Welcome Jessica. Thank you for joining us today.
Q: How long have you been a writer? What was your first published work?
A: Thank you so much, Roxanne, for having me here today. I wish I could say that I've been writing since the day I could hold a pencil, but alas, I didn't discover my passion for the craft until much later in life. So I've been writing for only about three years. My first published work was Desire to Die For, book one the Warriors of the Enclave series, and I'm thrilled to be able to say that DTDF was nominated this year by The Romance Studio for a CAPA. What an honor it was to have my debut title nominated amongst such amazing talented authors.
Q: Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created? One that is especially close to your heart?
A: Oooh, now that would be Marguerite Devonshire. I've had a blast with her. She is the villainess that makes Kenric's world a living hell in book one, and I can tell you a good time was had creating her scenes and getting the opportunity to be just as nasty and evil as I wanted. lol
Q: Do you have a “day job” or do you write full time?
A: I do have another day job. I work as a managing editor for an online publisher of erotic and sensual romance. As some have called it, I'm one of those hybrid writer/editors.
Q: Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
A: I really need to make myself stick to a set schedule for writing. lol It's a wonderful idea. That is my goal for this year, though. I want to become a bit more disciplined with my time.
Q: Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow? Do you have a ritual that you do before sitting down to write?
A: I'm not the typical crack-of-dawn writer. Ugh. Never have been, and can't imagine I'll ever be a morning person. My best time to write is in the evening after my son is bed, and the house is quiet. I like to get out my tray for my mini laptop, close the bedroom door, and climb up in the bed to write. I'm one of those writers who really has to feel tucked away in a quiet spot so that I can slip inside my character's head to tell their story. Oh yeah, and I have to have my Starbucks fix. And chocolate. Must have a little taste of chocolate.
Q: What is the strangest source of inspiration you’ve had? Maybe something weird that ended up in one of your books or short stories.
A: Well… I went to a Fetish event earlier in the year (for research purposes, of course), and let's just say that I witnessed a demonstration that was quite inspiring, and there's a high probability something similar will appear in my current work in progress. *wink*
Q: Could you tell us about your current work in progress?
A: I'm currently hard at work on book three of the Enclave series. I can't divulge anything about the project as of yet, since by discussing who the characters are in the next installment would sort of be a spoiler for book two. But stay tuned…
Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.
A: Probably that for most of my life, I believed I didn't have a creative bone in my body. If it wasn't for my husband's encouragement I might have never sat down at the computer and tried to develop the story in my head.
Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?
A: It would have to be for them to believe in themselves. My writing career would have gotten a much earlier start if I had only believed in myself. Believed that somewhere deep inside there existed a creative well that was just waiting to emerge. So my advice to any new writer is to believe in your talent and never give up. Fight for your dream.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or a favorite author?
A: Oh that I do. I adore Karen Marie Moning's work, and my favorite book would have to be The Dark Highlander. *sigh* I love Dageus. lol The love scene between the hero and heroine in that book is my all time favorite. Yum!
Q: What are some of your hobbies besides writing?
A: Hmmm… I know it's to be expected and not very original, but I'd have to say reading. I'm not a crafty person, nor am I a very good cook. Just ask my husband. lol And I don't have the patience to become very good at video games. But I do enjoy a good movie, rock music, and date night with my husband.
Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release. Feel free to share an excerpt.
A: Dark Desires at Midnight is book two in my Warriors of the Enclave series. Release date March 30, 2010 at Loose Id.
Arran MacLain is a vampire on a suicide mission, driven to kill his former partner who betrayed him and the Enclave they served. But two things stand in his way: Gabrielle, the human female who holds his heart, and the past that won’t let him go. If only death was enough to cleanse his soul.
Gabrielle Steven’s sister is missing. Her hunt for clues brings her face to face with the one vampire she can’t forget. Their missions combine and thrust them into the heart of evil. Will their passion be enough to overcome the pain from their past, or will their dark desires destroy them both?
