Books-n-Kisses is please to welcome Carla Swafford to the blog today to chat a little about herself, bucket list, and her new and up coming books Circle of Danger and Circle of Deception (Nov 2012). Please make Carla feel welcome.
Can you please share with us a little about yourself
Like most authors, I lead a boring life especially when compared to my characters, but here we go. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and live in Alabama. Once I learned how to read, I fell in love with books. First it started out with anything that had horses on the cover and then one day I read Roberta Gellis’s BOND OF BLOOD, my first romance, and I found my obsession. Not until many years later, I decided to try my hand at writing the stories tumbling around in my head. Nine years and ten books later, I received an email from Avon wanting to publish my latest manuscript that had been doing rather well in contests. Circle of Danger is my second published book and the third, Circle of Deception, will be released November 27, 2012.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
Until I was adult, I thought all authors lived in New York or California or were dead. So no. <snort!>
What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I must have Kid Rock blasting music as I type in the nude. Sorry. I couldn’t resist teasing. None of that is true. Really. No quirks for me, though my kids would tell you that I’m a little OCD about some stuff but not my writing. If you’re wondering, I’ll give you one example. I only buy red toothbrushes. Yep. Just one of those hang ups of mine.
Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
First, I’ll mention that Circle of Danger was released June 5 in e-format. The paperback will be available June 19. It’s the second book in The Circle series about a mercenary organization, though each book can be read as a standalone.
In Circle of Danger, though Ryker is several years older than Marie, they grew up together under the thumb of the same psycho. Finally free, she wants to be a Circle operative but on her first assignment is injected with a designer drug that revs up a person’s sex drive. The last four women with that drug in their system died. Ryker is willing to do anything to save her including taking her to his bed (it’s a dirty job but he’s man enough) and searching for the antidote. When he’s captured by a new evil, he worries that he has become the monster he always feared, and the one who will pay the biggest price, will be the woman he loves.
How did you come with the idea for this story?
The Circle series came out of my love for the late 90s TV series La Femme Nikita and kind of morphed from there. For the specific story about the designer drug, it came from a critique partner’s story. I’ve told her how I loved her third book, Run To Me (http://www.christyreece.com/books_main.html), and of course, all the others too. In that story, a bad guy controls the hero with a mind alternating drug. Such a cool idea. Me, being me, I wondered how that would work if the drug caused a person’s sex drive to go into overdrive? Christy thought it was a hoot and so typically me.
Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’m a little over half way in the third book of The Circle series, Circle of Deception. It’s a shade more lighthearted (nice way of saying the heroine is a smart-aleck) than the other two, but just as sexy with all the twists and turns. For those who read the first book, this one is Rex and A. J./Abby’s story.
Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
Oh, my, I have to admit I’m one lucky fan. I’ve met all of my favorite authors and even become friends with a few of them. Hmm. Wait! Lisa Kleypas! I can’t believe I haven’t met her. And why? So I can thank her for writing books I love.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
No matter what people tell you, if you study your craft and write, write, write, there’s always someone out there that will love your book as much as you do.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
What every author has on her/his list: hit the New York Times best seller list. If that’s cheating, let me add, to go on a train ride through the Alaskan countryside. Hopefully, I’ll get to mark that one off in next couple years and wouldn’t mind marking off both in that time period. Ha!
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
Mercy me, I’ve got a boat load, but the one I’ve been waiting for what feels like forever is Jennifer Echol’s Such a Rush. Love, love her writing. Emotional, sensual with a light humor that has me chuckling to myself. Plus you need to see her cover. Beautiful. http://www.jennifer-echols.com/sucharush.html
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Some lucky commenter can win their choice of Circle of Desire or Circle of Danger. I would love to hear what book everyone is looking forward to reading.
Of course, that would mean my TBR pile will grow, but what the heck. Is there really anything better to do than write and read?
And if you’re interested in hearing about what’s going on with my books before anyone else, you can sign up for my newsletter. I send out five or less a year. For details, you can go to www.carlaswafford.com.
You can find Carla Swafford at
www.carlaswafford.blogspot.com
www.romancemagicians.blogspot.com
Also on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter and Pinterest
Want a chance to win an e-copy of Carla’s newest book Circle of Danger?
Please feel out the Rafflecopter below.
Great interview, Carla! I used to watch Nikita back in the day. Liked it better than the new one.
Hey, Patricia! Yes, I do too. I’ve watched the new one a few times and liked what they did with the relationship and gave the series a new twist. The Michael is sexy and has that soft deep voice I love.
Thank you!
Great interview! I have a huge pile to read and keep finding more can you believe it? Lol! We have our five kids signed up for summer reading programs and I’ve found a few books that look great which I can’t wait to read! Should be fun to read them with the kids 🙂
Thanks, Misty. Of my two girls, one is a reader like me while the other, not so much. But we have hope for her. 🙂
Of course, when you say read them with the kids, I’m sure you don’t read the romances out loud to them. LOL! But as in a quiet moment with everyone reading their own books. 😀 Mine are definitely for 18 and older.
