In the Author Spotlight & Contest

STEPHANIE BECK

CONTEST: At the end of the week, Stephanie will choose a random commenter for their pick of a book from her ebook backlist. Good luck!

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


Stephanie: I’m very happy to be here. Thanks for having me.

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

Stephanie: Well, as of February 14th, our third child is officially due. My husband and daughters are as thrilled as I am to have a little boy coming. Between helping at church and getting piles of knitting done, the baby thing has taken up a good portion of my time.

AL: Would you like to tell us about a current or upcoming release?

Stephanie: There are so many coming now! I’m very happy to announce two new contracts from Decadent Publishing—one erotic and the other under my pen name Stephanie J Grace that is much sweeter. Also, I’m working with six other great authors on an anthology project called Seven Deadly Sins. We’re all writing erotica stories featuring one of the sins. Mine happens to be gluttony and it is so much fun.

AL: What other works are you deep into?

Stephanie: There are a few paranormal stories in the works (I like werewolves this year) and there’s a possible ménage trying to come together, but it’s taking a little work. There are always several things simmering at once in my mind and computer, it’s just a matter of finding the time and gumption to coax them to come together.

AL: What is the most difficult part of being a writer and do you write whenever the mood strikes, or do you have a specific routine?

Stephanie: The hardest part of being a writer is making the time and drive join forces to get serious work done with a limited timeframe. I try to write even when I’m not in the mood to be super creative. Even if it’s doing a critique or working on promotions, I do my best to sit my buns down every day and get something down in writing.

AL: Do you believe a person has to have a special type of personality to write erotic romance?

Stephanie: I don’t think erotica writers need any more labels. The population is so varied that I don’t think there is a core personality type that fits the bill of what a good erotic romance writer needs to be. What is needed though, is a respect and love for the genre, stories and characters. When that love is there, then any personality type can give erotic romance a shot.

AL: Is there an author(s) out there that you’d love to do an anthology with?

Stephanie: Hmm, Sherlynn Kenyon, Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Lora Leigh and Catherine Coulter—I know it’s a mix of styles and genres, but throw Stephanie Beck in there and that’s an anthology I’d read ALL day long.

AL: It’s time to get personal! What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Stephanie: I went to an erotica lecture last spring. Not only was I a very new romance writer, I didn’t know the area very well either. So, I ended up in downtown St. Paul on a Friday night, lost and looking for a sex shop. I did find the shop and the lecture was very nice, even though I blushed through the entire thing, mainly because the lady leading the talk sat under a huge picture of a vagina. That little touch of adventure has lasted me quite a while.

AL: Valentine’s Day is here! Is there anything special you and your significant other plan for that day?

Stephanie: I’m hoping to have a baby! He is due February 14th, so ideally my honey and I will be celebrate as new parents again. Short of that, I’ll need a lot of chocolate, cheesecake and a backrub.

AL: Best movie you've seen recently?

Stephanie: Jeez, nothing lately. The last decent movie I saw was Zombieland and that’s not so new anymore.

AL: Can you share some of your plans for 2011 and beyond?

Stephanie: 2011 will be a fantastic year. I’m excited for the family and writing portions. I’m hoping to have a few more releases and I hope that the agent search finally turns up someone fantastic to help make 2012 even better.

AL: Fun question! If you had to write yourself as a villain, what kind of villain would you be? What would you be named?

Stephanie: Oh I’d be an awesome villain. I’d want one of those truly awful names like Sandy Fagina and I’d murder with stilettos and poisoned cupcakes.

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

Stephanie: My locker in high school was full of interesting and inspiration quotes I found in books and other places. My favorite was from John Donne’s “Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions” The whole passage is wonderful, but I love this portion.

…all mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…

AL: Thanks so much for sharing with us, Stephanie.

Stephanie: You bet! I love visiting with authors and readers. Thanks so much for having me and Happy Valentines Day!

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

www.stephaniebeck.net
www.facebook.com/StephanieBeckAuthor

FEATURED TITLE: DAVID'S ANGEL

Blurb:

When kink and reality collide, compromise and love keep everyone satisfied.

Living a BDSM lifestyle, Polly is devastated when her husband and Dom of ten years dies.
Although she is capable of supporting her daughters and maintaining her home, she aches for the companionship of a partner and the dominance of a sexual master.

A decade has passed since David lost Polly to his best friend. For ten years she had been the one who got away and his desire to be with her never faded. With the death of Polly’s husband bringing them back together, their attraction is instantly rekindled.

Settling into the role of surrogate father and dominating partner, David knows the family needs time to heal. But will the questions people ask about their lifestyle and betrayal within their BDSM group be challenges too great to overcome?

Excerpt:

“Lie in the middle of the bed.”

Polly knew to do that. Humiliation waved over her again as she’d once again disappointed him.

The comforter was pulled away so she went straight to the bed. She lay on the white top sheet, taking David’s instructions as literally as possible. She kept her ankles slightly apart and hands at her side. It was an inviting pose, one that said she would be led. She didn’t know where he was taking her, but she was willing.

He stepped around the bed and pulled the sheet. It took only a minute before he had one side tucked around her, binding her arms to her body and her legs together. He did the same with the other side, leaving her face uncovered but turning her into a burrito. Could Mark have told him she loved the restricted pose? She felt calm seep into her, warmth and serenity infused as she had nothing to do and no demand to do more.

“You asked to come upstairs with me.” David stretched out beside her on the bed, still dressed, with his back against the headboard. “This surprised me. It makes me wonder if it’s the wine loosening you up. It also makes me wonder what the letter said for you to change so suddenly.”

“David—”

“No. I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but I’ll want answers in the morning. Is this going to be an every-night occurrence? Will you expect sex? We’ve kept the lifestyle to a minimum, but it’s time for you to think of what your demands are for our relationship and what exactly you expect us to be. Dom and Sub? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Husband and wife? I want you to think of those specifications, and we’ll discuss it tomorrow.”

“I already know—”

“No.”

“But—”

She didn’t have to wait for his verbal reprimand, because he put his hand over her mouth. It was gentle, but firm and made his message clear. Aggravation tore through her. She hated when people didn’t at least listen. She licked his hand. Something flashed in his eyes. She wasn’t sure if it was anger or lust but she did recognize the disappointment when he reached to his bedside table and pulled out a ball gag.

REMEMBER: At the end of the week, Stephanie will choose a random commenter for their pick of a book from her ebook backlist. Make sure to leave a comment!