| Ever been here, looking through a stack of books and stumbling on to one that you decide to give a try even though you never heard of the author before? Before you know it you’re up at 3 am, unable to put the book down and cursing yourself because you know you’re going to pay for this indulgence tomorrow. That’s how it was for me when I found a book called Wicked Ties by Shayla Black. What did I do the first thing next morning? Rush out to buy her other two books, Decadent and Dangerous Boys – now there is Tempt Me With Darkness added to my pile. Shayla is not only an amazing writer, but she is a wonderfully gracious person who agreed to give little me an interview. I posted here. You can click on any of the covers to be taken to her site where you will be lucky enough to discover how awesome of a writer Shayla is. |
| Shayla Black |
| The Must Read Books |
| Spotlight On |
| Shayla's Bio |
| Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the author of 20+ 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 of 2007. Her next release, TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS, a paranormal/urban fantasy romance with Pocket, will be the first of the Doomsday Brethren series, available August 26. A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every book. A lot of words to say that I like to make stuff up in my head and put my panties on one leg at a time, like every other woman. |
| J: I’m excited to have you here, Shayla! Please tell us a little about yourself. How and when you got into writing? S: I think I’m best described a straight-forward, goal-oriented and honest—maybe more than I should be. One of my friends once gave me a wall plaque with the word “Patience” on it because I’m known to have zero of that virtue. I have a dry sense of humor, enjoy things that make me think, and love my family to pieces. I’ve always been driven. I’ve been involved in several competitive pursuits: dancing, swimming, roller skating. I didn’t always know I wanted to write. In college, I was thinking about it, but my professors said I was far more gifted in math. At one point I was forced to take calculus for math majors (long story). The whole semester, I was thinking that I could finally get my last math requirement behind me and spend more time writing. But I applied myself to the class, like I do virtually everything. I wound up leading the class average, and the professor asked me if I’d considered being a math major. I stuttered and said, “Um, no. I want to be a novelist.” I decided then that unless I wanted to be a mathematician, I’d better put up or shut up and start really writing. It took me some years after that to publish. I fell in love with writing after reading so many wonderful books (and some not so wonderful ones), which made me want to write about love and romance. J: Is there any one thing or person in your life that inspired your writing? Any one thing or person that influenced the genre you write in? S: Not any one person, per se. Purely the love of the romance genre in general and the urge to tell the stories flooding my brain. I’ve now written in 4 genres and I love something about all of them. J: What do you consider the most important aspect of a romance novel? The characters, the sex, the plot or do they all have to be balanced? S: Characters, by thiiissss much. I really strive for the right balance for the given story and genre, but if I had to pick one, it would be character. To me, books are about people, not things. J: Is there any part of writing your books that you struggled with? S: Plot is hardest for me, so I spend a lot of time with each book getting that right. I think it’s doubly hard for me because I’m in the minority about what makes a brilliant writer. I like to be surprised with plot twists; don’t get me wrong. But I think the most amazing writers aren’t those who surprise me. They are the ones I see coming a mile away—and yet they still manage to make me feel. That tells me that, no matter how much I brace myself for the coming plot points, they still have the ability to get past the barriers I’ve built up and move me. So when I plot, I don’t always try to make you say, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” I try to make you say, “Wow, I laughed/cried/fell in love/felt sexy, etc.” I want to make you feel my books, not just read them. J: I must say that your characters are amazing. They are so intense and believable, holding me spellbound. How do you come up with them? S: With most of my characters, I don’t devise them, per se. They appear in my head and start talking. And talking and talking. I often tell people that being a writer is the only profession in which you can admit