***CONTEST*** Run to Elizabeth’s website and come back here to tell us what you found of interest there, or what you liked best about Elizabeth’s answers below. Include your email address to be entered to win all 5 books in the Maiden Lane series, provided by the publisher (US residents only please and no PO Boxes for delivery of the prize).

 

I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

Lord of Darkness is my latest book, in stores right now. Lady Margaret St. John travels to London determined to do two things: 1. Kill the Ghost of St. Giles, the accused murderer of her lover, and 2. Seduce the husband she hasn’t seen since their wedding day so she can have a much longed for baby. Her plans immediately go array, however, when she finds out that the Ghost of St. Giles is in fact…her husband.

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

I guess I’ve never felt I had to be a writer—there are so many other interesting careers out there, and I didn’t actually start writing until I was thirty-five. But when I got my first advance check I knew I could make money as a writer and at that point there was no looking back.

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

Someone famous has said to cut out all the boring bits in your book, but I can’t remember who.

Describe the “perfect” hero.

LOL! All my heroes have imperfections, so they don’t exactly fit the mould of a perfect hero. I’m interested in a man who is smart, has a high regard for family and his responsibilities, and who is willing to fight for what he believes in.

What are some of your favorite pastimes? Do you have any hobbies or collections?

Reading, walking my dogs, and gardening. I have several dozen orchids in my office, but I don’t know if they count as a collection.

If your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location of your choice, which place would you choose, and why?

I’d like to visit India because I’ve never been.

What is the one modern convenience that you cannot do without?

My iPhone.

What is your favorite season? What do you love about it?

Fall because of the chill air and apples.

What project are you working on next?

I’m in revisions for my October book, Duke of Midnight, which features Maximus Batten, the Duke of Wakefield as the hero and Artemis Greaves as his heroine.

Any place we can find you in person or on the net this month or next?

I’m doing a multi-author signing at Anderson’s Book Shop in Napierville, Illinois on April 27^th.

Thanks again for blogging with us!

 

Thank you for having me on Romance Junkies! Readers can learn more about my Maiden Lane series and Lord of Darkness at my website: www.elizabethhoyt.com. You can also chat with me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/ElizabethHoyt), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ElizabethHoytBooks?ref=search&sid=1033016156.428653851), Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16202.Elizabeth_Hoyt), and Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/elizabethhoyt/)

***CONTEST*** Comment below and include your email address to be entered to win one of three copies of THE LADY MOST WILLING, provided by the publisher (US residents only please).  Not sure what to say?  Tell us what you enjoyed most about their answers below, or the books you’ve enjoyed of theirs in the past.

 

Introduction: I’m thrilled to interview Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway collectively about their latest collaboration, THE LADY MOST WILLING. Welcome ladies—it’s wonderful to have you with us at Romance Junkies.

1) I found your collaboration such an interesting concept. I bet it was exciting working together again after the success of THE LADY MOST LIKELY. How did THE LADY MOST LIKELY influence THE LADY MOST WILLING for each of you?

Connie: Probably the most important thing is that we learned we work really well together so there was no doubt about whether future books following a similar template would be “doable.”

Julia: And fun! Writing is normally such a solitary pursuit. Writing with Connie and Eloisa provides such a great change of pace.

2) How did you choose your characters and where your story would take place within the novel? Did you outline how events would happen or use some other method to create the storyline?

Connie: We knew we wanted to do another LADY MOST… I came up with the idea of doing a riff on SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS set in the regency era Scotland. I played around with who would stand-in for the older, married brother but then Taran appeared. I love a comic foil and when I suggested we use him as the chief instigator for the plot, Julie just jumped in with this fabulous introduction.

After we had the bare bones  worked out, we divvied up the characters. From the start, Julia wanted to use a reoccurring character from earlier stories, the Duke of Bretton, so –lucky wench– she knew her man. She also wanted to do a heroine unlike her shy Gwendolyn from LADY MOST LIKELY.

She ended up with the first story by virtue of her great introductory chapter.

Eloisa and I had to play around a bit looking for characters distinct from those we created for THE LADY MOST LIKELY. She had a wonderful idea for a “ruined” heroine with a very naughty reputation. Pairing her with a man who, ostensibly, cares *mostly* about his reputation was genius.

