Hi Ava! Let’s get started
right away: When and why did you decide you wanted to be a romance author?
Well, I’ve loved
reading romance all my life, so I guess it was only natural I would want to
write one. I was lucky: I picked up an agent right away, and she sold my first
novel to Berkley. That was over fifteen years ago, and I’ve been writing ever
since. I write under a variety of pseudonyms and have been published by several
mainstream New York publishing houses. Ava Archer Payne is not my real name,
but a combination of family names.
What genres do you normally write in?
I normally write
traditional historical romance, but with the advent of ebooks, I’m trying
something new. I’m writing ‘hot historicals’ and loving it! These are steamy,
lush reads, featuring a sexy hero, feisty heroine, zippy dialogue, and
intelligent plotting. They’re truly a cross between erotic romance and
historical romance, combining the best-loved elements of both!
Can you tell us a little
bit about your book, Out of Her League?
Out of Her League
is set in Victorian England, one of my favorite time periods to write about. I
love playing with the exquisite manners of the day. What does our heroine do
when she finds herself completely in lust with an utterly unsuitable man? That
creates such lovely sexual tension.
What kind of hero is James Lancaster?
James was one of
London’s most notorious rakes. He grew up privileged, pampered, devil-may-care.
A man blessed not only with good looks and wealth, but devastating charm. His
life is forever changed, however, when he is wounded in the Crimean War and
must come to terms with his new physical limitations.
As an author and essentially the “creator” of your
hero, did you find yourself attached to him in a personal way?
I did, indeed.
James is an Alpha hero who Fate has chosen to take down a notch. I love
watching him struggle as he falls head-over-heels for Katherine Riley (his
nurse) and grow from a shallow charmer to a man of true substance.
What was the craziest thing you’ve ever done when it
came to a storyline in your book?
Actually, there’s
one scene where James and Kate make love in outdoors in a public park. It’s
secluded, but the risk of discovery remains—a risk that only serves to heighten
their arousal. James and Kate are kindred spirits in that sense. They are both
very sexually adventurous and love to push each other to the limit.
If you could sum up your new release with three
words, what would they be?
Steaming hot
historical!
Can we expect more novels
from you in 2012?
Yes. Please look for The Wedding Bed, another hot historical set in
Victorian England. Due out in October / November 2012.
Thanks so much for letting me visit your fabulous blog.
Happy reading to all!
Title: Out of Her League
Author: Ava Archer Payne
Publisher: AAP Hot Historicals
Length: 40,000 words
Genres: Erotic Historical Romance
Heat Level: Sizzling
AVAILABLE
AT:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008MNQXNK
BLURB:
Captain James Lancaster, formerly one of London’s most notorious
rakes, returns to England a broken man after a brutal tour in the Crimea. He is
wounded in body and spirit, his badly injured leg leaving him unable to walk without
crutches.
Nurse Katherine Riley has spent her entire life caring for others,
but lately she finds herself longing for more. On a whim she indulges in a
secret cache of provocative lingerie—just a little something to make her feel
beautiful beneath her drab gowns, even if no one else can see it.
When James glimpses the erotic beauty hidden beneath Kate’s prim
and proper façade, he introduces her to a sensual array of forbidden delights.
Healing takes on an entirely new meaning. As Kate nurses James to a full
recovery, their liaison opens her eyes to an enticing new world. How will she
ever return to the staid life she once knew?
EXCERPT:
Thunder rumbled and the rain that had been threatening all morning
began to pour down in earnest. Kate watched the heavy droplets strike the glass
panes, softening and blurring the outside world. She tried to focus on the
storm, but that proved impossible. Every fiber of her being was attuned to the
overwhelming presence of man beside her. His scent, his height, the broadness
of his shoulders, the rich timbre of his voice. Alone with James in the large
room, she felt enveloped in a cocoon of strained intimacy, caught in a current
that swept her inexorably toward him.
“Something wrong?” His voice was a low murmur in her ear.
“You need drapery,” she blurted inanely, just to have something to
say to break the tension that hung between them.
“True.” He cocked his head to one side, considering the room. “I
was thinking of scarlet.”
“Scarlet?” she choked out, feeling heat rush to her cheeks.
“Surely that’s an odd color to suggest.”
“Is it?” He studied her with a playful smile. “But it’s such a
passionate color, don’t you think? Brazen, bold, irresistible. In fact, now
that I’ve considered scarlet, I can’t seem to get the color out of my mind.
These past few nights, it’s all I could think of as I was falling asleep.”
She squared her shoulders and brought up her chin. Even leaning as
he was on his crutches, he was still a full head taller than her. “If you’re
referring to what I think you’re referring to, a gentleman wouldn’t refer to
it.”
His lips quirked. “That’s a lot of referring. Are you certain I’m
not simply inferring?”
“You’re interfering, certainly.”
“Must be infuriating.”
He was teasing her, and she was determined to resist him. Resist
his smile. Resist the twinkle in his deep blue eyes. Resist the urge to lift
her hand and push back the chestnut curl that fell so appealingly over his
forehead.
“A gentleman wouldn’t
mention what he saw.”
“True. A gentleman wouldn’t. Therein lies the problem. The glimpse
I had of your breasts in that scarlet corset was the loveliest thing I’ve seen
since my return to London. Hell, that’s not accurate. The loveliest thing I’ve
seen in years.” He watched her for a moment in silence, then reached out and
softly stroked her jaw. “It’s not my intention to embarrass you.”
“What are you intending?”
“Damned if I know.”
“This certainly isn’t proper.”
“Damned if I care.”
To her utter astonishment, Kate wasn’t entirely certain she cared,
either. She’d played the part of dutiful daughter, dutiful sister, and dutiful
nurse her entire life. Now, at the age of three and twenty, she was coming to
the realization that the role didn’t entirely suit her. She’d lived her life as
though crammed into a pair of shoes that had been pinching and cramping her for
years. Here was an opportunity to try something scandalous and new. An
invitation to see what she’d been missing, if only she had the courage to reach
for it.
She moistened her lips, tipped back her head, and closed her eyes.
For a fraction of a second time stood still. Kate was overwhelmed
by the horrifying certainty she’d misread his intentions. Then James’s lips
brushed hers. The pressure on her mouth was light and gentle, allowing her the
opportunity to change her mind, to slip away if she wanted to. So, a gentleman
after all. The gesture, touching as it was, was wasted.
Kate stepped closer.
Q&A WITH AVA ARCHER PAYNE:
Q: What exactly is a ‘Hot Historical’?
A: A ‘Hot Historical’
is a classic historical romance—only shorter and steamier! Hot Historicals are
perfect for fans of traditional romance who occasionally like to spice things
up. One of my readers calls them a secret indulgence ;)
Q: Many of your novels are set in Victorian England. What
attracts you to that time period?
A: I love playing
with the exquisite manners of the day. What does our heroine do when she finds
herself completely in lust with an utterly unsuitable man? That creates such
lovely sexual tension.
Q: How long have you been writing romance?
A: I’ve been writing historical romance
for 15 years under a variety of pseudonyms. I’ve been published by several
mainstream houses, but with the advent of ebooks, I’m able to place my work
directly in the hands of readers. What a fabulous privilege for an author!
Author
Email - AvaArcherPayne@gmail.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/avaarcher.payne
Thanks for being here, Ava! Here is the link for Ava's contest and ongoing blog tour - be sure to comment!
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