Lori Foster's Darkside - an introduction to her SERVANT series.

Hello readers! The first book of my new series, SERVANT: The Awakening, written as L. L. Foster will hit stands next week. (In some places, it's already out!)
A very dear "cyber" friend and reader, LeeAnn Pratt, got an early copy and has already read it. LeeAnn was generous enough to do an interview for me, from a reader's perspective, to let you know more about the book.

Let's hear it for LeeAnn!

LeeAnn: Thanks Lori.

You know, I haven't read too many books like SERVANT, but as soon as I started it, I was hooked. The descriptions of the main characters of Gabrielle Cody, Detective Luther Cross, and Morty Vance, put them right in my mind and I was able to feel the pain and emotions that they all went through in the book. I could actually see the evil that Gabrielle faced every time, and the anger she felt at the evil being done to all the innocents.
I was sad when it ended, and I can't wait until the next installment when I can find out what is in store for these people!
I absolutely love this book and am now hooked!

Lori: Thank you, LeeAnn! That’s exactly the reaction I hope to get from other readers.

LeeAnn: I think your audience will enjoy it. This book is different from your other stories, yet at the same time there are similarities in the connection between the main characters.

Lori: I hope the chemistry is the same. I wanted a different tone, a different feel to the plot and setting, but yeah, my idea of characterization is the same. And the romance is there, but in a lesser role than in my other novels.

LeeAnn: How hard is it to create that atmosphere?

Lori: I didn’t think about it in terms of difficulty because it’s just me taking the focus of my writing in a different direction.
But still MY writing.

LeeAnn: When did this story line first come to you?

Lori: Actually, years ago! But I wanted to get my romance name established before I branched out to anything different. I wanted readers to know what to expect from me. Not the same old, same old, but there’s a trust you build with readers, and I felt I now sufficiently had that trust to do something different, without scaring away all my readers.

LeeAnn: I loved the characters. Despite the subject matter and Gaby’s special skills, they were all very real. How long did it take to create them?

Lori: They’ve been in my head for awhile, just waiting for me to make the time to write the book. It feels like I’ve lived with Gaby for years.
Secondary characters, like Morty and Ann just sort of popped up as I wrote the story. But that’s how I always work – I have the main characters with a basic plot outline in my head, and then the rest unfolds as I write.
For me, that’s what keeps me interested and keeps the story fresh.

LeeAnn: Is hunky Luther Cross based on anyone you have met?

Lori: Nope. Luther epitomizes all my heroes – big, bold, unstoppable and capable, but he still goofs on occasion because deep down, he’s human.
But I wouldn’t mind meeting him.

LeeAnn: Me either! Luther Cross is hot! He also seemed to be a very determined man in what he wants, so....will he get what he needs with Gaby?

Lori: Absolutely. Eventually. But unlike my romance novels, the romance in the SERVANT series won’t be resolved at the end of book 1. It’s going to grow and ripen and get pretty darned tense before Gaby and Luther can fully trust each other enough to really commit.

LeeAnn: So we’ll "see" more of the softer side between Luther and Gaby?

Lori: Yes ma’am. Remember that old TV series, Moonlighting? Cybil Shepard and Bruce Willis? Well, the sexual tension between them was, in my opinion, phenomenal. But once they did the dirty... well, it fizzled. So I have to hold off on a complete, total, no-holds barred sexual union between Luther and Gaby until the final book.
BUT... there’ll be plenty of steam on the pages until we get there.

LeeAnn: I can see why, what with Gaby’s special talents. A law-abiding detective like Luther would have to move slowly.
How did you decide on Gaby's "other" profession?

Lori: I look at the world sometimes, at the really truly evil, demented people out there, and I accept that they look like everyone else. There’s no outstanding physical quality to tell us that someone is capable of torture, or mass murder.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone could see the real identity beneath the normal façade?
I suppose I created Gaby because I really wish there was someone like her.

LeeAnn: Mort is a very interesting character, one that seems to be one way at first, but then changes in the readers’ eyes. How did he evolve and become a part of this story?

Lori: You know, at first, he was just someone there for background. Even though Gaby is a loner, she has to run into people, right? Then, somehow, the second Mort hit the page, he wanted to befriend Gaby. Maybe deep down I knew she needed someone who would accept her for who she is and be able to see the good she did, even when it looked really bad.

LeeAnn: Will Mort take on a bigger role in the upcoming books?

Lori: Oh yeah. That Mort... he’s grown on me! Initially he was a character I planned to kill off. Yeah, there’s a small spoiler for you – Mort lives.
What happened is that my youngest son kept asking to read the book, so I printed him off a few pages. He read them and announced that Mort was really cool.
I said, “Don’t get too attached. I’m killing him.”
And my son was devastated. LOL. He reacted so strongly that I thought, well hell, I guess I better let Mort live.
My editor, when she first read the finished book, called me to say that she’d been so afraid I’d kill Mort, and was relieved that I hadn’t.
Guess my kid knew what he was talking about!

LeeAnn: Geez Lori, in your romances you never kill people! I suppose that’s one big difference between the genres, huh? So tell me, in your opinion, which is more difficult to write.. romance or urban fantasy?

Lori: The hardest book is usually the one I’m working on at the time. Each of them has their high points and their low points. Overall, I love writing both, and if anything, switching it up from one to the other makes it easier all the way around, because my brain doesn’t get bogged down.
I put people in bed, I bludgeon others, I spark a romance, I unleash a vile degenerate, I marry folks, and then I kill off some.
I sincerely hope readers enjoy the differences, and the similarities, as much as I have!

Here's a video trailer for SERVANT that will help show the tone of the book.
Happy watching!

Servant - Book Trailer