Seelie Kaye Writes Hot Lawyer Romance
Welcome back, Seelie Kate
Contemporary romance writer, Seelie Kaye, fills us in on how her background as a lawyer influences what she writes.
Is there an event that affected you as a writer?
Actually, there were two. The first was the day I discovered the power of the pen. My parents were teachers, so me and my siblings were taught to read and write early. When I was four, I was sent to my room for some reason or another. Apparently, I was so upset, I sat down and wrote a letter of protest in crayon. It had only three lines, but for some reason it forced my mom to apologize. After that, every time I was really upset, I wrote a note/letter to the person I thought was the offender. It became the best way for me to express my feelings. (BTW, my mother saved the note!) The second was the day that I discovered someone other than my parents thought I could write. I entered a national DAR essay contest in third grade and actually won. After that, there was no stopping me.
What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?
I began my career as a lawyer and a journalist. While I loved those jobs, when I wound up a single mom with a toddler, I was forced to find something more flexible, so I opened my own PR consultancy, of course, specializing in law firms and legal organizations. When I was diagnosed with MS, I was forced to cut back, so now do freelance writing for corporations when I’m not dealing with a book deadline. Since my books are centered around lawyers in love, obviously much of what I learned and experienced in Lawyerland sneaks into my stories!
How much research do you do for each book you write?
A lot. Reading news stories, secondary research, and chatting with “experts” helps me add depth to my stories and firm up my plots. I like to keep my stories as real as possible. Everything I write about in my Feisty Lawyers series, for example—slave trafficking, cloaking devices for planes, cult coercion—are based in reality. And while I am writing, I am constantly referring to and searching for backup information on the Internet.
What project are you working on now?
I have finished a first draft for Book 3 in my Feisty Lawyers series—Cult—and am now digging in with a tough edit. I am rather ruthless when I edit. Story flow and wrapping up all the subplots is very important to me. I think readers deserve an appropriate, though possibly surprising, conclusion.
Do you have any advice for writers?
To paraphrase an old running shoe ad, just do it. Writing is an art. It takes time and practice to develop your skills. It also takes hard work to become a successful author. Be willing to do the work.
What are some of your favorite things?
For some reason, cooking and baking soothe my soul. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me in the kitchen trying new recipes, experimenting with new ingredients, or playing with a new piece of kitchen technology. (I love the Instant Pot!) My family are willing guinea pigs, because not everything turns out well, but mostly they happily consume my creations. My love for cooking also plays into my interest in the farm to table movement. I love to grow my own food and I always try to cook with fresh ingredients. I seriously believe that most prepackaged foods are the spawn of the devil!
Seizing Hope by Seeley Kaye
When four former law school classmates get kicked off the marriage train, they band together, put on their big girl panties, and fight back!
Former Northwestern Law School classmates Dina Willoughby, Miranda Mena, Leah Fraser, and Melody Harris are living the dream. Each had fantasized about the perfect husband while in law school and happily—for a time—that dream became a reality.
Until Dina’s husband kicks her out two weeks before her prenuptial agreement kicks in, Miranda’s husband is arrested for securities fraud and flees the country with all of their money, Leah discovers that her royal husband misrepresented his feelings for her in order to get his hands on her money, and newly-pregnant Melody finally admits her artist husband is a sadistic, manipulative, jerk.
Facing the loss of their husbands and stripped of any financial support, the four women band together to fight back. Drawing on their unique legal skills and with the help of a few friends, including a hunky private investigator, a sexy law school professor, a determined cyber-security billionaire, and the Queen of England, these four women not only take what’s theirs, they build the path to a new future—one filled with hope.
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AMAZON | B&N eXtasy Books | KOBO | SMASHWORDS
Learn more about Seelie Kaye
Seelie Kay writes about lawyers in love, with a dash of kink.
Writing under a nom de plume, the former lawyer and journalist draws her stories from more than 30 years in the legal world. Seelie’s wicked pen has resulted in 12 works of fiction, including the Kinky Briefs series, the Feisty Lawyers series, The Garage Dweller, A Touchdown to Remember, The President’s Wife, and The President’s Daughter, as well as the romance anthology, Pieces of Us.
When not spinning her kinky tales, Seelie ghostwrites nonfiction for lawyers and other professionals. Currently she resides in a bucolic exurb outside Milwaukee, WI, where she shares a home with her son and enjoys opera, the Green Bay Packers, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and an occasional bottle of red wine.
Seelie is an MS warrior and ruthlessly battles the disease on a daily basis. Her message to those diagnosed with MS: Never give up. You define MS, it does not define you!
Twitter @SeelieKay
Find out even more about Seelie Kaye in her earlier interview on my blog.
Does your career affect what you like to read or write?
Seelie Kaye would love to hear from you. Post your thoughts and comments below.
My various career choices have certainly given me the chance to meet many examples of heroes and heroines – from sustainable farmers to game wardens and animal care experts to poets, play writes, actors, politicians, doctors, and community and social change-makers, etc.
Thanks! I think there is magic in friendship, in banding together to work toward a common goal. And while these women got revenge, they also got justice and for a lawyer like me, that’s huge!
Enjoyed getting to know you and your series, Seelie! All the best!
Thanks,Mary!
Fabulous interview. I love the idea of female friends banding together, empowering each other, and getting what they want while dishing out what the exes deserve. Good luck, Seelie, and stay strong.
Thanks, Sandra!