{"id":198,"date":"2015-07-28T01:05:33","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T05:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kate-hill.com\/compellingbeastsblog\/?p=198"},"modified":"2015-07-18T20:50:58","modified_gmt":"2015-07-19T00:50:58","slug":"interview-with-paige-tyler-author-of-the-zombie-romance-novel-dead-sexy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kate-hill.com\/compellingbeastsblog\/2015\/07\/28\/interview-with-paige-tyler-author-of-the-zombie-romance-novel-dead-sexy\/","title":{"rendered":"Zombie Week: Interview with Paige Tyler, Author of the Zombie Romance Novel Dead Sexy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PTDead<\/a>Welcome to the Compelling Beasts Blog, Paige. Thank you for being a guest. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for having me! I\u2019m thrilled that you asked me to write about my zombie hero Drake Parrish and his book!<\/p>\n

When I started planning zombie week, you were the first author I thought of to approach for an interview since you had written the first romance that I knew about with a zombie hero. What inspired you to write Dead Sexy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s probably going to sound silly, but it started out as a dare. We were at the Lori Foster Reader Author Get Together (RAGT\u2014awesome event by the way!) talking with some other writers about unusual paranormal creatures. Mostly which ones are sexy, and which ones aren\u2019t. I think someone brought up a weasel shifter, and a yeti shifter, then hubby mentioned the lack of romance books about zombies and how it was very disappointing this particular segment of the paranormal realm got no love. As you can imagine, all the women at the table totally icked out. Then one of our best writer friends said it was impossible to make a zombie sexy. Poor hubby gave me his best hound dog impression, and soon after that, Dead Sexy<\/em> came out. So, technically, I wrote it for hubby.<\/p>\n

You’re known for your hot romance novels and you’ve written about several supernatural heroes. Are you a fan of the horror genre as well?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would have to say no. I watch The<\/em> Walking Dead<\/em>, but that\u2019s about it. I don\u2019t really read anything in that genre, and I\u2019ve never tried to write anything in it, either. I write romance, and it just seems like it would be difficult to blend romance in an environment where people are scared to death, about to get eaten, running for their lives, spattered in blood\u2026etc.<\/p>\n

Would you tell us a bit about Drake, the hero of Dead Sexy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drake Parrish was a player when he was younger. He worked on Wall Street and had all the unpleasant personality traits that went with the job description. He was rich, arrogant, and didn\u2019t treat women particular well. That behavior caught up to him in the form of karma. He broke a na\u00efve, impressionable girl\u2019s heart and her grandmother showed up at his New York investment office and threw a pile of vile, nasty dirt in his face.<\/p>\n

The next thing Drake knew, parts of him started turning black and dying. Doctors told him he should probably call his family and friends together because things weren\u2019t looking too good for him. That\u2019s when he had an epiphany. He didn\u2019t have any family. He didn\u2019t have any friends. He didn\u2019t have a soul who cared if he lived or died. He was going to die completely alone.<\/p>\n

But he didn\u2019t die. His body recovered, and for a while he thought he was going to be okay. His relief was short-lived. The creeping zombie curse kept coming back, and before long Drake was a recluse in his New York apartment, scared to go out for fear of turning into a zombie without notice.<\/p>\n

Drake becomes a changed man, but will anyone ever know?<\/p>\n

In the past there have been lots of supernatural or “monster” heroes in romance novels–vampires, werewolves and ghosts to name a few–but a zombie is different because usually when you think of a zombie, sexy isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Did you find it difficult to overcome the traditional horror zombie image to create a romance hero who happens to be a zombie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Definitely! The moment I say zombie romance, people lose their ever-loving minds. It\u2019s just the image that pops into their heads\u2014I get it. But I\u2019ve never met a single person who has read the book who didn\u2019t love it. It\u2019s one of my highest rated books, an EPIC Award Finalist, and Winner of the Gold Star Award at JERR.<\/p>\n

If your heroine, Simone, had to describe Drake in three words, what would they be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tall, Dark, and Dead.<\/p>\n

What’s one characteristic of a traditional zombie that you didn’t want Drake to have?<\/strong><\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t eat brains!!! This book is a romance, and who wants to kiss a guy with brain breath?<\/p>\n

