Blogiversary Day #2 with Anne Marsh~Interview & Giveaway

Welcome to Day 2 of the party. Please welcome author Anne Marsh

Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... Something that we cannot Google about you?

I’m a compulsive gardener. I discovered daylilies a few years ago and I’m hooked. I live in a neighborhood where everyone else has a neat patch of green grass, some decorative rocks, and a few tastefully manicured bushes... but I’m growing a full English cottage garden. You can’t miss my house.

What 3 words (each) would you use to describe your main characters?

Evan is big, strong and silent—the classic dark alpha male who watches from the sidelines until his woman needs a hand and a protective shoulder to lean on. Then he’s all in. Faye’s motto is “Why not?” She’s bold, slightly impulsive, and loves to laugh.

Who has been your favorite character to write and why?

Evan has been my favorite to date. I didn’t realize until I started writing him just how much passionate intensity he was hiding. He’s Mr. Big, Strong and Silent—until he starts opening up to Faye. Words will never be his favorite thing, but he’s got some things to say to Faye.

What was your favorite scene to write and the toughest?

My favorite scene to write was the scene where Evan convinces Faye to jump out of a plane with him. From working up her courage to jump out that plane door to the free fall to sticking the landing with Evan and sharing a congratulatory kiss... I loved it. The toughest scene... I hate endings. I have to admit that I almost never read them myself. I usually stop about a chapter before the book is over. I know where the characters are going (happily ever after! Yeah!), but I’m more interested in the part that comes before the end. Plus, I hate saying goodbye to characters that I’ve loved.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about your newest book? Can you share a never before seen snippet?

Here’s the blurb for SLOW BURN:

HE’S FEELING THE HEAT

Evan Donovan is a big muscled giant of a man, whose size and strength make him uniquely qualified to be a smoke jumper. No matter how great or how treacherous the challenge, he gets the job done. But when he agrees to look in on a friend’s ex-wife after a suspicious brushfire, Evan learns that some jobs are too hot to handle. Especially when it involves a scorchingly sexy woman…

SHE’S PLAYING WITH FIRE

Faye Duncan is a photographer on a mission, shooting fires for a magazine. But her first encounter with a wildfire isn’t nearly as wild as her first night with Evan Donovan. The moment she meets the bigger-than-life hero, the sparks begin to fly. But things really catch fire when Evan learns she may have taken a photo of the arsonist setting the fires. Evan is determined to keep Faye safe. But if he expects her to trust him with her life, he’ll have to open up his heart—even if someone gets burned…

And a teaser snippet? I can do that ;)

That was one hell of a possessive look he had. He stared at her as if she was his and he wasn’t letting go until he was good and ready to do so. Which could be trouble. This was a temporary thing. She had a road to hit and a life to live. She wasn’t staying in Strong.

And yet, oh, God, when he walked her backward with delicious intent, all her plans flew right out the window. This was Evan Donovan, big, solid, dependable Evan, who was going all primitive on her. There was no forgetting how he’d felt at her back as he’d launched them both from the plane. He’d held on to her all the way down, keeping her safe. This man was the same man—and yet not. As if he’d let go of that tight, disciplined control just a little.

She liked it.

She liked him.

Her back hit a wall. Distantly, she was aware that he’d moved them into an empty space where the jumpers’ chutes hung, waiting for action. Each breath she took smelled like leather and nylon and something indescribably smoky and male.

And then his hand slapped against the wall next to her head. “You teased me, Faye.”

His deep growl shot straight to her belly. Oh, yeah. She remembered that pleasure. And she sure had teased him, because, God, it had been fun. “Are you complaining?” she challenged. She got her hands on his T-shirt, curling her fingers into the soft fabric. The man beneath the shirt was anything but soft.

“Maybe I’m not,” he admitted. His other hand tightened on her waist, then started a wicked slide upward. “But I am wanting to finish what we started.”

“We’re alone now,” she pointed out.

“Not for long,” he growled. “You know how busy a jump hangar gets when there’s a fire? There could be a call any minute. We’ve got watches on two spots already. There could be smoke soon.”

“You always expect trouble?”

“It’s summer, Faye.” His thighs pushed against hers, parting hers and pinning her there. Making her want more. “There are always more fires and always more calls. There’s never enough time.”

She was going to do this. Why not? It had been too long, and Evan was the kind of adventure she didn’t want to resist.

            “So we’ll need to be quick.”

How do you go about picking character names? Do you have to get them just right and make sure they fit with the characters personality?  Is there any characters you found hard to name?

I used to use an old copy of a baby names book. Unfortunately, that caused my husband some undue anxiety (he was a little worried we were expecting a new and unexpected addition to the family!), so I switched to baby name sites. Some names just feel right and I keep looking until I find one that does. I haven’t found any characters hard to name... although I did learn with my last audiobook project (for my Fallen paranormal series) that when you pick Old Church Slavonic names, you have to explain to the narrator how to pronounce said names. That was fun! (And she did a great job)

How do you deal with unruly characters? When they won’t cooperate and don’t do what you expected?

Ummm.... that doesn’t happen once I start writing. I writing a horrendously long outline and my characters work out all their kinks there. My biggest challenge is figuring out the bedroom scenes—what my hero and heroine get up to together needs to reflect their personalities and where they are on their journey to happily-ever-after. Evan and Faye have a lot of fun, fast, hot sex in the beginning of SLOW BURN, so learning how to slow down and savor the moment is part of their journey to intimacy.

