The next big thing

When my friend Marjorie Brody tagged me to be part of this blog I jumped at the chance to do something with her. Marjorie and I have been friends since I first joined SARA (San Antonio Romance Authors) in 2004. (Wow! That’s a lotta years!).

I have been so privileged to be part of her writing process, to be in the critique group that saw elegant ideas turn into exciting novels.

The writing journey is a long and difficult one, filled with frustration and self-doubts, and so many times we sit at our computers and wonder why we put ourselves through this torture. I am happy to say Marjorie never quit, and this spring TWISTED, a psychological thriller, will be released this spring. I promise you it will grab you from the first page and never let go. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss it. April 2013. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

The Next Big Thing: NAILED

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Both my son and son-in-law are in the construction business and my daughter is in real estate. She’s always talking about the hunks walking around with their tool belts and their egos, but she also talks about the business side of it, the money details, the contracts, all the little nitty gritty stuff most people don’t think about it. I thought it would be great to do a series about three brothers, each of whom has a specialty—business, architecture and engineering. Nailed is about Tyler McMann, the engineer looking for a soul mate.

What genre does your book fall under? 

Nailed is an erotic romance focusing on the complexities of a BDSM relationship. So many people misunderstand what it’s all about and they particularly overlook the key ingredient that makes it work—trust. I wanted people to understand it’s about a lot more than sex. It’s about really connecting emotionally.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

Wow. Well, the heroine, in her persona as Flame, is a willowy exotic redhead with green cat’s eyes so either Bryce Dallas Howard The Help) or Julianne Moore (Magnolia). Dakota Fanning looks like Sarah’s eighteen-year-old confidant. I’d love to have Thure Reifenstein of Dark Blue World. He’s Tyler McMann come to life.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 

Tyler McMann wants a permanent relationship with the perfect sub, but Flame is hiding secrets the restrict their relationship to one hour at a time.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 

Neither. It’s  being released by Ellora’s Cave who took a chance on my six years ago. It’s been a truly happy marriage since then.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 

Nailed is a novella, so three weeks for the first draft then another to revise, fix, revise. I write about six hours a day so the words come pretty fast. 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 

I like to think I have the same emotional punch and impact as Joey Hill, especially her Natural Law and Knights of the Boardroomseries.  Cherise Sinclair is another author who is outstanding in this genre. And of course, Sylvia Day with her new series.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? 

I have to say Joey Hill first inspired me not only to write erotic romance but to explore the world of BDSM. She write truly the most emotional, the most beautiful erotic love stories on the market today. Her books are the ones that made me understand the complexities of such relationships and why they are so intense and long-lasting.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? 

I hope people will be interested‑curious‑enough to test the waters of erotic romance, if they haven’t already, and the world of BDSM. It’s a misunderstood lifestyle and I think people will be really surprised if they take a chance on reading about it.

Thank you for reading about my NEXT BIG THING. Please check out Marjorie Brody and read about her next big think, am amazing psychological thriller titled Twisted.