Five Card Stud tour with Gem Sivad

Hey, peeps! Please join me in welcoming author Gem Sivad to my blog today!

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Hi, Lisa. Thanks for having me today. I'm talking about Five Card Stud with you, celebratingboth its win in the Passionate Plume contest (historical category) and itsstatus as a Finalist in the 2012 Epic Awards (historical category).


1.     Congratulationson being a 2012 EPIC AWARD Finalist for your book, Five Card Stud. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Thanks for the congrats, Lisa. Five Card Stud is a title in my Eclipse Heat series published byEllora's Cave. The hero, Sam McCallister is to date, the roughest, most alphamale I've written. He's a tough talking, devilishly handsome bounty hunterinterested in work, women, and cards. 
2.     Poker,while widely popular over the years, has become increasingly so as of late. Areyou a poker fan? What prompted you to write this particular story?
I  frequently playcards with friends and poker is one of our games. I'm also addicted to thepoker tournaments on television and an avid fan of poker player, Phil Ivey.
3.     Edensounds like a strong character. Can you tell us about her?
Eden Pace is the woman who puts a stop to Sam's philanderingways. She's a lady gambler, working her way around Texas as she follows thetrail of her husband's killer. Imagine Sam's chagrin when he finds that he's no more than atool for her to use in and out of bed. Eden isn't interested in love—she'sgrieving for her murdered husband.
4.     Whatis it about Sam that will make readers fall in love with him?
He's a bad boy who finally gets his come-uppance when hefalls in love with Eden. He doesn't know if she'll ever love him back, but heplans to spend the rest of his life making sure she's safe in his arms.
5.     Whichof your characters do you relate to the most, and why?
Eden because even focused as she is on her goal, Sam managesto slip under her defenses and take charge of her heart. I think that fits myrelationship with my husband very well.
6.     Didyou have a character or scene that you struggled with?
Yes, the scene where Eden rejects Sam, telling him that he'sno more to her than a one night stand. I didn't want her to say that. I wantedher to grab hold of him and beg for his help. 
     7. How were you able to push through?
I had to go back to my story arc, reminding Eden that shehad a ways to go before she and Sam could have their HEA.
8.     Ifyou were able to spend an evening with one of your characters, who would youchoose, and why?
Right now, I'd spend time with Dr. Grace Souter, coming soonin my Eclipse Heat title, WhisperingGrace.  I'm working in this wipright now and Grace is revealing her secrets slowly.
9.     Doyou have any writing quirks? 
I hate letting go of that first draft, even tocrit partners. I've been known to revise as many as six times before I submitto other eyes.
10.     Favoriteauthor?
My favorite author changes often. Right now it would bePatricia Briggs.
10. Favoritebook?
Cry Wolf byPatricia Briggs.
11. What arethree things your readers don't know about you?
I have a degree in psychology, another in journalism and athird in English.
12. What isthe strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Ramps—wild onions that are delicious when fried, but leaveyou reeking with the smell for days. 
13. What isthe craziest thing you've ever done?
Flown to St. Louis to meet a blind date. As it turned out,my date later became my husband. 
14. If  FiveCard Stud were made into a movie, who would you like to see cast?
Josh Holloway and Jennifer Garner.
For those who might enjoy afurther taste of Five Card Stud, here's the link for the trailer now availableon the Gem Sivad YouTube Channel. 


Stop by my FB Fan page and click the"Like" button to go in a drawing for a copy of Five Card Stud.
You can always findme @ Web / Twitter / FB /
Thanks again forhaving me, Lisa.
gem
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Five Card Stud is a 2012 Epic Award Finalist in the Historical Romance category

Blurb: 

When bounty hunter Sam McCallister sees Eden Pace playing poker for the first time, he loses all interest in the cards; instead, the thought of playing stud with the lady gambler stirs his cock to life. Eden's the prettiest woman and the best card sharp Sam's ever met. Good thing he has a few cards up his sleeve.

Eden's doing her own outlaw hunting. She's on the trail of her husband's killer and Sam's in her way. To get free of this hardheaded, softhearted, gorgeous man, Eden tries strip poker and naked truth-or-dare, but when Sam ups the stakes, carnal submission and desire are unleashed.

When Sam discovers Eden's wanted for murder, he figures his bed is the safest place for her. But taking Eden prisoner isn't as easy as Sam expects. He's in a high-stakes poker game with lust on the table and his heart on the line, because one taste of Eden just isn't enough.
 About the author:

@font-face { font-family: "Calibri";}@font-face { font-family: "Cambria";}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: SectioGem Sivad is a multi-published, award winning historical romance author currently devoting her writing time to capturing the essence of the Old West.

Expect some sizzle and spice in Gem's books along with a gritty landscape of red dust,sage brush and the lawless flavor of 1880's Texas.

Visit Gem's Place at http://www.gemsivad.com for her current projects and books coming soon.


Buy links:

Amazon All Romance ebooksEllora's CaveB&N