Interview with Author Rie Warren and Giveaway

Please welcome author Rie Warren to RFTC. Rie is celebrating the release of her newest book, In His Command and has stopped by to answer a few questions.

A Yankee transplant via the UK and other wild journeys, Rie happily landed in Charleston, South Carolina, with her English artisan husband and their two small daughters--one an aspiring diva, the other a future punk rocker. After earning her degree in Fine Arts, Rie promptly gave up paintbrushes and canvas for paper and pen (because she decided being a writer was equally as good an idea as being an artist, of course it was). That was fifteen years ago, her writing career started! With a manuscript of super epic proportions! Safely stored under a lace doily in a filing cabinet. Possibly in England . . .

Since then she’s done this and that, here and there, usually in the nonprofit arena, until she returned to her dream of being a writer. Even though Rie basks in the glorious southern sunshine as often as she can, she’s mostly a nocturnal creature adjourning to her writer’s atelier (spare bedroom) in search of her next devious plot twist or delicious passionate tryst.

No matter what genre or gender pairing she’s writing, she combines a sexy southern edge with humor and heart--and a taste of darkness.

Places to find Rie:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | 

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
I’m a wife/mother/writer with two eyes on the back of my head and both hands on the keyboard at all times. I don’t have a superhero name chosen yet, but my crafty youngest daughter is fashioning me a cape as we speak. I am definitely capable of great feats of literary romanticism and erotica although, sadly, I cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound. Yet. I’m working on it. Three of my greatest loves include music, wine…and exercising. Okay, the exercising part is a complete lie, I’ll fess up. I do run to keep in shape, but it is total torture and only necessary so that one day I’ll be able to do the ‘leap tall buildings’ part to complete my super-mommy-writer-hero image.

Did you always want to be a writer?
Absolutely! Except when I decided I’d become a world-renown painter in my early twenties. Now I just plan on being a NYT bestseller! I’m kidding, my goal is much simpler: to write what I love and love what I write. I’ve definitely dabbled as a writer since I got my first Brother word processer, remember those? In fact, my first foray into showing my work was in a college literature class when I turned in some steamy erotic poetry. My professor blushed, I blushed, and my balls haven’t gotten any smaller with age.

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
I’m a recovering pantser. I go to meetings and everything. If I told you my writing regime from start to finish, it’d take up at least a page but to me it’s finely honed after completing four novels in one and a half years with another fast on the way. At the very least, I plot the basics for all chapters including the necessary major moments: beginning, black moments one and two, and finale. I also think of my stories with a cinematic eye, always with a mind toward the visuals of a scene. My painting background probably plays into that. Once I get started writing I pantz it all the way home. I need the skeleton at least, but I’m the first to admit the best, most shocking *omg* moments come during writing and letting your mind run wild. They hit you out of left field and there’s nothing better than those bright ‘lightbulb’ flashes!

Where do your ideas come from?
Just about everywhere, and I’m lucky my critique partners are up to the minute with all my ideas because they constantly send me pictures or articles, little snippets that relate to, and are jumping off points for, my work. Sometimes it’s a funny bumper sticker, it can be a conversation overheard at my local gas station…I love where I live in the lowcountry of South Carolina and I soak every single bit of it up daily from jargon to settings to people and I think that gives my writing a lively vibe.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
In the heat of a revolution, two men fight their desire for one another. Attraction isn’t just dangerous, it’s deadly. #mmromance

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
Not surprisingly, m-m romance. Perhaps unpredictably, I am a complete YA addict. I also love paranormal, which I write as well. I’m a totally promiscuous and pretty insatiable reader, but I adore books with snappy conversation, hit-you-in-the-funny-bone humor, and delicious sexual tension.

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
Like for ‘All Time’? This is such a hard question, because….see above about me being a crazy-mad, voracious reader. I would have to say THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingsolver. Or, THE SCORPION RACES by Maggie Steifvater. It could be HOT HEAD by Damon Suede… I’m ducking and diving *winks*

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
Emo-scenes, because they cut me to the heart and I usually go through a box of Kleenex before sniffling my way to bed with giant, swollen eyes. The other most painful part of a book for me to write is the end. I’m always incredibly elated to complete a rough draft, and heartbroken I have to say goodbye to my beloved characters.

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
Hmm, you’ve upped the ante again with another difficult question.

• Number one: Haruki Murakami. The man does my head in. The first Murakami book I read was THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE and it made mincemeat of my mind. I’d love to slip inside his head, at least for an hour, to see where his surreal ideas come from. 
• Number two: George RR Martin. He’s a big cuddly bear with such a fruitful mind, I just want to cozy up to him and ply him with pints of ale…in the hopes he’ll bring Khal Drogo aka *meep* Jason Momoa to our next pub crawl. 
• Number three: Lara Adrian. The Midnight Breed series keeps me on my toes and gasping for more. Her meld of aliens and Atlantean myth plus vampires with her latest futuristic twist is exquisite, hot, and delve-down-deep interesting.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
Yes! But it’s absolutely top secret (unless you check my Facebook, blog, twitter…). The second book in the Don’t Tell series—ON HER WATCH--is with my editor and scheduled for a tentative spring 2014 release. Since I can’t let you in on all those sexy secrets, I’ll give you a little look into my upcoming contemporary, gritty, rom-com romp. STONE: AT YOUR SERVICE is the first in my newest trilogy. What happens when a bad boy mechanic agrees to play his best buddy’s gay lover for a weekend romance writers’ conference…and meets the woman of his dreams.


*Turning the tables*: Hey, folks. What’s your favorite genre of the moment, and why? Lay it on me!

It is the year 2070. Generations ago, the world was annihilated by catastrophic environmental events. The survivors were driven to live in big city centers ruled by the Company. To rebuild the world’s population, the oppressive Company had one rule: all homosexuals must be exterminated.

Commander Caspar Cannon has a stellar military reputation—and a life-threatening secret. When a revolution rips through the territories, Cannon is ordered to escort Company executive Nathaniel Rice to a secure location. For months, the commander has harbored illicit desire for Rice, knowing he cannot act on his attraction. Privileged, polished, and groomed to one day take over the Company, Rice is drawn to the rugged, military man. Yet Rice has his own mysterious agenda, and he knows their love can be as dangerous as the wasteland they must traverse.

Now leaving the besieged city behind, the two men embark on a journey that becomes a minefield of sabotage, betrayal—and forbidden passion. But when danger catches up to them, can Cannon trust the secretive man who holds his heart—and his fate?

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 lucky winner will win an NetGalley copy of In His Command

To Enter: 

• Please answer the question: What’s your favorite genre of the moment, and why?
• Must have a NetGalley Account. 
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

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