushing the envelope, fantasy story with some plot. It turned out much deeper than I ever thought possible.

Me--How do you handle writers block?

K.I.--I go on Amazon and spend hours going through music. I love music, and it is what inspires my imagination and ideas running through my mind. It may take a couple days, but if I just listen and don’t think, it eventually breaks.

Me--Is it hard to balance your writing with your personal life?

K.I.--Not too bad. We don’t have children yet, so I have the time. My husband is supportive, which is huge.

Me--Who is your favorite author and why?

K.I.--If you asked me this twenty years ago I would have said R.L. Stein. I loved horror like stories. Since I became an adult I can’t really answer that. There are series from authors I love, but other things they do that don’t interest me at all.

Me--When did you know you wanted to be an author?

K.I.--I’d been writing for years, nothing anyone ever saw. It was about a year ago I decided to give it a try. I didn’t know my passion was writing until about three years ago when I began posting things online.

Me--Who is your favorite character from your book? Why?

K.I.--That’s a hard one, because I love them all and for different reasons. In this book of the trilogy I’d have to say… Nathan. He is such a complex person, but he gets Lila, he sees her. His struggle and his mystery are compelling.

Me--If they made a movie out of Breach, who do you see at the main characters?

K.I.--I went searching for the answer to this, because I hadn’t thought about it. David Gandy for Nathan. He looks just like the picture in my head, I just didn’t know there was a real person that looked that way. If not him than Michael Fassbender. I really like Mia Wasikowska for Delilah, but I can also see Emily Blunt or Lauren Cohan.

Me--Breach was once a Twilight based fan fiction. What was your experience like when transforming it from the fan fiction version to being original? Was it worth it?

K.I.--It was very much worth it. It was a very long process to transform it. The writing needed a lot of work, and aspects of the story were changed, some things taken out. Overall it took a few months, but the final product is so much better than I could have imagined when I started out.

Me--What can we expect next from you? Any more books in progress?

K.I.--I have a short story called Whispers in the Dark due out in May, a novella titled Obsession for late summer, and the second book in the Breach trilogy later this year.

Thank you, K.I. Lynn, and the best of luck on your new release! You can find Breach on Goodreads!

I'm honored to have Jan Moran on my blog today. Her new release, Scent of Triumph, looks amazing and I can't wait to buy my own copy and read it! Make sure you check out the giveaway at the bottom for the three signed paperbacks and leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win an ebook copy!

Guest Blog Post by Jan Moran

It’s great to be here today with Lisa. I love to chat with readers, and am often asked where authors get their ideas. Aside from the usual place (in the bathtub surrounded by bubbles), I began to think: What inspires creativity?

We’ve all read romances that stole our hearts, or thrillers that grabbed us by the throat. The keep-you-up-all-night books that you can’t get out of your mind. Every one of these stories began with the seed of an idea.

And every writer has her own method of nurturing creativity. Mine always begin with a question: “What if….”

So today I thought I’d share how I channel my muse. Here are a few ways I conjure creativity:

1. Unplugging – If my mind is too cluttered, there’s no room for creative thinking. Unplug from social media, get up from the computer, go for a walk, send calls to voice mail. I enjoy a long walk to delve into ideas, but even a short stroll can clear the mind.

2. Communing with Nature – When I’m really stumped, I turn to Mother Nature by taking a walk, listening to birds, or watching the rhythm of the ocean. Gardening is another passion; ideas often rise to the surface when I’m elbow deep in dirt or pruning roses. The warmth of the sun and the aromas from flowers and plants often leads to inspiration, too.

3. A World of Reading – Reading across a variety of genres stimulates the imagination. News topics might also provide a starting point. In fact, part of the early inspiration for Scent of Triumph came from a newspaper story I’d read about families who were separated during World War II.

4. Art Appreciation – Recharge creative batteries by seeking out other forms of artistic expression. For instance, I love to wander through art galleries, and always feel creatively energized afterward.

5. Get Physical – Physical exercise is excellent for clearing out mental cobwebs. Be sure to do what’s fun. For me, it might be swimming or dancing, biking or snow skiing, or practicing pilates or yoga. Mixing up muscle movement keeps exercise fresh, and improves mental clarity.

6. Nocturnal Thoughts – Inspiration often treads on silent feet in the dark of night. I keep a notepad on my nightstand, and often scribble thoughts that lead to breakthroughs. Or, early in the morning, in that quiet space between sleep and wakefulness when the mind finds dreaming natural, I’ll turn my thoughts to my storyline.

7. Tiny Bubbles – A long soak in a warm tub is a must for my creative muse. Add music, candles, wine—whatever strikes your fancy. Personally, I’m hooked on bubbles—the more the merrier. Bubbles, like snow, muffle the outside world, giving creativity space to grow.

8. Set the Scene – Create an environment conducive to creativity. Pots of tea, instrumental music, pleasing aromas—these are the basic necessities for my writing sessions.

When writing Scent of Triumph, I tried to recreate the period of time covered the book, which is 1939 to 1947. I have a professional background in the fragrance business, so I immersed myself in vintage perfume history, surrounding myself with fragrances that were available during the time period—all from my personal collection. From Shalimar to Mitsouko, Joy to Chanel No. 5, Normandie to Narcisse Noir, these perfumes reflect the artistry of the period, and helped me conjure the mood.

Other period research included wartime history, video and audio recordings, fashion, music, and female entrepreneurs. I spoke to people who had lived through the time period. My mother shared memories of daily details of life, such as rationing. Not every fact made it into the book, of course, but the immersion provided inspiration, helping to create an authentic world.

What inspires you? What do you do to engage your creativity?

About Scent of Triumph by Jan Moran

Scent of Triumph is the story of Danielle Bretancourt, a talented young French perfumer with a flair for fashion and a natural olfactory gift. In the language of perfumery, she is a Nose, with the rare ability to recognize thousands of essences by memory. The story opens on the day England declares war on Germany, and Danielle and her family are caught in the midst of a raging disaster sweeping across Europe.

Her life takes a tragic turn when her husband and son are lost behind enemy lines. She spies for the French resistance, determined to find them, but is forced to flee Europe with fragments of her family. Destitute, she mines her talents to create a magnificent perfume that captures the hearts of Hollywood's top stars, then gambles again to win wealth and success as a couturier. Her intelligence and flair attracts the adoration of Jonathan Newell-Grey, of England's top shipping conglomerate, and Cameron Murphy, Hollywood's most charismatic star.

Danielle charts her course through devastating wartime losses and revenge; lustful lovers and loveless marriages; and valiant struggles to reunite her family. Set between privileged lifestyles and gritty realities, here is one woman's story of courage, spirit, and resilience.

Author Bio

Jan Moran writes smart, stylish, sensual sagas. She’s also written several books on perfume.

“My most recent book, SCENT OF TRIUMPH, was inspired by my love of perfumery and history. In writing, I drew upon my own family history and my mother's memories of World War II, imagining a young entrepreneur whose talent, determination, and fearlessness catapult her to the pinnacle of success, despite mounting personal tragedies and the elusiveness of love.

“I write about strong, capable, female entrepreneurs. I’m a world traveler, so I also enjoy writing about different destinations.”

Jan Moran is the author of SCENT OF TRIUMPH, a historical novel, and FABULOUS FRAGRANCES I and II, which earned spots on the Rizzoli Bookstore bestseller list. She is at work on more series in fiction and nonfiction.

As a fragrance and beauty expert, she has been featured in numerous publications and on television and radio, including CNN and Extra, Women's Wear Daily, Allure, InStyle, and O Magazine. As an editor and writer, she has covered fragrance, beauty, and spa travel for a variety of publications.