Today we have New Adult author Karen-Anne Stewart in the hot seat, talking about her latest release, Ash to Steele. She's on her blog tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book. Enjoy!
~Mia
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Interview questions for Karen-Anne Stewart
Coffee, tea or…what’s your vice?
Both! My favorite tea is shaken iced green tea and my favorite coffee is Carolina pecan iced coffee. LOVE them both…it’s impossible to choose my fav.
Favorite Movie:
Chasing Liberty. It’s a sweet romance with some beautiful scenery.
Favorite Color:
I’m going to be wishy-washy again and choose two: pink and green!
Favorite book/author:
My favorite book is Great Expectations and my favorite author is James Patterson. That man is a genius!
How do you feel about bacon?
Love it!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a shy, southern chick who has the awesome talent of blushing redder than a cherry on your hot fudge sundae, but all that shyness evaporates when I write…it’s my sweet liberation! Usually, I’m quite mild mannered, but this 5’ girl can turn all crazy ugly dangerous if you threaten to take away my coffee. My first love is my family, then reading and writing. My only addictions are penning the musings in my head and caffeine. I adore good books (especially romance novels with hot heroes), a sweet glass of wine, chocolate (all kinds, except fudge), and hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
What’s under your bed?
This is awful, but I had to go look because I couldn’t remember. I found a Total Gym that really needs to be put to good use, a sole bedroom shoe, and an empty box.
What comes first, plot or characters?
Characters! I do tend to have a general idea of the plot but that’s usually blown to smithereens when my characters take control.
Pantser, plotter, or hybrid? Tell us about your writing process.
I’m more of a pantser, but I do like to have my mind wrapped around how the book starts and how it’s going to end…everything else is subject to the character’s lead.
Oddest thing on your desk?
I got rid of my desk; it made me think that I had to work instead of writing for enjoyment. I do have a tiny pink model of the Eiffel tower on my coffee table.
What’s your most interesting writing quirk?
I’ll write anywhere (usually in my PJs). My laptop is almost always with me in case an idea sparks, and the strangest place I’ve ever written was with my laptop plopped on the trunk while I was waiting to have my car inspected.
What’s your favorite thing about the genre you write in?
New Adult Romance is a powerful realm of its own. I LOVE the possibilities it encompasses and how, at this age, you feel everything and have the courage to take on the world! I think this is why so many authors love writing this genre.
What is the hardest thing about being an author?
Marketing! I suck at marketing, but I’m getting better .
What’s the easiest thing about being an author?
Writing. I can get so lost with my characters that I forget my need of sustenance and sleep.
Tell us about your latest release!
Blurb for Ash To Steele...
Thank you so much for having me, and a big thanks to the readers for taking the time to chat a bit with me today. I love to connect with readers, so feel free to connect with me at any of the following:
Thank you so much for having me today! ~Karen-Anne
Coffee, tea or…what’s your vice?
Both! My favorite tea is shaken iced green tea and my favorite coffee is Carolina pecan iced coffee. LOVE them both…it’s impossible to choose my fav.
Favorite Movie:
Chasing Liberty. It’s a sweet romance with some beautiful scenery.
Favorite Color:
I’m going to be wishy-washy again and choose two: pink and green!
Favorite book/author:
My favorite book is Great Expectations and my favorite author is James Patterson. That man is a genius!
How do you feel about bacon?
Love it!
I’m a shy, southern chick who has the awesome talent of blushing redder than a cherry on your hot fudge sundae, but all that shyness evaporates when I write…it’s my sweet liberation! Usually, I’m quite mild mannered, but this 5’ girl can turn all crazy ugly dangerous if you threaten to take away my coffee. My first love is my family, then reading and writing. My only addictions are penning the musings in my head and caffeine. I adore good books (especially romance novels with hot heroes), a sweet glass of wine, chocolate (all kinds, except fudge), and hiking in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
What’s under your bed?
This is awful, but I had to go look because I couldn’t remember. I found a Total Gym that really needs to be put to good use, a sole bedroom shoe, and an empty box.
What comes first, plot or characters?
Characters! I do tend to have a general idea of the plot but that’s usually blown to smithereens when my characters take control.
Pantser, plotter, or hybrid? Tell us about your writing process.
I’m more of a pantser, but I do like to have my mind wrapped around how the book starts and how it’s going to end…everything else is subject to the character’s lead.
Oddest thing on your desk?
I got rid of my desk; it made me think that I had to work instead of writing for enjoyment. I do have a tiny pink model of the Eiffel tower on my coffee table.
What’s your most interesting writing quirk?
I’ll write anywhere (usually in my PJs). My laptop is almost always with me in case an idea sparks, and the strangest place I’ve ever written was with my laptop plopped on the trunk while I was waiting to have my car inspected.
What’s your favorite thing about the genre you write in?
New Adult Romance is a powerful realm of its own. I LOVE the possibilities it encompasses and how, at this age, you feel everything and have the courage to take on the world! I think this is why so many authors love writing this genre.
