Guest Blogger Seleste deLaney talks about her multiple literary personalities, and what else? Steamy sex!

I know its hard, but please focus your attention to the words...WORDS! Today, I am joined by uber hot writer and all around luscious gal, Seleste deLaney. Since the release of 'Twas A Dark and Delicious Christmas, in which we both had stories, I've had the pleasure of getting to know this woman and I gotta tell ya, she is one of my favorite peeps. 


A.D: Woman...the corsets! Wow! So, hotness, what is it about erotic romance that lures you in? 

This is a tough question for me. I guess the best way to answer is to explain what I don't like. I'm not a fan of glossed over sex. I don't mind fade to black, but when the sex happens on the page and the surface is barely skimmed, all I'm left thinking is "why'd they even have sex?" (the exception to this is YA, but then I still prefer fade to black.) For me, if there is sex in a story, I want it to be important, not just to the relationship, but to the overall story as well. I have a rule I try to live by when I write erotic romance and that is "No story without sex. No sex without story." The first part is pretty self-explanatory for the genre, but the second just reminds me to make the sex mean something beyond sex. 

Plus (I'm not afraid to admit it), I just like steamy sex. 

A.D: High five, sister! The steamier the better! So, in addition to the more sultry prose, you are a YA author as well as an Erotic Romance author. Do you find it difficult to switch back and forth? Is there some special way that you help yourself switch gears? 

It depends. If I have space between erotic romance and YA, switching isn't that hard for me. Going from one to the other in a matter of a day or two though makes my head spin. For YA, I spend a lot more time thinking about high school crushes (the ones that never went anywhere)--that innocent "love". I also use music a lot. If it's music that makes me think about sex (some songs can still work, but very few), I tend to avoid it when I'm writing YA. 

A.D: When you agreed to let me grill ya, I warned you they'd be steamy...so what is the sexiest thing that's ever happened to you. 

There are so many ways to go with this (some I won't put out in public--ask me when you meet me :P). For instance, a random cute guy kissed me on the dance floor in Vegas. That was sexy in one way. Funny sexy would be last year's Ellora's Cave party at RT. The boning in my corset failed and every person I knew was on reminder duty so I would stay properly adjusted for the night :P 

However, my favorite is more sweet sexy than anything. Before we got married, my then-fiance and I had a huge fight--crying and screaming, the whole bit. Once we finally got calmed down and apologized, I said to him, "I know I'm a hard person to live with." He responded with, "Yeah, but you'd be a harder person to live without." Is it any wonder I married him?

A.D: I seriously just swooned, just now! Wow! Sounds like you bagged a winner there sweetness! 

What projects do you have in the works? 

LOL too many. I have my next Blood Kissed story (novel-length) in the draft stages, and the next of the (YA) Paranormal Response Team novels very roughly drafted. I have two other novels (one a sweeter adult romance, one a YA) partially drafted. I've started a submission for an anthology, and I have the next story in the Badlands world outlined. And a damned editor friend got me thinking and now I have a post-apocalyptic YA eating at my brain. At least one will be done by Valentine's day LOL. Two would be nice.

A.D: The New York Times is now listing e-books on their bestseller list. How do you feel this will change the e-publishing climate? 

I think it has the potential to be a game-changer in a lot of ways. The most important one to me is that it plays a hand in "legitimizing" e-publishing. There are a lot of people--writers, readers, etc--who look at e-publishing as somehow "less" than traditional publishing. With more mainstream support from places like Romantic Times Magazine and The New York Times, it puts e-books on a more equal footing with traditional print books. That can only mean good things for the industry.

A.D: I have to ask...Where do you get your wonderful corsets?!?!? 

LOL Thanks for all the corset love :) I have several from Frederick's of Hollywood, and I love them, but to be honest, they aren't the best corsets (plastic boning does not hold up very long). Better ones have steel boning and do amazing things for my figure. I have a beautiful underbust one from Damsel in this Dress that I'll be showing off for the first time at RT. The black one I have on in all my author pics I bought from a friend (she lost a bunch of weight and it didn't fit her anymore...bitch. J/K :P) I'm also ordering a few from Corset Wholesale (I hope they are as good quality as I've been told because the prices are phenomenal.)

A.D: Before I begin scouring the internet for over-bust boning accouterments of the highest quality, I want to say thank you for talking to me today. I know you are a bizay woman! 

ABOUT SELESTE :

Seleste earned a degree in chemistry and worked as both a lab technician and a teacher before becoming a mom to two wonderful children.  Shortly after that, she re-discovered her love of story-telling and began writing both as Seleste deLaney and Julie Patricka. She enjoys telling stories for people of all ages and is hard at work on her newest project. When not residing in the worlds she creates, she makes her home with her husband, kids and two very attentive dogs in southwest Michigan. 

BADLANDS BLURB: After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nation's border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queen's assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Ever's reluctant ally. 

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlands— if death doesn't find them first...

(Coming February 28 from www.carinapress.com)

PRETTY SOULS BLURB:  Elle hasn’t been afraid of the things that go bump in the night since she became a werewolf. She'd happily give up her inner monster to get her family back though. Hell, she'd give up the beast for nothing. Of course her foster sister doesn't get it. After all, she doesn't battle with her own darker half, but vampire blood can do that to a person.

 

Their nightly patrols have become more habit than necessity—until a demon spawn comes to town, ripping souls from strangers, enemies, and friends alike. When it threatens her foster mom, Elle's peaceful life is shattered, but she's not going to give up without a fight. Fighting the beast for control at the same time is more than she can handle though. Armed with more attitude than experience, Elle and her sister have to track down the demon spawn before it collects enough souls to fulfill its birthright and open a doorway to hell.

 

For the first time in years, Elle is scared. She's willing to lose herself in the beast if that's what it takes, but saving the world could cost her soul.

(Coming in February from www.decadentpublishing.com)