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?
Absolutely. Thank you Beverly and Tamara for having me. This is so much fun! I’m a writer, mom, wife, chauffeur and friend. I’ve been writing for more than eight years and published for more than six. I love everything blue—including my hair—and write what’s super hot. Love has no boundaries and neither does my writing.
Tamara: What do you HAVE to have when you are writing?
My notebook! I’m one of those writers who writes part of my story out in long hand. If I don’t have my notebook with me, I feel like I’m missing something. I usually have to have a quirky pen with me, too. Right now it’s my Titanic pen. It’s got the White Star Line insignia on it. Before that was a Captain America pen and one from Richard Childress winery. I’m goofy for quirky pens.
Beverly: When did you start to write, who influenced you?
A Harlequin book. I read one and wasn’t sure I liked the ending so I wrote my own story with the characters in my head. They created a new ending and I liked it much better. Believe it or not, I wasn’t a big romance reader prior to writing my first book. It took working for a review site to really sink my teeth into romance.
Tamara: What do you think are the qualities that make up a “hero”?
He’s got to be strong, tough and not above giving in to the heroine. Plus he needs to have dark hair. I don’t know why, but I’ve got a thing for guys with dark hair. (and I think I channeled an old Bonnie Tyler song. *G*)
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 in the Zero series is probably Cary. He’s a former rock star. He’s got a heart of gold but he’s also jaded. I like characters that are flawed and he’s definitely not perfect or blemish-free. He’s featured in Catching Cary, book three of the series. I came up with him from watching some of my friends who are in a band. They clowned and rocked on the stage and I thought, gee, I’d like a character like them. Cary, then, showed up.
Tamara: What are the hardest scenes for you to write? Suspense? Sex? Dialogue? And why?
The suspense scenes are the hardest because my brain moves faster than my hands do when I’m writing. I can keep up with myself. I have to go back four and five times, thinking through every step of the scene to make it as vivid as I see it in my head. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Beverly: What is your favorite scene in your favorite book?
The first time Mike and Leon meet in Mixing Mike, is one of my favorites. I love it because these are two polar opposite men who have a mutual love of music. They fumble through the introductions and the initial overwhelming interest they have in each other. They don’t have a smooth, easy trip and that’s important. I want people to be able to connect with my characters the way I have.
Tamara: Who would you choose as your “book boyfriend/girlfriend”? From what book? Author?
Sean from KA Mitchell’s Regularly Scheduled Life. I love him because he’s real. He’s a teacher and he was in a very suspense-filled situation. I could relate to him.
Beverly: What is the kinkiest thing you’ve ever done? Or would like to? What? We are all about the love!
Exhibitionism. I did a window dance topless. I won’t say where because I don’t want to cause anyone trouble, but yeah, I did it. It was fun!
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 like the self-assured woman who is eager to do what she needs for herself, but isn’t afraid to ask for help. I give credit to people who are willing to ask for help when they need it.
Beverly: What was your worst date ever?
The gent—although I hesitate to call him that—took me back to his dorm. Okay, fine. He stepped out of the bathroom, buck naked and said, do you want to lick it? Um…no. Needless to say the date didn’t last much longer. I left right then and there and didn’t see him again.
Tamara: LOL! 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 laptop and an endless battery supply. Gotta have a way to write. My notebook and my pens. I’m a strange girl.
Beverly: What is your “guilty pleasure”?
Cadbury Milk Chocolate eggs. Not the crème ones. These are like M&Ms on steroids. Yum! It’s a good thing Easter – when they come out – only comes around once a year.
Tamara: What dream or goals have you yet to realize?
I want to make it onto the Amazon bestseller list. I’d love to hit the NYT bestseller list, too.
Beverly: What was your most embarrassing moment or the craziest thing you’ve done? C’mon dish!
Hmm. I have very little shame. Let me think. I’ve stood on chairs and shouted for people. I’ve turned down overly pushy cover art models. The cover model story is funny. I was at the Lori Foster Reader and Author Get Together and signing swag. There was a cover model there and he kept pushing people to give them his autograph. He was an okay looking guy, but nothing great. One of the other authors had been flirting with him and for some reason asked me to give him a note. I did. He smiled, read the note and asked me if I wanted his autograph or a picture with him. I smiled and said nope. He looked shocked and said, are you sure? I said, yep. You’re not my type. I trotted away and delivered the return note. The rest of the weekend he would give me this odd “I can’t believe you turned me down” look. I don’t think he’d ever heard the word no before.
Tamara: If you were a color what would you be and why?
BLUE! I love all things blue. I’m not sure why I’d be blue other than I like it that much.
Beverly: How do you know you’re in love?
I felt the flutters in my tummy and realized I spent more time thinking about the person than I did anything else. I believe I also defaced a few notebooks in the name of love, too.
Tamara and Beverly: Okay. We are SSLY so we have to ask. Who loves you?
DH! And tot. And my dog, Darlington. She’s a beagle-basset and has separation anxiety when I leave her alone. She definitely loves me.
Now for some quick fun questions:
Boxers or briefs? Boxers – gotta give ‘em room to move
Coffee or Tea? Neither. I never acquired the taste for either.
Tall, dark and handsome or Blond and buff? Tall, dark and handsome AND buff.
Hairy chest or smooth? Smooth. Hair squicks me out.
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.
Kinky or Sweet? Sweetly kinky. Hee hee.
Fast or slow? Fast!
Public or private? Both.
Top or bottom? Bottom.
Saving Sam:
Give up his dream or go for exactly what he wants?
Sam Grau never planned on seeing his former best friend again. One-night stands worked well enough to ease his heartache and loneliness…except he wanted more. He’s got a choice—chase his dreams or the man he loves. He can’t have both.
Josh Thomas never gave up on finding the one man who understood him down to the cellular level. He walked away once, but not a second time. He’s willing to sacrifice his heart and pride to show his quirky friends the men they’ve both become, all in the name of saving Sam.
Mixing Mike:
For these two men, this record could be the soundtrack to their lives – if they’re willing to mix things up.
Meticulous and organized, air traffic controller Mike Larson has every reason to be wary of mixing his passion for music with love. When Mike’s hunt to complete his Top 100 of the ‘80s list brings him to Vintage Vinyl, a shock of guyliner, dyed hair and flamboyant personality rocks his orderly world. Can he risk a step outside his comfort zone for a chance with Leon?
Flamboyant Leon Sanders uses attitude to keep others at a distance, because he doesn’t believe in love or a lasting relationship. When he turns up the charm at his music store Vintage Vinyl, he makes the best sales. Something about the quiet man beckons Leon to give love a chance, but does he dare mix it up with Mike?
COMING FEBRUARY 5!!!
Catching Cary
Available February 5 at Megan Slayer Author Page at Decadent Publishing
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