Writer with Sizzle Interview: Emma Lai

Please welcome author Emma Lai! Emma would like to give away an e-book copy of Twice is Not Enough to one lucky reader. Please leave your email in the comments section so she can get a hold of you. Thanks!

About Emma Lai:

Emma likes nothing more than a challenge. First,she tackled the male-dominated field of engineering. Next, she expanded her understanding of the world by studying international relations. Finally, her husband dared her to use her experience and knowledge and devote herself to writing. She accepted his challenge and has been writing ever since.
Writing keeps Emma sane. Her characters demand their stories be told and nag her incessantly until she complies. The characters are very insistent about her remaining faithful to their individual adventures. As a result, Emma writes a range of genres and levels of heat. She never knows what the next set of characters will demand!
Lia: It’s great to have you here, Emma. Tell us about Twice is Not Enough?

 

Emma: After several disastrous engagements, Lady Minerva Peters is an expert at suppressing her own needs. Only in the darkness of night does she give in to her wanton desires with a fantasy lover. 

In the middle of a crowded ballroom, she learns her father is not yet ready to let her fade into spinsterhood. Humiliated, she ducks into a dark alcove only to find out she’s not alone. Her hiding spot is occupied by a captivating stranger. Before she can escape, the two become voyeurs to another couple’s sexual rendezvous. The atmosphere heats up and so does her body, especially with the tempting offers whispered in her ear. 

Will Minerva deny her needs once again or will she embrace the anonymity of their seclusion and finally explore her basic impulses and the startling attraction to the compelling mystery man?

Lia: What a scintillating premise! What physical aspect does your heroine love most about your hero? Details, please!
Emma: Lady Minerva Peters is no stranger to pleasure. A natural curiosity coupled with her strong personality encourages her to explore her own sensuality. However, being the well-behaved Regency lady she is, she has to rely solely on her imagination. She conjures up a fantasy lover, who is, of course, tall, dark and handsome with thick, wavy hair the color of chocolate, and a tanned, toned muscular body from a love of the outdoors.
Imagine Minerva’s surprise when she sees a man resembling her lover speaking with her father in a crowded ballroom. When she finally gets up close and personal with the man, she finds out his eyes are icy blue instead the warm, rich chocolate of her lover’s. She also discovers his lips aren’t full and sensuous like her lover’s, but William quickly convinces her full lips aren’t a prerequisite for pleasure.
So, I’d have to say she loves his lips.
Lia: He sounds delicious. Which scene in your book do you think will leave the reading squirming in their seat?
Emma: Definitely the library scene.
While Minerva’s no stranger to pleasure, aside from farm animals, she’s never seen the dirty deed done, especially at such a close proximity. Imagine all the squirmy feelings a woman who knows about pleasure, has experienced it alone, would experience when confronted with the sights and sounds of a couple in the throes of passion.
It’s a good thing William’s around to help her deal with the sensations overwhelming Minerva’s senses. Then after the spied on couple leave…Well, you have to read the story to find out what happens.
Lia: Love it! How would you describe your heroine?
Emma: Minerva could be a modern woman. She doesn’t really fit any one stereotype. She has a strength of character, but not one that demands she be the center of attention. In fact, she often puts the needs of those she loves above her own, which has led to her current predicament of being single with the reputation of a jilt.
Imagine how flattered I was when a reviewer reinforced my own idea of Minerva. Vicky from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews started the review with “Minerva is strong enough that I wouldn’t be surprised to meet her one day.” She goes on to say “Minerva doesn’t fit any of the usual molds. She is not the chunky, chubby smart one, not is she the beautiful spitfire, nor is she any of the other typical models used when writing. She is just a normal person caught in everyday life.”
You can read the full review here.

Lia: She sounds like someone I’d love to meet. What’s your secret to writing a steamy scene?