I took the final story because I had volunteered to write the last group scene and it would be easier to do so chronologically. Like my co-authors, I wanted a distinctly different sort of heroine– generally my heroines tend to be very articulate and forceful types. Cecily seems a perfect, dutiful and demure young lady but she’s hiding a spine of pure steel. So, I matched her with a rake and a rogue– the last man your dad, or her dad, would want you to marry.

3) Did each of you discover something about each other during the collaboration of THE LADY MOST LIKELY that you did, or did not, want to repeat in the making of THE LADY MOST WILLING? Come on, you know you want to tattle on each other for something, don’t you?

Connie: Julie’s WHAM! playlist. Nuff said.

Julia: It’s the lie that won’t die. You can all blame Connie if you can’t get “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” out of your head for the rest of the day.

Eloisa:  Connie is much calmer after a glass of wine in the evening.  Come to think of it, we all are!  We had such a great time writing this book — we wrote all day in a wonderful hotel in Seattle, and then drifted downstairs to talk over our characters in the evening.

Julia: Seriously, though, I think we all learned not to change characters’ names. Ever. It doesn’t matter how early in the process you let the other writers know that Caroline is now Carolyn. You’ll still have a few Carolyns running around.

4) How is the LADY MOST WILLING similar or different from other books you’ve written?

Connie: By virtue of its structure, it’s completely unique. THE LAY MOST LIKELY was the protoype for a novel in three parts (Eloisa coined the phrase!) but in THE LADY MOST WILLING I believe we even more successfully and fully incorporated our narrative threads into the book as a whole. I’m really proud of how organic and natural the whole thing feels and flows.

Julia: I think the nicest compliments were when readers said they couldn’t tell who had written which part. Although this where I must gently point out that our names are on the tops of the pages in the stories we wrote.

5) If you could throw a dinner party filled with guests from history (even if you have to bring them back as ghosts), who would be on your guest list? Would it be an intimate affair, or something wild and history making? What would be the topic of conversation?

Connie: I’d want Mary Shelley, Ambrose Bierce, Dorothy Parker, Truman Capote, Maxwell Perkins. We’d talk about writing <g> or we’d drink <G>

Eloisa:  I want Shakespeare!  I know that would be expected, but it’s true.  Once I dreamed I time-travelled, found him, and managed to seduce him, so I feel as if I already know him!

Julia: I’d actually go for my own ancestors. I’ve recently gotten into genealogy, and I’d love to ask them a few questions.

6) If you could vacation inside a book, which book would you choose, which character would you be, and why? Would you take anyone with you or book travel by yourself?

Connie: Blueberries for Sal. I don’t care which character. Why? Because of how it very simply describes an elegant co-existence between man and the natural world as a parallel but separate and mutually respectful experience. And because I love making blueberry jam from wild blueberries.

Eloisa:  Well, since Connie chose a children’s book,  will too.  I want to go to the fair and meet Wilbur and Charlotte, from Charlotte’s Web.  Oh, and then I would also like to be Hermione’s best girlfriend (she needed one!) at Hogwarts.

Julia: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’d take my towel.

7) Tell us about the most memorable moment of your career.

Connie: When my daughter came with me to an RWA conference and saw me win a Rita award. I gained some serious cred in her teenage eye’s that year– something any mother of a teenage girl will tell you is as rare as hen’s teeth.

Eloisa: Being on a very small plane tossed about in a windstorm during a book tour this last fall.  The plane set down and I whipped out my cell phone and discovered that my book had tied for #5 on the New York Times bestseller list.  I think I was more grateful to have survived, but it was a close call!

Julia: When I won my first RITA Award.  I had reached the finals so many times before (and always been shot down), and then I won for a book that had recently been voted (in an online poll) “Worst” AND “Most Disappointing Romance of the Year.” I couldn’t stop laughing when I reached the stage to accept the statue.

8) What’s your “wish” location choice for the three of you to meet for a writers’ retreat in the future to generate ideas for your next collaboration?

Connie: I’m thinking island. Small, drowsy, with great food and a massage therapist on call 24-7.

Eloisa:  Yes!  I agree!

Julia: Well, apparently it’s my turn to come up with the plot, so I think we may have to go with pirates. Which works well with the island theme.

9) What most redeeming quality or annoying habit of your own seems to show up as a character trait in your books most frequently?

Connie: the good? Pragmatism. I’m very practical. I don’t let my less desirable qualities show up in my characters. They’re annoying enough in real life.

