9:36 AM

In the Author Spotlight
Leah Braemel

CONTEST: I am offering one lucky commenter a copy of my novel Personal Protection (their choice of e-format). Please make sure to leave a comment along with your email addy so I can contact you if you win. :-)

AL: Hi Leah! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.
So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Leah: Hmm, my life is pretty much wrapped up in writing these days. If I’m not writing, I’m ferrying my two sons around making sure they’re ready to head back to school. My youngest son heads back to school on the 8th. Technically he graduated high school in June (though the grad’s being held in October), but he’s going back for an extra year to do a co-op program. (Since the Ontario government cancelled Grade 13 a few years back, they have the option to taking an extra year to prepare for college.) My eldest who finished his college course in Computer Animation a few years ago but hasn’t found a job in his field, will also be going back to school to become an electrical apprentice.

AL: What’s on the bookshelf for us to read?

Leah: I currently have two stories published through Samhain Publishing – an erotic romance novella called Private Property, and a sequel to that, a full length novel, Personal Protection.

AL: Anything new in the works?

Leah: I’ve got several irons in the fire at the moment. I sold Personal Protection as the start of the Hauberk Protection series (although Private Property is a sort of prequel), so I’ve got the next in the series in the works, and several more outlined. I also have an erotic romance novella that I’m just polishing up to send in to my new editor. *fingers crossed*

AL: What do you like best about writing? What is your least favorite thing?

Leah: Best thing? That I can put to good use the little voices that have been telling me stories in my head for years ;) They like to be listened to. My least favorite thing is getting the little voices to co-operate and talk when I want them to. Some days they are awful quiet and it takes a lot of poking with a sharp stick to get them to co-operate.

AL: Who are some of your favorite authors?

Leah: For worldbuilding, there’s no one like Tolkien. But of contemporary writers? Patricia Briggs is probably highest on my list, followed by Ann Aguirre. Maya Banks and Lorelei James are auto buys. And thanks to Twitter, Victoria Dahl – a new discovery for me – is quickly becoming a favorite.

AL: Okay, now it’s time to get personal. My favorite season is here and I’m excited that my beloved Missouri Tigers will be taking the field in a few weeks. Who’s your favorite football team? (Don’t like football? I forgive you.) Is there any other sport or team you follow?

Leah: Oh oh – I’m not a football fan. I follow the Toronto Blue Jays (on occasion) and keep an eye on the Toronto Maple Leafs, but basically the only sports that gets turned to on a regular basis in this house (and I am NOT in charge of the remote) is golf. (Yes, I can hear the snores now. And yes, they’re often my own.)

AL: What is this romance writer's idea of the "perfect romantic evening"?

Leah: Wow, I think that depends upon the person, or for me, even depends upon my mood. Sometimes just sitting on the couch watching my favorite moving snuggled up to my hubby can be a perfect romantic evening. But for those extra special nights – I’d start with a wonderful meal at a restaurant (so I don’t have to cook or have dishes to worry about afterward), followed by a stay in a resort or B&B where you have the use of a private hot tub. Add a glass of wine (or two), lots of quiet conversation with your significant other, then the ability to retire to a comfortable king sized bed with no kids around – Heaven.

AL: Best movie you've seen recently?

Leah: The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. Though I was totally bummed out to discover that beautiful mountain vista behind the bay was all CGId 

AL: If you kissed a frog, what would he turn into?

Leah: My husband? Okay, let’s get a bit more imagination (though I really am happily married) If I kissed a frog, he would turn into … probably whatever hero I’m currently working on (I always fall in love with the hero, LOL.) They’re always tall, their hair color varies – though my current hero in my WIP is dark haired; he’d have grey eyes and be prepared to protect me while respecting me. Hmm, yup, I’ve just described my husband again. Well, except for the hair. It used to be dark, now it’s … well, we just say it’s getting lighter-colored highlights all on its own ;)

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.

Leah: I’ve got one on my webpage that embodies my two worlds: Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination. ~Voltaire I used to do special pulled thread embroidery for an English designer, and since I write romance, it really fits. Stories are very much like the designs I sew – they’re often layered, and have all sorts of threads that have to weave together until finally you can stand back and see the grand design.

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with joining us this week, Leah.

Leah: Thanks for having me, Ann. I’ve had fun answering your questions.

AL: If you’d like to find out more about Leah please visit:

http://LeahBraemel.com
http://leahbraemel.blogspot.com/

FEATURED TITLE:

Blurb:

She can cover him with one hand tied behind her back. Maybe two.

Hauberk Protection, Book 2

Sam Watson excels at keeping other people safe. Now a stalker is targeting him, but so what? A few doctored photos and a couple threatening phone calls are no big deal. He can watch his own back. Then again, the view from behind the sexy spitfire assigned to protect him isn’t so bad…

Rosalinda Ramos has managed to keep her attraction to Hauberk Security’s owner tightly under wraps. It’s just as well he doesn’t know. One slip—in the bedroom or on the job—will cost her her heart and her career, so she’s got only one thing on her mind. Protect Sam, whether he wants it or not.

