*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*
Help me welcome Paranormal Romance Author Keri Stevens to Chatting with Buckeyes! Shh..don't tell anyone, but Keri's technically not a Buckeye. She lives just across the border, so she's really an honorary Buckeye. She talks to us about what's it like to have your novel published for the first time, and about her first book, Stone Kissed. We will be giving away one EARC copy of Stone Kissed to a random commenter. Rules below!
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m celebrating my 40th year with the publication of my first novel! My husband, three sons, dog and two cats live south of Cincinnati, OH, where I also run a part-time fitness business concentrating on yoga, personal training and Oriental dance (more commonly called “belly dancing,” but the belly doesn’t do much of the work.)
2. What is your debut novel, Stone Kissed about?
When Delia Forrest talks to statues, they talk back. She is, after all, the last of the Steward witches. After an arsonist torches her ancestral home with her estranged father still inside, Delia is forced to sell the estate to pay his medical bills. Her childhood crush, Grant Wolverton, makes a handsome offer for Steward House, vowing to return it to its former glory. Delia agrees, as long as he’ll allow her to oversee the restoration. Working so closely with Grant, Delia finds it difficult to hide her unique talent—especially when their growing passion fuels her abilities.But someone else lusts after both her man and the raw power contained in the Steward land. Soon, Delia finds herself fighting not just for Grant’s love, but for both their lives…
Where can we buy it?
Stone Kissed is available for preorder at Carina Press here: http://j.mp/stonekissed. This month, blog readers can use the coupon code CARINA10 to get an extra 10% off their entire order there. In addition, you can find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
3. On your website you mention that Jade Lee was one of your first romance authors that you read. I love her! What is your favorite Jade Lee Book?
I didn’t start reading romance regularly until my mid-30s, when, as a joke, my husband gave me Burning Tigress. I. Loved. It. I immediately went out and found her entire backlist and devoured them. From Lee I branched out into other authors and was reading one or two novels a day—and realizing I wanted to write them, too.
I got to meet her at the Romantic Times convention in Columbus this year (shout-out to the fabulous Hyatt downtown!). Dr. Stevens was more than a little impressed and moved that she wrote him a lovely, funny autograph in The Dragon Earl.
As far as a favorite is concerned, I can’t say—my love for Lee is both professional admiration and sentimental affection.
4. Stone Kissed is your first book, do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Agents and editors have told me that 90% of the time when they request a submission from a new writer, that writer fails to send it. Yes—you read that right: 90%.
The bottom line is that every step of this business is scary. I’m scared that the book I’m working on is crap. I’m scared that my critique partners will tell me it is crap if I let them see it. I was scared of pitching, scared of submitting, scared of entering contests, scared of working with an editor—and scared of sending the book out for review.
If it scares you—do it. Run towards your fear.
5. What made you decide to write Paranormal Romance?
Before I read romance, I read fantasy. My background authors are almost all fantasy and speculative fiction, and I love the possibilities that open up when you break the known rules of the universe.
6. Do you have any upcoming books?
While I don’t have anything on the publisher’s calendar yet, I can tell you that there are many people with many problems and many talents in the small town of Stewardsville, Virginia. I foresee at least three more books set in Delia and Grant’s neighborhood.
7. Where can we find you on the web?
Too many places, frankly! I really enjoy communicating with other readers and writers—especially when those folks in Stewardsville won’t behave.
Main site and blog: http://keristevens.com
My Friends Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/Keri_
eHarlequin community: http://community.eharlequin.
Amazon: http://j.mp/KeriStevensAMZ
I know that technically you are in Kentucky, but since you are a stones throw away from Ohio, here are some Ohio questions for you:
1. What's your favorite C city? Columbus, Cincy or Cleveland? Where is your fav place to visit there?
Cincinnati – and the art museum! I found plenty of inspiration for my talking statues there.
2. Do you have a favorite spot in Ohio to go?
The Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg, OH! This year we found a wall fountain for our back yard that is the spitting image of Brogan, the Green Man in our book. The stonecarver is working on it now, and he should come home to us this spring.
3. What's the best thing about living so close to Ohio?
We live out in the country, but are convenient to the city. I love being able to drive in and shop (especially at my favorite bookstore, the Barnes and Noble in West Chester) and then head back out into our secluded home in the woods.
4. Bengals, Browns, Buckeyes or none of the above?
Bengals!
Keri, Thanks so much for stopping by! To win a copy of the E-ARC of Stone Kissed, you don't have to be a blog follower, but it would be nice! Just leave a question for Keri and say that you'd like to be entered in the giveaway. If you do not have an email contact on your blogger profile page, please leave it below so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway is open until 12/13/10 at 11:59pm.
