Good morning! Please welcome guest author NJ Walters. Though I will be away for most of the day, please feel free to leave comments for NJ and I will post them as soon as I return. Thank you!
~Kate
Describe yourself in three sentences or less.
I am a happily married woman who loves to read and write romance. I have published almost 60 ebooks with Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing and Carina Press.
When did you know you wanted to be a romance author?
I didn’t actually think about it as a possibility until I was in my early thirties. It was during that time I wrote my first book. Like many writers, I love to read, and one day I thought to myself…I could do this. I actually wrote two books from 1995-96, tried to get them published, failed and put them away. It was late 2003 when I started writing again. This time I was fortunate and Ellora’s Cave contracted my book, which was published in October 2004, just before my fortieth birthday.
What are your favorite subgenres of romance?
Ummm…all of them. Okay, most of them. I love romantic suspense, historical, contemporary, futuristic, paranormal, and erotic.
Tell us your top three qualities needed to make a romance hero.
To me a hero is a man who has a code of ethics and lives by them. Those rules may be different from the rest of the world, but they suit his core beliefs. A hero is loyal. No way would he cheat on his woman. And a hero is protective. He may even do things that seem wrong in order to protect those he loves.
If you were a shapeshifter and could become any one item owned by your latest romance hero, what would it be?
Lol Now that’s a loaded question. If I had to become any one item my hero owned it would be his shirt, then I could wrap myself around his rock-hard torso and broad-shouldered back.
Tell us three fictional characters you find hot. They can be from books, movies, or TV.
Love Rhage from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. He’s willing to give up the woman he loves in order to save her life. Doesn’t get any more heroic than that.
Roarke from J.D. Robb’s Eve Dallas series is a hell of a hero. The man understands Eve like no one else ever has or ever will. He knows when to step back and when to push her, and he’ll do whatever he thinks she need. Plus, he’s sexy as all get out. Doesn’t hurt that he practically owns the free universe either.
Wolf Mackenzie from Linda Howard’s Mackenzie’s Mountain is an awesome hero. This is a man who has been wrongly convicted of a crime he never committed and faces prejudice everywhere he turns. But he’ll face down the entire town and will let no one stand in his way when his woman is threatened. This is one of the first romance books I ever read and it hooked me on the genre!
I’m going to toss in a bonus hero…Valiant from Laurann Dohner’s New Species series.
What is your latest or upcoming Ellora’s Cave release?
My latest Ellora’s Cave release is Touch of Topaz.
Blurb:
Book seven in the Awakening Desires series.
Security expert and ex-Army Ranger John Knight broke the cardinal rule of being a bodyguard—don’t get involved with the client. One torrid afternoon of hot sex with Topaz Jewel was all they had together before his job was done, and she’s been avoiding him ever since. He’s been hired to protect her once again, and this time, when the job is over, he’s won’t let her slip away.
Topaz is an independent businesswoman with no time in her life for a permanent relationship, especially not one with a man like John, who’s used to adrenaline rushes and danger. There’s no denying their sexual attraction, but she’s determined to play things smart.
John doesn’t take her home when the job is finished, but to an isolated cabin. It isn’t every day that a bodyguard kidnaps his client, but he knows they’re meant to be together—and he’ll use their sizzling passion to prove it.
Please give us one sexy or romantic paragraph from your latest Ellora’s Cave book.
From Touch of Topaz:
He shoved her dress down to her waist and over her slender hips. It pooled at her feet, leaving her clad only in a pair of silky midnight-blue panties. The dark color emphasized the creamy white of her skin and they also matched her dress. The woman never missed a trick.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the next Awakening Desires book for Ellora’s Cave. This book is for the final Jewel sister—Sapphire. I’m also working on the third book for a new paranormal quartet for Samhain Publishing. The first book in the series will be releasing in January 2013.
Where can readers connect with you online?
Visit me at:
Website: http://www.njwalters.com
Blog: http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
Newsletter Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Nj-Walters/714113604
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/N.J.WaltersAuthor
Choose one from each pair:
Bad boy or golden hero?
Bad boy all the way!
Bath or shower?
Definitely a bath.
Boxers or briefs?
Boxers are sexy, especially boxer briefs.
Historical or contemporary?
Contemporary.
Ménage or a couple?
Couple, but I do enjoy a good ménage.
Planner or pantser?
Pantser with a touch of planner.
Pretzels or chips?
Pretzels.
Summer or winter?
Summer. Actually Fall is my favorite.
Thor or Loki?
Thor, although I wouldn’t mind trying to reform Loki.
Vampire or werewolf?
Werewolf.
Social
That was a fun interview. It’s been a while since I checked out NJ’s books, I’ll have to remedy that very soon.
Thor & Loki can be your menage. My bad, did I say that?!?
luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com
Hi NJ! Hi Kate! Gosh reading this interview about your read sounds so much what I’d write too! I lib Roarke. I need to catch up and read more of Dallas too. Awesome on the new Awakening Desires book. I need to go grab that from EC soon. LADY’S MINSREL was fab. I hope you do more medievals! I’m thrilled you did one. Loved Reys. It was an emotional sexy read. Great to stop by to say hi!
Great interview. I enjoy your books and can’t wait to read more.
Good interview – I too love Roarke from the In Death series and Wolf Mackenzie is a wonderful hero – I liked how even though he was the one who had been wronged, he wanted his son to have a good outlook on life. Totally agree a hero would never cheat on his woman and would be protective of those he loves – once he breaks these two core tenants – he’s no longer a hero. Yay about a new series from Samhain:)
Of all your books, I think the Legacy are my favorites. Cant wait for the next one.
Terrific interview, Kate and NJ! What a great success you’ve both been–thank you for writing such terrific stories for us readers to enjoy 🙂
Debra, Maria, Vera and Fedora, thank you for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed the interview!
Thanks again for being a guest, NJ!
Kate
Great interview and love your books.
Thanks so much, Debra. 🙂
For me, a hero has to have a few absolutes and Roarke and Wolf make the top of the list. And thanks for the congrats, Maria. I’m excited about the new series.
So glad you’re enjoying the Legacy series, Vera. It’s been so much fun to write it.
Thank you so much, Fedora. *hugs*
Glad you enjoyed the interview, Pam!
Thanks so much for having me here, Kate. I’m thrilled to be included in your 10th Anniversary celebration. Happy Anniversary!
Woo Kate thanks for having NJ I am so happy
she is a great author I have most of her well develop
lot of action mmmm
I wish you Kate and NJ a wonderful week-end with lot of joy
and happy 10th Anniversary Celebration.
Cheers
Mannocuhka
Thanks so much for stopping by, Mannouchka. 🙂