The stakes—and the heat—rise exponentially when she discovers Sam belongs to an exclusive sex club—one she must investigate for potential suspects. Suddenly she finds herself immersed in a world that pushes her boundaries.

Sam delights in leading Rosie deep into his sexual shadows—until they go one game too far. Making him wonder if he can allow the woman he loves to take a bullet for him.

Excerpt:

To read an excerpt from Hauberk Protection please visit: http://www.leahbraemel.com/personalprotection.html

Remember to enter the contest for a chance to win.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome blog! I am definitely looking forward to reading this book!

Veronica
sromancereviews@aol.com

Blanche said...

Hi Leah and Ann!

Great interview! I'm really looking forward to reading Personal Protection!!!

knkmom@gmail.com

Amy M said...

What a great interview! And a great sneak peek at the book too!

Thanks!
Amy M
atc218 at aol dot com

Kristal Singletary said...

Great interview, Leah! I love your comment about kissing the frog. If I kissed one, I'd want him to be my husband too. :)

Looking forward to reading Personal Protection.

The Scarf Princess said...

Great interview and blurb!

And I didn't know the scenic view in The Proposal was fake. That's a bummer. Although for a second I thought you were really going to depress me by saying the scenic view of Ryan Reynolds was CGIed. Now that would have been a huge tragedy. LOL!

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Leah Braemel said...

Hi, everyone

Joder - yes, The Proposal was actually filmed in Massachusetts :( LOL about Ryan Reynolds, nope, he wasn't CGId thank heavens. :D

Anonymous said...

Hi Leah,
great interview..But Toronto Maples Leafs??...No..Go Sens Go!! ;)

love the blurb.Personal Protection sounds great.

elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Cathy M said...

Hi Leah, great interview. We have the same favorite author list. Really enjoying this series, and already have Personal Protection on my wish list.

caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com

MariElle said...

So Leah, are you actually IN Toronto? Nice to meet a fellow Ontarian- you're the 4th erotica writer I've met online now from Ontario- fun eh? Must be the weather or something.
Anyway would love to win one of your books, if not will get it online.
take care and would love to hear where you are... I'm in Hamilton
MariElleBetz@gmail.com

Kainani said...

Great blog. I love the question about if you kiss a frog. LOL! I'm now adding Personal Protection to my TBR list. Sounds like a book right up my alley.

Thanks
kenos89 at gmail dot com

s7anna said...

Hi Ann,
I'm really glad to learn of other authors that you are supporting...it's a wonderful thing...I absolutely cannot wait to read Leah's book & check out her website as well...Thanks for the intro...

Love,
Anna
s7anna@yahoo.ca

Cindy said...

Great interview. I'm new to the writing process and hearing from other authors is really fabulous. Thanks so much.

Cindy
thesbgirls@comcast.net

Fedora said...

Great interview, Leah and Ann! I'm also giggling about your answer to the frog question--very creative question AND answer! :) Congrats on your latest release! Thanks for letting us know about it!

--Fedora
f dot chen at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

Oh, I can't wait to read this! Great interview Ann. And Leah, the cover for "Personal Protection" is gorgeous.

I didn't know Ryan Reynolds (total hottie!) was in a movie with Sandra Bullock. I love everything I've seen featuring both of them, so I'll definitely look them up.

That's interesting about Ontario formerly having a grade 13. I never knew that.

Please enter me in the contest.

Lillian
lkirby4978@yahoo.com

Asylumgirl said...

Cover him, huh? lol

Now that's my kind of protection.

Deidre
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Really want to read this book!! Make my wish real please :)
Mariska
uniquas at ymail dot com

Tamsyn said...

That was a lovely interview. Went to check out the excerpt and video on Personal Protection. The tango music in the video was just perfect!

Tamsyn
tamsyn5@yahoo.com

Ann Lory said...

Hey everyone. Thanks for stopping by and thanks Anna. I'm always glad to spotlight different authors from all genres of romance/erotica. I find great new reads myself this way and hopefully so do those who pop by. Thanks again.

Ann

Leah Braemel said...

Wow - lots of comments!

MariElle, I'm not actually IN Toronto but live in the GTA.

Lillian - Ryan Reynolds (and Sandra Bullock) do a nude scene in it. Not that you get to see any of the more, um, interesting bits of his ;D

Patricia Altner said...

Hi

I think I'm just getting in under the wire for this contest.

Personal Protection sounds like the perfect warm up for a cold winter day!

Excellent interview!

Leah Braemel said...

Hi, everyone

I've chosen a winner using Random.org's list randomizer:

There were 17 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Veronica
2. Elaine
3. Mariska
4. Cindy
5. Patricia
6. Lillian
7. Kainani
8. Tamsyn
9. Anna
10. Deidre
11. MariElle
12. Amy M
13. Kristal
14. Fedora
15. Cathy M
16. Joder
17. Blanche

Timestamp: 2009-09-09 11:48:27 UTC

Congratulations, Veronica - I'll be contacting you about your ecopy of Personal Protection, so check your email.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, everyone!

Leah

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