Idol Features: Clara Grace Walker

(Editor's Note: The following interview with author Clara Grace Walker was conducted exclusively by her fellow author, whose published works are under the name "Ladyaslan." Both ladies graciously gave their permission to have it published here.)

Best selling romantic suspense author, Clara Grace Walker, writes about fictional worlds populated with characters living out soap opera style lives. Expect sex, murder, and more than a little back-stabbing inside the pages of her books.

Her debut series, "Desire Never Dies," is comprised of three books, Gratification, Gossip, and Redemption, all of which have made their mark on Amazon’s best seller list. People and circumstances are rarely what they seem in these stories, and getting to the truth can be a dangerous thrill-ride. So hop on board and hang on by your fingertips as you read your way to happily ever after.

LADYASLAN: What inspired you to write your series?

CLARA GRACE WALKER: I believe love is the greatest force in the universe. So naturally, romance plays a strong part in my stories because people are not one-dimensional. However, neither are my stories. In addition to my primary focus of romance, there are elements of suspense, told in the soap opera style of storytelling that I love.

LADYASLAN: Summarize your books in one to three sentences as if you were speaking to someone unfamiliar with your books and their topic.

CLARA: If Elmore Leonard and James Patterson co-wrote romance novels, while binge-watching Dynasty, the result would be my books. Thus, my tagline; “Glamorous, Dangerous Romance.”

LADYASLAN: What is the overall theme, central topic, subject, or concept of your books?

CLARA: As with all romances, the overall theme of “love conquers all” is present in my stories. Additionally, I love stories of redemption. My characters are not your typical romance heroes and heroines. They are real people, with real flaws, who find their strength in love, and end up better for it.

LADYASLAN: Where do these books take place?

CLARA: All of the books in my "Desire Never Dies" series take place in the state of Florida. From Key West, the setting for book #1; Gratification, to the Miami and Coral Gables locale of book #2; Gossip, to the Key Largo setting of book #3; Redemption, my books give the reader a sun-drenched tropical vacation from daily life.

LADYASLAN: Who are the main characters and why are they so important to the story?

CLARA: Preston Tyler, the hero of Gratification, is fighting a hostile takeover of the company co-founded by his father, and needs the help of its largest shareholder, heroine Maggie McKenzie, the woman who broke their engagement and his heart. In Gossip, tabloid publisher Nick Beck seeks to solve his late wife’s murder, and ends up falling for photographer Jamie Jennings. Like Gratification, Redemption is another “second chance at love” story. Movie star Earl Grayson rushes to the aid of the woman he still loves, pop star Mindy LePage, whose life has taken a downward spiral, and she now finds herself trapped in a rehab center run by a woman obsessed with Earl, and out to destroy Mindy. Because I write romance, these stories would not exist without the heroes and heroines. I love following the journey of love, and people who are fighting to find it.

LADYASLAN: How is your book relevant in today’s society?

CLARA: There is a saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Fashions may change. Culture may change. Human nature, however, does not. This is why a well-told story is timeless. People will always fall in love, and face challenges in their lives. It is the characters in a book that make it magic, and bring the story to life in the readers’ imaginations. No matter the details, love will always be relevant.

LADYASLAN: Is there any subject currently trending in the news that relates to your books?

CLARA: The issue of domestic abuse is a topic that rears its ugly head with sad regularity. All of the books in my "Desire Never Dies" series touch on this serious subject in ways either large or small. In Gratification, heroine Maggie McKenzie is working to help abused children. Jamie Jennings, the heroine of Gossip takes an underage prostitute under her wing, and in Redemption, heroine Mindy LePage is dealing with the aftermath of an abusive childhood.

LADYASLAN: How did you learn about the topics?

CLARA: Stories of abuse turn up all too often in the news. It’s a problem found in all walks of life and relies on the silence and shame of victims. Aside from what I’ve learned in the news, I’ve known people who’ve dealt with this issue, and have always felt a strong desire to help them find their voice.

LADYASLAN: What other books have you written?

CLARA: Gratification, Gossip, and Redemption make up my "Desire Never Dies" series. Currently, I’m putting the finishing touches on Exploits, book #1 of my upcoming four-book series, "Sex & Secrets."

LADYASLAN: Do you have an existing website or blog? If so, please provide.

CLARA: My blog is incorporated into my website: ClaraGraceWalker.com. Readers can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.