My guest on my
blog today is one of the sweetest people I've ever had the pleasure to meet –
the lovely Tara Lain. Tara has a new release in her Balls to the Wall series, "Snow Balls", on December 7th. Welcome Tara and thank you for being here.
1. How about we
start with some basic information – tell me a little bit about yourself? Where
did you grow up? What kind of student were you? What was your favorite activity
when you were growing up? Anything you want to share is fine.
First, thank
you for that wonderful welcome! I’m so delighted to be here. So, about me. I’m
an Army brat so I grew up all over. I lived in Europe and Japan as well as in
several places in the US before I was in high school. I call Washington, D.C.
home even though I wasn’t born there because my grandparents were there and we
came back there after travels. I also went to college there. I studied theater
but ended up in marketing which is still my day job. I own a small ad/pr firm.
As an adult, I have kept up the traveling and have been all over the world,
mostly with my wonderful husband to whom I’ve been married for 31 years. I live
in Laguna Beach, California where I set many of my books including the entire Balls
to the Wall series.
2. How did you
start writing m/m romance? Do you write in any other genres?
I blame Jet
Mykles for my becoming a MM writer. I actually came to this novelist thing late
in life even though I wrote my first books at five. I’ve been a non-fiction
writer forever as part of my marketing. I’ve literally written hundreds of
magazine articles under other people’s names. I didn’t decide to write a book
until after I read my first erotic romances. I’d always thought writing a book
sounded like just more work since I already wrote all day. But when I found
erotic romance, I was delighted. Now this sounded like FUN! So I decided to
write a MF erotic romance about an older woman scientist and her younger research
partner. Then I ordered Jet’s book, Heaven Sent, from Amazon. I didn’t
know it was MM when I ordered it! But I read it and LOVED it. I was hooked. I
added another man to my love story and it became a MMF ménage. The book is Genetic
Attraction which was nominated for a CAPA last year. So yes, I also
write ménage in which all three lovers have sex with each other.
3. Did you have
any early influences either in this genre or any other when you were first
starting out?
I always give
credit to my three biggest influences -- Jet Mykles, Lynn Lorenz and Z. A.
Maxfield. Reading their books showed me the excellence possible in the genre
and pointed me toward the kind of writer I wanted to be. It’s so nice to be
able to say that they are now all friends.
4. What is your
favorite sub-genre to write and to read? For example – I can never pass up a
story with a rockstar in it or more often than not, cowboys.
Hmm. I do love pretty boys, even to the extent
that i enjoy stories about cross-dressers sometimes. I know the books when I
see them but it’s hard to say how I know! LOL
5. Do you have
any writing or reading quirks or squicks? Anything that you just can't read or
don't think you'll ever write. Anything you have to do before you start or as
you write – certain music, computer facing west, etc.
I am the odd
duck that can’t listen to music when I write. I think I’m so left-brained as a
writer that the music and the story try to occupy the same space. Aside from
that, I’m very flexible. I have to be. I write all day for my job and still
squeeze in six to eight books and stories a year. I doubt that I’ll ever write
BDSM. I have some light spanking and bondage in my books, but I don’t think
I’ll ever get into it in a big way.
6. Are you a
plotter or pantser?
I’m a
plotser. I have a general idea of the story before I begin -- the characters,
arc, highpoints and ending. I seldom write it down, although sometimes I do.
Then I just start writing with the framework generally in mind. The rest is
pansted and I listen to my characters tell me their stories. I’m always
surprised!
7. I won't
assume you celebrate Christmas but if you do, what are your favorite parts of the
holidays?
I love
decorating the Christmas tree and then sitting and looking at it. This year I
have no tree up because we’re selling our house and I don’t want to add the
extra hassle. But I will miss looking at it --even though I won’t miss all the
boxes and mess.
8. Tell me
about your muse – if you have one of course.
I don’t have a
sense of a muse. What I am aware of is the creative process. I think about my
story often as I drive or as I’m falling asleep. But when I’m ready to write, I
just sit at the computer, put my hands on the keyboard, clear my mind, and let
it flow. I love the feeling of the writing happening by itself.
9. Have you
ever based any of your characters on real people?
Only one. Shay
Shaleen in Genetic Celebrity (a MMF ménage with ford porn!) is
based on Andrej Pejic. Shay is not transsexual just androgynous, but he
resembles Andrej.
10. Finally
just a few multiple choice questions: (you can take them any way you like)
Rock, country
or classical? I love them all depending
on my mood but country the least of the three.
