Monday, June 25, 2012

Interview with romance author Sara Brookes


Today's guest author is Sara Brookes to talk to us a bit about her writing and her newest erotic novel Chasing Sin. (Content below is PG).

Sara is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to a lucky commentor. Details below the interview.

Bio:
Sara Brookes is an award-winning author who has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story.

Welcome, Sara. Please tell us about your current release.
Chasing Sin is a contemporary erotic romance ménage (m/m/f) about three friends who chase storms. So far, that’s the thing people find most surprising – that I could combine storm chasing and erotic romance. I say how can I not? Snyder and Tripp have been together for around nine years, and they’ve been chasing storms in Tornado Alley with Kate for five. After a particularly dangerous chase that could have very easily turned fatal, they decide they aren’t going to wait any longer to tell Kate how they really feel about her. Sure, she’s reluctant but she does give in.

What inspired you to write this book?
Storm chasing, and weather in general, is something that I’ve always been fascinated by. I live on the East Coast, so hurricanes are a reality for me (I’ve been through…a lot of them—mostly Cat 1 and 2 strength). In addition to being fascinated with love stories, I love writing high-energy, high-action stories. Storm chasing seemed like a perfect avenue for just that thing.

Excerpt:
“We’re looking at a direct hit. Almost as if we had a great big target on my roof.” Sometimes it was all about knowing your gut and he’d bet anything those instincts drove her forecast. Kate sighed heavily as she pushed away from the table. “Though I don’t think it’s going to strengthen any more. Unless I’m wrong about that too.”
Doubt was a natural part of this business and he’d seen her have it enough to know she didn’t truly believe she’d made an error. “Should I remind you that after five years of chasing together you’ve never been wrong?”
Her eyes cut to the computer. “I think in this case I wish I was.”
“Wish you were what?” Tripp’s voice, still thick with sleep, sounded behind Snyder. He pressed a quick kiss to the back of Snyder’s neck as he passed, and Snyder took a moment to admire the way his ass moved under the towel he’d slung around his hips. “Got any coffee?”
“Third cabinet on the left. Top shelf.”
Snyder watched Kate’s focus return to the laptop but he’d seen something that caused him to smile. It had been subtle, and if he hadn’t been watching her, he would have missed it completely.
But seen it he had.
That faint shimmer of those strong eyes, the flash of red on her cheeks when Tripp came up behind him and kissed his neck, was hard to simply ignore. Whatever reason had driven her out of the hotel room that night hadn’t been because of the lack of desire. The brief flare had been enough to tell him she wanted them both still.
Lucky for them, sitting around waiting for this monster to get here at the end of the week left him plenty of time to get to the bottom of things. One of the few times he was certainly going to appreciate the downtime.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I have a few projects going on at the moment, most notably a follow up to one of my other m/m/f books (this one a BDSM title) Ragged Edge. Before we even finished up with edits for it last year, my editor was already asking for another book set in the same world/club. Luckily, one of the secondary characters in Ragged Edge was already talking up a storm. Adam is pretty unique, so I’m looking forward to getting to tell his story.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I found I couldn’t stop writing. I’d try to step away from a story because I thought I was done and kept thinking about it almost constantly. It still happens on occasion—I get so caught up in the story I just want to sit down and get as much out as I can so I don’t forget it all.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like?  If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I still have a desk job I enjoy (marine designer—which isn’t as boring as it sounds but it’s not as exciting as storm chasing, that’s for certain), so I have to balance it and family in order to have time to write. Sometimes it’s a complicated dance, but really it’s just a matter of juggling things in order to make it work. Luckily my family understands and my weekends are usually spent in my home office working on whatever story. About ten years ago, I always complained I never had the time to write. And then I realized, if it’s something I want to do—I had to make the time. I think that’s still true to this day. Something always has to give; you just have to decide what.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I still write in spiral notebooks. That’s right, everyone else is sitting around Starbucks with their laptops and there’s me with pen and paper. It’s a rare occasion where I will write an entire book directly on the computer. Most of the time, a good chunk of it is scribbled on out a notebook that gets carried everywhere with me (no need to worry about battery life or finding an outlet!). I have a bin in my office where I keep those notebooks when I’ve completed a story too. Why yes, I am a packrat. LOL

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Oh let’s see – a crossing guard, a drafter, a police officer, an astronaut, a firewoman and a mom. Yup, I didn’t just want to be one of those things—I wanted it all. Greediness aside, I did become two of those things. A mom and a designer (they don’t call us drafters anymore).

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I just completed my first 5K in May. I’m still wondering what sort of crazy took over my head the day I signed up.

Wow, Sara, you definitely have variety in your life! Thank you for stopping by today and sharing a bit about yourself with us.  (I just ran my first 5K in April, so know what you mean!)

Readers, Sara is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commentor. I encourage you to follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Remember to leave your e-mail address if you'd like to be entered. 




16 comments:

Mary Preston said...

I've seen a couple of movies about chasing storms, but never read about it in a book. It is fascinating. CHASING SIN has caught my attention. I'm looking forward to the tour.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Sara Brookes said...

Thanks so much for having me here today, Lisa. Your questions were fun to answer! :^)

Lisa Haselton said...

Glad to have you stop by, Sara. Your novel sounds like a lot of fun...like Marybelle, I've seen movies and TV shows about stormchasers, but never read a book that involves them. :)

Catherine Lee said...

What is a marine designer? I've never heard of that job before.

I also live on the east coast and have weathered many hurricanes. When I lived in FL, we used to have hurricane parties at the beach. Good times...Not very safe, but I was young and foolish.
catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

Rita Wray said...

Storm chasing is a very dangerous profession. I would run the other way. LOL
Kit3247@aol.com

Anonymous said...

The book looks great! I'll be following along...

vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

Sara Brookes said...

I agree, Lisa (and marybelle) I've never seen a book written about storm chasing like this, one of the reasons I wrote it!

Sara Brookes said...

Catherine - a marine designer is just a fancy way of saying I design boats. LOL

I love hurricane parties! I've been to several (I live on the East Coast as well) but you're right, fun but not very safe! Thanks for stopping by. :^)

Sara Brookes said...

I encounter a lot of people who say that very same thing, which, in the whole scheme of what it entails, it totally understandable. LOL

MomJane said...

I am sitting in the midst of a huge storm right now. Your story sounds like you have seem a few yourself.56 temsBin

Sara Brookes said...

I certainly have, MomJane. Stay safe!

Brenda Demko said...

This is going on my wishlist. It sounds like a great read and I can't wait to check it out! Thanks!

andieleah said...

I really wanna read this book!!! That cover is smokin' hot!!!!!
andieleah78@gmail.com

Joanne said...

I would never want to be a storm chaser. Too big of a scaredy cat. Congrats on the new release. This book sounds like a winner. Can't wait to read it.

e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

Karen H said...

Just popping in to say HI and sorry I missed visiting with you on party day! Hope you all had a good time!

kareninnc at gmail dot com

Grandma to Twins + One said...

When there's storms around, my husband is glued to the skies, weather on tv, and the internet. He would love to join in on a weather chase! I keep telling him to find a group of professionals, as he's not doing it by himself. LOL

This book is going on my Must Read lisst!

ladystingray72118(at)gmail(dot)com