Interview and Giveaway with the Awesome A.M. Griffin

In October, I had the privilege of meeting the delightful, not to mention, drop dead gorgeous, A.M. Griffin.   We were seated next to each other at the RomantiCon book signing and I had an absolute blast with her, so I'm thrilled to be hosting her here today. 

She'll be giving away a ten dollar Amazon gift certificate to a lucky commenter, so please sit back and get to know A.M. Griffin and don't forget to leave a comment between now and noon on December 20th. And definitely don't forget to check out her first ever release, Dangerously Mine from Ellora's Cave - I know I'm going to!  

Bio:  

I’ve always written stories. I should rephrase that to say I’ve always started to write stories. I would get to the third or fourth chapter and stop, become disinterested and move on. This is the first time that I actually finished a story to the end. I wanted to put this one down as well, but a little voice told me to get over the hump (which I now know is writers block) and keep going. It was an eye opening experience to say the least, but well worth it. Once it was done I had a sense of completeness. Now I can’t seem to stop writing.

What type of research do you do for your books?

That’s the beauty of writing sci-fi. Little or no research is required. All the info comes from my imagination (which might actually be scary). For Dangerously Mine I had to look up fighting techniques and weapons which gave me a sense of how badass Eva would have to be in order to wield a bow staff and also how lethal she would have to be if she was used to throwing knives or stars. Every now and then I would ask my crit partners if a scenario (mainly regarding different planets) made sense or was it even plausible and the answer would be, “this is your imagination, if it makes sense to you it’ll make sense to us.”

Tell us about your upcoming releases?

Dangerously Mine is a story about finding love and a new life after a catastrophic event. Because this is a sci-fi story the catastrophic event just so happens to be an alien invasion. This is not a story where she’s plucked from her bedroom by a hunky alien who wants her to be his life mate. Eva has gone through a lot, she’s seen loved ones murdered and she’s been plucked away from Earth as the alien invaders rain devastation all around her. She’s lost her closest friend (someone she has promised to take care of) and she’s sold into slavery. By the time I introduce Taio (her hero) I want the readers to be rooting for her. Now mind you, the readers are going to have to keep rooting for them because they’re both bull-headed characters who don’t know a good thing if it smacks them in the face.

What are you working on at the moment?

I finished the follow-up book to Dangerously Mine. I just have to clean it up some. In this book we learn more about Princess Sa’Mya who is a character introduced in Dangerously Mine and why she’s such a bitch, but we also get to meet Kane. I love Kane and Sa’Mya together. I think he’s the perfect guy for her. I can’t wait to release this on the masses.

What do you like best about being a writer?  What do you like least?

I love having the opportunity and outlet to create different characters and different worlds. In my mind there’s nothing better than being able to put my imagination to pen and paper. In saying that, as a writer you put yourself out there. I understand that not everyone is going to ‘get’ me and that’s ok. But it would be awesome if everyone did, then I could rule the world (just kidding, sorta).

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I love reading. I’m a reader first and writer second. I haven’t been able to read that much this past year but that hasn’t stopped me from buying books. I’m 20+ books behind right now. As soon as I can stop my characters from invading my head, I’ll knock some of those books off of my ‘to be read’ list.

Of all of the characters you’ve created, who is your favorite and why?

They’re like my children so I can’t just claim one. But if I had too…I love Eva from Dangerously Mine. I kinda worked her in the second book that I finished and the third book that I’m working on. She’ll always have a special place in my heart.

Do you find it difficult to keep love/sex scenes fresh and interesting?

I’m working on my third book and so far I haven’t come across that issue. When it comes to sex my characters have a mind of their own. So far, my new characters are avoiding the bed and its ok with me.

What genre of books least appeals to you and why?

I can’t read anything too serious, like inspirational books (yuck).

Do you listen to music when you write or do you need quiet?

I don’t really listen to music while I’m writing. I do watch or have the television going most times.

What makes a man sexy?

I love a man’s walk. The way his clothes fit him. Sometimes a look will even send me over the edge. But I think most importantly a sense of humor is sexy.

Do your family and friends know you write erotic romance – if so, how have they reacted?