What is the hardest thing about being an author?
Marketing! I suck at marketing, but I’m getting better .
What’s the easiest thing about being an author?
Writing. I can get so lost with my characters that I forget my need of sustenance and sleep.
Tell us about your latest release!
Ash to Steele is more than just a story about a bad boy meeting a good girl. There is a powerful romance with twists and turns, tears and humor, angst, personal demons, healing love, and a group of supporting characters that I want as my BFFs. Emma Jones is a small town preacher’s daughter who is desperate to break free from her boyfriend and the image everyone has made her into. Leaving behind everything she has ever known, she grasps her dreams and heads to Boston to start her art career but, more importantly, to find herself and the more she fiercely desires.
At first glance, Breck Steele is a bastard wrapped in a panty-melting package of blue eyes, muscles, and tattoos…but there’s a heart of gold buried underneath his abrasive, cocky exterior. He evades everything Emma believes and does his damnedest to hate her, but that’s so hard to do when she consumes his thoughts, desires, and soul.
At first glance, Breck Steele is a bastard wrapped in a panty-melting package of blue eyes, muscles, and tattoos…but there’s a heart of gold buried underneath his abrasive, cocky exterior. He evades everything Emma believes and does his damnedest to hate her, but that’s so hard to do when she consumes his thoughts, desires, and soul.
~*~
Blurb for Ash To Steele...
Emma
Who I am and all I believe is marred with just one glance into angry, steel blue eyes. He seems to control my air, my ability to breathe. He makes me crave everything I know is a sin. Pure becomes tainted and lines are blurred. It's my fault; I'm the one who isn't strong enough. I've been damaged...broken. Breck's words haunt me...'There's a consequence for every choice you make.'
Breck
I've had so many women I can't even remember over half of their names, but none of them are mine; I make damn sure of that. I take what I desire and never look back. I don't need or want anyone, ever...not until I met Emma. Those eyes bore into what's left of my soul and her touch sears me, weakens me. I want to hate her for that. She is my ruin...my sweetest hell.
Who I am and all I believe is marred with just one glance into angry, steel blue eyes. He seems to control my air, my ability to breathe. He makes me crave everything I know is a sin. Pure becomes tainted and lines are blurred. It's my fault; I'm the one who isn't strong enough. I've been damaged...broken. Breck's words haunt me...'There's a consequence for every choice you make.'
Breck
I've had so many women I can't even remember over half of their names, but none of them are mine; I make damn sure of that. I take what I desire and never look back. I don't need or want anyone, ever...not until I met Emma. Those eyes bore into what's left of my soul and her touch sears me, weakens me. I want to hate her for that. She is my ruin...my sweetest hell.
~*~
Excerpt from Ash to Steele...
About the Author
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen
in love with writing. Her written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain, and the newly released stand alone novel, Ash to Steele. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards, and Saving Rain and After the Rain were nominees for the 2014 RONE Awards.
When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.
His confession knocks the air out of
me, just as ruthlessly as if he punched me in the stomach. I gasp,
desperately try to fill my lungs with air, “I am yours. You’ve always had me;
even when I hated you, you had me.”
All coherent thoughts disintegrate
when Breck grabs my shoulders, pulling me against him. The heat of his
body radiates through my skin as his hand runs behind my head, sliding up my
neck until his fingers are tangled in my hair, pulling it until my mouth is
almost touching his. The intensity of his gaze weakens me. Steel blue
phases into a stormy gray as his mouth collides with mine.
My head spins. My knees go weak as I
collapse against him, my body not able to handle the intensity of the
sensations exploding inside of me. Breck’s lips claim mine with such
power, for one second, I am afraid. I know the danger of losing myself in
him, but then the fear is gone; there is no one else I would rather lose myself
to.
His hand fists my hair as his kiss
deepens, his tongue pushing, probing, demanding access. Opening my mouth,
I kiss him back. The feel of his lips conquering me, the taste of his
tongue as it slides over mine, colliding, taming, plundering, sends the
sweetest shivers down my spine. His teeth graze my bottom lip, nipping
and lavishing as his tongue tastes my lips, then plunges inside again, breaking
me to his will. I need him with such desperation, I cringe at my weakness
but allow him to tame me.
~*~
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen
When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.
~*~
Thank you so much for having me, and a big thanks to the readers for taking the time to chat a bit with me today. I love to connect with readers, so feel free to connect with me at any of the following:
For More Information
- Visit Karen-Anne Stewart’s website.
- Connect with Karen-Anne on Facebook and Twitter.
- Fan Karen-Anne at Goodreads.
- Visit Karen-Anne’s blog.
- More books by Karen-Anne.
- Contact Karen-Anne Stewart.
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/skarenanne
- Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/SKarenAnne/
- Website: www.karen-annestewart.com
Thanks for stopping by!
1 comment:
Thank you so much for letting me chat with you about Ash to Steele! I hope you have a wonderful weekend :).
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