Kay Dee Royal
Erotic Romance
Welcome to this week's guest author interview who is also a fellow wolverine from Michigan! I don't live there any longer but was born and raise in Saginaw where I still have friends and family. We've been invited by Kay Dee to lounge around on an
isolated island in paradise, sandy beaches, blue ocean water where her book, One Plus One,
takes place. Grab your favorite summer beverage while we soak up the last rays of summer while we can. Thank you all for stopping in and be sure to get in on the contest Kay Dee is doing at the end!
Kay Dee Royal writes paranormal and
fantasy romance—maybe because it's also her favorite genre to read! She pens
tales with wild, rugged heroes and strong, intelligent heroines. She'll give
them both a few shadowy secrets, making her stories intriguing and
fun. She resides in Southern Michigan with her family (her dogs, her cats,
her caged husband... you get the idea). You can reach her at her blog and find the latest on
her titles from her publisher, MuseItHot.
Deanna: Kay Dee, welcome! The beach is warm and sunny and the Pina Coladas are tasting pretty good! Tell us a bit about yourself.
KayDee: Hello Deanna
and everyone. I’m excited to be here ~ you have such a lovely place. I have a
great appreciation for spending time with friends. Thanks for stopping by.
Okay, a bit about me ~ I love reading and writing romance,
my favorite kind of romance is spicy hot and paranormal…although I enjoy
contemporary, fantasy, and historical romance also, especially spicy hot; I’m an author/writer, editor, promoter, and
blogger, but I’m moving away from blogging so much in hopes of opening more
writing time. Left a corporate job twelve years ago and have never looked
back…I’m doing what I absolutely love.
Deanna: What made you want to become a writer?
KayDee: Like so many
other authors, I began writing stories at a young age. It’s been a passion
always. I decided before I left my twenty-year corporate job that it was time
for writing to be my career.
Deanna: I love hearing that an author can just write full time. Not all of us can say that. What type of hero do you like best?
KayDee: Rugged, built
tough, loyal, proud, a man on a mission…all the traits of an alpha, and the
only thing making him vulnerable is his heroine.
Deanna: Ladies, isn't that why we read? How many plots do you include in one of
your books?
KayDee: My novellas
usually have one major plot with a few sub-plots…most of those are drawn from
relationships. My novels have one major plot with a multitude of sub-plots
(threads) weaving twists and turns and hopefully a surprise or two throughout
the story:)
Deanna: I like reading books where they author knows their readers can handle more than one or two plot lines! Now readers love to know more about us and what we do. Tell us about
a typical day in your life as a writer.
KayDee: I continue to
be WIP (work in progress) as far as a schedule. I think I have one down, and
BAM, something unexpected happens to change everything. So, I’m up early
promoting the guest on my blog, run through emails, spend the rest of the day
editing OR writing OR working on promoting/marketing, check email again, upload
blog post for next day. I have a fairly flexible schedule.
Deanna: Do your books
have a common theme or are they all different?
KayDee: My common
theme in all of my books is the HEA ending. No matter what happens throughout
the story, it will end well for the hero and heroine.
Deanna: I do enjoy knowing at the end they'll be together but we know that doesn't always happen. Reading isn't reality but it's a great way to 'get away' for a while. How long does it take you to write and then
edit a story?
KayDee: One Plus One
took me about two months, two others took almost a year each, the one I’m
presently writing is going on eighteen months. Yeah, I’m ready to be done with
it. The story-stars are sick of me, too.
Deanna: Readers, keep an eye on her sites so you know when her new books come out! Kay Dee, do you have to be alone to write?
KayDee: I create best
if I’m alone, but I can handle writing when others are around.
Deanna: How do you go about naming characters?
KayDee: Sometimes a
name will simply come to me, other times I brainstorm…saying the name out loud,
getting a feel for if it makes a good fit with the part/character, but
honestly, if the character doesn’t like his/her name, I’ll know it in the first
couple chapters. Even secondary characters – I changed Mazie’s name a few times
before she settled down with it. She has a strong personality, assertive and a
bit on the wild-side, yet, she helps run a pretty major corporation. She wanted
a fun name. I believe she also wants her own stor. *wink*
Deanna: I love it when the characters help out with the storyline, including names! Is it easier
to write about the characters if you find pictures of them before you write or
do you write then find character pictures?
KayDee: I have a
definite picture in my mind of what the hero and heroine look like before I
start writing. Once the idea for my story is down solid, I write up fairly
thorough character sketches. Because I’m such a visual/picture person, I bet
having a picture of my hero and heroine would be a benefit to me while writing
the story. I’ve never done it though.
Deanna: Oh, trust me, it does help if you have the visual while you're writing! LOL How do you pick locations for your stories?
KayDee: Mostly my locations are places I’ve visited
and loved (write what I know). BUT, for One Plus One, the location really went
with the theme of the story – a cruise ship. My locations are either familiar
places to me, or they are what make sense for the story and I do research to
find what will be the right fit.
Deanna: I've not been on a cruise ship...YET! Tell us about
your book and your characters. We’d love to read an excerpt!
KayDee: I’d love to
share with your readers!
Info from One Plus One:
Lacinda’s in her mid-twenties and runs an animal shelter. She lost her
husband-to-be two years prior and has more or less closed herself off from
everything outside her animal sanctuary. After a few glasses of wine her best
friend talks Lacinda into filling out a sensually explicit survey questionnaire
as a dare. It ends up the survey is a contest entry for a three-week singles
cruise.
