Terrific Tuesday with Raine Delight:)

Welcome! Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest release.
A: Thanks for having me here. My name is Raine Delight and I write for Aspen Mountain Press. I currently have five books with them. Four are part of my popular Devon Falls series and one standalone title. I live in NY with my two kids and my boytoy of four years.  I have a love addiction of Johnny Depp movies, natural disaster films (WOOT to 2012!) and am a self-proclaimed “Book addict”.

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?
A: Not really. Some of my ideas come from reading an article or hearing something that made me go “Hmmm…..what would happen if this happened instead?”.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?
A: Nope *shakes head*. Frankly my life is very, very boring. LOL I may incorporate items like my past jobs as a baker/cook or something like that in them but otherwise nope because frankly, dearest boytoy would kill me. *laughs*

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?
A: Depends on what I am writing. I am writing a new paranormal BDSM trilogy that had me researching this world that I have no idea what it involves for close to six months straight. I delved in BDSM world with gusto *Giggles*. Let me tell you, some things were very interesting to hear about and I met some wonderful people who helped get those questions I had answered. It all depends on the storyline.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?
A: Well first I want them entertained. Frankly, if you are not entertained by what you are reading then chances is they won’t pick any other books by you and tell their friends to boycott you and so forth. Second I want them to fall in love with the characters. Recently AJ reviewed Haunting Magic (Now available at Aspen Mountain Press) and raved about it. He also gave it a recommended read, my first one! Read the review here: http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/devon-falls-4-haunting-magic-by-raine.html

My characters are, by extension, the people who live in my head, screaming at me (or are that my muse?) and I try to convey who they are to you within the pages of my books.

Third, I will love you forever if you tell me what you liked/loved about it (or hated). Any feedback is good feedback, in my opinion.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?
A: Oh god, I am a pantser all the way. I tried the whole storyboard-outline thing and frankly I almost gave myself a heart attack trying to figure where the story would go. When I create a new story, it takes a life of its own and goes in directions even I am shocked by. I let the muse have its head because frankly, I do not want that man yelling at me or leaving me in a huff. Have you ever seen or heard a muse who through a temper tantrum? Mine does on a regularly basis and I get tired of it. *sighs* Nowadays, I let the characters roam and most of the time, it turns out quite unexpectedly.

How long did it take for you to be published?
A: Hmm….*thinks* I think about 4 months. *small grin* I wrote Sticky Magic in one week and in three months it was contracted at a defunct publisher. It was an interesting journey to get to where I am now at Aspen Mountain Press.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?
A: Learn more on writing process and what is not welcome in your stories. Work on POV (point of view) and head hopping. I came into this blind and luckily, had some wonderful editors who helped me hone in on my trouble spots and make my writing stronger.

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?
A: Laptop. Sorry, tried the whole pen and paper thing and it just doesn’t work for me. A blank word doc. is a must for me.

My must haves? Um…green tea and music, even if it is a radio station on low for noise. I also use music to put me in the mood when I write certain scenes in my stories and mention them sometimes within as well.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?
A: Oh geez..this is like asking what kid is your favorite. I have so many I would be here till 2012….maybe. But let me see…Deborah Cooke, Yasmine Galenorn, Bertrice Small, LA Banks, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Celina Summers, Jenna Black, CE Murphy, Kelley Armstrong, Kim Harrison, JD Robb, JR Ward, Selena Illyria, Lena Austin, Cherise Sinclair and so many more, it would fill the pages.

Influence me? In the beginning it was the way Ms. Small wrote her Historical Romances. Before I got into her books, I read tame stuff that showed “Closed-door” scenes where you just wondered what happened. Then I found her Skye O’Malley series and it opened a world where historical romance can be HAWT! Dang if she got my reading bug lit and then I branched into other authors like Kenyon, Ward and JD Robb to explore.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
A: Well, not sure if they knew this but I drove, by myself at age 23 to work and live at the Grand Canyon, AZ. I had $200 in my pocket (and that was when gas was 99 cents and whatnot) and outran a tornado when I was driving out of Oklahoma. It was an experience I will never forget.

For Fun:
What is your favorite Spring Break vacation?
A: Spring break? What is that? I n ever, ever took a vacation on spring break. I worked or stayed at home. If I could say, hypothetically, to go to Southwest or to Europe (Italy, Ireland or London).

