Welcome, we are talking with Laurie Olerich today! I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to answer a few questions.

First, I think it’s important for readers to get a little insight on an author that they don’t necessarily get from your professional bio. You’d be surprised at what readers connect to, and sometimes the simplest ‘I can relate to that’ grabs their interest where nothing else can. Don’t answer anything you feel uncomfortable with.

What are your favorite animal, food, movie, TV show, actor, singer, and author?

Let’s see. I love pretty much all animals, but I’m a sucker for hamsters and dogs. I’ve had too many hamsters to count over the years. Dalmatians are my favorite dog breed, and I have had more than one at a time for the past 20 years. At one point, I did rescue with a friend and rehabilitated over 25 strays. My favorite TV show is “Supernatural” followed by “Penny Dreadful.”  Actor? Hmm. I have a few. Of course I adore Jensen Ackles, but I do love Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, and Ian Somerhalder as Damon in The Vampire Diaries. Singer? I’ve got a longstanding girl crush on Stevie Nicks. “Rumors” was my very first album. It’s tough to pick one favorite author. I like a lot of different genres and authors. My current fave is Eve Langlais. She’s very funny and is a nice person to boot.

What are your pet peeves?

I get totally annoyed when people commit to something and then blow it off. I’m a complete control freak so it makes me nuts when someone messes with my schedule.

Who’s your hero? I haven’t found one yet.

Ever optimistic though!

Give us one thing on your bucket list.

I’ve got to make it to Madison Square Gardens to watch a live NY Rangers game. I’m a huge hockey fan! The Blueshirts are my boys and one day I will get to see them up close and personal. Fingers are crossed!

What would readers find surprising about you?

If you could go to heaven, who would you visit? I would swing by my mother’s place to see what she’s been up to. She died when I was only 15 so I’ve got tons of questions for her.

Any bad habits?

Two biggies! I eat way too many carbs; I hate to exercise and have to be guilted into doing it.

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

I slipped on ice and slid completely underneath my car in the middle of a crowded parking lot–wearing a skirt and heels!

How many Dalmatian pals do you have and what are their names?

I’ve got two spotted furballs at the moment. Princess Domino is the oldest and my muse. She’s featured in my first three books. Rambo is my goofball male. He’s obsessive and neurotic too. He’s a hoot!

A good friend of yours turned you on to paranormal, any other genres you might tackle some day?

I’m working on a dark humor/occult fiction series that stars a team of Army Rangers. I’m also planning a smartass anthology of short stories. This one is for fun and will be mixed genres probably. I’m also considering putting together some of my short erotica stories into a novel at some point. Lots of projects in the works!

I love your book page, especially the character bios, what gave you the idea to do that and is it something you’re going to continue with all your books? Do you plan on adding Aisling’s?

Thanks for noticing! My best friend designed and built the website for me. I wanted to do character dossiers with a pseudo-secret agent look and feel since the Primani are a supernatural special ops team. I’m planning to do them for each main character. We’ve got one done for Aisling. Just need to update the page with her photo and the text. Sounds like we need to get on it!

Now that our readers know a little bit more about Laurie Olerich, let’s get down to the business of your writing, and books. You say twenty years working with men and guns explains your obsession to both, did that prepare you for writing and if yes, how? 

I learned the nuts and bolts of writing–grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.–as an HR manager and training developer in the Air Force. That skillset has been really, really helpful because I don’t have nearly as much editing as I might have. The military training, crazy experiences, and relationships with my fellow Airmen and Soldiers provided a wealth of knowledge to draw from. I’ve been told I’m pretty good at creating realistic male characters and I know that stems from living and working with mostly men for 25 years. I love the male mind! It’s a simple and beautiful thing.

Please tell us about Darkness Calling, book #5 in your Primani Series.

Darkness Calling tells both Sean and Aisling’s backstories and brings them together in the present. Sometimes there is a story that screams to be written, begs to see the light of day. This is one of them. Sean and Aisling are two very intense characters that readers have already met. Sean is one of my core Primani and my favorite hero. He can be a total dick, but that’s his way of hiding the pain inside. I’ve tortured him in the first four books to see what he would do. He always comes out stronger. Aisling has had a nightmare of a life–both as a human and an immortal Primani. They share nothing except a son they created in one night of passion. I wanted to see if I could bring these two characters together to unite them as lovers, but also as parents to one very special child. It was my challenge to create a story that my diehard Sean fans would accept. I think I’ve hit the mark with D/C and am hoping no one sends me hate mail! By the way, readers don’t have to read the first four books to understand this story. I’ve written it so it stands alone.

