Exiled alien prince Jarren Graf has never encountered a scent like Lissa Reyes'.Abducted from Earth by Jarren, high-achiever Lissa Reyes discovered something hunted her scent. Both their scents, that is. As the key to reclaiming his throne and ending generations of galactic subjugation, Lissa knew Jarren could not let her go. But as a prince from a world built on olfactory power, Jarren's passions flared with her close. Every whiff grew their desire. Every touch increased their hunger for each other. By fate or chance, their love would change his civilization.
Describe your writing style.
I have been told I am very good at world-building. I have to watch out for writing too much introspection, and I love good action. I “pants” my stories then go back (with my editors) and sculpt the stories into the industry standard. I tend to stay in third person limited view (yes, even for my YA fantasy). I hope to write like a mix of Octavia Butler and Janelle Taylor- go figure.
What makes a good story?
Good characters and good worlds. Good Characters in well-constructed worlds will encounter organic conflict which will move them to evolve and mature. That’s a great story, no matter where it is.
What are they currently reading?
I am currently reading J.R. Geraci’s Creator of the Stones.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I ask a question provoked by something I experienced in the day. A “what if” kind of question. My answer is the story. I may write the chapters with feedback like with TDTS or I may write the and revise the entirety then hand it to my editor to tear it apart so I can again revise and improve.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Aspiring authors tend to not plan their career in advance. Just finishing the book is a lot. After, they find they don’t have in place the business/promotional aspect of authoring required to build your fan base and career. That happened to me despite my access to established authors and others in the industry. It just didn’t occur to me to ask about the profession. Learn from my mistakes! Also, be prepared for rejection if you go traditional or be prepared for the price tag is you do self-published. Editors are costly but necessary when sculpting a publishable story.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
I have suffered from soggy middles. I’m not proud of it, but acknowledging it allows me to continue improving my postproduction outlining to identify that spot. Read Plot Perfect. It should be the bible for all aspiring career authors.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I think you must do both. You must write what inspires you- what story brings you to life. And you must understand that authorship is a business. Your customers have rigid expectations. But those expectations are not often bound by what the industry says it is. And it is cyclical. A story about werewolves and their vampire partners may not work right now. Let it sit for three years and the audience may have returned. Every story I write (sans one) can fit both the readers expectation and my own bent of story-telling at any given moment in time.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Build your author infrastructure early and continue to write what you love. And start a podcast. It feels too cumbersome to do it now.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
Making sure not to second guess myself. My characters of different genders are that way because that is how they sound in my head. I have a non-gender binary character in TDTS who just didn’t feel authentic until I realized I was trying to give them a male gender. Then it slipped into place. I have been blessed to be surrounded by men, women and trans people for a while so I don’t so much see their characteristics as understand a little of the struggles we all have because we are who we are in all those multi-dimensions. Those struggles, those histories are what shape us- all of us, even the monolith of man. If you start with the challenges a group faces for being themselves, any gender should be able to be written authentically. It’s when you devalue the experiences of a group that the writing becomes inauthentic, clichéd or stale.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
First draft can take four to six months if I am writing a full novel of at least 80k. the novellas will take three months.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Yes. To fix writer’s block, refer to the book, Plot Perfect, which can help you deconstruct your story and lift up the parts that invigorated you at the inception of the idea. It’s a real thing that I think happens if my pantser brain hasn’t figured out yet how to connect the dots from the beginning of the book to the end. I haven’t had writer’s block that stymied story ideas however.
“And why should I suffer alone?” He frowned. The question burned in his mind. A few moments with the Subduer off couldn’t feasibly produce enough traceable hormones to endanger anyone. Jarren needed to know she wasn’t a possible mate. Life-mate, true life-mate, no mate at all. It had to be the not knowing that was driving him insane. Jarren pressed his thumb over the Subduer, felt for the little metal catch, and pushed in. Then he stood still a moment. He didn’t feel any different, but something had changed.
He needed to act quickly. Tracing such a small release of his scent from off-planet was impossible, but there was no telling when the mercs would locate Terra and send someone earthside.
Jarren walked out of the bathroom. Melissa stood waiting, itinerary in hand, her gaze expectant. Reaching out, he approached. “I’ll take a look at those now.” His voice shook with controlled tension.
“Yes, sir.” Melissa stepped forward then stopped. The papers in her hand fell with a rustle to the floor as her eyes widened. Her mouth went slack.
