Roxanne Rhoads: Interview and Giveaway with Kathy Lyons (AKA Jade Lee)

· Do you write in different genres?

I write sexy and funny (or at least I think I’m funny!) As Kathy Lyons, I write for Entangled doing longer sexy Brazens (Dream Nights with the CEO is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever written), and this shorter novella One Night in the Spa. I’ll be exploring what other sexy contemporary things I can do because this is where I let my goofy personality free!

Jade Lee, on the other hand, writes sexy regency-era historicals. Think Pride and Prejudice with sex. Hot sex. And some action thrown in because as much as I love the witty banter, I also want a little action going. Sure we get to the balls and to the bridal salon (that’s where my latest series begins), but I need a little danger along with my fun and games!

My latest is Winning the Bride (e-novella) and What the Bride Wore (novel) which was my way of writing Sam and Dean Winchester into the regency. Supernatural anyone?

· If yes which is your favorite genre to write?

Well, okay, I’ll confess. I started writing completely sweet books. I loved those traditional regency books where we never got beyond a kiss. It was all about banter and falling in love that first time (the heroines were generally young and naïve). Rules for a Lady by Jade Lee is still a best seller for those who like banter.

Then to see if I could, I tried to write a book that was hot on sex. Ever seen the move Dangerous Beauty? Great film! All about the training and life of a courtesan. Loved it! I wanted to write a book like that only give her a very good happily-ever-after in it. So I wrote Devil’s Bargain. WOO HOO! Hot, sexual tension on every page. OMG, it was fun. And it turns out that I have a talent for writing steamy.

I never looked back. Well, okay, I looked back whenever I visited my relatives, but that’s another story. I love writing sexy. Thankfully, the market has followed me to the hot and steamy side. I haven’t gone into the BDSM scene, m/m, or threesomes. The market has moved beyond me there, but for hot, heterosexual, hero/heroine sex—I’m there!

· Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

I am terrible at titling books. I end up with things like Sexy Men Who Seduce Women in Fitness Bars. Uh, no. Or how about Wicked Regency Aristocrats and their Pets. Yeah. Like I said, I’m terrible at it. Thankfully, there’s a whole marketing staff behind titles and I just have to turn in books with the title: Irene’s Story. Or in this case, that hot idea I got while getting a facial.

· Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

Yes—I’m blushing to say this, but yes, this one is based somewhat on my real life. I did go pro in racquetball for two weeks before blowing my knees. Didn’t even fill out the paperwork yet, but there I was after years of training, suddenly sitting on my butt while my knees healed. I was used to 4-5 hours of training a day and suddenly—nothing. So yes, I did experience a sexual renaissance. Not quite as extreme as Kim’s, but yes, all that extra energy had to go SOMEWHERE! Whee!

· If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Joss Whedon. I study his work. Everything about what he does is amazing. The dialogue, the story structure, the music, even the lighting choice are all inspired. He’s an amazing writer, and incredible talent, and please God, can I hang out with him someday? PLEASE????

· What book are you reading now?

I got an early copy of True Spies by Shana Galen. Here’s the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/True-Spies-Lord-Lady-ebook/dp/B00D2XA0Z2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377469520&sr=1-1&keywords=true+spies I LOVE THIS BOOK! Start off with the fact that I love the True Lies movie. Even studied the screenplay while in Screenplay school (I have an MPW from USC). The entire idea is fun, fun, fun. That she re-imagined one of my favorite movies for the Victorian era makes it even better.

If you like a fun historical read (and don’t want my What the Bride Wore by Jade Lee) you must give Shana Galen a try.

This is such a delightful book!

· Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Here’s the horrible thing about being creative: the moment you settle on a system, a process, or even a way-of-approaching-work, it all has to change or get stale. I’m in the middle of a change-everything phase. Believe me, it’s not my choice but it’s happened before so I recognize the symptoms. Suddenly, nothing is working right. The words aren’t flowing, the story isn’t setting up, and even my ideas seem to dry up. I start by tearing down what I’m working on at that moment and trying to fix that.

But this time—as in times before—it turns out that the entire process from beginning to end needs to change. Demands change actually because apparently the way I worked before doesn’t work for me now. Completely sucks (in case you were wondering) but when I start going again, everything will be very fresh and new. Which will be exciting. If I can get through the tear out my hair and hate life stage.

· Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Sure. Here let me give you a little compare contrast.

Here’s a bit of what I did when I wrote What the Bride Wore by Jade Lee (back in the conception stage)

Trope: African Queen (charming rogue with uptight schoolmarm) & Secret Baby

Grant Riley Benton, Lord Crowle, was a gambler and a fool, but he’s remade himself into the very sober Riley Crow, the intense owner of a mill. He’s always a delight to be around but Irene Knopp sees the dark hole in his life that used to be filled with his family. Meanwhile, Irene is a widow with a new purpose: purchasing goods for the bridal salon. While Riley works on reawakening her sexually, Irene starts reuniting him with his family. She is, after all, purchasing supplies for his brother’s wedding. Neither of their plans would work except someone is trying to kill Irene so Grant is forced to protect her. Then when protection becomes lust which makes a baby, well, then things get complicated indeed!

Now from my current desk

Trope: haven’t a clue. I don’t like tropes ßto be fair, I say this every time. Eventually I figure out what tropes I’m using and stick them in. They’re really only for marketing and back cover copy anyway

Megan—lively sister (previous character)—falls in love with someone. A guy who is a feckless aristocrat. That’s stupid. No one wants a feckless hero. What the hell is feckless anyway? She goes to balls, gets in trouble, and the hero saves her. Duh. Wait, let’s start over.

Who is the hero? He’s stuffy, fatherly type. No he’s not, that’s gross! But he can be a stuffy-like personality, right? Have I done too many of those? Probably. What if he’s really goofy? Then I’d have feisty and goofy and it’d be a fun romp of silliness with sex. No, that sucks. I suck. What if they’re old enemies? Fiesty and goofy enemies who hate each other because she stole his horse when they were kids. Well, not really because she gave it back. Otherwise she’d be hung as a horse thief. OMG, is this dumb. I need to start over…

See? My life is horrible right now. I think I’m going to eat a cheesecake.

One Night in the Spa

Kathy Lyons

Publisher: Entangled: Ever After

August 26, 2013

Print Length: 74 pages

ASIN: B00EGJE2WS

Book Description:

What starts out as a simple massage treatment for spa manager David’s best friend Kim, turns into a night of seduction and sexual discovery.

Always relegated to the friend zone, David is determined to show Kim what she’s been missing…one erogenous zone at a time. Sure, their friendship is on the line. And sure, David’s hiding a motive larger than either him or Kim. But the second his hands touch her smooth skin, he just doesn’t care anymore.

Kim’s been so focused on the loss of her sports career that she’s had no time for romance or sex. But her response to David can’t be denied. Is it just that her body’s been missing out, or could her heart be involved too?

Amazon BN