Author Interview: Iris Astres

Exquisite Quills Welcomes Iris Astres!

EQ: Welcome to EQ! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Iris: I’m a teacher and a native Californian. At the moment I’m drinking tea and sitting in a sunbeam with my cat. These are pretty typical activities, although I also try to Zumba at least four times a week. (Zumba’s great. If you like music more than exercise, I highly recommend!)

Writing/reading romance is part of my firm belief in going after happiness. Here’s to a good book, a healthy heart and peaceful, happy days!

EQ: What made you want to become a writer?

Iris: Sadly, personal tragedy – the death of my fiancé— is what led me to voracious reading. Daydreaming about the characters in books I loved is what made me want to write my own. It took about four years from my first days of dabbling to my first published novel, which seemed very quick to me. I’m still working to get better—meaning hotter, faster, more emotional. That’s what keeps me going.

EQ: What kinds of female characters do you prefer to write?

Iris: I tend to write about smart girls who try too hard. Effort and some very good intentions have distracted my girls from getting what they want – that makes it all the sweeter when the right man comes their way and things start changing for them. Although the men I write about are hardly wimps, my heroes tend to be more dreamboat than Dom— by which I mean, they are indulgent and accommodating.  As one of my Amazon reviewers was kind enough to say, that can make for a nice change!

EQ: What is something nobody would guess about you?

Iris: This year my New Year’s Resolution is two words: Be Nicer.  I’m super psyched to be going after this worthy and (hopefully) attainable goal.

Happy 2014 to all!

EQ: Tell us a little bit about your most recent release.

Alien Impulse (coming soon) is the latest in my Body House series, about the handsome Backusians who work in the famous alien sex spa of the same name.  After a visit to the Body House, Hera Jones files a lawsuit for emotional damages when she finds herself unshakably obsessed with Haden—the ‘Bod’ who rocked her world. Not sure if Hera’s claim is real or just a ploy to make some quick and easy cash, Haden shows up on her doorstep and finds that emotional distress is only one of Hera’s issues. She has a crazy family, a dilapidated mansion to take care of and a would-be killer on her heels.

Find Iris Astres here: www.irisastres.com

Read these titles by Iris Astres:

The Body House

Alien Terrain

The Safety of Nowhere

The Genesis of a Book - Sail Away with Me by Kate Deveaux

Thanks for having me as your guest Jane, I’m delighted to be here and share a little bit of what inspired me to write SAIL AWAY WITH ME.

As a romance author, the setting is one of the very first things that inspires me to start a new book. In the case of Sail Away With Me, a cruise ship seemed the perfect setting for a romance. A man and a woman — strangers to each other when they step on board ship. Several Pina Coladas later and a good dose on that hot Caribbean sun and I had the inspiration for a sizzling erotic romance.

The waft of coconut, the glint of he hero’s tanned muscled chest in the moonlight as our heroine dives in to the Lido Pool after hours…with only her panties and bra…soon to be removed. Well, who wouldn’t be inspired to write just what these two get up to onboard ship? Add in her well meaning friends rooting for our heroine to ‘live a little after her divorce’ and a drop dead sexy hero who falls hard for the demure charms of our heroine…it’s a week of pure pleasure with each day of the cruise more tantalizing than the next.

SAIL AWAY WITH ME:

THIS BOAT ROCKS…

About Sail Away With Me:

Before Jody Carter and her three best friends ever set foot aboard the luxury cruise ship, Jody falls into the arms of uber hunky celebrity guest Taggart Keith, when he saves her shoe from falling to the depths of the sea. Their attraction is undeniable, but the recently divorced single mom knows the last thing she needs is to complicate her life in just seven short days. But that’s exactly what happens when Jody takes a chance — for once in her life— and gives into a week of sensational pleasure.  Taggart helps her discover her more sensual side — one tantalizing night at a time.

Red Sage Publishing Official Release Date: December 1 2013

 BUY LINKS:

Red Sage:

http://eredsage.com/store/DEVEAUX_KATE.html

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Kate-Deveaux/e/B00DGH8X58

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kate-deveaux

LINK TO EXCERPT:

http://bit.ly/1gGeOvU

 

SAIL AWAY WITH ME and these recipes bring a whole new meaning to “I’ll have what she’s having!”

COCKTAIL RECIPES:

Orgasm recipe:

1/2 oz white crème de cacao
1/2 oz amaretto almond liquor
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz vodka
1 oz light cream

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and serve.

Screaming Orgasm recipe:

1 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
1/2 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur

Pour first vodka, then Bailey's, then Kahlua into a cocktail glass over crushed ice. Stir.

Cheers!

Kate

xx

ABOUT KATE: KATE DEVEAUX is a contemporary, erotic romance writer and die-hard romantic. It was after reading Jane Eyre in high school, that she became hooked on the idea of writing about romance, excitement and drama. Kate has been penning stories, from the sensual to the sinfully sexy, ever since! 

A former wedding planner, Kate has always been "in love" with love!  She was inspired to transition from writing racy short stories to full length manuscripts after meeting other authors in the romance world at industry workshops, conferences and events. Now a multi published contemporary romance novelist, Kate is a member of Savvy Author, Romance Writers of America (RWA) as well as their erotic romance chapter, Passionate Ink. Born in London, England, Kate has lived in both the U.K. and the U.S. She and her husband currently reside in Arizona.  When she’s not writing or reading, Kate can be found on the tennis court—yes, there’s even "love" in that game too!

First Kiss Wednesday

It's  First Kiss Wednesday!

 
Kisses are the mainstay of romance writing.  No matter how sweet or spicy our stories are, they usually involve at least a kiss or two.  And the first kiss is especially lovely - that first, soft touch of lips - or perhaps the kiss is fierce and hungry.  Maybe the characters murmur words of love or words of teasing while discovering the texture and taste of each other.  Maybe the only sounds they can emit are gentle, timorous moans or deep, throaty groans.

Okay, now that we've set the premise, here's what you can do for First Kiss Wednesdays.  In the comment box, give us a maximum of 300 words of the first kiss of a published work or a work-in-progress and one link to your website or blog or Amazon Author Page. 

Read and luxuriate in the glories of the first kiss...

Oh, and lips only...  ;-)

Set the Scene in Six Sentences Sunday - Share the Six!

One of the finest aspects of fiction writing is the ability to set the scene.  Characters act and react, but they don't do so in a vacuum.  In their world, they meet, fall in love, solve problems, sometimes horrendous problems.  Maybe it's a small town, maybe the big city, the green, humid jungle, dust-dry desert, a mountainous region.  On the sea.  Under the sea.  In space! 

Setting the scene sets up the unexpected. It's also done by using character dialogue to paint a picture of loveliness, danger, evil, trepidation, excitement, awe...

Give us six sentences that set the scene.  Set the Scene in Six Sentences - Sunday is a new opportunity on the Exquisite Quills Blog to tout your talent.  How have you set the scene or the lead-up in your books?  How have you put the reader into the life of your characters?

Every Sunday, the blog will be open to six-sentence scene-setting.  Just post your six sentences, your name, and one link in the comment box.  We can't wait to read you!

Pass the word!  Open to all!