Sunday, February 28, 2010

Interview with Kaylea Cross

Please welcome the fabulous Kaylea Cross to Naughty Author Chicks! She was kind enough to agree to spend a day with us and I'm so excited she's here! Author of Out of Her League, one of my favorite books, she's here to chat about her upcoming release, Cover of Darkness and a whole bunch of other stuff.

CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED: CATHY M, you are the winner of COVER OF DARKNESS. You didn't leave an email address so please contact Kaylea via her contact page on her website: www.kayleacross.com


1. Okay, let’s start with the obvious. Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?
-Sure, I’m the mother of two little guys, and aside from writing I work part time as a Registered Massage Therapist here in Vancouver, BC. (Even though I started out with a degree in history and archaeology. Go figure.) I plan on becoming a full time romance author as soon as my guys are in school though.

Does that mean if I come to visit you'll give me a free massage??



2. What type of romance do you write?
-I write mostly romantic suspense (usually military themed), but some historical romance as well (although it’s military too, since it’s about the Civil War).


3. Since I know you, I'm almost afraid to ask this but how much research do you typically have to do for one of your books?
-Well, I’m a bit of a freak about this, so I usually read at least two or three non-fiction titles about whatever branch of military special ops my hero is, and then another about the war zone they’re operating in. But I like doing it! It’s odd, I know, but I read strictly romance and military/historical non-fiction.



Thanks to you, I now have a copy of Lone Survivor and Inside Delta Force on my bookshelf…Of course I still haven’t read them, but my husband has :)



If possible I like to interview soldiers too, to get their take on things or run a scenario past them. I know I write fiction, but I’d like it to be realistic fiction. And don’t even get me started on researching the Civil War. You’d all fall asleep long before I finished that conversation.


4. What is your writing process?
-Because I’m an anal
retentive control freak, I like to plot everything out first, scene by scene. Otherwise I get bogged down with “what’s next?”, and I hate spinning my wheels, especially since I have very limited writing time most days with my two weasels—er, children—running around underfoot. Through trial and error, I’ve found that the more detail I can put into my outline, the smoother the drafting phase is for me. I really like it when that part goes smoothly J.

I’m jealous. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.



5. How long have yo
u been writing?
-I’ve been “writing” since I was little, but only seriously as an author for about six years. Now I wish I’d started sooner!

6. Tell us something about yourself that we might not know.

-Okay, but you might be sorry you asked, lol. For whatever reason, I’m a huge Civil War freak. Over the years I’ve dragged my poor family, and then the man I married, to pretty much every major battlefield of the Eastern theater of the war. But it’s okay, because hubby wound up proposing to me on one of them during a reenactment. Hands down, that’s the most romantic thing he’s ever done and I still get all warm and fuzzy when I think about it. That's insanely sweet! We had a Civil War wedding in which I made him dress up in a Yankee cavalry officer’s uniform (OMG, he was gorgeous), and all my bridesmaids wore Gone With the Wind style dresses (yeah, they hated me :)). I have a weapon collection mounted in a place of honor in a special gun case, and just before my wedding I went off and got a Civil War tattoo. My husband was, um…thrilled (that’s sarcasm, in case you couldn’t tell).
Your Civil War obsession cracks me up, but I can’t believe I didn’t know that about you! (The tattoo). I demand pictures!



7. Who are your favorite authors?
-Man, I have to pick? Hmm…Linda Howard, Gennita Low, Karen Robards, Suzanne Brockmann, JR Ward, and you of course (but you knew that already).

Aww, you’re making me blush!



8. Tell us about your latest release, Cover of Darkness.

-I’m really excited about this book! It’s the second of five in my romantic suspense series with The Wild Rose Press, and features an incredibly strong heroine and a yummy Navy SEAL hero. I hope my efforts at research will shine through in the story.



I can attest that this book is definitely as hot as it sounds so if you don’t have a copy, get one! Check out this blurb and excerpt for some yummy goodness.



