Interview with Author Xandra James and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to the blog author Xandra James, Xandra is currently on tour and took some time out of her busy schedule to let me ask her some questions. But before we get to the interview, lets get to know Xandra some.

Xandra James has always wanted to write romance books. Even when she was sneaking peaks at the hot bits, too young to fully appreciate them, she dreamt of writing her own.

Now, older and wiser, she’s got the opportunity to project her slightly dark and wacky, British sense of humour onto others, whilst still writing the hot bits – bonus!

When not writing, Xandra is thinking of excuses as to why she shouldn’t be doing the housework, looking after a husband and cats that refuse to pick up after themselves and climbing the mountain in her house that’s affectionately called her tbr pile.

She currently holds the crown for Queen Procrastinator – something she’s very proud of – so you can usually find her online, somewhere, when she really should be writing.

Places to find Xandra:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
Hi – thanks for having me today! I'm a British romance writer with a penchant for hot alpha males and sassy heroines and have many, many books in my tbr pile. I'm married with cats, I live by the sea and I like nothing better than a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit and am always telling myself to calm down and carry on (a very British thing, I think!) ;)

Did you always want to be a writer?
Ever since I was ten years old. Before that, I wanted to be an archaeologist or a bit of a treasure hunter, lol. I'd always been a voracious reader, though, and it just seemed a natural progression since I had a 'vivid imaginition' (as my parents would say) to start writing.

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
A bit of both. I prefer having a rough, basic outline before I start as I tend to waste a lot of hours editing out scenes at the end otherwise, so that's my plotter side. When I do start though, I will let my imagination run free, even if I'm trying to stick roughly to a plan. And I write fast so having an idea of where you're going is a great idea but allowing yourself the freedom to veer off slightly is great – hence I'm a bit of a panster too.

Where do your ideas come from?
Anywhere and everywhere. I love all things paranormal, I always have, and will read about mythical creatures that I love the sounds of and want to write them into a book. I'm also a people watcher so will pick up a lot just from shopping or sitting around in a café.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
This one's for Reluctant Revenge…
Nash and Sienna's chemistry is electric but can this hybrid hunter, now bound to her by blood, forgive her past and love again?
Woohoo, I managed it! I usually cut myself o— ;)

Out of any of your books, which one would you like to be a character in? And why?
I would love to be Sienna from Reluctant Revenge. I fell in love with Nash as I was writing him. Plus, Sienna isn't a push over herself. She's realistic, funny, gorgeous and has some fun abilities herself ;)

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
I adore category romance – especially set around the office environment. I also love funny paranormals. I always say, make me laugh in a book and I'm a fan of that author for life!

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
I don't have one specific book, no. I've read too many books to narrow it down to one. I do love Kerrelyn Sparks Love At Stake series though and there's a couple in there which I adore.

Have you ever fallen for another author's hero? If so, who and why?
All the time. To really enjoy a book, I think you have to wish you were the heroine and fall helplessly in love with the hero! A specific series, from Johanna Lindsey actually, had some characters in – the mallory's. I fell for them completely because they were such Alpha guys who weren't afraid to stick their necks out for their lovers. Made me go all gooey inside ;)

Describe the characteristics that make up your perfect hero.
Gorgeous, strong, usually with a bit of an arrogance but, most importantly, a sense of humour. I can't abide a hero with a stick up his a… err… yeah, you get what I mean! LOL.

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
The black moment is always tough. You need to get emotions and justifications just right for it to work. Also, sex scenes. Sometimes I'm imagining what's happening and I don't put enough detail into the scene itself. I have to make sure I layer the good parts in afterwards!

If you could have dinner with any three book characters, who would you choose and why?
I would have to choose Nash from Reluctant Revenge because I loved writing him and he's hawt!!! Angus from Be Still My Vampire Heart by K Sparks because he's an handsome man with a beautiful personality and a strong sense of family and probably someone like Ethan from the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill because she wrote him as a vampire so well, I'd quiz him all about it!

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
Kerrelyn Sparks, Janet Evanovich and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I'd love to know their experiences and get advice and ask if it's normal to obsess over sales and marketing and writing etc ;)

What do you like to do in your free time?
I watch movies, read and try to be creative in some way.

Favorite movie?
Probably either Pirates of the Caribbean or Indiana Jones – Raiders of the lost ark.

Favorite song?
I usually go through phases of loving different music so favourite songs change week in, week out. At the moment I like a bit of Guns n' roses – You could be mine. Or Adele's – Someone Like You.

Favorite color?
Black.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
I've just finished a short story for Evernight Publishing called Her Demon Charms which will be in their Keyboards and Kink anthology. And I've just received the cover for another short story, this time from Breathless press, called Protecting His Own. That'll be in The Blood Bar Chronicles, Book 2: The Protectors.

I'm also writing a short Christmas story too. Having a lot of fun listening to xmas tunes!!

Thanks so much for having me here today - I enjoyed answering your questions!

Nash was bound to her completely – by a blood connection and a deep desire. An Enforcer for the Supranormal community, he was obligated to protect the sexy assignment from those who coveted her future Angelic abilities, but can he forgive the woman whose family had devastated his world?

Sienna, upon the realisation she’d been betrayed by her family for keeping her birthright a secret, seeks solace in the arms of her surly and reluctant protector; a demon hybrid with a secret of his own. Can she come to terms with her destiny after discovering that she could be as dangerous as those Nash was protecting her from?

Places to Purchase:

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance | Bookstrand | Pink Petal Books | 

Want to win a copy of this book? 1 lucky commenter will win themselves a copy. 

To Enter:

• Leave a comment answering the question: Why do you want to win a copy of Reluctant Revenge?
• Fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Please answer the question below or leave a meaningful comment. 

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