With her thirtieth
birthday looming, Emma Harrison finds her biological clock clanging and
the elusive knight in shining armor yet to appear. She’s running out of
options, especially after her gay best friend backs out from being her
sperm donor. Of course, there’s always a sperm bank, but Emma fears a
donor mix-up might impregnate her with the spawn of Satan.
Resident
company womanizer, Aidan Fitzgerald, is used to always getting what he
wants, especially in the bedroom. When Emma spurns his advances at the
company Christmas party, he's determined to have her no matter what it
takes. After Aidan learns of Emma's predicament, he is quick to offer a
proposition that will benefit them both. He will father Emma's child,
but she must conceive it with him naturally. Not one for hook-ups or
casual sex, Emma is reluctant to take him up on his offer, but his
charm, coupled with her intense desire for motherhood, wins out.
Soon
their baby-making sessions become more than just physical. Aidan can't
seem to walk away from her while Emma begins to wonder if Aidan could be
the one. But can Aidan leave his past behind to become the man Emma
needs him to be?
1. If you could work with any other author, who
would it be and why?
Wow, that’s a
tough one. The Southern Steel Magnolia in me would love to write with Harper Lee
or Fannie Flagg. But if we’re talking romance, it would have to be either SC
Stephens or Olivia Cunning. Both authors bring very different strengths to the
table, and for a romance/erotic writer, I think you can learn a lot from both of
them. They’re also two writers who got me back in the adult writing world. I am
very blessed to have great critique partners in the business as well. Kelli
Maine has been invaluable to me as a friend and writing buddy for the last three
years.
2. What would be a typical working day for
you? When and where do you write?
A typical day has
me working full-time educating the Youth of America aka teaching 11th
grade American Literature to high school juniors. Most of my writing time comes
after work. I have an upstairs office that fits the “writer” profile, but alas,
most of the time, it’s me and my laptop on the couch or the chair!!
3. What is the hardest part of the writing
for you?
I think rejection
has been the hardest part. When I set out on the journey four years ago, I was
so very naïve. I had no idea about agents, publishing houses, query letters,
etc. All it was for me was the beauty of the story and the amazing high of
creating something. Sadly, all that got spit and trampled upon when I tried
publication!! This was also before self-pubbing became more mainstream.
Even now though,
rejection hurts. No matter how many times you go through it, the sting is still
there. Whether it’s having a book go to the editorial board of a publishing
house and not get support, or it’s someone hating your book or ripping apart the
characters you love and adore.
4. When and why did you first start
writing?
I actually
started writing seriously for publication four years ago—although my late mother
claimed I wrote my first story at four! After writing a Southern Literary
Fiction, I read Twilight and went down the Young Adult path. Two novels,
two agents, and two almost publishing deals later, I decided to go back to my
roots in the adult world. I’m not giving up on Young Adult entirely. However, it
has been a complete 180 joining the Romance community. I have never met such
amazing, supportive, and caring people in all my life!! Every time I get on
Facebook, Goodreads, or Twitter, I have a goofy grin on my face from the
fangirling or support. It has really built back the shattered writing
self-esteem I had after my experiences in the traditional publishing world.
5. How did you come up with the idea for the
book your book?
First, I’m a huge
fan of the June and Johnny Cash type love stories—the love of a good woman turns
the life of a bad boy around. Then I’ll openly admit that there is a bit of Emma
that is a Mary Sue !! For many years now, I’ve been saying that I would take the
plunge and have a child on my own if the perfect man—scratch that and say ANY
DECENT MAN—didn’t come along. A lot of Emma’s pain of wanting and needing a
family of her own comes from my own life experiences.
6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you
reading now?
Yes, I am a huge
reader. I usually average 100 books or more a year, and that’s not counting the
books I critique or beta read for writer buddies. I just finished the AMAZING
On Dublin Street. Probably one of my Top Five FAVS of the year.
7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring
writers?
Keep with it. No matter how hard it gets, how bleak it looks,
how many rejections you get, don’t give up. It’s hard because it happens so easy
for some people. Others have to struggle and struggle to make it. It hasn’t been
an easy journey for me—often it’s been a step forward and three steps back. But
the true reward comes when someone loves your characters and story as much as
you do.
I’d also give Stephen King’s advice from On
Writing—read, read, read. Whatever genre you’re wanting to write, you need
to be very, very familiar with it.