Favorite St. Patrick’s Day memory or ritual? (ie: Do you wear green? Fix corned beef and cabbage? Speak with an Irish dialect for fun?)
A: Oh geez…I am pinky Irish. *laughs* Seriously that is about how much Irish I have in me and on St. Pat’s day, I make shamrock cookies and that is it. I don’t like Corned Beef and Cabbage so I normally don’t make that at all. Though I have been known to tell honey “Kiss me I am Irish”. *laughs*

I’m a March Madness fan. Do you follow the college basketball tournaments? If so, who’s your favorite team?
A: *gulps* Will I be hanged if I said all sports bore me to tears.

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.
A: Thanks for having me here. I had fun and these questions made me think.
Where to find me:
Website/blog: http://authorrainedelight.com
Reader’s loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Author_Raine_Delight
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Raine_Delight
Publisher: www.aspenmountainpress.com
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=raine+delight&x=0&y=0
All Romance E-books (ArE): http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html
Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mwsearch
1Romance E-book store: http://1romanceebooks.com/index.php?searchMe=raine+delight&column=author&_a=viewCa t




Devon Falls: Red Hot Magic
Paranormal Erotic Romance/Light Bondage


Raven Demarco has sworn off men after one too many disastrous dates and soon begins dreaming of a mystery man who makes her feel things that she never expects to feel again. When the auction comes closer, her sensual dreams become more than she can handle and she finds herself wishing her dream man would show up and sweep her off her feet. What will she do when the man himself comes to claim her: Heart, body and soul?

Jean-Claude LeFever is a dream walker and has searched for years for his mate and finally found her in Raven. With his seduction of her in her dreams driving them wild, he makes sure to come to Devon Falls and make her his for all time as time is running out for him and their love. If she doesn’t fall in love with him by midnight, Jean-Claude is destined to walk the planes of dreams for the next hundred years before finding his love again. Can he be able to steal her heart and make her his for all time? Or will it be too late for them?

Adult excerpt:

Raven felt the soft breeze swirl, and the silk sheets slither around her body like a lovers hands. She opened her eyes. Looking around, she knew she wasn’t in her apartment at the same time she comprehended that this was a dream; she also knew something was going to happen tonight and it would change her life forever.

“You’re awake I see. I was hoping you would soon, since we have so many other delicious things to do yet, my love.” The deep voice whispered across the room. Raven shivered as she felt the desire race thru her body faster than she ever could imagine.

“Who are you? What do you want of me?” She asked. Turning left then right, she tried to figure out where the voice came from.

As the breeze swirled around the room, it caressed her naked body, making her nipples tighten and wetness pool in her core. Trying not to let her mystery man know how he much he affected her, Raven tried to still her aching body with deep breaths. That is until she spied the tall man walking towards her from the shadows. With hair dark as midnight, a body that had her almost weeping in pleasure at the strength that seemed to storm her defenses with just a look, stormy blue eyes locked onto her green ones. He was easily over 6 foot 5″ and he was utterly, deliciously naked…with a cock that begged to be suckled and licked. It was absolutely the largest one Raven had ever seen and it was growing larger with ever step he took towards her. She knew instinctively this man would give her the ultimate pleasure she has been searching for with and she would crave more from him.

Gulping quickly, she felt rather than saw him sit on the edge of the bed. As her eyes traveled up his body to his face, she caught laughter in those marvelous eyes as he watched her take stock in his body.

“Love, you don’t have to be afraid. You know who I am even if you don’t want to admit it. I am your soul mate and I have been searching for you for a long time. You need me as much as I need you, Cheri. Don’t deny our love, because I am coming for you.”

Raven shivered as those words slammed into her with a desire that almost had her coming on the spot. Shifting a little, Raven asked again, “Who are you?”

Before she could do or say anything else, this towering man took her hand, palm side up and with a kiss in the center said, “I am your destiny!”

Raven tried to speak, her lips opened but before she could say one word she felt him tip her face towards his and as he settled those sexy lips on hers, one last thought pierced her already lust filled brain…Damn he is like a decadent dessert…all ready to gobble up unless you slow yourself down to enjoy every last bite