Jarren frowned, worried. He hadn’t expected such an abrupt response. “Melissa?”
As if entranced, Melissa walked toward him, her hands reaching until her fingers brushed across his heated skin then under his T-shirt. Jarren shuddered. His body stiffened in anticipation. Her hands blazed a trail up and over his shoulders as she leaned her body into him, coaxing a gasp of want from his suddenly parched mouth. Her breasts’ warm firmness connected with his chest through the material of their clothes, heating the air around them.
Jarren groaned. She might not have been wearing anything at all. He couldn’t resist. He was starving for her. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer as his body tingled with need. Jarren grew ready. One skirted leg brushed against him in invitation as all logical thought vanished.
He claimed her mouth, hungry, desperate. The earthy undertones of her natural fragrance, that Egyptian musk with such sweet papaya, swirled around him. His hand came up, weaving into the falling tendrils of her hair to hold her to him. His lips suckled hers, his tongue darting to taste her mouth’s nectar, stroking the warm insides, lapping at her sweet moistness.
She moaned, her breathing erratic, her mouth searing his lips, tasting, teasing.
She pulled his head closer as her tongue danced with his. She caressed the warm walls of his mouth then drew away, letting the air cool the lingering impression of her lips against his. Her eyes blazed. She wanted him. He could smell her desire; potent, heady. It surrounded him. It taunted him.
A breath of Egyptian musk rose like an embracing cloud to envelop them both. His body vibrated with primitive need as realization struck. On a world light-years away from home, he’d discovered a possible life-mate. Jarren let go all control, reclaiming her mouth ardently. He pulled her against him, devouring her soft lips to dominate her. His nose filled with the fragrance of blooming papaya. His body craved to possess her, fill her, bind her to him forever.
She belonged to him and he to her. He wanted to thrust them both over the brink of desire. Pulling away, he placed demanding kisses along the curve of her jaw until he found the sensitive skin of her earlobe and drew the honey-sweet softness into his mouth. She moaned low and pressed closer, her warm breath caressing his skin. In a musk-induced daze, his eyes were drawn to the fullness of her breasts, the arching curve of her hips. He tightened in response, his need rocketing to the hard shaft between his legs.
Her mixture of scents intensified, calling to him, overwhelming him. He ached. His lips moved lower, tracing passion-heated kisses over the curve of her collarbone to her shoulder. Her fingers dug into his skin as her head fell back, the tresses of her hair clinging sensuously to his forearms. She gasped.
He buried his head in the slope of her neck as he was curtained behind the silky locks of her hair. Gods, how he loved her hair. Lifting her up, he inhaled her perfection, nuzzling his face against her full breasts. His blood pulsed as he absorbed the smell of her sweetness. She did belong to him. He belonged to her. His skin dewed with fever, and instinct took over. He would claim her now.
He’d just reached to push aside her blouse’s collar when her body stiffened.
Fighting his instinct to mate, Jarren loosened his grip until her feet touched the floor; then he pulled away, his breathing jagged. He struggled to create a thought. Her aroma still tugged at him, drew him like the sweetest nectar. But he was endangering his world and her by revealing his scent. And he could sense she’d refused him. He would never force himself on a woman, not even in the primitive throes of their intermingling essences.
A new awareness crashed into him. The depth of his desire had forced his sanity to temporarily flee. Comprehension slowly re-emerged, and with it, his awareness that the ramifications of his actions could be catastrophic. He looked down at her horrified expression even as the last tendrils of her hair loosed themselves from the static charge between their bodies. discarded itinerary on the floor.
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Romance Novels Giveaways, where have you been all my life????
ReplyDeleteLOL because who DOESN'T love romance and giveaways?!?!?! Thank you for touring with Silver Dagger!!! I really enjoyed reading your QandA!!!!
DeleteThanks Lauren! It has been fun talking about my stories. It's amazing how much we push to the background of our minds until folks ask us questions. And talking to readers, I've discovered, is my bread and butter. It is a privilege to be allowed to interrupt people's lives for a quick chat! Each minute is precious and I appreciate the minutes readers give me.
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita- I think so. It's Andor meets The Lucky One. Andor, by the way, is fantastic! We only watched the first of the last three episodes last night. I love my intergalactic intrigues!
DeleteMany thanks to the folks who dropped by on this leg of our book tour. I appreciate the interest and support. G'night!
ReplyDeleteI love sci-fi romance and this is a new author for me to follow.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete