Interview With Lexi Post

By Cynthia Sax on November 1, 2015

I sat down (virtually) with Lexi Post for a short interview. Lexi Post’s latest release is Pleasures of Christmas Past, a holly jolly Paranormal Erotic Romance.


Cynthia Sax: What makes Duncan so freakin’ sexy?

Lexi Post: Where do I begin? I totally fell for Duncan Montgomerie, then again according to the heroine, who hasn’t? First, he’s Scottish but from the late 1700s so he has a lovely old-fashioned Scottish accent. Second, the man is built, barely fitting into his modern day t-shirt and jeans. Third, he has a good heart. Fourth, he is a good friend. Fifth, he will risk all for those he cares about. And in addition, his residence is a castle that has been in the family for six centuries! I just love castles :-} Of course, he “isna’ perfect” as he might say. He’s arrogant, far too sure of himself around the lasses, and has more sexual experience than a man has a right to. He was so much fun to write!

Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Pleasures of Christmas Past?

Lexi Post: I love this question! I write erotic romances inspired by the classics, so for Pleasures of Christmas Past I used Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I don’t re-tell the classic, I get inspired by it. My thought on this story was, what if the Spirit was the one who learned something from the visit to the living person? So in my story, instead of a Scrooge I have Holly, a young grieving widow. Instead of Marley, I have her deceased husband, Cameron. And the Spirit of Christmas Past is Jessica Thomas a brand new Spirit Guide out on her first assignment, so she needed a mentor, and who better than Duncan?


Cynthia Sax: Tell us one super exciting thing about Pleasures of Christmas Past?

Lexi Post: As a writer, what I love about this book is the multilayered story. I hope it’s what my readers like as well. Not only do we see Jessica and Duncan’s relationship develop, but we also get to see Holly and Cameron’s story both in present time as widow and spirit and in the past as we witness the scenes the Spirit of Christmas Past brings us to. I didn’t realize what a challenge I had set for myself until I was writing scenes with both Holly and “young Holly” in them along with all the other characters. In addition to this, we get to witness Holly’s growth as well as Jessica’s and Duncan’s and all because Cameron didn’t want his wife to be so heartbroken on her first Christmas without him…or so it appears 😉 I have to say, I have a whole new appreciation for the talent of Charles Dickens!


Cynthia Sax: Is Pleasures of Christmas Past part of a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?


Lexi Post:
Absolutely! This is only the first book in a 4 book series. Holly has just visited her past, and to be true to the classic story, she must visit the present and future as well, plus as far as I’m concerned, she has to have her own happily ever after. But like Holly, we all have to wait until next year for the second story when Desires of Christmas Present is released.

Cynthia Sax: Thank you for joining us today, Lexi!

Lexi Post’s Website: http://www.lexipostbooks.com/

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When present day American social worker Jessica Thomas is assigned her first case as a spirit guide, she’s excited to serve as the Spirit of Christmas Past for her client and prove she knows her profession well. Unfortunately, her mentor, the very hot, very single, and very Scottish Duncan Montgomerie has little faith in her ability and plans to catch her when she falls. As far as she’s concerned, he’s going to be waiting a very long time.

Bachelor Duncan Montgomerie hails from late 18th century Scotland where he enjoyed life to its fullest, something he continues in death. Having been dead a while, he is well equipped to handle the afterlife where time doesn’t exist and phasing is the norm. What has him stymied is his connection to the uptight Jessica and the strange feelings he’s experiencing being around her, even though she refuses to listen to his advice. Duncan needs to figure out what it all means and fast because the rules change after death and the path Jessica is headed down could cost her her soul.

Buy Now:

On Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013EVYRV4

On Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1jICy8T

On iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1026485012

On Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/pleasures-of-christmas-past

Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »

Interview With Suz deMello

By Cynthia Sax on September 24, 2014

I sat down (virtually) with Suz deMello for a short interview. Today we’ll be talking about Temptation in Tartan, a vampire erotic romance.