Eloisa: Mine tend to be wittier than I could ever be.  My heroines are distilled versions of my friends (yes, Connie & Julie — that’s a compliment!)

Julia: My characters talk a LOT. I’ll let you decide if that’s a good or bad quality.

10) Which color best describes your personality and why?

Connie: Oh, that changes day to day. No one color can pin me down!

Julia: I have been known to say, “You can never go wrong with black,” but I don’t think it would describe me very well.

11) What’s your favorite way to celebrate after you’ve typed “the end” of your novel?

Connie: I clean my office. It’s a ritual. I clean my office, then clean up my computer’s hard drive. I know. How much fun can one woman have?

Eloisa: I go shopping!

Julia: I take a nap. Every day for a month.

12) Please list your website address, plus your favorite social networking places so readers can find out more about you.

www.conniebrockway.com

www.facebook.com/ConnieBrockwayFans

www.eloisajames.com

www.facebook.com/eloisajamesfans

www.juliaquinn.com

www.facebook.com/authorjuliaquinn

***

Thanks so much for joining us at Romance Junkies, ladies!

Interview questions by Dorine for Romance Junkies, posted on the RJ Blog, December 27, 2012.

 

 

RJ Interview Q and A with author Susan Carroll and giveaway!

We’re very excited to have a Q and A today with Susan Carroll, author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE EARTH series, featuring her sixth book in the series, THE LADY OF SECRETS.

***For a chance to win one of three copies of THE LADY OF SECRETS, let us know what you’ve enjoyed learning about Susan Carroll, either through her interview below, or by visiting her FaceBook page —comment below and include your email address to be entered to win.***

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Thank you for spending time with us at Romance Junkies, Susan.

Tell us a bit about how THE LADY OF SECRETS began for you as a writer. What was your inspiration?

Lady of Secrets is the sixth book in my Daughters of the Earth series.  The original idea came from an article I read about ancient matriarchal societies and how at one time wise women were held in great esteem.   But eventually these wise women ran the risk of being called something quite different – witches.  The first book in series, the Dark Queen began in France in the year 1572 and was inspired by many of the legends about Catherine de Medici and her reputed interest in necromancy.

Lady of Secrets concludes the series in England, in the year 1605.   The fantasy elements of the book are set against the historical backdrop of the reign of James I.  The idea for this particular novel came from my readings about the infamous witch trials in Scotland in 1591, long before James had ascended to the English throne.  James believed that his political enemies were trying to destroy him through the use of witchcraft.  Hundreds of women and men were caught up in the witch hunt and executed before the hysteria subsided.  This provided the initial spark for my imagination and the premise of Lady of Secrets.

The first line in the prologue of THE LADY OF SECRETS sets the stage for what follows. When you write, do those significant first lines come before the story is written? Or, is the story written first before that first line can be formulated?

When I first begin a novel, usually the opening and the ending of my book are completely clear to me.  It is what comes in between that gets a bit murky and I have often had to let my characters guide me through the fog.  For some reason, Lady of Secrets defied that rule.  I had to experiment with several openings before I found the right one – the prologue where young Maidred Brody is burned as a witch and the old crone, Ag, puts her curse on King James, thus setting into motion the events that take place years later.   I always strive to make my opening as dramatic and compelling as possible.  I want to hook my readers in from the very first page and not let them go until the last sentence.

Tell us about a typical writing day with Susan Carroll.  How do you schedule your day so that your writing time works well with your personal life?

A typical writing day for me begins late.  I have never been a morning person and my friends and family, bless them, all understand this.  I often don’t even get up until ten, then have my breakfast and coffee before I ever hit the computer keys.  Some of my best writing I do very late at night long after the rest of the world has gone to bed.   I find it very strange that I have become a writer of stories that have a paranormal element.  Though I have always loved fairy tales, stories of vampires, witches  and magic, I am essentially a practical person.  Often I have to work hard to turn off the rational voice in my head when I am writing what my one friend calls “the woo-woo  stuff.”  I have found it helps to turn off all the lights and write by candlelight.  One time I lit so many candles, I set off the fire alarm which alas, completely shattered the mood.

Where is your favorite historical place that recharges your muse?  Do you get to visit it often, or is it relived in your memory from past visits?