I understand Aisling spent a century in purgatory. She must have really been a wild child! Can you share what she did that warranted that kind of punishment?

When we meet her in D/C, it’s 1925. She’s been immortal for a few hundred years by then and absolutely hates it. Wracked with guilt over her role in her brothers’ deaths, she’s searching for redemption that never seems to come. She’s lonely, cold, and desperate for some physical comfort to dull her pain. Enter the smoking hot, mesmerizing, and devious Cain. Cain is a demon with an axe to grind with her maker. He takes one look at her and decides she’s going to pay the price. What he doesn’t expect is her willingness to get rough and hard with him. She not only wants his version of sex, she demands the escape it gives her. The catch? She doesn’t realize he’s a demon and way, way, way off limits. When she gets busted, she is exiled to purgatory. Note: this isn’t BDSM. It’s simply rough, passionate sex between two consenting adults.

What was your hardest challenge writing this book?

Writing Darkness Calling was a labor of love! Aisling, the heroine, isn’t a beloved character (until now!). She was uptight and absolutely bitchy to Sean when I introduced her in an earlier book. She’s managed to piss off all of my readers because Sean is one of everyone’s favorite Primani. So how to create a love match between these two? It wasn’t easy, but hey, I’m the writer so I get to work miracles! Before they wanted to kill each other, they were stranded together for a year. One thing led to another, and they had a son together. Fast forward seven years… With a little, okay maybe a lot, of nudging by the archangel Raphael, they discover there’s more between them than just a small boy.  

What in your opinion makes good chemistry between your leading characters?

In this story, there’s a lot of anger simmering between Sean and Aisling. And I mean A LOT! They have a passionate history they’d love to forget, but that’s just not going to happen. Both have emotional walls it’ll take a wrecking ball to get through and more pain than anyone should have to handle. They hide behind anger until they’re forced to work together to save their son. The longer they’re stuck with each other, the more they realize there are layers to their secrets and the connection between them could set them free. Once they decide to give into the attraction, the results are explosive.

Where did you come up with the name for your series?

The word Primani is Latin for ‘soldiers of the first legion.’ That is exactly what my soldiers are so the name was perfect. When I started book one, I visualized guardian angels at first, but quickly got bored with a fluffy angel concept. My Primani aren’t angels, per se, and they definitely aren’t soft and sweet. More mercenary than angelic, they needed a name that had some military meaning.

After checking out some of the great reviews that you’ve received I have to say congratulations on your success with this series. Will there be a number six, or more to look forward to?

Thank you! I’m very happy with the reviews I’ve gotten so far. I’m working on a couple more books for this series and then I’ll take a break from it. I also have a few ideas for some companion novellas/short stories that I may work on as well.

Are there any more series in your future?

Absolutely! I’m working on a book now that may or may not turn into a trilogy. I’ve got several concepts I’m tossing around as well. I love writing and I can’t turn off the ideas that constantly pop into my imagination. There are so many stories to be told! I’ll keep writing as long as it brings me joy!

Any other works in progress?

I’ve got a full plate of projects for 2015. I’m putting together a funny, upbeat novella that focuses on Dec and Rori’s wedding. Their story was told in Broken Souls (Primani #4). These are my two most romantic characters, and I thought they deserved a real wedding, but it just didn’t fit into the other book! The novella will be a companion to the series and is just for fun. One of my very good friends, Elaine Barris, and I are putting together a snarky, cheeky anthology of short stories that we’ll probably release in a year or so. We’re having a great time with this little project, but both have a lot on our plates. Fingers crossed for next year!

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Write, write, write! You can’t finish a book if you don’t sit down and write it. Another tip–Don’t pay too much attention to what other authors are doing. It’s good to be aware of trends and such, but be careful of information overload, especially via social media. Make a good business/marketing plan and stick with it. Your writing journey will be unique. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing/saying. It’s so easy to get discouraged by stalking others and reading about their successes.

Final words?

I appreciate the chance to tell my story here today. I love to answer questions and chat with readers, so feel free to reach out to me on any of the social media options or my email.

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Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview for Coffee Time Romance and More