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Wednesday 27 July 2011

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

To enter, you must:
1. Be a follower
2. Fill out form below

56 comments:

  1. Awesome interview - so many good songs on that playlist!! These are all great books! I think that Delicious is my favorite so far.

    Good reading ~ Escape by Fiction :)

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  2. Great interview and thank you for those blog buttons. I am totally putting Jack on my blog. So awesome! Actually all those buttons are awesome.

    I adore Jack and have mentioned him in numerous blog posts myself. I also adore Shayla Black. She is one of my autobuy authors and she is always so gracious to her fans on Facebook and Twitter. I have huge respect for her for chatting with her fans so naturally.
    MichelleKCanada
    @AnotherLookBook
    http://anotherlookbookreviews.blogspot.com/

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  3. This is a great interview!!! Shayla, you write to a lot of cool songs!! Your books sound very intriguing!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!! :-)

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  4. I loved learning about how Shayla's characters are created. The writing process is so interesting to me. Thanks to Shayla Black for sharing. I am going to have to add this series to my TBR list.

    Happy Reading,
    Laurielu
    Bona Fide Reflections

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  5. Oh, great interview! I've only read the first one of her books (actually the first more erotic book I ever read) and I truly liked it!

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  6. Great interview!! So exciting to see! Thanks for posting it.

    Bekah
    www.page317.com

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  7. Great interview! I've had these books on my to-read list for a while now.

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  8. Great interview, I love that playlist! Great stuff, I have one of Shayla's books in my TBR pile (Delicious) but I would love to read the series in order. Thanks for the interview and contest!
    Book Savvy Babe

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  9. Awesome interview. Love SB books. Wow what a great playlist!

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  10. Great interview. I would love to win this book, and I think I'll copy your playlist!

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  11. That was a great interview and definitely a great giveaway. I havent read any of your books and would love to. Nice choice of songs by the way. Have a great day

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  13. Excellent! Shayla, you know I'm crazy for you and your books.

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  14. Great interview...I love Shayla Black! Everything she does. I am so looking forward to her next book in this series as well as The Doomsday Bretheren! Talk about yummy!

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  15. LOVE the playlist. I have ALL of those songs. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway. I have books 1-3 but I've not gotten around to reading them yet. Keeping my fingers crossed that I win the 4th.

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  16. OH I saw Motley Crue on your playlist I love Livewire in fact I think thats' the song that got me liking them in the first place.

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  17. Awesome interview. I love Shayla's books.

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  18. This sounds like a great series! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  19. Awesome interview! I loved the playlist!
    And this sounds like a great series!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ruby95660@yahoo.com

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  20. awesome interview and giveaway!

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  21. Awesome Interview UTC!
    I've heard naughty things of Wicked Ties. Not sure if I'm ready for such wickedness but If I win...I will read it.
    Well, I'll read it anyway, its in my TBR file. LOL

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  22. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    Love the music, some of it I had never heard of before.

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  23. Great interview. Your books look wicked! I always like a little or a lot of suspense in my stories. I'm going to keep an eye on them.

    ~Na

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  24. I love the songs on your iPod!! They are so varied, and I actually know most of them! lol And of course, having Journey on there just closed the deal - what a cool song!

    Thanks for a great interview, and I can't wait to read your books! They sound awesome:)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    Zee

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  25. Great interview.. Shayla is so great... can't wait for more.

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  26. Ah, Shayla! Now I am so excited for Logan's book!

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  27. Great interview!!! Jack is my fav and cant wait for Logan's story!!! Shayla rules!!!!

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  28. Great interview,,I havent read anything by Shayla Black,,but I do have her written down in things to read book..
    thanks for the giveaway,,

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  29. Great interview ladies! I loved hearing about Shayla's music choices!

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  30. Awesome interview and I've heard so many great things about Shayla's books!

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  31. Series looks interesting, I want to read it :D Add to my collection

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  32. Awesome giveaway! Thanks so much! :-) Looking forward to reading Shayla's books!

    ~Amber

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  33. Great interview! I have read and love the Doomsday Brethren. I haven't read the Wicked series, my friend lent them to me so they are sitting in my massive TBR pile.

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  34. Great Interview!! I love the Wicked Series!!

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  35. Wonderful interview! It's so cool to hear your process of writing these terrific stories!!
    Thank you!
    Pati jpm6966@aol.com

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  36. Great interview and love Shayla's playlist. I will have to create my own. I love Shayla's Doomsday Brethern series! Thanks for the giveaway.
    kamwh1207(at)att(dot)net

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  37. Love it as always ladies. *mwah*

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  38. What a great interview Thank you so much for sharing! Thank you for the great giveaway!

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  39. I love Shayla Black's books both the Wicked Lovers and the Doomsday Brethren series. Loved Hunter's story cant wait for his brother Logan's story :)

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  40. Great interview. That's quite a long playlist. I will be adding some of these to mine.

    Love your work!!!

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  41. Great interview.Love your play list.
    Thanks for the giveaway

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  42. Thank you for this wonderful interview and giveaway opportunity. I have not read Ms. Black's books and would love to.

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  43. I love it when someone who seems like a totally secondary character comes in and takes over.

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  44. Awesome interview and playlist! Thanks for sharing :)

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  45. I just bought Delicious..I already have Wicked Ties and Decadent....so I would love to win Surrender to Me...Thank you!!!!...lprater@modweldco.com

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  46. Thanks, everyone, for the great comments. Wow! So many comments about the play list. I love these songs and refine here and there, but it keeps serving me well. Happy reading, y'all!

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  47. Great interview Shayla. Yes that playlist was awesome! I love it when I know some of the songs authors listen to when writing. I can listen to them too while reading and really catch the mood of the scenes with the music.

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  48. Awesome interview and I also love your playlist. I've read some of your books and they are all keepers. Some of your newer books I have them on my book wish list.

    jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

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  49. Shayla is a new author for me. Surrender to Me sounds really great. Thanks for the giveaway!

    jcross719 at yahoo dot com

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  50. Great interview. I love your playlist. Adele is a must for me. I always listen to her when writing. I am a big Killers fan too. I have such a crush on Brandon Flowers. I hope to start this series soon. These books sound great and hot. Can't wait to meet you men LOL! Great interview and giveaway again :)

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  51. I really must get Shayla Black's books and read them. They all sound great.

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  52. I love the Doomsday Brethren. I can't wait to read this series. Great interview and I am crazy about Adele's Rolling in The Deep.
    Thanks for the opportunity.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  53. Great interview! These books look really good.

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  54. Great interview! I haven't read her before, but I've heard nothing but good things!

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  55. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
    lavendersbluegreen(at)yahoo(dot)com

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