Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Shayla Black to the blog.
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.
Hi Shayla, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses. I am beside myself to have you here today. Thank you so very much for taking time out of your very busy schedule to sit down and talk with me about your newest book Belong to Me
Shayla: Thanks for having me. It’s great to be here!
Books-n-Kisses: Shall we get started?
Shayla: Absolutely!
Q1) Can you tell us a little more about what makes Shayla Black tick?
Shayla: Where to start? On the surface, I live a seemingly normal life. I take care of my family, enjoy friends and laugh, have favorite TV shows, coddle my spoiled cat. I think once you get to know me, you realize that I have this whole life in my head that’s literally non-stop. I’m constantly thinking about something—what I want to achieve, what I’m working on, what’s next on my plate. A former co-worker once told me that he realized that I lived an entire cerebral experience in my head without any other human input required. My creative energy is particularly fed by music, and I’m always looking for new tunes that spark me.
Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
Shayla: Actually, no. I HATED to read until I was about 19. When I discovered romances, I finally realized that I didn’t hate reading; I just hated what they made me read in school. Then I began devouring books, about 4-6 a week. My mother, not a reader, started to worry that I wouldn’t graduate college. I did, but I told my parents often that I wouldn’t be using my marketing degree much. I did for a while, but finally became a full-time writer in January 2009. It was the sweetest event when, just earlier this month, my dad told me that he thought I was crazy in college for reading and tapping away at my keyboard during every spare moment. He said, “I was wrong, and I’m damn glad.”
Q3) Can you share with us your typical writing day? Things you have to have while you write?
Shayla: I typically write Monday – Friday from 9am until 6pm, sometimes later. I do work a bit on weekends if we get any time after house and family stuff has been tended to. My typical day starts with conversations with my BFFs, Sophie Oak and Kris Cook. We “sprint” together most days, meaning that for 20-30 minute timed intervals, we write flat out. No editing, no thinking too hard about it. Just write the first thing that comes to mind next in the story. It’s really working wonders for my productivity. If I’m on it, I can do a chapter a day. If not, I agonize over every word. I’m great at overthinking. J In order to write, I MUST have my laptop because I refuse to write long-hand, my playlist, and instant messenger (so Sophie, Kris and I can compare totals at the end of a sprint). The system works for me.
Q4) What is the most reward or challenging part of being an author?
Shayla: On both parts, fans. On the one hand, it’s great to know that people are enjoying your work or that you’ve touched someone’s life. On the other hand, it’s sometimes daunting to know that readers have huge expectations for the book you’re working on. It can seem a bit paralyzing. For instance, after I received a great review recently for Belong To Me, several fans on Facebook said, “Of course. You’re always brilliant.” While I appreciate the vote of confidence, I don’t always feel brilliant. It’s nice to hear such things. I try really hard to earn them every day.
This is Logan’s book and let me tell you I am excited. *EEKKK Logan* Would you like to tell us a little more about Belong to Me?
Shayla: It’s the 5th book in the Wicked Lovers series, about the very hot Logan Edgington (Kimber’s brother from DECADENT and Hunter’s brother from SURRENDER TO ME). Here’s the official blurb:
She’s undercover and in over her head…
When FBI analyst Tara Jacobs’ fellow agent and best friend goes missing while investigating a sex ring, Tara goes undercover as a submissive in a Dallas BDSM club called Dominion. But no man can top a woman with Tara’s moxie convincingly enough—until an edgy, dangerous Dom takes control of the scene and sets her heart racing with a single, commanding glance. Too bad he’s also the man who stole her innocence years ago—and the one to whom she will never submit.
He’s got everything under control…until he falls for her again.
Navy SEAL Logan Edgington once left the woman he loved to save her life. He knows Tara will never forgive him, but he has no doubt that he possesses the knowledge to master her fears and the strength to guide her through an unfamiliar world of pleasure and pain. He alone can protect her on a dangerous mission that reveals both wicked depravities and terrible secrets. Logan relishes the exquisite torture of holding her again, feeling her uninhibited response. No matter how much Tara insists their fling will end after this mission, he’s determined that she will be his again—and this time, he’ll never let her go.
Q6) What was the hardest part of writing Logan’s book.
Shayla: Doing justice to this fabulous story I could see in my head. The rapport between Logan and Tara was so strong, and there’s a little part of me and my past in this book, and I desperately wanted to get it right. I’m really excited about the final product.
Q7) Shall we share a little excerpt of Logan’s book to whet people appetite.
Shayla: Absolutely. This is fairly early in the book, just as Tara and Logan are reunited.
Axel cleared his throat. “It appears that you and Agent Jacobs are acquainted. That’s my cue to back off and let you sort this little reunion out. Agent York?” The tattooed Dom turned to the male agent. “Let’s go to Thorpe’s office and talk.”
York speared Tara with a concerned glance that rubbed Logan the wrong way. Just as he was about to offer to rearrange the agent’s face, Tara sent the man a decisive nod.
“Xander, you, too,” Axel said. “Something tells me Logan won’t need your help with this one.”
His one-man cleanup crew shrugged and followed Axel to the door. “We’ll see.”
Beating back his annoyance, Logan watched the trio file out. The door closed behind them with a soft click. Now could he push Cherry up against the wall and bury himself inside her? One look at her face told him that she was less than amenable to that idea. But now that he was training her, he’d have time alone with her. Get to touching her. God, he couldn’t have planned this better if he’d tried. Tara stormed across the room, her hair loosening from its clip after his manhandling. She removed it. The fiery tresses fell half-way down her back as she grabbed a robe out of the armoire against the far wall and thrust it on.
“What are you doing here?”
He hadn’t given her permission to put that little silken robe on, but they’d get to that. He had questions, and was sure that she did, as well. Logan shrugged.
“I spend a lot of time here, actually. At least when I’m on leave.”
She frowned. “I’d heard you joined the service. Army?”
“Navy,” he corrected. “SEAL.”
That had her raising her delicate ginger brows. “From jock to soldier. That’s a stretch. Still a team player, I guess.”
Oddly, her razor-sharp sarcasm, even in high school, was one of the things he’d missed most about her after their split. The other thing had been her compassion.
A dozen years ago, he’d hurt her badly—and it had nearly killed him to rip her heart out. The fact that she could still spare him even a shred of anger after all these years he took as a good sign. If he was irrelevant to her now, she’d have no emotion beyond mild surprise. She certainly wouldn’t bother to bristle and clutch that robe like a shield.
“From budding author to FBI Agent. That is a stretch.”
Then it dawned on him; he would be training his Cherry to go into the field, to submit to some unscrupulous asshole who sold females for a living, a man who would touch her, maybe hurt her. One agent had already disappeared, might even be dead. She’d volunteered for immense danger. And he wouldn’t be there to guide her. Beta York would. Damn it.
He crossed his arms over his chest. Maybe that way she wouldn’t see how hard his heart was pounding at the idea of her volunteering to walk into a snake pit. “Since you’re FBI, I presume you’re proficient with a gun and hand-to-hand, but if you don’t have the time or guts to fully prepare for a potentially dangerous BDSM environment, then I won’t train you for this mission.
“Oh, I have the time and the guts, but you’re right; you won’t train me. I’ll find someone else. But I am going to do my job. Darcy Miles, the missing agent, is my friend. And what I do is none of your business.”
Because he’d thrown away the right to say anything when they’d been sixteen, near the end of their sophomore year. She didn’t spit out that she was no longer his, but the unspoken words hung brittle in the air, taking him back to that terrible day . . .
Q8) Can you tell us about Wicked to Love (release date scheduled for Nov 1, 2011)
Shayla: It’s a short e-novella for those Wicked Lovers fans who asked me, “What about Brandon?” He’s Morgan’s half-brother from Wicked Ties and he ended up all alone. Some fans really wanted to see him happy, so here we are! This is the official blurb:
Just when Brandon Ross gave up on the woman he’d always wanted, he found the one he needed—right under his nose.
A politician’s son, Brandon reined in his desire to serve his community for years after a former friend blackmailed him for desiring the man’s wife. Years later, he’s still haunted by Kayla, holding every woman to her standard. And Brandon’s secretary, Amberlin Evans, knows she can’t measure up.
Amberlin would do anything to make her boss notice her. But when one phone call from Kayla sends Brandon running after her, she knows it’s time to stop waiting for him to see her and move on. Funny how her resignation gets Brandon’s attention in a way short skirts didn’t.
When Brandon confronts Amberlin, he realizes that he’s been blind to his feelings for her—and that the way she always calls him Sir and says “please” has his thoughts turning wicked…
Q9) I also noticed that you have a title for book 6 Mine to Hold (Tyler’s story) & book 7 Bound to You (Xander’s book). Can you tell us a little about each book?
Shayla: MINE TO HOLD, Wicked Lovers book 6, is about a fan favorite, the mischievous Tyler, I’m just about done writing it now for a next June release. Here’s the official blurb:
A friend’s duty.
Tyler Murphy was an LAPD detective, single and happy—until a near-fatal tragedy crippled his friend, fellow detective Eric Catalano. While he supported Eric, he also became a shoulder for Eric’s wife, Delaney, to lean on. But with one naughty suggestion from Eric, a drunken night with Delaney spilled into erotic abandon. Before it was over Tyler saw his best friend’s wife as a woman and yearned for more. When Eric struggled to deal with the aftermath, Delaney begged Tyler to leave. Crushed, he fled to Louisiana, hoping to escape his longing for the one woman he could never have again…and unaware of what he’d left behind.