to hearing voices in your head and not be taken away by the nice men in white coats. They are totally like people to me. I just listen to the things they tell me about their lives and try to piece the story together from that. J: In Wicked Ties, you presented a character, Deke, who became the lead in Decadent. I was impressed with the development of the character from one book to another – like Anne Rice with Lestat, you allowed the character to develop, changing the readers perception of him without betraying the first presentation of the character in the first book. Was this something you planned from the start? Or did you finish Wicked Ties and then develop Decadent? Any difficulties in expanding Deke? S: Deke in Wicked Ties was easy going and cool—because he wasn’t being emotionally challenged in Jack and Morgan’s relationship. When I put Kimber in his path, I made him confront all the things he’d been trying to forget for a decade. I realized how bottled up and broken he was. The added depth to his character wasn’t something I planned. He just finally broke down and fessed up. J: In Dangerous Boys and Their Toy, you explored the intimate relationship between two very strong alpha male characters. Was this difficult for you? Do you plan to create similar connections in future books? S: DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY was one of the easiest books I’ve ever written! I knew what each character needed from their relationship with the other, so the writing on this one just flowed. Future connections like this? I think my Doomsday Brethren series portrays strong male friendships and emotional bonds, though not sexual. Generally, I’m not a huge fan of m/m stories, but this book needed the dash of it I wrote. J: Your first three books are all suspense/thriller themed erotic romances, do you do a lot of research for your books or is it a matter of writing what you know? S: A bit of both. I know some things and research some things. When possible, I rely on friends when I’m out of my comfort zone. For instance, I’m writing a hero who’s a former Marine. I don’t personally know one, but I have a friend who knows many and another friend who is married to one. I get lots of cool info from them! J: In tour new series, the Doomsday Brethren, you’re stemming into the paranormal. Want to tell us a little about this new series? Are you still going to retain your “thriller” elements? S: There are some thriller elements, especially in later books. The danger is more paranormal than “real world” but the stakes are very human and understandable, I think. I’m incredibly excited about this series—and all the hot, amazing men in it. This series is all about magickind and their struggles to remain secret, fight evil, leave in peace and, yes fall in love. It’s also about friendship, fortitude, bravery, forgiveness, change, conquering evil, overcoming fears…and so much more. I hope readers will take this journey with me and the wizards of the Doomsday Brethren. J: I saw on your blog that you received your copies of Tempt Me with Darkness. What do you do with these books? Give them to friends, to reviewers, any contest you want to promote? S: I actually received advance reading copies (ARCs), not the actual books themselves. ARCs are intended to help me advance promote the book, so I earmark them for reviewers, contests, etc. J: You have an alter ego, Shelley Bradley, want to tell us a little about her and her books? S: Shelley Bradley has written sexy (but not erotic) historical and contemporary romances for the last 10 years. They are definitely one man-one woman stories. Some stories are sweet, like my recent eBook, A Perfect Match, from Samhain. Others are much spicier, like Naughty Little Secret, also from Samhain. J: You had commented to me previously that Shelley Bradley less erotic. Now, I’ve read a few of Shelley’s books…I have to grin at the idea that Naughty Little Secret as “less erotic”. So I have to ask, what do define erotic romances as being? S: I see books like Naughty Little Secret as being very sexy, but not erotic because there’s no particular “kink” going on. With Wicked Ties, I took readers into the world of BDSM. With Decadent and Dangerous Boys and Their Toy, it was all about the ménage. Yes, Naughty Little Secret has some light bondage and a few other surprises, but no one is dragging out the chains or spanking or engaging in any of the more “out there” behaviors. J: Of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite and why? S: I couldn’t possibly answer that. Just as I’m a mood reader, the answer to that question depends on my mood as well. Today, it might be one book, tomorrow another. They’re all special to