I am not much of a traveler except in my imagination.  If I were a character in a book, I would be a hobbit, preferring the comforts of my own hearthside.  Most of my research is done at my local library which is my home away from home.  I would happily live there if they would let me, tucked up reading in one of the alcoves, surrounded by shelves and shelves of books, like thousands of magic doors beckoning me to more worlds than I can ever explore in one lifetime.

What type of books do you read for your own enjoyment?

When reading for pleasure, I love a good mystery, especially historical based ones.   I am a huge fan of Anne Perry and Ariana Franklin.   I also like to revisit some of the friends of my childhood.  I usually re-read Little Women, Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice once every year.   I enjoy historical novels as well such as those written by Phillipa Gregory, Alison Weir and Ella March Chase.   And I love many of the new YA novels.  Like so many others, I was insane over the Harry Potter books and the Hunger Games series.  I also like the work of Rick Riordan and Cassandra Clare.

What favorite pastime do you enjoy most when you relax away from writing?

My favorite hobby and big stress reducer is knitting.  I can’t relax and just watch tv, even my favorite shows like Once Upon a Time, Grimm and Masterpiece theatre.   I always have to have a pair of needles and yarn handy.  My poor relatives who have been the recipient of so many scarves, hats, mittens and socks probably send up prayers every night.  Dear God, someone please stop her before she knits again!

What personality trait of yours do you think creeps into every book?

What trait of my creeps into every book?  Well, I have been told I possess a quirky sense of humor so I think hints of that appear.  And for someone who claims to be so practical, at heart I am romantic, a dreamer and an optimist.  I like good to triumph over evil and I love the promise of happily ever after.

What is your one indulgence that you can’t live without?

The indulgence I can’t live without is chocolate.  If I was ever told I had become allergic and couldn’t have anymore, I am afraid you would just have to pass me the Hershey’s and let me die with a blissful smile on my face.

What do you hope every reader finds when they read one of your novels?

What I hope that I can offer my readers is pleasure, a little bit of magical escape from the stresses and demands of the everyday world.  Come with me to a place and time far away.  Bad things will happen there, but I promise you evil will be defeated, true love will triumph and everything will all come out right in the end.

Interview questions by Dorine for Romance Junkies and appeared at RJ’s blog December 15, 2012.

Visit Susan Carroll at her Facebook page.

From the Publisher About Susan Carroll:

She’s an award-winning romance author whose books include The Bride Finder and its two sequels The Night Drifter and Midnight Bride as well as The Painted Veil, Winterbourne, and most recently, The Dark Queen, The Courtesan, The Silver Rose, and The Huntress. She lives in Rock Island, Illinois.

From the Publisher About THE LADY OF SECRETS:

Known as the “The Lady of Faire Isle,” spiritualist Meg Wolfe can breathe a little easier knowing her wicked heretic mother is dead. But trying to lead an ordinary life proves to be anything but simple when King James summons her to his palace with the following order: save him from the curse that plagues his life using her extraordinary gifts. It doesn’t take her long to discover that there are more sinister motivations at play in the king’s world. History and a kingdom hang in the balance, and Meg realizes she can no longer trust anyone or anything—not even her own heart.

 

 

Earlier this week, in a fabulous water-front bar overlooking Sydney’s iconic harbour bridge, Harlequin Australia launched its digital-first imprint, Escape Publishing, and it was awesome.

Escape aims to take Australia to the world, focusing on Australian and New Zealand voices, with global releases on digital books, no DRM, and no geographic restrictions.

But let’s get to the good stuff, yeah? The books!

We launched with five launch titles on Wednesday of last week, and we will have six more titles releasing in December. The launch titles are currently on sale for a limited time at $0.99, and readers can download our erotic fantasy novella, Chains of Revenge for free. But get them quick, because our launch prices are for a very limited time only.

Want to know about the books? I can help you out!

Chains of Revenge by Keziah Hill is our free download. It’s erotic, it’s violent, it’s got an enslaved prince and a spoiled princess, a faked death, and a triumphant return. And a delicate gold harness, designed with one purpose only – to enslave the slaver. Buy your copy today!

Chaos Born by Rebekah Turner revitalised urban fantasy for me. It’s deep, it’s complex, it’s morally ambiguous, it’s frequently and surprisingly funny, it’s got a flawed heroine, it’s got community, it’s got a love triangle with no clear choices, it’s got a militant religious order, and it’s got a deep, dark, dangerous secret just waiting to be revealed. Buy your copy today!

