1. I hear you have pets in your novel, Tender Misdemeanors. Tell us about the book.

Tender Misdemeanors is a romantic suspense novel from The Wild Rose Press, which tells a story that could come from today’s headlines. Federal agents in the northwest U.S. often have clashes with ecotagers—those who commit acts of ecological sabotage—and white supremacist/government conspiracy theorist types as well. Here, we have one woman trying to stand against both.

Tender Misdemeanors blurb:Caryn Orlane has law enforcement in her blood; her father was a cop, and his father, too. She’s a federal agent in northwest Montana, protecting the old forests and keeping the peace.

Levi Bradshaw also believes in protecting the forests, but has a very different MO. He’s the leader of a group of eco-warriors, determined to save the trees of the Bitterroot by legal—and illegal—means.

When they meet in the woods at gunpoint, their encounter ignites a spark of interest, despite operating on opposite sides of the law. When their worlds turn on them, they only grow closer. If they don’t work together, can either survive?

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Tender-Misdemeanors-Alana-Lorens-ebook/dp/B084FTTWP2/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Alana+Lorens&qid=1620669728&rnid=2941120011&s=digital-text&sr=1-2

 

2. Why did you add pets to Tender Misdemeanors?

You can tell a lot about people by how they treat animals, so it seems like a good window into the characters. Hero Levi Bradshaw has a pair of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, as well as a rescued pointer he saved from near-death. Heroine Caryn Orlane lives in a motor home, so her pet is a large green iguana named Niabi. All of these babies are part of the action in the story, too!

Personally, I’m a cat person. LOL. I have worked with a few different cat rescues here in the mountains, and have fostered everything from week-old, bottle-fed kittens to 17-year-old Bengals looking for their final home. At this present moment, we have one old-lady calico bobtail, a gray tabby, two tuxedo cats, two tortoise-shell cats, a cow (black and white Holstein looking) cat, and a little gray fluffball. Here’s a picture of them hanging out on our catio in the morning.

 

3. What other books have you written?

Although I write a bit more as alter ego Lyndi Alexander (sci-fi and fantasy), as Alana, I have one series, the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers, which are standalone romantic suspense stories about women who practice law in Pittsburgh, my former stomping grounds. I also have several novella-length stories of various word counts, including Secrets in the Sand, a romantic suspense novel (approx. 35,000 words) about a bordello madam and a runaway doctor:

Secrets in the Sand blurb: After a run of bad relationships, Lily Pearl Evans has finally become an independent woman. In the New Mexico desert town of Chaparral, she works for herself, sets her own rules, and is determined no man will hold her back again.

Gene Nicholas worked for more than a decade to achieve his dream to be a doctor. Wanting to share his gifts with those less fortunate, he leaves south Florida to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in Mexico.

When Gene provokes a showdown with the local Mexican drug cartel, he becomes a man with a price on his head. On the run, he ends up on Lily’s doorstep–a mystery man forced to conceal his past to protect them both. With the cartel’s dangerous web drawing tight around them, can Lily and Gene survive a drug lord’s revenge?

Secrets in the Sand Book Trailer here

Secrets in the Sand Buy Links on Amazon  Barnes and Noble

 

4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.

From reviews for Tender Misdemeanors:

“The premise is a fresh twist on the outlaw and lawman trope, which has always been a favorite of mine. The story is set in Montana, but there’s not a rancher or cowboy in sight. Instead this fast-paced story has eco-terrorists and murder.” — Kathy Otten

“If you are looking for an engaging, entertaining read, Tender Misdemeanors, by Alana Lorens, will not disappoint. The characters are likable and relatable without becoming a trope. They feel human with human problems, and they cross traditional gender lines in refreshing ways.” — Maggie Fry

“Could not put this book down, read it in one sitting. Author Lorens did her research and it shows loud and clear with from the breath-taking setting to the unforgettable characters, both human and animal.” — Kat Henry

“From the moment Levi crosses Caryn’s path, the spark between them is undeniable!
Read full review in the 2020 Summer issue of InD’tale Magazine.”

“I found her characters, both flawed and strong, alternately, captivating. It had everything a romance should have.” — Amy Bovaird

 

5. What made you set Tender Misdemeanors in Montana?

I had the good fortune to live in Missoula, in western Montana, for awhile back in the 1970s. The Bitterroot Mountains are beautiful, and their solid granite feels so old and perfect. The forests are essential to the place—those who protect the old trees from indiscriminate harvesting are heroes in my eyes, though there are those who would disagree with me. I’ve set a separate fantasy series there as well as this book. I’d live there—if it didn’t snow from approximately Labor Day through Memorial Day!!

 

6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?

BIO: Alana Lorens has been a published writer for more than forty years, after working as a pizza maker, a floral designer, a journalist and a family law attorney. Currently a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, the aging hippie loves her time in the smoky blue mountains. She writes romance and suspense as Alana Lorens, and sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal mystery as Lyndi Alexander. One of her novellas, That Girl’s The One I Love, is set in the city of Asheville during the old Bele Chere festival. She lives with her daughter on the autism spectrum, who is the youngest of her seven children, and she is ruled by two crotchety old cats, and six kittens of various ages.

Website: http://Alana-lorens.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlanaLorens/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829967.Alana_Lorens
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Alana-Lorens/e/B005GE0WBC/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Book trailer for Conviction of the Heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a84IZoH-JKw

Book trailer for Second Chances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEMtSxd6FQQ

Book trailer for Voodoo Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D1aJmCwdYk

 

Marcia James: Thank you, Alana, for stopping by my Go Pets blog! I look forward to reading your novels!

READER INVITATION: Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks! Each month, I’ll randomly pick one commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!