Giraffe or
monkey? Giraffe. I have a neck like one.
Tea or coffee? Tea
if it’s a chai latte.
Who would win
in a fight – vampires or werewolves? Vampires.
Series or
one-shot? Series
Beach or
mountains? Beach (but maybe forests most!)
Eyes or smile? Eyes
unless the smile is completely captivating like Tom Cruise. I don’t even love
Cruise, but that smile is amazing! Gernerally, I love sexy eyes.
11. Finally, tell us about your next release or what you're working on
now.
I’ve just completed
a story for Valentine’s Dayish time period. It’s called Hearts and Flour
and it’s an unlikely love story between a guy who is a passionate raw food
vegan who falls for the owner of a cupcake store before he knows who he is.
Like most of my stories, it’s a combination of light-hearted, romantic and
emotional, with some serious themes. And now you have caught me in the run-up
to my next book. I have several books I want to write this year -- the next Aloysius
Tale after Spell Cat and Brush with Catastrophe,
the next two Balls books, and, surprisingly, a scifi dystopian MM. BUT, right
now I’m exploring a whole new contemporary with a wedding theme. I think it
gets written next.
Tara Lain’s
first erotic romance novel was published in January of 2011. She’s now on book
16. Her novels have garnered awards for Best Series of 2011, Best Contemporary
Romance, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In
her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm, and she
carries her promotional instincts into her writing career as well. She
lives with her soul-mate husband in
Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her
books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences , Tara says on
her tombstone it will say “Yes”! You can check out all of Tara's book on her website.
Would you like
to win your own Balls book? You can have your choice of Volley Balls
(the Aussie sandwich), Fire Balls (the artist and the
firefighter) and Beach Balls (enemies to lovers--underwater).
Just leave me a comment with your email, please. If you’ve read the first three
Balls books, we’ll work something out! Contest will be open from December 5-7 - winner will be announced on this post on December 8.
Special thanks
to K-Lee for this wonderful invitation. It’s such a joy to be here! :) *hugs*
I've read Snow Balls and loved it, Tara. JJ is an awesome character and stayed with me long after I'd finished reading.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm so glad! Thank you. : )
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous - thanks for the comment. If you want to be included in the draw, you'll have to pop back ion with you email address. Thanks,
ReplyDeleteK-lee
I have had volley balls on my TBR for a but now. Would love to have one if the others as well! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the interview--I'm a pretty avid Tara follower, but I learned lots of new stuff!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(Dot)com
They all sound great, but if I had to choose I'd pick Fire Balls. I love firefighters
ReplyDeleteSorry
ReplyDeleteamethyst-amanda(at)hotmail(dot)com
I just finished Fire Balls and LOVED it. Need, want, gotta have more. Thank you both!
ReplyDeletebrendurbanist at gmail dot com
I have other books of Tara's but not the Balls books.
ReplyDeletestrive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com
I have these books on my list of series I want to start. I would love to start with Volley Balls. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteJYL22075 at gmail dot com
Interesting to know your likes/preferences. Thanks for allowing us that small peek into your life Tara!
ReplyDelete~Rush~
taina1959@yahoo.com
How strange to say I love your ball stories...yep, looks just as strange in writing as it was to think. Oh well, but it's true. Would love to win Snow Balls. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletegoaliemom00 (at) cox.net
What a great interview -- thank you for sharing. I am fairly new to the m/m genre...so I would have to start with the first one!
ReplyDeletetsarinaerika at yahoo.ca
I would love a chance a Volley Balls! I can't wait to read Snow Balls! Congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteOceanAkers @ aol.com
I would love to win Snow balls as I already have the others. Please count me in. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood interview. Count me in please :)
ReplyDeletepenumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi dears-- thank you all so much. I'm on a short anniversary trip with my honey, but will be choosing a winner when I get back. : )
ReplyDeleteCount me in please...i liked the 1st 2 lots so I'm ready for Beach Balls! chellebee66(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteCount me in please. I've loved every one of Tara's books I've read so far, so am eager to read more of them :D
ReplyDeleteilona
felinewyvern at googlemail dot ocm
Congrats on the new release, Tara. All these books sound fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Tara!
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Enjoyed the interview. You have some great influences and Andrej is very inspiring. :D
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new release and thanks for the giveaway!
lkbherring64(at)gmail(dot)com
Stay tuned - a winner will be picked today. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd the winner is..... Urb! Congratulations! Emailing now. : )
ReplyDelete