Clarissa Lake Interview Published on: 11, May 2023

I spent my childhood in rural Western New York, USA, where I live now.

I was an avid reader as a child and still read now. I average about one book a week, reading an hour before I sleep. I spend more time writing than reading at this point in my life.

I was in fourth or fifth grade when I thought I wanted to be a writer. I actually wrote my first novella when I was 15. It was fan fiction.

I don’t think I ever let anyone read that first book. I wrote a book called Windswept Lover when I was in my twenties. It was a contemporary gothic romance as they were popular then.

I decided to write under a pen name when I started writing sexually explicit erotic Sci-Fi romances. I wasn’t sure how my friends and family would take it. However, the emphasis is on the loving relationship, not just sex. That’s what differentiates erotic romance from erotica.

I think the flaws make the character relatable and interesting.

That is a harder question than it seems. Honestly, the main character in my current work in progress probably resonates with me most at any given time. If I have to pick, I think it’s between Darken Cyborg Ranger and Brekar from Brekar’s Christmas.

Probably my favorite writer is Robert Heinlein. I read many of his books when I was younger, and I like his Lazarus Long books the best, with my favorite being Time Enough for Love. Besides the young adult books, most of his books included romance, and when you combine science fiction with romance, I’m there.

The best compliment came from a fellow author whose books I greatly admire. She told me she liked one of my books even though I thought hers were much better.

In the Cyborg Awakening series, the North American Civil Restoration Enclave made cyborgs who fought the alien war. This council becomes an interim governing body attempting to reclaim North America. So they request cyborgs to go west and secure the western states. Commander Vyken Dark calls in the elite cyborg marine Rangers team for the job.

Angie was a composite character inspired by a book by T.J. Quinn. My book was a completely different story than Quinn’s. The idea is that women would be desperate enough in an overpopulated world without enough jobs to go around that they would go off-world in search of a better life. That concept has often been used in science fiction romance. Of course, I drew from my experience of getting fired and not knowing where my next dollar was coming from. And the rest of the story, I just made it up.

I’ve done drawing and painting, making wire dream catchers with wire-wrapped semi-precious stones, gardening, and having pets.

I used Clarissa as a screen name in the early days of social media. And I live by a lake. It’s that simple.

I live with my daughter and two grandchildren in my lake cottage with four cats, two dogs, and three fish. We basically all do our own thing.

My next book is a novella in the Clarissa Lake Interstellar Matchmaking series called Zimon’s Bride, followed by Shadow Cyborg Ranger, which is in editing now.

I joined All Author in April 2017. Becoming a pro member and having regular book tweets helps with sales. I also like the banners and the magic tool for making my banners.