Author Interview - Elle Hayes - Erotic Romance Author-Day 5

Elle Hayes - Day 5

My debut novel Wynter’s Blossom is scheduled 

to be released later this month so here are ten 

reasons why everyone should get their copy:

A baby that will melt your heart strings.
 

An old geezer named Pop who will make you laugh out loud at his antics.
 

 

A female wolf finding her place in a male dominated pack.
 

 

An enduring love story you’ll want to reread.
 

It’s the first in a series and you always remember your first.
 

Have you seen the cover???
 

A heroine not afraid to stand up for herself.
 

A hero who’s an Alpha with a heart.
 

Hot werewolves that bite (if you’re lucky).
 

Hot sex…REALLY hot.

 

 

Tonya:  Elle, thank you so much for sharing your book and your characters with us. I know you've ended up on several TBR lists and they can't wait for the release of your first book so they can grab the first book in the series. We all wish you luck in your writing and look forward to hearing from you again when the next book is release so stay in touch!

Elle: Tonya, thanks so much for having me and introducing me to your readers and visitors. I've had fun being here all week and would love to return when my next book is ready!

Author Interview - Elle Hayes - Erotic Romance Author-Day 4

Elle Hayes - Day Four

Elle:  Good morning Alpha Grey.
 

Wynter: Good morning Elle. I thought we agreed you’d call me Wyn? (Although said in a playful tone, there is no doubt that this man expects his requests to be obeyed).

Elle:  Wyn it is then. Thank you for agreeing to speak with me.

Wynter:  Still not sure why you wanted to, but Sarah felt strongly about us talking.

Elle:  You’re the Alpha and the subject of the first book about your pack. I just want to give readers an opportunity to learn more about you.

Wynter:  Shoot.

Elle:  What inspired you to form Unity?

Wynter:  I wandered for many years with my best friend Chazke. We just didn’t feel like we fit into the traditional pack structure. When we met Pop (the pack elder) he actually planted the seed that would eventually harvest Unity.

Elle:  How?  

Wynter:  He told us to stop complaining like a bunch of pups fighting over a tit. His words, not mine. Said if we didn’t like the way things were done in the old packs we should form our own.    

Elle:   Have you settled into your role as Alpha?

Wynter:  Oh yeah. I started by surrounding myself with honorable males. Finding Sarah and Summer has been the icing on my cake.

Elle:  I bet things can get crazy with so many strong willed males around though?

Wynter:  Not really. We are united in our goal to lay the foundation for a great pack. Are we rowdy? Yeah, but there’s a level of mutual respect throughout the pack that you don’t often see with so many males.
 

Elle:  Tell me how pack life has changed since Sarah came into your life.

Wynter:  (Smiles and looks over to the swing where Sarah is pushing her daughter Summer). She’s softening some of the rough edges. They both are. There’s nothing like the sound of happy young to bring even the toughest males to their knees.

Elle:  She is a little sweetie. Do you ever think about having more children?

Wynter:  I think about it all the time, but we’ll do that on Sarah’s timeline. I want her to have time to just enjoy Summer and get fully acclimated to her life here.

Elle:  After my discussion with her earlier I think it’s safe to say that she’s well on her way.

Wynter:  Good because the pack is better with her in it. She’s enriched us with her presence and I think we have emboldened her with our devotion. Every male in this pack would put his life on the line for her and Summer. (He turns his head quickly a split second before I hear Summer let out a wail of displeasure.) Are we done here?

Elle:  Yes Alpha, I mean Wyn.

Wynter:  Good because I think somebody is ready for a nap. Thank you for doing such a good job of telling our story. I look forward to reading the next installment.

Elle:  Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I think I’ll go see what trouble I can stir up with the enforcers. (With a smile and a nod of approval the Alpha leaves me to see to his family. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing the bond he and Sarah share as they smile at each other.)

 

To learn more about Wyn, Sarah and the rest of the Unity Pack, pick up your copy of Wynter’s Blossom when it’s released in July 2011 on Beautiful Trouble Publishing.

Character Interview - Sarah Erickson by Elle Hayes

      On a recent trip to the Unity Pack compound in Montana, I was able to interview the packs Alpha Wynter Grey and his mate Sarah Eriksson.  Today I’m excited to share my chat with Sarah.  Enjoy!

Elle:  Hi Sarah, thank you for agreeing to speak with me.

Sarah:  Hey Elle, no problem.  We love having you visit.

Elle:  Okay, I promise to keep this short, sweet and painless.

Sarah:  Thanks.  Summer’s a little cranky today.  She’s got a tooth coming in.

Elle:  First, are you excited about the upcoming release of Wynter’s Blossom?

Sarah:  I’m excited but I’m also really nervous.  There are some very personal things about my life in this book.  I’m normally a private person so allowing the whole world into my life is scary.

Elle:  I imagine being scared around a werewolf pack is dicey?

Sarah:   (Chuckles) You have no idea.  Wyn is so edgy right now because he can scent the smell of my fear.  All of my pack mates can, but I think they can also sense my determination.

