Accepting the Alpha
In Accepting the Alpha, Eli Steele is a wolf shifter who defected from his familial pack rather than be forced to follow an order he finds morally offensive. After moving away to stay with his best friend, Jai, he makes the decision to join the local Pack. Things take a complicated turn when a meeting with the Pack Alpha, Kellan Reeves, reveals that he and Eli are mates, despite the fact that Eli isn’t gay. To makes matters even more turbulent, they receive information that there is a plot in motion to strike against the Packs that needs to be stopped before the danger spreads, putting everyone at risk.
Your love affair with books started young so who were your favourites?
Wow! How do I pick just a few? Books were always a big part of my life growing up. My mom is a 5th grade teacher so she always pushed us to read. I read everything I could get my hands on: Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Laura Ingalls Wilder. The list could go on forever. The most memorable would have to be Maida's Little Shop by Inez Haynes Gillmore Irwin. It's the first in a whole series of books written in the early 1900s about the adventures of a little girl named Maida and her friends. I can remember being five or six and just being mesmerized every time my mom would read it to us. I still have all the books and read them to my own kids who love them just as much. It's timeless.
What appeals about supernatural and romance for you?
It's the possibilities. I'd like to believe there is still some magic and mystery in the world. When writing about the supernatural, anything can happen and usually does. There are no rules, which is good because I'm really bad with rules. It can be anything you want it to be. I think romance is the same. Love and romance can mean such different things to different people. In the end, it's about the possibility of connecting with someone else, despite everything life throws at you, and knowing that they are the one person in the world who really gets you and will stand by you no matter what. I love getting to create those connections and seeing them through to the HEA at the end.
How did you stumble across the M/M genre?
I blame Amazon and Mary Calmes :) I had always been an avid reader of M/F supernatural romance but had never branched out. In all honesty, I had never heard of the M/M genre before. About two years ago I was scrolling through my recommended reads on Amazon and Change of Heart by Mary Calmes pops up. I don't know if Amazon was running out of M/F to recommend to me or if it was fate, but the description grabbed my attention so I decided to take a chance. I absolutely loved it and it opened me up to a brand new genre of reading.
Why have you never looked back since?
I do still read M/F on occasion but I have a difficult time writing it. Funny as it is to say, I have a hard time relating to the women in romance novels. Maybe it's a self-image thing, because I don't see myself as particularly romantic in my everyday life. Another big part of it is “the mystery that is men”. Most of the men in my life are very stoic, even in their own personal relationships. There's just not a lot of outward affection. It's always left me wondering how men really feel when they're in a relationship and how great it would be if some of that emotion was actually out there for people to see. I love writing about strong men who not only fall in love, but aren't afraid to show that love to each other and the world.
To what extent is keeping in touch with you readers important to you and why?
I LOVE my readers! I can't say it enough. They are my inspiration to keep writing on the days when I feel like every word I write is terrible and my motivation when I'm falling behind schedule... which never ever happens **nervous cough**. I treasure every email, Facebook message, and comment on my website. I want my readers to feel like they can contact me for any reason, whether it's to tell me about a book they just read and loved, ask me a question, or to tell me about their plans for the weekend. I love getting them and try to respond to every one. They are the reason I get to keep doing what I love. Without them, I would just be some crazy chick writing stories in her basement.
What is next for you with Totally Bound?
Ask the Oracle is my next release with Totally Bound and will be the first book in my Revelations series. It is due out in May 2014.
You can purchase Accepting the Alpha from Totally Bound now!