Guest Post with Author RG Alexander + Giveaway
Sep 13, 2010
How I Grew Up To Write Erotic Romance…Wait, I Grew Up?
For most of my life, if you’d asked anyone around me what I was destined to be, you’d get a handful of varied answers: singer, hallmark card creator, caregiver, dreamer. No, the dreamer label doesn’t usually come with an official job for the resume or a regular paycheck, but they would say it just the same—often with worried expressions and fingers crossed that I wouldn’t walk absently into oncoming traffic because my head was in the clouds.
I’m one of those people who wanted to be everything when I grew up. Even things that weren’t supposed to be real. Like mermaids. I really wanted to be a mermaid. I would tell you all the training and breath holding and preparation I made for the day I would finally learn I was a lost princess from an underwater Atlantis—but then you’d just think I was strange.
On dry land, I loved to read. It was my sport of choice. And when I wasn’t reading, I was daydreaming. What if I could fly to school? What if the teacher was actually an alien? You get the idea. When I discovered romance, then paranormal romance, I was in heaven. Two of my favorite subjects together in one delicious package? How could you lose?
Here is the weird thing—for all the daydreaming I did, I rarely wrote them down. Oh, I tried once or twice, a chapter or a few paragraphs, but then I got frustrated and threw them away. I told myself they were mine, they were strange, and only my ability to rhyme with a Seussian affinity was fit to be shared with the masses.
In a way, through the years, I did follow my dreams. I did everything. I sang in smoky blues joints and dark corner bars, I worked as a nurse in an Alzheimer’s ward and in hospice, I did a thousand and one jobs that made my resume start to resemble a novel all by itself. Waitress, check out girl, secretary, telemarketer, office cleaner, bartender. I even went back to school to study my favorite passions, mythology, religion and archaeology.
I would have, no doubt, continued my strange, transient career path indefinitely, if it weren’t for one thing. My husband. He watched me devour one romance after another, wishing I could write something that affected people in the same way. Made them smile, opened their minds, warmed their…hearts. He also *gasp* listened when I imagined out loud. I had an idea for a story—Lifting the Veil, my first book out with Ellora’s Cave—and he thought it sounded pretty darn good. One day he sat me down and said we would have to tighten our belts, but we could do it. Said he wanted me to stay home and sit in front of the computer until I’d written my story. He was kind of adamant about it.
How could I say no? And once I started, well, I couldn’t stop. As of August I’ve been typing away for four solid years, and I have no intention of stopping.
I love world building and putting a new spin on my favorite myths, or creating my own. And all of my past career choices have helped me with my characters. My heroines, often, have a little bit of my own experiences snuck in. I also love paranormal heroes. Or heroes that are somehow thrust into paranormal situations, like the ones in Possess Me, my debut Berkley Heat anthology.
The erotic part? That kind of just happened. Everyone knew I was a dreamer with a vivid imagination…but they had no idea.
Surprise.
Places to find RG Alexander:
Blog: http://www.rgalexander.com/blog/
Website: http://www.rgalexander.com/
Smutketeers: http://www.smutketeers.com/
Check out some of RG Alexanders Newest Releases!
Wicked Bad
Releases Tuesday Sept. 14th 2010 (tomorrow, YAY!)
Harrison Jennera Abbot was born with a silver broomstick in her hand. Heiress to a Magian dynasty. Good witch extraordinaire. She’s sick of it. She longs to be human, normal like her friend Callie. Or, uh, as normal as Callie ever gets.
She thought running away would be an adventure, but three months playing human has given her a new point of view. Just as she’s ready to return home, though, the real adventure begins. In short order, she’s attacked, saved, kidnapped…and seduced.
Jacob and Ric are convinced that Harrison is the destined third of their triad—if they can convince her they won’t use her as a sexual chew toy, or a social stepping stone. Before they can make her beg for the match, though, she needs to know the truth about who tried to kill her. And why her brother keeps sending her cryptic psychic messages.
Hard as it might be on their Magian male pride, they might have to let her go…trusting that in the end, she’ll choose them.
Warning: Contains an accidental orgasm, crimes of passion, sentient ropes, and powerful witches being magically delicious. Oh, and a charmed shower that only lives to please you.
Possess Me
Out NOW!
