Interview & Giveaway with Shayla Black

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have the very, very, talented Shayla Black back on the blog today.  We are super excited to talk to her about her newest release Embrace Me At Dawn, book 5 in the Doomsday Brethren Series (released yesterday 5/29) and her upcoming release of Mine to Hold, book 6 in the Wicked Lovers Series.  So enough of my yacking…. Let’s get started.

Q1) Shayla, Can you please share with us a little about yourself:

Shayla: Sure! Here’s my official bio: Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the New York Times bestselling author of over 30 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances for multiple print and electronic publishers. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla has won or placed in over a dozen writing contests, including Passionate Ink’s Passionate Plume, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. Romantic Times has awarded her Top Picks, a KISS Hero Award and a nomination for Best Erotic Romance.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every book.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Shayla: No. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I’d tried some other jobs so I knew what I didn’t want to do, such as work retail or at an amusement park. I also worked for a Fortune 10 company for nearly 20 years, spending the last 8 writing sales training. It wasn’t a terrible job…but it wasn’t my passions. I started publishing about halfway through my corporate career. I knew that that’s what I wanted to do.

Q3) What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Shayla: I have so many. Where to start? First off, I’m a multi-task queen. I’m always doing three things at once. Second, I really prefer to write with music in the background, and I will sometimes spend hours finding just the right songs that move me. I also move all over the house with my laptop, depending on weather, time of day, and whatever else is going on. Last, I always get my best ideas while driving or talking on the phone. My friends all know that if I’m calling there may be talk of plot involved. I plot out loud and interactively. Many writers are introverts, but that’s not me.

Q4) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

EMBRACE ME AT DAWN is the latest in the Doomsday Brethren paranormal romance series. I was so excited to finally tell the story of this love triangle that’s been brewing for the last four books in this series. I think the story is really powerful, as this heroine has been through hell and finds herself rising like a phoenix from the ashes of her previous life to create something new without while again finding the man she loves.

Embrace Me At Dawn~Nook order link  | All Romance |Smashword

Release day June 5

MINE TO HOLD is the latest in the Wicked Lovers erotic romance series. For those who have been reading, the anticipation to see mischievous manwhore Tyler finally fall for one woman has been great. He definitely has to take a hard look at himself and his life and decide what’s important—then protect it with his life. There’s a lot of action in this one, but with everything I write, it’s packed with romance, conflict, tension and hot sex.

Q5) How did you come with the idea for this story?

Shayla: As my husband says frequently, my brain is a scary place. There are always ideas rolling around in my head. The idea for both of these stories have been in my head for years. With the Doomsday Brethren series, I’ve had a rough outline of every book before I even started the first. So I had a decent idea of what would happen in EMBRACE ME AT DAWN long ago. With MINE TO HOLD, I’ve always known Tyler’s backstory. I simply had to put together the pieces of the suspense plot and let Tyler and Delaney go.

Q6) Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Shayla:  I’ll be working on four new projects this summer. OURS TO LOVE (Wicked Lovers 7), THEIR VIRGIN CONCUBINE (Masters of Ménage 3), The first in my new Project Alpha series and I’ve taken on an editorial project that I’m really excited about. I can’t say a lot now, but look for more news about it this summer.

Q7) Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Book 5 in the Wicked Lovers Series

Shayla:  Jane Austen. She was so instrumental in creating the genre we see today and the first to really focus on women’s fascination with the condition of falling in love in a way that transcends time and place.

Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Shayla:  Run! No, just kidding. Mostly. J Persevere. If you believe in it passionately, others will, too. You can’t make everyone love what you do, so don’t try. Write what you know is right in your heart for the story in your head. Block as much of the negative as possible and move on.

Q9) Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Shayla:  Go to Italy. I’ve always wanted to spend a couple of weeks there and drink in the scenery, culture, and people.

Book 1 in the Doomsday Brethren Series

Q10) What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Shayla:  I’ve got a ton of books on my Kindle that I’d LOVE to be reading, but deadlines have kept me from enjoying them. I’m SO behind on my reading. Soon…

Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Shayla:  Thank you for inviting me here!

Want to learn more about Shayla and her books?

Check her out here:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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