Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have the very sweet Inara Scott on the blog today. Please make my fellow Oregonian welcome…
Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Inara: Let’s see…I was born in Buffalo NY, and as a result spent most of my childhood complaining about being cold. I headed south for college and never went back. Now, I live in Oregon with my husband, two kids, and obscenely cute little white dog Rosco. I have a master’s degree in recreation (bet you didn’t know they give a master’s for that!) and traveled around after college leading outdoor and wilderness trips. From there, I went to law school, and practiced as an energy lawyer for almost ten years before I quit my full time job to focus on my writing. Now, besides writing I juggle a lot of different jobs—I still lawyer part time, but I also travel, teach writing, do school visits, and work on a really cool student art anthology.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Inara: I have always loved to write, but I never thought I’d actually do it for a career. I’m frighteningly practical, and it never occurred to me to try to pay the bills with something fun like writing! But yes, I wrote my first full-length novel when I was in ninth grade, and my mom recently discovered something I wrote when I was six saying I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. So I think it’s safe to say that this has been a dream of mine for a long, long time.
Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Inara: I usually write best early in the morning, with a cup of coffee by my side. By noon, I’m pretty much done. It’s funny—whether I have 3 hours or 6 hours for writing, I seem to accomplish the same amount. I guess there’s only so many creative thoughts in my brain each day! I try to use my down-time to send email, do social media stuff, or catch up on my reading.
Q4) Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Inara: Ah, I find writing the new stuff to be the most challenging. Sometimes I feel like I’m fighting for every word. But I adore revising. There’s nothing more fun than reworking and polishing. It’s like eating the frosting off the cake. The most rewarding thing is having an impact on readers. I’ve had reader mail that made me cry. Stories are powerful things, and I can’t imagine anything more rewarding that knowing your stories touched someone’s heart.
Q5) Can you please tell us about your latest book?
Inara: How about a blurb? Those always seem to tell the story better than I can!
Rules of Negotiation
She made all the rules…
After juggling the demands of her career and the stress of caring for her ailing mother, high-powered corporate attorney Tori Anderson doesn’t have time for relationships—but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to feel like a woman. When Brit Bencher, NYC’s most eligible bachelor, offers a no-strings attached fling, it sounds like exactly what she needs. But what will she do when her Brit decides he won’t take “one night stand” for an answer?
…until he started breaking them.
Brit Bencher will do anything to take care of his family, even seduce Tori Anderson in the hopes of getting her to reveal confidential information about one of her clients. But for the first time in his life, he finds he’s falling for a woman. When Tori uncovers his lies, will he lose his chance with her forever?
Q6) How did you come with the idea for this story?
Inara: This story was definitely a “what if “that was inspired by my own career in the law. I can be a bit of a workaholic, and I often wondered what would have happened to me if I hadn’t met my husband long before law school. I think I probably would have buried myself in my work and not gotten out much! And I think I would have been very lonely, and still wondering when my prince would come.
Okay, all that, and I love the “meet a gorgeous CEO at a business meeting, have a crazy one-night stand and fall in love” fantasy! I mean, who doesn’t, right? J
Q7) Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Inara: Not really, mostly because I’ve got too many going on! I’m currently working on a new book in my Handmaid Seduction series, a new YA that I’m really excited about, and plotting out a new contemporary romance series. My worst problem right now is focusing on one project long enough to finish it!
Q8) Who are some of your favorite authors?
Inara: I absolutely adore Jenny Cruise, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Julie James, Susan Sey, and Victoria Dahl.
Q9) Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
Inara: Probably not inspired my style, because they’re too amazing to compare myself to, but I think reading Julie James made me believe that people might actually enjoy a lawyer romance!
Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Inara: New books by all of these authors!
Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Inara: Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me! Now I’m always on the hunt for new authors to read, so leave me a comment with your favorite contemporary romance author, and I’ll give away a copy of Rule of Negotiation to one commenter!
Inara loves to hear from readers; you can find her on Twitter (@inarascott) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/inarawrites) far more than is healthy. For email contact information, event schedules, her blog, and much more, check out www.inarascott.com.
