SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: This week in The Loft: Author Lyz Kelley!

Joining me today in The Loft is USA Today Bestselling author Lyz Kelley. Lyz writes contemporary romance, including small town, second chance, and steamy romance, and romantic suspense. In her books, she creates wounded characters who discover what drives them, frightens them, heals them, and makes them laugh. A self-proclaimed disaster in the kitchen, Lyz also claims to be a compulsive neat freak and a tea snob.

Author Lyz Kelley

S: Good morning, Lyz. I'm so pleased you could join me today!

Critics say romance novels mislead readers about the reality of romance and, in fact, give readers false expectations. Do you agree?

L: When I first began writing, I wrote what I would call “real-life” characters. These heroes and heroines were flawed and human-like. However, I found readers preferred the hero factor in all their romance books, which means readers wanted the fantasy, not the reality. They wanted to escape and find that perfect partner. Unfortunately, no one is perfect, and that is why we enjoy finding our perfect escape between the pages of a book.

S: That fantasy also plays out in the models on the book covers. Even I've had to fan myself after spotting a cover with a handsome, swashbuckling pirate!

What’s love got to do with writing romance?

L: Love has everything to do with romance. I believe we must first love ourselves in order to be vulnerable and open to an intimate relationship. Insecurities and past hurt play a role in every connection we create, whether it’s a kinship, hook-up, or a deeper connection. If we can grant ourselves self-compassion and love who we are, then we may find a way to open our hearts and be loved by others. When I write romance, I always start with a character’s internal wound. I drive the story forward by poking at that wound until I exposed it and the character must face their past in order to heal and move toward accepting another’s love. Because I believe no one can love our hurts away. We must be brave enough to walk into the light of love.

S: "The light of love." An apt description. Do you write in other genres?

L: Yes, I also write in epic fantasy. Quite a difference from romance, huh? However, the reason I started writing in the first place was to write this giant epic fantasy that’s occupied space in my head since age eight, but the crafted world seemed so complex I felt I needed to hone my writing skills before I tackled the massive project. What I discovered is romance is the most complex genre to learn. The hero, heroine, and romance journeys must perfectly align in order for the story to be satisfying. Learning the character-driven writing skills has helped me to have the confidence to begin my epic fantasy. I will not publish the Keystone Prophesy series until late 2023, so don’t look for it just yet.

S: What was your worst date ever?

L: My worst date happened many years ago. The guy picked me up and drove me to dinner, where I discovered we had nothing in common. I paid for my dinner and made some excuse that I needed to get home. On the way back to my apartment, he explained his psychologist suggested he should ask me for sex as I was okay looking and somewhat smart. I got out of the car as quickly as possible and never returned his many phone calls.

S: Wow, it's amazing who's out there, isn't it?

What attracted you to your current partner?

L: Respect. After 25 years of marriage, I believe love and trust come and go, but respect always remains. As a former Canadian 3 RCR Airbourne, he fought to make this world a better place. After leaving the military, he, like me, worked hard, saved our pennies, and sacrificed to put meals on the table and a roof over our heads. He’s intelligent, funny and loyal to those he elects to have in his life. I couldn’t ask for a better life partner.

S: It sounds like you've found your own romantic hero!

What inspired The Elkridge Series?

L: Most of my book inspirations come from normal life. An article in the newspaper, a scenario made up while watching a couple interact, or a topic I wish to explore. I write about everyday heroes, and I think about our struggles. While I love to add humor to my books, I will never be one of those slapstick authors. So, I write about finding love when you least expect it, when you don’t think you deserve it, or when you think love has passed you by.

S: Is there anything special you would like people to know about "Blinded?"

L: Mara, my unusual heroine, was developed out of an exercise at a writing retreat. C.J. Lyons, a New York Times best-selling author, was giving a lecture on the use of senses in writing. Most authors use sight as the primary go-to sense, and we were exploring the use of other senses to add flavor to our writing. I really struggled with the exercise. Like anything, I knew that conquering a problem takes practice. So, I wrote a novella. Then a friend talked me into writing a full-length book—thus "Blinded" was created.

Here's the blurb--

Do you love finding clues, solving a mystery, and falling in love?

Mara has lost everything: her parents, her sister, her sight. She refuses to let fear control her life, yet something is not right in the mountain town.

Joey, Mara’s high school crush, has returned home for his brother’s funeral. The big city detective will only be in town for a few days, but he’s frustrated. All the facts show his brother was murdered, so why isn’t the Mayor and sheriff’s department looking for a killer? Joey doesn’t believe a poacher shot his brother. Neither does Mara, who's looking sexier than ever.

The last thing Joey wants is to return to Seattle and leave Mara and his family to deal with the Mayor. Perhaps he can do what no one else can—capture a murderer and steal Mara's heart.

If you love a small town, second-chance romance stories layered with emotion, suspense, and two people willing to risk it all for love, escape to Elkridge, a town filled with everyday heroes, and find the one person who's hiding a secret.