An Interview with Lorraine Russell

Lorraine Russell is a southeastern transplant who now calls upstate South Carolina home. Originally from the Midwest, Lorraine’s love for words has been a constant thread throughout her life. From penning poetry in her youth to crafting short essays and keeping detailed journals, writing has always been her passion. After years of dreaming about sharing her stories with the world, Lorraine is thrilled to finally have her debut novel, Love and Shadows, in print. When she isn’t writing, Lorraine spends time with family and friends enjoying new experiences in her newly found home. She believes that every experience enriches her storytelling, making her writing journey as fulfilling as the stories she tells.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

Imagine you have a dream that you’ve held onto for almost thirty years. You have no idea how to make it come true and sometimes doubt it ever will. It’s a dream you don’t tell most people about. You’re in a chapter of your life where you are attempting the art of risk-taking and trying to make positive changes in your life. Suddenly, the opportunity to make the one dream you’ve always held onto come true lands right in front of you. Do you take it?

I did! When a real estate investment company we had invested in asked my significant other and me to invest more, we took the risk. Which led me to mindset coaching, and a journey of personal growth. This led to an offer for an authorship program where I would be guided through the writing process and the process of being able to publish my first book. Now it was time to choose what to write. I have been inspired by books of strong women characters and wanted to write a story that reflected the same. Through allowing my creative mind to flow and many conversations with my biggest supporter, my characters and outline came to life. It’s a journey I could not be more grateful for!

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

My book’s title, Love and Shadows, is one that came through brainstorming and data collection. I made a list of ten optional titles and surveyed friends, romance readers, and booksellers. I had some mixed reviews, but also had my favorite that came with some votes. In the end, I stayed true to myself and chose the one that spoke to me. I wanted the title to reflect both the romance and suspense parts of my book.

Describe your dream book cover.

Luckily for me, for my current book, I have my dream cover. In the midst of the writing process, the part where you find yourself struggling to keep going, I was asked to pause and picture my book in my hands-to feel it physically and picture the cover in detail. The top half of my cover came to my mind vividly based on how I had pictured my main character. I could see her vibrant blue eyes with the city skyline in them being the only color in a black and white picture/cover. The title would split that enticing photograph and a romantic silhouette of the main characters in the forefront of the city that is the setting of the book. The person I hired for my cover design was able to make this a reality, and the cover is part of my book that I am very proud of.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Although I have always written and once considered majoring in journalism in college, that is not what I got my degree in. I have spent my entire adult career as a special education teacher. I have worked with amazing kids throughout my career who have touched my life in many ways. One thing my readers or some of those close to me wouldn’t know is that when I am passionate about a topic, I enjoy public speaking. I enjoy the opportunity to share what I feel knowledgeable and passionate about with others.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I love words! Which is more fun for me to say now that I am an author, since I feel like people understand the statement better. I cannot remember a time when I did not enjoy writing. In the fourth grade, I recall being asked what I wanted to do when I grew up. While I did not verbalize it, all of my being wanted to say an author. A little later in life, I started to write poetry. This became especially therapeutic for me after the loss of my father in middle school. Throughout my life, writing poetry, essays, and short stories was an emotional outlet. Sometimes I would share my writing with others, typically with a positive response. It’s always been a part of who I am. There is no one particular person who has influenced my writing or my dream to become an author; however, the works of Kristin Hannah, Colleen Hoover, and Barbara Delinsky certainly influenced my writing of this novel as did my interest in photography, a hobby I play around with when I have a bit of time.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Home on my couch is my favorite place to write. I’ve tried other places, and even when words come to me in the car or when I am out, I struggle to write more than a few lines.

Do you have any writing rituals?

When I sit down to write, one of the first things I do is reread what I have most recently written to help myself get my mind back on what I was working on. This helps me to be in the proper mindset for what I am working on. The other ritual? Chocolate. Typically after writing for a while, I need a little fuel, and chocolate usually does the trick. It can be a Hershey’s bar or KitKat or whatever other candy bar that has been brought home for me. But it definitely helps me to keep going!

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope that readers take away hope and feel empowered by the resiliency and strength of the main character. Envisioning a perfect reader is difficult for me. Authors don’t get to choose our readers, they choose us. I am grateful to anyone who is willing to take the time to read the words I wrote. For me, the perfect reader is anyone willing to pick up my book and spend their time reading it. I am grateful to those who have and those who will in the future!

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.