Ask the Author: Lou Sylvre
Answered Questions (7)
Lou Sylvre
Hey, Cynthia, I'm so sorry I didn't realize you'd asked this question, or I would have answered it sooner. Thank you! It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed Vasquez and James. I do have a spinoff series started, featuring Jackie Vasquez and Brian Harrison, who first met each other in Finding Jackie. No present news on publication, but I'll post something as soon as I know something. In the more distant future, I'm looking at a story for Jesse Douglas, the embassy employee who helped Luki in Paris in Saving Sonny James. Anything else you'd like to see?
Lou Sylvre
Hi, Marisella. I'm afraid he is, but I do so hope you'll keep reading!
<3 Lou
<3 Lou
Lou Sylvre
Hi, Snow!
Thank you so much! I have been absent from Goodreads for a while and must have missed the email telling me about questions here! Sorry to be so late on the answer. Yes, A Shot of J&B takes place just after the novella, Yes, which itself takes place about 5 years after the first three books, and 5 years before Because of Jade (both in the Vasquez and James series.) And yes, the reader will meet Jackie for the first time in book 1, Loving Luki Vasquez, and meet Brian in Book 2, Delsyn's Blues, and in book 3 they meet each other. A Shot of J&B does recap that meeting, so the reader can pick it up there and it will work, but they'll get the most out of it if they've read the V&J series, as you say, at least until book 3. Did I cover it? :) Thanks for posting the question!
Thank you so much! I have been absent from Goodreads for a while and must have missed the email telling me about questions here! Sorry to be so late on the answer. Yes, A Shot of J&B takes place just after the novella, Yes, which itself takes place about 5 years after the first three books, and 5 years before Because of Jade (both in the Vasquez and James series.) And yes, the reader will meet Jackie for the first time in book 1, Loving Luki Vasquez, and meet Brian in Book 2, Delsyn's Blues, and in book 3 they meet each other. A Shot of J&B does recap that meeting, so the reader can pick it up there and it will work, but they'll get the most out of it if they've read the V&J series, as you say, at least until book 3. Did I cover it? :) Thanks for posting the question!
Lou Sylvre
Hi, Tamika! I am sorry I haven't answered before this—somehow I missed the question. :)
I haven't thought of myself as writing about the cultures, as such. I guess the parts that delve into Native or Hawaiian culture grew out of the characters. I'm not sure why I chose Luki to be Hawaiian/Basque. I had a picture in my mind for him, and that fit. I have looked into Basque culture because it's in my (French) ancestry. I've known a lot of Hawaiian people and probably absorbed some culture that way. I am Native as well, and writing bits of that culture comes naturally to me. In both cases I've tried to avoid traps of stereotyping, but it has been fairly easy to do that, because the characters are so 'alive' in my head. :)
As far as them showing up in future series, they won't be the stars of the show anymore, but they have supporting roles in the book I've just sent to the publisher, A Shot of J&B, which is a spin-off featuring Jackie and Brian. I hope to make that a series, and I'm calling the series "Vasquez Security, the Next Generation. :)
I hope I've answered your questions! It made me very happy to see that I had a question from a reader, so feel free to ask anything, anytime. :)
I haven't thought of myself as writing about the cultures, as such. I guess the parts that delve into Native or Hawaiian culture grew out of the characters. I'm not sure why I chose Luki to be Hawaiian/Basque. I had a picture in my mind for him, and that fit. I have looked into Basque culture because it's in my (French) ancestry. I've known a lot of Hawaiian people and probably absorbed some culture that way. I am Native as well, and writing bits of that culture comes naturally to me. In both cases I've tried to avoid traps of stereotyping, but it has been fairly easy to do that, because the characters are so 'alive' in my head. :)
As far as them showing up in future series, they won't be the stars of the show anymore, but they have supporting roles in the book I've just sent to the publisher, A Shot of J&B, which is a spin-off featuring Jackie and Brian. I hope to make that a series, and I'm calling the series "Vasquez Security, the Next Generation. :)
I hope I've answered your questions! It made me very happy to see that I had a question from a reader, so feel free to ask anything, anytime. :)
Lou Sylvre
Next up, a spin-off from the Vasquez and James series. A romance/suspense for Brian Harrison and Jackie Vasquez, whom many remember as important characters in Finding Jackie. Title is "A Shot of J&B." Brian has become a Scotland Yard detective, Jackie is a grad student, and there a perfect match for love and a little rope kink--BDSM pretty light. :)
Lou Sylvre
1. Keep writing, even when you hate what you've written (which will happen). 2. Avoid making your words into sacred cows. As an editor, I once had an author refuse to negotiate the change of a single word in his story. He didn't get published. As an author, some of my favorite scenes and lines don't end up in a book! (3) Keep writing. (4) Every author needs a qualified editor. If you're going to self-publish, hire a professional. (5) Keep writing! (6) Keep writing. :) And I wish you grand success!
Lou Sylvre
Well, I rarely have anything that resembles writer's block. The closest I come is when I have so much to work on that I have trouble focusing on anything. I deal with that by just opening a file, reading and tweaking my most recent words, and then writing.
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