31 Days of Halloween – Rosanna Leo
Where do you hail from and what
do you love most about your hometown?
do you love most about your hometown?
I come from Toronto, Canada and
still love close by. I loved growing up in Toronto. It is a multicultural city
with fabulous restaurants and theater, walking trails and countryside near
by. You can wander the city streets
forever and never get tired, but you can also escape into the peace and quiet,
which is nice.
still love close by. I loved growing up in Toronto. It is a multicultural city
with fabulous restaurants and theater, walking trails and countryside near
by. You can wander the city streets
forever and never get tired, but you can also escape into the peace and quiet,
which is nice.
As a child,
what did you want to be when you grew up?
what did you want to be when you grew up?
Just about
everything! It fluctuated daily! LOL. I wanted to be a flight attendant for a
long time, even researched how to be one for a school project. I finally
changed my mind when I realized I wasn’t tall enough or skinny enough (this was
back in the 70’s when they had age/height/weight restrictions!) My writing
aspirations didn’t come until a little later.
everything! It fluctuated daily! LOL. I wanted to be a flight attendant for a
long time, even researched how to be one for a school project. I finally
changed my mind when I realized I wasn’t tall enough or skinny enough (this was
back in the 70’s when they had age/height/weight restrictions!) My writing
aspirations didn’t come until a little later.
Tell us about
your latest book.
your latest book.
The Selkie is about a Canadian woman
who has lost everything: job, fiancé and family. She travels to Orkney,
Scotland to handle her dead grandmother’s estate. While there, she discovers
her gran has left her a peculiar inheritance, in the shape of a seal “selkie”
pelt…and a “selkie” man to go with it. She is convinced this man is crazy.
However, as the selkie tries to persuade her of his true nature, and as they
battle their unwanted feelings for one another, they meet with misfortune.
Someone else wants the selkie pelt, and will stop at nothing to get it.
who has lost everything: job, fiancé and family. She travels to Orkney,
Scotland to handle her dead grandmother’s estate. While there, she discovers
her gran has left her a peculiar inheritance, in the shape of a seal “selkie”
pelt…and a “selkie” man to go with it. She is convinced this man is crazy.
However, as the selkie tries to persuade her of his true nature, and as they
battle their unwanted feelings for one another, they meet with misfortune.
Someone else wants the selkie pelt, and will stop at nothing to get it.
Do you haveanything new in the works and can you tell us a bit about it?
I have a few
paranormal romances based on myths about Greek gods. My previous books, For the Love of a God and Sweet Hell, were my takes on the gods of
love and wine. I have just submitted another to my publisher about the dishy
Apollo, and am so excited!!
paranormal romances based on myths about Greek gods. My previous books, For the Love of a God and Sweet Hell, were my takes on the gods of
love and wine. I have just submitted another to my publisher about the dishy
Apollo, and am so excited!!
Is there
anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
The scheduling
can be daunting at times. It is very hard to squeeze in promotion and family
life and writing, and stay energetic and inspired. I love it when I have a
quiet day during which my only obligation is to write. Those are wonderful
days. J
can be daunting at times. It is very hard to squeeze in promotion and family
life and writing, and stay energetic and inspired. I love it when I have a
quiet day during which my only obligation is to write. Those are wonderful
days. J
What advice
would you give to writers just starting out?
would you give to writers just starting out?
Write what you
love. I know it’s not original advice, but is so essential. If you don’t feel
the story, if you don’t cry at the tragedies and beam at the glories of your
book, no one else will. It has to really mean something to you.
love. I know it’s not original advice, but is so essential. If you don’t feel
the story, if you don’t cry at the tragedies and beam at the glories of your
book, no one else will. It has to really mean something to you.
Do you ever
suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Absolutely!
The best thing for me to do is distance myself from the manuscript. I grab a
coffee, go for a walk, think about other things. And I try not to stress about
it. Eventually everything works out.
The best thing for me to do is distance myself from the manuscript. I grab a
coffee, go for a walk, think about other things. And I try not to stress about
it. Eventually everything works out.
Who is your
favorite author and why?
favorite author and why?
I love so
many! I have to say my number 1 is Diana Gabaldon. Her Outlander series has
captivated me like no other ever has. The research, the historical detail, and
the exquisite love story between Claire and Jamie Fraser is one I’ll never
forget.
many! I have to say my number 1 is Diana Gabaldon. Her Outlander series has
captivated me like no other ever has. The research, the historical detail, and
the exquisite love story between Claire and Jamie Fraser is one I’ll never
forget.
How did you
deal with rejection letters?
deal with rejection letters?
I read ‘em. I
thank that person in my head. And I put ‘em away.
thank that person in my head. And I put ‘em away.
You cannot
dwell on negativity.
dwell on negativity.
What tools do
you feel are must-haves for writers?
you feel are must-haves for writers?
A thesaurus
(my fave tool). A good computer. And an imagination!
(my fave tool). A good computer. And an imagination!
Where do you
as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?
as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?
Well, I don’t
do gory, but I love doing sex scenes. So far, I haven’t written anything taboo.
My love stories are between couple who end up truly loving and living for one
another. In that context, I feel pretty comfortable exploring their sexuality.
I don’t have a problem with curse words or anatomical descriptions. It’s all
part of the fun!
do gory, but I love doing sex scenes. So far, I haven’t written anything taboo.
My love stories are between couple who end up truly loving and living for one
another. In that context, I feel pretty comfortable exploring their sexuality.
I don’t have a problem with curse words or anatomical descriptions. It’s all
part of the fun!
