Blogiversary Day #5 with Cristal Ryder-Interview & Giveaway

Today we have the fantasic Cristal Ryder here to help celebrate Cecile's Blogiversary. 

Welcome Cristal

Tell us what you’ve been up to since the last time you were here?

It's been crazy busy, in both my writing and personal world. A few new releases and a couple vacay's. Since Christmas it's been hard to settle down and get my mind back in the game.

 
Who has been your favorite character to write and why?

Of all my stories, I have to say my favourite character is Rourke. He is my hunky hero in Being Ariana and Being Bound. He's just so naughty, sexy, alpha and I was told once he is very "shiver inducing" Maybe he's my ideal man and why I like him so much :)  But now as I think about it, Chet, my cowboy hero in Elemental Heat and Rock-Hard Heat is in a tie with Rourke.

 

What was your favorite scene to write and the toughest?

I have so many favourite scenes I couldn't pick one. But the toughest was the f/f scenes in No Fantasy Required. 

 

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

 

The newest book out is No Toys Tonight, An Adventure Twice Told from Sybarite Seductions. It's a double point of view story both the heroine and the hero's.

His deep voice filled the confined space and wrapped around her like hot honey. She glanced down, hoping to see his face. At that moment, a beam of light from somewhere across the parking lot
flashed over his face. Fiona caught her breath when her gaze met his. His mouth curved up on one side in the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. Not only did her belly liquefy in erotic heat but her heart did a little tango of its own. Then the light was gone and she was swallowed by the indigo night.

 

 

 

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?

Yes, they have to be just right and sometimes I've changed a name a few times. The heroine in my current work in progress is called Faye, but it's not right and I know it will change. Anyone care to take a stab at a new name? I go through the alphabet and let names pop into my head. If something a little different is needed, then I'll look on the net, or baby names.

 

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

I let them tell me what's going to happen. I'm a pantser so I just go with the flow :)

 

If you could do a Freaky Friday (switch places) with any of your characters, who would it be and what would you do? ;-)

Jenna in Elemental Heat. Even though she has a life threatening event, she has Chet to keep her save and loved. 

 

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

Wow, tough question. It depends on what the reader likes. I have bdsm, cowboy, menage, sex club, romance with lotsa hot sex.

 

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

Nope. Sit down and write.

 

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

I like to get into the character's heads and make them feel the scene, no matter which kind. I do like first meeting scenes too. They can be really fun.

 

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

I wish I had got my act in gear so long ago! Like about 30 years ago when I asked for Harlequin's writing guidelines. I didn't fully understand them and they scared me off. I so regret that. So, to you authors out there. If you want it, go for it. Don't let anything hold you back or scare you off.

 

What’s the weirdest thing you got inspiration from?

I have a time travel story that is homeless. The inspiration for it came from a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and an old battlement. A creepy dark tunnel through a berm gave me the post-apocalyptic idea.

 

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

I think my all time favorite is Being Ariana, the old cover. It was sexy.

 

What’s coming up in the future?

 Well, a very important story for me to tell is my dad's WWII experiences. He has made notes and I've gone through them with him, but there is still a lot more I would like to get clarified. I'm starting to see the film in my head which is a good step toward the story telling.

 

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

 Enjoyment. I hope that they were able to escape for a little while from the real world.

 

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

A delightful buzz whispered through her blood and she rested back, her head turned to gaze across the dark waves. 

 

 For Fun

 Take this quiz and let us know the results

What Kind of Sexy Girl Are You?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofsexygirlareyouquiz/

 

 LOL, love it. I'm Bad Girl Sexy

Girl, you are nothing but trouble. And that's hot.
You've got the classic bad girl sexiness mojo going on.
And your badass attitude makes men fear you - and crave you.
Don't give into people who say to tone it down. You're perfect as is.

 

 

Quickie Time

 

What’s your motto? Why wait until tomorrow when you can do it today

 

What’s your guilty pleasure? french fries

 

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

 

Handcuffs or silk ties? Ties

 

Hairy chests or smooth? Hairy

Sexiest feature on a man? legs and butt

 

Boxers, Briefs or Commando?  briefs and commando

 

Top or Bottom?  top, definitely

 

Pj’s or nude?  Nude

 

Night owl or early bird?  night owl

 

What’s the last thing you Googled?  DABWAHA

 

Favorite book? A Rose In Winter

 

What are you reading right now? Blaze book

 

Favorite tv show?  pretty much anything sci fi

 

Favorite color?  Turquoise

 

Left or right handed?  right 

 

Best Anniversary gift you ever got?  never got one

 

3 words you’d use to describe Cecile? (it is her blogiversary after all) - naughty, fun, sweet

 

Where can your fans find you?

You can find me at:

www.cristalryder.com

https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder

The Cabal of Hotness

https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor

Ellora’s Cave

All Romance ebooks

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Sybarite Seductions

Lyrical Press

Is there anything else you like to add?

I'm thrilled to be asked to celebrate Cecile's blogiversary! thanks so much.  I hope she's able to get to Atlanta this summer so we can meet in person :)

 

 

About Cristal

Part of this journey to becoming a published author is learning to share things about myself. I think it’s harder than writing! I’ve loved telling stories for most of my life and to create worlds I could escape into, living life as my characters do.
The first romance novel I read was at age twelve. I woke up Christmas morning to find Taylor Caldwell’s Ceremony of the Innocent in my stocking.  I devoured it and my passion for reading began, followed on its heels by a longing to write.
Everyone has moments in their life that test them and I’m no different. Here I am today living my dream of becoming a published author and ready to experience all life has to offer. I hope you look for me at Ellora’s Cave, Sybarite Seductions and Lyrical Press.
I hope I can tempt and carry you along on a journey of passion to vivid locations with squirm in your seat plots and characters that will come to life for you, so you too can escape into another world.
When I’m not writing or the ideas are not percolating around in my head, I love to travel, spend time on a patio, preferably overlooking the water with a yummy cocktail in hand or lounged in a steamy hot tub, which could include a glass of red wine. I’m a single mom of two college-aged sons, and yes, they do fly home after leaving the nest only to fly off again. I said goodbye last summer to my faithful old Chocolate Lab, Mollie. So now my home is vacant of kids, pets and I’m wondering what to do with myself. Road trip!
I’m tucked away in a small town outside Toronto where let my ideas run rampant to build into another hot a sexy story for you.

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much Cristal for being here today.

 

 

Cristal has offered an ecopy of Hot Fusion to one lucky commenter

 

 

 

 

 

 

After fleeing her hometown years ago, Kara Sinclair has returned to breathe life back into the bakery her deceased grandmother left behind. She has a history in this town—one that involves her one true love. A boy she’d thought she’d give her life to before circumstance got in the way. She needs to focus on her task, but one look at Maxwell Stone and all the old feelings return. And it isn’t long before she can think of nothing else but reigniting the passion they once shared.
Max never understood what drove Kara away all those years ago, and once she returns to their Canadian hometown, he’s hell bent on getting her back into his life…and his bed. But when he uncovers the reason she left him behind, he must decide if he can move on from the past and trust his heart with the only woman he’s ever loved. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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