Interview with Author Natalie Anderson and Giveaway

Please welcome back Natalie Anderson, author of Gamble in Gold.

USA TODAY bestseller Natalie Anderson writes fun, frisky, feels-good contemporary romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon and Entangled Publishing. With over twenty books published, she's also been a Romantic Times Award nominee & a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).

She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband, four children and what feels like a million ducks.

Places to find Natalie:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
OK, I’m Natalie Anderson, I live in New Zealand with my husband and four children – so my life is pretty busy being a mother (ie cook, chauffeur, cleaner and guidance counsellor). And I have a little shed in my garden in which I escape to write hot, fun, stories and stare out the window at the trees and listen to the birds…

A la Twitter style, please describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
Shy girl meets former High School Crush while wearing only a negligee but he thinks she’s still forbidden fruit #cuescreamingsexualtension

What types of scenes are your most favorite to write?
Will you think badly of me if I admit I love writing those ‘hot’ scenes?! ;) But seriously, I think that what can be revealed about those characters in those scenes, and especially immediately AFTER, can really be important and meaningful in the story…

What are the things that influence you the most as a writer?
Hmmm, I think I’m influenced by all kinds of things all of the time. Well, certainly inspired. I think most writers are always ‘alert’ and open to new ideas and influences. So I watch a lot of movies, read newspapers and blogs etc etc and read books and wander about the city checking out all the new things. (I live in Christchurch, which is currently being rebuilt after a series of devastating earthquakes, so there are a LOT of new things and both permanent and temporary innovations that are really inspiring).

I guess I’m influenced most by the things that speak to me most—and that move me most—I love reading books that feature strong heroines, and those writers who come up with witty and sparkling dialogue time after time? Total writing heroes!

What are some of your favorite characteristics to find in a hero?
I’m such a sucker for a guy with a sense of humor—of course I want a guy who’s strong, with integrity and honesty… but someone who can make a woman smile and feel good? Gets me every time…

Tell me, is there anything that we would be surprised to learn about you?
Hmmmm, I’m pretty much ‘what you see is what you get’ – all the usual guff is in the bio ;) I don’t have any wildly unusual skills or hobbies… I guess one of the things that’s most important to me is being vegetarian—I’ve been veggie for almost twenty-five years now…

If you could live inside any book, which one would you choose and why?
Oh now that’s hard!!!! I could happily live inside a Harlequin Presents novel – one of the ones set in some fictional Mediterreanean island kingdom—I’d love the weather and food and living in a palace with an infinity pool… oh yes, escapist fiction anyone?? ;)

If you could spend the day in the shoes of any of your characters, who would you choose and why?
I think I’d like to live as my character Libby, from BARGAIN IN BRONZE, for a day—mainly so I could hang out in London again for a bit. I lived there for a few years and just loved it. With four young kids it’s going to be a while before I get back there… so a fictional day would be just fab! Also Libby makes the most divine muesli – and I know this is kinda sad but I adore muesli… plus the whole hanging out with rowers and going down the Thames?? Yeah, I do love London!!!

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only three items, what would you bring and why?
I would definitely need pencil and paper, because writing is how I make sense of everything—and helps me not to forget things! And it would alleviate any boredom that’s for sure… and that third thing? It would have to be a book. I’d be happy to re-read… but the question then is WHAT book? Soooooooo hard… I’m going to need to think on that for a lot longer….

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
I’m currently working on a few projects—a Brazen for Entangled, the next in my current series for Harlequin, another hot romance for myself and a project that’s coming out under a pseudonym with another publisher… so life is very busy!!!
But I love it ;)

And now it’s time for me to ask a question of you guys—as I’m currently planning out my next story, can you tell me what your favourite occupation for a hero is. Would you be hot for a firefighter? Lawyer? Sports star??? What’s the most ‘heroic’ occupation for a guy???

The one that got away...

Seven years have passed since shy Lexie Peterson had her heart trampled by her teenage crush. When she comes face to face with him in London, she vows to stay strong against his charms. But there's something about the man who has always made the impossible seem possible.

When Luke Marchetti walks into his flat to find Lexie in a negligee, all he can think of is having a little flirt and fling. But sweet, caring Lexie is all grown up now, and her determination to keep him at a distance makes him realize she deserves more than he can offer.

One kiss when they were younger ignited a passion that lasted seven long years. But is it enough to entice the two to take a gamble?

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Her skin chilled, her breathing shallowed. She really didn’t want to do this. But at the same time she did, because she didn’t want to show weakness in front of him. Not again. Not when she remembered how he’d tried to calm her nerves that last time.

But bone-deep instinct won, and at the last minute Lexie tried to tug free and back out. Luke flexed his killer muscles so hard she quickly quit that idea. He’d break all the bones in her hand if he wasn’t careful. She glared at him, and encountered his equally scorching expression. Her heart stopped altogether. He suddenly tugged her hand. Taken by surprise, she stumbled toward him. He wrapped his other arm firmly around her waist to haul her closer. The next second, his lips swept across her cheekbone in a light caress.

A violent tremble shook her.

“Don’t be scared, Lexie.”

Oh, it wasn’t fear causing her to shake now. She sucked in a deep breath. She hadn’t been this close to Luke in years. Not since… She blanked out that memory and turned her head away. It wasn’t going to happen again.

Well, her hands were no longer cold, that was for sure. One was still locked within his, the other spread wide on the expanse of his chest in a defensive gesture. But man, was he hot. And now so was all of her. She was totally burning up because in that split second every fantasy she’d ever had flashed through her head.

“Luke…” She lost her words as she watched his black-brown eyes go even darker. Watched as for once he looked at her—right at her—for eons, before his eyes slid lower to spend forever on her mouth. And it seemed the longer he looked, the closer he was.

His gaze seared her skin and her thoughts turned to chaos. Surely he wasn’t going to kiss her? Never. But maybe he was—was he going to kiss her just to soothe her nerves? The way he had all those years ago? She wriggled, trying to put an inch between them. Because she was not turned on by that idea. So not turned on.

So turned on.

His eyes glittered wickedly. “Do you remember that time on the Ferris wheel?”

Of course she remembered it. He’d done it then, hadn’t he—kissed her to calm her down. Only it had the opposite effect.

She breathed hard, wishing she could stop the huge blush. Her skin felt on fire. “No. What time was that?” She desperately wanted to play it cool.

He laughed. “Liar. You were scared shitless.”

He’d found her. She’d lost Dani at that big fair. She’d been looking up at the big wheel and wishing she had the guts for it. But heights had always been hard for her. Then he’d come along and she’d wanted to prove she could. He didn’t try to cajole her, he didn’t really say anything. He just looked at her as though he knew she could do it. And she’d wanted to—with him.

“You sat there next to me, refusing to acknowledge you were scared out of your mind,” Luke stepped closer so his rock-hard stomach was sealed to hers. “And when we finally got back to the zenith you turned and smiled at me. First time you ever really smiled just at me. Your lips, your eyes…your skin was glowing. You were so pretty.”

Lexie swallowed. She remembered that exact moment. The wheel had stopped—they were stuck at the top for a moment, only a moment. But that had been enough.

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs For Entire Tour:

• 3 eBook copies of Seduction in Silver & Bargain in Bronze

To Enter: 

• Please answer Natalie's question: can you tell me what your favourite occupation for a hero is. Would you be hot for a firefighter? Lawyer? Sports star??? What’s the most ‘heroic’ occupation for a guy???
• Please leave your email address along with your comment to be entered. 
• Giveaway ends today so get those comment in.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Natalie Anderson & Goddess Fish Promotions for sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.