Beverly and Tamara: Welcome to SSLY. Thanks so much for joining us today Harper. Let’s get to it!
Tamara: Tell us a little about you. What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?
I have to completely alone. I tend to talk to myself while writing, so it can get quite embarrassing if someone else is around. Oh, and if I am handwriting, I HAVE to have a purple pen. I don’t know why purple. Purple isn’t even my favorite color! Red is. But for me, there is nothing like writing with a purple pen.
Beverly: When did you start to write, who influenced you?
I can’t remember the exact age, but I was young. I became obsessed with writing around the age of eleven. I had a special spiral notebook I would bring to every class and write in instead of pay attention to the teacher. It looked like I was just taking notes, so the teachers never knew.
My great aunt was the one who influenced me. No one else in my family was interested in reading and writing as much as I was. On a vacation trip to Arkansas, I met my Great Aunt Sally for the first time and found out that she was a published writer for poetry. It also helped that her backyard looked like a mystical fairy garden. Very inspirational. She told me that if I had the drive, I could be published. I dedicated my first published book to her because she was absolutely right!
Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?
A hero needs to be real. It doesn’t matter if they are attractive, intelligent, or overly mysterious. I believe anyone can be a hero in a situation. It is determined by our choices. A hero chooses to protect, love, and do the right thing, even if it goes against what they believe or is dangerous. They are determined, struggle internally with their decisions, and can make mistakes. I believe that they need to learn and grow as a character as the story goes on. They may not start the story as a hero, but they will sure end as one.
Beverly: Can you describe your favorite character? And which of your books is he/she in? How do you come up with your characters?
My favorite character… That’s a hard one. So far, I would say it is Lysander Douay. He first appears in His Haven as the main character’s friend, but he gets his own story in the next book. I think I like him the most because he appears indifferent about everything, but inside, he is tortured by it all. He has a really, REALLY messed up past. He is a character that, while creating him, I was like: “Let me choose the most terrible thing to put this man through” and I did. But even after all the heartache, the death, and the torture, Lysander still tries to do the right thing behind the scenes. He wants no recognition for it. He is a silent hero.
Tamara: What are the hardest scenes for you to write? Suspense? Sex? Dialogue? And why?
You won’t believe this, but for me it is fighting scenes, especially with a lot of running. There are only so many times that you can describe a person running. It kills me when a character has to run a long distance, and I have to get their struggle across. Fighting and running scenes always stump me. The second book in the Redemption Series starts with a running scene, and as you can imagine, I’m dragging through writing it.
Beverly: What is your favorite scene in your favorite book?
From a favorite book that I’ve written? In that case I would say the fight scene in His Haven. I don’t want to reveal too much, but I love how the expected—the male hero saving the female—is not what happens. At all. That entire scene is just filled with twists and turns.
If it is from a book I’ve read, I would say the final scene in The Luxe Series by Anna Godbersen. I love how Godbersen didn’t give everyone a typical happy ending. The ending was bittersweet but believable. I like realistic endings.
Tamara: Who would you choose as your “book boyfriend/girlfriend”? From what book? Author?
I love the Victorian and regency eras, so I would have to say it is a tie between Jane Austen’s character, Colonel Brandon, from Sense and Sensibility and Anna Godbersen’s character, Teddy, from The Luxe Series. Both men loved a female character from the background and continued to love her when she loved someone else. They both did everything to make the girl happy, even if that meant letting her love someone else.
Beverly: What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done? Or would like to? What? We are all about the love!
Um… I really hope my mother doesn’t read this.
Beverly: Harper’s Mom – Close your eyes!
I would really like to role play in the bedroom, dress up in sexy outfits, and act out fantasies. I like to be in control of everything outside the bedroom. I have less stress when I am in control, but in the bedroom, I want a man to control me.
Tamara: What are your favorite types of heroines? Do you like the damsel in distress who needs saving or the kick-ass variety? Why?
Heroines need to stick up for themselves. Damsels-in-distress are boring. They just sit there and wait to be saved. I don’t see how that would be appealing to a hero or to a reader. The same rules for a hero apply for a heroine, I think.
Beverly: What was your worst date ever?
