Peeps, please join me in welcoming Karyn Gerrard to the blog. Karyn has a brand new book out, MY VAMPIRE COVER MODEL, and she’s here to tell us all about it. So settle in with a large, possibly alcoholic beverage and enjoy, peeps.

Cassandra Dean: Congratulations on the release of MY VAMPIRE COVER MODEL! Would you tell us a little about it?

Karyn Gerrard: Sure! It’s a novella, a paranormal/contemporary/erotic romance. Here is the blurb:

Life changed for Deanna Brooks the night she attended a book signing for her aunt’s best-selling paranormal romance series. There she met Burney ‘The Cover God’ Sheridan. The model for the series’ fictional vampire hero, Burn is beyond handsome and has an overabundance of Irish charm. He’s too good to be true.

Burn Sheridan, a man with scores of past lives, has a secret: he is a vampire. Meeting Deanna is agony because for the first time in over two hundred years, Burn experiences the rarest of vampiric needs—the mate-of-the-soul connection. Keeping people at a distance has been Burn’s existence for centuries, but Deanna makes his pledge of staying detached impossible.

Many obstacles lie ahead and the biggest of all may be Burn himself. Can Deanna and Burn overcome them and find lasting love?

CD: What inspired you to write MY VAMPIRE COVER MODEL?

KG: I noticed all the pictures being posted on Facebook of hot cover model Paul Marron on a tour with New York Times Best selling paranormal author, Kresley Cole. They were plugging the Book ‘Lothaire’ of which Paul is on the cover. My mind began to plot. What if the cover model in question really was—a vampire? It was amazing how it all clicked into place. I had it written in no time! Pure fantasy, but lots of fun to write. And Cover Models are the best inspiration! (see pic of Paul Marron to the right *sigh*)

CD: What do you find easiest/most difficult about writing paranormal romance?

The easiest is the heroes, I love delving into their tortured pasts. All my paranormal heroes have them. I enjoy that aspect more than the gory side of Paranormal. I also enjoy creating my own paranormal world and mythology. That is half the fun for me.

The most difficult is trying to remember all the aspects of the world I created! Also, I am not really much of a romance suspense reader or writer, so trying to layer in suspenseful plot points into a paranormal is very challenging for me.
 
CD: You’ve written books that are paranormal romance and straight contemporaries. Why have you chosen to write in these genres?

KG: I like to write in genres I like to read myself. I also have a couple of historical releases coming up. I find mixing it up keeps the writing fresh to me and keeps the ‘fun factor’ alive. I always said, once this stops being fun to me, I will no longer do it.
 
CD: Do you have plans to write a book in any other another genres?

KG: Yes! I have a Historical coming out in November with Silver Publishing, KNIGHT OF CHRISTMAS, and my free read with Evernight Pub THE RIDING CROP is a historical. Also have a short story for Decadent’s The Edge Line that is a historical coming sometime in December, THE BLIND CUPID. Am working on a historical erotic romance that is a prequel of sorts to THE BLIND CUPID! Also have a completed historical western to edit.

Looks like I will be sticking pretty much with Contemps, Paranormal and Historicals for now.  However, another upcoming release, THE HERO SANDWICH with Breathless Press (Nov 9) co-written with my bud and crit partner, Gayl Taylor, has F/M/F ménage and cougar themes, a first for me! Also I stuck my toe in the BDSM waters with THE RIDING CROP and THE BLIND CUPID. Though both are light BDSM, it certainly is something I may explore in a longer narrative down the road.

CD: What is your writing process?

KG: Good question! Not sure I have one. I put on a full pot of Earl Grey tea, my comfy-slouchy clothes, usually music is playing in the background. From movie soundtracks, classical, current hard rock to 60’s-80’s. I find music a great accompaniment to writing. Doesn’t distract me at all. I am a pantser, I have a vague idea for plot and ending in mind and just sit down and type and see where the characters take me.

CD: What do you believe to be the most important factor in portraying a believable romantic relationship?

KG: Emotion. A deep connection that goes beyond the physical, but sizzles with heat as well. A couple of reviewers have called my stories ‘hot and sweet’, like a cup of hot chocolate. I think it fits.

Everyone has their own opinion what is erotic or erotica, I put myself in the ‘Erotic Romance’ category. I’m all about the emotion. Hot sex spices things up, but it is not the main thrust (no pun intended!) of my books. Also believable situations and conversations between the hero and heroine.

We remember the thrill of falling in love, the intense feelings and the off-the-chart physical yearnings. We as readers and writers for that matter can relive it through a romance novel.

Romance encompasses the ups and downs of obtaining that one true love. We are swept away into the adventure, larger than life heroes (and okay, heroines), drama and always that happily ever after.

CD: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

KG: Be true to yourself, your family and friends and you can never go wrong.

CD: What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?

KG: Never give up. Keep writing. Write what you love. Get the story down first, then go back and edit. Don’t take any rejection personally (easy to say, I know) Jump back in the trenches.
 
CD: Who is your greatest writing influence?

KG: I would have to say every romance author I have ever read. Everyone influences me. Though I will pick one. The first romance novel I read was Simply Magic from Mary Balogh. The book still impacts me to this day. If I can ever reach even half of the emotion in anything I write as Mary has in this book, I will be a happy camper.
 
CD: What do you enjoy reading?

