Author Wednesdays--Kristin Daniels

It's time to welcome this week's guest author to Author Wednesdays at For Whom The Books Toll. The amazing Kristin Daniels is here and will be giving one lucky commenter an e-book copy of My Tye or any e-book from her backlist. Thank you Kristin for taking time out of your busy schedule for our interview!

Bio:

I've always been a reader of romance, but it wasn’t until I discovered the erotic romance genre that I finally figured out what had been missing from all the books I'd read before. The heat, the passion, that was it! My love of reading (any genre, any format...really just anything) led to taking a chance on writing something of my own, and I've been hooked ever since. I call the suburbs of Chicago home, where I live with my own special hero, along with our three great kids.

Kristin's Links:
Email:   kristin@kristindaniels.com
Facebook
Twitter
Website

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Oh, boy. Well, let’s see. I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter and a writer. I speak two languages—English and Sarcasm. I’m a breast cancer warrior, and—big shock—I love spicy romance novels, a little red wine now and then, and dark dark chocolate!

Share 5 fun facts about yourself.

Hmmm. How about two? I’m related to both Daniel Boone and Pocahontas, and I once received an all-expense paid trip to LA from Ellen DeGeneres to see her show (along with a couple hundred other people, but still!).

(Wow, so interesting about Daniel Boone and Pocahontas. I bet the Ellen show was fun.)

What was your ideal career when you were a child?

It sounds kind of simple, but when I was a kid all I wanted to be was a mom. I’ve raised 3 great kids (do you ever really stop “raising” them, though?), so I was lucky in that I was able to do exactly what I’d dreamed about as a kid.

Tell us about a typical writing day for you.

Typically, when I’m in full-throttle writing mode, I’ll write all afternoon. The mornings are for hitting the gym, answering emails, and hopping on social media and the like. I’ll write straight through the afternoon until my husband comes home in the evening, and then my computer is off for the night to spend time with my family. Repeat the next day :)

On average, how long does it take you to write a book?

My first books were novellas, so I’d say anywhere from three weeks to a few months for those. But my first full-length novel, My Tye, took me two years to write. Granted, I was undergoing breast cancer treatments at the time, so it took me a lot longer to finish. The next book I have coming out, Sunset Tryst, took me eight months to write, but I was still going through some treatments and surgeries while I worked on it.

How long does it take to write sex scenes?

Hmm, that varies. I think a lot depends on the mechanics of the scene. A quickie is faster to write than, say, a long ménage scene where you have to make it very clear who is where and what body part is, um, doing what and to whom. Sigh. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?

Where do you find writing inspiration?

Everywhere. I like to play the “what if” game a lot. What if that guy walking down the street did this? What if the woman standing on her front porch did that? And what if, whoa, they did it together? It’s fun to create like that.

Do you have a favorite writing snack?

I’m not much of a snacker, really. But I have been known to have a candy bowl in my office with some pretzel M&M’s in it!

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. Sometimes I write with music on low. Sometimes I have to have silence to work. Mostly I work in my office, but sometimes I like to sit outside if it’s nice. Everything just kind of depends on my mood at the time.

Where’s your favorite place to write?

In the office my husband built for me. We took the two-story foyer in our house, added a ceiling to it (which became a floor on the upper level), cut a door in one of our bedroom walls, and wha-la. I have my own writing nook. There’s pictures on my Facebook page. I love the space, and it means so much to me because my husband built it by himself, and he built it just for me.

What’s the best way to get over writer’s block?

I’m a firm believer that if you’re truly “blocked”, then it means you’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere in your story. If I feel that way, I always go back and take a long, hard look at what I’ve written to figure out where I’ve gone askew. Once I figure that out and fix it, then it’s easier for me to move on.

What’s your biggest writing achievement? Why?

Recently, My Tye spent a couple weeks on a bestseller list. That was so thrilling for me because I love knowing that readers liked the book enough to keep it on that list for so long.

How do you celebrate a new book?

Several different ways. My husband and I will sometimes go to our favorite restaurant to celebrate. Although, my daughter and I have spent a release day shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and that was a lot of fun, too.

Can you tell us about your current book?

My latest is My Tye, which is out now in e-book through Ellora’s Cave. It’s about a super sexy cowboy Sheriff who is also a Dom. Hot hot hot! It’s coming out in print exclusively at EC’s RomantiCon, then it’ll release to the rest of the world on October 24^th.

