Interviews
Heart to Heart Interview with Lynn Kurland
Heart to Heart: What was your inspiration for Dreams of Stardust? Do you have a favorite character in the book?
Lynn Kurland: I know a fabulous jeweler near Seattle called Foxfire -- they do these amazing things with things that sparkle. A trip there inspired me to explore the possibilities of not only gems but also the facets that people have that often go unappreciated. My favorite character in this book has to be the hero, because he's willing to sacrifice so much for the woman he loves.
HtoH: As a writer, what do you find to be the challenges and advantages of time-travel romances?
LK: The challenges are keeping historical details straight; the advantages are the limitless possibilities for humor that having a hero or heroine centuries out of their time provides!
HtoH: What was your first encounter with medieval times? What kind of research do you do for each historical?
LK: I must give credit where it's due -- my first romance was Jude Deveraux's The Black Lion. The chivalry, pageantry, and bigger-than-life characters had me hooked. Mix that up with a little of Monty Python's The Holy Grail, Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and John Steinbeck's The Acts of King Arthur, and I just couldn't stay away from the time period. I read lots of biographies and histories, the more obscure and unedited, the better. I choose the particular year, make sure I have historical figures in their proper place and time, then go from there.
HtoH: You are such a versatile writer, from time-travel romances to ghost stories to pure historicals. Is there a genre you prefer?
LK: I have to admit I'm a sucker for a good ghost story, but only when the ghosts are of the endearing, matchmaking kind. Again, [ghost stories have] great potential for humor and delightful perplexities, with the poor mortals just trying to get through the day while being haunted!
