1. What made you first interested in writing a book?
I always liked to write when I was a child and when I was in high school, but I never thought I had the patience to sit down and write a full book. I was an avid reader and a constant day dreamer. Yet life gets in the way–college, job, marriage, and kids. It was years later when saw a news story about a group of romance writers that met at a local restaurant every month did I truly think about writing a book. I went to the meeting and met a lot of kind and helpful people. I became a writer after a lot of conferences, workshops, writing classes, and joining a critique group. I plan to write as long as I can and as long as the stories keep coming into my head.
2. Why medieval fiction?
I have a deep love of history of any kind and I love to peruse old books, manuscripts, documents, and even maps of historical and ancient places. My second book “Revelation” was actually written before the first. My character, Julian was born after reading a story handed down through the generations about a golden-haired knight that tried to save the Cross of Christ during a battle. The cross was lost, and in reality probably really wasn’t the cross Christ was killed on, but the
story got me thinking…what if. Thus Julian, my golden knight had to have his story. But I don’t only write medieval fiction, I have penned a few contemporaries as well.
3. Which authors would you say have influenced your writing the most?
I was a struggling reader when I was young, but then one day I stumbled upon a copy of the “Flame and the Flower” by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and it turned my life around. I then picked up Margret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” and I was hooked on reading. But my all-time favorite author has to be Harper Lee. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a masterpiece. I don’t know any author who wouldn’t like to pen a book of that quality just once.
4. Fun question: of all the books you have read, which book had the best kiss/most romantic moment?
Wow. This is a tough one. In fact, I stopped and spent a couple of days thinking about this question. I have read so many romances and so many beautiful and touching love scenes I can’t really give you an answer on this one.
5. What are you working on now?
I am actually working on the fourth and last book in my “The Sword and the Cross” series. It’s actually Hugh’s story, the brother of Julian who was the hero in book two, “Revelation.” I knew when I finished that book that Hugh would have to have a story of his own. However, before that book, “Redemption,” book three, will be coming out shortly – early spring! I know I have had many readers asking about it.
I’d just like to say thank you, Embassie for giving me the opportunity to be part of your fabulous blog. You are a gracious host.
If you want to find out more about Olivia Rae, you can find her here: http://www.oliviaraebooks.com/
remaininhislove 