Then there’s Blade…oh, so yummy:) He’s too rich for his own good and is
tired of too many possible relationships being more about his money. He’s done
with women, only his female business partner and long-time friend, Mazie, has
something to say about that. She pulls together a singles cruise with the idea
she’s going to find Blade a mate for life.
This book was so fun to write, sparks flew between Lacinda
and Blade from the get-go…love when that happens. *wink*
Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt of One Plus One:
(Contemporary Erotic Romance)
Coerced by her friend, Lacinda, a woman crushed by love, winds up on a
three-week singles cruise.
Blade, a man of means, discovers Miss Right under the guise of a singles
cruise set up by his business partner.
Once Blade focuses his efforts he always gets what he’s after, until
Lacinda throws his arrogant reputation back in his face.
Can Blade break through Lacinda’s angry barriers? Will she ever see him
as anything more than a player?
One Plus One Excerpt ~ *Warning – this book is rated for 18 or older, explicit love
scenes.*
“Lacinda Gainesly,” a steward called her name. She saw the sign he held
with her name printed in bright purple. She slipped on the first step leading
down onto the ship and stumbled past the steward. The sign dropped from his
fingers and his arms latched around her body from behind. His quick reflexes
saved her face from biting the deck, but his hands cupped both of her breasts
and squeezed. Lacinda threw her elbow back into his side.
“Hey, a little respect for the guy who saved your life.”
Lacinda shrugged out of his grasp. She met his gaze and realized this was
the same man who picked her up from her hotel in a long black limo, only then
he was dressed in black instead of the white uniform he now wore.
“You’re the driver.”
“I’m a lot of things, like possibly a hero.” His eyes looked as happy as
his lips.
She noticed his smile, the same he shared earlier when he asked her
questions about why she took the cruise quiz. Lacinda thought he was simply a
driver for the cruise company so she shared some of her story. He knew about
Alex dying in a car crash on the way to their wedding. She searched her memory
for anything else she might have shared which could embarrass her later.
“Alas fair maiden, your chambers await your timely arrival,” he said,
faking a British accent. He held his gloved hand out. Lacinda refused it.
“I’m ready for my quarters.” She needed relaxation, maybe take a nice hot
scented bath and get prepared for the swing of things, anything to distract her
from the past that never left her alone.
“As you wish, my lady,” he said, again with a British accent. The steward
turned, led her across the deck, and down a stairway. She saw men and women
following other stewards or each other. Once on board everyone began mingling,
even flirting, judging by the tinkling female laughter and deep manly chuckles.
“There will be an announcement left under your door regarding tonight’s
dinner seating arrangements. May you enjoy your day and make sure you take time
for a relaxing massage. There’s always a masseuse available. Their extension is
listed beside your phone. You’ll find your room key there as well.”
Lacinda followed him down a narrow hallway until he stopped in front of a
door with an elegantly scrolled number 216.
“This is you. May I answer any questions before I go?”
Lacinda dug in her purse for a tip. Clueless on how much was appropriate
and not wanting to give him anything. He got his gratuity when he copped a feel
of her breasts.
Kay Dee’s LINKS:
Twitter: @KayDeeRoyal
CONTEST: I’m offering
a PDF copy of One Plus One to a commenter who answers a question
Deanna asked me: What type of hero do
you like best? Drawing will be held on Saturday 9/22. GOOD LUCK!!
Good Morning Deanna, thanks so much for inviting me to your place...for the whole week. Wow, what a vacation:) I get to talk about two...well, three of my favorite story-stars, Lacinda, Blade, and yes, Mazie...she's a hoot. She definitely took over the show a couple of times...how could she not - with her 'in your face' attitude:)
ReplyDeleteI hope you all enjoy the excerpt and consider reading more of their story:) Thanks for stopping by.
I like one who a little devil, has some issues to deal with, loyal to the heroine, good sense of humor, & sexy as hell. LOL.
ReplyDeleteSue B
Hi Sue...your hero reminds me of my husband (LOL)...well, the little devil part *grins* AND, if I'm honest he's all that you mention...I love to read about heroes just as you've described...and I love your descriptive words:)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by - Good Luck in the drawing.
Hi everyone! I love the crowd we have gathered here on the beach! Don't forget to grab your drinks over there at the covered Tiki bar. Our sexy bartender will fix you right up! *wink*
ReplyDeleteThank you all for stopping in and please book mark Kay Dee's sites so you can return later! Did you enter the Rafflecopter contest yet?
Hay ladies! Had to stop by and support Kay Dee (her writing is amazing! I've not read One Plus One yet, but I've read her 2 werewolf books and loved them!) and Deanna too! Miss and love you both. Great interview as always!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to grab my drink and lounge at the beach. LOL. So relaxing. I forgot to say how much I love your cover too. Yep I sure did enter the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteSue B
Hi Danielle *hugs...big ones* And a big hug for Deanna, too - thanks so much for offering up drinks...I would absolutely love one:)
ReplyDeleteHey, Sue, thanks for commenting on the cover - Muse It Up's cover artists are amazing...I am very happy with this one:)
Thanks everyone for stopping by:)
Deanna - I've had a great time hanging out with you this week...I'd love to do it again...and I'm hoping you'll stop over at my place sometime soon also:) Have a wonderful weekend, that goes for everyone!!
ReplyDelete