Author Interview with Lynn Turner of “Pas De Deux”
Hello readers! I got the chance to interview author, Lynn Turner about her newest romance book Pas De Deux, writing process, favorite authors, among other things! I hope you all enjoy the interview!
About The Book
“It’s said the artist is born of a damaged soul…
Wilhelmina Allende is a prima ballerina. When tragedy turns her beloved Paris into a gilded cage, she jumps at the chance to work with one of the most prolific choreographers she’s ever seen. But Zack’s style is way out of her comfort zone. So is his teaching method. And his humor. And his everything. He’s a charming little connard. It’s hard not to like him. Merde. What has she gotten herself into?
Zachary Coen’s first musical is opening on Broadway. Much like his life, it’s anything but conventional, so hiring Mina is simply out of the question. She’s too…classical. Too perfect. She’s all wrong for the role. Then he meets her in person and sees her cracks. Her broken pieces. How unique and beautiful each one is. And he can’t help but notice how her edges seem to fit his…perfectly.
Just when teaming up seems to be working, the monsters they’ve kept hidden threaten to rip it all apart.”
Q&A Time!
Hi Lynn, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Honored! Thanks for having me. 😊 I am a huge nerd. I love all the typical “bookish” things, like rainy days, cozy sweaters, looonnnng autumns, pumpkin spice, and all things Austin/ Gilmore Girl. My education is in STEM, but I’ve always wanted to write. I never thought I would write romance, and now that my second book is here, I can’t imagine a genre more suited to telling so many important stories, so many diverse truths, packaged in a narrative that makes you feel good. I have two beautiful mini mes, a Mister Lynn Turner, and a clever fat cat named Bowie who reminds me of Garfield. 😉
When did you decide to become a writer and what steps did you take to get there?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since I pirated Huckleberry Finn at twelve years old and wrote it with a heroine named Sketch instead of a hero. As far as when I got the nerve to do it? July 2015, when I wrote fan fiction and readers supported my stories enthusiastically. Knowing that the way I strung words together resonated with people was the push I needed to give this thing a go. Steps? I wrote and wrote, queried and queried (and got rejection after rejection), then someone said yes, and I edited and edited…got over my fear of extroverting and established an online presence…I’m no expert, and I’m still an introvert who extroverts, but I’m here. I’m here, and that’s what matters. This time around I’m self-publishing, and while it’s much more work, the creative control and peace of mind that comes with it, knowing your characters are represented accurately and fairly, is everything.
Who are some of your favorite authors and their books?
*sound of Lynn’s head imploding*
This question gives me hives, lol. There are sooo many authors out there I admire, but the ones I one-click without reading a word of blurb or synopsis are Kennedy Ryan (sweetheart and emotional terrorist), Lucy Parker (she proses in wit), Penny Reid (laugh-out-loud hilarious, and relatable, quirky heroines), Nalini Singh for paranormal romance, and Talia Hibbert (HILARIOUS, and the spectrum of representation among her black heroines is incredible). On my TBR are Emma Hart, Brittany Cherry, Melanie Harlow, Jodi Ellen Malpas, and every single historical by Kathleen Woodiwiss I can get my greedy little hands on, lol.
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
I’m no expert, and this is probably subjective, but what works for me is reading. I read everything I can get my eyes on. I think it’s also good to read work by authors you admire/feel intimidated by. Try and dissect what it is about their work/writing style you want to emulate. Copy it, if need be (it’s the best form of flattery), but then work hard to make it your own. Definitely put your stamp on it before you publish anything so you can be confident it’s your own unique voice. 😊
You’re newest upcoming book, Pas De Duex, follows the life of a prima ballerina. What inspired you to write it?
Yes, it does! (This still gives me goosebumps to say aloud.) Misty Copeland inspired me. And Michaela DePrince. And Nadia Boodoo, Caroline Rocher, Kimberly Ho Tsai, Lauren Anderson, Ingrid Silva, and sooo many ballerinas of color of many ethnicities who work tirelessly at this unforgiving art without the art form loving them back as fiercely. Misty’s documentary, “A Ballerina’s Tale,” formerly on Netflix, and the movie “The Cutting Edge” inspired me to write this story. I’d always wanted to write about a black ballerina, but Misty’s story gave me that courage I needed to get over my fear of looking incompetent by writing about something I knew nothing about. And of course, the sparring/sexual chemistry in that movie is supremely entertaining. The comedy offsets the depth in this story quite nicely, I think.
I love that your books feature complex characters and your book covers feature women of color. Why is it so important to see diversity in romance?
Because we exist. Because so much of what it means to be human is universal, but so much is unique to our experiences as part of distinct cultures, faiths, and qualities of life. If only certain people’s stories are told, then only certain people are considered whole, complex, three-dimensional…human. Words have power, and it’s so important that we all get a chance to wield them in ways that make our voices and our experiences heard.
How do you feel about the current state of diversity in the romance? What do you think needs to be changed?
I feel it has gotten marginally better but has a long way to go. I’m active on Twitter, where this topic has come up quite a bit lately, and the percentage of POC published by traditional publishers is absolutely abysmal. It’s disconcerting as a WOC author to see such numbers, knowing most gatekeepers in this industry don’t look like me, and many believe voices like mine won’t sell books. But it’s also encouraging to see people like Alisha Rai, Kennedy Ryan, Sonali Dev, Courtney Milan, and Mia Sosa out there like beacons in the dark. They’re unapologetic advocates for change, and champions of new authors like me, letting us know there’s room at the table for all of us. The most important takeaway, for me, has been: no matter WHAT the “trend” is in publishing, readers must support marginalized authors (not just white authors who sprinkle diversity in their books). Publishers can turn authors away, but if readers create a demand, publishers will meet it. This is a new Era. Social media has really turned this universe upside down, and lovely bloggers like you are the driving force behind the enthusiasm for voices like mine.
If you could spend time with a character from your books whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?
Carmen from Pas De Deux. She’s such a mother hen, but she’s hysterically funny, an amazing cook, and giver of sage advice. It’d be like Iyanla’s Fix My Life with an all-you-can-eat Puerto Rican buffet, all the rum I could stand, and possibly embarrassing-though-useful sex advice.
Do you have any future plans for books at the moment?
I do! I’ve been in the Pinterest rabbit hole for two days, pinning left and right for my new romantic comedy (title TBA). It features a biracial (black/Filipina) heroine who is a commercial airline pilot (read: captain), and the hunky British hero she keeps on his toes. 😉
About The Author
Lynn Turner is dedicated to writing inclusive stories that explore what it means to be imperfectly human. She is convinced she would have made a great Gilmore Girl, that writing about herself in third-person is weird, and that Colin Firth is the best Mr. Darcy (don’t fight her on this). When she isn’t writing and adulting, she’s tackling her monstrous TBR list, TV-binging, traveling, or watching old Samantha Brown travelogue videos and wishing she had her job. She and her husband share their home in California with their two extraordinary children and their sometimes cat, Bowie.
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Thanks again to Lynn for an awesome Q&A session! Stay tuned for an upcoming review of Pas De Deux soon!
