Where do you hail from and what do you love most about your hometown?
I’m from Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Boston has such rich history! I love being able to head down to the beach in the summer. One of my favorite past times involves sitting at a local Fisherman’s Warf, eating lobster and watching the boats. In the fall I love the hiking opportunities and the wonderful color to the area.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Lots of things, lol. I wanted to be an actress until I saw myself on video. I realized that I didn’t have enough confidence to pull it off. I also wanted to be a doctor, but after talking to a bunch of students in residency, I realized that I wasn’t cut out for that round-the-clock, grueling lifestyle. I eventually settled on becoming a scientist.
Through it all I always loved to write, but didn’t take it seriously until 2009, when I realized that my passion for science had left. I felt adrift and writing helped pull me out of the routine lifestyle I was leading.
Tell us about your latest book.
Bonded in Blood is the first book in the Warlock Mating chronicles. This series was born when I wanted to come up with a world that combined my love for the paranormal and m/m/f ménages. This follows an all male warlock coven and their desire to remain sovereign despite their need to procreate with women in order to maintain their magical powers. Let the chaos ensue!
Lovers of my Kyron Pack series will find a lot of similarities here…but trust me – this series is much more kinky.
Do you have anything new in the works and can you tell us a bit about it?
Right now I’m working on multiple projects.
I’m working on writing a follow up book to A Little Bit Reckless, my small town romance from Ellora’s Cave. I’m also working on the re-release of Spyder’s Web, a dark paranormal romance that I got the rights back to recently. It was the first story I had ever published.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
My biggest problem lately is staying committed when times get tough. This is a difficult business and many times it can get you down. Staying motivated and focused is a constant challenge.
What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
Don’t ever give up. Like I said above, this is a tough business. The changing industry makes it even more of a challenge. Educate yourself and create the best book you can. Then let it go. Don’t take criticism personally. Strive to do better next time. We all have good days and bad days, so don’t le the bad days get you down.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
I did a whole series on writer’s block on my blog. You can find the installments here: http://suzannerock.wordpress.com/?s=writer%27s+block&submit=Search
I used to suffer from writer’s block when I first started writing. I don’t anymore, mostly because I plot all of my books out beforehand so I have a good idea of my characters, setting and plot before I write the first word.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Tough question. I don’t have one favorite author. I do have a lot of authors that I enjoy. I like Em Petrova’s logger books with Elloras Cave, and Lauren Hawkeye’s Gladiator stories from Avon. I enjoy Juliana Stone’s paranormals and Barbara J Hancock’s post-apocolyptic stories.
What books have most influenced your life?
Stephen King’s “On Writing” was the most influential to my writing career. The book was one of those eureka moments for me as an author. It was when I realized that you had to think of your writing as a job, not a hobby.
How did you deal with rejection letters?
I allow myself to wallow in self-pity. I have to, otherwise the frustration and sadness would well up inside of me and threaten to swallow me whole. I give myself 24 hours to feel sorry for myself. Then I shut it off, sit down, and focus on a new project.
What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?
Interesting question. I think a writer needs to have five things.
1) A computer
2) A stable internet connection
3) Books
4) Stubbornness
5) Willingness to learn
The computer and internet connection should be self-explanatory. A writer needs to read good stories to help them learn the craft of writing. Writers should also be stubborn enough not to give up, but not so stubborn that they can’t learn from their mistakes.
Where do you as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?
If it doesn’t feel right to the story or the characters, then I don’t include it.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
In the same day, I’ve looked up new sexual positions in Cosmo online and then immediately looked up how to dispose of a dead body on the internet. I had a very odd internet browsing history that day, lol.
Don’t forget to give us links to your website etc.
Website: http://www.suzannerock.com
Blog: http://www.suzannerock.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneRockAuthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Suzanne_Rock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Suzanne_Rock
Bonded in Blood:
Buy it here for $4.99: http://www.bookstrand.com/bonded-in-blood
Blurb:
Cyrah has denied her pagan heritage and tried to live a normal life, but visions of two sexy strangers refuse to leave her alone. She senses trouble in their auras, and knows she must try to insert herself into their lives to stop it. Her strong attraction is difficult to control however, and one miscalculation leaves her captured by a powerful Coven and tied to a Master Warlock’s bed.
