Beverly and Tamara: Welcome to SSLY. Thanks so much for joining us today. So first why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?
Beverly, Tamara and guests, thank you for having me. It’s a joy to be here. Well for starters, I’m proud to say I’m a Native American and a Scorpio which probably tells you why I have a love for the paranormal. I also love, love… being in love, making love, and writing about love. I retired from my teaching career after spending close to twelve years battling the heat in the Middle East. So where did I move to when I returned to the states? Where else but Arizona where the summers are much like they were abroad. Hey we can’t knock our winters – where else can you BBQ your Christmas dinner and not freeze to death?
I’ve been writing professional for years but up until three years ago I primarily wrote non-fiction and text books. Switching genres’ was quite an awakening for me to say the least. Still I am happy with my decision and my muses who constantly bug the dickens out of me are much nicer looking than the old professor type who use to hang around in my head.
Tamara: What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?
In the morning hours coffee. If I’m writing after twelve an ice cold diet Pepsi. When I’ve had a productive day I like to reward myself with a glass of wine or an Amaretto on the rocks and a good meal.
Beverly: When do you start to write?
Six days a week you can find me at my computer working on one book or another before the sun comes up. Normal wakeup time around this house is 4am.
Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?
Heroes, like normal people come in all shapes and sizes although it’s nice to see one that looks more like he is physically fit than a couch potato … Didn’t I mention I love, love… and good sex? But a hero isn’t categorized by his physical body. I believe he needs that sort of personality that magically draws you to him, regardless of his weaknesses AND he needs to have an inner personality that screams he is ready, willing and able to save the world.
Beverly: Can you describe your favorite character? And which of your books is he/she in? How do you come up with your characters?
I love watching characters grow, mature and come into their own regardless of their hero/heroine status; characters with human emotion and faults always tend to grab my attention. My favorites change from book to book. In my series, Sekhmet’s Guardians I really didn’t care for Jennifer, the heroine in book one but as she developed, grew and learned who and what she truly is, there was no stopping her. Her counter part, Gabriel, was solid, strong and committed to what he believed was his obligation. As she grew, he too changed into what he once was—a loving and sometimes clumsy man who had a zest for life. United, they are very active in the entire series even though each book is dedicated to another couple. Referring back to book one again, Raphael seemed to have captured most readers interests and many cheered him on in his “courtship” of Jennifer. Raphael eventual finds true love with the woman of his dreams in book two, Eternal Nights where he and Jennifer’s sister, Jessica take center stage.
Perhaps my most favorite of all the characters within the series has been Ronan, the elder Selkie who is Jennifer and Jessica’s father. He came to live among the immortals and humans with no concept on what it was like to live in the modern world. Watching him struggle with everything from language to using a fork and knife has been exciting and very entertaining.
Tamara: What are the hardest scenes for you to write? Suspense? Sex? Dialogue? And why?
Dialogue flows easy for me. I just picture two people talking and write out what I hear. The hardest thing about writing a romance series was the first sex scene. I’ve written so many now that I no longer tend to hesitate or shiver when one is needed. For me personally it’s the scene when someone is injured, near dying and you have no idea if that person is going to survive or not. I have found myself sitting at the computer crying my eyes out more than once while I struggled to put the scene into words.
Beverly: What writer, if any, influenced how you write?
I don’t think we have time to list them all. I do know that H.G. Wells sparked something within me as a child and continues to do to this day.
Tamara: Who would you choose as your “book boyfriend”? From what book? Author?
Mathayus, from Max Allen Collins’, The Scorpian King. Of course, the Rock aka Dwayne Johnson who played the part in the movie is one great hunk too.
Beverly: What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done? Or would like to? What? We are all about the love!
I’m not sure if one would call it kinky but my DH has a habit of asking, “who do you want tonight – Raphael, Gabriel or someone new,” when I am having trouble with a sex scene.
Tamara: What are your favorite types of heroines? Do you like the damsel in distress who needs saving or the kick-ass variety? Why?
I actually like heroines who are in-between the biting the lip self-conscious shy woman and the kick ass heroine. As I previously mentioned, I like to watch (especially my heroines) develop and come into their own.
Beverly: What was your worst date ever?
