Laura Burton - Romance Novels that are Sweet and Thrilling

Laura writes romance novels that are sweet and thrilling. She is a British author living in Wiltshire, U.K with her nerdy husband, three boys, and high-maintenance poochon, Daisy. Readers often praise her books for their originality, humor, and addictive narrative. As our Author of the Day, she tells us all about her book, Who Wants to Love a Billionaire.

Please give us a short introduction to Who Wants to Love a Billionaire is about.

Who Wants to Love a Billionaire is a sweet romantic suspense set in New York. Our heroine, Julie, is a seamstress with a best friend who owns a matchmaking business. She's set up on a blind date, as her friend thinks she's the perfect match for Harry, an introverted Hollywood producer.

The two of them hit it off and the chemistry between them is undeniable. But just as Harry thinks he's onto something special with Julie, he receives a note, threatening to back off––or else!

Harry has a Rocky moment, where he needs to step up and find out who is sending anonymous threats before someone gets hurt. And Julie has to decide, that with all of the drama and danger involved, does she really want to be with a Billionaire?

What inspired you to write about someone who goes on a blind date with a Billionaire?

I think it was the movie "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton" that inspired the idea. Billionaire romance is all about fantasy, right? Imagine being a struggling seamstress living in New York, and getting set up with a handsome rich man, who has a heart of gold. It's the perfect set up for this fairytale romance to blossom.

Tell us more about Harry. What makes him tick?

Harry is known for being a ladies man. But that cannot be further from the truth. He actually has a whole team of professionals to manage his public image and protect him from people walking all over him. He'd give the shirt off his own back to help someone in need. Unlike his peers, he was not born into money. He got lucky when one of his movies was a major blockbuster hit. So, there's a little insecurity that he didn't earn his position in the world. Women are now falling at his feet. But he cannot help but wonder if anyone could love him just for being him?

What makes Julie so special?

Julie is not bothered by money and does not seek attention. She is the exact opposite of all the women in Harry's circle. She has a sweetness about her as if the world hasn't touched her yet. Her friends may call her naive, but she's a dreamer and an optimist.

Why do you write romance? What drew you to the genre?

Reading about two people falling in love never loses its shine. I'm drawn to it because I love how uplifting and happy it makes me. There are so many ways to write a romance, and that gives me the freedom to be creative, rather than writing the same thing over and over.

You include a lot of humor and action in your writing. Why do you take this approach?

First off, I'm a comedian. Maybe not as a profession (though I did do stand-up for my 30th birthday party.) But I'm that person who makes everyone laugh. I really enjoy the light and shade you get in romantic suspense novels that have injections of humor. There are some dark elements to this book, so the comedy keeps it in balance.

I write my books like they are movies. So, action, dialog, witty lines...they're all important pieces. It's my goal to have readers forget they're reading and have the story play out like a movie in their mind. Adding lots of action really helps to achieve that.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I'm a Jack of all trades. I love acting, I speak German, I taught myself to play the piano, I'm a qualified make-up artist, energetic public speaker, and my party trick is that I can do the splits. Oh, and fun fact, I've played Tetris for so many years now, that I regularly complete the final level.

Do any of your characters ever take off on their own tangent, refusing to do what you had planned for them?

Yes. Emily, the matchmaker, she's a very loud voice in my head. She is the person who dictates the story during the plotting process, and she's my trouble-maker when I'm writing.

This is book one of a series. Can it be read as a standalone? How do the other books in the series tie in with this one?

Yes. The book is standalone, but the epilogue is told from the point of view of the hero in book 2. The series is set in New York, mostly following Emily's matchmaking business. As I said, she's the loudest voice and demanded not just this series, but a spin-off as well. The books can be read in any order, but the series is best enjoyed when read in order.

What is your favorite line from the book?

"Walk away now, or I will destroy you."

When starting on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

I take the dog for a walk and listen to music. It's always amazing how much inspiration comes to me when I'm walking the dog.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I sprint. So I'll set a timer for 5 minutes and write as much as I can. As I'm a full-time author alongside homeschooling and caring for my mother, I have to fit in the writing whenever I can. You can usually find me writing on my phone while stirring something on the stove. Or laying in bed wide awake at 3 am typing as quietly as possible so as not to wake my husband.

What are you working on right now?

I am just finishing up a romantic comedy inspired by one of my favorite episodes of Friends. It's the one where Phoebe, Monica, and Rachael try on wedding dresses when they have a bad day. My heroine, Emma has had the worst day ever. So, she tries on wedding dresses in a bridal boutique only to bump into an old school frenemy. Too embarrassed to admit she's not actually getting married, she decides to tell the lie of all lies. And oh boy, does that lie spiral out of control! It's called Love Me Like You Mean It and is coming out next month.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

To learn more about me and my books, readers can check out my website at https://www.lauraburtonauthor.com

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