Today we have erotic romance author Nancy Fraser in the hot seat, chatting about her latest release from Decadent Publishing, The Muse. This is a really interesting premise, a steamy menage set in the roaring 20's involving a jazz singer, an artist, and a heiress looking to expand her sexuality. It's definitely on my to-read list!
Nancy
will be awarding a $15 GC to winner's choice of an online book retailer to a
randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and another randomly
drawn winner will be awarded a Reader's Coffee Mug (US/Canada - $5 GC for
international winners).
Enjoy!
~Mia
Interview questions for Nancy Fraser…
Quick round:
Coffee, tea or…what’s your
vice? Coffee (4-5 cups a day) with
double cream
Favorite Movie: While You
Were Sleeping
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite book/author: Chain Lightning by Elizabeth Lowell (an oldie
from the early 1990s but a goodie)
How do you feel about bacon? It’s a love/hate relationship. I love it, but
I hate the way it sticks to my hips and ass.
The REAL questions…
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a grandmother to three
beautiful girls and two handsome boys. I’m retired from the “outside” world and
do my best to write 4-6 hrs a day/five days a week. However, “retired” also
seems to be synonymous with … grandmas not busy she can do it!
I’ve been writing since the
early 1990s and my first book was published in 1996. After a semi-amiable
divorce, I had to give up writing for a while to actually support myself. I
sold my second book in 2007 and haven’t looked back since.
I currently write for four
different publishers. The Muse is my 16th
published book. Book 17, Home is Where the Hunk is (a secret
baby book with a twist) came out on the 22nd of this month and #18, Dream
Lover, the fifth novella in my Golden Decade of Rock and Roll series,
comes out on December 17th. I also have 4 releases set for early
next year.
What’s under your bed?
There’s something under my
bed? Yikes! Oh wait, those are just dust bunnies. Nothing to be afraid of.
What comes first, plot or characters?
Characters. I get a vision in
my weirdly wired brain of a hero or a heroine and I think, “What could I do
with this person that would make a good story?”
Pantser, plotter, or hybrid? Tell us about your
writing process.
Plotter, at least for the
outline of the book. I get that character in my head, decide what type of love
interest would work best, jot down some ideas for story arcs, and then create a
rough outline. I tweak as I go along. Then, once the book is done, I write a
synopsis. I approach the synopsis like a student might do a book report. This
works better for me than feeling like I have to write the book to fit the
synopsis.
Oddest thing on your desk?
It might seem odd to anyone
but me, but it’s a prop Daily Planet coffee mug from the set of the mid-1990’s show
Lois and Clark, New Adventures of Superman. If you want a quick class in
writing sexual tension … watch the reruns or download the series.
What’s your most interesting writing quirk?
Probably that I have to work
on more than one thing at a time. It stifles my creativity to concentrate on
just one project. I have to move from one story to another to keep the juices
flowing.
What’s your favorite thing about the genre you write
in?
The inevitable happy ending.
Also the friendships I’ve made through writing, both with other writers and
with readers. Romance authors and readers are the most upbeat and supportive
people out there.
What is the hardest thing about being an author?
Deadlines and not enough
time. Or, and this is my biggest fear … thinking of something that would have
been PERFECT in your story the day after you’ve turned in the final galley.
What’s the easiest thing about being an author?
When someone asks, “What do
you do?” being able to say, “I’m a published romance author.” Sometimes the look on their faces is worth
all those “hard” things.
What do you wish someone had asked you for an
interview question? Here’s your chance to get the soap box out!
I’ve only been asked this
once, but I got such a kick out of it, I wish more people would ask.
What’s the strangest writing-related experience
you’ve had since being published?
I was scheduled to sign at a
library fundraising event. There were about a half dozen local authors
scheduled to be there. I lived nearly an hour’s drive away and ran into some
traffic so I was running late.
I’d just arrived and was
standing near my assigned table talking with the librarian (probably
apologizing for being tardy), when I saw two women looking at my book and
trying to decide if they wanted to buy it. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a third
woman appeared. She sat down in MY seat, began talking up the book to the two
ladies, and offered to autograph “her” book for them if they decided to buy it.
The librarian and I just
stood there in stunned silence while one of the women handed her the book and
said, “Please make it out to Susan.” The imposter then proceeded to write a
small passage and sign my name.
