Monday, December 07, 2015

Interview and Giveaway Breakout by Trish Arcangelo





What inspired you to become an author? 

I fell in love with romance fiction when I was sixteen and it’s the lifetime kind of love.  Any romance fan knows the excitement you feel when you sit down with a new book by one of your favorite authors.  Romance novels are such a great escape from the stresses of life, a chance to transport yourself and follow two people as they experience the incomparable journey of falling in love.  I’ve read every genre of romance there is: historical, contemporary, paranormal, sci-fi, erotica, etc. and I’ve enjoyed them all.  I always dreamed of writing my own but didn’t think I had what it takes.  Finally I decided to give it a shot.  And I’ve discovered I love to write as much as I love to read!

Do you have a specific writing style?  

If I could describe my writing style in two words it would be hot mess. J  I’m still trying to figure out a system that works best for me but I’m kind of all over the place.  I work on multiple stories at once.  Also, sometimes I outline a story before I start it and sometimes I just have a scene in my head that I write down and then see where the story goes from there. 

How did you come up with the title for your latest book? 

I was debating on the title Breakout but wasn’t sure yet, it doesn’t denote romance and that worried me.  But when I looked up the definition it sold me: 1) a forcible escape (such as from a prison).  2) an outbreak (such as a virus).  And 3) a sudden and extreme success (such as a best-selling book – a girl can dream!J)


What books/authors have influenced your life?  

So many!  As a child I loved Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary.  As I grew to adulthood my romance writing heroes have been Lisa Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, Catherine Anderson, Sandra Brown, and if I had to pick a favorite I’d probably go with Kresley Cole. 

What book are you reading now?  

Right now I’m reading Taking it Off by Claire Kent.

What books are in your to read pile? 

Tessa Bailey has a new release out this week, Crashed Out, that I’m looking forward to reading and, of course, Kresley Cole’s new release Sweet Ruin

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?  

I can’t ever seem to concentrate on one thing at a time (part of the reason I’m a bit of a slow writer) so I’m working on four different stories right now.  I’m working on the follow up story to my first book, Darkness Embraced, which is called Darkest Eventide.  I’ve also started on a three-book contemporary series set in a town called Chisholm Falls, Texas. 

Who designed the cover of your latest book?  

Kim Mendoza.  And I LOVE the cover.  She did a beautiful job. 

Do you have any advice for other writers? 

My advice would be to never quit, keep on writing even when you think it sucks (because sometimes you SO will), and join some sort of writing group such as your local chapter of Romance Writers of America.  You can learn so much from other writers.  And nothing beats supporting, and being supported by, people who share your passion. 


Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?  

It would definitely be the song Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.  This song gave me the story spark for Breakout.  I listened to it a lot while writing the book. 



Breakout
Trish Arcangelo

Genre: Romance, Post-Apocalyptic

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Date of Publication: 11/18/15

ISBN: 9781509204441

Number of pages: 140
Word Count: 34,775

Cover Artist: Kim Mendoza

Book Description:

A global pandemic has killed most of the world’s population. Alone, Monarch Winslow struggles to survive. An empty house, gas station food and the hope of reaching a refugee camp in Austin, Texas keep her alive. Then one night an injured man breaks into her house. A dangerously sexy man.

Monarch is wary but intrigued. Corbin claims he’s a mechanic and she can’t reach the camp without a working car. She needs his help. But he needs hers, too. As the days pass, they work together and a tenuous relationship turns to turbulent desire. But Corbin refuses to discuss his past and his secrets lie between them. Falling for a man she knows nothing about could endanger her life, as well as her heart.

Meantime, a hundred miles away, is safety, perhaps even surviving family. She hopes. But Monarch is no more sure of that than she is of Corbin...?



Excerpt:
“What the hell do you think? You can’t treat the wound through my jeans.”
Feeling like a complete idiot, Monarch just stood there. He was right of course, it just hadn’t occurred to her. Last night she accessed the wound easily through the rip in his jumpsuit. Tonight he was wearing clothes and would have to strip down in order for her to see it. Her mouth went dry as she watched him pull his jeans down over his hips. “Well…of-of course I knew that. I just thought you might be a bit more modest about it. I mean you could lay down under a blanket and just stick your leg out or something. I don’t want to see—”
His jeans fell to his ankles. “I’m wearing boxer shorts for Christ’s sake. What are you, a nun?”
Monarch stared at his bare legs. They were thick and muscular and covered with crisp light hair. His boxers covered everything important. But it was just…it was just so intimate. Personal. They were alone, a man and a woman, and he was in his underwear.
He lay down on the couch and lifted the leg of the boxers so that the entire wound was accessible. Monarch knelt in front of him, seeing that the bandages were lightly stained with blood. She undid the bandages as delicately as possible, trying not to pull hair or skin. Her fingers shook badly and she cursed herself.
Corbin reached over and gripped one of her hands with his own, startling her. “You don’t need to be nervous. If I was gonna attack you don’t you think I would have by now?”
Monarch blanched. Of course he would bring up the elephant in the room, mannerless oaf that he was. “Why would I know that? I know absolutely nothing about you or what you are capable of. I know I don’t trust strangers.”

“Especially strangers who are convicts, huh?” Corbin said softly, and for a moment Monarch thought she detected hurt in his voice. But then his tone shifted, becoming aggressive, raspy. “I might as well be a caveman or an ape, is that it? A male with no scruples or impulse control. One who acts on his basest sexual urges whenever he feels like it, right?”

About the Author:

Trish read her first romance novel as a teenager and was immediately hooked (it was Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey). An avid reader of romance fiction ever since, she nursed a long-time dream to write it as well. One day she realized there was only one thing stopping her from making that dream a reality: HERSELF. She sat down and vowed to actually finish a manuscript. After finishing her first book, Darkness Embraced, she has never looked back. She completed her second book, Breakout, and is currently working on a third.

A native Texan, Trish lives just outside Austin with her incredibly supportive husband and their two incredibly spoiled dogs. Aside from romance fiction, her other loves include wine, warm weather, playing trivia, social media, and supporting dog rescue.








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3 comments:

Trish Arcangelo said...

Thank you for hosting! I can't wait to give away the goodie bag to a lucky reader :)

Trish Arcangelo said...

Thank you for hosting!

Rachel said...

Highly recommend this book! Great story with great characters! Lots of great chemistry between Monarch and Corbin! I couldn't put this book down!