Special Guest – Interview with Nana Malone (Sassy in Stilettos)
Thank you for joining me in the shadows. Pay no attention to
that odd silhouette over there. Weird things live here.
that odd silhouette over there. Weird things live here.
Tell me about your latest book. What makes it stand out from
the crowd?
the crowd?
My latest book is the final book in the In Stilettos
Series. In it, feisty Micha Bennett has
to rely on the one person she’s been avoiding to protect her when she thinks
she’s perfectly capable of protecting herself.
Series. In it, feisty Micha Bennett has
to rely on the one person she’s been avoiding to protect her when she thinks
she’s perfectly capable of protecting herself.
Smart mouthed and in charge,
magazine editor, Micha Bennett, has learned the hard way to choose her career
over love. When she’s up for the job of
a lifetime, the competition becomes deadly fierce. To protect their best asset,
her company hires the one person who’s ever put Micha on edge and threatens her
sense of control.
magazine editor, Micha Bennett, has learned the hard way to choose her career
over love. When she’s up for the job of
a lifetime, the competition becomes deadly fierce. To protect their best asset,
her company hires the one person who’s ever put Micha on edge and threatens her
sense of control.
Sexy, security consultant, Caleb
Atkins, knows what he wants and it’s Micha Bennett. He just has to convince her
she wants him too. With ugly shadows in
his own past, he’ll die before he lets anything harm the woman he loves. Too
bad Micha doesn’t think she needs his protection or his love.
Atkins, knows what he wants and it’s Micha Bennett. He just has to convince her
she wants him too. With ugly shadows in
his own past, he’ll die before he lets anything harm the woman he loves. Too
bad Micha doesn’t think she needs his protection or his love.
Can Caleb convince Micha to let go
of control long enough to fall in love? Or will fear and danger tear them
apart?
of control long enough to fall in love? Or will fear and danger tear them
apart?
For me, what makes Micha’s book
stand out is that I rarely see female characters as strong as she is. It’s a fine line creating a strong heroine
who’s also vulnerable and likeable.
stand out is that I rarely see female characters as strong as she is. It’s a fine line creating a strong heroine
who’s also vulnerable and likeable.
Do you have anything new in the works and can you tell us a
bit about it?
bit about it?
Sure! I’m hard at work on my next series called Glam
Girls. These women are tapped into the
LA entertainment scene and just as sassy as my In Stilettos girls. I’m working on the first Novel Walk of Fame
which I plan to have out before the end of the year. I can’t wait!
Girls. These women are tapped into the
LA entertainment scene and just as sassy as my In Stilettos girls. I’m working on the first Novel Walk of Fame
which I plan to have out before the end of the year. I can’t wait!
What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
Finish the book. I know it sounds basic, but you’d be
surprised at how hard this part is. A
lot of new writers I meet now, are so worried about a platform, that I think
they don’t focus on the one thing that will make or break them.
surprised at how hard this part is. A
lot of new writers I meet now, are so worried about a platform, that I think
they don’t focus on the one thing that will make or break them.
Then find a way of getting honest feedback that’s not from
family. Join a critique group. As a
writer It’s easy to get caught up in the emotional attachment to your
words. You need to be able to look at it
though another set of eyes.
family. Join a critique group. As a
writer It’s easy to get caught up in the emotional attachment to your
words. You need to be able to look at it
though another set of eyes.
How did you deal with rejection letters? Any tips for
unpublished writers?
unpublished writers?
Ha, you mean besides crying into a pint of ice-cream? Look
rejection sucks. No other way to put
it. The key is to be working on your
next project so can have some emotional distance from someone telling you
no.
rejection sucks. No other way to put
it. The key is to be working on your
next project so can have some emotional distance from someone telling you
no.
Then when you do get published, you have a big ol’ cathartic
bonfire J
bonfire J
What tools of the trade are must-haves for you?
Laptop, Ipad, and music.
Oh, and don’t forget the snacks!
Oh, and don’t forget the snacks!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to research a
story?
story?
I started taking strip tease classes for a story idea. I figured I’d better walk the walk if I was
going to talk the talk. J
going to talk the talk. J
What do you like to read?
I love love stories, so I read a lot of romance.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Oh boy, right now, Sylvia Day, I’m just obsessed with her
Crossfire series and Misty Evans. I love
me some romantic suspense.
Crossfire series and Misty Evans. I love
me some romantic suspense.
Now for the fun questions. Let’s strip away the veil
of invisibility. Do you have a day job alongside writing and will you tell us
about it?
of invisibility. Do you have a day job alongside writing and will you tell us
about it?
I actually left my day job last December to become a full time
writer. But Before, I was a software
project manager J
writer. But Before, I was a software
project manager J
If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have chosen?
I actually enjoyed being a project manager.
Apparently, I’m bossy by nature.
I actually enjoyed being a project manager.
Apparently, I’m bossy by nature.
Who is your favorite superhero (or heroine)? Can be from a
comic book, movie, novel, cartoon, video game or anywhere else heroes reign. I
love superheroes!!! Let’s see, I’m a
Gambit girl. He’s just so sexy with a
hint of bad boy.
comic book, movie, novel, cartoon, video game or anywhere else heroes reign. I
love superheroes!!! Let’s see, I’m a
Gambit girl. He’s just so sexy with a
hint of bad boy.
Your favorite book hero? Gideon Cross (Crossfire Series)
You finally have an evening free to spend any way you want.
Money is no object. Where do you go? What would you do? Hop on a private jet
with hubby and head to paris for dinner, dancing, and night-clubbing.
Money is no object. Where do you go? What would you do? Hop on a private jet
with hubby and head to paris for dinner, dancing, and night-clubbing.
You’ve been gifted (or cursed) with the ability to shift
into another form by a witch. What kind of shifter are you? Why? Ooh, good one.