RULES OF NEGOTIATION is available now:
About Inara Scott
Inara Scott is a writer, lawyer, teacher, mother, and coffee-addict currently growing mold in the beautiful (but rainy) Pacific Northwest. Inara also writes for teens in her paranormal young adult series The Talents. Inara firmly believes in magic and fairy tales, and doesn’t think happily ever after is the least bit unrealistic.
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That's a really tough question, but recently I discovered Jamie McGuire and have added her to my list of favorite contemp romance authors.
yadkny@hotmail.com
Well, I don't really have a favorite, but I love Jill Shalvis' books, and I've recently added Julie James to my favorite authors list 🙂
creature-in-night@hotmail.com
I agree w/ yadkny…almost impossible to answer, but I LOVE Linda Francis Lee. The Wedding Diaries and Looking For Lacey are awesome. MUST-READ(s) 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
Greetings from Germany
_yay_
Sasse
I would have to say Jennifer Crusie, or Diana Palmer or maybe Molly Harper. I can't decide. Thanks for the giveaway.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Thanks for a great post and giveaway! Congrats on the new release! It sounds awesome 😉
I have to agree with your list: Jennifer Crusie, Kristan Higgins, SEP
I've a lot of CR author's fav. Julie James is awesome with FBI series. Shiloh Walker, Shane Bolks, Nora Roberts, n many else. But 4 now i'm too obsessed with Julie James n Shiloh Walker.
I've got a lot of favorite contemporary authors – Nora Roberts (loved her Bride Quartet), Lori Foster, Diana Palmer, Susan Mallery (Fool's Gold series ), Debbie Macomber …..just love to read!
sallans d at yahoo dot com
I think it is great that you were able to explore the "what ifs" with this story. Exploring what your life might have been like had you not met your husband must have been interesting. Great post!
geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
Thanks for the post. This looks like it will be a great read!
I don't have just one favorite contemporary romance author, but the authors that I keep going back to here lately have been Julie James, Jennifer Crusie, and Nora Roberts.
Thanks for the giveaway!
bas1chsemail at gmail dot com
Thanks for the great post & intro to a new author. I don't have 1 favorite contemporary author, but I love anything by Jill Shalvis, Kristin Higgins, Victoria Dahl, Lori Foster and Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
harlan_michelle(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the ideas, everyone! I love your suggestions–and I'm happy to see that we share the same tastes! I do need to check out Shilo Walker (who I haven't read yet), Jamie Walker, and Linda Francis Lee. 🙂
That is a tough question! I read so much and like so many authors. I've recently discovered romantic suspense and LOVE it. Roxanne St. Claire is at the top of my list. Also love Lori Armstrong. Julie Miller is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors! LOVED Major Attraction. Added a few authors to my list from this blog. have Jill Shavis and Kristin Higgins on my TBR list.
Heather E
hregtvedt@aol.com
I always enjoy Kristin Higgins & Diana Palmer.
Elizabeth Lowell
thanks for the giveaway…
my favorite contemporary romance author : julie james, susan elizabeth phillips, carly phllips…
i wish i win this book..LOL
success for you inara
I have lots of favorite authors… Carly Phillips, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Susan Wiggs, Jill Shalvis, JoAnn Ross, Kristin Higgins, Lori Foster, Lisa Renee Jones, Jennifer Crusie are amongst the many others 🙂
My Favourite Contemporary Author??
it's Absolutely Julie James and Diana Palmer of course..
I just fell in Love of them since the first time I read their Book.. xD
Wish I could win this book.. so I can add Inara Scott names at My Favourite List.. ^^
Thanx for the Giveaway.. and making it International..
Regards
achiechansweetz(at)gmail.com
I loved your blurb. I don't really have just one but I'll say Louisa Edwards, Lisa Kleypas, Nora Roberts, Robin Carr and Lori Foster.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
Sounds interesting. Can't wait to read your stuff.
erhmsh@hotmail.com