Probably the one where my boyfriend came to pick me up. I think we were planning on going to the drive-in to see a movie and a little make out session. Anyway, shortly after he arrived, he told me he was going to marry someone else. So much for the movie…
Tamara: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you? (you have food, water, shelter, all the necessities, so nothing mundane)
Mathayus and his two brothers who look just like him.
Beverly: What is your “guilty pleasure”?
Only one? Probably my diet Pepsi, followed by chocolate, flavored coffee, and good wine.
Tamara: What dream or goals have you yet to realize?
The one that has yet to manifest itself is seeing my series on the big screen. Isn’t that similar to what every author wants? To be on the NY or USA Best Seller list and to have your book the talk of the town? I’m not even sure how I would respond to either but a gal can dream.
Beverly: What was your most embarrassing moment? It can’t be worse than mine… getting caught in the back of an orange Gremlin by the police!
Oh haven’t we all had a dozen or so of those. Probably the worst for me was the time I met Clint Eastwood for the first time back in the 1970’s… I was sitting in a bar in Carmel. Clint and my husband at the time were casual friends. Clint walked up behind me, bend down and whispered in my ear, “I really don’t bite, no matter what the press says, but I do nibble if asked nicely.” All I can say, years later, is I am so glad I didn’t piss my pants because that is what I felt like doing! I was still dumb founded when he took hold of my hand and led me out to the dance floor.
Tamara: If you were a color what would you be and why?
Purple, because it’s always been my favorite. Some say it’s spiritual and in many ways it is.
Beverly: Who has influenced how you perceive love? Why?
Probably my late great grandmother. She was an incredible woman with an incredible loving and generous heart.
Tamara and Beverly: Okay. We are SSLY so I have to ask. Who loves you?
Truthfully and unconditionally, my DH. By the way, he is the same man as the one who walked in on our date and told me he HAD to marry someone else. We were reunited after thirty years and are as happy as we were during our teenage years. We will be officially tying the knot on August 8th in Las Vegas at the http://www.romancenovelconvention put on by none other than the one and only famous cover model Jimmy Thomas.
I also hope I have gained the respect (and love) of my peers, friends and family.
Now for some quick fun questions:
Boxers or briefs? Neither- let it all hang out!
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Tall, dark and handsome or Blond and buff? Tall, dark and handsome (add some mystery to that and I’m in heaven).
Hairy chest or smooth? Either as long as he doesn’t look like a gorilla.
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.
Kinky or Sweet? Kinky
Fast or slow? Can’t I have both and make it last a long, long time.
Public or private? Private
Top or bottom? Again, can’t I have both?
For BDSM authors only
Since two of my books in the series and another title I haven’t mentioned, “Sins of a Man, the Story of a Mafia Hit man” contain BDSM, so I have gone ahead and answered these questions.
How did you get interested in writing about BDSM? I didn’t, blame it on the Muse.
Have you ever been to a BDSM club? Yes
What about that lifestyle interests you? It’s just another lifestyle, like any other.
Would you say you were a Domme/Dom or a submissive? If I had to classify myself, I’d say, 100% switch.
You can Contact Virginia
Blog:http://authorvsnelson.com/blog/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/SekhmetsGuardians
Twitter:https://twitter.com/AuthorVSNelson
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6887735.V_S_Nelson
Blurb
With each passing day, Jessica’s consciousness grows stronger. For twenty years, she was content to remain as she was—trapped inside another. The life she led came to an abrupt end the moment she laid eyes on Raphael. At first, she suspected they were destined to be together–his gentle touch confirmed it. Although he didn’t know it, he ignited waves of a fiery passion that burned deep into her soul. It became brighter every day, giving her the strength she needed. Somehow she would find a way to free herself from her grandmother’s powerful magic.
Raphael doesn’t believe in prophetic dreams or angels and Goddess help him, the woman who enters his dreams nightly has to be one. With an ivory face as soft as velvet which radiates both pure innocence and sexual seduction at the same time, what else could she be, if not an angel?
He might not believe in prophetic dreams or angels but that didn’t stop him for looking for her. Every time he went to town he made sure he searched the crowds of people in the malls and in the night clubs for the platinum haired beauty he’d come to know so intimately.
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