By way of introduction, here is Naomi Laeuchli’s bio:
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Naomi Laeuchli has lived overseas in nine different countries on three different continents where her family was posted with the American Foreign Service.
In November 2012 she moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo back to the states and currently lives in Arizona with five horses. She works as a freelance writer and part time at the local library. She has written several interactive stories for Choice of Games, Tales, and Dorian.
Hello, Naomi , welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Thank you so much for having me.
Is writing your full-time profession?
It’s not but besides my fiction writing I do get to do some freelance writing as well. My other part-time job is working at the small local library in my town.
How long have you been writing?
Since around six? I was homeschooled, and writing was a part of our school. Every day I had to write for 30 minutes. I could write whatever I wanted.
For about one year I wrote nothing but Neopet fanfiction. For another year I wrote a fantasy book in which, whenever I didn’t know what to do next, I’d just introduce another character. There. Were. So. Many. Characters.
My mother would read what I wrote and help with spelling and a little bit of grammar. According to her, there’d be times when the spelling was so bad that it would be impossible to tell what I’d meant to say, and I would have forgotten by then, and when the sentences were truly indecipherable, I’d cry.
Have you won any literary awards?
It’s not a literary award, but it was a writing contest! I write interactive fiction over on the Dorian app. In 2022, they partnered with Lionsgate Entertainment for a writing competition, where you had to write a three-episode interactive story set in the Blair Witch universe and my story won. It got mentioned on the Forbes website which was neat.
WOW! Congratulations!
How many published books have you written?
I have two self-published books available: The Schoolmaster’s Daughter and a collection of Christmas short stories. I also have a spy/action interactive novel published through Choice of Games, as well as the vampire horror Blood in the Water on Tales and several interactive games on the Dorian app including Be My Sire, My Vampire’s Kiss, and Dating the Dragon.
Which genres do you write?
I love writing in all the genres. Mystery, fantasy, romance, thriller, action… It really all comes down to what story I’m currently interested in.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing a mystery thriller, but I’ve also got another regency romance in my head that I’d like to write, as well as a hero for a fantasy novel that I’m trying to find the right plot to fit to.
What is your favorite book review from a reader?
“Ok they can get married and have babies now. No need for the next ten chapters.”
Can you share a random interesting fact about yourself?
Last year I was in the top 1% of Taylor Swift listeners on Spotify. (It helps to have to drive 90 minutes to get anywhere. Lots of time for Tay Tay!)
What are your favorite books?
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Thud by Terry Pratchett, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling, and Venetia by Georgette Heyer.
(Is it fair to name four? That’s the closest I’ve ever come to pairing it down.)
Four is a nice round number!
Who has influenced your writing the most?
My mother, without a doubt and how much she has always supported my writing and, for this book specifically, Georgette Heyer.
When you’re not writing, where can we find you?
On my horse, underground in a cave, or in my armchair with a cup of coffee and a (hopefully good!) book.
A movie producer wants to turn your book into a movie, and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
Every regency story requires there to be a dance scene at a ball. And those dances always look like so much fun. I would love to be one of the background dancers, while our hero and heroine have their required dance moment.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on his cheek. What do you do?
Ask him what breed the dog is.
Where can we find your books?
Amazon and (very soon?) Audible. At the time of answering these questions, The Schoolmaster’s Daughter is in the process of being turned into an audiobook.
Thank you, Naomi, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!
For information about Naomi’s featured book and giveaway, click the link.