• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lori Drake

Urban Fantasy Author

Urban Fantasy Author

  • Bio
  • Books
    • All Books
    • Grant Wolves
    • Secondhand Magic
  • Blog
  • Contact

What comes first, the plot or characters?

July 7, 2020 by Lori

Plot, generally. But they go hand in hand. Obviously, if I'm writing a book in a series that's already established, I have a basic cast of characters to work with already. But when it comes to a new series or a short story that's independent of a series, I tend to start with a scenario or … [Read more...] about What comes first, the plot or characters?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

Do you work on more than one project at a time?

June 30, 2020 by Lori

Sort of. I don't usually write more than one thing at a time, because I don't want to run my well dry. But I'm often brainstorming & outlining other things while I'm writing or editing something else. That way, I can dive right into first drafting when I finish the current … [Read more...] about Do you work on more than one project at a time?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

What does your family think of your writing?

June 23, 2020 by Lori

My family is quite supportive of my writing. My husband is one of my alpha readers, and his feedback has been invaluable over the years. My mother and grandmother both read my books once they're published (which I try not to think about while I'm writing them), and one of my aunts is a fan too. I'm … [Read more...] about What does your family think of your writing?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Life, Writing

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

June 16, 2020 by Lori

A veterinary ophthalmologist. I know. Specific, right? You see, my grandmother got a collie when I was a kid, and collies are prone to a variety of medical conditions, one of which is eye problems. It had never occurred to my adolescent mind that animals might have problems with their eyes the … [Read more...] about As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Life

Is Secondhand Magic set in the Grant Wolves world?

June 9, 2020 by Lori

Nope! They are completely different worlds. However... I wrote the first draft of Null Witch one year before Early Grave, and it was rattling around in my mind that Emily and Emma might be the same person while I was writing Early Grave. The worlds quickly diverged, both in my mind and on the … [Read more...] about Is Secondhand Magic set in the Grant Wolves world?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Early Grave, Grant Wolves, Null Witch, Secondhand Magic, Writing

How many hours a day do you write?

June 2, 2020 by Lori

I am not one of those write every day writers. When I'm working on a first draft, I write 5-6 days per week for 1-2 hours, more if I'm in a really good flow. I schedule writing sessions on my calendar, and I often employ a sprint strategy, breaking the allotted time down into smaller chunks, to … [Read more...] about How many hours a day do you write?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

May 26, 2020 by Lori

How didn't publishing my first book change my process of writing? Ha! Before I started publishing, I wrote on a very laissez-faire schedule. If I wanted to write, I did. If I didn't, I didn't. That meant not much writing outside of November (NaNoWriMo season), honestly. I started a weekly … [Read more...] about How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Publishing, Writing

Do you use sensitivity readers?

May 19, 2020 by Lori

I do not. But as worried as I get about offending people, maybe I should! I try to be respectful when writing about races, genders, and cultures beyond my personal experience, and do the best I can when it comes to research. I think I would probably consider a sensitivity reader or two if I wrote … [Read more...] about Do you use sensitivity readers?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

May 12, 2020 by Lori

Don't quit writing. In fact, write more. Keep going until you finish the story; don't let it languish unfinished on your hard drive. Don't be afraid to let others read what you've written—no one improves in a vacuum. … [Read more...] about If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

What was your hardest scene to write?

May 5, 2020 by Lori

They're not all a piece of cake, that's for sure. But I think the one that stands out for me on an emotional level was a eulogy I had to write for Grant Wolves #4. (No spoilers here!) I'm blessed in that I have yet to experience the loss of someone incredibly close to me, so the scene was hard … [Read more...] about What was your hardest scene to write?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

April 28, 2020 by Lori

Counting works in progress for current series (as of April 2020)... four. One is the first novel I ever wrote, which may never see the light of day. It's about a man searching for his missing wife. The fact that she's a vampire and he's not just makes things all the more complicated. The other … [Read more...] about How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

How long does it take you to write a book?

April 21, 2020 by Lori

On average, it takes me about 2 months for the first draft. With that said, every book is a little bit different, and some take more or less time than others. The Grant Wolves books often take a little more time because they trend longer, with most clocking in the 80-90k range, and because they … [Read more...] about How long does it take you to write a book?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Writing

When will Secondhand Magic #2 be out?

April 14, 2020 by Lori

Short answer: I'm not sure. August-ish? Long answer: I'm currently working on Grant Wolves #6, which will be the last book in that series (though I wouldn't rule out more adventures for Dean). Secondhand Magic #2 is the next project on my list. I hope to start it in May/June. … [Read more...] about When will Secondhand Magic #2 be out?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Secondhand Magic

Why ballroom dancing werewolves?

November 28, 2017 by Lori

I've been a big fan of stories involving dance, ballroom in particular, for a long time. I guess I can date myself and reveal that it all started with "Dirty Dancing," but I'm a sucker for dancing movies and dance competition shows in general. (Yes, I watch "Dancing With The Stars." #TeamWitney) A … [Read more...] about Why ballroom dancing werewolves?

Filed Under: AMA Tagged With: Dancing, Inspirations, Themes

Latest Release

January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Aug    

Categories

  • AMA
  • Announcements
  • Random

Tags

Appearances ARC Dancing Early Grave etymology Excerpts Games Ghost Magnet Goals Grant Wolves Grave Rites Grave Threat Hobbies Holidays Inspirations Life Mind Mapping Movies Names New Releases Null Witch Plotting Publishing Recipes Secondhand Magic Shallow Grave Themes Thoughts Tools TV Updates Writing

Recent Posts

  • New Release – Grave Rites
  • What comes first, the plot or characters?
  • Do you work on more than one project at a time?

Lori Drake

Urban Fantasy Author

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

© 2017–2021 Lori Drake | All Rights Reserved. - Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkCookies Policy