In the Author Spotlight & Contest

Michelle M. Pillow

CONTEST: Leave a post and one winner will receive a pdf copy of Realm Immortal: King of the Unblessed.

AL: Hi Michelle! Thanks for being in the “Author Spotlight” this week.

Michelle: Thank you so much for having me!

AL: So, tell us what’s happening with you.

Michelle: I’m in the process of trying to set up a small greenhouse. I’ve never been that lucky with gardens so I decided this year to really study up and use the old greenhouse on our property. I love to try new things and this looks like it might be a fun and rewarding project—if I can get anything to grow.

AL: What new release do you have out for us to read?

Michelle: 2009 is a very busy year for me. So far, I’ve had Pleasure Island (EC, Jan) and the start of a new alternate reality series, Divinity Warriors: Lilith Enraptured (EC March), Faire Justice (NCP, April) as well as a three book release of the Realm Immortal series—King of the Unblessed, Faery Queen, Stone Queen (Samhain, March).

My newest release will be Divinity Warriors: Fighting Lady Jayne from EC May 15th. This series is so much fun and I’ve gotten some really steamy covers for them. Whew!

AL: What are you currently working on?

Michelle: I’m finishing up the Divinity Warriors series with book four. I’m almost done with the first draft. Books 1-3 are already contracted with Ellora’s Cave and due out this year. After that, I will be working on a new book for my agent.

AL: You write different genres, do you favor one genre over another?

Michelle: I love working in different genres. Historicals are my first love, but I really love the creativity of world building that comes with paranormals and futuristics. Not only do you get to make up cultures and societies, but technology, world events, mythologies. I also write contemporaries and fantasies. I like switching things up and trying new things. I’d love to be involved with some non-fiction projects and maybe do a photography art book….someday.

AL: Out of all your stories do you have one that is more near and dear your heart?

Michelle: It’s so hard to say. I love the straight historicals like Maiden and the Monster (EC) or the Realm Immortal (Samhain) fantasy romances where there’s bigger world building and a larger cast of characters. I also tend to fall for the bad guy side characters. I love writing them. King Lucien of the Damned in the Realm Immortal series seems to be a fan fave. Everyone wants me to redeem the unredeemable.

AL: You’ve been in the publishing game for several years now, what has changed? What has remained the same? Has there been any difficulties adjusting, or do you flow with the “winds of change?”

Michelle: I tend to just flow and try not to stress over things I can’t control. I try to focus on the positive. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve started and met a lot of great people. Ebooks continue to gain in popularity and notice. And the genre lines continued to blur. I know when I first started the marketing departments would scratch their heads when I said I wanted to write a dark paranormal romance. Now, you can get them everywhere. I love the options.

AL: I can tell it’s really important for you to help other authors. What got you started on this “kick”?

Michelle: As a newbie, I got a lot of different reactions from those who’d been at it longer than me. Some were great and incredibly helpful and others were, erm, not so great. I always said that if I got to a position that I could help others, I would try to. And I find that many of those I’ve helped are willing to return the favor when I need a hand.

AL: So, now for the important questions. Sometimes people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. I like to set them straight, so tell us what’s the most unglamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?

Michelle: Ugh, do I have to say? LOL Writing is so not glamorous. It’s hours staring at a computer in your pajamas, forgetting to eat, forgetting bedtime, forgetting social contact. Thank goodness for the internet or most of us would never talk to anyone. This last week? I deep cleaned the house. Covered in grime and sweat is about as unglam as you can get.

AL: You’re the actress in a must see blockbuster movie that everyone’s been waiting all summer for. What’s the movie about? Who’s your character? And who’s your leading man?

Michelle: Well, if it’s a blockbuster, it’s not a story of the girl in her pajama pants staring at a computer screen. I think it would have to be something epic, a little funny, and definitely with some zombies thrown in. And the hero would have to have a sense of humor. I mean, he would be a comically epic zombie after all.

AL: If you could have any car in the world; would it be a slow rider, or one that the wind has to hurry just to keep up with you?

Michelle: It would be a 1950 Merc, blue with suicide doors and maybe a little chop to the roof.

AL: Do you have a favorite sport, &/or team that you follow?

Michelle: Are cooking competitions a sport? LOL. With so many strange sports out there from wife carrying to cheese rolling to outhouse racing, it’s hard to pick just one.

AL: With Spring upon us, what’s some of your favorite things about the season?

Michelle: It’s great photography weather—mild temps with pretty flowers blooming, people out and about, the landscapes waking up. Though, to tell the truth, I think all seasons are great photography weather, lol.

AL: Please share a favorite quote(s) with us.
Michelle: "Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." E.L. Doctorow and “Fuck structure and grab your characters by the balls." Jack Kerouac

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Michelle. You’ve been in the game so long and have done so much to try to help other authors that I struggled to condense all the questions I had for you.

Michelle: You’re very welcome. Thanks again for having me!

AL: Want to find out more about Michelle and the many books she has for you to read? Please visit:

- Website – http://www.michellepillow.com/
- Blog – www.michellepillow.com/blog
- Newsletter - http://www.michellepillow.com/newsletter/?p=subscribe
- Raven Radio www.blogtalkradio.com/ravenradio

- Raven Free Story – http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/

FEATURED TITLE:

BLURB:

Sorin of Firewall lives in a land forever at war. In fact, the Starian men are so busy fighting, their marriage ceremony has been reduced to a “will of the gods” event where they simply pick a woman out of a lineup and claim her as a wife. With women becoming scarce, it’s necessary to trade the offworld Divinity Corporation for brides. Duty-bound to attend the ceremony, he has no intention of picking a bride, let alone one from another dimension. That is, until he sees Lilith, the bewitching woman sent by the gods to reward—or punish?—him.

Lilith, a data analyst for Divinity, is betrayed by the Corporation and wakes up in a primitive, uncharted dimension filled with warriors who only know war and duty. But her initial fears of becoming a sex slave to a big beefy knight become all too real when a warrior of god-like proportions claims she’s his new woman. As Lilith discovers, there are worse fates than being the focus of Sorin’s skillful and earthy seduction.

EXCERPT:

Sorin took several deep breaths, feeling as he did when about to go into battle. Heat filled him as tension worked its way into his limbs. With a single thought, he could will his body to spring into action. He could erase her from the world and end this before it started.

But it was too late. He was lost the moment he’d looked at her, had seen her big blue eyes staring at him in trepidation. No, he was lost before that, when he felt her looking at him, beckoning him with her unwavering gaze to find her in the crowd.

Temptress. Witch.

He willed the desire inside him to go away. It shouldn’t have been so strong. He’d relieved himself like he always did, had spilled his seed to ease the lonely ache.

Light from the fireplace shone through the white of her gown, silhouetting the long length of her legs and arms. The linen clung to her shoulders, swooping gently along the curves of her breasts—breasts that would be bare beneath. The tied hands were a new addition to the ceremony, thanks to Sir Aidan’s wayward woman, Lady Paige. Sorin’s barbaric side found he liked the addition.

Hunger rushed into every limb, lifting his cock beneath the long tunic. He didn’t think to hide the reaction. No one would care. It had been so long, so very long, since he’d had a woman in his bed. He suppressed a groan. Soft flesh. Round breasts. Taut nipples. Slick, warm vessel to catch his passion. That certain female smell when he pressed his nose to her sex.

A thought whispered in the back of his mind. Maybe she’s different. Maybe she’ll be better. Maybe this one will stay.

He cursed the thought. No. She wasn’t different. She wasn’t better. Sorin had made up his mind long ago. He’d come, he’d look, but he never, ever wanted to find someone. He wasn’t meant to have this, or her, or any kind of peace. Sorin was born into a land of war. He was made for it, every piece of him. One of the bloodiest battles in their history happened the very hour his mother gave birth to him.

Some were lucky to find peace in marriage, but not him. Tradition and necessity dictated he come to these ceremonies and try to find someone. He came from a noble line, a position of power, one that demanded he have sons to carry on his family’s name. But society could not make him choose. It could not make him step forward and lay claim.

“Mine.”

Where did that word come from? It sounded like his voice, booming over the hall to quiet all who watched into stunned silence. It felt like his body refusing to go to his place at the table, instead moving forward with arm uplifted to point at the blonde-haired beauty. But it couldn’t be his body or his voice. That would mean he’d just announced his claim. Everyone would have heard it. He couldn’t back out once the word was said.

“Sorin?” his younger brother, Ronen, hissed. Like Sorin, Ronen led one of the more renowned armies in all of Staria. Very few would dare to challenge their word or honor and the fact made it even more impossible for Sorin to take back what he’d done.

“Mine,” Sorin found himself repeating. Was he possessed? What madness was this? He kept walking toward her. She merely stared at him, those wide, gorgeous eyes capturing his. Straight blonde hair hung long down her back, just as a woman’s should.

“Brother?” Ronen questioned. The shock was evident in his voice. Sorin couldn’t blame him for the surprise because that very day he’d been instructing Ronen to stay strong and not fall for a woman’s pretty face. And what did Sorin do? He claimed a woman with a pretty face.

The hall remained quiet. Sorin stopped before the woman, noting with pleasure that she didn’t cringe and fall away from his looming presence. Her strength would serve her well. Years of frustrated desires surged inside him. He couldn’t put them off any longer. Deny it as he might, he needed a woman. He would never admit the words out loud. The need was not just for physical release, but for the softness of her, the sweet smell and the temporary relief from the endless fighting that such a creature could bring.

You tried this before, Sorin. Such things are not for you.

Fool.

Idiot.

Weak.

His accusing thoughts infuriated. Reaching for her bound arms, he took hold of the ropes. Not even his condescending inner voice could stop his actions. Sorin held her gaze steady, stating so she couldn’t mistake his claim, “You are mine.”

CONTEST: Remember to enter for a chance to win...leave a post and one winner will receive a pdf copy of Realm Immortal: King of the Unblessed.