Interview and Giveaway with Shayla Black!

July is almost over and that means our Burning Up July event is coming to an end too. But before we cap things off, we have an erotica author here with us today who will no doubt heat things up one last time! Shayla is one of my favourite authors! She writes both erotica romance as well as paranormal romance. Her Wicked Lovers series is one of my favourite series, period. So if you haven't read them yet, I highly suggest you to check them out! For more information on Shayla Black, please visit her website here.

UTC: Hi Shayla! Thanks for much for taking part in our Burning Up July event! We're such big fans of yours and have lots of questions to ask, so let's get started! Do you start your series knowing where the stories will lead and what characters will be getting books?

With my Wicked Lovers, no. When Deke appeared in Wicked Ties, he was supposed to be nothing more than a walk-on character. But he ended up serving more story purpose by helping to investigate Morgan’s stalker. As he reported in to update her and Jack, I got interested in him, and he started talking in my head, telling me his story. In Decadent, I suspected Luc would need a book of his own about halfway through. I also began to suspect that the Edgington brothers would need their stories told. All these high-testosterone, demanding men chatting in my head, refusing to leave me alone… These days, I’m more mindful about where the series is going, and in the upcoming Belong To Me, you’ll see several hero candidates emerge, most notably Xander.

With the Doomsday Brethren series, yes. I had every book roughly plotted and I knew which characters would be getting a book and in which order I would write them. It took me a few years to work it all out in my head. Because the stories in this series are so interconnected and one book is a continuation of the next when it comes to the Mathias/magical war plot, it took time to really consider how I wanted to write them.

UTC: The Wicked Lovers series has an amazing suspense subplot. How do you balance the hot romance and suspense aspects of the book?

For me, the trick is finding a subplot that actually enhances the romance. I’m always looking for story elements that will push the hero and heroine together while dialing up their tension. I enjoy the challenge of seeing if I can put in a twist at the end that readers won’t see coming. Then the suspense can both support the main couple and add an edge of danger, which I love.

UTC: One thing I love about these books is the suspense subplot. I think it adds to the overall storyline, making it hard to put the books down! Okay, so...I've got a secret....I am in love with Jack Cole! He is my favorite Dom. Who is your favorite hero from the Wicked Lovers series? Who is your favorite heroine?

I have a serious soft spot in my heart for Jack, too. But I admired everything about each of the heroes. Deke for facing the tragedy in his past, Luc for questioning the values he was raised with and shoving aside preconceived notions to embrace the woman who didn’t look perfect on paper, Hunter for having the courage and gumption to go after the woman he knew was his the instant he laid eyes on her—despite knowing that he was in for one hell of a fight. But I have to say that my favorite Wicked Lovers hero is now Logan. He’s not afraid of his feelings, and his emotional fidelity to the heroine during their years apart touched me. At the same time he actively tries to win her back, he’s mastering her with a seductive but firm hand. And he loves her fiercely. Sometimes, he’s ruthless about it…yet he’ll back down when his heroine, Tara, needs it.

I think my favorite heroine of this series is Alyssa from Delicious. I respect the fact that she made something of herself, despite the terrible tragedy of her teenage years. She ultimately overcame all to become a well educated business owner, as well as a wife and mother. I also admire the heroine from Belong To Me, Tara. She volunteers for a undercover assignment, despite significant danger, all to save her best friend and fellow FBI agent. She’s unwavering in her devotion to catching the scum responsible.

UTC: I absolutely love Alyssa too! She is such a great character! You also write a wonderful paranormal romance series called the Doomsday Brethren. How did you come up with the idea behind this series?

I had the idea for books 1 and 2 independent of each other, a few years apart, but hadn’t been able to finish either one. I put them aside for a few years, then tried to work on the first one again, but still didn’t have it right, I put it away once more. Finally, in 2005, I took it back out. I suddenly had other related voice in my head talking, Bram chief among them. Once I realized that I needed to be stringing the two ideas together as part of a continuing series, then more voices started coming out of the woodwork. Shock and Ice were both incredibly vocal. After lots of brainstorming with a close friend, I finally had a whole series in my head.

UTC: I loved Bram's character! Who did you have the most fun writing about?