I also have a sizzling ménage coming out soon with EC, too. Sunset Tryst takes place along the hot and sandy shores of The Emerald Coast. Sun, surf and sex—with a little dangerous surprise thrown in, too.

What do you think makes a good story?

Emotion. I have to be emotionally invested in a story. You make me feel what the character is feeling, and you’ve got me hooked.

What’s the hardest thing about writing and how do you handle it?

It can be a little hard for me to start a new project. I handle it by 1) Giving myself time to get to know the new story, and then 2) Forcing myself to plant my ass in my chair to get some sort of work done on it, whether it be actual words on the page or by writing my ideas down in a journal. I’m currently on Step 2 for a new story. Being that it’s summer, it’s been doubly hard for me to behave and get to work.

If you could bring one of your characters to life, which one would it be and why?

I love all my characters, but if I had to chose one, I really think I’d love to have Tye Carter from My Tye come to life. I’ve often pictured him with his Stetson pulled down low over his eyes, walking toward me with a sexy swagger in his step. He’d take me on a little tour of his ranch, then we’d hang out on his front porch chatting about small-town life—along with some, um, other stuff. Sounds heavenly, right?

If you could travel in a time machine, would you go back to the past or to the future?

Oooh, that’s a toughy. I’ve always been a sci-fi fan, so I think my answer has to be the future. I just want to see if there really will be flying cars, or, better yet, if there will be robots who will come clean my house from top to bottom every day.

(I have the Jetson's theme song running through my head now. LOL!  A Rosie robot for everyone, heck yeah!)

What does your family and friends think about your writing erotic romances?

My husband and kids (all adults now) love it. My kids have often been asked if they read my books, and they promptly respond with “No way!”, but they love that their mom does something so out of the norm. I’ve always taught my kids that they can do whatever they put their mind to, and I think I’m proof of that.

How important is reader feedback, good or bad, to you?

I love reader feedback! I’m very lucky to have readers who have enjoyed my books. The feedback I’ve gotten has been awesome and keeps me motivated.

What’s the best advice you can give to an inspiring author?

Never stop. Never stop writing. Never stop submitting. Never let anyone get you down. Just keep going, no matter what.

How do you relax?

I head out to my RV – my home away from home. I go out there alone during the week a lot, and then my husband will meet me out there on the weekends. It’s my little sanctuary, and one of the few places where I can truly decompress.

What is your favorite all time book?

For the last several years, my favorite go-to book has been The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. There’s something about the time-travel aspect along with the great romantic element of the book that speaks to me. It also has one of the most satisfying and heart-wrenching endings of any book I’ve ever read.

Fun Questions

Pepsi or Coke?

On the rare occasions when I indulge, I’m a Coke girl.

Chips or pretzels?

Chips!

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate, baby!

Mountains or beach?

Oh, I’m a beach kind of girl!

Favorite color?

Varies. I love red, but I also have a lot of black in my wardrobe. My office is painted a deep purple though. Guess it depends on my mood.

Favorite ice cream?

Currently, it’s Ben & Jerry’s Fro-You Phish Food. Yummy!

Casual or dress up?

I love to dress up! The higher the heels, the better :)

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl, all the way. I’m not a morning person.

Cook outs or restaurant dinners?

Hmmm. I love both. I love to cook, but my hubby does all the grilling. I love to eat out at restaurants, too, but we don’t do it all that often. We like to control our own ingredients by doing most of our cooking at home. 

Blurb:

For years, Laine Morgan has fantasized about being bound and taken. After a night of testing the waters at a BDSM club, all her erotic dreams shatter when she’s assaulted and kidnapped. Tossed into a hell she never expected, she’s forced to succumb to the protection of Sheriff Tye Carter—the star of her most vivid bondage fantasies.

Tye’s hidden his desires from Laine for over a year, but not anymore. She’s hurt and scared, which throws the Dom inside him into a rage. He’ll do anything to protect her, even move her to his ranch. But having her all to himself sends his control into a tailspin. And when Laine finally reveals her sexy secrets? He knows he’s the only man who can give her everything she needs.