KG: A voracious reader, I only started reading romance about six years ago and started writing it at least three years ago. Imagine my shock at having a life-long dream come true. Being published. Goes to show it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.

Besides romance, also enjoy non-fiction, and certain biographies. I have just purchased some Michael Connelly books at a second hand book store, so I am going to give suspense a whirl.
 
CD: What’s your favourite television show? Favourite movie?

KG: Oh wow, I have so many and my lists change constantly. I will name a few. Love classic movies, so Casablanca is up there. Love Goodfellas and The Godfather, too.

For TV, love Justified and am watching BBC’s Sherlock at the moment and loving it. Also Game of Thrones.
 
CD: You have a book review site, The Romanorum. Would you tell us a little about this?

KG: I started out as a reviewer, also reviewed for The Season before I was published. Now that I am published, sadly, my review time has been slashed considerably. Also don’t seem to have the time to visit the blogs I used to! I am writing shorter reviews (also putting them at Goodreads) and am going to use The Romanorum (Latin for The Romance) to showcase authors and books more.

My opinion on reviews is I don’t post anything under 2 stars. (out of 5) I’m not going to savage a book, there is enough nastiness in the world. I held that opinion before I was published, but now that I am, I feel even more strongly about it. A writer pours their heart and soul and sweat into a book, I’m not going to publicly shred it. I think a little respect goes a long way.
 
CD: If you were stranded in a land that looked suspiciously like the cover of a paranormal romance series, what three things would you wish were with you?

KG: Oh Lord, this question stumped me big time. I guess I would want kick-ass, knee-high heroine boots. Sexy under things for my tryst with shirtless, hunky paranormal hero on the cover. For some reason, I would want a whip. Not sure why…*snort*

CD: Where can readers find you?

KG: Here – SITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS
 
 

Now available at
Amazon ~ All Romance eBooks ~ Bookstrand ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

~Excerpt~

Deanna tapped her sandaled foot in annoyance. She didn’t want to bother with the guy, but Janice insisted, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement as they advanced toward the table.

As they moved closer, the model’s masculinity became more potent. She could hear the slight lilt to his deep voice as he answered the ladies questions. His eyes crinkled sexily when he smiled. His teeth were perfectly shaped and a brilliant white.

Deanna glanced at her aunt’s table a few times, hoping to catch her eye, but Carol was busy working her crowd. While Deanna enjoyed an historical romance she’d never quite taken to the paranormal genre. Aunt Carol always mailed her advance copies, but she usually wound up giving them to Janice. She should’ve given the books a chance. Judging from the crowd, paranormal romance seemed popular. There was a steady stream of women coming and going.

Janice clutched her arm. “We’re next!”

Oh, yippie-friggin’-yay. Janice stood next to Burn. Damn, he is tall. A few inches under six-six, anyway, Deanna observed. Janice babbled nonsensical chatter while the model smiled, nodded, and signed a couple of her paperbacks.

Janice put her arm around the man’s trim waist. “Take our picture, Dean!”

Deanna raised the camera and looked up just as Burn’s searing gaze swept over her like a roll of white heat. God, his eyes had turned from black to silver again. Those special magic contacts were amazing. Holding out the camera, she clicked and hoped Janice was in the frame because she couldn’t tear her eyes away from “Sizzle” or “Burn” or whatever his name was. Deanna clicked another for good measure.

Janice took the camera and shoved her toward the leather-clad hunk. Her mouth went dry, and her insides fluttered. For God’s sake, he was only a model. Why was she so flustered?

She stepped next to him and glanced up. Oh hell yeah, very tall. He towered over her by at least a foot. His arm stretched out to clasp her shoulder, and he brought her in tight against his side. Solid, rock-hard muscle. Her insides began to churn in arousal.

“What’s your name, darlin’?”

She couldn’t speak. Deanna was like Ralphie in A Christmas Story, sitting on Santa’s lap. Duh…uh. No words came out.

“Her name is Deanna, but I call her Dean!” Janice sang out.

Burn gently squeezed her shoulder, and it almost brought her to her knees, his touch was so intoxicating.

“Dean. I like that,” he purred.

Dear God. His voice, was he Irish? The tone sounded low, sexy, and rumbled deep in his impressive chest, sending shock waves through her entire body.

Then the unthinkable happened. A wash of scent covered her. Deanna could taste it in her mouth, and feel it on her skin. Was the overpowering aroma his cologne? Some guys liked to drown themselves with those tacky body sprays. Burn must have marinated himself in the swill.

Deanna wheezed and her throat closed up. Her hand clasped her throat. Trying to breathe through her nose was unsuccessful. The only thing she smelled was his spicy, musky, overpowering scent. Her eyes watered and her body trembled furiously.

“Are you all right, love?”

Deanna fell to her knees, fighting for every breath. Strong arms encircled her and carried her from the sales floor through to a door marked Staff Only.
 
 

Living in a small town in a corner of Ontario, Canada, Karyn Gerrard wiles away her spare time writing, reviewing and reading romance. As long as she can avoid being hit by a runaway moose here in this wilderness paradise, she assumes everything is golden. Originally from the east coast of Canada, she loves to set some of her stories in the Maritime Provinces~

Happily married for a long time to her own hero, a teacher that braves everything that is thrown at him. His encouragement keeps her moving forward.