Emma: Hold on to your seat. First, I light some scented candles…nothing too overwhelming though. Then, I dim the lights and put on some music. Next, a nice glass of an Australian shiraz and a piece of lavender-infused dark chocolate. Then I slip on a pair of pearl g-string, black lace panties…

Seriously though, I do need music, which depends on the type of love scene—hard rock for a quickie or something hard and fast, love songs for a slow, thorough love-making.
Lia: LOL! You had me going for a second. Where can readers find your books?
Emma: My stories are available at The Wild Rose Press using the following links…
His Ship, Her Fantasy and His Hope, Her Salvation are available at The Wild Rose Press.
Twice is Not Enough is available at The Wild Rose Press and at Amazon.com.
Slave to Innocence from Sybarite Press is available in Kindle format at Amazon.com
Lia: Thanks for being a Writer with Sizzle, Emma! Readers, remember to comment and leave your email address for a chance to win Emma’s Twice is Not Enough.

Interview with mystery author Kate George!


Congrats to June! You are the winner of California Schemin. Please look in the comments section for Kate’s email so she can send the e-book to you.

Please welcome mystery author Kate George! Kate would like to give away an e-book copy of her book so be sure to leave your email in the comments section so she can get a hold of one lucky visitor.

Lia: Hi Kate! It’s great to have you here. Tell us about your latest release.

Kate: First I want to thank you, Lia, for hosting me here. It’s very kind of you to agree to interview me.

My latest release is a mystery called California Schemin’. It’s much tamer than your usual books, in that it’s not erotica, but it’s still a fun read. Here’s a short synopsis:

Bree MacGowan is pretty sure she knows who killed the senator’s wife; she just doesn’t know how to prove it. On top of that, a federal agent has her under wraps in the enemy’s camp. He doesn’t want, or need, Bree’s input. What he wants if for her to stay put. In fact, undercover agent, Richard Hambecker, is the kind of guy that makes Bree MacGowan crazy. He’s an arrogant, pigheaded, can-do guy that thinks he knows everything and doesn’t have to tell anything. And he’s trying to keep her alive. Not that she doesn’t want to be alive, it’s just that she’s perfectly capable of keeping herself alive, thank you.

Being a self-sufficient, problem solving Vermont girl, Bree’s used to taking care of her own problems. Just because some Ex-Army Ranger has gotten her mixed up in murder doesn’t mean she’s obligated to behave herself. Bree figures it’s her job to get as far away from Mr. Hambecker as possible, turn in the murderer and reclaim her boyfriend and her life. But the murderer isn’t going to be easy to catch, her life is in a shambles and the boyfriend isn’t sure he wants to be reclaimed. It’s mystery with a side of laughter.

Lia: Sounds fantastic. How would you describe your heroine?

Kate: Bree MacGowan is attractive but has trouble keeping boyfriends. Her animals tend to come first and chaos has a way of following her. But she is full of Spunk, likes men more than she should and is never short on companionship. When trouble finds her, as it always does, uses her brains and audacity to give trouble a run for its money.

Lia: I like her already. Do you have a common theme in the books you write?

Kate: I don’t have a common theme, per se, but I do write to make people laugh. So my books tend to be on the humorous side, and full of the vicissitudes of life.

Lia: I love a story with humor. Tell me something about your hero. Does he have any scars or tattoos? Where are they? Is there a story behind them?

Kate: Beau Maverick has a tattoo on his forearm; it’s a picture of his high school girlfriend. He tells people it’s a picture of his mother when she was young.

Richard Hambecker is a former Navy Seal. He has the Navy Crest tattooed on his chest and a number of other tattoos on his body that represent successful missions. He won’t say what those missions were.

Lia: Ooh, interesting. I can tell a lot about the characters just from those descriptions. Is there anything special you do to get in the mood before writing a scene?

Kate: I often will play a set of music to put me back in the story if I haven’t written for a while.

Lia: Do you have a favorite writer you’ve read over and over?

Kate: Jennifer Crusie. She’s the queen of snark and one of the best writers I know of.

Lia: Jennifer Crusie is one of my faves, too. So funny. Have you ever lived out any of your scenes?