A lover’s desire.
After two years of living with regret, Tyler finds Delaney on his doorstep, her husband having abandoned her long ago. She’s protecting a shocking secret and desperately needs refuge from a killer determined to see her dead. As they fight to stay alive and catch the stalker, they struggle to resolve the guilt of their past pleasures. But they can’t deny that what was once a spark is now a flame burning out of control. To possess Delaney—body and soul—Tyler must heal her pain and thwart the evil that’s a mere breath behind her…
Book 7 in this series, BOUND TO YOU, is about a character you’ll meet in both books 5 and 6 named Xander. I love, love, love Xander. He’s playful on the outside, but has a lot of problems under the surface. For a billionaire, he’s both complicated and fun. And his heroine has NO idea what’s about to hit her. *grin*
Q10) How many books do you foresee in this series?
Shayla: I don’t know, in all honesty. In BELONG TO ME, besides introducing Xander, I also introduced a Dallas BDSM club owner named Mitchell Thorpe. He’s got a story, I can feel it. I’m digging through his head to find out what it might be. And that’s how the series continues. I introduce people who intrigue me. Then fans say they’re also intrigued and ask me to write about them. I’m happy to do it. No idea where the end is.
Q11) Who would you say has been the hardest to write in you Wicked Lovers series and who has been the easiest or should I say least difficult?
Shayla: The hardest book in the series for me to write was SURRENDER TO ME. There was a lot going on in my life then, and the interruptions were constant. It all made focusing really challenging, and I already knew the book was late. The added pressure got under my skin, which made me freeze at times. And Hunter was probably the most complicated hero in that series. Clear in his thinking because he was so single-minded, but there was just so much running around in his head, it was hard for me to filter through all of it.
I think the easiest book in the series to write was DELICIOUS. I had an extremely clear vision of where Luc and Alyssa both were emotionally all throughout the book, which makes it lovely and linear when I sit down to type. I knew what character growth they both needed to make in order to be happy. I knew Alyssa’s wrenching backstory would make a poignant tale. As I wrote Alyssa telling Luc about her past, I cried with every keystroke for those two days.
Q12) How did you come up with the idea for the Wicked Lovers series?
Shayla: I didn’t, really. Wicked Ties was designed as a stand-alone book. Then Deke walked onto the scene, and intrigued me. I got email about him. He lingered in my head…and DECADENT was born. But by then, I’d introduced Luc and the Edgington Brothers, and they all needed books, too. In the middle of that, I brought out Xander and Thorpe. Knowing me, there will be more to come. Hot men just ooze from my thoughts. J
Q13) So, I was looking over your book list on your blog you are a busy writer. Tell us what is up next for you?
Shayla: I’m staying really busy! After BELONG TO ME, here’s my schedule:
Sometime in October – STRICTLY SEDUCTION – historical re-release.
November 1 – “Wicked To Love” – electronic novella
December 24 – THEIR VIRGIN’S SECRET – Masters of Ménage, book 2 (with Lexi Blake)
February 2012 – EMBRACE ME AT DAWN – Doomsday Brethren, book 5
Spring 2012 – STRICTLY FORBIDDEN – historical re-release
June 2012 – MINE TO HOLD – Wicked Lovers 6
July 2012 – “Arresting Desire” – HOT IN HANDCUFFS anthology
Q14) I know that it is not part of the Wicked Lovers series, but I have to say I can’t wait for Embrace me at Dawn (book 5 in the Doomsday Brethren series) Would you care to share an excerpt of Embrace me at Dawn?
Shayla: I don’t have anything to share just yet except what’s in the back of book 4, ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT. But I’m also really excited about this book. I’ve been waiting to write this book for a very long time. The emotional richness of this love triangle is something I absolutely cannot wait to sink my teeth into!
Q15) Is there anything else that you would like to share with our followers?
Shayla: I really appreciate readers and all the wonderful support you’ve given me over the years. If you’d like to interact with me more, I have a very active Facebook page. Please “like” Shayla Black/Shelley Bradley if you’d like the latest scoop from me. I’m always posting parts of my playlists for books, excerpts, new covers, favorite lines of the day as I write them—whatever is top of mind.
Books-n-Kisses: Shayla, again thank you so very, very much for stopping by my blog. Still super excited that you are here. So why don’t we share the excitement with my followers and do a giveaway. Maybe a giveaway of one of your back list books?
Shayla: Thanks for having me. Sounds great! I’ll be happy to give away the Wicked Lovers backlist book of the winner’s choice.
Giveaway Time:
To be entered in to Shayla’s giveaway please swing by her website and look at the Wicked Lovers back list (HERE) and then come back and tell me which book you want.
Leave me the name of the book you want.
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Giveaway will end Oct 7th
Winner announced Oct 10th
Want to learn more about Shayla?
You can find her here
