Guest Interview with Debut Author Candice Butler

I am thrilled to have Candice Butler on my blog today...

HI Candice :-)

Hello, my name is Candice Butler and my debut novel to be released by Noble Romance on 12/19 is Serving Serena.  I really am excited to be given the opportunity to talk about writing, although  I really hate talking about me.  

Q. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure, I’m married and a year younger than my heroine.  I absolutely love to write and have been doing it for more than 30 years although the only things I’ve gotten paid for are the reports I write for my employer.  I love romance.  It does make the world go round, mine at least. 

Nod, where would we be without some romance.

Q. What made you write ‘this’ story?

I read my first romance in junior high, around age 13 and I never stopped reading them. However, as I got older the heroines never got much older than somewhere in their forties.  Great stories, but after 50 you ponder different things, decision-making is different, even the decisions on who to love and make love to.  I wanted to read about heroines who had more perspective, so I wrote about them.

Great stuff, we def need more older heroines.

Q. Describe a typical day’s writing for us

Frankly, I have no typical days with a 40 hour a week job and a business to run.  I will say this; I start a new story when it comes to me.  And I can never start unless the heroine and hero have told me their names and how their story ends.  The rest is discovery.  

Q. What inspires you?

I’m inspired by great writing, whether it’s in books, magazines, newspapers or on the screen.  I love a well put together story.  It doesn’t have to be deep or profound just beautifully written.  I’m also inspired by acts of courage and acts of kindness, big or small; always wish I had more of those in me.   

Q. If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

I’m a lot of things, a government investigator, a business owner, belly dancer.  I’d be these things even if I wasn’t constantly waking up in the middle of the night to jot down a new plot twist. 

Q. Do your characters ever surprise you?

Always, if they don’t the story doesn’t get finished.  I love it when they take that turn down the unexpected path to give the story more texture.   When they come alive and make me go a ha, that’s how it works.

*nods enthusiastically* Me too!

Q. What could not do without when you’re writing?

My computer.  I used to write by hand, you know longhand on yellow tablets.  Now I just think too fast for 

that to be effective. 

Am with you there, I couldn't do without my trusty netbook.

Q. What words of wisdom do you have for the aspiring authors out there?

Write.  It is as simple as that.  You get better, you like it more, you settle in to you.  Most important submit and don’t be afraid of criticism.  I think I would have gotten here much faster if I had followed that piece of advice. 

Q. Where do you see yourself in ten year’s time?

Ten years older, retired and still writing and hopefully still having a great time living. 

Q. Do you have a favourite quote?

Yes, here goes. 

Tell me what it is that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?  A ship is safe in port, but that is not what ships are for.  Mary Oliver

Q. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Yes, but thankfully it is always short lived.  I usually get rid of it by starting something new.  That’s why I have so many unfinished stories. 

Q. What other books can your readers look forward to?

Well one story kind of led to the next and suddenly I was on a roll of women who are lucky enough to meet the perfect man, who happens to be a god.  So in this series there is

Him – A retired airplane designer, finds out her next door neighbor is the Egyptian God of Fertility and he has one thing on his mind; her.

The Kitchen God’s Girlfriend – The kitchen gets really hot when a disillusioned chef meets up with the hunky Kitchen God .

Frenemies  - What happens when the Mother Goddess, in disguise meets and falls for her ancient enemy, a Warlock in disguise.

Sniff – It’s been said that our noses are a direct portal to our minds and emotions.  A professional nose aka perfumer finds out it can also be direct portal to our past lives when an old lover hires her to concoct the perfect scent. 

Excellent I love a good series!

Q. And finally can you share an excerpt with us?

I love this scene in Serving Serena.  Are we supposed to love our own stuff?  Who knows? I think we better love it a lot, because we’ve given it precious hours of our lives.  

Of course you have to love your own stuff! 

A twinge tightened my neck as I straightened up to grab a new pencil.

“Ouch!”

 In an instant, Teros moved to my side, his strong fingers massaging the knotted muscles of my neck.

“You need a break,” he said. Gently, he pried the pencil from my fingers, which had also begun to cramp. How long had we been at this?  The clock showed a quarter past midnight—over five hours.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you this long.” 

“Don’t worry. I enjoyed watching you work. Now sit.” Teros led me to the chair he’d been draped over a moment before. I settled into the cushions, still warm from his body. 

“How about some chamomile tea with your sandwich?  It will help you sleep.”  He moved over by the refrigerator, dropping down on one knee, searching through a cabinet until he came up with an electric kettle and a canister. He still hadn’t slipped on his robe. For this, I thanked the gods.

Grace and power manifested themselves in his every movement. He walked to the bathroom to fill the kettle, then returned, and plugged it in. He retrieved cups from the cabinet and food from the refrigerator. I watched as he poured steaming hot water into the mugs. I was surprised when he unwrapped two sandwiches. He’d planned on working late.

“Here, drink this.” Teros handed me a warm mug, watching me until I’d lifted it to my lips to sip.

My neck twinged again. Teros set his mug down on the table. Moving behind me, he slid his hand inside my shirt and gently gripped my knotted shoulders. His glorious, naked body hovered over me while his hands soothed away the stiffness. Setting down my own mug, I gave myself up to his incredible ministrations and my fantasy of what it would be like if this were only the prelude to a whole night of hot sex.

Suddenly, he stopped, his fingers resting lightly on my clavicles. Electricity coursed through me, along with overpowering desire. This situation could get out of hand fast.  

“Don’t tighten up on me Serena,” he said near my ear.

A moan slipped out before I could stop it. “Teros, I need to be honest with you. I’m thinking and feeling things about you that are totally inappropriate not only because you’re a monk. But I’m also old enough to be your mother and definitely should know better. I’m sorry. ” 

He kept massaging but said nothing.

Talk about your awkward silences. The pressure of his fingers against my skin had me practically coming.

Nervous laughter. Mine. “I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you. Maybe we should call it a night.” 

His breath tickled my ear. Then I felt his lips press against that sensitive spot just above my shoulder blade. A shudder went through me. I must be dreaming.  Either that or I’d just jumped onto the devil’s expressway to hell.

He chuckled.

His hot breath against my skin made me wetter, and my clit throbbed. I squeezed my legs tight.

This is freaking impossible!

He leaned over my shoulder, the heat from his chest penetrating the thin material of my top. I breathed in his scent and felt my pussy clinch reflexively.

His strong fingers slid under my chin and turned my face until only a few molecules of air separated our lips.

“Serena,” he whispered. “I’m not a monk.”  

What!? Yes! No! Oh, god help me!

Unable to stop, I closed that space, putting my lips against his perfect mouth. He responded, burying his fingers in my hair and pulling me closer. After a brief chaste moment, his tongue slid into my mouth, and my body suddenly exploded into life.

 Great Excerpt Candice! Wishing you many sales!

I hope you’ll give this one a try.  It is a labor of love … and lust.  Also check out my website for contests, info and the blog ramblings of a woman a of a certain age atwww.candicebutler.com   Serving Serena releases on December 19th atwww.nobleromance.com    I'm hoping to live up to the moniker Hot New Talent. 

I would love to hear from anyone. 

Thanks again for stopping by Candice. It was lovely to get to know you a bit better :-)