As discreetly as she could,
the librarian led the fake me away. I sat down at the table, apologized to the
two customers, and signed a second book. I’m not sure what happened to the
imposter but most likely the librarian asked her to leave.
Tell us about your latest release!
The Muse is
the story of Susan Leland, a Hyde Park debutante raised in the lap of luxury.
Despite her privileged upbringing, Susan is a very down-to-earth young lady.
While she’s not a virgin, she is inexperienced. She’s also curious about her
own sexuality. It’s the mid-1920s and everywhere you look there’s decadence.
Susan wants some of the excitement for herself … just to see what she’s
missing.
She and her friends frequent
a local supper club that serves up good food, private stock booze, and hot jazz
music. Susan finds herself inexplicably drawn to the club’s sultry torch
singer, Holly Winters.
A chance meeting with artist
Evan Forrester, a man she’d injured in a car accident months before, sets Susan
on a course of self-discovery. When she gets the chance to pose for Evan, she
finds herself caught – quite literally – between the artist and the singer.
And, enjoying every minute of it.
This is my first erotic
romance but definitely won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom of
being able to say and do whatever wicked thing came to mind. While I’ve always
written steamy love scenes, it’s nice to be able to expand those barriers and
let things land where they may.
Blurb for The Muse...
Privileged Hyde Park socialite, Susan Leland, wants more from life
than being a rich man’s daughter. She wants excitement, daring, but most of
all, she wants to explore her sexuality. A chance meeting with artist Evan
Forrester, a man she’d met purely by ‘accident’ months earlier, leads Susan on
a journey of sensual discovery that not only includes the handsome Evan, but
also sultry torch singer, Holly Winters. Together, the singer and the artist
uncover Susan’s utmost desires and unleash her inner vamp.
Available at Amazon
Excerpt for The Muse...
Susan Leland handed her fox stole to
the scantily dressed coat-check girl, took possession of the claim stub, and
tucked it into her clutch. Off in the distance, she heard the smooth tones of
jazz music, the clink and clatter of fine china and fancy glassware, the
raucous laughter of the well-heeled patrons as they dined in elegance and
gossiped about their friends and neighbors.
“Good evening, Miss Leland.”
“Good evening, Andre. Is Mr. Adams
here yet?”
“No, but Mr. Carlson arrived a few
moments ago. I seated him at your usual spot.”
Susan wound her way through the
richly adorned tables until she reached the far side of the large stage.
“Hello, Steven.”
Steven Carlson stood, captured
Susan’s hand in his, pressed a quick kiss to her fingertips and then waited
while she accepted the chair Andre pulled out for her.
“Hi, Susie-Q. You look absolutely
ravishing, as always.”
“Thank you. You’re pretty well
turned out yourself, for someone who’s spent his entire day behind a desk,
pushing a pencil over some stuffy legal papers.”
“It’s called a job, Susan,” Steven
replied sarcastically. “You should try it some time.”
“I do work,” she insisted. “I
volunteer three days a month at the home for the aged. And, I’m thinking about
writing a book, a tawdry little novel about a woman who falls in love with an
absolute cad. I’ll call him Steven.” Not expecting a response, she glanced toward
the door and asked, “Any idea how long we’ll have to wait for Will this
evening?”
Steven turned as she had, scanning
the large dining room. “Knowing Will, it’s likely he’s just now leaving his
friend’s apartment on the north side.”
She settled back into her chair. The
revelation that the young man she’d known since their teenage years had been
hiding a huge secret from her sat uncomfortably on her shoulders. “Is he doing
all right since his family turned him out?”
“He’s doing fine. Justin is a good
man and won’t let any harm come to Will.”
For as long as their illicit liaison
lasts. Susan pursed her lips, holding in the first thought that came to mind.
~*~
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Like
most authors, Nancy Fraser began writing at an early age, usually on the walls
and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing
often made her the English teacher’s pet, which, of course, resulted in a whole
lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
When
not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five beautiful
grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits.
Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful
people.
Connect with Nancy on the Web
Website:
www.nancyfraser.ca
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor
@nfraserauthor
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser
~*~
Contest Details
Nancy
will be awarding a $15 GC to winner's choice of an online book retailer to a
randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and another randomly
drawn winner will be awarded a Reader's Coffee Mug (US/Canada - $5 GC for
international winners).
