Sunday, August 1, 2010

Welcome Author Cari Quinn


(DD here. Wish I could say I'm responsible for this guest, but as you can see, Cara gets all of the credit. I'm only posting because Cara also got to go to Nationals! So without further ado, let's give a sizzling Naughty Author Chicks welcome to Cari Quinn. Cari, it's been a pleasure getting to know you!)


Writing and Reading What You Know

I'm so excited to be here at Naughty Author Chicks today! I'm a fan of several of the ladies' work and I'm always keen to try new authors and subject matter. Which actually brings me to the topic of my post.

As a writer - or reader - do you stick to the tried and true? Writers are told to "write what they know" to make a story seem more authentic to the reader. Good advice, and in many ways there are emotional truths that resonate even if you know nothing about...well, sky diving, for example. But you can put yourself in the place of a sky diver as he's standing at the edge of that plane and imagine what might be going through his head. For me, I'd probably be screaming my bloody head off, but you could also imagine yourself as someone a bit more calmer, maybe because your heroine's a surgeon, for example, used to controlling her emotions. Even when there are differences in circumstance, emotions are the one currency we all share.

Although I write in several different genres, my current focus is erotic romance. So far, I've written and contracted a cougar story (though I'm not quite in my middle thirties yet), a story about longterm lovers reuniting (though I'm currently single) and my first EC title, coming soon, is about a blistering office romance (nope, never had one of those either.) Now one could conclude my real life is pretty boring. You won't hear me arguing. A lot of the excitement in my life comes from living out adventures on the pages of my books. My heroines aren't necessarily afraid of heights or unwilling to try the latest new kink, whatever it may be. The hero of my latest work-in-progress is into voyeurism at a club that specializes in it. Not only have I never been to a club like that, but if a club like that exists anywhere near my town, I'm not exactly on their list of preferred attendees. I love writing what I don't know. It even says so in my author bio. ;) Through research and interviews and using my imagination I can go a million places I never have in my daily life, and that's part of why I find losing myself in a book so seductive.

This also applies to reading. Lately I've read a few excellent books on spanking and BDSM. I can admit neither of those particular fetishes factor into my daily life, but that doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed the heck out of reading about them! Skilled authors have a way of making you believe their world not only could exist, but does - at least while you're reading their words. And I love learning about other people, other lifestyles, other ways to "be" essentially. If real life isn't too thrilling, I know where I can find as much excitement as I can stand.

What about you? Do you prefer to stick to subjects you know (to read or write) or do you like to venture out and explore? For those of you who enjoy the paranormal/horror realms, I imagine this is a no-brainer, but hey, you never know! ;)


Ex Appeal Blurb:

As the webmistress for one of the Northeast’s hottest dating sites, Hunk Du Jour, Jenny Talbot is no stranger to reading the applications of potential clients. But when the latest application that crosses her inbox belongs to Ty Randall, the guy she broke up with a mere twenty-seven days ago, she does a double take. Reading what Ty wants in bed not only gets Jenny hot, it also makes her rethink ending their relationship. All she longed for was a little more spice in the bedroom—okay, a lot more—but he let her go without an argument. Faced with the possibility that Ty may really be moving on, getting her ex back becomes more appealing than ever. But will revealing exactly what she needs allow Jenny to finally experience ultimate pleasure or will she drive away the man she loves for good?

Ex Appeal Excerpt:

The weight of his stare made her open her eyes. He’d turned to face her again, but he’d moved no closer. "I told myself it was your problem, not mine. Yeah, I've been distracted. Busy with other things. But then I realized that if a woman leaves your bed wanting, that's your own damn fault." His eerie mirror of her earlier thoughts made her breath hitch as he returned to her and gripped her upper arms. Not roughly, not painfully. Possessively. "I need you in my life. Which means it's up to me to keep you happy. Whatever it takes."

She started to roll her eyes at his melodramatics. But before she could shoot back a response, he swung her up in his arms and hauled her up on the deck. His hold brooked no arguments, but that didn’t stop her from slapping at him as he carried her inside and dumped her on the bed.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve.” She shoved her dripping hair out of her eyes. Eyes that were now thankfully bone dry. Anger always had that effect on her.