Blurb: Targeted by a terrorist cell, Bryn McAllister survives a bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut only to be left to die in a desert cellar. When she is rescued by Navy SEAL Lieutenant Declan McCabe and his team, Bryn must rely on the handsome officer to get her to safety. But just when she thinks the nightmare is over, family friend and legendary CIA operative Luke Hutchinson recruits her and McCabe to help track down the terrorist mastermind responsible for the attack.



With Bryn determined to see the terrorist brought to justice, Dec joins up to protect her, prepared to do whatever it takes to keep her safe during their dangerous mission. Battling the explosive attraction between them, Dec fights to keep his distance from her so he can do his job and keep her alive. But when plans falls apart and Bryn is captured, he must make the agonizing choice between his duty as a SEAL and the life of the woman he loves.



Excerpt (sorry if the formatting is off, that's my fault!)

We’re not going to make it.

Instantly Dec grabbed her and pushed her into a darkened doorway, shoved his gun in his waistband and lifted her leg to wrap it around his hip. She gasped, grabbing his leather jacket to steady herself, staring up into his shadowed eyes. What was he doing?

They waited, listening, their bodies pressed so closely together she could feel his chest move as he breathed. His body heat warmed her, his fresh scent enveloping her. A minute ticked by. Two. He didn’t ease up from her. She quivered against him, part fear, part arousal, and his body responded.
She held her breath and stared into his face, their gazes locking.
A muted voice floated through the darkness. “A woman…dressed in a dance costume. Did you seen her running this way?”

Arabic. A muttered reply followed, then the footsteps resumed. Closer with each passing second. What were they going to do? She tightened her fingers on his shoulders.
“Bryn?”
She swallowed, afraid even though he was protecting her with his body. Or rather, because of it. “What?”
“Go with this, okay?”
He didn’t give her a chance to reply, just took her face in his hands and leaned down to cover her mouth with his. She gasped, and he took advantage by angling his head, sliding his tongue along her lower lip before stealing inside.
Her fingers clenched as she arched upward, a moan of confusion escaping as he explored her mouth with skill. Shouldn’t they be running? His mouth was so warm, and he was so good her eyelids fluttered down. A thumb swept over her cheekbone. His other hand trailed down her throat and over her shoulder, sparking electricity in its wake. She made a murmur of protest, not understanding how she could be responding to him, under the circumstances. The treads on the sidewalk grew louder, but he continued to kiss and caress her as though they were about to fall onto a bed somewhere, as though they weren’t in mortal danger. She shook in his embrace, torn between wanting him and the fear they would be shot dead any second.
When his hand slid down over the curve of her breast, she gasped into his mouth, eyes flying wide as those footfalls grew louder and louder while her body trembled under his touch.
“Shhh,” he murmured against her lips. “Kiss me back.”
Footsteps echoed. Their pursuer was almost on top of them now.



Anything you’d like to add for your readers and/or aspiring writers?

-Yes! We all doubt ourselves sooner or later in this crazy business, so find a critique group or partner that will stay solidly in your corner throughout the ups and downs of your writing career. Not only will they help improve your work, but they’ll understand what you’re going through when no one else does. Also, the remaining three books of this series will be coming out later in the year, so keep your eyes peeled.


Please let readers know where they can find you.

-My website, www.kayleacross.com, My blog, www.kayleacross.blogspot.com and Facebook. Thanks for having me, Savannah!



Thank you for visiting us! Kaylea has been cool enough to give away a digital copy of Cover of Darkness to one lucky commenter so don’t forget to leave one! I’ll be posting the winner’s name here tomorrow so check back to see if you won. Or, click here for more info on how to purchase Cover of Darkness.

20 comments:

Wynter said...

Great interview and loved the excerpt. I have so much respect for writers who are able to hold a job, raise a family and still find time to write.

Kaylea Cross said...

Katie, thanks a million for taking the time for the interview. You're such a sweetie! And yes, I'll totally give you a treatment when we meet, and no, you're not seeing pictures of my tat because it's on a part of my body I prefer not to show the public :)

Thanks Wynter, but weren't you in these same trenches with me just a short while ago? What can I say, women are awesome multi-taskers ;)

Sue Koch said...

