Hi, everyone! Ah, Wednesday…and that means it’s author interview time.  Today, author Vonna Harper–a woman with a gift for writing very steamy tales–is our guest.   Welcome, Vonna!

1.    Please tell us a bit about yourself and the genre (or genres) that you write.

A lifelong reading/writing addict, I was first published before the invention of the printing press. <g>  Seriously, I can’t remember when I didn’t consider myself a writer.  Although I’ve had a lot of writing gigs, I’m currently completely immersed in erotica.  I write for Kensington Aphrodisia, Ellora’s Cave, Loose-ID, and Samhain.

2.    Tell us about your most recent release.

Here’s the blurb for NIGHT OF THE HAWK:

Reporter Smokey Powers has come to a small Oregon town to investigate a developer’s disappearance.  But from the moment she wanders into a local art gallery, she’s captivated by a stunning photograph of a hawk in flight–and by her urgent need to meet the photographer, to touch him–to know him.

When Smokey comes face-to-face with Mato Hawk, a member of a local tribe, his masculinity overwhelms her.  For once, this ambitious career woman is learning what it means to submit in every way.  Again and again Mato takes her to the brink of release, becoming more dominant and demanding, awakening every inch of her body to pure sensation until she’s never felt more alive–or less in control.

Seduction was a way for Mato to stop Smokey from jeopardizing his people’s land with her investigation.  Now their desire has become an unstoppable force that’s wild, risky, and deliciously unpredictable.

3.    Which character do you like better from your current  release—the hero or the heroine?  Why?

I’m going to generalize here because I’ve given birth to so many stories.  My heroines tend to be more complex, probably because I spend more time in their point of view but I can’t say I ‘like’ one more than the other.  All of them challenge me and I’ll always hold that against them.

4.    What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

The writing part. <g>  I love those ‘light bulb’ moments when something new starts to take form.  I love the nights of insomnia while characters whisper to me and plots go off in this direction and that.  Research, mostly online, is a kick and can kill an entire day.  Then comes that moment when I actually have to come up with a twist on, “It was a dark and stormy night” and I wind up writing emails for hours instead.

5.    In a fight, who would win…Dracula or the wolf-man?

Having given this considerable thought and debate, it has to be wolf-man.  Yes, Dracula has all those built-in protections against mortality, but he’s a pretty skinny dude while wolf-man is all muscles.  At least I’m assuming that’s what’s beneath all that hair.

6.    What’s your favorite scary movie?  Come on, spill.  No explanations—just name it.  Let everyone else guess why.

Deliverance.  (Yes, I know, its an oldie but I have my reasons and its not what you’re thinking.)

7.    Tell me the one thing you wish you’d known about being a writer, um, before you became  a writer.

More about the business aspect of this career.  I could go on forever on that.

8.    What is your writing schedule like?

It’s a rare day that I don’t spend part of it creating or editing.  That said, no two days are the same.  I’m a morning person and my brain dies about dinnertime.

9.    Tell me anything you’d like to tell me.

Life without a daily glass of wine just isn’t.

LOL, thanks for the responses, Vonna!  Good luck with your new release!

I want to begin today by sending my congrats to my friend Edie Ramer!!  Edie has advanced to the 4th round of the American Title V Competition! Go, Edie! (Although I am not at all surprised to hear you’ve advanced!)  The voting is open for this round and you can read the entries here.  To vote for DEAD PEOPLE (that’s Edie’s story with the awesome title), send a blank email with the subject of DEAD PEOPLE to votes@romantictimes.com.

I received a review of IMMORTAL DANGER from Two Lips Reviews yesterday (thank you, Tina!). The story was given 5 lips!  You can view the full review at Two Lips, and to get you curious, here’s a snippet:

“There is hot sex, action and adventure in Immortal Danger and I loved the blend of humanity with the demon in Maya. She has to come to terms with what she has become and what it means for her. I thought her character was thoughtfully done. I hope to read more like Immortal Danger from Cynthia Eden in the future.”–Tina of  Two Lips Reviews

I began writing a new book yesterday–always a fun, but scary situation for me. Fun because–hey, blank page! I can start the tale anywhere! Possibilities! Options!  And scary because–gah, a blank page!  Lots and lots of blank pages.  But I’m good now. I’m on page 11!  I think I’ve got a great feel for both of my main characters.

Before I wrote, I spent an hour doing pre-writing research. More research will definitely follow later. This book will be one of the most research intensive I’ve ever done.  My heroine is a firefighter and I want to make sure I’m covering things properly for her.

While doing my research, I came across some firefighter videos on YouTube (I was looking for flames…). I thought I’d share one or two with you.

And, yes, my research did involve more than me just watching YouTube videos.  🙂 While I think of the above video as the wild, action-packed firefighter film, I also found a very well-done video about female firefighter recruitment. Great ladies, great stories.

And, hey–quick reminder! Amberkatze still has an IMMORTAL DANGER contest running over at her blog.  Check it out if you have a chance!

I’ve read two books recently that have earned spots on my keeper shelf:

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

and

Coyote’s Mate by Lora Leigh

(Both of these books can stand alone, though they are each involved in a series.)