Bram is great fun to write, but as he goes through the series and endures the horrors of war, he becomes more somber, contemplative. The weight of the magical world rests on his shoulders to a great extent. But the character I most enjoy writing is Shock. He’s the most “gray” character I’ve ever written. You never really know whether he’s good or bad and his actions themselves are ambivalent. He most often answers a question with another question, and he’s perfectly comfortable operating just outside the lines of what’s right. Someone’s got to do it. He owes no one his loyalty and he definitely has a hidden agenda—and a huge secret. But all of that will be revealed in future installments.

UTC: When you are in your writing dungeon, what items are "must-haves"?

I MUST have music. I really can’t write happily without having the right mood music. In a perfect writing world, I’d also have sunlight or candles and no interruptions. And no TV in the background!

UTC: Belong to Me is Logan's book! What can we expect from your upcoming release?

At lot of sexual tension, tenderness, danger, a few poignant moments—and very hot sex. I enjoyed every moment of writing this book.

UTC: What are you listening to on your IPod? Does music influence your work as a writer?

Music is a HUGE part of my writing. Really don’t like to work without it. Somehow the music helps balance my mood and channel my energy to the page. Some songs on the heavy rotation when I write:

Rolling in the Deep – Adele
When You’re Gone – Averil Lavigne
I Can’t Make You Love Me – Bonnie Raitt
Grenade – Bruno Mars
There and Back Again, What I Want – Daughtry
Don’t Say A Word, Permanent – David Cook
Enjoy The Silence – Depeche Mode
Tonight (I’m Loving You) – Enrique Iglacias
Bring Me To Live – Evanescence
Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
Never Say Never, Look After You – The Fray
Love Remains the Same – Gavin Rossdale
Acoustic #3, Stay With You – Goo Goo Dolls
Better Than Me, Lips of an Angel, Use Me – Hinder
Nights in White Satin – Moody Blues
Separate Ways – Journey
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
Tonight I Wanna Cry – Keith Urban
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Together – The Kin
Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
All In, From Where You Are, Broken, Storm – Lifehouse
Shadow of the Day, What I’ve Done, Leave Out All the Rest – Linkin Park
Won’t Go Home Without You, She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5
Heart on My Sleeve – Michael Johns
See You Again – Miley Cyrus
Livewire – Motley Crue
Supermassive Black Hole, Uprising – Muse
Far Away, If Everyone Cared, Never Gonna Be Alone, Figured You Out – Nickelback
Come As You Are – Nirvana
Wonderwall – Oasis
Stop and Stare – One Republic
Who Knew? – Pink
Breathe Into Me – Red
Your Guardian Angel – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
I’ll Still Be Lovin’ You – Restless Heart
Gravity – Sara Bareilles
Possession – Sarah McLachlan
Addicted – Saving Abel
All Over You – The Spill Canvas
Drowning, Maybe Tomorrow – Stereophonics
Your Love is a Song, Dare You to Move, Learning to Breathe – Switchfoot
If You Could Only See – Tonic

Sorry you asked? I know that’s a lot of songs, but just a fraction of my music library.

UTC: Wow, that's some playlist. Great collection of songs! If you could collaborate with another author, who would you choose and why?

I actually have something in the works right now. I can’t say more at the moment, but you should be seeing some collaborations by the end of the year from me and a talented new author.

UTC: Ack! Tease! I guess we'll find out soon! Embrace Me At Dawn is set to release next year. We first met Lucan in book 1 and I'm happy he's finally getting his HEA. What can you tell us about it?

Lucan has been through hell, and it’s not over yet. He’s going to have to endure more before he’ll get his HEA, but it’ll be everything he ever wanted and more. He’ll have a greater understanding of both himself and his heroine than he ever did in the past. They’ll both be purged of their secrets and their pain. I’m anticipating that it will be a very emotional book. I can’t wait to get started.

UTC: Thank you so much, Shayla for taking part in our Burning Up July event! For Wicked Lovers fans, Jack Cole from Wicked Ties is up for the Ultimate Dom award at Under the Covers. If you're a fan, please cast your votes here.

Shayla is giving away a SIGNED book of the winner's choice. The winner will be able to choose a book from the WICKED LOVERS backlist.
Book 1: Wicked Ties
Book 2: Decadent
Book 3: Delicious
Book 4: Surrender to Me

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2. Fill out form below