Great interview, Kaylea! We loved Out of Her League and can't wait to read Cover of Darkness as well as the others to follow!

Keep up the great work and thanks for providing us with hours of good reading!

Sue said...

It was interesting to learn that you're into archaeology. That is one of my armchair vices - along with Firefly and of course great romance novels. Speakig of which - I loved the snippet.

Savannah Stuart said...

Now I'm even more intrigued about that tattoo!!

Kaylea Cross said...

Sue Koch! How are you, hon? Hope you love this book as much as I do...now GO CANADA GO!

Hi Sue! Wow, there's not too many of us archaeology nuts out there, so nice to "meet" you.

Savannah, maybe if you get enough martinis or mojitos into me I'll show you the tat ;) The story of when I got it done is really funny. My BFF/maid of honor took me to the Oregon Coast just before the wedding, and I told her I wanted a tat. She's been my BFF since I was 6, so her eyes bugged out of her head. She damn near wore a hole in the floor while I was getting it done (by the scariest looking tattoo artist imaginable). It's got the Confederate and Union flags overlaying crossed cavalry sabers. The artist laughed when he inked the stripes in, saying, "You're so pale I don't even need to use white ink!"

Cathy M said...

Hi Kaylea, love your favorite author's list. I am a big fan of romantic suspense stories and can't wait to read Cover of Darkness.

Kaylea Cross said...

Hi Cathy, thanks for stopping by. I love R/S too, especially when both the suspense and romantic tension intertwine and build until you're screaming for release! I hope I do a decent job of that, and I hope you enjoy the story ;)

Savannah Stuart said...

Lol. Martinis it is then! I will see that tattoo :)

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

Great interview! I love BC. I'll bet it was wild with the Olympics there.

Ash

Karlene Blakemore-Mowle said...

How cool is this woman?! and I was also impressed by the tattoo- So excited about this series- I have reserved a special little place on my book shelf just for them!
:) great interview ladies, really enjoyed it.

Kaylea Cross said...

Hi Ahslyn! I'm so glad you like our province. It is beatiful, and the Olympics have been a blast because of all the patriotism floating around--something us Canadians are not known for. It's been good for us!

Although, my youngest son is cheering for the US right now in the gold medal hockey game, while the entire living room is full of rabid Canada fans. My husband says it's my fault, because I'm such a Yankee lover :)

Karlene--thanks for stopping by! G'day and all that. I'm glad you think I'm cool, because very few people do (but maybe THEY'RE the uncool ones!). You're so sweet!

Kaylea Cross said...

Gold! Woo-hoo! I like GOOOOOOLD!

So rare to see this kind of patriotic outpouring. I just opened my front door and screamed while waving my Canadian flag around, and I could hear all my neighbors up and down the street yelling too :)

Really cool, but I guess you'd have to be here.

Michelle Polaris said...

Great interview! Loved hearing about the tattoo and the excerpt makes the book sound intriguing. Thank you so much for visiting us.

Sherry said...

I love romantic suspense books they are some of my favorites. Your wedding sounds like it was beautiful I would love to see pictures of it. Most of your favorite authors are on my must have list.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Kaylea Cross said...

Hi Michelle, I'm glad to be here :)

Sherry, I hope you like the book! Romantic suspense really is an awesome genre (but I guess I'm biased).

Dalton Diaz said...

Hi, Kaylea, and welcome to the NAC!

We love the same authors, tho I've never heard of Gennita Low. I'll have to check her out.

Love the blurb and excerpt!

Stephanie Adkins said...

Great interview and excerpt, Kaylea! Welcome to The Naughty Author Chicks! :)

Savannah Stuart said...

CATHY M, you are the winner of COVER OF DARKNESS. You didn't leave an email address so please contact Kaylea via her contact page on her website: www.kayleacross.com Thanks! :)

Cathy M said...

Thank you Savannah and Kaylea, I will send an email now.