In the Big Easy, there’s a legend women long for: a sexual voodoo spirit who can fulfill their darkest fantasies. And in these three steaming-hot novellas, he helps three New Orleans couples achieve the ultimate satisfaction…
Release Me
When Allegra heads down to New Orleans to heal her wounds, she never expects to lose her heart to such a quiet, troubled man as Rousseau. She’s even less prepared for the scorching, sexual spirit within him—and what he can do to her…
Reclaim Me
Ben has loved Michelle as long as he can remember. But his beautiful artist has a way of running away from life—and what the pair could be. Leave it to the infamous sexual spirit to help Ben prove to Michelle where she belongs: in his embrace…
Redeem Me
It’s All Saints’ Day, the one day the voodoo spirit can walk the world in the flesh. When he bumps into Bethany, she might just be the reincarnation of a girl he once loved. Passion ignites, but can he overcome past mistakes and fall in love again?
Thank You so much RG Alexander for giving us a glimpse into your life!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
**Giveaway time**
1 lucky commentor will win a Book!
Wooo Hoooo *throws confetti*
Winner Options
*If winner lives in the US
1 signed Copy of Possess Me
OR
1 e-book from RG's backlist
*If winner lives International
1 e-book from RG's backlist
Rules:
~Must leave a comment and/or ask RG Alexander a question
~Fill out the form
Contest Ends Sept 19th
36 Hottie Follwers Thoughts:
Anxiously waiting the release of Wicked Bad. Possess Me is by far one my favorite books from Rg. I too have a vivid imagination and as a Pisces I'm always daydreaming, how long did it take you to finish Lifting the Veil? As an aspiring writer, I feel like my story is taking a wee bit too long to finish LOL.
thank you
Ivelisse
JoJo-seeing my face that close up this early skeered me LOL Thanks for letting me visit!
Ivelisse-Well, since I'd been imagining that particular story for a while...Lifting the Veil took me from the very end of July until the end of September.
Of course it actually took nearly 2 years to come out. (I wrote 1 short, two novellas and a full while I was waiting)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Where/how do you get your inspiration to write your books?
lucybeugelingramos@gmail.com
I enjoyed learning more about you and your writing. I haven't read one of your books before, but that's going to change. I really liked the excerpts and can't wait to read the whole stories.
seriousreader at live dot com
Lucy-everywhere. A conversation, a silly reality show, a family vacation...mix it with a teaspoon of what if and there you go.
Linda-YAY-Heads up, I do a lot of series. A LOT (I'm a series addict) Wicked Bad is a sequel to Wicked Sexy.
I can't help it, I have to make sure EVERYONE gets their happy ending :)
Great post! Congrats on your newest releases! They sounds like great reads :)
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Love the covers of your books. Do you have a favorite?
Stephanie G
Paranormal Haven
Wow! Awesome covers, makes me want to read the books.
Hi R.G.! Hi JoJo! *waves* What a fun interview - thanks for sharing, R.G. And how awesome that your guy believes in you like that and wanted to support you in your dream :D Very romantic <3
Are you a plotter or a pantser? What do you find is the most difficult aspect of writing?
*hugs*
Hi RG,
Thanks for celebrating release week with us.
I loved your blog post. Knowing that you wanted to be a mermaid when you grew up just sounds so you, lol. Your stories and world building are spot on for me, and I can't wait to start reading your new release.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Paranormal Haven--That's hard. I love most of them-but I think I go between Regina in the Sun (because she was just so perfectly Regina) Piercing the Veil (muscles-big sword-come on) and Possess Me-cause-well just look at it. lol
Bonnie-I'm the pantsiest pantser ever-and THAT is one of the hardest things about writing. Also one of the coolest. When it flows, wonderful things happen. When you get lost in the tangle you're writing...not so much :)
Cathy M- Thank you so much!
Hi RG! Congrats on your latest releases. I've read almost all of your books and have thoroughly enjoyed them ;). I hated to see Children of the Goddess series come to an end, but looking forward to hopeful spin offs or anything else up your magical sleeve :D.
Do any of your stories standout for you more than the others? If so why?
Best-
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
Pam-Thank you! COG series (still funny to say that, since I never planned to make it a series in the first place) is NOT over. April of next year a new generation comes of age *wink*
They all stand out for me in one way or another
Lifting the Veil-the Veiled Temptation series is my baby. My first creation.
My superhero series was just a blast-I laughed a lot while writing that.
COG series? Well I had sworn I wouldn't write vampires, they'd been done, what could I add? But they really grabbed on and wouldn't let go until I wrote their stories. Tenacious lot.
Possess Me-actually that anthology really does stand out-because it took me out of my usual element. I have said I felt "possessed" while writing it. And I did. Bone Daddy is unique. And the doors he opened up I'd never walked through before. But I'm glad I did. Its my favorite story-and I can't wait to go back next year in Tempt Me :)
Congrats on the release, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
Great post.What a great husband to sit you down and tell you to follow that dream.
What one other genre would you maybe like to take a stab at one day?
elaing8-Well you know me, everything lol
I would love to do mainstream romance, YA, and I'm doing an erotic Steampunk set to come out in 2012!