These two books were the kind of awesomely good stories that keep me up at night. I read them as fast as I could (the first time), then re-read slower the second. 🙂  Thank you, Kresley Cole and Lora Leigh!

Does anyone else have any new keepers you’d like to tell me about?

By the way, I’m blogging about exactly what makes a book a keeper over at Divas of the Dark.

Several of my Bradford sister authors have new releases out this month, so I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about them.

The always awesome Anya Bast has a very steamy new story out from Samhain this month:

Anya is such a great author–I love the worlds that she creates.

Shelli Stevens also has a hot release from Samhain Publishing this month:  TEMPTING ADAM.  Want to read an excerpt or watch the trailer?   I love book trailers–and I love the tagline for this book:  “The man she wants is the one she must deceive.”  Ah, Shelli, you’ve got my attention!  Shelli is a busy author this year–lots of great releases!

Do you like sexy western romances? I do-I got hooked on those years ago with Elizabeth Lowell’s “Only” books. Do you remember those?  ONLY MINE, ONLY HIS…great books. Yeah, they made me cry.  But the good cry.

Well, Beth Williamson has a western romance scheduled to release next Tuesday from Kensington Brava. (Congrats, Beth!!  Another Brava gal!)

Want blurbage?

Plum Creek, Colorado 1872

The Right Man Comes Along

Madeline Brewster practically owns Plum City, Colorado. But at thirty-two, she knows she has missed any chance for happiness. Until she finds a tall, strong, handsome Irishman on the wrong end of the hangman’s noose. Suddenly this unconventional woman comes up with an outrageous idea . . .

Teague O’Neal has rugged cheekbones, tousled black curls, and eyes as blue as the sky, even if he is caked in Colorado mud. The men insist they caught him horse-thieving, and there’s something desperate about him that says he’d do anything for a buck.

Maybe it was pure chance, or maybe it was something more that brought Madeline and Teague together. But one thing’s clear, between a woman who has just about everything she could ever want, and a man who’s lost that and more, they might find something in between worth living for.

***

Jodi Lynn Copeland also has a February release.  ESCAPE TO ECSTASY is a Kensington Aphrodisia, and it sure seems like the right book to warm up a cold winter night!:

Sexual healing…there’s nothing like it. And Ecstasy Island is where it happens. Meet two heroes who know exactly how to vanquish a woman’s every fear and teach her to love—and fully live—again. But this erotic escape is by invitation only…

And to round out the Bradford group for February, the talented Denise Agnew has a new Heart of Justice book available:  IN HER DEFENSE.

Blurb:

Celeste Rice’s life has been shattered by terrible violence more than once. Violence threatens to creep back into Celeste’s world when her ex-boyfriend stalks her. When Celeste inherits her aunt’s home, she decides to move back into her childhood neighborhood after long years away. Upon her prodigal return, she encounters old friend and long-time object of her desire, Mick MacGilvary at a charity event and knows that she is finally ready to pursue that heart-stopping attraction. She believes she’ll stop craving him if she has sex with him once and gets it out of her system. She decides to test the wildfire attraction, even though Mick’s violent past and his SWAT position frighten her.

Mick will do anything in her defense…

SWAT cop Mick MacGilvary’s instincts tell him Celeste’s ex-boyfriend has something evil up his sleeve. Mick’s uneasy past with Celeste makes him gun-shy around her. His protective feelings for Celeste have never abandoned him. Ten years ago, Celeste rejected his advances, and he hasn’t forgotten. The heavy-duty attraction he’s always had for her ramps up now that she’s near. Better yet, she’s obviously interested in bedding him.

Danger lurks around the corner…

Caught up in a passion neither of them can deny, Mick and Celeste’s strengths and weaknesses are tested when her ex-boyfriend decides if he can’t have her, no one will.

***

Sounds like another fast-paced, sexy read Denise!  🙂

And Bradford ladies–you are busy!

If you’ve got a book you’re reading that you want me to know about, please, post away!

HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT won the CAPA from The Romance Studio!  Wow!  HOTTER AFTER MIDNIGHT was the winner in the paranormal romance category (and there were some absolutely fantastic nominees in this category–actually, in all the categories!). I’m thrilled that my Monster Doctor story won and I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to the folks who selected my book.   You’re sure made me one happy woman!  Thank you, TRS!

CAPA stands for the Cupid and Psyche Award, and The Romance Studio gives out the awards every year on February 14.     What a great day for a romance award!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!  I hope you have a wonderful day filled with chocolate, roses, and, of course, love.  🙂

And, if you’d like to add a free book to your Valentine’s Day frun, then head over to Amberkatze’s Book Blog!  Amber was kind enough to interview me (thanks, Amber!), and in addition to the interview, there’s a book contest on her blog.  One person will win an autographed copy of IMMORTAL DANGER (Come on–it’s about vampires, dragons!  You want this book!!)  So check out the interview and be sure to read the full contest details (posted just below the interview).

Then go kiss your sweetheart.  Hug your friends. Dance with your kids.  Enjoy your day!!