Interview with Author Eve Summers, aka Yvonne Walus:
Hi Eve. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
“A Slave of My Own Desire” (Red Rose Publishing 2008) is about a woman’s one-night journey to embrace her naughty sexual desires and overcome her family’s racial prejudices. It’s a romantic novella and a hot modern love story.
Says Danielle from Coffee Times Romances: “A Slave Of My Own Desire is a pleasant read about how two lonely people can find each other when they least expect it. The discrimination David hears from Claire's family about mixed couples is all too real. The way Claire fights to fit in with her parents' ideas is heartbreaking and sad. The way she struggles to become someone else is an experience we all face at one point in our lives. This short novella is a testament to a good erotic read with a moral of how we must overcome our own obstacles. Nice job!”
- What can we expect from you in the future?
“Danger, Word Games” has been accepted by Red Rose Publishing for publication in 2009, and I have great hopes for “Fiji on Fire, Fiji on Ice” and “Safe Sex Incorporated”. They are all hot romances, though none as daring as “A Slave of My Own Desire”.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
I write romances under Eve Summers and murder mysteries under Yvonne Walus. My books are available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Fictionwise, Echelon Presss and Red Rose Publishing.
- How may readers contact you?
I love talking about books and I’m happy to answer questions, so please email me at hotyve@gmail.com.
- How many readers/fans contact you?
More than I ever hoped for, though not so many that it imposes on my writing time. So please do drop me a note and I promise to answer it personally.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Definitely! I write books because I want to make a difference. I want my readers to think, feel and change for the better. The best fan letters are those that tell me I’ve touched them, albeit in a small way.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
My favourite must be: "A brilliant story! I want more! Nalini Singh, New York Times Bestselling Author of Hostage to Pleasure.
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I believe in love - fervently, wholeheartedly, absolutely. Today’s world is too focused on money, personal ambition and commercial success. We tend to forget that the most important thing of all is the love, respect and companionship of another human being.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Probably more than I’d care to admit, LOL. Although I can tell you right now that:
· I’ve never tried the champagne trick I described in “A Slave of My Own Desire”, but my friends don’t believe me when I tell them that.
It’s odd the way people relate to an author: you write about a serial killer and nobody thinks you’re writing from experience, but if you write a kinky love scene they all assume your husband is one lucky man….
- Where do your ideas come from?
The idea for “A Slave of My Own Desire” came to me because I’m fascinated by people’s prejudices. Having spent 16 years in South Africa during the apartheid and post-apartheid era, I’m sensitive to racial prejudices in particular. The South Africa of my childhood was very restrictive in terms of sexual freedom and prescriptive in terms of what was “moral” in the bedroom. “A Slave of My Own Desire” wrestles with bigotry, narrow-mindedness and discrimination as it exposes a bit of fun between the sheets as something perfectly natural.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
Definitely. I believe even the most poignant message and the most beautiful literature can be delivered in a light enjoyable manner. Life is too short to read depressing books!
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
Extremely. I’m a queen of word play and foreplay, and I’m most comfortable flirting with sexual tension. Ideally, I would leave the hero and heroine alone once their clothes come off. Having said that, I’ve learnt to write explicit love scenes that are hot, but I always make sure they are necessary to the story’s plot or character development.
- What kind of research do you do?
It’s usually expertise-by-Google, though I so wish I could afford to do heaps more. Particularly when writing “Fiji on Fire, Fiji on Ice”, I kept thinking that surely a trip to Fiji would be a legitimate writing expense, not to mention sampling all those naughty-sounding cocktails my heroine gets to drink without me….
- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
As far as romances go, I love Jenny Crusie for her dialogues and Jane Beckenham for her sexual tension and Sophie Kinsella for the humour.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Firmly on the New York times Bestseller list.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
It naturally varies, and often the book I’m yet to write is my favourite, but of the ones that have already been published (21 so far), I love “A Slave of My Own Desire” because it’s so liberating for women.
- What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?
I’d like to do a quick topical plug here: I feel the current global recession should be excellent news for e-books. E-books are way cheaper than almost any present you can think of giving your loved ones. And, incidentally, I’ve been told on many occasions that “A Slave of My Own Desire” makes a great gift for a man!
Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Eve Summers' Website Yvonne Walus' Website Email
RaH Links:
Interview Review
Information & Purchase Links:
Buy Eve's Books At Amazon
Buy Slave to My Own Desires at Red Rose™ Publishing
Buy Eve's Books at Red Rose™ Publishing
Buy Red Rose™ Publishing Books
Buy Echelon Press Books