I would have to say any time I had to pay for the date. I was in an entire relationship where the guy didn’t work. He would offer to take me out, we would go out to dinner, and then he would be like “Oh, I have no money to pay.” Once I told him I wasn’t going to pay anymore, we just stopped going on dates completely. Not even on my birthday or our anniversary. It was terrible. Needless to say, I ended that one (should have ended it sooner though).
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)
My dog, Sammy, would be one. He makes me happy when I’m stressed out or sad, and I being stranded may make me both of those. A pen and paper (I count that as one), and a Dunkin Donuts. Can I do that? A fully equipped Dunkin Donuts with workers and all. I LOVE their iced coffee and iced lattes. I am addicted, and I am completely okay with it. These things would make that island heaven!
Beverly: LOL! What is your “guilty pleasure”?
Since I already admitted my addiction to coffee, my mind goes right to food, not sex. I love the Italian dish, chicken francaise. Love, love, LOVE it! Whenever I go out to dinner, I order the same thing if they have it. And I never get tired of it.
Tamara: What dream or goals have you yet to realize?
I would like to have my one historical romance work in progress published to one of the big name publishing companies—Harpercollins or Randomhouse. I have completed three of four books. I am trying to get my name out there first. Then maybe, one day, my books can be in book stores everywhere!
Beverly: What was your most embarrassing moment or the craziest thing you’ve done? C’mon dish!
Cliff diving off rocks three stories high into a rapid filled river. I love white water rafting, and on one of my trips, my friends and I beached the raft, climbed up on the steep cliff, and jumped off. It was fun! Thank god the river was deep enough!
Tamara: If you were a color what would you be and why?
Red. My favorite color! Not only does it look good on me, but I like to describe myself as fiery and passionate. Red has two sides to the color. If I like you, I will give you all of my love and friendship. If you get me mad, watch out.
Beverly: How do you know you’re in love?
If you can’t stop thinking about the person. If you’ll do anything to make them smile or to make things easier for them. If you dedicate yourself completely to them, heart and soul.
Tamara and Beverly: Okay. We are SSLY so we have to ask. Who loves you?
I hope my boyfriend of three years does! And my family. It is hard to say who loves me. I hope more people than I can think of!
Now for some quick fun questions:
Boxers or briefs?
Boxers. Or boxer briefs 😉
Coffee or Tea?
COFFEE!
Tall, dark and handsome or Blond and buff?
Tall, dark and handsome
Hairy chest or smooth?
Both!
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate
Kinky or Sweet?
Kinky. Hell yeah!
Fast or slow?
Fast
Public or private?
Private
Top or bottom?
Bottom
Maybe we should have had your mom not read the last either! 😉 Thank you for visiting with us Harper. Now, let’s check out His Haven!
His Haven
Blurb:
Handsome and diligent Avrum Brenin should have died in the fire with his mother and older brother. Instead, he is saved by the powerful and wealthy immortal, Lord Henri. Placed under his care, Avrum shares in his world of endless splendors. He must do one thing in return—look after Haven, a human and Lord Henri’s newest rescue.
The simple task proves to be more complicated than it seems. Haven is disobedient, ungrateful, and hostile, yet she is beautiful and mystifying at the same time. One night, when Avrum stumbles across Haven barely clothed and bound at the wrists, the world he has trusted in unravels before his eyes. He soon discovers that no one—from Lord Henri and Haven to his closest friend, Lysander—are who they seem to be.
Now faced with the truth, will Avrum choose to surrender to the man who rescued him, or will he have the courage to save the woman who captivated him?
Buy Links:
Author Bio:
Harper A. Brooks lives in a small town on the New Jersey shore and is currently a student on her way to a degree in English and in Secondary Education. Even as a young child, she has always surrounded herself with good literature, so it is no surprise that her love for reading and writing has expanded into all parts of her life. She is a dedicated softball coach, student, teacher, and friend who enjoys writing about fantastical worlds when she believes real life gets too mundane.
Author Links:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/harperabrooks
Blog: http://www.harperabrooks.wordpress.com
Webiste: http://harperabrooks.wix.com/harperabrooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18241661-his-haven
Check out the Review of His Haven at 4:00pm today!
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