All of my family and a select few of my friends know. I come from a very cool and open family. My mother is really proud and excited for me (she loves me). My grandmother wanted to buy my book for her sister. I think I hurt her feelings when I told her absolutely not. I told her it’s an erotic romance and she couldn’t read it, ever. Ever, ever.

What’s your favorite food?

Macaroni and cheese (ummm…)

Do you have any bad habits?

I don’t think so. I’m not really consistently bad. I’m just bad.

If you were stranded on a desert isle, what five things would you want to have with you?

My hubby, three kids and a knife for hunting. We’d be fine. I’d whittle us some spears.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Way too many to mention here. People with hangnails top that list and it only gets worse…

What do you like about where you live?

I’ve lived in different parts of the country and although I hate the winter, I love my home state. We are a great bunch of open minded people with our own special gripes, but I think if it was us against another state, say against Ohio or Indiana, we would mob them. Yeah, we’re feisty northerners.

If you could travel back in time, would you? If so, what time period would you visit and why?

Uh, no. I like the comforts of hot water, microwaves, technology and adequate healthcare.

What’s the best book you’ve read lately?

I read The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter and now I’m totally hooked on that series. I also discovered Nalini Singh not too long ago. Archangel’s Blood made me a forever loyalist.

What was your favorite childhood storybook?

I can’t ever remember reading anything fun when I was younger. Odd.

Pirate of ninja?

Ninja baby. In my head I’m skinny, wearing all black and can scale walls.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee with lots of cream and sugar.

Angel or Spike?

Angel. Spike wasn’t all that cute. He reminded me of a bad Billy Idol imitation.

Mal or The Doctor?

Huh?

Print book or ebook?

ebook

You can find A.M. Griffin at the links below. Be sure to check her awesome self out! Following the links are the blurb and excerpt for Dangerously Mine.

Dangerously Mine
Website
Twitter

Facebook
Blog
Dangerously Mine Book Trailer
Orangey and Purple Promo Video 

Blurb:

After aliens invade and conquer Earth, Eva is transported to a distant slave trading planet. Escape and freedom are her only priority, but none of her martial arts training prepared her for what she faces. She finds herself enslaved to the warrior King Taio. Eva’s drawn to this sexy alien male who ignites her heart and body.

Taio is disgusted with the idea of owning a slave—until now. From the moment he sees her, he knows Eva is his for the taking. Torn between lust and duty, Taio knows nothing will stop him from protecting his little warrior.

Excerpt: 

Eva pressed her face against the rectangular window in the training room, watching the lights of unknown origin whiz by. She stood in one of the training rooms Ship had sequestered for her. After lunch, she felt more than a little stir-crazy. She needed to work off some of the tension that coiled around her muscles. It took all her strength not to get up and leave the dining hall while Taio’s gaze bored through her back. Did he really have to keep sending those smoldering looks her way?

His lavender eyes locked on her whenever she entered a room. The intensity of his gaze made her body respond in a way that she didn’t want it to. No one would ever consider her to be a coward. But there was something about the way he looked at her that had her frightened.

And that tattoo on his face. Sometimes it intrigued her and other times it made her scared. Who would allow such an intricate drawing to be completed? The pain alone would have been enough to deter any sane person from getting it, alien or not.

His body was a whole different story. It was downright criminal to have a body like his. The man had a body that would make a nun want to sin. He was tall, unbelievably so, but he was all rippling muscle.

This vessel was full of men and the only one who would give her a second glance was Taio. The thought should have given her some type of comfort. Instead of beating off twenty men, there was only one she would have to worry about. There was no mistaking his intentions. Every time he looked her way, it was as if he were willing her clothes to fall from her body. Her only counterattack so far was to stay away from him.

But she did have to agree with Ship, being under the care of Taio was for the best right now. She was fed, the dining hall was open around the clock, which was a plus. Oftentimes she found herself standing in front of the computer, requesting the buro flank with nitlick soup after everyone else was fast asleep. These were the closest thing to Earth food she could find. They had the same taste as chicken and tomato soup.

She was finally clean. Although she would have loved to feel the caress of running water on her skin again, the ionized shower hit the spot. She had clothes, which, although they were tight, were at least clean. And most of all, she didn’t feel her safety was in any type of jeopardy, not at the moment.

She wanted to find Ally, but she had to face the hard facts.

