1-Tell the readers a little about yourself.
Growing up, I wrote mostly fantasy stories or medieval adventures. As an adult I find myself drawn more towards erotic romance and suspense. It’s an ironic twist considering how I live in one of the most sexually repressed and religious states in the country. Most of the authors around here have devoted themselves to young adult fiction or children’s books. You could definitely say I’m the black sheep of the family.
2-As an author, do you take time to read? If so, what do you like to read and who is/are your favorite author/s?
I love to read! As a child I was hooked on Anne Rice, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Anne McCaffrey, Robert Jordan, and so forth. Now I tend to look for books by Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Suzanne Brockmann and the like. My favorite stories will almost always include either great seduction scenes or terrifying suspense.
3-How do you stay motivated when the Muse is uncooperative?
When I first get the idea for a story I try to sit down and create a rough outline of the plot, including any little twists or secondary plots I want to include. It really makes it so much easier to push through writer’s block if you know where you want your characters to end up for the next act in your book.
If I really find myself struggling with the flow of a story, I may put the manuscript aside for a little while and work on something else. It’s surprising how often the story will just work itself out as I’m drifting off to sleep at night.
4-If you could go anywhere in the world on a romantic getaway, what would you do and where would you go?
I think the most romantic place in the world is probably Italy. If I wanted to take a man on a fun adventure, I would definitely whisk his sexy ass off to Rome and take a tour of the Old World wine country. Athens, Greece would be another possible destination.
I know a lot of people would probably claim Paris for their getaway, but if they go to France I would have to recommend they get out to the north western coast and enjoy some of the exquisite countryside. Paris seemed too depressing to me. It felt dirty and dark, almost gothic at heart.
5-What is the hardest thing for you to write?
I really don’t enjoy writing non-fiction. It isn’t nearly as much fun as fabricating a wild adventure or romance story. I make an exception for keeping a travel journal and personal diary, because they allow me to go back and relive my favorite exploits.
6-If you could live the life of one of your characters who would you be?
I would definitely want to be Syrena, the succubus from Dream Seductions: All the Queen’s Men. She’s the creature that started the whole Dream Seduction series for me, and will always be my favorite. Her story will be published in July, so you’ll want to stay tuned to my website (www.CelesteHall.com) or my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/Celeste-Hall/163107347079149) for excerpts and information on its release!
7-The tag line on my blog is ‘Indulge Your Inner Romantic.’ What do you do to indulge?
My favorite indulgence is a long hot bath, followed by eating chocolates in bed with a great romance novel. =)
Beware of dark desire… When a vampire falls in love with a human, there is more at risk than a broken heart. How do you protect the one you love from becoming the thing she fears most in the world? How do you share your life with someone knowing fully well that your blood carries a virus which could destroy her?
I wrote my first short stories around the age of nine, and was completing full length manuscripts by the age of twelve.
I left home around fourteen or fifteen, staying with family and friends among the western States. As the years passed I continued to read everything I could lay hands on.
In adulthood I began building towards a career in criminal justice, particularly criminal psychology. I received various certifications, awards and schooling in the field before discovering parapsychology and finding myself drawn into the mystery of the mind.
A received a PhD in Parapsychology but continued working towards a future in criminal justice until a car accident in 2005 left me with a traumatic brain injury and learning how to walk again in a swimming pool.
After two years of physical therapy I knew that my body was no longer capable of supporting the rigors of the career I'd chosen. After my mother discovered some of my old manuscripts in her basement, I decided to try writing once more. And I couldn’t be happier!
Excerpt:
A warm feathery sensation against the back of her neck had Sarah turning to find that Gavin was now directly behind her.
She startled at the proximity, stumbling as she made a desperate attempt to put some distance back between them.
He caught her before she could fall, holding her securely braced against the rock solid support of his body, the unexpected and shocking heat of his hands against her skin immediately halting all thought of escape.
Sarah looked up at him with the wide eyed stare of Bambi caught in the headlights, every nerve in her body singed by his touch.
Her gaze locked with his.
