Pleasure & Payne: THE NEXT BIG THING!

Special thanks to my divinely awesome and wonderfully wicked friend Isabella LaPearl for inviting me to join in the fun and hyjinx of THE NEXT BIG THING romance authors hop! We're all posting this week about what we've got in the works for the new year. Hope you find it interesting. (And see below for some shout-outs to my other favorite writers...)

TEN Juicy Interview Questions for The Next BIG Thing:

1: What is the working title of your book?

GARRETT: The Fire Dom -- Book 1 of The W.I.L.D. (Warriors Intense in Love & Domination) Boys of Special Forces

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

I started researching military guys when I was doing a background story for Mark Moore, the hero of my Kinky Truth Series, Book 2: "Permanent Marker." About this time, the Mark Owens book, "No Easy Day," was released. I devoured it! So, I tried working in a trio of brothers, all Navy guys, into my 3rd Kinky Truth book, "Star of Wonder." I had SUCH a blast working on those chapters featuring Dyl, Nik and Cam!

Well, when I decided to kick off 2013 by working on a self-published book, I naturally turned back to the joyous experience (for me) of writing tortured, smack-talking, alpha-Dom military boys. Writing these guys is like Jolly Rancher candy for me...sweet, hard and delicious in ALL the right places.

3: What genre does your book fall under?

Erotic romance.

4: Which Actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

LOVE this question! I always, ALWAYS have to have physical models in my head of my heroes and heroines. It's likely because like a lot of writers, the stories unfold for me exactly like movies in my mind, complete with costumes, sets and music in place too; LOL!

For Garrett, I selected the awesomely talented Zach Roerig. (You know Zach most popularly as Matt on "Vampire Diaries"--which is kind of funny because Zeke, his best friend and the hero of Book 2 in the W.I.L.D. Boys series, is going to be Stephen Amell, from another CW Series, "Arrow.")

For Sage, I picked the gorgeous Elizabeth Olsen. She's the ideal physical match for Sage, and I think a bit of her innate intelligence comes through in Sage, too. Garrett Isn't going to be easy to handle in this book, so Sage is going to need every ounce of her wits and wisdom!

5: What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Garrett Hawkins is given back the woman of his dreams from the grave--only now, he won't trust his heart to love her again.

6: Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?

Self-published in February 2013.

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

About 7 weeks. (Of course, that was after 3 weeks of "head time" with the story first.)

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Well, I can tell you what other authors influence me, and what I like to read! I'm a walking, talking fan club for Cherise Sinclair, Shayla Black and Kallypso Masters. I've also really been enjoying the shorter, sassier works of the HDP authors like Ava Snow, Kassandra Cox, Edward Tailor, and of course our own Isabella LaPearl too! Right now, I'm also devouring every "inside" story on Special Forces that I can. The Owens book was STUNNING. I've just finished Howard Wasdin's book, "SEAL Team Six," too.

9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I am completely attracted by the juxtaposition of fighters being lovers as well. The idea of a man going out and crawling through swamps and across deserts to save his land, and then coming home and unleashing all his passion on his woman too, is just REALLY damn sexy. (Note to self: go watch "Dear John" again even though the ending sucks.)

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If you are into deep emotion and tortured heroes who find their redemption and their healing through love, then my stuff is for you. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy writing the humor and smack talk with the guys, and you'll find PLENTY of that between Garrett and Zeke, but ultimately, my wheelhouse is giving you two lovers who MUST come together if their souls are to find peace. I'll take you quite a rollercoaster! it's what I love!!

Thank you to the NEXT BIG THING for this opportunity! Please check out the following authors, who also have some EXCITING STUFF up their naughty little sleeves for you in the new year!!

Tim Goodwood