Author Spotlight: An Interview with Roni Loren

Roni Loren Author’s Bio:

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son.If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that’s it. She is the National Bestselling Author of The Loving on the Edge series from Berkley Heat.

I think I started reading Roni Loren’s Loving on the Edge series when Crash Into You first hit the shelves. I’ve been hooked ever since. This is one lady that definitely knows her Erotic BDSM Romance. Not only does she pen a wonderfully crafted novel, her characters are true to the lifestyle. Unlike so many other writers in the genre, it is obvious that Roni has done her research well, rather than just skimming the surface for fantasy fodder. Don’t get me wrong we all have times when we want our fantasies fed. Roni goes well beyond feeding your fantasies with her well developed characters So without further ado, let me share with you the answers Roni had for our questions.

Jean:

Is the Ranch a total figment of your imagination or does it have any basis in reality? Not that I would want to “”out”” a private facility, I’ve always been intrigued with the clubs and dungeons some authors come up with. Lord, I’d love to visit one or two.

Roni:

There are clubs that exist, but The Ranch is a figment of my imagination. I went to a concert years ago out in the middle of nowhere Texas at this ranch. There was nothing around as far as the eye could see except cows and the occasional barn or farmhouse. And I had the thought—if you wanted to hide something, this would be the place to do it. That’s when the idea of The Ranch was born.

Jean:

You’ve been teasing us with glimpses of Sam and Gibson and their dynamics in previous books. Now you’re bringing their relationship front and center in Break Me Down. How much of a challenge was it to write the D/s relationship from a female dominant perspective, especially with a strong dominant male in the submissive role?

Roni:

I was actually nervous to write this dynamic because it is so very different from what I’ve written before in my books. (Though I have penned a few short stories with this dynamic.) And I wanted to keep Gibson’s alpha-ness but also show how deep his submissive streak was. I think a lot of people have the initial knee-jerk reaction, thinking a submissive guy is going to be some passive, wimpy dude. So not true. What could be hotter than a strong-willed, sexy, smart guy who secretly wants to do nothing but serve his woman in bed? Come on. So Gibson ended up being so much fun to write. And being able to write the woman in charge in the bedroom was a blast, too. Sam is feisty and tough, but she’s also so tenderhearted and vulnerable beneath it all. It’s a great dynamic between them.

Jean:

You have a new series coming out, The Pleasure Principle. How will the series arc differ from Loving on the Edge? Can you tell us a bit about Off the Clock?

Roni:

I’m really excited about this series. If you’ve read my Loving on the Edge books, you can expect the same level of sexiness and heat. But this series is not BDSM focused (though you’re going to find some kinky characters still.) The series centers on The Grove – an exclusive therapy institute in the bayous of Louisiana that serves the rich and famous. And in OFF THE CLOCK you meet Dr. Donovan West and Dr. Marin Rush, two sex therapists who had an encounter in college and haven’t seen each other since. Marin, my heroine, has spent her post-college years in a research position and planned to stay there. But when she loses her gig, she has to take a job working with actual people. And Marin’s good at studying sex, but she hasn’t actually had any since her one night in college with Donovan. So the sex therapist who’s supposed to be helping others with their sex lives has no experience of her own. Let the fun begin. : ) So in this series, expect intrigue and entanglements among the many employees at The Grove and you’ll also get peeks inside the clients’ lives as well.

Jean:

Will you be continuing with Loving on the Edge? What does the future hold for the series?

Roni:

Yes, the series will continue. The plan right now is to alternate the two series, so a Pleasure Principle book then a Loving on the Edge book. LOVING YOU EASY will be the next in the Loving series and will release late 2016. I’m writing that one right now, and I’m stepping outside the circle of previous characters I’ve followed. So it will be a few different faces but still connected to The Ranch and the rest of the crew.

Jean:

What type of character do you find the most challenging to write? To get inside their heads?

Roni:

I find men easier to write than women. I’m not sure what that says about me, lol. And my favorite/easiest characters to write are the cocky, sarcastic guys who like to crack jokes. If you’ve read my series, these are the characters like Jace and Pike. They just fly onto the page for me. But I’d say what would probably be really hard for me to write is the real girly girl. Like a woman who really cares about fashion and shoes and always has her nails done and makeup perfect. I have nothing against that kind of character (or person for that matter), but it’s so far from who I am that I know I’d have to work hard to get into that character’s head.