Author Spotlight Shines on London St. James

I am thrilled to have London Saint James as a guest today. And for one lucky commenter she is giving away not one but TWO of her books. Enchanted, book 1 and Requiem, book 2 in The Heart Of Winter series. Both are available through Evernight Publishing.

Entering is easy, just leave London a comment on my blog. Be sure to put your email in the body of the message to be eligable to win. The winner will be announced on Saturday December 10th via email.

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?

No, not really, but I do listen to a lot of music, especially when I write.

Which authors inspire your writing?

There are so many authors who inspire me it is hard to narrow it down to a few.  I really love to read Megan Hart, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Sarah McCarty, Gena Showalter, Nora Roberts, and on and on…

I also am inspired by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Gena Showalter to name just a few... 

What is your favorite book, character and why?

Ahh… another difficult question :D Again, I have so many favorite books.  Hmm… well, I suppose one of my favorite books would be in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.  Favorite character, Eric.  I love that character because he can be ruthless.  He doesn’t care to flaunt how sexy he is.  He also doesn’t hide the fact he is ruthless and he will do whatever it takes to get his way, yet he has this likable quality about him and a loyalty to those he cares about.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?

The series I completed for Evernight Publishing called The Heart Of Winter would probably be considered sweet with erotic elements, and I loved writing that series.  Enchanted book 1 and Requiem book 2 is out now, with Revelation book 3 and Eternal book 4 coming soon.  But I suppose I would lean more toward erotic since all my other works in progress turn up the heat level and deviate away from what might be considered sweet. 

Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to?

I seem to be drawn to deeply brooding people.  Those people who don’t think much of themselves or their talents, and can’t see how truly amazing they are.  For instance, I have always been blown away by famous people such as Keanu Reeves, who talks about himself as stupid and not attractive.  In reality he is well read, far from stupid ,and they man is sex on a stick attractive.  Or Robert Pattinson who thinks of himself as ugly, and doesn’t think he can act.  Does he not own a mirror? And Robert is a super actor.  His role in Remember me was terrific and showed his range.  Don’t even get me started on his musical talents which are amazing.  So to sum it all up and stop blathering on, I’m drawn to deep quiet tortured types who don’t see themselves as much. 

 We have something in comon here London. I love them dark brooding types.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

On a sandy beach with one of those tropical umbrella drinks :D  LOL.  Seriously, I suppose in all honesty I don’t really look too far ahead.  I hope to still be writing, but success in my life would be the happiness of my family and watching them reach their dreams.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when…

I no longer have to pump gas into my own car. *Smiles* I HATE pumping gas.

I must say I'm in total agreement with you there. Especially when it's cold outside. 

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Read, a lot.  Write what you love, what interest you, and never give up. 

Great advice London.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

A paranormal series.  I’ve been kicking around the idea of a series about fallen angels (demons) and a war between factions of those fallen ones.

 Yummy that sound like a must read to me. I have a particular fondess for angles and demons.

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?   

Bioluminescence.  I just think it would be super cool to glow in the dark. :D  Okay, I know bioluminescence isn’t a superpower, so I will go with the ability to read minds and see into the future.  I just want to know all those deep dark secrets, and maybe the winning lottery numbers.

What time of the day are you at your best to write?

I think I really do my best work at night.

And now for something completely different…

What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile?

A great smile.  And I’m a total sucker for a sexy scowl.

Explain your perfect day. 

Just hanging out with friends and family or spending time with my gorgeous man doing nothing but snuggling.

What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to?

Anything that is chocolate or has chocolate in it.

Do you have a favorite holiday what is it and what makes it special to you?

I really love Christmas.  I suppose what makes it special to me is giving to others.  I love doing that.

   

What key words describe you best?

 Truthful, Caring, Open…

Here is a bit on her latest release Requiem

Requiem Blurb:

For Winter Shae Perri there is only one man meant for her, Austin Carlyle.  That is, until their fairy tale life is shattered the night before they are to be married. 

Winter retreats deep within herself, hiding behind her romance novels, until sixteen years later she is startled to life by none other than Hollywood heartthrob, Cayden Cain. 

Cayden will have her questioning reality, because when she looks at him, she sees the face of Austin looking back at her.

Excerpt:

“Please know I am truly sorry for tonight, and appreciate all of your concern….” I felt my cheeks flush hot from embarrassment, and knew I must seem insane. Unable to stop myself I stared at him, completely mesmerized by the resemblance of Cayden to Austin.