A thick fringe of dark lashes framed eyes that were a brilliant green with small flecks of gold. And those impossibly green eyes were now studying her with a dangerous level of intensity.
Sarah tried to tell herself that it was fear which made her heart try to pound its way out of her chest and had her breath trapped in her lungs.
She was firmly ensnared within the arms of the most dangerous creature she knew. And that was very likely blood lust making his eyes spark like green fire. But there was an excited swirl of sensations forming low in her belly, warning that if she didn’t soon escape, she would stop wanting to.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth.
Those strong, sensual lips seemed to grow fuller even as she watched.
Sarah knew at once that his canines were growing erect behind that slight curve of a very predatory smile.
She should have been terrified.
Instead, she felt a brilliant wash of heat shoot straight down to her core, lighting up that silken bundle of nerves hidden between her thighs with such immediate need she nearly moaned.
Gavin hadn’t intended to get so close to her, but now that he had her in his arms he felt everything male within him come alive.
She was slim and elegantly built, like a fine boned thoroughbred. Panting as if she’d just run a long race, the sweet scent of mint on her breath feathering against his mouth, making his gums ache as his fangs grew even more painfully erect.
Sarah had high cheekbones that only further accentuated her delicate features and those deep brown eyes. Dark pools that widened as they gazed up at him, making her appear even more innocent and beautiful.
“I didn’t mean to frighten to you,” he offered, one hand still gently grasping her arm as the other supported her back.
Big, powerful hands, which Sarah knew were capable of incredible violence. Yet he held her with the care of a lion cradling a newborn cub. Infinitely aware of just how deadly he could be.
“Boundaries…bloodsucker…”
The warning growl was barely audible to Sarah’s human ears, but she recognized the voice. She also recognized the slight vibration of wings suggesting that Mikhail was not only standing nearby, but he was posed for violence.
Instead of releasing her and stepping back, Gavin’s hand on her arm smoothly glided down to cup her fingers against his palm.
He held her there for a moment, as if preparing for a waltz.
“Beautiful,” he murmured with a slow smile that suggested he knew exactly how pissed off Mikhail was growing, and found it terribly amusing. But that smile was having an entirely different affect on Sarah’s body.
Her skin flushed as she began to tremble.
She was sure now. It wasn’t fear that made her heart pound and her breath catch.
How could she possibly be attracted to this…this, creature? He was a vampire! He was a monster! He was the embodiment of everything that terrified her in this world.
Yet she only watched as he studied her, his eyebrows drawing together in a look of interest and speculation.
Could he actually sense what was happening to her body at that moment?
Did he sense the unbelievable heat now pooling in her panties?
Oh dear god!
Sarah made a jerky attempt to free herself, but Gavin’s hands tightened reflexively around her.
If anything, he actually looked more intrigued by the flush that covered her cheeks and reached clear down to where her nipples were puckered into little pink diamonds, pressing eagerly up against the cotton barrier of her shirt.
Mikhail’s furious snarl was now coming in stereo as Nikolai landed opposite of him, boxing Gavin between them as they raised their wings into gargoyle like arches, the hard boney edges forming quivering blades poised to strike.
The sound was terrifying.
The twins had been working alongside Gavin almost exclusively these past weeks, without a single hitch.
Of all the vampires and incubi, they’d come the closest to becoming friends.
All of that appeared to be balancing on a razor’s edge now.
Gavin must have realized this at the same time it struck Sarah. He released her even as his expression resumed the hard emotionless mask of a vampire commander.
As Sarah beat a hasty retreat, she saw Gavin’s lips moving.
The words were spoken too softly for her to hear, but whatever he said seemed to soothe the incubi. Their wings faded and Mikhail began to ask questions about the new vampire recruits.
Despite her pounding heart and desperate need to escape, Sarah couldn’t help but pause halfway down the hallway and turn to look back.
Gavin’s green eyes instantly locked with hers and she shivered again.
How could she feel such naked fear and raw desire at the same time, for the same man?
No, not man…a vampire.
She turned and practically ran for the privacy of her chambers.
1 comment:
hi Jenna and Celeste! added you to my tbbl Celeste! also fan you at goodreads!
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