Cynthia Sax: Where did you get the idea for Temptation in Tartan?

Suz deMello: I wrote Temptation in Tartan due to the success of a previous short story. I sold Highland Vampire to Spice Briefs, where it did well. So I wanted to capitalize on that success by writing another vampire tale set in the Scottish Highlands, but I had a problem: HV is a contemporary, and I just couldn’t see writing futuristic Scottish vampires. So I decided to write a prequel set in the 18th century.

Cynthia Sax: Where is Temptation in Tartan set?

Suz deMello: Temptation in Tartan is set in 1747 Scotland, a few years after the disastrous defeat of the Highlanders at Culloden Moor. The aftermath of that battle saw the destruction of the clan-based way of life that had prevailed in the Highlands for centuries. The wearing of tartan and ownership of weapons of war were prohibited, and punishments severe.

Further acts against Scots called “The Clearances”—which literally cleared the land of its inhabitants, their homes and flocks, often using fire as a weapon—killed many and drove still more to overseas havens, including the USA. The Highlands have never recovered their old population level or traditional way of life.

So at that time, Scotland was not merely exciting, but threatening. The story in Temptation in Tartan is based on those historical events, most especially the arranged marriage between Kieran, Laird Kilborn, and Lydia Swann Williston, who is related to Sassenach military in charge of the Highlands. Kier knows that marrying the wealthy widow will safeguard his clan as well as provide needed resources.

One of my favorite lines from the story is based on this situation, when Kieran tells Lydia, “I betrothed with ye for yer money, but after we met, I married ye for purely carnal reasons.


Cynthia Sax: Does a character in Temptation in Tartan have a secret? What is it?

Suz deMello: LOL, Kieran and the rest of Clan Kilburn have a very big secret indeed, one that they’re trying to keep from Lady Lydia. When eavesdropping, Lydia hears a snippet that describes this secret:

“But have ye told Lady Lydia? About him, about us?”

“Are ye mad?” Kier answered the castle’s steward. “She was affrighted enough on the way here.”

“Aye, I heard aboot it. Ye doonae think she’s suspicious of a man who ripped off the head of his enemy and drank his blood?”

Kieran laughed bitterly. “At least she doesnae suspect the truth. I doubt she’s ever heard the word vampire.”

Lydia strained her ears. She thought her husband said something like “vespers,” but didn’t understand what evening prayers had to do with a secret her husband was keeping from her. Was it a Gaelic word she didn’t yet understand?


Cynthia Sax: Is Temptation in Tartan a series and will you be writing more stories in this series?


Suz deMello:
Yes, this book is part of a series dubbed “Highland Vampires.” Right now it consists of three novels and two short stories. I project another novel and another shortie before I’m done, and the series will trace the vampire clan from its advent to its end, some eight centuries.

Find the list of works in this series here:

http://www.suzdemello.com/highlandvampireseries.html

Thank you, Suz deMello, for joining us today!

Suz deMello’s Website: http://www.suzdemello.com

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She had to marry a monster…

Rumors had followed the chieftains of Clan Kilborn for centuries. Said to be descended from the Viking Berserkers, they were ferocious in battle, known for tearing off the heads of their enemies and drinking their blood.

But English noblewoman Lydia Swann Williston would marry Kieran, Laird Kilborn, to bring peace to the Kilborn lands after the horror of Culloden and the brutal pacification. A widow, she also brought needed wealth to Clan Kilborn. For her part, eighteen-year-old Lydia wanted children. With her husband killed at Culloden, she would make a new life in the Highlands.

The old chieftain of Clan Kilborn also died in battle, and she hoped that the new young Laird would lack his ancestors’ ferocity.

She was wrong.

Buy Now: http://www.ellorascave.com/temptation-in-tartan-1.html

Topics: Author Interviews | 1 Comment »