Video Interview– Borders True Romance Blog

So a couple weeks back, I mentioned that I had driven up to Ann Arbor to film an interview for the Borders True Romance blog.  It was a special author/author interview where Sue Grimshaw from Borders had another author, Joss Ware (who also writes as Colleen Gleason), do the interview.  I had such a great time doing the interview–both Sue and Joss/Colleen are fabulous!  We talked about my previous career as a lawyer, my books, what I’m reading now… all sorts of fun stuff.

Of course, the whole time I was watching this I was thinking, “That’s what my hair looks like?  Hmm.”

You can check out the interview here:

Julie James | Borders Media.

Some news, another giveaway, and Tracy Wolff is here!

**Please note: the giveaway is now closed.  Winner will be announced shortly.

So I had a very exciting day. . .  I just got back from Ann Arbor, where I filmed a special author interview for the Borders True Romance blog that will air in March. I’ll have more info on that later, but for now I can say that–whew–I think the interview went okay.  I believe it will be posted on the Borders blog on March 1st, the day before Something About You releases.

And here’s some more exciting news. . . as part of the countdown celebration to the release of Something About You, Tracy Wolff is here today!  Tracy writes everything from contemporary romance to paranormal to erotic suspense, and I have to say, she is one of the nicest authors I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.  Plus, I think she’s been blessed by the cover-gods.  Check this one out:

Whew!  Looks steam-y.  I asked Tracy a few questions about her writing and her upcoming release, Tease Me:

JJ: When did you first realize you wanted to write, and how did you  get started?

TW: I’ve wanted to write since I first knew I could use the alphabet to form words—and spent my whole life getting there.  I’ve got an MFA in creative writing and a Ph.D in American Literature, but it wasn’t until we moved to Texas four years ago that I decided to take a year off with my then youngest child and actually write a novel.  I wrote two that year, and both placed in contests run by Harlequin looking for new talent.  My second book, The Turn for Home, was bought by Harlequin Everlasting Love and promptly became A Christmas Wedding.  My first novel, Full Exposure, was turned down by Harlequin Blaze after placing in the contest, but after a little work became my first erotic suspense for NAL.  I’ve been writing full force ever since.

JJ: What is it about writing romance that appeals to you?

TW: I love the happily ever after, love knowing that in the end no matter what I do to my characters (and I do a lot of terrible things to them) they’ll end up together and happy.  I also really like the diversity of the field—I write erotic suspense and paranormal romance for NAL, contemporary romance for Harlequin and YA paranormal romance for Walker Books.  What other genre would let me write all those different things?

JJ: What do you do on those writing days when you’re stressed, worn out, or distracted?

TW: Eat chocolate.  No, seriously, I force myself to sit at the computer and bargain with myself.  Write 1500 words and I can get up and do something fun for fifteen minutes.  Come back and write another 1500 and I can have a cookie or read a chapter in the book I just picked up or … whatever appeals to me.  But I don’t let myself move (barring blood or mayhem from my 3 boys) until I meet my goal—whether it’s 1000 words or 3000 words.

JJ:  What can you tell us about your next release?
TW:  My next release is called Tease Me and it was so much fun to write.  It’s getting great reviews and I’m really excited about it.  Here’s the blurb:

The “edgy and erotic” (Shannon McKenna, New York Times bestselling author of Tasting Fear) author of Tie Me Down and Full Exposure offers another steamy novel of sex, lies, and sultry games.

Burned once too often, true crime writer Lacey Richards has sworn off love. Instead, she explores her deepest desires through her anonymous- and very provocative-blog. Anonymous, that is, until her dark and ultrasexy neighbor discovers her dirty secret.

Stockbrocker-turned-carpenter Byron Hawthorne gave up life in the fast lane, hoping to start over in a new city. When he learns his alluring neighbor is the one writing the sizzling blog that keeps him up all night, he can’t resist offering to fulfill her fantasies in the flesh. But Byron isn’t the only man provoked by Lacey’s writing. Now Lacey doesn’t know who she can trust-and who she can dare to tease.
JJ: Sounds fabulous!  Can you share a brief excerpt with us?
Excerpt from Tease Me

“Is that what you want to do with the evening?” she asked. “Play 20 Questions?” Her voice was low and inviting and took the sting out of the question.

“Actually, I’ve got a better idea.” God knew, he had a few of them. But tearing her clothes off before the first glass of wine—for the second time in as many days—seemed more than a little rude.

“And that is?” She took a sip of her wine and then shot him a smile that had him straining against the zipper of his jeans.

He studied her for a few seconds, running his eyes over her clothes and jewelry. “I call it nine questions.”

“Nine?” She raised an eyebrow. “That’s a fairly random number.”

“Not really. It’s the number of items you’re wearing—if you don’t go commando, I mean. It also”—he glanced down at himself—“happens to be the exact number of items I’m wearing as well.”

“Well, isn’t that convenient?” She pursed her lips into an inviting O.

Had he thought he was hard before? As he watched her lick her lips, the blood rushed from his head so fast that for a minute, he was afraid he might pass out.

And wouldn’t that just be a kick in the ass, particularly on what promised to be one of the most erotic nights of his life?

“Am I correct in assuming that there’s a fee for every question asked?”

“You are, indeed. One item per question.”

“Are any subjects off -limits?”

He smiled then. “Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.”

JJ: Tres steam-y, indeed.  😉  Okay, now for some fun questions:  What are you watching on TV these days?  What are you reading?
TW:  I’m addicted to Bones and Project Runway.  Seriously addicted.   I just finished reading Christine Feehan’s Street Game, Laura Griffin’s Untraceable and Kathy Reich’s Monday Mourning.  I am waiting with bated breath for your next book and the third book in the Nora Roberts’ Bride trilogy.

JJ:  What are you listening to on your Ipod?
TW:  I’m a creature of habit—same old stuff—Green Day, Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band, Tori Amos.  I did just buy the relief album for Haiti and listen to that a lot.

JJ:  What is your biggest weakness (shoes, purses, chocolate, etc.)?

TW:  Lipstick and fun, sparkly, dangly earrings.  A woman can never have too many of either, IMHO.


JJ:  Complete this sentence: One fun thing about me that people might  not know about me is that. . .
TW:   I love skydiving.
_________________
Thanks, Tracy!  So glad you could be here with us!
And there’s more–Tracy has offered to give away a copy of any book from her backlist (at the winner’s choosing) to one random commenter.  Tracy’s backlist, and more information about her and her books, can be found at her website or at her blog.  The giveaway will remain open until 10pm CST on Friday, February 12th.
Good luck!