Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have Xandar James to the blog today.
1. Can you please share with us a little about yourself
I’m a married, British author, and have had a serious love affair with romance books, since I was very young and sneaking looks at my Mum’s large stash. If I say to some of your readers I’m a June baby (so a Cancer crab) I’m sure they’ll figure me out i.e. stubborn and moody 😉
2. Have you always wanted to be an author?
Since I was about ten years old. I was always obsessed with books though. I was one of those kids who were completely happy when alone with multiple tomes – whatever the genre. It was a natural progression to start writing as my parents always said I had a very vivid imagination (although I think that was their way of telling me I could lie through my teeth with the most amazing excuses…lol)
3. Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
I have lots of favourites and am always finding new authors to check out (just have to find the time to read ’em!!).
There are certain points, however, I can pinpoint and say a certain author influenced my own personal journey/writing. Johanna Lindsey was the first full length novel I read (Hearts Aflame) and so lead me to thinking there is (slightly) more out there than category ;). Sidney Sheldon gave me a love of suspense wrapped around a hot romance. Janet Evanovich for making me laugh and realizing that this sort of book is what I would ultimately like to write. And Kerrelyn Sparks for making me love paranormal books again (with a little humour thrown in). All have been favourites and will probably proceed to be.
4. How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
As I said, Kerrelyn Sparks gave me my love of paranormals back. It was before the whole obsession with vampires in tv and movies came out that I actually starting writing one, though. It started off as a suspense and morphed into a paranormal suspense, which eventually became (over a few years), Reluctant Revenge – my debut book.
And yes, I would consider writing in another genre. I’m not limiting myself – I’m only writing the story that comes out on the page, not trying to make it fit into one certain line.
5. What are some of your writing rituals?
Well, at the moment, I’m loving taking my laptop and my trusty notebook into my dining room and sitting so I can look out onto the garden with the birds and trees. It’s good for my creativity, it seems. Other things I need are caffeine and little munchies. Apart from that, I don’t have any particular routines or rituals.
6. Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
There’s my debut which is Reluctant Revenge. It’s an erotic, paranormal action/adventure and I love the hero – Nash – completely! 😉
Nash was bound to Sienna completely – by a blood connection and a deep desire. An Enforcer for the Supranormal community, he was obligated to protect his sexy assignment, despite her family devastating his world.
After being betrayed, Sienna falls into the arms of her surly protector; a demon with a secret of his own. But can she face her destiny knowing she’s more dangerous than those Nash was protecting her from?
My second is Shadow Justice – another erotic, paranormal romance with suspense and fantasy thrown in! Another hero I love, Luka, because he’s just so hot 😉
Luka was a bounty hunter who just wanted to do his job and get paid. Being a banished Shadow, he’d learnt the bitter lesson long ago that he was alone, after he was expelled from his home world by his own blood. Now, he needed to understand why he was wanted dead whilst his desire for the fiery haired witch erupted, out of control.
As a rare moon-witch, all she’d ever known was a life of misery under the oppressive Fae-Guard. Nine years ago Cerys escaped the Meta-World after regretting the forced banishment of a Shadow. Now, she leads a normal life without her abilities and all she wants is to blend in. When a bounty hunter wants to take her back for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s willing to take a chance on her future by trusting the man who had no idea she’d wronged him years before.
7. How did you come with the idea for these stories?
As I said earlier, the idea for Reluctant Revenge was definitely a work in progress for quite a while. It was actually after a rejection of the first chapter in New Voices 2010 (from mills and boon) that I made it darker and found that Nash had a past (who knew?! Lol). From there, the story just poured out and I wrote it in double quick time.
With Shadow Justice, I’d already written three chapters when I had the idea to make Cerys a moon-witch (probably because I’d spent a lot of time gazing at the night sky, figuring out the plot for my story!). I changed my characters some and then their story came pouring out too and I could barely keep up.
8. Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’ve just finished a short story for an anthology called Her Demon Charms. It’s about a succubus who makes a deal with the devil to turn herself mortal. Problems arise when her deal terms state that she must make a man fall in love with her via a dating site and without using her natural, sexy charms to make him bend to her will!
I had a lot of fun writing that one and it’ll hopefully be out around June with Evernight Publishing, in an anthology called Keyboards and Kink.
Currently I’m scribbling down a general outline for a fairy tale. Not sure of the details as yet but I’m sure I’ll give it a good shot at making it fun and sensual 😉
9. What would you be if you were not an author?
In the publishing/book selling business. I wish I’d have had more guidance at school, when I was choosing my college courses and taking classes etc. It never even crossed my mind that I could work towards something that I loved and be involved in the writing industry (I guess I was too busy hiding at the back of the class, pretending to be listening! Lol).
If I couldn’t be anything to do with the writing industry, I’d probably run a bar or a nightclub. 😉
10. What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’ve just started reading the latest Kerrelyn Sparks book in her Love At Stake series. I’ve been waiting for some free time to actually appreciate it and not fall asleep with the book stuck to my face!
I’ve also got the next in the Chicagoland Vampire series from Chloe Neill which I can’t wait to find time to read. Oh and Immortal Love by Danica Avet. Oh and… err… loads actually!
11. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank so much, Kelly, for inviting me here today! I enjoyed answering your questions and checking out your blog.
Oh and I’m always around on the web, so if you see me, please say hi!
Good interview! I too love Kerrelyn Sparks books and have a couple of books to read to be caught up with them and also with the Chicagoland Vampire books. I have both Reluctant Revenge and Shadow Justice on my Kindle list and the upcoming book about the succubus sounds like fun!
Oh, thanks so much Maria! I appreciate that 🙂
Thanks so much for having me here today at Books n Kisses – I had fun answering your questions!
Great Interview Xandra!!