Kate: Unfortunately trouble has a way of following me too. So whenever Bree is in trouble you can bet that I’ve had that problem too. Not the dead bodies, I’ve been fortunate to avoid those. But tickets, and cars sliding off the road – stuff like that happens to me all the time.

Lia: Well, I’m even more intrigued. Can’t wait to find out just what trouble Bree gets in to. Here’s Kate’s bio and directions to find her books. Hope you’ll all check them out!


Award winning writer, Kate George, is the author of Moonlighting in Vermont and California Schemin’ (due out March 1, 2011). She lives in Vermont with Dogs, kids, and currently, snow. You can reach her at http://www.kategeorge.com/. Her books are available at http://www.mainlymurderpress.com/, www.amazon.com or can be ordered from any bookstore.

Writers With Sizzle: Tessie Bradford

To kick off my celebration of Writers With Sizzle, I have the fabulousy talented Tessie Bradford! Take it away, Tessie!

Thank you so much for having me, Lia!

My first book, Ageless Desires, is available now from Ellora’s Cave. Training Randi, my contribution to the Carnal Reunions anthology from Resplendence Publishing will release on November 10, 2009. Oasis of Pleasure is coming soon from Ellora’s Cave, and Possessing Eleanor is coming soon from Resplendence – it’s been a very busy year for me!

Wow, that’s very exciting! Congratulations! Tell me a little about your sizzling writing. How do your characters enjoy their playtime? Rough? Playful? Tender? All of the above?

Definitely all of the above! When I decided to finally throw my hat into the ring of writing erotic romance, it was with a no holds barred attitude. A bit of pain combined with interesting array of toys never fails to intrigue me. Humor is mandatory. If you can’t laugh and be playful with your partner or partners, then something very important is missing. Tender? Without a doubt! A loving, happily ever after conclusion is the payoff!
I couldn’t agree more. I gotta know – Have your characters ever been caught having sex in public? How did that go?
I loved writing the scene in Ageless Desires where Bryan takes Kate into the supply closet at the bar on the night they have ‘come out’ as a couple to their work friends. Kate is still very nervous about her new relationship and shocked when Bryan brings to life one of her secret fantasies. They weren’t caught, but the possibility of discovery is what makes it so hot for both of them!
An Excerpt From: Ageless Desires
Copyright: TESSIE BRADFORD, 2009
All rights reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

“I promised you that we would explore every one of your desires together, Katie,” he murmured into her ear as his thumb circled her clit. “Lesson number two, fucking in a public place when we could be found out at any second.”

Instantly his hand was gone, replaced by the huge head of his penis. Acting solely on instinct, she grabbed on tightly around his neck and tried to position herself for his entry. She was so hot, so frantic for him to take her hard and fast that she couldn’t seem to get it right. She cried out in frustration, only to have Bryan’s hands go behind her thighs and lift. In one fluid motion, both her feet were off the ground as he surged into her pussy with a vengeance.

“Wrap your legs around me, I’ve got you,” he moaned as he held her against the door and rammed in and out of her pussy.

Kate knew that her juices were flowing freely. She knew that her nails were raking the back of his neck. She knew that their combined grunts and groans were too loud for a public place. She also knew that she didn’t give a damn.

“Harder, Bryan,” she begged as she met him thrust for thrust, “I’m going to come!”

And with that, he followed her direction, pounding her against the door until the first shudders of her release began. At the moment her orgasm crashed over her, Bryan held himself buried so far into her that his heavy balls rubbed her ass. Kate felt him pulse violently inside her body as his lips crashed down over hers, muffling their combined cries of satisfaction.

“Un-fucking-believable,” Bryan exclaimed with gusto while pulling out of her body and carefully lowering her feet to the floor. They stood for just a moment, holding each other.

“Not trying to ruin the mood or anything,” Bryan ran his hands down her sides as he crouched down at her feet, “but I know that your fantasy is the possibility of getting caught, not the reality.”

Whew! Hot stuff! Thanks so much for visiting me today, Tessie! To read the rest of this sizzling story, click here: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7088-ageless-desires.aspx

Find out more about Tessie’s writing at http://www.tessiebradford.com/