Interview with Author Becca Dale with two GIVEAWAYS!!
Welcome Becca to my blog. It is a great pleasure to have you visiting Mark of the Stars.
Thanks for inviting me, Jessica. I'm glad to be here.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am married with two grown children. Of course, I had my son at twelve so I am not nearly as old as that makes me sound. 
Okay, that's not true, but being an empty-nester is still odd for me. Although I do enjoy having more time to write, I miss the sounds of teenagers in the house.
How did your journey begin as a writer?
I've had stories in my head all my life, but I had no real clue how to get them out so I could share them with others other than just telling them to friends and such. I spent a great deal of time talking with writers' groups and picked up some good friends who weren't afraid to tell me when something stunk. The first story that someone liked (besides my mother) was part of a call for submissions from Phaze publishing. I remember being ecstatic when I found out Ice Crystal had been accepted. That small success gave me the confidence to try again and thus the ball rolled forward.
Erotic Healing was the first 1 Night Stand story I read, and I loved it. You managed to make me cry, and that emotional connection is the key for me to fully enjoy a story. What was your inspiration for this story and the characters Brenna and Kostas?
Wow, what a nice compliment. Thank you so much, Jessica. Erotic Healing was both interesting and challenging to write. I wanted to write about what might happen if a gorgeous woman, one who had become dependent upon her looks, suddenly had to face the world without that crutch. Kostas showed me that beautiful people have problems just like the rest of us. He helped me make Brenna human and vulnerable.
Erotic Healing, Can't Stop Me and Wrath Unleashed are part of three different series that other authors write for as well. How is writing for an established series different than writing a story with no guidelines?
It can be a huge challenge. Can't Stop Me was the hardest because while the others have guidelines, once those are met, each author is basically responsible for him or herself only. Whereas, Can't Stop Me started with the creativity of others. I worried about disappointing the band members, the other authors, and Decadent Publishing's Heather Bennett who asked me to participate. Still, it was very exciting and fun.
Can't Stop Me is based on the lyrics of a song of the same name by L.A. based band Run Devil Run. How did you manage to turn a song into a story?
I listened to the words over and over again, picking out elements that might work in a paranormal romance. The lines about the voices in his/her head got the whole story started and it built from there. I loved the song from the start, so writing Can't Stop Me wasn't difficult, meeting the adorable guys from the band was no hardship either. Here is a link to the trailer for Can't Stop Me if readers want to hear the story's namesake. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHFFJnd52J8 Note that all the cover models are the band members.
Of your other published stories, which is your favorite and why? Can you tell us about that story and your inspiration behind it?
Sweet Temptation will always remain my favorite story. It is very short but Marc and Darcy both grabbed my heart and imagination from the start. I grew up with friends from a verbally abusive home, and so Darcy's situation was easy to understand. I have had readers tell me that no mother could be as cruel or harsh as Darcy's, but honestly, she was mild compared to some things that I have heard both when I was a kid and as a teacher in an alternative school. I like Darcy and Marc because each to the other offers the perfect example of being just what someone needs.
From all of your stories, who was your favorite character to write and why? What character begs you to write the rest of their story?
Actually, the characters from Kya's King are some of my favorites, especially, Kya's brothers, Jake and Ryan. I had hoped to write the brothers' stories shortly after Kya came out, but my dang heroines fell in love with the heroes with no conflict. It is very annoying working with lovable guys.
What are you working on now?
I think I finally have Ryan's Treasure figured out–the second story in the Sanctuary series (Kya's King). I hope to have it done before the holidays so it has a chance to come out early next year. I also have a story in to my editor at The Wild Rose Press which tells the story of (Sweet Temptation) Darcy's brother Gavin. Otherwise, life has kept me pretty busy so I don't have much time to write.
Do you have any upcoming releases?
I do. Heart Desires another 1NS story has been accepted, and I hope to start edits in the next month or so, but nothing really eminent.
Where can we find you?