 

Christmas Wishes by Rhian Cahill is a steamy and sweet holiday story about best friends realising that all they really want for Christmas is each other! It’s hot, it’s friends-to-lovers, it’s Christmas-y, it’s gorgeous! Buy your copy today!

Grease Monkey Jive by Ainslie Paton is a lovely, meaty, get-your-teeth-in, contemporary romance. It’s got a ballroom dance teacher, it’s got a mechanic, it’s got a dance competition, $50 000, friendships, family, and the power of a little sizzle. Buy your copy today!

In Safe Hands by Lee Christine is a Sydney-set, sophisticated romantic suspense novel. It’s got a highly successful lawyer, it’s got a youthful indiscretion, it’s got privacy breaches, and financial obligations, and it’s got a gorgeous ex-SAS Commander who steps in to help.

 

You can find out more about everything Escape on our website, www.escapepublishing.com.au. We’re also across various social media, including facebook, twitter, and youtube. So do get in contact, let us know what you think, let us know what you want to read, and what we can do for you.

 

 

Please help us welcome Kate Brady, author of WHERE ANGELS REST (Grand Central Publishing, November 2012), for an interview at Romance Junkies!

Why did you pick rural Ohio for the location of your book, WHERE ANGELS REST? Did you visit Ohio to get a feel for where your story would play out?

I visit all the time; I grew up in the town where this book takes place!  Well, sort of.  I created a fictitious town for the story, but I grew up there, nonetheless.  And after I graduated from college, I got my first job teaching high school in another town in rural Ohio just like the one I grew up in.  So I lived in that area as an adult for several years, too.

So the town in ANGELS—Hopewell, Ohio—is a compilation of the small Ohio towns I know so well.  It was important to the story that it be an Andy Griffith-Norman Rockwell type of place, where nothing bad could possibly happen.

Except it does.  At least, in the book, it does.  Let’s hope that in the real towns, there were never any serial killers lurking.

Do you have nightmares or dreams that become a part of what you’re writing? Or does your writing cause nightmares before the villain is caught?

I have nightmares all the time about the books I write.  But they aren’t about serial killers or plots or police chases.  They’re about deadlines.  Finishing the book.  Geesh.  I have nightmares about that regularly!

Your book cover is very intriguing. What kind of input did you have on it? Is it close to what you imagined?

Actually, this cover art is an interesting story—and no, it’s nothing like I imagined.  I’ll preface it by saying that I have a liking for sinister-looking cover art and when I first saw this, it looked very different than it does now.  It was the same picture, but the colors were spring green and sky blue, and the fonts were lovely cursive.  With the angel (albeit, drooped) in a sweet spring garden and the beautiful script, the book struck me almost as an inspirational read.

Especially since the title could be interpreted as peaceful, that wasn’t the type of cover art I had envisioned.  And I would have never dreamed they could make that particular image creepy.  But, oh my gosh, when they went back in and messed around with the color scheme and the fonts—Voilà!  A sinister, creepy, intriguing cover.  I love it!

What’s your favorite memory from your publication journey?

I think every writer remembers “the phone call.”  The one when you find out your first book has actually sold.  I was vacuuming the living room rug.

But the other memory that stands out is winning the RITA® Award for my first book.  And as wonderful as that was, it wasn’t winning that made it so special.  It was the fact that my husband flew to Orlando to join me for the awards ceremony.  What a support system he has been—in life, as well as in writing.

Okay…And winning was cool, too!

What’s the best part of the writing process?

For me, the best part of writing is that first draft…Before I know what’s going to happen, before the characters are fully-formed, and—let’s face it—before the book has any problems.  I’m not a plotter, so I never know what’s going to happen until it happens.  I sit down at my laptop to find out what happens next.  And occasionally something happens that I never expected.  That’s when writing is the most fun!

You’ve decided to throw a dinner party. Will it be an intimate affair or a wild one that the neighbors will still be talking about next year?

First one, then the other!  I love to entertain and cook, especially since we remodeled our kitchen into a magazine-worthy space equipped with every chef’s perk.   (A short-out to the husband, again…He did it all himself and it’s bee-ooo-tiful!)  So if I have my druthers, I’ll have an intimate dinner with close friends on Friday and then throw a big party on Saturday.  Then maybe on Sunday, an impromptu cookout.  That’s my kind of weekend.

