A Moment with Nona Raines

Welcome Nona. I'm so glad to have you with me today.

Tell the readers a little about yourself and your latest release. 

Thanks so much for having me here today. I'm a former school librarian who enjoys all kinds of books, but especially romances. I've been writing off and on for a long time. But a couple of years ago I became determined to actually complete a manuscript.

My latest book "Take This Man" is the story of lovers Adam and Elyse. One evening, when they unexpectedly enact a sexual fantasy that includes a third person, their relationship is shattered. Hurt and angry, Elyse leaves town and upon her return realizes her feelings for Adam are still unresolved. He still loves her, too, and wants to make up for past mistakes. But they have to struggle with anger, hurt and fear, as well as ghosts of the past, to reclaim the love they once had.

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?

Oh, I love to read, always have! Now that I'm writing I have less time for it, but it's so important in re-energizing the brain cells. I enjoy nonfiction about women's issues, popular biographies, YA and children's books, and of course, romance!

Some authors I really enjoy are Cari Quinn, Danica St. Como, and Susan St. Thomas.  

How do you stay motivated when the Muse is uncooperative?

Sometimes writing scenes out of chronological order works for me, or just brainstorming ideas by myself or with my critique partners. Other times you just force yourself to plow ahead. Even when I'm not motivated, I remind myself that I'm lucky to be doing what I've always wanted to do!

If you could go anywhere in the world on a romantic getaway, what would you do and where would you go?

I would love to tour of some of the great libraries of the world—The New York Public Library, The Library of Congress, The New Library of Alexandria (Egypt), and others. Now some might not think that very romantic. But any place is romantic if you're with the right person, isn't that so?

What is the hardest thing for you to write?

This may sound strange coming from an erotic romance author, but the sex scenes are toughest for me. You want to hit the right balance—hot without being pornographic, and you certainly don't want to be boring! 

If you could live the life of one of your characters who would you be?

I think I'd like to be Tania Talcott, who appears in both my books.  She's gutsy and funny and not afraid to say exactly what she thinks! 

The tag line on my blog is ‘Indulge Your Inner Romantic.’ What do you do to indulge?

Coffee, chocolate and books are my indulgences of choice! This may sound boring to some people, but there's nothing more delicious for me than to hole up in a corner of a bookstore with a large coffee and a huge stack of books! I could sit there for hours!

Where do you get your story ideas?

Wow, ideas are everywhere—the problem is figuring how to stretch them into full-length stories. Some of my stories are inspired by supporting characters from earlier books. For example, in my first book, "One Good Man", the hero Matthew had a mouthy, cynical older brother. Well, what's his problem? I wondered. That character, Adam, is now the hero of my new book. Some other characters also have me curious, and I'm working on their stories now.

Blurb—"Take This Man"

The biggest mistake of Elyse Zemanski's life was falling in love with Adam. When a night of sexual fantasy went too far, she was crushed and couldn't leave town fast enough.

The biggest mistake of Adam Vostek's life was letting Elyse go. He'd been afraid of the love she promised, and pushed her away—into another man's arms…and bed.

When Elyse returns to Summit to help a friend, Adam wants a second chance to prove he’s worthy—in and out of the bedroom. She claims she's over him but one look from those smoldering eyes, and she throws caution to the wind. Elyse offers him seven days of wild sex, hoping to get him out of her system. 

Adam's good to go on the sex. But will a week be enough to win back Elyse's love and trust?

To purchase from The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=182&products_id=847

To purchase from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Take-This-Man-ebook/dp/B005VHM5Z0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318803063&sr=8-1

For more information, go to www.nonaraines.com

Someone knocked at her door. It could only be Jason. Coop must have flaked out on him, for him to be back already. Elyse hurried to open the door, ready to console her friend.

Adam stood in the threshold.

"What are you doing here?" Her heart slammed in her chest.

"I wanted to say I’m sorry." He shifted from one foot to the other. "I shouldn’t have been such a prick before."

"You didn’t have to come here for that. You already apologized."

His shoulders twitched uneasily, then straightened. He met her stare dead on. "I wanted to do it right this time."

Elyse gazed at him. He no longer had on the work boots, jeans and company-logo emblazoned T-shirt he wore this morning. He had gone home, showered and shaved, and changed into black dress pants and a long-sleeved button-down shirt. Elyse caught the whiff of something woodsy, some kind of after-shave or cologne. His hair was still a bit damp.

"Are you on your way somewhere?" she asked.

He blinked at her. "No."

So he’d done all that, just to come over to apologize. Elyse felt something soften inside her. Even as part of her was screaming No, don’t do it! she stepped back, out of the doorway. "Come on in."

Adam stepped inside and briefly glanced around the room, his discomfort as apparent here as in the hall. "I thought you and Devereaux would be sharing a room." The corner of his mouth lifted. "What’s the matter, does he snore? Or do you hog the bed?"

"You tell me," she snapped. She should have known she and Adam couldn’t occupy the same space and have a civil conversation. Not anymore. "It wasn’t that long ago we shared a bed. If I remember right, you were the one that took up most of the space. And snored." She glared at him.

His mouth twisted down and his hands curled into fists at his side. "I did it again. I’m sorry. I should have never come. I should go." He looked at her, his cheeks dark with embarrassment. "I am sorry. Really."

"Wait a minute." The same part of her that warned not to invite him in now cried, Let him go, Elyse. Please, let him go.

But of course she ignored it. "Jason and I aren’t sharing a room because we’re not together. We’re not a couple. We’ve haven’t been since…" since that night.

"We’re friends now." She told him. "Very close friends."

Adam lifted his eyebrows. "Very close."

"Yes." Elyse gritted her teeth, ready to shove him out the door if he made one more smart-assed comment. "As a matter of fact, Jason is my best friend."

Adam curled and relaxed his fingers. He looked at her sideways. "I used to be your best friend."

"I thought so once, yeah," Elyse said. "But now I know we were never really friends."

He actually looked hurt. "I want to be," he said, his voice soft. "I want to be your friend now."

Elyse couldn’t have answered even if she’d known what to say. Her throat was as dry as straw.