Thanks for the great interview. I have a giant TBR pile and it just keeps growing and growing. I am most looking forward to reading the new book in the Elder Races series, Devil’s Gate, by Thea Harrison.
Your books sound amazing. Can’t wait to read them. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thea Harrison is amazing, isn’t she? I know what you mean. My pile is huge especially now that I can hide them on an e-reader. 😀 Thanks, Joanne.
I enjoyed your interview! I’m looking forward to Circle of Danger…I read Circle of Desire and enjoyed it!
Awww! Thanks, Nikki. I’m so glad. Olivia kicks butt, don’t she? And Collin…yum. Love those soft deep voices. Gives me chills in the good way.
Great interview Carla! I too really loved watching the show La Femme Nikita with Peta Wilson and was sad to see it go. One of the books I’m looking forward to reading this summer is Kiss the Dead – Anita Blake series- by Laurell K. Hamiton. It just released yesterday. Thanks for the giveaway!
Oops! Your reply is below. 🙂
Great interview! I haven’t heard of either of these books so I need to get Circle of Desire! There are so many books on my TBR/wishlist. A few books I’m looking forward to is Nobody’s Perfect by Kallypso Masters, Lusted in Las Vegas by Sandra Bunino, anything by Nalini Singh, J.R. Ward, Laura Kaye, Kris Norris, and several others. Thanks for the giveaway!
You have a list like me! LOL! Kallypso Masters’s book does look most interesting. 😀 Thank you, Susan!
Hey, Maria D.! Me too. I’ve gotten a little behind on that series, but from what I read on Kiss the Dead, I may need to get caught up. THANKS!
Misses that show… 🙁 oh there are soo many books I am looking foward to read especially Circle of Danger! 😀 hehe
Hey, Beth!!! Thank you so much. 😀
Hi Carla!
I love getting to know a new to me author and will definitely be adding your books to my wishlist:) Right now I am looking forward to reading the latest from L.K.H. in her Anita Blake series. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks, Yadira A., for stopping by!
I love finding new authors – I am looking forward to reading your books soon – I read ALOT 🙂 And I just finished LKH – Kiss the Dead 🙂 Yes I am an Anita Blake junkie
LOL! I understand completely. Thanks, Kerry!
Thanks for the lovely interview, I enjoyed reading it. And I also liked La Femma Nikita, the original series! Good luck with doing the things on your bucket list!
For me, I can’t wait for Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh to reach my home.
I really need to pick up one of her books. I know what will happen and I’m afraid my TBR pile will tumble ontop of me. But what a way to go, heh? LOL! Thank you, aurian.
I’m looking forward to the Hot in Handcuffs anthology. If you have seen the cover you will know why. Shayla Black, Shiloh Walker and Sylvia Day are the authors.
I have a thing for handcuffs. In fact, the first hot scene in CIRCLE OF DESIRE he has her in handcuffs and doing delightful things to her. A talented man for sure. 😀
Thanks, StacieD!
I’m looking forward to Frost’s Once Burned along with many others ;).
Jeaniene Frost’s. Oh, yes. Thanks for stopping by Viki S.
While I’m thinking of it, thank you, Books-n-Kisses, for having me here. I’m having a lot of fun.
Great interview!
I’m sure you’ll knock that off your bucket list soon.
Thanks, Ali. 😀
I love the interview!!!! You’re a new discovery for me heheehe 🙂 I’m really curious now about your books, and about what book I’m most looking forward??? Well I’ll stay in, somewhat, the same genre and say…
Shayla’s Black next Wicked Lovers book! 😀 Mine to hold…though it came out yesterday…I won’t have it any time soon but I am DYING for that book like you have NO idea!!
Also next Rough Riders book by Lorelei James 😀
Hi there, Alba @BookPics! Shayla and Lorelei – oh, yeah, I know what you mean. They write hot as I like to read and write.
Thanks for checking my interview. 😀
love the interview, look forward to reading your books, I too was a Femme Nikita fan, haha.
Thanks, nanee mcgee. Yeah, I loved the twist and turns in the show. Plus the music was pretty good too.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Fallen series.
The one by Lauren Kate, Victoria? I’ll have to check that out. Thanks!
The next book that I am really eager to have released is NOBODY’S PERFECT by Kallypso Masters. Love her Rescue Me series. Great characters and stories. I would suggest them to anyone who likes great, hot love stories.
Well, I for sure need to check out her books. You and Susan (earlier commenter) have the same taste. Thanks, June, for stopping by.
I’m looking forward to reading Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh.
Yep, I do need to write down Nalini Singh’s name as books to check out. Thanks, bn100.
Great interview. I am looking forward to Biting Cold by Chloe Neill
That’s a new name to me, Jennifer. Thank you! 😀
great interview i am waiting not very patiantly for lover at last , jr ward
I know what you mean. Me too. 🙂 Thanks, Ginger.
I look forward to checking out this book ! But also The Rise of Nine in August !
Thanks, Angy!
Thanks for the interview! I have not had a chance to read these books yet but I’m always interested in finding new authors. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, Christina.