Can you give us a tidbit or teaser about book 2 of your new series?

In WHERE ANGELS REST, the hero is the first of the Mann siblings: Sheriff Nikolaus Mann.   Ee also get a sneak peek of his brother, Luke Mann.  When I wrote Luke into Nick’s book, I didn’t know too much about him, but then came the sequel to ANGELS, and Luke became one of my favorite heroes.  He is an undercover FBI agent posing as a drug cartel hit man, and he gets thrown for a loop when a beautiful assistant district attorney (who once prosecuted him for murder) hires him to kill someone: her.

I hope you’ll enjoy Nick in WHERE ANGELS REST and keep an eye out for Luke in the second book of the series.

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Interview by Dorine at Romance Junkies.

 

We’re excited to have Beth Kery with us today!  Beth has answered our questions so we can get to know her better.  Now it’s your turn to ask her a question, or tell us what you enjoyed most about the interview, or run to her website and come back to tell us what you found of interest there.  Your comments will enter you into a contest for a mass market copy of Beth’s WICKED BURN.

INTERVIEW WITH BETH KERY…

Hi Beth – welcome to Romance Junkies!  We’re looking forward to getting to know the woman behind those wonderful sensual and erotic stories today.

Thank you for inviting me!

1. Please tell us about your eight-part serialized erotic romance novel, Because You Are Mine, and what you’ve enjoyed most about your couple being revealed in segments weekly, versus all at once in a full-sized novel?

Because You Are Mine is a love story that begins as a sexual obsession between a billionaire entrepreneur and an artist/graduate student. He commissions her to do the centerpiece painting for his new headquarters, but there are threads that connect this couple even farther back in history than before their first meeting. Because of those threads—what I would call ‘soul threads’—what seems to be a sexual obsession in reality, from the very beginning, is just the beginning of a relationship between a couple that was destined to be together. Although, there’s no real evidence for that at first, as personal histories and insecurities are hurdled and finally shared.

I would describe this story as a little bit Cinderella, Pretty Woman, Fifty Shades, and Beth Kery rolled into one. Even though I wanted this book to have that dark, obsessional sexual edge, I also wanted the lighter, magical moments of first falling in love—an outdoor lunch at a Parisian café, an impromptu summer concert on the lawn, the perfect gift given at the perfect moment…

Because You Are Mine contains elements of light BDSM and D/s. For Francesca, the heroine, getting involved with complicated, enigmatic, controlling Ian Noble is a risk, but the excitement of it—the thrill of being with him and taking everything he has to offer her—is too great to resist. He’s the type of man that can whisk you away to Paris in a private jet for a romantic getaway and open up whole new territories of experience, both in the bedroom and out. For Ian, he can’t keep away from Francesca despite her innocence. What seems like a solely sexual obsession becomes the beginning path on the journey toward healing. Both Ian and Francesca have inner demons, but they really aren’t of the highly dysfunctional variety. They are both healable. I love how we get to see them grow as they both teach each other valuable, needed lessons and thrive in each other’s presence.

Writing the serial novel was a huge challenge. The publisher, my editor and myself really had to work hard to make this happen. Since it was a first time experience for all of us, we had to pave the path versus just stroll it. Traditional publishing is often a very staid, routine experience, and writing/editing/publishing Because You Are Mine was anything but that.

Many readers don’t realize that by the time a book comes out, the author wrote the book six to eighteen months earlier. They are often working on or have finished other books by the time of the release date.  I hadn’t even finished writing the book by the time the first installment of Because You Are Mine went public. Because of the freshness and immediacy of the publishing experience, the whole writing process had an invigorating, vibrant feeling to it. I hope that is reflected in the words.

2. Why do you think readers crave the alpha male in their erotic romance novels?

The alpha male is the man-myth diluted and distilled. He’s the protector, the height of physical strength, the smartest, the loyalist, the ultimate lover. He’s often flawed, but that’s okay. As the reader, we can live vicariously through the heroine and see him change and become a better man. It’s fun, reading a romance and knowing that we are going to see this impenetrable, powerful male fall—and fall hard—all because he’s done the unthinkable and wonderful: fallen in love.

3. Out of all of the heroines you’ve written, which one do you feel is the most like you and why?

Oh, jeez. So hard to say. I have a lot in common with Niall Chandler, from Wicked Burn. Or maybe I just wish I was like her. 