me for one reason or another. J: You are a print published author as well as an e-published author, any difference in how you write for the two markets? Do you have a preference for a particular type of publishing. S: I like them both for different reasons. E-publishing is fast! You turn a book in, and usually it’s out in no more than 6 months. Often more like 3. You get the nearly instant gratification of readers’ comments. But it’s over and done with so quickly. With print books, the anticipation goes on forever because the publication schedules are so much longer. I turned in Tempt Me With Darkness last August. It’s coming out this September. Other differences…The e-books I’ve written are about half the length (or less) of a single- title for a print publisher. Because you have less words with which to work, and I just refuse to skimp on character, I scale back to a simpler plot with less twists and sub-plots than a single-title. The other difference is that, with e-publishing, pushing the envelope is not only welcomed, but encouraged. J: Are you a pantser or do you outline? S: Total plotter. I mean uber-plotter. My writing time is limited, and I refuse to spend it floundering around, trying to decide where to go next or revising endlessly. I lay it all out in advance and can focus on what’s important to the character in that scene, rather than wondering if I’m going to end up hitting the delete key as my means of “editing” that day’s work. J: Who are some of your favorite authors and why? Name some of your favorite books. What are some of your favorite genres and why? S: On my keeper shelf, you’ll see books by Dara Joy, Lisa Kleypas, Lora Leigh, Laura London, Nicole Jordan, Tami Hoag, JR Ward, Lara Adrian. These authors were all able to move me emotionally and create stories, worlds, and characters that have lingered with me for years and probably always will. J: Where and how can readers purchase and/or read samples of your work? S: Watch my blog! I often put new excerpts out there. Also, visit my sites. On virtually any book listed (provided I’ve written some of it yet), you’ll see a link for “more info” which usually leads to book videos, reviews and excerpts. J: Thanks so much for taking time from your busy schedule, Shayla, to share yourself and your work with us! We’ll let you get back to writing those wonderful books you write and we love to read! All the best! S: Thanks for having me. My pleasure! |
| Readers can contact Shayla via the contact page on: |
| www.shaylablack.com www.shelleybradley.com www.doomsdaybrethren.com www.myspace.com/shelleybradley She also participate daily in general, fun discussions with the Wicked Writers. To subscribe, send an email to wicked_writers-subscribe@yahoogr oups.com |
| Shayla Black DANGEROUS BOYS AND THEIR TOY Ellora’s Cave ~ May 28 TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS Doomsday Brethren 1 Pocket ~ August 26 SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW Doomsday Brethren 2 Pocket ~ Oct. 2009 POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT Doomsday Brethren 3 Pocket ~ Nov. 2009 DELICIOUS (Luc’s book!) Berkley ~ March 2010 Shelley Bradley A PEFECT MATCH Samhain ~ May 13 THE LADY AND THE DRAGON (print) Samhain ~ Sept. 30 SNEAK PEEK Anthology (print) Samhain ~ January 2009 BOUND AND DETERMINED (reissue) Berkley ~ March 2009 STRIP SEARCH (reissue) Fall 2009 DANGEROUS LITTLE SECRET Samhain ~ TBD 2010 |
| Shayla/Shelley's Latest & Upcoming Releases |
| The Reviews: |
| I think that Shayla Black writes like a darker, more erotic Elizabeth Lowell. Her stories are gripping, sensual experiences that will leave you sleep deprived as you race to finish each book. Don't take my word for it though. Check out what the professionals have to say about Shayla's writing. Shayla's books actually have so many amazing reviews I can't even begin to list them all. To read more, please visit her site: www.shaylablack.com |
| Wicked Ties |
| "Left me spellbound and begging for more… I can’ t recommend WICKED TIES enough!” - Joyfully Reviewed |
| "This suspenseful, naughty thriller was so excitingly spellbinding that I was tied up in knots from the very first paragraph until the dramatic, spectacular conclusion." - Fallen Angel Revews |
| Decadent |
| 5 out of 5! “Shayla Black’s Decadent will leave you breathless and panting." ~ Two Lips Reviews |
| “Hot sex scenes, a strong yet innocent heroine, two devastatingly sexy heroes and enough danger, intrigue and tragic pasts to keep the pages turning." ~ Romantic Times Bookclub |
| Dangerous Boys and Their Toy |
| “Dangerous Boys and Their Toy is a Joyfully Recommended Read that I’ll be keeping on my reader permanently.” - Joyfully Reviewed |