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!
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**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
*If winner lives International
Rules:
~Must leave a comment and/or ask RG Alexander a question
~Fill out the form
Contest Ends Sept 19th
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