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.