But there’s an enemy on the loose, one whose personal brand of hatred has put Laine’s life is on the line. In the span of a heartbeat, Tye’s is too. To save them both, he’ll have to surrender control to the one woman who might not be ready to accept it.

Buy Links:

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mytye-1162551-147.html
Ellora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/my-tye.html

Blurb:

When her grandmother bequeaths her a black pearl choker, Mia’s intrigued. Even more mysterious is the note accompanying the gift, telling Mia her heart will know when she should wear the necklace. And it does. As she dresses to attend a company party, Mia somehow knows it’s time to don the choker.

When Mia meets Logan at the party, their mutual lust is instantaneous. Only after the man gives her an unexpected, mind-blowing orgasm under the full moon does Mia learn Logan is vying for the same promotion she’s worked so hard to win. Despite that, their smoldering attraction remains, urging them to indulge in further pleasures of the flesh. Then they discover the small charm hanging from the choker’s clasp—a charm engraved with a love spell.

Are their sizzling desires nothing more than a magical push from her grandmother? Mia will have to take a leap of faith to discover if Logan is The One.

Buy Links:

ARe:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-leapoffaith-625327-149.html
Ellora's Cave:  http://www.ellorascave.com/leap-of-faith.html




Blurb:
Patience isn't Tara North's best virtue. She's tired of her husband’s workaholic tendencies, tired of not being a priority. And very tired of the lack of action in their bedroom. So she sits in the company parking lot, impatiently waiting for his coworkers to vacate the building. Why? 

To seduce her husband, of course.

Tara’s going to get their sex life back on the fast track to Blissville. As she strips for him, Tara issues a challenge—how many times can Jared make her come before the cleaning crew reaches his office? There’s only one way to find out. 

It’s time for Jared to really get to work.




Buy Links:
  
ARe:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gettingnaughty-446485-340.html
Ellora's Cave:  http://www.ellorascave.com/getting-naughty.html



Blurb:
Brynn Lang is already beyond nervous about getting naked in front of the camera for her first big Hollywood love scene, and the situation only worsens when her new co-star arrives on the movie set. No way can she rush into filming a passionate sex scene, not with the one man who broke her heart.

Fresh from a three-month stint in rehab, Ryan Manning is now clear, focused and ready to tackle this role of a lifetime. But there’s more than just dollar signs and super-stardom enticing him. Brynn’s here, looking sexier than ever. Ryan’s determined to make amends for his drunk-assed mistakes and win her back, and he can’t think of a better way to jump-start her desire than reminding her of the inferno that always raged between them whenever they touched.

But nothing’s ever that easy. Brynn’s furious and refuses to listen. This time, he’s on his own. There’s no script for him to follow. All he has is sincerity, honesty and love. He hopes to hell and back it’ll be enough.

Buy links:

ARe:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-unscripted-452952-149.html
Ellora's Cave:  http://www.ellorascave.com/unscripted.html




Blurb:
Graphic artist Eden Foster never expected a sexy game of hide-and-seek to turn into the hottest encounter of her life. The erotic dreams she’s had lately starring to-die-for rock star Shane Tolan are almost enough to make her forget how badly she wants to design his next CD cover. Almost, but not quite. 

And now here he is in the flesh, ready to chase after her.

Shane likes to play dirty and he finally has Eden right where he wants her—outside on a balcony, tied to a chaise lounge and under his complete control. But he soon discovers it’s not just Eden’s body he wants, but the talented, business-savvy artist, too. Hell, he wants every luscious part of her.

Then paparazzi’s naked photos from that night show up on the internet, Eden is convinced her peers will believe she slept with the rock star just to design his CD cover. Shane knows nothing’s further from the truth. And in order to prove it to her, he’s going to have to show her his heart.

Buy links:

 ARe:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chasingeden-444069-340.html
Ellora's Cave:  http://www.ellorascave.com/chasing-eden.html

Don't forget to leave a comment and show Kristin some love!!! One lucky commenter will win an e-book copy of My Tye or their choice of an e-book from Kristin's backlist. You have until Sunday August 25, midnight EST. And don't forget to include your email addy so you can be notified if you win!
Thanks again Kristin for stopping by today.

I hope you'll join me next Wednesday, when my guest will be the wonderful Linda Nightingale. She'll be interviewing Morgan from Sinner's Opera. You don't want to miss out.