Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Blog Tour: Interview with T.A. Grey!



WELCOME TO THE BLOG, T.A.! :)
 

I love to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It's my goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling you. I'm always trying to push the boundaries with my imagination, and yours, to create something new and different.
 
Open up one of my novels and you will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. I write addictive love stories and I hope you like them.
 
 
 
 
 




Where to Find T.A.:


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The_Book_Queen: Hi T.A.! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
 
 
TA: Hey y’all! I’m an erotic romance author who loves to write addicting books.  I just adopted two more kittens to add to my family so now we have five cats. I’ve also recently become addicted to Game of Thrones and building Legos. I’m building The Hobbit Lego sets at the moment since I’m a big fan of the book and movie. Basically I’m a dork who likes to play video games, read books, write books, play with cats, and cook!



TBQ: Don't worry--fellow nerdy book warm and cat lover here, you'll fit right in! :D
 
Your newest release, The Lonliest Alpha, kicks off the MacKellan Alpha series. Can you tell us a little bit about this book, and why readers are going to love it?
 
TA: The Loneliest Alpha is sexy, suspenseful, intense, funny, and action-packed. Readers who’ve picked up the book tell me they missed out on sleep because they simply couldn’t put this book down. Also, you may want to bring some tissues because there’s a chance you might shed some tears. ;) The Loneliest Alpha is a little bit Beauty and the Beast meets The Phantom of the Opera. The hero, Gavin MacKellen, is badly disfigured in his face and hides away from the heroine, Alicia Clarkson. So the story begins as a battle of Gavin hiding his face while trying to coerce the beautiful Alicia to fall in love with him—no simple task. Alicia does not sit idly by. She pushes, shoves, breaks out of the house and any other thing to try to see Gavin’s face. But things grow intense, danger seems to be coming after Gavin and Alicia and they begin to feel for each other in ways that cannot be denied. Readers will love this book because it will consume them with Gavin and Alicia’s love story.



TBQ: Can. Not. Wait. TLA sounds great! :)
 
As you mentioned, TLA has a little bit of a Beauty and the Beast theme to it—what do you think makes this theme so popular? Why did you choose to use it for Gavin and Alicia, and do you think their characters, and their story, would have been the same if you had not used the B&B theme?

 
TA: TLA does have a Beauty and the Beast theme to it though I did not set off to create this theme. It was my readers that told me TLA was a Beauty and the Beast romance. As always while I’m working on a book I post snippets so my readers can preview it. As they read the first chapter they started saying “that sounds like a beauty and the beast story!” That’s when I realized they were right. Since people seemed to be so familiar with that theme I’ve been labeling TLA as a B&B story. I believe this theme is popular because people know what it is, it’s familiar, and we all love stories about someone who must overcome a disfigurement or handicap. I think as humans we all find that relatable and wish for the individual to overcome their self-esteems issues.

 
TBQ: I agree. I personally love B&B stories, so I'm always on the look out for new ones!
 
Why do Gavin and Alicia belong together?

TA: Because they mesh together like two perfect puzzle pieces that just fit.

 

TBQ: Sometimes it's just that simple! :)
 
When writing each novel, do you listen to certain songs, like a playlist for the story? If so, what was the playlist for TLA?

TA: I do not. Music is a distraction for me. I’m jealous of writers who can listen to music and write.

 

TBQ: For some it works, for others it doesn't. I don't think I could do it myself....
 
In 5 words or less, describe Alicia for us. And let's not forget Gavin—what's he like?

 
TA: Alicia: Force to be reckoned with. Gavin: Never gonna give up.

 

TBQ: Do you have a favorite part from TLA? (If spoilers are involved, you can be vague.)

TA: This is one of those novels where I have several favorite parts. If I had to choose an ultimate one it might be…when they first (and finally) make love. There has been so much build up and emotions are so high that’s it was beautiful to finally see.

 
TBQ: Oh, you are such a tease! Now I really want to read it!
 
I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike. :) But I have to ask: What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?
TA: Some of my favorite must-love authors: Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Michelle M. Pillow, Sarah MacLean, Jennifer Ashley, Nathalie Gray, JR Ward, and Dean Koontz.