When Roman recognizes Cyrah as his destined mate, he makes every effort to keep her close. He lusts after the sexy witch, but can’t deny his attraction for his personal guard, Sam. His emotions are torn and Roman is unable to bind himself to either of them. Then he learns that Sam and Cyrah feel the same. Cyrah has an idea of how all three of them can become mates, but doing so would involve extremely kinky sex, denying ancient warlock tradition, and putting all of their lives in grave danger.
EXCERPT
“You aren’t really going to prepare me for an assistant’s job, are you?”
“You’re smart. Your sharp mind will be a comfort during these hard times. The Master chose wisely.” Eli glanced at the other man and nodded. They began chanting, their low voices filling the room with sounds she couldn’t decipher but that sounded oddly familiar. Fuck, they were using magic.
She looked for a way to escape, but there was no other door. She ran to the window and tried to open the sash. It was no use. The window had been locked, and even if she could calm herself enough to use her powers, it wasn’t practical to climb out the opening. She was up on the third floor, and the room faced a rocky coastline. To jump from this height would kill her.
She turned away from the window as they approached. Their voices became louder, and their mustard-colored auras changed to orange, the color of control and manipulation. Shit. Now she remembered where she had heard that chant before. Her grandmother had used the same spell when Cyrah was a child to prevent her from touching a hot oven.
These men were trying to freeze her muscles and stop her movements.
“Where did you learn to cast spells?” Cyrah climbed up onto the desk as the men advanced. “Stop chanting, or I’ll jump through the window.”
They grabbed her arms and yanked her onto the floor with ease. An eerie calm forced its way into her mind as their orange auras surrounded her.
No! If she couldn’t move, she couldn’t protect Roman and his lover, and her vision could come to pass. She had to get out of here, fast.
Cyrah fought the spell with everything she had. She mumbled a few words and threw up a wall around her spirit.
She managed to catch the two men by surprise. They stopped chanting and glanced at each other in confusion. She used the pause to her advantage and kicked one of her captors in the shin. He loosened his grip enough for her to slip away and race for the exit. One of the men swore and wrapped his arm around her waist before she could reach the door.
They could cast spells? It didn’t make any sense—unless they were warlocks. What were warlocks doing on Roman’s staff? Did they have something to do with her visions? She needed time to sort this out. Did Roman know that these men were doing this to her? Perhaps these were the goons that wanted to hurt Roman. Cyrah tried to think of a spell to cast, but her mind raced in twenty different directions at once. It was too hard to concentrate.
The men started chanting again, and Cyrah watched their orange auras strengthen. She knew it was only a matter of time before the men broke through her feeble wall and subdued her. They were too strong, and since she had not been practicing her magic regularly, her spells were weak and pathetic. The first time she had chanted she had caught them by surprise. It wouldn’t happen again.
If she could just hurt one of them before they killed her, then she’d feel oh so much better.
She pounded her fist against the white-haired man’s chest, but it was like punching a wall. “You’ll never get away with this. I know people. You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
They chanted louder. A sense of calm came over her, suppressing her panic. She fought it, but it was no use. It was too powerful. By the time the second man touched her again, her muscles had turned to water. Her weak body collapsed, and she felt herself being lifted by strong hands. She curled up against him as weariness settled in her bones. The men picked her up and laid her on the soft bed. Then they handcuffed both her arms and feet to the bedposts.
“I had no idea Master would pick one of them. It’s brilliant,” the man whose name she had forgotten said.
“That’s why he is the Master, and we are his subordinates,” Eli answered.
They continued to speak in hushed tones as they finished tying her arms and legs to the bed and left the room. Cyrah tried to concentrate on their words, but it felt as if her mind was stuffed with cotton.
As soon as the door shut, her inner peace subsided and her panic rose once more. Cyrah fought her bindings for hours, but it was no use. She was stuck. Cyrah had no idea why they had tied her to the bed, but she guessed it wasn’t so she could check for dust on the ceiling. She frowned as she replayed the day in her head, wondering exactly who Roman was and what she had gotten herself into.
Great interview, Suzanne!