Let's get to know her!
****
Q. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
A. My name is Michelle Roth. I'm 33 and live
in Los Angeles with my boyfriend and our two amazing cats. I work in variable
annuities by day, and write filthy romance novels by night. When I'm not doing
those two things, I love to cook and travel.
Q. What made you write ‘this’ story?
A.I struggled with this one. I had such a defined vision of the characters that I had to find the perfect story. Something that let the reader really get to know these people.
I find that, in the face of adversity,
that's when you get to really know your partner. I wanted to play with that
element, but at the same time, keep it sexy. It was a difficult balance at
times.
Q. Tell us about your cover.
A. It was EXACTLY what I had in mind. I like
the lighting, the slightly gold cast.. Everything about it matches one of the
scenes in the book. :)
Q. Describe a typical day’s writing for us
A. I tend to cloister myself because otherwise
I can't focus at all! I usually hide out
in my office with some music playing low in the background and the words tend
to flow. If they don't then I go back to the planning stages or I edit some of
my previous work.
Q. What inspires you?
A. Everything, really. People I meet, music,
television shows, other books I've read. Sometimes it's just as simple as a
turn of phrase. That's actually what started my
current WIP.
Q. If you weren’t a writer what would you be?
A. A chef, Cordon Bleu trained, of course. :)
Q. Do your characters ever surprise you?
A. Absolutely. I had a plan for this book and
then my characters changed the whole thing. They were just too earnest with
each other from the start for what I had in mind.
Q. What could not do without when you’re
writing?
A. Caffeine.
Q. What words of wisdom do you have for the
aspiring authors out there?
A. Just sit down and write. You can worry and
edit and think about it and draft it and plan it for years and years. None of
that matters until you write the damn book. So do that.
Q. Where do you see yourself in ten year’s
time?
A. I'd love to ditch le day job and write full
time. I figure I'll have to earn my dues, though.
Q. Do you have a favourite quote?
A. I do.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Q. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?
A. If I don't plan enough then absolutely! I
tend to go back to planning and character development when that happens.
Usually after I develop more, then things just fall into place.
Q. What other books can your readers look
forward to?
A. Well, Unexpectedly Yours is the final book
in the Private Relations series. So, the readers have two to catch up on if
they haven't read them already.
Also, I've started a new stand-alone book,
In Full Bloom. It's the story of a man who buys a florist shop and a building,
but ends up with a sexy tenant that continuously challenges his will
power. It's a bit edgier than what I've
written previously. I'm really enjoying writing this one.
Q. And finally can you share the blurb and
excerpt with us?
Blurb
Elle Thomas has had a crush on Jim Conroy for months now. Among
their small circle of friends, they're the only two single people left. It
makes sense that he might gravitate toward her at social events, and maybe even
flirt a little bit, right? Elle can't help but want more, though.
Jim may be going insane. He's been chasing Elle for months. He's
flirted with her, asked her out, and done everything else he could think of to
get her attention short of skywriting his feelings. When Elle finally agrees to
go out with him, things quickly heat up between them.
What starts out as a single spark of attraction between them
quickly burns out of control. As they settle into the beginnings of a
relationship, one moment will change their lives forever. Is their relationship
strong enough to survive when reality sets in?
STORY EXCERPT
The
next hour flew by as she worked on the clam chowder. Setting down the spoon,
she moved back to the tomato soup. Judging it cool enough to put into the
refrigerator, she grabbed the handles of the stock pot and started to pour it
into a storage container.
Jim
breezed through the door as she was finishing. Like always, she totally lost
her concentration when he walked into the room. Soup sloshed over the side of
the container. She cursed roundly, as the soup scalded her hand.
Turning
to the sink, she turned the water on and rinsed the soup off of her hand. Jim
hurried over and said, “Shit. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she said, “I’m just a
klutz. It’s not your fault.”
Jim
looked at her and said, “That looks really red.”
Elle
waved her hand and said, “Not too bad. The soup wasn’t that hot.”
He
reached out and put his hand on her wrist, gently steering her hand back to the
sink. Turning the water on cool, he moved it back under the stream. They stood
there for a few moments, his hand circling her wrist as she let the water run
over it.
Reaching
out with her other hand she turned the water off and said, “It’s fine now. I
promise.”
“You’re sure?” he asked,
concerned.
Rolling
her eyes now, she said, “Yes. I’m sure. I’m totally fine. I burn myself quite
frequently. It’s part of the job.”
He eyed
the red blotch on her hand and frowned again, unconvinced.
“Would it make you feel better
if I put something cold on it?” she asked.
“If it’s not a lot less red
after we eat, then yes,” he said.
“We?” she asked.
“Yeah, we. I’ve tried to get you
to go out with me a couple of times now. I figure this is the only way you’ll
let me buy you dinner,” he said with a grin.
She
smiled now. He was such a flirt.
“You know. If you keep asking,
one of these days I’m going to think you’re serious, Jim,” she said, moving
toward the food he’d set on the counter. Then she asked, “Which one of these is
mine?” as she rifled through the brown paper bag.
When
she looked up, he was staring at her like he was trying to solve a puzzle. He
finally asked, “What makes you think I’m not serious? I’ve been flirting with
you for months.”
Elle
blinked, confused for a minute, and said, “Honestly, I thought it was a
proximity thing. When everyone gets together, we’re the only two single people.
I didn’t realize you were serious.”
“I see that,” he said.
“Proximity? You don’t give yourself a lot of credit, Elle.”
Reaching
for one of the containers, he opened it then passed it over to her.
Picking
up her fork, she shrugged at him and said, “I’m just a realist.”
