Q&A with Lauren Layne, Author of The Central Park Pact Series

One of my favorite things at work is Q&A time. Our Romance Book Club reads 2 books a month, and for one of them, we always have an author joining us with a Q&A. In April we read Marriage on Madison Avenue. I loved the book and I am so glad I get to share our Q&A with Lauren Layne with all of you. If you haven't read her books yet, give it a try :) 

-  When did you start writing? Was it a hobby at first or did you always wanted to be a writer?

I’ve definitely always wanted to be a writer! I was a really avid reader as a kid, so “author” has been my dream job as long as I can remember. In terms of how and when I started—I did dabble a bit in my early 20s. I read every “how to” writing book I could get my hands on, and would create these really extensive outlines for a book idea. But then I’d try the actual writing part, realize that it was really freaking hard, and quit. This happened a few times. But when I was 28, I got really tired of being that person who always talked about wanting to do something (in my case, write a book), but never actually did it. So that time when I started the book, I was determined to finish. I sold the book to Grand Central Publishing about two years later.

- When you are not writing what genre do you enjoy reading? And do you have a ’go-to’ author?

Despite being a contemporary romance author, it’s historical romance that I most love to read! Lisa Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, and Vivienne Lorret are some of my favorites, but if there’s a new release with the word “duke” in the title, I’ll probably but it regardless of whose name is on the cover!

- What was the inspiration behind the Central Park Pact series?

I was loosely inspired by the movie The Other Woman. I didn’t particularly love the movie, but one thing that stuck out to me that in Hollywood (and books) there’s such a stigma against “the other woman” in the case of infidelity, and I really loved that that movie looked a bit closer: what if the women involved with the same men became friends. After all, if the same man fell for all three women, they must have something in common, right? I’m not sure how I ended up with the “dark comedy” element of them meeting at his funeral, but I will say, it was a really fun way to kick off the series!

- Where any of the characters inspired by someone in real life?

No, not at all. I know that’s not the fun answer, but I very rarely have a real-life person in mind when I write characters—not even celebrity inspiration! In my head, those characters are real, not fictional knockoffs of somebody else.

- What was your favorite scene to write in Marriage on Madison Avenue?

Oh gosh—I think probably the lingerie store scene! I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it so much, but it was the first time in the book that we saw the confident, cocky Clarke a little unsure of himself, and it was such a huge “discoverability” moment for me with his character. Not to mention, it was just fun J

- Do you have a favorite book between the 3 in the series?

You know, I think I’d have to say Love on Lexington Avenue! In a lot of ways it was the “toughest sell” both with readers and my editor, because it’s not “high concept.” Meaning, that there’s really no catchy hook such as a “fake engagement” (Marriage on Madison Avenue) or a childhood enemies + secret identity (Passion on Park Avenue). It’s just about two people falling in love. Catchy? No. Romantic? Most definitely.

- Do you have any more books coming out this year?

Yours to Keep will be out in September, and it’s without a doubt, one of the most FUN books I’ve written in years. I couldn’t stop smiling as I wrote it, and even my editor the other day mentioned that she finds herself thinking about it and smiling, even though we wrapped it up months ago. I can’t wait for readers to get a hold of it!

I love the sound of that and I am looking forward to it!

Thank you so much to the lovely Lauren Layne for joining my small town's Romance Book Club and allowing me to share this Q&A with the world!

Find Lauren and her books:

-  Lauren's Website 
-  Passion on Park Avenue (The Central Park Pact #1) - Inklings Bookshop
-  Love on Lexington Avenue (The Central Park Pact #2) - Inklings Bookshop

-  Marriage on Madison Avenue (The Central Park Pact #3) - Inklings Bookshop

-  Yours to Keep - Inklings Bookshop

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