Elle:  Why are you so determined to have this story told?

Sarah:   First, because I want other victims of violent crimes to know that there is life after the crime if you’re brave enough to grasp it.  Second, I want the lone wolves out there to know there is a place for them here.  That was the vision behind Unity and I want to do my part to make that vision a reality.

Elle:   So you think tapping into the book buying population will help?

Sarah:  Absolutely!  Especially now with the popularity of e-books.  There’s also a third consideration (Sarah pauses to look out across the back yard where Wyn is entertaining Summer).  The modern world is quickly changing.  The internet and social media have exploded.  It use to be easy to hide the existence of werewolves .  I don’t think it will be so easy going forward.  Maybe it will soften the blow if humans have a chance to see that modern werewolves struggle with a lot of the same issues that they do…that they are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and friends.

Elle:  Do you really think just telling the stories of Unity’s pack members is enough?

Sarah:  I don’t know, but it’s a start and it’s better than having no chance at defending ourselves or managing our own image.

Elle:  You sound like a PR guru selling a how-to book.  What’s next, a website?

Sarah:  Shhh!  Wyn would kill me if he heard that.  But yeah, I can see that happening.  Maybe you can help me with it?

Elle:  You’d only have to ask!

**Come back tomorrow for my interview with Wynter. 

Author Interview - Elle Hayes - Erotic Romances

Tonya:  Thank you for stopping in during this busy holiday week to learn more about Elle! We have another great blog day. Elle, tell us a bit about yourself. Do you have a day job?

Elle:  Yes, I work in the finance department of a four year university.  Not to be confused with financial aid, my office handles the budget of the university.  It’s a great job and I truly love the group of people I work with on a daily basis, but I long for the day when I can write full-time.

Tonya:  Some of us have things we do to get into the writing frame of mind like music, or drinks. Do you have anything special you do to get into the writing mood?

Elle:  I love listening to music, mostly instrumental because lyrics distract me.  I keep a pen and paper handy to jot down notes and a bottle of water or mug of tea.  

Tonya:  Are you ever at a loss for ideas? What do you do to get past those time? I don’t have them often but being out in my yard and gardens helps me get creative.

Elle:  When I get stuck I step away from what I’m working on and work on something else for awhile.  I have a WIP (work in progress) list that will keep me busy for the next several years so there’s always something to do.  I also try to stay active on the social networking sites because that’s how I’ve been able to network with other authors who keep me motivated.

Tonya:  Social networking can do so much for us! I love it! Do you have a card file where you keep story ideas? Where do they come from?

Elle:  I store me ideas in electronic files.  I keep them on my laptop and my Blackberry.  That way no matter where I am I have access to my ideas so I can write a scene whenever the mood strikes.  Let me tell you, the mood can strike at some very bizarre times.

Tonya:  Characters are always popping up and we can’t control that! Tell us about a day in your life as a writer.

Elle:  I work from 9-5 then head home to unwind with my family.  At least three days a week I work out with my daughter who is on standby to join the Air Force right now.  I usually start writing around 8 or 9 in the evenings.

Tonya:  Are you a daytime writer, night time writer, and do you have to be alone to write?

Elle:  I’m 100% nocturnal.  I jokingly tell people that I’m part vampire.  I really just don’t write well until its dark outside.  I prefer to be alone but when I’m really focused on a scene it doesn’t matter who’s around or what they are doing.  I get in my zone and tune them out.  It drives my poor husband nuts.

Tonya:  Do you have critique partners or ever been in a critique group? What was the best thing you learned from a critique?

Elle:  I have a good friend who will critique my stuff before I submit it.  She actually helped to build my confidence early on by validating my ideas and giving me great suggestions about dialog.  The best thing I learned from having someone critique me is that no matter how many times I re-read my own story and self edit it takes another pair of eyes to catch things I’m going to miss.

Tonya:  Do you write better when you first have an idea of what your characters look like or do you write, then add character looks?

Elle:  I write first.  The physical features begin to form as the characters personalities take shape.

Tonya:  Do you always include HEA and is that type of ending important to you?

Elle:  Absolutely!  Although I’m firmly in the erotic fiction genre the romantic aspect of my stories is very important to me.  I can’t imagine writing a book that didn’t have a HEA.

Tonya:  Where can our readers find you and your books?

Elle:  They can visit my blog at http://elledhayes.blogspot.com/ or friend me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/elledhayes or follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/#!/elledhayes.  My debut novel, Wynter’s Blossom, will be published by Beautiful Trouble Publishing later this month and can be purchased on their website at https://beautifultroublepublishing.com/.

 

Tonya:  Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

Elle:  Share your passion for reading with someone else.  Don’t be afraid to share those spicy erotic novels with your lover.  Read them together and become inspired.

Tonya:  Readers, Elle will be around so feel free to leave a comment and chat with her! Thank you so much for stopping in to learn more about Elle. Hop over to her sites and also take a few minutes to roam around my site here. Happy 4th of July week!!