I am on Facebook and Twitter. I had a website but the company apparently had issues with an erotic romance writer and pulled the site, so now I need to start over. Do look me up on Facebook or Twitter though.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Can I share a couple things?
Here is an excerpt from Erotic Healing, which I will give a copy away in a random drawing. To participate, readers must share a favorite thing about the 1NS series or how/why the idea of a mystical matchmaker intrigues them.
Brenna shook her head and read the note again.
Ms. Halsted,
Welcome to Greece. I assume you will find your room satisfactory and the wine at the appropriate temperature.
I have taken the liberty of placing guards outside your door. Should you feel the need of them at anytime during the next twenty-four hours, simply call my name and they will assist you in any way you desire.
Please, do not take their presence as a lack of faith in your date for the evening. Mr. Kostas Drakos is a respected businessman. Rest assured, I have investigated every aspect of his personality and trust he will offer exactly what you need to overcome your problem. The guards are simply a security blanket, requested by Mr. Drakos himself. Should this venture exceed your comfort level at any point, the men will move you to different accommodations and ensure your utmost privacy.
In the basket beside the bed, you will find everything you need to fulfill both yours and Mr. Drakos's fantasies.
Enjoy yourself, my dear,
Eve
The basket held a red satin mask, two sets of matching fur handcuffs, several long strips of white silk, condoms, and another note requesting she remove all clothing and lie on the bed wearing nothing except the blindfold.
Good God, what have I done?
Buy Link: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=238
And one from Wrath Unleashed which I will also give away a copy of to the most creative comment on anything within this interview. (Language Warning)
The whole town knew the story of the infant found in the trash on Rivers Street. The city often boasted about how the citizens had rallied to protect the child dubbedBabyRivers, but the anguish of Gabriel's introduction to the world never failed to tear at her heart. She leaned in and kissed his lips tenderly, aching to show him how much he meant to her. "You were born addicted. Your mom had to be strung out. No woman would have left her newborn without care otherwise."
Violence glowed in his eyes, but she wasn't afraid, never of her crazy man. He spun and sether away from him then jerked the door open. She dove and shoved it closed before he could leave. Her back pressed to the cool metal, but the soothing temperature did nothing to calm the pounding in her chest. If he wanted to move her, he could with little effort. "Damn it, Gabe, it wasn't your fault. Just because she was a screwed up bitch, doesn't mean love isn't real."
"Get out of my way, Mick. I'm not messing around." His voice had dropped, flat and cold, lifeless despite the ever-present anger distorting his handsome features.
Tears burned, and her heart threatened to burst from her chest, but she did not back down. She would not walk away from him. "Make love to me. Let me show you that there's more to touching than physical release."
"Why? Because you feel sorry for me?" He smacked his open palm beside her head. The door vibrated on its hinges, and her heart jumped despite her surety that he would never harm her. He leaned close and slammed his hips against her. "I don't need or want a God damned thing from you. Got that? Especially, not pity." He caught a handful of her hair and pulled her head back while his other hand found her breast and squeezed roughly. His eyes turned deadly cold. "If I stay, I won't be responsible for keeping my hands off you, but it won't be anything beyond a good, hard fuck. Tomorrow morning, when this bleeding heart compassion wears off, you'll realize I used you. Suddenly, an innocent romp will become something you hate me for."
Rising to her toes, she feathered her lips over his tight jaw. "It doesn't have to be like that."
"Yes, it does." His icy stare softened for a moment as he released her breast and caressed her cheek. "Maybe not for you, Mick, but for me, sex is the raw and primal urge to bump uglies until the vicious world of reality retreats for a moment. It never was, and can never be, the pile of warm fuzzy shit a woman like you expects."
Thank you, Becca, for joining us today! I wish you all the best with your future endeavors!
So glad I could drop by. Thanks again for hosting me, Jessica.
*Please note: Both giveaways are international. All comments must be made by midnight (EST) September 4th, 2011. Winners will be chosen and notified September 5th.
