Please welcome romance author (and a good friend of mine) Lori Corsentino! Lori is giving away an eBook copy of Destiny’s Awakening–plus some cool swag–to a commenter, so be sure to leave an email address…
About Lori:
Lori’s love of reading has transcended to include penning her own tales of romance. She is experimenting with writing in several different genres, including paranormal – a definite favorite. “There is just so much you can do when you step outside the known world,” she explains “and creating a paranormal story allows you to take yourself and your readers anywhere your imagination wants to go!”
Destiny’s Awakening is Lori’s first foray into a planned paranormal romance trilogy. Spanning both the mortal and Fey worlds, be looking for the second novel to continue the legacy with Crown Princess Annora Ambrasia de Sha’mi’liari and Sebastian “Bas” St. James in early 2013 from 5 Prince Publishing.
Lia: Great to have you here! Tell us about your books.
Lori: My current series, “Tales of the Fey” is a planned trilogy centering on three siblings in a Fey royal family. The first book is titled, “Destiny’s Awakening” and focuses on the brother, Alexander. The story itself is a bit of a twist on an old fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. A modern woman, Evelyn, or Evie as she prefers to be called, finds herself thrust into another world. She’s totally out of her element, especially when she finds out she’s the one who has to do the kissing to wake up a handsome Prince. It’s a definite favorite of mine.
Lia: Love that twist! What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?
Lori: The romance! I may not seem it, but I am a true romantic at heart. There’s nothing quite like penning a good story woven around an amazingly hot hero and a sassy heroine. You just get to write down all the amazing (and not so amazing) things that come into your head as you tell their tale.
Also – you get to read a romance novel as you write it. Unfortunately, by the time it’s done, you’ve likely read it, oh a dozen times in less than 2 months, so you’re pretty sick of it. Still, nothing quite beats reading – and enjoying – a novel you’ve written.
Lia: What physical aspect does your heroine love most about your hero? Details, please!
Lori: His lips! Seriously, hands down she loves his lips. They’re perfectly shaped, with the lower lobe a bit fuller than the top. The first time she looked at them she was hooked. She finds reasons to kiss him. Also, he’s got a cute little dimple just off to the side of his mouth, and she obsesses about it.
Lia: I’m picturing the lips. Yeah, good stuff. What else does your heroine love? What does she like least?
Lori: She likes his honor, strength, and integrity. She loves his broad shoulders, long legs, full, kissable lips, and the fact that he is large…everywhere.
What she likes least is his imperious nature, especially when he’s not getting his way. She finds ways to work around that, though. She’s nothing is not resourceful!
Lia: Have you ever cried or laughed out loud while writing a scene?
Lori: Absolutely! For example in my latest novel, Destiny’s Awakening, my heroine Evie is quite sassy. I’ve laughed out loud at some of her one-liners and antics.
I’ve also cried when I wrote my short novel, Fire Season. My hero was describing how he recently was injured in a blaze. His story really hit close to home. My brother is an active firefighter – a Lieutenant in a Denver metro area fire department. Writing the scene was pretty intense and really affected me personally.
I was focusing so much that I could see it – every bit of it – clearly. I really tapped into the emotion of the scene, and the next thing I knew, tears were rolling down my face. It’s crazy to have to stop to dab your eyes and blow your nose 5 times during a writing session!
Lia: How would you describe the world you’ve built?
Lori: The world I’ve built for my “Tales of the Fey” series is a combination of modern and medieval. The mortal world, which is where we live, is modern – very like the world we currently live in. It’s based on science, so the rules of physics, etc. apply.
The world of the Fey, which also inhabits our world, but on a different plane, is very different. Their world is ruled by magic, so normal rules do not apply. Anything that is no longer in your control can be taken over by a magical force and neutralized. There are no guns, missiles, not even a bow and arrow.
Instead, conflicts that escalate to warfare are dealt with as they were in the middle ages – with hand to hand combat. Having a world based on magic also has many advantages, including a machine that transports you from one place to another. Talk about an easy commute!
Lia: Where can readers find your books?
I’d love to offer a free eBook copy of Destiny’s Awakening plus some other fun swag to one of your commenting readers!
Lia: Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Lori!
Lori: Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Lia! I’m a huge fan of yours, so it’s real pleasure to spend some time with you.
Excerpt:
She had come.
He savored every stroke of the soft lips and relished in the feel of the minty moistness bathing his skin. Unable to open his eyes or move after his long sleep, he was at her mercy. Her lips barely touched his. The sweetness of the pressure when she gently rubbed her mouth against his was hot enough to stir his long dormant blood.
Soon, she devoured his mouth and encouraged his response. She caressed him with enthusiasm, feasting, nipping at his bottom lip then soothing it. He could feel the life returning to his body, running along his skin and into his limbs. The sensations she invoked were akin to ecstasy.
His hands twitched, itching to hold her. His lips softened under hers, then grew firm when he kissed her in return. She drew back. Was she surprised by his answering caress? He needed her to continue. She could not draw away from him. Not yet. With every bit of his returning strength, he raised his arm and cupped his hand over the back of her head. He held her to him and encouraged her to continue. He was desperate to capture the elusive lips, deepen The Kiss, and bring forth The Quickening. With her mouth to his in firm contact, his strength returned in degrees. He was gaining power and energy, fueled by her closeness and the warm moistness of her lips.
Soon he would be himself. His body stirred. His heart pumped in his chest, coursing blood to return warmth to his fingers and toes. His cock rose, hard and fast to butt against the mail and cup used for its protection.
Good. She was arousing him. He needed to be able to enact The Joining and bring forth The Bond shortly after The Kiss. Their success would complete The Awakening.
She was near. He inhaled her unique perfume with every breath. He was captivated by the faint scent of spring flowers and sweet spices. There was also something else, something elusive all her own.
She was his. She was The One.
*Winner will be announced by Friday, 6/29!
Lia Slater 