For new readers, what book of yours would you recommend they start with and why?

For contemporaries, either SLOW BURN or BURNING UP. While BURNING UP is the first book in the series, both are standalone books (and it’s not like you don’t know who the hero will fall in love with if you read the back of the book!). For my paranormals, I’d suggest BOND WITH ME as that’s the first in my Fallen series.

Do you have any little rituals you do before or during your writing process?

I always check my starting and ending word count—and I’m a huge fan of writing sprints.

What type of scene is your favorite to write? (Fight, love, making up..etc.)

Honestly, I’m not sure I have a favorite type. I do love writing the set up for the love scenes... but once the characters get into bed, it’s always a challenge. You don’t want to be all insert-tab-A-into-slot-B, but you also don’t want to have the scene devolve into a series of fiery starbursts and explosive sparks and... you get the idea. I certainly don’t write closed-door sex (yeah, I like my books hot), but I never want to lose the emotional connection between the characters, either. The sex has to move their story forward just as much as the action scenes or the talking scenes.

If you could go back and give yourself advice prior to being published, what would it be?

Be patient. Very, very, very patient. NY is slooooooow.

What’s the weirdest thing you got inspiration from?

The bulletin at church. Don’t ask. I’m fairly certain I wasn’t supposed to have an attack of the plot bunnies when I saw the scripture reading for the week. Or rummage in my purse looking for a pen.

Do you have a favorite cover? Which one and why is it your favorite?

The cover for SLOW BURN is my favorite. The cover for BURNING UP was fun—Time Magazine covered the photo shoot and posted one sexy video about it, in addition to doing an article for the print magazine—but they actually used the same model/photoshoot for SLOW BURN... just cut off the model’s head and gave the shot this fabulous red burn.

What’s coming up in the future?

I’m starting a spin-off novella series that will be available as part of Kensington’s digital first eKensington line. REBURN is coming out in mid-July 2013 and HOT ZONE is making its appearance some time later in the fall. This series features some super sexy firefighting hotshots.

What do you hope readers take away after reading one of your books?

A really, really good time? One of my all-time favorite reader emails mentioned that she’d had a horrible week and had crawled into the tub with my book and just relaxed and got away from it all. That’s a job well done for me.

What’s the last line you wrote from your current WIP?

The current WIP is a very naughty novella about two Cajun werewolves and the woman they love. My Pack stories were started as a treat to myself, as I wanted to be just a little naughtier and give my heroine two hot guys. So now I’ve got a wolf pack heating up the bayou in PLEASURED BY THE PACK...

“Those laughing, dark eyes promised le bon temps and more between the sheets.” 

For Fun

Take these quizzes and come back and tell us the outcome

 
Are you Flirtatious, Fearless, Factual, or Friendly?

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouflirtatiousfearlessfactualorfriendlyquiz/

Factual. This will probably come as no surprise to those who know me.

 
How Sensual Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/howsensualareyouquiz/

Bwahaha. I scored 45%. I was told to let loose a little ;) 

 
The Book Test

http://www.blogthings.com/thebooktest/

Total dreamer. That’s me.

Quickie Time

You’re granted 3 wishes, what would they be?

An enormous bank account, a luxe trip to Tahiti, and the ability to grow peonies.

What’s your motto?

No excuses.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

 Cheetos.

What are you hiding in your night stand? ;-)

All the trash I picked up before my mother visited last.

Handcuffs or silk ties?

Neither.

Hairy chests or smooth?

Smooth.

Sexiest feature on a man?

Hands

Boxers, Briefs or Commando?

Boxers

Pj’s or nude?

PJs!

Favorite dirty word? :-)

Fuck. My poor editor has to cut, cut, cut because my characters all have potty mouth.

Night owl or early bird?

Early bird! I’m up at 4 a.m.—and asleep sitting up around 9 p.m.

Favorite book?

New Grubb Street by Gissing. If that doesn’t sum up the joys and perils of professional writing, nothing does.

Favorite tv show?

I don’t watch TV, although I will stop absolutely everything for Captain Jack Sparrow.

Favorite color?

Orange

Left or right handed?

Right

Best Anniversary gift you ever got?

We don’t celebrate anniversaries... instead, I get to book annual trips to Tahiti. It’s a great tradeoff! 

3 words you’d use to describe Cecile? (it is her blogiversary after all) :)

Warm, vivacious, friendly! 

Where can your fans find you?

Website: www.anne-marsh.com

Twitter: @anne_marsh

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Marsh/225897900782649

Is there anything else you like to add?

Happy blogoversary, Cecile!

A professional technical writer, Anne discovered that getting laid off was actually A Very Good Thing. While looking for her next writing gig, she picked up her pen (well, okay, she used her writing as an excuse to buy a new Apple laptop) and started writing. She soon discovered that writing was uncomfortably similar to sit-ups: add a few more crunches each day, wake up sore, but, by God, you will fit into that bikini. Or finish the book (she’s still working on the bikini).  Now she cranks out software manuals during the daylight hours– and writes about alpha shapeshifters the rest of the time.

 Thank you so much Anne for celebrating with us today.



Anne has offered 2 fantastic prizes.

One person will win a signed set of the Fallen series. Which includes Bond with Me, His Dark Bond and  Savage Bond.

Another person will win both books in the Smoke Jumper series. Which are  Burning Up and Slow Burn

US/Canada/International
All Blogiversary Giveaways end April 6

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And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy!