Friday, January 22, 2010

Lissa Matthews Interview & Giveaway

First I want to start by taking the time to thank Lissa Matthews for granting me this review.



Welcome Lissa.






What was it first like for you when you heard you were going to get your book published?

Oh My God! A friend called me and asked if I'd checked my email lately. I said yes, but that there wasn't anything there. We went back and forth for about 5 minutes before the email came. She'd heard before I did. It was exciting, unbelievable, thrilling, and scary.




Did you always wanted to be writer?

I wouldn't say I always wanted to be. I would say I always have been. Whether it was in my head or on paper, I was forever making up stories, living in an alternate reality of sorts, escaping to happily ever after.




How long is the writing process per book?

Depends on the book. If it's really flowing and I can write for long periods of time without be interrupted, a couple weeks. If it's not flowing like that, if I have a lot of other things going on at the same time, it can take a lot longer. I have set myself a goal of 7500 words a week, Mon-Fri. This should help me get some projects finished and cleaned up, submitted.




What made you choose this genre? Do you ever think you might branch out and write other genres?

By this genre do you mean erotic romance? In general right now, no. I won't be deviating from it for a while. Will I try my hand at paranormal erotic romance? Yes. I have one and am working on another. Erotica? Yes. I have one of those, actually I have a handful of those, most of which I am re-working at the moment to self-publish, perhaps. I don't think I can write without sex in it. I don't see myself writing YA, for instance.


I don't know yet about women's fiction or chick lit. I might try my hand at those one day...




Can you tell us a little about your upcoming release title?





The title is Sugar Rush and it's my first release from Loose Id. I will have second with them in the early part of summer I think.




Let's see, Sugar Rush is set in Denver, Colorado in February/early March. It's so beautiful and white. I was inspired with this book by a little cabin I saw in a valley as we were driving up from Denver into the mountains. We were heading toward Estes and the Rocky Mountain National Park. I am a Southern girl and we don't have that kind of view. It was breathtaking. Anyway, you asked about the book so, here's the blurb:


Graham Hall is twenty-six and has a dream job as a travel writer. He’s come to Colorado for work and a little personal down time. With his article done and the six-month lease up on the small cabin in the valley, he’s stayed around until his next assignment. In a downtown Denver bar, Graham meets Edward and after a short conversation agrees to a blind date with Edward’s business partner, Jane. Afterall, what could it hurt?


Jane is completely oblivious to the machinations of Edward and Graham and shows up at Graham’s cabin to deliver a box of handmade chocolate truffles. From the minute he opens the door, she falls head over heels in lust. A plus size, mid-thirties woman, Jane isn’t sure what Cowboy Surfer, as she’s dubbed him, sees in her or why he’s so tenacious in his pursuit and tries throwing him off at every turn.


The inability to say continue saying ‘No’ leads to hot, scorching sex and a lot of follow-up phone calls opening Jane’s eyes to the realization that maybe life doesn’t have to revolve around chocolate truffles, but rather around a delicious well traveled younger man.

 

What do you have planned next to write?


I am always writing. I always have new ideas, old ideas to complete. I am currently working on a couple of contemporary erotic romances, one i'm cleaning up for submission and one that I am in the midst of writing, another Ellora's Cave Exotika, and trying my hand at a shifter story. Later this year, I'll be working on cowboys and maybe another shifter.




What’s on your music player?

You don't have that kind of time! Or that kind of space! I have a range of music from Judy Garland and Doris Day to Elvis Presley to Billy Joel and Elton John. There's Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Sixx A.M., Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Fall Out Boy. There's SheDaisy, Sugarland, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift. The soundtracks for South Pacific, Grease, Twilight, Phantom of the Opera. Classical from Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Stamitz, Dvorak, Copeland. And then there's Sarah Brightman, Bond, Josh Groban, Michael Crawford, Kristen Chenoweth. I have so much variety on my mp3 player. I have music for every kind of mood and if I don't have it, well, I go find it. Music is the biggest inspiration for me and my writing.




Last book read?

Shutter by Trista Ann Michaels




What do you prefer more … print books or ebooks?


Right now, ebooks. I read on my iTouch. I can store more books that way than I can print books. I love the convenience, the touch, the comfort. I have also found myself reading more of the smaller press' than NY houses over the last year, though occasionally I will buy a NY house book through the Kindle app.




Do you own a eBook Reader?

Nothing that is a dedicated reader. I only have my iTouch. I have looked at the Pocket Sony...the price is attractive on that. It's slim design. But, it doesn't have a backlight and I want one with a backlight.




What has been your favorite part about being an author?


Getting the characters and stories out of my head and onto the page. The freedom. The learning. The people I have met or come across, both good and bad. And the readers. It's an awesome feeling to get that email or that message on Facebook or Twitter, or Myspace that says 'I loved your book. When is your next one coming out?'