His hair, nowhere near the pitch black color of Austin’s, but so much about Cayden was like looking back in time. The perfection and beauty of my past life became real, once again present. I never imagined, never thought possible, to see such splendor again. Cayden’s beauty rattled through every thought, dislodging long ago memories from my mind. Looking at him became difficult, as if I could not process such images, so I tore my eyes from him only to bring them back.

Cayden appeared to be the same height, his build exact, and his voice was shockingly close in texture, tone, and inflection. If that’s not strange enough, he spoke with the same cadence. And there was the same perfection to his face, but what’s truly unbelievable are those liquid blue eyes. Cayden captured me within his eyes, looking at me, gazing straight into my soul. Cayden’s eyes were haunting, calling to me so much so, they seemed to pull me forward into his heat.

I don’t know how. I don’t remember moving, but I stood inches from him. His warmth crossed over me. My skin tingled. The pulse in my throat thrummed almost out of control. I wanted to touch him. The urge raged through me. The energy that swirled around my body was blatant, alive, charged. For an instant I wondered if he felt what I was feeling. I couldn’t move. His eyes, the pull of his eyes, were not going to release me.

In this moment of complete and total immersion into the never-ending liquid blue of Cayden Cain’s eyes I felt him brush the palm of his hand down my cheek, pressing it firm, cupping my cheek into the warm strong palm of his hand. The experience, like being baptized in fire. Lightning crackled across my skin. Every breath within me halted.

“Winter,” he murmured. I could not answer, but it wasn't as though he wanted me to. It was an awareness between us.

But this just can't be.

“Please, get out of those wet clothes, take a hot shower, and get some rest.” With that he smiled all the while seemingly conflicted, hesitant to exit my room. I stared at him. “Winter,” he said softly, his hand on the doorknob. “I….” He hesitated. I watched him run his fingers through his hair. “I need....” He hesitated once more. His eyes shot to my eyes. We were caught in the moment, locked.

For that second time stood still. My heart screamed out. I know him, somehow I know him but my mind fought against the knowledge.

 “I need to see you again,” he said. He opened my door. “In the morning. We will talk in the morning.”

When Cayden left I completely fell apart, flung myself onto the bed then curled myself up into a ball. I wrapped my knees up to my chest, holding my arms tight around them. I crumbled, literally in every sense of the word. My body shook, my head hurt, my voice muffled into my chest. This was worse than any déjà vu I had experienced tonight. I would take the pain of any memories, even the memories of the crash over this current emotion. And it did not matter I was soaking wet or if I got sick. My eyes were overflowing in traitor tears, and I didn’t wish to move.

“Oh God!” I cried out.

I was in more pain than I had experienced since the loss of my love and the ending of my life. My breath had been knocked from me. I could not find my lungs. It did not matter Cayden Cain looked so much like Austin because he wasn’t the man I loved. So for this, I knew those fault lines within my heart, which from time to time would shift and quake had broken open again.

What did matter was the way I felt with Cayden’s simple touch. The kind, reassuring gesture when he reached out and touched the surface of my cheek, set my skin on fire. Lightning struck. It caused a fire which caught. The fire ran the entirety of my body until it found a home between my thighs. For this I was worse than a charlatan, worse than a cheater, worse than a liar. I should not have felt the burn, the desire, the sensation of sin which flowed like an electric current through me. Pure agony riddled my body. Cayden’s touch should be blasphemy to my flesh but God help me, it was not.

“What have I done!” I screamed.

 Austin was the only man I have ever loved. The only man who could set my skin on fire yet I felt something in which I should not. I knew I had betrayed the love of my life for the weakness of my flesh. There would be no forgiveness, no absolution. No ending to this disloyal destruction of my deceitful soul.

I cried out in heart wrenching protest. “What is wrong with me? This cannot be possible. Not possible!”

For the desire of my heart, my love, my need for Austin, was in direct conflict to the desire I experienced still burning upon my flesh.

Requiem buy links:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-requiem-627440-148.html

http://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Heart-Winter-ebook/dp/B00631IN8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320372334&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Requiem-Heart-Winter-ebook/dp/B00631IN8Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1320698679&sr=1-1

http://www.bookstrand.com/requiem-0

http://1placeforromance.com/romantic-fiction/requiem/prod_6097.html

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/requiem-by-london-saint-james/