I love paranormal so much though, its rare that I'll do straight contemporary. Everything else is fair game :)
Thank God for supportive husbands.
Congrats on your release it sounds
fantastic.
Wicked bad fells like HOT!
And I love about she is not sure they want a "sexual chew toy" and... accidental orgasm? Is it possible? :D
I liked the interview. What is the most unusual thing that inspired you, and what did it inspire?
debbie
Thanks so much for the giveaway and congrats on the release
tanyainjville at yahoo dot com
Thanks everyone
Debbie-Honestly? lol Stan Lee's reality show Who Wants to be a Superhero?
My husband is sci-fi channel geek. :)
I said-wouldn't it be cooler if there was a reality show with actual superheroes? Only it was like The Bachelor/Who Wants to Date A Millionaire in that women were competing to date them?
And Who Wants to Date a Superhero?, Who Needs Another Superhero?, the world of Gaia City, and Theta Wave, Triad, Rock Hammer and Spark were born :)
I'd still love to make a comic book with those guys. Yes, I'm a geek too.
As I have told you before, I LOVE YOU and your books! I can't get enough of them. I absolutely love series of stories.
Do you like completely wrapping up your stories-you know prego with kids, married, you know tie up all the loose ends? :)
Those are my favorites. I love the ahppily ever after and all that mushy crap but man I love the sex and fighting in between! :)
HOLY HOTNESS! Thanks for the great interview, Jojo. I hadn't heard of RG Alexander before today. I am adding her books to my wish list. Thank you!
I am so intrigued. At first I was all...errrrr... then I read,
"Warning: Contains an accidental orgasm, crimes of passion, sentient ropes, and powerful witches being magically delicious. Oh, and a charmed shower that only lives to please you."
WHOA! Seriously!? Can you write me in too?
Great post and I love the covers of your books, they're gorgeous! What was your first reaction to the book covers?
Congrats on the release of Wicked Bad tomorrow. The cover is so hot and I always love the warnings that are on your books! Do you write the warnings? :)
Thanks everyone for the positive comments!
Kelly-THANK YOU! And yes-I am a sucker for series AND happy endings. I need my happy endings. In my Children of the Goddess series the families keep expanding, the children are important aspects of the story and it just keeps growing. I want to know what happens next just as much as the next reader :)
jeanette8042- I freak out of course. Jump up and down, dance, post it everywhere. It never gets old. The cover makes it real-and when its a good one-I do a special chair dance LOL
Annalisa- yes, all Samhain authors get to write their own warnings-though we have a blurb mistress who guides us :)
Thanks again!
rg- I so glad ur man is so smart :)
what is ur absolute fav books to read ?
I LOVE your books, RG! Wicked Sexy was pretty hawt & smexy. Can I expect Wicked Bad to be even hawter & smexier??
Awws, the books sound awesome!
Too bad I live in Greece and can't win them but hey I can hope for the ebook so yay! :)
Hi, RG :)
Congrats on your latest book release, Wicked Bad *bg*
I'm so glad that you have an awesome husband who supported your writing... I'd hate to imagine never reading your awesome stories ;)
Jennifer-:) When I have time I read a lot-my favorite always have a touch of paranormal, alternative history, ancient mythology, or conspiracy theory
I'm all about escapism lol :)
Courtney-Thank you! And you'll have to tell me ;)
force- ooh Greece, maybe I can bring it to your house myself (always wanted to go to Greece)
Ali-thank you so much. I could hear that all day. And I'm thankful for him everyday. He's the reason-and my hero. :)
RG, your not the only scifi geek! My oldest daughter is named after a one episode Star Trek character. Original series, no less! My hubby has scifi channel on the whole time he is working. He is so happy to be able to work from home, just so he can!
I love your stories. I am SO glad they are in ebook format! I'd go broke otherwise, trying to buy them all.
Dragon Lady-now I'm curious!
And thank you very much! I'm so glad you've enjoyed them. :)
Woooot, RG! What an exciting release! Thanks for celebrating it with us! Do you do anything special to commemorate your new releases? New bling? Framed cover flats? Body art? :)
flchen1-All those ideas sound nice. Mostly I've just been celebrating by opening a new document and getting started on the next story lol
However, I do have a tattoo celebration in my not too distant future. My immediate future? After I finish my current deadline this weekend, I will be joyously celebrating by reclining on my couch with a remote control in one hand and a pile of books I've been dying to read beside me. I may even have to buy bonbons, just so I can say I'm eating them. (I'm so exciting) Honestly, I am giddy at the prospect. I wanna be laaaaazy. :)
Thanks again everybody!
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