Interview with Roni Loren, Author of Off the Clock

Off the Clock is the first book in my brand new Pleasure Principle series, a series set at an exclusive therapy institute in the bayous of Louisiana. Think Grey’s Anatomy meets erotic romance with therapists (and celebrity clients.) So drama and secret relationships and office sex. J
The first book is about two sex therapists, Dr. Marin Rush and Dr. Donovan West, who had a one-week affair in college and haven’t seen each other since. Marin had a tragedy in her life after that hook-up and has spent her career in research and her personal life raising her younger brother. But when she loses her grant, she has to take a job at The Grove working with actual clients, which terrifies her since her own sex life has been non-existent. Of course, things only get worse when she realizes she’ll be working with her old crush Dr. West.

Which books would we be surprised to find on your shelves?

The Motley Crue biography The Dirt? Lol. Or maybe a textbook from college called The Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy. Or the complete works of Shakespeare. I have pretty eclectic tastes, so though my shelves are dominated by romance, I also have a lot of YA, horror, and suspense. I’m also a writer nerd, so you’ll find more books on the craft of writing than is probably healthy.

What’s rocking your world this month?

Jane the Virgin. I’m on a writing break after a stretch of nonstop deadlines this year. So I’ve been indulging in some Netflix binges and discovered Jane the Virgin. I can’t stop watching them! Lol.

If you had to pick one place to vacation for the rest of your life, where would you choose?

I love the mountains and the view of water—though I’m not particularly a beach person. And living in the south all my life has made me want to escape the heat, so no tropical islands for me. Maybe somewhere in the Northwest where I could get a little of both mountains and ocean.

What will your next adventure be?

Writing wise, I’ll be jumping into book two of the Pleasure Principle series at the beginning of the year, which will have a hero who is a sexual surrogate. That should be a fun challenge! On the personal front, I get to go to Alaska for the first time this year, so I’m really excited about that.

What’s your favorite quote or scene from Off the Clock?

There are a lot of scenes I had fun with, including one with questionable use of an expensive bottle of wine, but I think one of the scenes that stands out most for me happens around the “black moment” of the book. The entire book, Donovan has been in the knowledgeable, more experienced, mentor-type role with Marin. But the tables turn during this moment in the book, and Marin calls him out on his weak spots. She doesn’t let him get away with brushing things aside. I love that scene because of her strength and maturity, but I also like it because I got to show the big, bad, alpha hero being crushed by the weight of his own demons and showing vulnerability.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

It’s cliché, but I’m a “Life’s too short” kind of person. Life’s too short to (insert many things): not follow your dream, to stress about little things, to get involved in unnecessary drama, to stay in a bad situation, to concern yourself with how other people want to live their lives if they’re not hurting anyone. It’s the filter I see almost everything through.

Roni Loren is the author of the new book Off the Clock.

Connect with Roni
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