Author Spotlights Karyn Gerrard

I wish to welcome another talented a uthor whom I had the pleasure of meeting through my Evernight Publishing group. I'm very excited to say she is also doing a giveaway of her latestbook so grab your coffee and get ready to enter to win a PDF copy of Timeless Heart (Historical Time Travel) OR Black Lust (Paranormal Romance) This is winner's choice!

To enter all you need to is leave a comment telling me which you would prefer to read, a time travel or a paranormal and why? 

Also if you stop over to my facebook Author page and 'like' me, you get another chance to win. Simply state in your comment that you 'liked' me or have already.

Click here for Karen Gerrard's Author Page on Facebok

 Karyn will be announcing the winner December 26th! 

Here is a tidbit from her current release Black Lust available now through Evernight Publishing.

BLACK LUST BLURB:

Lucius  Black lives a debauched and wild nightlife. Being a ‘Quarter’ (1/4  vampire), blood and sex are what he is. However, his existence wears  thin after a century of hedonistic pleasure.

Trevina Patterson  lives a quiet, happy life running a hair salon in a village on the east  coast of the United Kingdom. It was a perfect life and all she could ask  for, until a chance encounter with Lucius Black. 

What was it about him that was so unsettling and yet so attractive?

For Lucius, no woman had ever been enough, until Trevina. She awakened  in him feelings he had not thought possible. Passions considered by him  to be little more than vampiric mythology. She awakened his...black  lust.

EXCERPT:

Trevina strolled up the stone walkway and knocked at the door. It was ajar, so she stuck her head in. “Hello? Anyone here?”

No one answered so she took a hesitant step across the threshold. Oh brilliant, it had hardwood floors and a fireplace. She felt the nearby wall, plaster, but with a fresh coat of paint. It was clean and bright. She imagined where she would place her few sticks of furniture when a deep voice boomed from the hallway.

“Who the hell are you, and what do you want?”

 Her head turned toward the direction of the irritated voice. Her breath caught in her throat. A stunning looking man stood opposite her, his legs apart, and his arms crossed. He was in black leather from his long coat to the skin hugging leather pants and black boots. A tight black T-shirt accentuated rock-hard pectorals.

Trevina assumed this stunner looked like a fallen angel or a sexy demon, maybe both. At least that is how they seemed in the movies and on the telly. He had full red lips no man should possess and a scruffy days-old beard and chiseled handsome features. But it was his eyes, the same silver-gray as the sky over a stormy North Sea. They were very large and expressive, framed by long black eyelashes. She imagined the lashes were as soft as mink. He appeared dangerous, and she should be scared, but those eyes had her locked in a searing sexual Svengali-like gaze. He exuded perilous detachment. Impenetrable, guarded, and shielded from emotions. Why she sensed all that, she had no idea. 

Instead of running to her scooter for safety, she stepped forward holding out her hand. “Trevina Patterson. Do you own this lovely cottage?”

The man stared down at her hand as if deciding whether to take it. He uncrossed his arms, took her hand and shook it. His hand was large, masculine, and very warm. His touch almost brought her to her knees it was so potent. His thumb stroked the top of her hand in a gentle circular motion. A slight sly smile curved his ruby red lips. She tried to bite back a moan but a shaky exhale escaped her throat. He let go of her hand. She felt anger mix with the intoxicating attraction. Did he get off making women react to him, especially women who were not beautiful? She knew she wasn’t. She accepted her blunt-plain features years ago; it saved her plenty of heartache.

"No, it belongs to a cousin of mine. I was looking at it, deciding if I was going to rent it. Why do you ask, Trevina?”
He used her first name. Oh, he was skilled at seduction. It dripped like molten honey in his voice, and she noticed he didn’t have a British accent. She moved closer to him. She would show this sexy leather clad demon she wasn’t intimidated.  She looked up at him. Bloody hell, he was tall. “I would like to rent it myself. What’s your name?”

He crossed his arms again, a defensive posture to be sure. “Lucius Black.”

She couldn’t help but smile. The name fit him like a leather glove.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Something amusing?”
 
She bit her lower lip. “No. Nothing. So I’m out of luck apparently.”

He shifted his stance so he was, just inches away. Her breasts brushed by his impressive muscular chest causing a gush of liquid between her legs. He stared down at her, and his warm breath fanned her cheeks like the incendiary breath of a dragon. A damned sexy one. He exuded a spicy, woodsy scent that was bloody appealing. Warm flickering flame, fire and brimstone perhaps?

“I would not say that,” he whispered sensually.

Wow that was a fantastic excerpt! I wonder if I can enter this one myself. Well Karyn now that I have you here perhaps you can let the readers get to know you a bit better.

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

Nothing at all. I am a pantser, and have found I work best when I just sit at the    computer and let the words flow.  I have a vague idea where I am going toward the ending, but I just take the journey. I have been lucky; writer's block is not a condition I seem to suffer from! Yet!