Uhm, butterfly. They’re beautiful,
ethereal, everyone loves them, and they can fly.
into another form by a witch. What kind of shifter are you? Why? Ooh, good one.
Uhm, butterfly. They’re beautiful,
ethereal, everyone loves them, and they can fly.
Thanks so much for being my guest today! Anything else you’d
like to share with my readers? Don’t forget to give us links to your
website etc.
like to share with my readers? Don’t forget to give us links to your
website etc.
Thank you so much for having me! You can find me here:
Blurb: Smart mouthed and in charge, magazine editor, Micha Bennett, has learned the hard way to choose her career over love. When she’s up for the job of a lifetime, the competition becomes deadly fierce. To protect their best asset, her company hires the one person who’s ever put Micha on edge and threatens her sense of control.
Sexy, security consultant, Caleb Atkins, knows what he wants and it’s Micha Bennett. He just has to convince her she wants him too. With ugly shadows in his own past, he’ll die before he lets anything harm the woman he loves. Too bad Micha doesn’t think she needs his protection or his love.
Can Caleb convince Micha to let go of control long enough to fall in love? Or will fear and danger tear them apart?
Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.
Excerpt:
Micha shifted uncomfortably in her seat, certain Jaya was trying to torture her. Why had Jaya insisted they all bring dates? All week Micha tried to rustle up a date but had come up empty. Eventually she’d stuffed her poor assistant into a monkey suit and told him he had to escort her. She’d rather have taken a bullet to the eyeball than show up alone tonight. Why the hell Jaya had opted to seat her next to Caleb during the rehearsal dinner was beyond her. And now she could feel him staring at her. Oh, he wasn’t blatant about it, a sly look here, a drifting glance there. Every time she moved, his knee nudged hers. She reached for her wine glass and grazed his arm. Every time accidental contact occurred, it sent electric jolts through her body, and her skin felt like she had a prickly heat rash.
Refocusing, she turned to her date. Smile pretty, Micha. Don’t be a bad host. She should at least make an effort. “So, Ryan, you were telling me you like rafting?” There, she’d made her effort.
Next to her, Caleb shifted in his seat and turned to face Ryan’s direction as her assistant told everyone about the class five rapids and his less-than-experienced trip buddies.
Without concentrating, she could actually feel Caleb’s breath, tickling her spine. Curse Jaya and Ricca for suggesting she wear her unruly curls up. Sure, they liked to wear their hair up because it gave their honeys easy access for nuzzling. Immediately, a memory flashed of her and Caleb on the dance floor the night they’d met. The way he’d leaned in to whisper to her that he wanted to take her out.
Wait for it. Ah, there it was—her body softened for him immediately, responding to the memory. God, she had to get laid and pronto, before she gave in and actually slept with Mr. Handsome as Sin.
Micha crossed and uncrossed her legs again.
When Caleb leaned in to whisper in her ear, a shiver stole down her back.
“Seriously, Micha, you need to stop moving around. Why are you so antsy?”
As if he didn’t know. She whispered back through a false smile, tight enough to crack her molars. “Why are you watching me so close, Atkins? See something you like?”
His answer was immediate. “Yes. But then, you already know that.”
The timber of his voice was low, and his words rolled over her like whiskey on a cold night. Hell, that man was sexy. She turned her attention to her date more resolutely. You will not sleep with Caleb Atkins. You. Will. Not. Sleep. With. Caleb. Atkins.
She met Ricca’s gaze across the table, and when her friend beamed at her, Micha couldn’t help but relax a little. Ricca was also blissfully in love. She had that totally sated been-on-honeymoon look on her face that all newlyweds wore. They weren’t married yet, but if Micha had to bet money, it was only a matter of time.
And as for Jaya, well, she’d found her Mr. Right. Alec was the perfect complement to her friend’s serious type-A personality. He actually forced her to have some fun. For years, that had been Micha’s job, but it was nice to see Jaya happy. Both her friends would tell her to date Caleb already. But it wasn’t that easy.
Micha hadn’t had a real relationship since leaving New York. Finding out she’d been living with a married man and that his wife was crazy enough to try and carve little chunks out of her, had sort of soured her on the whole happily ever after thing. And she would never forget how Simon hadn’t even bothered to try and see her or apologize. Her judgment had been all wrong about him, and she’d vowed she would never let herself be blinded by feelings again. No matter how genuine they may seem.
She’d dated plenty. But she never let any guy get too close. Even when she tried to let people in, it was like an invisible barrier repelled her from whoever she was with. She’d made pushing people away an art form. After what Simon had done to her, she had no intention of getting hurt like that again.
Add to that, Caleb wasn’t just any guy, but practically family. She wasn’t going anywhere near a relationship with him. If she messed with him, Alec and Beckett would be all up in her business. Everyone would. And that wasn’t in the playbook. Caleb was the kind of guy who wanted open and uncomplicated, and she was complicated as hell. When it didn’t work, it would be her fault.
She liked her privacy. She liked her freedom. Eventually, no matter how hot and heavy they were, she’d feel hemmed in, and then it would be messy and ugly for everyone. Especially me.
But maybe if she scratched that itch, she’d get Caleb out of her system.
Who was she kidding? Once wouldn’t be enough. He seemed like the slow lover type.
Micha shook her head, trying to get the image of him over her out of her head. Fantasies would get her nowhere.
GIVEAWAY
Nana is giving away a five copies of Sassy in Stilettos at the end of the tour.
Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZTU2MWEzNzQwNjU2YTNmNzMwOGE3ZjViYWI4OTFlOjEy/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Best Seller and iTunes Breakout Books author, Nana Malone’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin.
It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.
Nana also writes sizzling erotic novellas as Q. Malone
