Welcome, Kristabel! Please tell us a little about yourself—things that aren't necessarily in your official author bio:
I have a very demanding corgi. If she doesn’t get her “official writing treat” by the time I sit down to write, she gets very upset.
Food of the gods: Pizza and chocolate
Okay, thinking about this and realizing I spend a lot of time writing and making up things. If I didn’t write fiction, I’d be a pathological liar.
I love your honesty! I know what you mean about the pathological liar bit--I'd probably be in a straight jacket talking to my imaginary friends if I didn't write.
How would you describe your books to a reader who hasn't read your work yet?
Princess Curvy, the 5th in my Curvy Girl series is great fun and I had a blast writing it. The entire Curvy Girl series is my counterpoint to the media’s obsession to ultra skinny. The song, “All about the Bass” came at a very opportune time for me! I feel it reflects what I was trying to get across with the Curvy Girls.
Why write in this particular genre? Do you have any other genres that interest you or is this one your main passion?
I write in multiple genres, but chose this one because a dear friend of mine has a plus size blog (www.sugarplumplus.com) and in talking with her I realized there was a desire for this sort of fun, curvy stories. As a curvy girl myself, I enjoyed writing these heroines. And wonder why I hadn’t before!
I think many women can relate to the curvy girl--or should I say "real woman" persona. As far as the creative process goes, do you have a story idea or a character concept first?
Story idea! Always the story first. I tweak my characters to go with the story and figure out what character will work with, or challenge really, the story concept.
Please tell us about a current work-in-progress (or latest release):
Natalia Dolcini had dusted off an old Italian title to launch her fashion line—Princapessa Natalia for curvy women. A line that made women look sexy, young, and gorgeous. And she loved every minute creating it. She led a charmed life in Milan and knew it.
Until Adam Clayworth waltzed into her life. Infuriatingly handsome, the sexy banker had an old-fashioned charm to him Natalia found hard to resist. So she didn’t. When he asked her for an introduction, she was more than happy to comply—only for it to end in shouts and accusations. Her temper got the best of her when she promptly threw Adam out of her house.
What she hadn’t expected was for that night to bring her into a banking intrigue Adam investigated. Or for Adam to become her lover. But then Adam’s investigation turns dangerous.
Natalia finds it difficult to keep her own heart safe as they race from Milan to Portofino and back again. Will their Italian affair end after the danger does? Or will it be an affair to remember?
Until Adam Clayworth waltzed into her life. Infuriatingly handsome, the sexy banker had an old-fashioned charm to him Natalia found hard to resist. So she didn’t. When he asked her for an introduction, she was more than happy to comply—only for it to end in shouts and accusations. Her temper got the best of her when she promptly threw Adam out of her house.
What she hadn’t expected was for that night to bring her into a banking intrigue Adam investigated. Or for Adam to become her lover. But then Adam’s investigation turns dangerous.
Natalia finds it difficult to keep her own heart safe as they race from Milan to Portofino and back again. Will their Italian affair end after the danger does? Or will it be an affair to remember?
Ooo...it sounds so good! As an author, what do you want readers to take away from your stories after they read the words 'the end'?
A couple things: I want them to have enjoyed it, of course! But specifically with the Curvy Series, that no matter what size you are, you are desirable, fun, smart, and can be anything you want to be. You shouldn’t believe you can’t have anything good in your life. Because you can.
What do you do for fun that doesn't involve writing or reading?
Travel. Not to exotic far off places, though I want to. But to the beach or the mountains; I like walking along the different areas and exploring. Then the normal things: family, playing with the dog, museums (I love museums!), friends.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done either personally or professionally?
I’ve been parasailing in St. Maarten (awesome fun!) and took an unescorted tour in Western China on a train that most westerners don’t get to experience. It was an experience, let me tell you!
Adam stood on the other side of the
door.
Yanking the door open, she blinked
up at him. He was early and not just a few minutes. Natalia hadn’t bothered to
simply pick a dress because she had another hour or more. Before she could find
a thing to say, Adam stepped over the threshold.
He wrapped his arm around her,
pulled her close, and kissed her.
Natalia was dimly aware the front
door was still open. And she was just as dimly aware she was in her work
clothes and slippers. But Adam’s mouth on hers wiped everything else from her
mind. His lips were cool and hard, and his tongue swept along hers, making her
legs weak.
Hands on his shoulders, Natalia
pulled him closer, her body molding to his, and fingers pressed into his back.
She wanted him closer, still.
Then she pulled back.
Surprised—stunned—Natalia tried to take a step away from him, but Adam held her
close. She didn’t move her hands from his shoulders, and had the insane urge to
muss his always-perfect hair.
“Just in case anyone is watching,”
he whispered, his lips still tantalizingly close to hers.
Natalia blinked again. Damn. He had
her. She’d teased him about pretending to date, about pretending to be lovers,
and it was Adam who’d taken her utterly off guard with one kiss. A single kiss
and she’d forgotten all the reasons he was currently in her doorway, his hands
on her hips, his taste still lingering on her tongue.
Screw it.
“I see.” Natalia nodded and offered
a coy smile, taking his hand and leading him inside.
Before either closed the door,
Natalia grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket and pulled him back to her.
“Better make it convincing then,”
she whispered against his mouth.
Excerpt:
“Then I’ll need a second favor.”
Curious, she studied him, but found
she couldn’t read him. Interesting. Normally people were so easy for her to
read, the way they held themselves, the way they fidgeted and moved. Adam held
himself closed off—not angrily but clearly with a tight rein on his emotions.
“Oh?”
“Allow me to take you to dinner,”
he said with that same intense stare.
She couldn’t help the slight
chuckle or the way her lips curved upward. Or, for that matter, the flush of
arousal. “Very well,” she allowed but had a feeling she didn’t fool him. “What
is this favor you need?” She emphasized favor just enough for the
word to sound as suggestive as she could make it.
One eyebrow rose in interest and he
gave a slight nod of…appreciation? Yes, Natalia decided. Definitely
appreciative interest.
“Last night at the banquet, I
noticed you speaking with Carlo Samboti.” Adam waited while she nodded. “I
would very much appreciate an introduction to him.”
Natalia knew the Sambotis. Carlo
was a banker and friends with the bankers she’d used for her initial business
loan several years ago. Rosina, his wife, was one of her first customers—the
woman had money to spend and adored Natalia’s designs. Since then they’d been
friendly.
Friendly enough to foster an
introduction, she thought with a critical look at Adam. Why wouldn’t an EU
banker already know Carlo? Eh, Adam was English. He probably needed all the
introductions he could get.
“You should’ve said something last
night,” she said with a twist of her wrist. “I would’ve been happy to introduce
you.”
“I wasn’t aware until this morning
that I needed the introduction.” But he smiled at that.
His smile was one of the most
powerful aphrodisiacs she’d ever encountered. The way his lips slowly curved
into a hint of naughty promise. And his eyes. Had she thought him closed off
before? The chocolate brown gaze held a wickedness he didn’t bother to hide.
Keep reading! Buy it now!
1 comment:
Good morning! Thanks for having me here today, Amber. I'll be happy to answer anything for your readers.
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