Interview with favorite author Elisabeth Naughton!

One of my favorite things about being an author is talking with other authors about their books. Today I'm thrilled to talk with Elisabeth Naughton! Her latest release, a story in the romantic suspense anthology BODYGUARDS IN BED (love that title!), just came out. I'm thinking you won't want to miss it, cuz, you know, it's about bodyguards. In bed. : ) But before we get to talking about that, let's talk about some other fun stuff. And if you leave a comment here, you could win your choice of one of Elisabeth's books: BODYGUARDS IN BED or MARKED or ENTWINED. 

Welcome, Elisabeth!


Joyce: What's the funniest e-mail or note you've gotten from a reader? What about the most touching? 
Elisabeth: The funniest email was from a reader who said she was going to stomp her foot and act like a five year old having a temper tantrum because she just couldn't wait for the release of TEMPTED. Because I switched publishers there's more than a year gap between books 2 and 3 in the Eternal Guardians series, and while that couldn't be helped, this email from a fan who just can't wait both made me laugh and smile. Romance fans are the best fans in the world!

The most touching was from a reader who told me reading my books helped them get through cancer treatments. That brought tears to my eyes.

Joyce: If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why? 
Elisabeth: Invisibility. Would love to sneak around and hear what people are saying when they think no one's listening.

Are there any rejections or naysayers from the past that make you think "neener neener boo boo" now that you're a rousing success? What did they say and did that make you more determined to prove them wrong? (Feel free to change or omit names to protect the guilty.)
Elisabeth: Yes. I once had an editor reject a book because she called it "immature writing". When that book--STOLEN FURY--double finaled in the RITAs in 2010, I have to admit to having a moment of neener-neener boo-boo.

The point of this is that editors are just as fickle as readers, and their choices of which manuscripts to publish are as varied as readers' opinions. What one editor doesn't like, another falls in love with. So if you're a writer, don't get discouraged, just keep on submitting.

If you were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one man, one book and one kind of food (other than your significant other, one of my books : ) and chocolate), what would you choose? 
Elisabeth: Since my husband already knows about this crush (and I can't pick the hubby...LOL) I'll admit to having a thing for Paul Walker. Sometimes I watch Into The Blue just to see him in swim trunks. *swoon* (And since he's my age that doesn't make me a cougar, right? RIGHT?). The book is easy too…Perfect by Judith McNaught. My all-time favorite romance. As for food though…hm…now that is much harder to answer. If we were stranded on a deserted island we could probably find all the fish and fruit we'd need to survive, but as for splurge food I'd probably have to go with an endless supply of Ruby beer from McMenamins. (Beer's its own food group, isn't it?)

Do you have a favorite among your own books? What about it makes it your favorite?
Elisabeth: That's a hard question because EVERY book I write is my favorite when I'm finished with it. (The book I'm writing is always my LEAST favorite.) As far as special books go…STOLEN FURY holds a special place in my heart because it was my first published book and it was a double RITA nominated book. In my Eternal Guardians series though, TEMPTED is a personal favorite because I absolutely fell in love with Demetrius while writing it (and it's my "next up" book so it's in the front of my mind). But overall, I love all my characters and all my books. I have to, otherwise I wouldn't write them.

What's your sign? For instance, mine is Yield. Or, when I was particularly annoyed with my boyfriend, Do Not Enter. (Did I just say that?!?)
Elisabeth: LOL. LOVE your signs! Hm…mine would have to be…Proceed with Caution. You just never know what kind of mood I'm going to be in.

What question have you been burning to answer that no one has asked you? (And please answer it!)
Elisabeth: How do you stay so sane? (The answer would be wine…lots and lots of wine.)

Have you ever done anything odd or gotten into trouble while doing research? For instance, an author friend (Susan Vaughan -- ask her!) was escorted out of a Smithsonian museum after she started drilling a security guard about the museum's security protocols. 
Elisabeth: Moi? Nevah. *wink*

When I was writing STOLEN SEDUCTION I needed to figure out how I could kill someone and not make it look like murder. I asked my pharmaceutical sales hubby but all the ideas he gave me were long-acting ways to kill someone and I needed something quick. He finally said he'd ask a doctor friend of his whom he calls on for work. So he sent the doctor an email, explaining that his wife was an author and needed to figure out how to kill someone and not make it look like murder. The doctor emailed back, 3 words: GET A LAWYER.

To this day I still laugh about that.

The other funny moment was when I was in Reno with friends for Superbowl weekend. We were all in the casino, sitting at the blackjack table, having fun. Granted, I'd spilled my drink a few times (I tend toward the klutz end of the spectrum in real life), but the security guard didn't find it funny in the least when I started peppering him with questions about casino jail. When I asked if I could go there and see what it was like (for purely research reasons, of course), my girlfriend noticed he was ready to take me there for real for being so obnoxious and pulled me out of the casino before I got into trouble. I'm still interested in seeing casino jail though… 

Please tell us about your new release!
Elisabeth: I love talking about new releases! My latest release is BODYGUARDS IN BED, a romantic suspense anthology featuring yours truly, Lucy Monroe and Jamie Denton, which hit store shelves on May 31st. Here's the back cover blurb:

Sometimes you have to go beyond the call of duty… [image error]
There's just one cardinal rule when it comes to being a bodyguard: no matter how tempting it may be, never, ever get romantically involved with the person you're supposed to be protecting. But as these sensual novellas prove, even the most important rules are made to be broken–again and again and again. Join acclaimed authors Lucy Monroe, Jamie Denton, and Elisabeth Naughton as they open the files on an undercover operative who finds a sexy surprise under his covers, a hot case involving mixed messages and mistaken identities, and a mission impossible protecting a provocative beauty who lives to love dangerously.

Yeah, it's a hard job, but someone's gotta do it.

And a little about my novella in the book: Acapulco Heat:

Sun, sand, skin and plenty of sex. That's the name of the game in beautiful Acapulco.

Bodyguard Finn Tierney's new gig in the sultry city is nothing short of perfect. Too bad he can't stand it. Hired to protect supermodel Lauren Kauffman during her very public, very sexy cosmetic shoot on the beach, Finn's itching for a serious assignment and the chance to get away from the hot bod who's set her sights set on him. Their mutual attraction has been brewing for some time, but he's got no use for the super wealthy, isn't about to become another diva's boy toy. His no-fun-at-work motto might get him booted out of her bed, but when danger strikes, she won't be able to shake him. And when he discovers things aren't what they seem and that she's more than a pretty face and smokin' body, all bets are off. Lauren Kauffman's about to take Finn for a ride he never saw coming. And there's no telling who will survive.

You can read more here: http://www.elisabethnaughton.com/books/bodyguards-in-bed/

My NEXT single title release is the third book in my Eternal Guardians Series – TEMPTED – which hits store shelves September 6, 2011:

DEMETRIUS—He's the hulking, brooding warrior his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it's best to keep everyone at arm's length.

Isadora is missing. The words pounded through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius had done all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she was gone—kidnapped. To get her back, he'll have to go to the black place in his soul he's always shunned. As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.

I'm really excited for TEMPTED to reach readers. Like I said above, I absolutely fell in love with Demetrius while writing this book and I hope readers love him just as much. To read more (and an excerpt!) visit: http://www.elisabethnaughton.com/books/tempted/
 
Where can we find you online?
Elisabeth: All over!
Website: www.elisabethnaughton.com 
Blog: www.elisabethnaughton.com/blog 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.naughton1 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ElisNaughton 
Casablanca Authors: http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/

And don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win your choice of one of Elisabeth's books: BODYGUARDS IN BED or MARKED or ENTWINED.

Thanks for stopping by!