4. What’s the most outrageous or fun thing you’ve done in the name of research?

When I was writing Daring Time, which is a time travel erotic romance set in Chicago, I got to tour most of the remaining mansions on the lovely and evocative Prairie Avenue. It was a bit like stepping back in time, to an era where millionaires of the golden age like Marshall Field, Phillip Armour and Joseph Sears all lived on this fairy tale street.  (See the photo of me outside the Kimball mansion, the place that inspired me to write Hope and Ryan’s house.)

5. Who or what inspires you and why?  Has that changed since writing your first book?

I get my inspiration from everywhere—news articles, music, art, history, but mostly from loving to observe people. That’s remained the same from the start of my writing career.

6. If you had to pick just one, which would you say is your one weakness: clothing, shoes, electronic gadgets, animals, travel or jewelry? Can any of your friends or family keep you away from what you can’t resist?

Probably both clothing and shoes. I do think my friends—and definitely my husband—know of this shameful weakness.

7. What would your best friend say is your most endearing quality, and your most annoying habit?

Endearing quality: My warmth. I like to make people feel comfortable and cared about.
Annoying habit: Probably that I don’t keep in contact as much as I should. I always reconnect eventually and consistently, but I let time and a busy schedule get away from me during the ‘in-between’ times.

8. You’ve decided to throw a dinner party. Will it be an intimate affair or a wild one that the neighbors will still be talking about next year?

Definitely an intimate one, but I’d also like a sense of fun and excitement. Intimate doesn’t mean boring.

9. If you could invite anyone from past, present or future (feel free to time travel for guests) to this dinner party, who would you invite?  What question will you just have to ask before the night is over?

Marilyn Monroe? I’ve had a fascination with her ever since I studied her in a film class in college. She was such an enigma and so magnetic. As an observer of human behavior, I’d just like to watch her for a night and see what I learned.

10. What is the funniest, craziest, silliest, or most irritating question you’ve been asked since becoming a writer?  What was your answer?

Probably something like—what heroes would you want to be sandwiched between? Sometimes I think people really think I live the life of my heroines. I know it was just asked in fun, of course, so I answered two of my good friend Julie James’ heroes from her books—Jack and Nick. For those of you who read her books, you’ll know whom I mean. 

11. If I gave you one wish to receive or do anything you’d like tomorrow, without consequences, what would that be?

Tomorrow? I would magically make it so that my tight writing deadlines suddenly were no problem to make at all so that I could enjoy my nephew’s wedding next weekend without an ounce of worry.

12. What animal best describes the personality of Beth Kery and why?

How about a deer, both in the male and female forms. The females are quiet and soft, which I can definitely be at times, but the stags have those powerful horns and can be much more aggressive. That’s me. I’m usually reserved and like to observe, but I stand up and defend those I love, as well as the values or possessions that I care about.

13. Who is the REAL Beth Kery when she takes off her writer’s hat and lets her hair down?

My husband always says I’m a paradox. I’m an intellectual, but I’m goofy as well at times. People might think I’m serious until the day they see me so busted up with laughter I can’t breathe and tears are running down my face. I’m a very hard worker, but love nothing better at times than to curl up in bed and watch old movies. Sometimes, I adore going out and socializing with friends or family, and other times, all I want to do is be alone with a good book. So if you see me as one thing, if you keep looking, you might see just the opposite.

Thank you so much for answering my questions

My pleasure, and thank you Romance Junkies for having me!

Interview by Dorine at Romance Junkies

************From the publisher*******************

BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE is a serialized novel of erotic romance by Beth Kery.

About Beth Kery:
Beth Kery is the national bestselling author of over thirty books and short stories, including Wicked Burn.  She also writes as Bethany Kane.  She lives in Chicago with her family.   Her website is www.bethkery.com.

About InterMix:
InterMix, Berkley/NAL’s e-initial imprint, was launched in January 2012.  The eBook imprint introduces original works from new authors and publishes favorite titles from beloved authors as eBooks for the first time.  The eBooks published by InterMix encompass a wide range of genres, including women’s fiction, romance, mystery and thriller, and science fiction/fantasy.  Every InterMix title—whether brand new or previously available in print—is packaged with fresh cover art, newly designed interiors, and creative marketing, publicity, and advertising campaigns.