What’s the
weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
LOL! Nothing
too bizarre yet, but my career is still young! I’m open to almost anything! In
my book Sweet Hell, much of it takes place in a bakery, which is based on a
bakery I worked in as a teenager. It was so fun drawing from that experience.
too bizarre yet, but my career is still young! I’m open to almost anything! In
my book Sweet Hell, much of it takes place in a bakery, which is based on a
bakery I worked in as a teenager. It was so fun drawing from that experience.
Rosanna Leo
Let me tell you a story…
The Selkie – Blurb:
This
was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her
fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she
hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland
to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her
a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
was supposed to be her year. However, after losing her job and discovering her
fiancé cheating, Maggie Collins has her doubts. When her grandmother dies, she
hits rock bottom. Maggie travels to her grandmother’s home in Orkney, Scotland
to sort through her gran’s things, only to discover the old woman has left her
a seal pelt as her inheritance. She also learns that others are after the pelt.
To
add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a
long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney.
Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust
she’s never known before.
add to her frustration, Maggie’s dreams are filled with luscious images of a
long-haired man, images that draw her to the magical beaches in Orkney.
Although she’s lost her trust in men, this dream man inspires her with a lust
she’s never known before.
Calan
Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses
him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in
Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human,
and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
Kirk has also been dreaming. Dreaming of Maggie, the mortal woman who arouses
him as no other woman ever has. Meeting her in the flesh when she arrives in
Orkney is nothing short of spontaneous sexual combustion. But she is a human,
and not to be trusted. He needs the seal pelt, not a red-haired temptress.
As
a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust
together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once
found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
a thief ransacks Maggie’s grandmother’s house, Maggie and Calan are thrust
together. They must search for the animal skin, a mythical relic which once
found, will either bring them together or rip them apart forever.
Excerpt:
She
was attempting to stand on her wobbly legs, only to fall back down on her
bottom, when she heard the sound of splashing water. Thinking it was her seal,
Maggie turned to look.
was attempting to stand on her wobbly legs, only to fall back down on her
bottom, when she heard the sound of splashing water. Thinking it was her seal,
Maggie turned to look.
Her
breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t the animal at all.
breath caught in her throat. It wasn’t the animal at all.
It
was a man. He was rising out of the waves, walking toward her. She froze. He
was nude, utterly nude, and was staring at her with overflowing intimacy. As if
they’d had, God help her, relations.
was a man. He was rising out of the waves, walking toward her. She froze. He
was nude, utterly nude, and was staring at her with overflowing intimacy. As if
they’d had, God help her, relations.
And
she realized, with sudden panic, they’d had! In her dreams. He was the seal-man
from all her sex dreams.
she realized, with sudden panic, they’d had! In her dreams. He was the seal-man
from all her sex dreams.
No.
Impossible.
Impossible.
Her
first instinct was to call for help, but there was no one near. And then she
realized with frightening awareness that she didn’t want any help anyway. Glued
to her spot, she couldn’t help but drink him in.
first instinct was to call for help, but there was no one near. And then she
realized with frightening awareness that she didn’t want any help anyway. Glued
to her spot, she couldn’t help but drink him in.
He
was beautiful, if unnervingly wet and naked. He had long, shiny, brown hair
that hung down past his shoulders. His face could have belonged on an ad for
expensive cologne, and he had a body to match. Sculpted shoulders gave way to
arms corded in muscle. His defined chest was blanketed by a smattering of
sparse, brown hair that led tantalizingly to his rock-hard abs.
was beautiful, if unnervingly wet and naked. He had long, shiny, brown hair
that hung down past his shoulders. His face could have belonged on an ad for
expensive cologne, and he had a body to match. Sculpted shoulders gave way to
arms corded in muscle. His defined chest was blanketed by a smattering of
sparse, brown hair that led tantalizingly to his rock-hard abs.
Maggie
held her breath as her gaze traveled lower on his body, taking in trim calves
and thighs a quarterback would envy. And, she noted with simultaneous hunger
and horror, his penis was the biggest she’d ever had the pleasure of seeing. It
was thick and long and glistening with the droplets of water that yet cascaded
over his body. And it seemed to be reaching for her. She gulped, and forced
herself to look back up at his face.
held her breath as her gaze traveled lower on his body, taking in trim calves
and thighs a quarterback would envy. And, she noted with simultaneous hunger
and horror, his penis was the biggest she’d ever had the pleasure of seeing. It
was thick and long and glistening with the droplets of water that yet cascaded
over his body. And it seemed to be reaching for her. She gulped, and forced
herself to look back up at his face.
There
was a faint glow about his skin, a shimmery aura. Dismissing it as a trick of
the moonlight, she shook her head.
was a faint glow about his skin, a shimmery aura. Dismissing it as a trick of
the moonlight, she shook her head.
He
was almost upon her, and his full lips were taut in a teasing grin. Maybe he
was a surfer who’d lost not only his board, but his shorts in the waves. She
knew she should be frantic, but wasn’t. There was something in his brown eyes
that was so familiar, so soothing, even as they swept over her own body with
lustful appreciation.
was almost upon her, and his full lips were taut in a teasing grin. Maybe he
was a surfer who’d lost not only his board, but his shorts in the waves. She
knew she should be frantic, but wasn’t. There was something in his brown eyes
that was so familiar, so soothing, even as they swept over her own body with
lustful appreciation.
He
stopped in front of her, and stood boldly, unashamed of his glorious nakedness.
She managed to spit out one hushed word. “You.”
stopped in front of her, and stood boldly, unashamed of his glorious nakedness.
She managed to spit out one hushed word. “You.”
“You,”
was his equally awed reply.
was his equally awed reply.
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