“And we’ve got a lot of time to make up for.” Ty bent over, then tossed the pink bag from Adult Playland onto her lap. Out bobbed cranberry lace and satin and the erotic crayons she hadn’t yet shown him. “You want to be tied up?”

For some reason, she blushed. “You’re making me feel like a naughty child.”

“I won’t say what you make me feel like.” Flashing her a thin smile, he pawed through her purchases with absolutely no finesse. Might as well have been digging through the sandbox. “Here we go. Over the door. Hooks and straps and this little silk nightie for me to tear to shreds with my teeth.”

Buy Links:
Amazon

Bio:

Cari Quinn wrote her first story - a bible parable - in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. She attempted her first romance in junior high, long before she'd ever read one. Writing what she knew always took a backseat to what she wanted to know, and that still holds true today. Cari's genres of choice include contemporary, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, urban fantasy and paranormal. Recently she discovered erotic romance. Oh, how far she's come.

Links: http://cariquinn.blogspot.com

12 comments:

Dalton Diaz said...

Welcome to NAC, Cari. Thanks for joining us.

"But then I realized that if a woman leaves your bed wanting, that's your own damn fault."

OH, SWOON!!!!!!!!!!
DD

Wynter said...

Welcome, Cari. Great excerpt.
Personally, I am most comfortable writing about things I know, but I also ,like to push myself to research different things for my writing. And frankly, I am way too sheltered to only write what I know!

Penny Watson said...

Hi Cari! Your book sounds great, and the cover is hot!

I write about Santa Claus, his five hunky sons, and life at the North Pole.

So, no...I am definitely not writing about "what I know"--hee hee heee! I think that's the best part of being a writer...using our imagination to create something exciting and new.

Good luck with your release...I am def. going to check it out! (I'm a "rose" too!)

Michelle Polaris said...

Glad you're here Cari. I also like to write about what I don't know. That's why I write fantasy and futuristic so much of the time. But what I love is finding a way to weave in what I know as well. The combination makes me so happy. Your newest sounds fantastic. Good luck with it!

Brenda said...

Welcome Cari!
I always like expanding my knowledge in both reading and writing, so I absolutely always starting out involved in what I don't know. It's not like I've met any werewolves or vampires to know how they really think :-) But like Michelle said, I weave in what I do know.

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

Nice to know you too, Cari. I hope you'll stop by often.

Best of luck with your writing!

Ash

Savannah Stuart said...

Welcome to NAC!! Love the excerpt :) The book sounds hot!

Cari Quinn said...

Hi Dalton and everyone...thanks so much for having me here today. I love this blog - so many great writers and readers in one place. :)

Thanks also for the nice comments on Ex Appeal. Jenny and Ty were a lot of fun to write.

I agree with Wynter...I'm way too sheltered to only write what I know too! I'm definitely more comfortable writing things I know as well. I guess I should work on knowing more stuff, huh? ;D

Cara McKenna said...

Welcome, Cari! Very sexy stuff…thanks so much for joining us this week!

Jina Bacarr said...

Glad you could join us here at NAC, Cari! Enjoyed your excerpt and your post about writing about what you know.

Imagination is a road well traveled for writers.

Taryn Elliott said...

LOL! Hiya CP...I'm with you. I like to push myself. Sometimes I'll start off a story writing about something I know and veer off into a complete change by the end of things.

Lucy - Call center girl to start...KNOW...unfortunately. Adirondack explorer to end. SO definitely don't know. LOL It's a blast to write what you don't know. Just gotta make sure you do some serious research or you can totally sound like a jerk. LOL

Great post, darlin'. I really like this blog too. I tagged it to follow. ;)

Naima Simone said...

I'm all for tearing clothes with teeth! LOL! Hi, Cari! Loved the excerpt! When I read, I love branching out to the unknown, whether it's the world or the author. As far as writing, my husband will assure you that I write what what I haven't experienced personally--more to his chagrin! LOL!!

Great post and thanks for stopping by NAC!!