 

 
TBQ: Some of my favorites, and a few that I've yet to read. :D
 
We've all fallen for a hero (or two, or three, or....ahem).  Tell us one hero that you've fallen for—who is he and what drew you to him?

 
TA: Wow, this was a hard one! I won’t choose one of the heroes from my own books because they all hold a special place in my heart. So, one hero who I’ve fallen hard for and have gone back to re-read at least a dozen times is Judd Lauren in Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling #3). He will always be my book boyfriend. He’s cold as ice emotionally, physically, but once Brenna warms him up…oh my! Things get wild and spicy hot! I love Judd.

 

TBQ: I am sooo behind on Singh's books, but I *love* them. Judd's book is one that I haven't read, but I'm excited to get started now! :D
 
What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?
TA: Right now I’m working on book 2 in The Untouchables series. I expect it to be out in August or September. I know my readers are anxious for Grayson Blackmoore’s story after reading Take Me, book 1. I received a lot of email after that book came out demanding to know when the next book was coming. Then, book 2 in The MacKellen Alphas series will be out in November/December of this year. So close yet so far away! (Lots of great books to come, congrats!)

 

 

SPEED ROUND:
 

A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa?
Spa

 
Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet “my-heart-skips-a-beat” one?
Spicy with jalapeno on the side (LOL!)

 
Which would you rather have an affair with: a sexy highlander OR a devilishly handsome English lord?
Devilishly handsome English lord, please J

 
Hot summer days OR cold winter nights?
Cold winter nights

 
Where would your dream house be: in the city, where all the action is OR nestled in the mountain where you can enjoy the quiet and the wilderness?
Mountains!

 
If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be?
Future

 
Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?
Blurb fan

 
Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?)
Sweet Novel

 
Quick—name the one food that you cannot live without?
Tacos

 


And finally, tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about yourself:
 
 
  • I’ve never owned a car.
  • I like making cocktails.
  • I sing really loudly and badly (with the wrong words) while listening to music! (I *may* be guilty of that sometimes... *ahem*)

 

 

 
The_Book_Queen: Thanks so much for stopping by, T.A., and please know that you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)

 
TA: Thank you so much for having me! I had such a great time! My question to all you fine ladies in the audience is do YOU like Beauty & the Beast style love stories? Do you connect with a hero or heroine who struggles with a disfigurement of some kind?

 



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The Loneliest Alpha by T.A. Grey
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 15, 2013)
Series: The MacKellen Alphas, 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
 
One look will change their lives forever.
 
Lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson just had to open her stupid mouth. Now thanks to trying to defend a fellow pack mate, Alicia’s been blindfolded, tied up, and carted off to the new alpha of the Oregon pack—Gavin MacKellen.
 
However, the blindfold doesn’t come off so soon as Gavin reveals he’s searching for a mate. But Alicia’s curiosity gets fired up when Gavin refuses to reveal his face to her. Just what happened to him? He talks to her from shadowy corners and behind closed doors. The man is as allusive as a squirrely fox. But Alicia doesn’t play games and the quiet spoken, hoarse voiced alpha doesn’t stand a chance against her. They settle on an agreement, thirty days for them to get to know each other because that’s the only way this cowboy alpha will have it.
 
Gavin MacKellen needs a mate. But he knows no good woman would ever want to look at his face after the incident he suffered. After one look at Alicia Clarkson all his plans fly out the window. The woman’s beauty has stunned him damn near speechless. She torments his thoughts and Gavin finds himself yearning to know everything about her. He admires her creativity and intelligence, the cool way she handles herself in stressful situations. Most of all, he aches deep in his chest to taste her lips. Those beautiful sweet lips, but in order to kiss her without showing her what a monster he was, he has to get creative.
 
A relationship forms and as love threatens to grow between them Gavin struggles to cope with his physical appearance in the face of the beautiful Alicia. Will she be the one to stand in the face of a monster and accept or will she turn her back on him as everyone else has?
 
 




Where to Buy*:
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The Loneliest Alpha by T.A. Grey
Excerpt


“When is the last time you were with a man?”

