Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Lane is a real estate agent, former professional photographer, husband and father of two sons. He’s been a volunteer for Scouts BSA, Junior Achievement and other organizations in his spare time. He’s also an avid 4wheeler and traveler, although he’d love to travel more.
He’s been to forty-four states, several Canadian provinces and around a dozen countries. Reflections of those travels show up in the books, although there are places he hasn’t been that squeeze their way into the stories and places he loves visiting that haven’t… yet.
“I knew that I wanted to write a novel, but I didn’t have the story. I probably sat down half a dozen times and started writing. But the story soon dissipated like smoke from an extinguished camp fire. This time, I sat down and the story kept rolling out. Several books later and I knew that there were more stories to tell.”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Lane has released 7 books so far, with the eighth due out on June 25th of 2021.
My initial books, Planning Vengeance and Dig Two Graves were built on the budding relationship of Jack Dixon and Amy Prince. The other Dixon-Prince books followed that.
Unknown Caller shows Jack and Amy decades later as parents and established adults. It also introduces a new generation of characters, Colt Dixon and Caroline Green. I wanted to see what my friends were up to more recently than in the other books.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wrote my first two books, Planning Vengeance and Dig Two Graves, consecutively. When I was done with the first draft, I realized it needed to be two books. They were released three days apart. The initial draft was also written in just a couple of weeks.
When I am really into the story, I can write 90k words in just a couple of weeks. The rewrites and editing are what take a long time.
Other stories take time to “mature” and ripen. Grafton, my previous book, took almost a year from when it was started. I wrote two of the four novellas in the book last summer, thinking they could each be full novels, but they didn’t have enough. Then, the last two stories were written in March and just flew out.
I guess the unusual habit is that I both chip away at a story and tear into it, depending on how it is showing itself to me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read a lot. At least a few dozen books a year. I probably carry a good bit from those into my writing. I try not to sound too much like any particular author, though, instead telling in my own voice.
What are you working on now?
I have a few projects that I’m chipping away at. One is a romance author that isn’t romantic and an action author that is afraid of everything, getting together and being involved in a romantic thriller of their own.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
That is the hard part. Writing is easy. Editing is tough. Promotion is a fight.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write the book. Seriously. It might suck. That’s why there are rewrites. But if you don’t write it, you won’t know. Even if you never plan to show it to anyone… just write it.
Then show it to someone. Then someone else.
And then rewrite it a couple more times.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just do it.
What are you reading now?
Actually rereading one of my old books to get into the head of one of the characters for a new story.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A new series… after I get done with a few of the projects I am waist-deep in right now.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Bible, Complete Works of Shakespeare and a blank journal (with a pencil)
Author Websites and Profiles
L.Lane Bailey Website
L.Lane Bailey Amazon Profile
L.Lane Bailey’s Social Media Links
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