 Which authors inspire your writing?

Can I be vague and say every author I have ever read? Especially the Romance authors? Really it's true. I am a voracious reader but only came to read romance about five years ago. I was totally swept up into the genre.  Historicals are still my fav, and one of the first authors I read and was enchanted by was Mary Balogh. I would kill to write as she does. Absolute inspiration.

What is your favorite book, character and why?

Ooo, that's a toughie. As with all my fav lists, they fluctuate and change with my mood.  I will pick one romance that I teared up over. 'Kiss of the Highlander' by Karen Marie Moning. I will pick the hero Dunstan for the same reason. The romance between him and the heroine was achingly sweet and sexy, and the time travel aspect ramped up the tension. Plus he was a Highlander! Love hunky guys in kilts gripping a huge sword. *cough*

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet? 

I can write both but I will have to say I do prefer the erotic side of romance. Everyone has a different interpretation of erotic romance and erotica. I believe so far, I am writing erotic romance. I love the deep emotions involved in falling in love but also feel the physical aspect is also an important part. My love scenes are hot, never thought I could write them, now I don't even blink, lol!

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

Oh. Um.  Not really into famous people. One guy I admire is Barak Obama. We Canadians love him. Wow, wish he was running our country. We give him an 82% approval. I don't pretend to understand the intricacies of American politics, but he has accomplished a lot with what he has had to work with. Love his speeches. Inspiring.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I will be still writing, even if it is only for my own pleasure. I had got away from it for so many years I never realized how much I missed it. Now that I no longer work, I have plenty of time to plot and write weekday afternoons.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when_______________?

I have ten books in my backlist.

I have no illusions I will a bestselling writer. Really this all started as a hobby for me. It was only at my husband's insistence I submitted something. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get accepted. Now 2011 is closing out and I have 3 titles released from 2 different publishers. Someone pinch me.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Sit down and write, focus on reaching the end, don't go back and rewrite the same chapter over and over or you will never finish. Save the editing for after you type 'the end'. Never give up. Don't be afraid to submit your manuscript anywhere, you never know what an editor is looking for. It could be your story they have been waiting for. Social network but don't let it overtake your life or squeeze out your writing or other pursuits.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

Anything. I have no plans to pigeon hole myself in any one sub-genre. Already I have completed paranormals, time travel, contemporary, historical and a western.  Will I get into Ménage or M/M? Never say never, I like reading them but at this moment it's not what I want to write.

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

Teleport. So I could visit my family back in eastern Canada in a blink of an eye. A 5.5 hour trip on the plane is a killer (not counting the changing planes, being there 1 hr. ahead, blah, blah.) As I get older, I detest plane travel more and more

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

Afternoons, my teacher hubby is at work and I have peace and quiet. I put on a pot of earl grey tea and escape into a world of my own making.

And now for something completely different…

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

Face. I am fascinated how everybody looks so damned different! I do admire a handsome face, when all the features are arranged in perfect size and symmetry. If I get close enough, I also am fascinated by the mixture of colors in people's eyes. I like a man with a full set of lips as well.

Once I finish admiring the face, I scan down his body like a search light at a movie premiere. Love broad shoulders. And height. The taller the better! I always wanted to lay a 6'5 man on the floor and crawl all over him like a cheap rug...I'll stop now. (The hubs is 5'11, it will have to do!)

Explain your perfect day.

I'm at the beach. The waves are cresting on the sand, the sun is warm but there is a slight cool breeze coming in off the ocean. I am reading a romance novel and drinking Earl Grey tea. Perfect, perfect day.

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

I am not one for gooey desserts or fancy French pastries. I also do not go into orgasmic spasms over chocolate. (I know, I should be smacked for that)

So what does that leave? Give me homemade apple crisp with homemade whipped cream and watch me twitch.

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

Christmas, all the way. Hands down. I am a sentimental sap. So much so I wrote a Christmas short called "CHRISTMAS MEMORIES" just released from Silver Publishing *book flog* which has a lot of my favorite Christmas things and memories in it.

What key words describe you the best?

Loyal. Honest. Content.

I have a low threshold on my bullshit meter, and find the more I get into the Publishing biz there are a lot of phony people out there. On the other side of the coin the honest people who genuinely care and are cheering for you far outnumber the other.  Kind of restores your faith in humanity.

Thank you so much for being here today and don't forget to leave your comments to win either one of her excellent books

Website: Karen Gerrard   Facebook Feel Free to Friend Me    Twitter 

BUY BLACK LUST:  http://www.evernightpublishing.com/black-lust-by-karyn-gerrard/

BUY TIMELESS HEART:  http://www.evernightpublishing.com/products/Timeless-Heart-by-Karyn-Gerrard.html