Excerpt Rated R:
Arran rolled his Ninja into the parking lot beside Gabrielle’s car and killed the engine. She’d taken the newsflash about Markus and Marguerite pretty much like he’d expected. She’d mumbled an oath of determination right before she’d kicked him out of the car. Gabrielle wasn’t a member of the Enclave in name only. It didn’t matter that she didn’t work patrol. Gabrielle was as much a warrior as any of the males. Life hadn’t dealt her any favors. And she wasn’t one to lie down and let it bulldoze over her. She stood and fought for every inch of ground gained.
He waited for her to get out of the car, then removed his helmet.
“You didn’t need to follow me home,” she said over her shoulder, heading for the front door of her sister’s townhouse. He was surprised when she’d led him here instead of a hotel. The place must have belonged to her sister. He palmed his keys, slid off his bike, and shoved the keys in his pocket.
“I wasn’t going to let you leave alone after the info I just dumped on you,” he said as he came up behind her while she unlocked the door. “I wanted to make sure you got home safe. And I wanted to be sure you actually went home.”
“Oh my God, you can be such an ass sometimes.” Her back was to him, but Arran could almost hear her eyes roll with that statement. She was right. He was an ass. But while he was here, he would be taking care of hers.
Gabrielle flipped on the lights, and he followed her inside. The heels of her boots clicked on the hardwood floor of the foyer, echoing in the open stairwell of the two-story apartment. She couldn’t have been in town long, but the air in the place already carried her scent. He pulled in another slow, deep breath through his nostrils. His heart rate quickened. Honeysuckle. Arran wanted to smile but repressed the grin. Ironic that such a delicate and sweet fragrance emanated from the hellcat with whom he’d just been reacquainted.
Her keys clinked as she dropped them in a bowl on a table near the staircase. Arran’s gaze devoured her provocative profile. He’d never seen her dressed like she was tonight. Living with five male vampires within the Enclave walls, she usually dressed a bit more conservatively. Not matronly, but definitely not this revealing. A short black leather skirt barely covered the lush curves of her ass, and a shirt that couldn’t have been more than a decked-out bra did its best to contain her full breasts. Shiny black leather boots wrapped her legs, highlighting the toned sweep of her calves. This couldn’t happen again. Arran slowly shook his head. He would end up killing someone if she dressed like this again.
She turned her head to the side, facing him. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.” She shifted and faced him head-on. “You’ve been gone a long time, Arran. Things have changed. I’ve changed.”
“Maybe so. But you’re not taking on that colony alone. I can’t believe Logan let you come here without him.” Gabrielle turned her back, rearranging her purse on the table. Shit. He recognized the body language. “You didn’t tell him, did you?” Arran closed the distance between them.
“No. I didn’t need him here.” Gabrielle looked up, fierce determination written on her face. “I can handle this. Alex needed me. And I’m going to be there for her.” She shifted to face him again, leaning her hip against the table. “I’m smart enough to know if -- and when -- I need help.”
Arran closed in, crowding her personal space, wanting a reaction. Aching for it, actually. Gabrielle straightened and took one step back but stopped and lifted her chin, refusing to cower and give him the reaction he itched for. She caught on quick.
“You think you have it all handled, lass?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“You got it all under control?”
The amber color of her irises had grown near molten. He allowed a small smile to pull at the corner of his mouth, loving the way she got all hot and bothered when he pushed her.
“Yes. I do.” The words had barely left her lips when she attacked, one leg coming out to catch the back of his ankle. Caught off guard, he stumbled.
Before he could regain his balance, she had his wrist locked in her grip. Swinging his arm up, she spun underneath, twisted, and wrenched his arm up the middle of his back, then shoved him face-first into the dank-smelling wall.
Well, damn. Not bad. “You’ve been training,” he mumbled against the Sheetrock.
“A little.” She sounded quite proud of herself. She was good. He’d give her that. But her heavy breathing told him it was all she could do to contain him, and he hadn’t even come close to tapping into his full abilities. She’d caught him by surprise, but she was human, a woman, and no match for a mature vampire. Especially in a multiple attack.
With a burst of speed, Arran pushed back, forcing Gabrielle to release him instead of falling on her rear. He whirled, catching her before she hit the floor. In less than a second, their positions reversed. Except this time, he’d pinned her back against the wall, her hands imprisoned by his, over her head.