How about one characteristic that you needed him to have to be a convincing zombie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, there\u2019s the whole dead thing. When Drake is in his full-on zombie mode, he\u2019s dead. He doesn\u2019t breathe, he doesn\u2019t have a heartbeat, he has a bad skin condition, etc. But on the bright side, when he\u2019s like that he gets a lot of jogging done on the treadmill. What else is a zombie going to do while he passes the time waiting for his temporary zombie condition to go away?<\/p>\n

Is there anything you would like readers to know about Dead Sexy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No zombies were harmed in the writing of Dead Sexy<\/em>. Oh, and there are no \u201cromantic scenes\u201d when he\u2019s in full-on zombie mode. That would be gross!<\/p>\n

Would you share an excerpt from Dead Sexy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can her love save him from a curse worse than death?<\/em><\/p>\n

Romance author Simone Kent thinks she might just have found the most perfect guy in all of New York City\u2014in bed and out.<\/p>\n

But Drake Parrish is about as far from perfect as any man can get. Eight years ago, he was cursed by an evil Voodoo priestess to live part of his life as a zombie. Since then, he has lived like a recluse on New York\u2019s Upper East Side, afraid to go out for fear he\u2019ll suddenly turn into one of the walking dead.<\/p>\n

The sex is the hottest either of them has ever experienced and Simone discovers just how naughty she can be with Drake, while he finds himself feeling things for Simone he hasn\u2019t felt in a very long time. When the Voodoo priestess learns of their relationship, however, she comes after him again. She’s determined he won’t have a future with Simone, even if that means killing\u00a0both him and the woman he loves.<\/p>\n

Excerpt:<\/p>\n

As she led him up the steps to the second floor, Drake found himself wondering if she would ask him in. And wondering what he\u2019d say if she did. When they came to a stop outside the door to her apartment, Simone turned to give him a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a great time tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

She caught her bottom lip between her perfect white teeth and chewed on it thoughtfully as if unsure what she wanted to say next. It was probably an unconscious gesture, something she did whenever she was thinking, but to him, it was sexy as hell and all he could think about was kissing her.<\/p>\n

Surely, one kiss couldn\u2019t hurt. He desperately wanted to. He hadn\u2019t kissed a woman in so long. It would be nice to see if he still remembered how.<\/p>\n

Before he could stop himself, Drake tilted Simone\u2019s face up to his and pressed his mouth to hers.<\/p>\n

She tasted just as sweet and delicious as he thought she would. Her lips were soft and pliant under his as she kissed him back, her tongue eagerly seeking his out.<\/p>\n

Drake groaned and slid his hand into her hair, deepening the kiss. Simone sighed into his mouth, running her hands up the front of his shirt to grasp his shoulders. The feel of her touch was like a tonic to his deprived soul and he let out another groan, deeper this time.<\/p>\n

He ran his free hand up her side and around to her breast, cupping it through the soft material of her dress. He couldn\u2019t stop himself and apparently, Simone didn\u2019t want him to. She moaned and arched against him. He could feel the heat of her pussy through their clothes as she pressed up against his hard cock. Damn, she felt good.<\/p>\n

Drake drew her bottom lip into his mouth and gently suckled on it before slowly kissing his way along the delicate curve of her jaw. Simone clutched his shoulders and tilted her head back. He eagerly trailed a path of hot kisses down her neck, then back up, his mouth finding hers again. Simone looped her arms around his neck, pulling him in even closer as their tongues met.<\/p>\n

Down the hall, a door slammed, reminding him where they were.<\/p>\n

Drake dragged his mouth away from hers, his breathing ragged as he tried to regain control. He had to get it together because he was about five seconds away from doing something really stupid. Like taking her to bed. \u201cI should go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her lips curved into a sexy, flirtatious smile. \u201cOr you could stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

God, how he wanted to. But as much as he\u2019d love to spend the rest of the night exploring every inch of her body, he couldn\u2019t take the chance he might go zombie on her right in the middle of sex. Talk about coitus interruptus. And it had already been almost four days since he last turned, which meant he was already pushing his luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know how much I want to,\u201d he groaned. \u201cBut I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simone looked up at him with those big, blue eyes. \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I\u2026\u201d He hesitated, trying to come up with something that would sound believable. \u201cI have a column due in the morning and I haven\u2019t even started on it yet.\u201d She knew all about deadlines, so she would understand that. Besides, he did have a column to write, it just wasn\u2019t due until next week. \u201cRain check?\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked disappointed, but she smiled anyway. \u201cAbsolutely. How does coming over for dinner tomorrow night sound?\u201d<\/p>\n

