Guest Post by Author Layla Hagan

Today we have with us Layla Hagan. We met because I did a book blitz for one of her books and then I decided, seeing how popular she was, to contact her and see if she was up for a guest blog. We talked a few times and she is really nice. I am happy to have her here today. Here is a little more about Layla:

Welcome! My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough ;)

So without further ado, here is Layla's post.

Hi everyone!

Thanks a lot Mollydee for this opportunity to get to know your readers, and for your readers to get to know me. A short introduction: I’m Layla Hagen, author of the NA contemporary romance Lost in Us. The prequel, Lost, is free by the way. So if you want to get a taste for my characters and my writing, go ahead and download it.

I’ve thought a lot about what I should dedicate this post to, and since I am now in the process of writing the second book in the series, Found in Us, I thought I’d write a bit about the role of inspiration for me. Those very dear to me often hear me complain that a certain scene is difficult to write, or witness me slaving days over one. Having my best interest at heart, and not wanting to see me stressed, they will often say, “Take a break. Wait for inspiration.” But that’s not how it works for me. When I wait. . .nothing happens. I have to work on a scene for days, until the “magic” finally happens. The more I work, the easier it becomes.

Do I have flashes of inspiration? Sure. Pretty often. I usually collect them all in a small notebook that I carry with me most times (which might sound cute to some, and creepy to others :-D ). If I don’t have it with me, I’ll just write it on my phone. I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t write an idea down right away, I’ll forget about it before I get to chance to immortalize it :p. But that’s just as far as inspiration gets me. The inspiration is the spark, but it’s the hard work that weaves all those sparks into a story. I will often find myself with a blank document in front of me. The idea for the scene plays in my head, but it takes me a long time to really make it come alive on paper J It helps me a lot if I’ve already spent a lot of time with the characters and know them intimately. That’s why usually the first half of the book takes me longer to write.

With its ups and down, I love this process to bits. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as reading the book after it’s done and remembering when or where I wrote a particular scene, and if it’s the case, what inspired it.

In closing, I’ll let you know a bit more about the upcoming book in the series. For those who’ve read Lost in Us, these two names will probably ring a bell: Jess and Parker. Well, Found in Us is all about them. I am now pretty confident that it will be ready to be published mid-July. This means you’ll get to see the cover about 4-5 weeks before. It will once again be designed by the very talented ari from coverit designs. Can’t wait to share it with all of you.

Lost:: Free on Amazon.

Lost In Us: On Amazon.

Thank you so much for your insight. I love what you said because it is a frequent interview question of mine as to whether an author carries around a notebook in case you get an idea. You do! That is awesome. I am writing a book and I have too have a piece of paper that says "BOOK" by me. Thank you so much for being here and we will see you soon I hope.

Layla has been nice enough to offer to her fans three ebook copies of Lost In Us.  So just look to your right for the rafflecopter form and do what it says to enter.

GOOD LUCK!!