The position pushed her full breasts up, almost spilling them from her top. Nice. He lifted his gaze, prepared for a hard glare. If her eyes were molten earlier, they were near boiling now. He couldn’t have stopped the next words that spilled from his lips if he’d tried.
“I win.”
“You ass!” She squirmed and bucked against him like a feral cat. Instead of gaining her freedom, though, each maneuver jammed her tighter into his hold. Her every inhale shoved her breasts into his chest. Heat radiated off her body, threatening to scramble his brain.
Before he knew he’d even moved, his lips hovered over hers. What made him stop, God only knew. Maybe it was the way she’d suddenly grown still? Or maybe it was the moment she’d parted her lips, releasing warm, peppermint-scented bursts of air that seduced his mind. So damn enticing. All he had to do was lean in one more inch, and he’d --
Fire shot up his arm. “Son of a…” Releasing her, he jumped back and flung his gaze to the offending limb. Blood.
A thin line of crimson blossomed along the outside of his bicep. She’d played him. Purposefully distracted him, so she could pull her hand free and reach for a blade that must have been hidden under her skirt and against her thigh. The little minx.
He swiveled his head back in Gabrielle’s direction. Air punched from his lungs. Christ. Blood surged to his cock. The overwhelming urge to stroke the rock-hard length at the sight of her was short-circuiting his brain. Gabrielle stood, one boot in front of the other, palming a short dagger.
She was ready to fight.
He was ready to fuck.
Arran rocked from one foot to the other, searching within for the strength not to take what was his. Mentally, he shook his head. No. She’s not yours, asshole. But damn if his cock had the sense to listen.
“I know you weren’t about to kiss me, warrior. Were you?” She raised a delicate brow and tilted her head. “Because last I heard, my kiss was ‘forgettable.’”
Ouch. He’d had a feeling if he ever saw her again, that asinine comment would come back to bite him in the ass.
“Give me the blade, Gabrielle.”
“This?” She twirled the dagger, then palmed the hilt and held it up for display. “You want it?” A devious smile lit her face. With her other hand, she beckoned him with her fingers. “Come and take it.”
Bad, bad challenge, kitten. A tremor started in his gut and worked its way up, until it was a buzz inside his brain. Every cell in his body wanted to take.
Mark.
Claim.
A gasp of air in his ear was the only indicator that he’d grabbed her. He didn’t remember the trip. Arran lifted her feet from the floor, whirled, and gently laid her on the stairs, pressing his hips, his chest into hers. He had to get his body next to hers. Everywhere. The dagger fell from her hand, rolling and thumping its way down the steps, each tumble a hollow thud.
The loud percussions bypassed the noise inside his head and brought him to a dead halt. He lay with his hips between her legs, his groin pressed to hers. His mouth suspended above her lips. He dropped his gaze to her mouth. God, how he loved the delicate line of her lips, a perfect bow. So full and pink. Her tongue darted out and moistened the lower one. He couldn’t stifle the groan that rolled from the back of his throat.
He dragged his gaze back to her eyes. Passion mixed with doubt and fear stared back at him. “I’m sorry.” The whispered words tumbled from his heart.
She blinked, then swallowed. “Why?”
“For hurting you.”
Her eyelids shuttered, and her breath hitched. Did she believe him? Was an apology enough for what he’d done? He’d walked away, leaving her to think he’d never wanted her, when the truth was, he wanted her more than his next breath. Sorry sounded so insignificant, compared to how much damage he’d done to her heart.
“Gabrielle.” Long, dark eyelashes lifted. Beautiful, near gold eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Please don’t cry. If only he had the power to bring her tears of joy. Instead of the pain he was so damn good at. He wanted to kiss the hurt away. “Remind me.”
Her lips parted first in silence before she asked, “Of what?”
Arran released her arms and cupped her face with his palms. He caressed her lips with his gaze before lifting it back to hers. “What I walked away from.”
Thanks so much, Fang-tastic Books for allowing me to stop by. It was so much fun!
To one lucky reader I'm offering an ecopy of Dark Desires at Midnight plus a $10 e-gift card to Amazon to one randomly picked commenter.
To enter just leave a comment on this post with your email contact info.
Visit Jessica at www.jessicaleenovels.com
Check out Dark Desires at Midnight at Loose ID
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