It would be crazy to agree when he could be so close to having an episode, but he couldn\u2019t say no. Not when she asked in that soft, sultry voice. \u201cSounds great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Be here at seven.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeven it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pulled him down for another long, slow kiss on the mouth. \u201cDon\u2019t be late.\u201d<\/p>\n

His mouth twitched. \u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d He bent his head to kiss her again, then groaned. \u201cIf I don\u2019t go now, I\u2019ll be here all night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simone laughed. \u201cWould that be such a bad thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot to me, but my editor at Money Issues might not be too understanding when he doesn\u2019t find my column sitting in his inbox tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sighed. \u201cDeadlines can be a real pain in the butt sometimes. Okay, go home and write your column. I\u2019ll cuddle up with a bowl of ice cream instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cSounds better than taking a cold shower, which is what I\u2019m going to be doing when I get home.\u201d He closed his mouth over hers once more. \u201cSee you tomorrow night, beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resisting the urge to pull her into his arms again, Drake turned and walked down the hallway toward the stairwell. At the top of the steps, he glanced over his shoulder to see Simone standing where he\u2019d left her, a sexy curve to her lips.<\/p>\n

It took every ounce of strength he possessed not to go back and pin her against the door for one more long, lingering kiss. God, what he wouldn\u2019t give to spend the night with her. Man, it was going to take more than a cold shower to get her out of his head.<\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dead-Sexy-ebook\/dp\/B00E1S8EPU\/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374339234&amp;sr=1-15<\/a><\/p>\n

Barnes & Noble<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/dead-sexy-paige-tyler\/1029264879?ean=2940148381679&amp;itm=1&amp;usri=2940148381679<\/a><\/p>\n

ARe<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.allromanceebooks.com\/product-deadsexy-1247101-340.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Would you tell us about what you’re currently working on?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a busy little bunny right now. Book 2 of my Special Wolf Alpha Team (SWAT) series\u2014WOLF TROUBLE\u2014releases August 4th <\/sup>so I\u2019m doing promo on that. Then Book 3 in my SWAT Series\u2014IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES\u2014releases December 1st<\/sup>. I also just turned in Book 4 of my X-OPS series, which releases January 2016, and I\u2019m currently working on Book 4 in my SWAT Series\u2014TO LOVE A WOLF. Then I need to start on Book 5 in my X-OPS series.<\/p>\n

I also have a novella called HER SPECIAL ALPHA, which is part of the X-OPS series, releasing on August 4th<\/sup> as well.<\/p>\n

Where can readers find you online?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BIO:<\/p>\n

Paige Tyler is a New York Times<\/em> and USA Today <\/em>Bestselling Author of sexy, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines who fall in love with them.<\/p>\n

She is represented by Bob Mecoy.<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/paigetylertheauthor.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Blog: http:\/\/paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook Profile Page: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/paige.tyler.9<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook Author Page: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PaigeTylerAuthor<\/a><\/p>\n

X-OPS Series Facebook Page: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/XOPSSeriesbyPaigeTylerAuthor<\/a><\/p>\n

SWAT Series Facebook Page: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SWATSeriesbyPaigeTylerAuthor<\/a><\/p>\n

Paige Tyler\u2019s Groupies Central on Facebook: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/Paigetylersgroupies\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter: http:\/\/twitter.com\/PaigeTyler<\/a><\/p>\n

Pinterest: http:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/paigetylerauth\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Tumblr: paigetylerauthor<\/p>\n

tsu: http:\/\/www.tsu.co\/paigetylerauthor<\/a><\/p>\n

Wattpad: http:\/\/www.wattpad.com\/user\/PaigeTylerAuthor<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: paige_tyler_author<\/p>\n

Google+: http:\/\/plus.google.com\/u\/0\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Goodreads: http:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/author\/show\/2300692.Paige_Tyler<\/a><\/p>\n

Newsletter: http:\/\/eepurl.com\/BBrEP<\/a><\/p>\n

Email: paigetyler@paigetylertheauthor.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Thank you so much for being a guest, Paige!<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re very welcome\u2026I\u2019ve really enjoyed it.<\/p>\n

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