She was far away from home.

In an alien world.

No money whatsoever.

Nowhere to go.

And alone.

Finally, pulling herself away from the window, she pulled a training bag from the corner to start her workout. Hand-to-hand combat always made her feel primal, the main reason she loved it so much.

Within minutes, her training suit clung to her body, the lightweight material not constricting her movements at all. Perspiration covered her from head to toe, her once tied-back hair hanging wet and loose around her. Her muscles thrived under the workout, coming alive once again.

Heavy breathing behind her caught her off guard. She flipped away, landing in a fighting stance facing the intruder.

Taio stood in the doorway, watching. He gave a curt nod her way, the acknowledgement doing nothing to make her feel relaxed.

“You have good skills, Eva.” He hooked his thumbs in the waist of his pants and leaned on the doorway.

Her name never sounded better.

“Thank you.” She relaxed and straightened, her eyes still watching him. This was his first time speaking to her since their ill-fated first encounter.

She didn’t dare move closer, especially since she still didn’t know his intentions. She didn’t move away either, fearing he would view that as a sign of weakness. So she stood her ground, her body betraying her in the worst way. Her heart sped up a little and her breathing became more labored. Now she found her nipples hardening as her name rolled off his tongue.

I know trouble when I see it.

Eva willed her body to fight against whatever “mojo” he was throwing at her.

Taio walked into the room and took a sword off a rack on the wall. He began flexing it, testing its weight. The gesture caused his arm and chest muscles to ripple with each movement.

Jesus.

“Who taught you fighting moves?” he asked.

“My sensei, he lived back home.”

“Earth,” he said as a statement, rather than a question.

“Yes, Earth. Ann Arbor, Michigan, more specifically.”

She eyed the weapons on the wall. She was trained to use various fighting weapons—sais, kamas, knives, nunchakus, bo staffs and swords. She could show him a thing a two.

She walked over to the rack and took another sword off the wall.

Shit!

It weighed a ton! No wonder he smirked when she picked it up. Even though she strained to hold it in both hands, she made sure not to let him know. She would give anything to smack that look right off his face. Instead, she concentrated hard on not dropping the sword. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She dared not try to maneuver it as he had.

“A male taught you?” He sounded surprised.

“Yes. Thirteen Earth years of training.” Taio laughed and shook his head in disbelief. “It’s not unusual on my planet,” she said. “A male can teach a female how to fight or even a female can teach a male.”

He laughed harder and shook his head. “There could never be such a thing on my world.”

She turned away. “I earned a black belt, first Dan in Kyokushin Karate. On Earth I’m considered to be a great fighter.”

“Your people did not fare well in the war against the Loconuist. The fighting techniques of your species mean nothing to me.”

Ouch.

If the sword in her hands wasn’t so heavy, she would have swung it at him.

Asshole.

“We didn’t know how to fight them. We’d never encountered aliens before.”

“Then it is good that I will take care of you from now on.”

Her head snapped around. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“You were captured by the Loconuist and the Tresdonians almost killed you.”

She shrugged. “But they didn’t.”

He smirked. “Because I saved you.”

“Thanks, but I can take care of myself.”

“It doesn’t matter. You are my responsibility now. You are my slave.”

Her eyes, squinting and cold, fixed on his. “Ship told me those assholes on that planet gave me to you. I think you got cheated. I’m not a slave. Not yours or anyone else’s.”

“If this arrangement does not suit you, I could turn the vessel around and give you back to the Tresdonians.” He turned from her and put the heavy sword back on the wall rack.

Her heart began pounding in her chest. He wouldn’t… “No. I’m not going back there.” She held her sword tightly in her grasp.

“Then you are my slave.” He stalked slowly toward her. His eyes locked on hers.

“No.” She backed away from him.

This cannot happen.

“You are mine.” He took another step toward her. “You will need to get used to the idea.”

“Never.”

He stopped his advancement. They stood facing each other. Her breathing came out in deep and heavy breaths. Her heart thumped in her chest.

Abruptly, he turned and walked from the room. She blinked at the empty doorway. The cold surface of the wall was against her back. She held the sword close to her chest, shielding her body. She stayed there until her arms shook from the sword’s weight.

She was no one’s slave.