To get us started can you tell us a
little about what you are working on or have coming out?
I have extra reasons to celebrate the holidays
this year with the following upcoming releases from Ellora’s Cave:
Under
Holly’s Stockings, a quickie holiday erotic romance, releases on
11 December.
Entrance
to Ecstasy, a paranormal erotic romance (print) anthology,
releases on 24 December.
Stripper
With Spice, a contemporary, is coming soon.
I’m also excited to be part of the Tall, Dark & Alpha boxed set with 9
other authors. It will release in March 2014. My goal last January was to
increase my writing output this year, and I’ve accomplished that.
Which of your books has been the easiest
to write? The hardest? The most fun?
The short ones, such as Under Holly’s Stockings, are the easiest to write. I literally
wrote it in three days, and it didn’t need major revisions by me or the editor.
The long ones, such as Stripper With
Spice, require hard work and a lot of time. I can’t say it’s always fun,
but I do feel a huge sense of accomplishment when I’m done.
When I write a book, I like to go deep into my
characters and the world I’ve created, so they tend to be long. My strategy is
to mix up the short ones and long ones so I can get more books out to readers.
The story I’m writing for the boxed set will be short, so I hope it’s a quick,
easy process. It’s the first time I’ve had a deadline for something I haven’t
written yet, so this experience will raise the bar for me.
Which comes first, the story, the
characters or the setting?
Usually, the setting comes first, followed by the
hero. The poor heroine is usually last. What can I say? I love men. I also get
inspired when I travel. My last trip, a cruise to Jamaica and Grand
Cayman , inspired two books. The first book it inspired
was an interracial contemporary about a reggae singer set in Jamaica . I
just finished it and submitted it, so my fingers are crossed.
The second was inspired by the cruise itself. I
ended up with mal de debarquement syndrome from being at sea, but I decided to
turn lemons into lemonade and create a romantic, paranormal fantasy out of it.
The result will be Rock My Boat, the
story I’m writing for the boxed set.
What part of a book has been the easiest
to write? The hardest?
The rough draft is the easiest and most fun to
write. At that stage, I’m dealing with emotions, ideas, plot, and dialogue.
It’s also a fun adventure because I write by the seat of my pants. Then comes
the hard part, polishing and layering in the details such as setting, clothing,
mannerisms, consistency, and character depth.
Sex scenes can go either way. Sometimes I nail
them during the rough draft, but other times they’re a little too rushed and
short. During revisions, I focus on the scene and build it up. I end up adding
5 - 10K words on the longer books. My goal is to do more planning before I start
the rough draft, but I have a feeling the “pantser” in me refuses to go down
without a fight.
If you could go anywhere in the
world to write, where would it be and why?
I would go to as many places as I could, as long
as they were reasonably safe for my physical well-being. I write best at home,
but I get my inspiration when I’m away from home. When I went to San
Antonio for a writer’s conference,
I’d just finished the rough draft for Stripper
With Spice. The hero in that book is Hispanic, and being in a city with so
much Hispanic culture was perfect timing.
Some future spots I want to visit include Alaska , South
America , and more of Europe .
Some spots on my European list include England , Ireland , Germany , Spain and Portugal . I
wouldn’t mind returning to Scotland , France , and
Italy
either. There’s never enough time to see it all. Alas, I will not be taking any
more cruises. Jamaica is
calling me back for a sequel to my reggae story, but next time I’ll fly.
What books are currently on your nightstand
or e-reader that you are itching to read?
I’m always reading, and I cycle through the
following types of books: non-fiction for research or marketing, classics,
print romances by bestselling authors I haven’t read yet, and ebook romances in
the genres I’m targeting. Recently, I just read Facebook for Dummies, Dracula,
Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, and some books by my boxed set co-authors--before
I got invited to join. I must be psychic!
Anything you would like to add?
Under
Holly’s Stockings
ebook buy link:
http://www.ellorascave.com/under-holly-s-stockings.html
blog tour: http://www.aftonlocke.com/HollyTour.html
Blurb
After being stood up at the altar last Christmas,
Michael dreads the holiday. When a woman wearing sexy red stockings on the
subway propositions him with a day of sex, seems there’s no time like the
present to get back into the spirit of the season!
Having just lost her mother, Holly will do
anything to avoid being alone on Christmas. But when Michael arrives, nothing
goes as planned. Despite the joy of exploring each other’s bodies with all the
holiday trimmings, her emotions get in the way.
When Michael realizes the way to get under
Holly’s stockings is through her heart, he’ll have to put the ghosts of his
Christmas past to rest.
Entrance to Ecstasy, print buy link:
http://www.ellorascave.com/entrance-to-ecstasy.html
Stripper With Spice, http://www.aftonlocke.com/Spice.html
Blurb
Getting back on her feet after
unemployment, Janice Sullivan, a financial analyst, treats herself to an erotic
romance convention. Winning a two-hour fantasy date with Carlos Aguilar, a
young Mexican-American stripper, she decides to have a one-time fantasy fling.
When Carlos entices her back to the
bedroom—and a few public places—for more sizzling sex, he unleashes her
passions, including a secret desire to be a chef. Janice learns there’s more to
this heartthrob than a hot body, but job security comes first.
To convince her he’s more than a
fantasy, he teaches her trust with his body. But when that trust is finally
tested to the limit, will she cling to safety or take a chance on a whole new
life?
Tall, Dark & Alpha
Blurb
He makes your heart pound and melts
your resistance away. He promises you a world of passion and you find it
impossible to resist his dark charm. When he catches your eye across the room,
you know he means business. He could be an executive, cop, shape shifter, or a
bad boy looking for a little fun. Once he has you in his sights, you can't get
away—and after one sizzling night in his arms, you won't want to. He’s Tall,
Dark & Alpha. The alpha male is the ultimate indulgence…the richest dark
chocolate…and we’re offering him to you in abundance.
Delve into the sensual worlds of
award-winning authors: Randi Alexander, Koko Brown, Sam Cheever, Delaney
Diamond, Eve Langlais, Afton Locke, Dawn Montgomery, Farrah Rochon, Paige
Tyler, and Eve Vaughn. Immerse yourself in the alpha male experience.
Where readers can find me
Web site: http://www.aftonlocke.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/afton.locke
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/aftonlocke
Newsletter - The Love Chronicle:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thelovechronicle/
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/Afton_Locke
2 comments:
The cover alone makes me want to read this book!
Thanks, TSD. I like the cover too.
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