Interview with Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason is her name, and writing at the speed of light is her game. Since the release of her first book 14 years ago, Mrs. Prolific Patty has penned over 50 romantic suspense novels, and in the last three years she's averaged writing seven books a year!

Her secret to writing crazy fast? Drinking a big glass of water and eating M&Ms. That's it. That's the secret. Okay, not really, but she does enjoy that drink and snack while writing—a task she believes she is doing a lot slower now than at the beginning of her career.

"Yes, I’m a fast writer. I was faster ten years ago! Age has slowed my brain as well as my writing. Ha!"

All right, so truthfully, how does Lynette whip out so many books in such a short amount of time?

"One of the things that helped me write so much has been a husband who travels for his job. I was mostly a stay at home mom, and so that helped too."

Some authors who have kids at home when trying to create the next best-seller need to enforce strict commands such as, "Don't bother Mom during these specific hours." Not so with Lynette.

"There aren't any rules about when they can 'bother' me. Unless I say, 'I'm going to write. I have a deadline. If you let me work for an hour, I will be a much more relaxed and happier person when I come out of my office.'"

Her children are nearly grown now at the ages of 20 and almost 18, so this request to give Lynette some alone time to write works well. However, when her children were younger, the ability to find some alone time didn't come easy, but that didn't stop Lynette from typing away on the keyboard.

"The kids had a lot of activities and friends and I carted my laptop around everywhere. Or wrote on my phone in the notes app. I never had the luxury of "finding" time to write, I had to make it."

Since her daughter and son are older now, Lynette has more of an opportunity to follow a very set writing schedule and particular writing routine—but Lynette doesn't do either!

"I don’t really have a daily schedule. I know that sounds crazy, but I found that setting a schedule made me crazy. Because it would always get changed and I would get frustrated. So, my goal is to start writing first thing in the morning and know that could get derailed. If so, I will deal, then get back to writing. I do have a word count that I try to meet each day. I know it sounds chaotic and unorganized, but it works for me."

Indeed, it works for Lynette, evidenced by the plethora of novels she has cranked out—and the numerous awards she's received for them, the number of best-seller lists they've been on, and the fact that some of them are now getting made into movies. Some of the awards include the Carol and Selah; some of the best-seller lists include the CBA and Publisher's Weekly; and a novel that was made into a Lifetime movie just this past year was Her Stolen Past.

Other than finding her own creative way to make time to write, there have been several other tactics—and people—contributing to Lynette's successful writing career. She didn't become a best-selling novelist overnight. She self-published her debut novel Gift of Grace in 2004, but it then took a four-year period of attending conferences, learning the craft, working hard, and implementing the things she learned before the bright light of success start shining on Lynette. It wasn't until 2008 that her second book Lethal Deception was published by Harlequin for their Love Inspired Suspense imprint.

Some of the conferences she attended included the ACFW conference, which she now attends almost every year. Attending those conferences didn’t necessarily get Lynette published, but it did put her in contact with many authors farther along in the process than she was at the time.

"Because of them, I was able to learn and hone the craft, and that did help me get published. Of course, the networking and meeting other writers like myself was a huge plus. I’ve made so many great friends because of conferences like ACFW and BRMCWC."

It wasn't just the writers she met at conferences who helped Lynette along the way in her journey to publication. The biggest helper "by far" was author Dee Henderson, who Lynette first "met" via email.

"I was a huge fan, so I emailed her to tell her I loved her stuff and wanted to be like her when I grew up! LOL!"

Dee emailed Lynette back and offered to answer any writing questions, so Lynette sent Dee her 80,000-word manuscript. Dee went through it with track changes telling Lynette what she did right and how to fix what she did wrong.

"It was invaluable. At the time I had no clue what she was doing for me or how incredibly rare it was for someone of her caliber to do that. When I think about it now, I just shake my head and still send her emails simply to say THANK YOU!"

Another individual who has contributed to Lynette having so many books published, and by two different publishing houses, is her agent Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. Lynette didn't have an agent when she first submitted to Harlequin, but by the time her third book was published, she wanted an agent's expertise in contract negotiation. Lynette also knew she wanted to write trade-size books, and that she'd need an agent's help to get her foot in that door. Tamela did help in both these areas, as she has been Lynette's "negotiator" for many years, and Lynette now has over 20 "longer length" novels published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Revell is the publisher of Lynette's newest romantic suspense novel that came out on the first day of this year, Code of Valor (Blue Justice Book #3). This book involves Detective Brady St. John, Financial Crimes Investigator Emily Chastain, and a killer out to strike again.

The main takeaway Lynette wants readers to get from this book is that God doesn't make mistakes.

"We are who we are because God made us that way. Yes, we're sinners and we fall short so many times, but with God, you never run out of 'chances' or new beginnings. Emily made a lot of mistakes in her traumatic past, but she's an overcomer. She realizes that a number on a scale doesn't define her and that she is worthy to be loved. By God and by Brady St. John."

Are there any specific areas in this novel that Lynette drew from her own life experiences?

"Oh goodness, no! My life is nice and boring other than occasional family drama. My books are pure imagination!"

Imagination that has been combined with research, that is. Scanning Lynette's book titles and covers, a reader will find a lot of law enforcement and medical backgrounds. Cops and doctors are occupations that are a far cry from Lynette's "former life" as a teacher at South Carolina's School for the Deaf and Blind, so that's where Lynette says "a LOT!" of research and interviews needed to be done.

Attending as many writing conferences as Lynette does, she meets tons of very interesting people. Fortunately, those people are willing to answer questions. Like in 2008 when Lynette met a rather quiet gentleman in the lobby of a conference and she asked him what he did for a living.

"He told me he was a retired FBI agent. I nearly fell out of my seat. I told him I'd been praying for someone who would be willing to answer my FBI questions. He was willing. He read the book, gave me tons of feedback, and has read every book since then."

This retired FBI agent is sure to read all of Lynette's upcoming books, which includes the fourth and last book in the Blue Justice series, Vow of Justice, set to release in September 2019.

Lynette is currently working on the first book in the next four-book series, and she says then there will be another four-book series after that! What will these series be about? Readers will have to wait a while to find out—because Lynette likes to keep everyone … in suspense.


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Melinda Freeland wrote her first "novel" at age 8 about Mr. & Mrs. Texas Toast, and their struggle to get off the plate before someone ate them. Today, Melinda writes fiction you can relate to—about humans—and their real struggles, not only in relationships, but also with understanding and trusting God. Love, Texas – Population 2 is her debut Christian contemporary romance novel. It was inspired by Melinda's reunion with her first love, her life as a small-town reporter, and her faith journey. Melinda lives in Texas with her handsome husband, two great kids, and her lovable Pug. She'd love to connect with readers at www.melindafreeland.com and on social media @authormelindafreeland and @melindafreeland.