The Least favorite?


Rejections. Even though we all go through it, that knowledge doesn't make it any easier. Rejections aren't, for the most part personal, however it's hard not to feel that way. The hardest rejection for me is the one that tells me everything that the publisher/editor found wrong. Yes, there's a lot to be learned from that, but, it's still hard. Would I prefer that way over the 'Thank you but this isn't for us' standard rejection? Yes. I would rather learn from my mistakes than be left wondering why it wasn't for that particular person/publisher.


My second least favorite thing is waiting. I am the most impatient person I know. And I'll whine about it, too. That's awful, I know, but man, I hate waiting. Whether it's two weeks, two months, five months, etc...I hate the waiting.




Do you have a writing schedule?


I have started 2010 with one, yes. Grins... Mornings. Minimum of 1500 words before or by the time my son gets up which is usually between 10 and 11am.




Which has been your favorite character, couple, book, etc so far?


My favorite character... I think I'd have to say Vinter from Simple Need. He's just so yummy with his tats and piercings! I really love Bailey, too, from Pink Buttercream Frosting. I know her really really really well... and Graham from Sugar Rush...he's a hoot, my Cowboy Surfer.




What was the last movie you saw?

New Moon


How was your holidays?


The holidays were good.
Quiet. I didn't write much at all even though I'd planned to. I relaxed with my kids mostly.




Thanks again, Lissa!

You can find Lissa Matthews online at her website, twitter,

 


Thanks to the wonderful Lissa Matthews, she is going to give the chance of two people win some her books.


First Winner:

Gets Their Choice of Simple Need or Demon Is An Angel.  Touch choice this future will have.






Vinter is not your typical business man. Tattoos, piercings, and not a suit and tie in sight. One third owner of a bar and a tattoo parlor along with being a bassist in a band, Vinter comes and goes as he pleases. He likes his beer cold, his music hard, and his women scorching hot. Until he's knocked off his game by a suburban doll he can't stop wanting.



Elise needs a change. In men. The buttoned up business men she's been dating leave a lot to be desired…in romance, in respect, and most definitely in sex. A recent text message from her now ex-lover, drives Elise into a popular bar on the outside of town where she meets one of it's owners. He's just the kind of man she's never had and the definitely the kind she's always fantasized about. Big, bad, and oh so naughty.


Unexpected tenderness. Unimaginable lust. Being dumped has never felt so damn good.








When ex-government assassin Delan is kidnapped by Riko, a sex demon, he’s taken care of and sexually serviced in any manner he desires by Riko’s personal sex slaves. And while not one to bemoan his good fortune, Delan is a man of action and in need of a mission. He’s about to be given one by the name of Angel.



Riko’s half-sister Angel is just that, an angel. Not just any kind of angel though, she’s a hybrid being—sex demon and sex angel. And she’s in need of being tamed. Barred by Riko from having sex with her fellow sex demons, she’s forced to suffer the inadequate fumbling of humans, both male and female.


When Delan and Angel meet, sparks fly. She’s defiant and he’s determined, but the lust and hunger hit them both between the eyes and below the belt. Sex is hard and hot, a little kinky and a whole lot naughty. But Delan needs to find something more than sex to rein her in, or she’ll destroy it all.


Second Winner:  Will win a copy of Sugar Rush.





And what can you do to win your pick of these sexy books.













To be entered just do the following.


+5 Tweet the following message

I just entered to a chance to win @LissaMatthews books at #StrictlyReviews http://bit.ly/7esm4r

+2 Comment with you tweet message link. You can tweet up this message up to five times daily. Every new day counts as extra entries.. Just don't forget to come back and leave a comment with your links.

And leave a way for you to be contacted.

Thanks!

The contest starts today and will end next
Friday, January 29th, 2010.




5 comments:

Stephanie Grant said...

Tweet:
http://twitter.com/sgrant2005/status/8138117101
thegrants(at)live(dot)com

Melanie said...

LOVE the interview. Sounds like awesome books!!

Here's the Twitter link:
http://twitter.com/Melanie_Vautour/status/8163320897

melvautour(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I just wanted to stop by and say congrats on another release Lissa. I can't wait to read about cowboy surfers. Oh and as another southern gal, I agree with you about CO. It's so beautiful up there.

I think I need to take a page from your book and keep a schedule this year. I'm so far behind!

Thanks for posting the interview Veronica.

Pearl said...

Great interview! I love getting to know the authors behind the books I read!

I tweeted the message here: http://twitter.com/Pearl_ROOB/status/8294228927

Pearl said...

Oh! Forgot a way to be contacted: my email in in my blogger profile: mbarten72 (at) upcmail (dot) nl