Her body jerked. “Excuse me?”

He sighed, the sound thick not with impatience but caution. “I won’t repeat myself, Alicia Clarkson.”

She froze at the sound of her name even as a part of her understood that he had to know her name. The tone of his voice had changed though, the grating sound becoming a growl.

She answered as soon as she collected herself. “Seven months ago. No six. Yeah, six months, I think.”

“Were you sleeping with him?”

She bit the inside of her cheek, jaw flaring as a blush covered her face. “I don’t see what this as to do with–”

“Just answer the question,” he said in that slow, measured voice. He sounded like someone who didn’t waste words but chose them with care.

“Yes, I did.” Why that admission embarrassed her when she knew there was no shame in what she’d done annoyed her.

Then he spoke and every inch of her stiffened. Even her heart skipped a beat. “What do you look for…in a man?”

“What?” she said, her voice as soft as a whisper. He sounded curious, maybe even a little embarrassed. 

“Answer the question, please.”

She shook her head sending locks of hair snapping across her cheek and stood, teetered, then widened her stance to steady herself. “No, I’m done with this. I won’t play your little games anymore. You either explain what this is about or untie me. Actually, untie me and show me the door. I’ve been ready to leave since I got here.”

He stood and she took an abrupt step back. Was it because she feared him—damn right.

“Turn around.”

“Like hell.”

“Turn around so I can untie you.”

Biting her lip, she debated his words. He could by lying. “Promise that’s all you want?”

He grunted some sound of agreement.

She was loathed to give him her back but she did, slowly. Better to show him her back than to keep the ropes on for god knows how long. He grabbed the rope binding her wrists and her heart jumped with fear. He could kill her; hurt her in so many ways.

“Stare straight ahead.”

Naturally, she tried to look over her shoulder but he grabbed the back of her head and turned it to face forward before she could catch a glimpse.

“Don’t.” A warning.

It became difficult to breathe. This close, she caught his scent. It was fresh and masculine smelled of something rugged and outdoors. The lykaen in her rolled onto its back and stretched, content. Whoa. Reel it in, Alicia.

She jumped at the sound of his voice so close to her ear. He had a gravelly, coarse voice, deep as a bass singers. He held the rope hostage as he spoke. “I’m searching for my mate, not lookin’ for no whore. I want you to stay here while we get to know each other. That means I’m gonna have some questions you’ll need to answer. You got that?”

Not really. “Yeah,” she said instead since she didn’t see any other options.

Another grunt of approval, then she heard the metal swish of a switchblade coming out. She wiggled, tugging to get her arms free as fear rode her. 

“Please don’t hurt me.” She hung her head, arms trembling in his grasp.

“Stay still. I don’t wanna nick you.”

Like that her fear passed. The blade passed through the ropes with ease and her shoulders sagged with relief. The itchy, cursed rope fell away. She smiled at the tiny pleasure of being free.

“You’ll sleep down the hall. I’ll have Will show you the room.”

Fingers touched her forearms, strong and direct. And then it vanished in an instant.

Rubbing her arms at the sudden chill, Alicia turned back only to find he’d retreated back into the shadows.

She didn’t mean to ask it but the words flew from her lips. “Why won’t you let me see your face?”

He opened the door, stepping into the hallway. She was so certain he wouldn’t answer her that she fiddled with her reddened wrists to hide her eyes.

But then he did answer and his words couldn’t have shocked her more.

“I don’t want you to see my face ‘cause I’m an ugly son of a bitch and you’re too pretty to be looking at that.”

She gaped as he quietly shut the door behind him.

 

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Thanks for stopping by today, T.A! I look forward to reading your books, this one in particular--wow, what an excerpt! :D
 
 

Don't forget T.A.'s question:


Do YOU like Beauty & the Beast style love stories? Do you connect with a hero or heroine who struggles with a disfigurement of some kind?








Enjoy!



Until Next Time,



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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

1 comment :

KAMEBookReview said...

Wow - love the premise - and I do like B&B stories but I normally read contemporary but the excerpt above tempts me!