Authors Julie James, Shiloh Walker, Joss Ware/Colleen Gleason and myself are throwing a ‘spread the word’ contest about our book signing in Chi-town, March 13th, Barnes and Noble/Webster Place from 1-3 pm! Even if you can’t attend in person, if you help us spread the word, you’ll be in the draw for a $40 Barnes and Noble gift certificate and signed copies of each authors’ latest book! Check out the details and enter at Julie’s Blog!
Good friend Fiona Jayde has her first Samhain book out today, a scorcher contemporary that is sure to get your heart racing called Pas de Duex. Give it up for Fiona!
Pas De Duex
One wrong move, and she could be dancing on her grave…
Two years after an injury put her dancing career on hold, Lynnrina Kovaleva is determined to reclaim her place on the stage. On the eve of her comeback production, she takes the edge off her nerves with a one-night stand in the strong arms of celebrity bodyguard Mateo Rivera.
Ex-cop Mateo is celebrating one hell of an anniversary: eight months since he was declared unfit for duty. When a delicate beauty boldly propositions him in a bar, he chooses to lose himself in her body rather than lose his mind to alcohol. This choice comes back to haunt him when he’s hired to protect a prima ballerina who’s been receiving threats.
Despite her shock at seeing him again, Lynn must not allow their intense attraction—or any creepy fan letters—to undermine her performance. Mateo can’t reconcile this coldly focused dancer with the passionate woman who seduced him. Yet he sees fire under the ice, pain hidden by the smooth mask of perfection.
The vivid memory of their entwined bodies wars with the job at hand, but he must keep Lynn safe—regardless of the cost. The most difficult challenge, however, will be keeping his hands to himself.
Warning: Contains jetés, pliés, a chilling touch of danger, and the boiling heat of an unwanted attraction that combusts into passionate sex.
1. Welcome Fiona! What are your thoughts on the eve of your release of Pas de Deus?
Hi Beth – thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be releasing Pas De Deux – this is a first foray into contemporary romantic suspense for me. I’ve always loved the genre, but somehow never managed to write anything close. I’m hoping this is a first of many – I do love writing cops and detectives and bodyguards! Plus this is my first Samhain release – again, first of many I’m hoping:)
2. What does Pas de Deux mean? (Both literally–lol–and figuratively–why did you choose it as a title?)
Pas De Deux in Ballet terms means a dance for two where the steps are performed together. It can also be thought of as a dancing duet. It fit perfectly for the title of this story because of the pairing of bodyguard Mateo Rivera and prima ballerina Lynn Kovaleva and their “dance of attraction” or rather “their dance of denying attraction”. Both are determined to maintain their distance behind a mask of cool professionalism – Lynn can’t afford any more rumous about her while she is fighting to get back her reputation, while Mateo must concentrate on protecting his client and can’t afford to miss a single detail.
In addition Pas De Duex is the title of the production Lynn is headlining, so I thought it was a great play of a “story within a story”.
3. Pas de Deus has a heroine who is a ballerina. I know you love the arts and play piano yourself. What was it like for you to write a story with musical/dance elements?
You know, I actually tried out for ballet once. I was about five, and my Mom took me to Ballet tryouts in our home town in Russia. They didn’t pick me because I couldn’t get into the first position nor touch my toes! Plus I was never a graceful individual:)
To research dance elements, I enlisted my niece who takes ballet classes (she is en pointe now!) and who refreshed me on the terms, as well as my favorite research tool, Netflix. They have an abundance of Art documentaries, a lot of them on ballet. I couldn’t really understand the dance itself or the amazing effort that goes into making a ballerina look like she is floating on air, but I could understand accenting a movement with music, or what it feels like to have tired burning muscles from overstretching or overworking. I never thought my music and martial arts backgrounds would ever converge like that!
4. Tell us about your hero. What do you love about him?
Mateo Rivera is a very unique hero for me. I knew I wanted Hot Latin Lover hero ( I hope he forgives me for labeling him!) I wanted this potent combination of sensuality and alpha male, and a rich cultural background to boot. I knew immediately that Mateo was of Puerto Rican heritage, but I’ve never really written a hero with that background. And understanding a culture isn’t something one can easily get from Netlflix! Luckily I have a friend who is Puerto Rican, whom I’ve known for a long time. He was very patient while I picked his brain with questions about culture and word usage etc. I hope I did him justice, but Mateo turned out to be one of my favorite heroes for it!
Thanks so much for having me Beth!!
My pleasure, Fi! Happy Release Day!
**************
Leave Fiona a comment on Pas de Duex or ask her a question to be entered in a draw to win one of her backlist books! Also, continue to participate in the Julie James Borders video contest. The winner for both books will be chosen on Saturday!
Julie James did a terrific interview for Borders. She looks great in it and she talks smart romance. Check it out here and then come back and comment on your thoughts on the video. I’ll choose one commenter to win their choice of a Julie James book, including her newest book, which releases tomorrow, SOMETHING ABOUT YOU!!
The winner of Juniper’s backlist book is #16, Jody F! Jody, congrats! Write to me at bethkery@aol.com and I’ll forward your info to Juniper!
Up next, check out Julie James awesome Borders video and leave a comment on it. I’ll give away a copy of your choice of her books, including Something About You, this Friday!
Good morning! I’m having a bit of trouble charging the brain today. It’s so dark in Chicago. Ugh.
I had a book signing in Moline, IL yesterday, which was rather…quiet. Apparently, there aren’t many readers of erotic romance/romance or readers of my books in this area. I know other authors can relate, but when this happens, and you are just sitting there like an idiot with your books and pen ready to go, it morphs from humiliating to bored to…can I please go now? LOL. Luckily, my husband was there to cheer me up and buy me fruit smoothies, and I did meet some really nice ladies. Who knows, maybe I’ll convert a few readers in Moline over to the dark side yet. :)
Anyway, just a heads up that I did an interview over at Cecile’s blog today, and there is a giveaway to one commenter to any book in my backlist, including Release.
Um, let’s see what else. OH! Juniper Bell’s winner will be announced later this evening. Then, look for a feature from my good friend, Fiona Jayde who has a novella called Pas de Deux coming out at Samhain tomorrow. Have you seen Fiona’s video for this? It’s amazing, as is Fiona’s writing. I’ll have both here, so check it out later this evening.