He gave
an almost imperceptible shake of his head, then said, “Elle,” and sighed.
They
moved into the office and sat on the couch. Digging into their food, they were
both silent for a few minutes.
Finally,
Jim asked, “What did you mean, you’re a realist?”
Elle
snorted and said, “Come on. You know you’re ridiculously hot. I just didn’t
think you’d be interested.”
Jim
grinned and said, “Thanks, but why wouldn’t I be interested in you?”
“You could be dating willowy
models. I’m not saying I’m ugly, but I’m pretty average. Not willowy in the
slightest,” Elle said, shrugging.
“The willowy model types you
think I should be dating don’t have much substance in my experience. They’re
usually looking for a leg up in the entertainment industry or they’re after my
money. I prefer my women…real. You’re very much my type,” he said, looking her
directly in the eye now.
Flushing,
Elle smiled and said, “Good to know.”
They
ate in silence for a few minutes as Elle thought over everything he said.
Popping open the can of Diet Coke he’d brought with him, she took a swig and
said, “This has certainly been an enlightening meal but I have to get back to
work now.”
“So you’re going to put me out
of my misery and let me take you on an actual date, right?” he asked.
Nodding
slowly, she said, “That would be nice.”
He
asked, “What are you doing Friday?”
Elle
winced and said, “I’m working late. Evening event.”
“Saturday?”
Considering,
she said, “I should be free after 5:00 p.m. What did you have in mind?”
“Let me think about that,” he
said, pulling out his cell phone. “What’s your number? I’ll call you once I
figure it out.”
Elle
rattled off her cell phone number. He dialed. A moment later, her phone rang in
her apron pocket.
“Now you’ve got mine,” he said.
“Lemme see your hand.”
He
reached out and took her wrist, inspecting the part of her hand that she’d
burnt. Sighing, he said, “It looks better. Sorry about that.”
“Again,” she said, “totally not
your fault. It will be perfectly fine tomorrow. What do I owe you for dinner?”
He
shook his head and said, “I’ve got dinner. It was well worth the cost of your
lemon chicken to finally clear the air between us.”
“Thank you for dinner then,” she
said, smiling.
“Don’t work too late, Elle. Be
careful please,” he said, gesturing to her hand.
Elle
grinned and said, “Only an hour or so left. I’ll be careful.”
“Night,” he said as he walked
toward the kitchen door.
She
gave him a little wave and said, “Night.”
ADULT EXCERPT
Standing
up now, he moved toward her. He’d been watching her mess with the hem of her
dress since she’d arrived. He’d been getting small, tantalizing glimpses of her
smooth thighs for the better part of an hour now. She was driving him crazy and
seemed to have no idea.
She got
off the couch now, smiling, and said, “I had almost given up on dinner.”
He
pulled her into his arms and asked, “Would you mind putting off dinner a few
minutes? I’ve got something I need to take care of.”
Looking
at him curiously now, she said, “Oh?”
He
nodded and the leaned down to take her mouth with his. Nibbling her bottom lip
gently, he mumbled, “Super important.”
When
she sighed against his lips, he deepened the kiss. As tongue swept into her
mouth to tangle with hers, he stroked his hand down her back to press her even
closer to him. His hands moved down to settle on the curves of her ass. He
immediately heard a low moan in the back of her throat and felt himself harden.
Breaking
his mouth away from hers, he trailed his lips down the side of her throat, pressing
soft, biting kisses against her neck. When he gently sucked on the patch of
flesh where her neck and shoulder met, he felt her shudder slightly against
him. She pressed closer and rolled her hips against him.
Groaning,
he pulled his mouth away from her shoulder and said, “Every time you messed
with the hem of your dress, it gave me this overwhelming desire to bury my face
between your thighs. Would you mind?”
He felt
her sharp intake of breath, then a moment later she laughed and said,
“Literally anytime you want to, I can make myself available for that.”
With a
groan, he captured her mouth with his again. The kiss grew wild, quickly. Her
hands slid around his waist and up his back. She pulled him until he was flush
against her. The only thing that separated them was clothing and he had every
intention of correcting that particular issue very soon.
He
moved them slowly back toward his desk and sat her on the edge, pushing the
skirt of her dress up. Standing between her thighs now, he pulled back from the
kiss. Pressing his lips to her throat again, he began swirling his tongue
against her skin.
He
cupped one breast in his palm and felt her nipple pebble under his touch as he
moved his fingers against it. He continued to massage her breast gently with his
palm until he heard her breathing increase slightly. He moved his hand lower to
the damp heat between her thighs and discovered that the filmy lace was soaked.
On a
groan, he sank to his knees. Helping her shift, he pulled the panties down her
legs and slid them over the heels she wore. He stared at her now and felt
another wave of lust hit him. He could see the evidence of her arousal against
the now bare lips of her pussy.
He used
his thumb and forefinger to spread her open and leaned forward. Running his
tongue in a circular motion around her swollen clitoris, he heard her sharp
intake of breath. When he slid two fingers into her tight channel, she gave a
moan.
Pumping
them into her with a steady rhythm, he shifted his mouth slightly, making
direct contact with her clit for the first time. He felt her flutter around his
fingers as she cried out. Working his fingers against her, he rubbed the flat
of his tongue in time with the press of his hand.
She was
whimpering with each stroke of his tongue and he could feel her tightening and
fluttering around his fingers.
Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Michelle!
Purchase my entire series at http://www.bookstrand.com/michelle-roth
Follow me on twitter at @mroth_author
Like me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/michellerothauthor
Follow me on twitter at @mroth_author
Like me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/michellerothauthor
No comments:
Post a Comment