Sunday, January 27, 2013

Welcome Author Alicia Dean


Today I am pleased to introduce Alicia Dean. Many fellow authors know Alicia as the force behind a wonderful support group called Authors Helping Authors. But she is first and foremost an author, and she's here to tell us about her Valentine's Day release.
AD: Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog. I’m thrilled to be here, and thrilled to share a little about my Valentine story, Cupid’s Beau.

PK: It's an honor to have you here! Let's start with a few questions about you. What do you do when you're not writing?
            AD: Edit, watch television, hang out with my kids, family, and/or friends.
What would your fans be surprised to know about you?
            Hmmm. Maybe that in spite of the dark, creepiness of many of my books, I've never actually killed anyone. Well, not on purpose. J
What's your idea of an ideal vacation?
            An ideal vacation would be one where I share it with the people I love and where I see things I haven't seen before and do touristy things, yet I also have some down time to write and relax. It seems to help my creativity to work in a different setting.
Sounds like the perfect vacation! Let's talk about your writing. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
            That people dislike my heroine in Soul Seducer. I really enjoyed writing Audra, and I thought I made her sympathetic and likeable, but many reviewers liked my Grim Reaper hero and understood him MUCH better than my nurse heroine.
What has been the best compliment?
            There isn't one particular compliment that sticks out in my mind, but when readers say they couldn't put my book down and when they finished, they wanted to read something else I've written, I'm thrilled beyond words. (Beyond words, get it—I'm an author)
Clever! Do you have any advice to give to aspiring authors?
            It sounds cliché, and I know they've heard it a million times, but keep writing, keep writing, keep writing. The only way you can fail is to give up.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
            I think it would be developing my characters. I'm a plot driven writer and sometimes readers have trouble relating to my characters. Well, other than the villains. That seems to come pretty easily to me. Scary, right?

Cupid's Beau is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.
Alicia can be found at her website and on twitter: @Alicia_Dean_
****
 Blurb:
Ivy Pierce is a Cupid who prides herself on doing her job well. Except when it comes to a certain human male, Grant Crawford. Although she doesn’t understand why, each time she’s supposed to shoot her arrow into his heart, her stomach hurts, her chest hurts, and she feels…sad. Cupids are never sad.
Humans who are not looking for love only get three chances to find it. And after Ivy sabotages Grant’s last chance, her boss, Aphrodite, sends her to earth to right her wrong. She has until Valentine’s Day to help him find his soul mate.
But the more she’s around him, the more she wants him for herself, even though she knows that can never be. A Cupid and a human? Unheard of.
As V-Day draws closer, can she sacrifice her own happiness to help the man she loves find his?

Excerpt:
The young girl at the hostess stand favored Ivy with a friendly smile. “One for lunch?”
“No, no thank you. I’m here to see Grant Crawford.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No. But he’ll want to see me. I’m sure of it. Tell him Ivy Pierce is here to make his dreams come true.”
The girl’s smile faltered. “To make his—”
“Yes, that’s right. Dreams come true.”
The girl quickly schooled her features. “One moment please.”
Ivy tapped her foot as she waited. What had she been thinking? Where she came up with that line, she had no idea. It had just occurred to her out of the blue. The likelihood of Grant Crawford being enticed by such a sentiment was doubtful. He was a practical, down to Earth man with no time for love, let alone flights of fancy.
That’s why her chin almost hit the ground when Grant Crawford came through the door from the restaurant into the foyer. If she thought he looked good from the clouds, oh my. He wore black slacks and a dove gray shirt and black tie without a jacket. His eyes were even darker brown up close. Her stomach quivered, and her fingers went numb.
“Make my dreams come true?” he barked, shattering her fantasy. His sensual lips were bracketed by lines of annoyance instead of his adorable dimple. “What kind of nonsense is this?”



33 comments:

  1. Fun interview, ladies. And a cute excerpt. I disagree with your critic, Alicia. I thought Audra in Soul Seducer was very sympathetic. Wishing you the best for Cupid's Beau.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diane...thank you so much! I appreciate you stopping by, and making me feel better about Audra. :)

      Delete
  2. Alicia, I can't speak about Soul Seducer, as I haven't read it, but I loved Cupid's Beau. Gotta say I was looking for a bigger show of those wonderful wings she kept hidden when they were finally revealed--what a statment that would have made. I loved Ivy and her interaction with Aphrodite. And Grant--I'm sure every real man would have reacted the same way. Very heart warming, fun, and I'll be reading it again very soon. A nice switch from your usual novels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, I've got to read this now! Thanks for visiting, Carol!

      Delete
    2. Hi Carol...thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed Cupid's Beau. Hmmm. Yes, it would have been a nice touch if she'd revealed her wings. :)

      Delete
  3. Hi Alicia! Great interview. I'm totally going to have to go read Soul Seducer now. Sounds super intriguing and I love the lightness of Cupid's Beau.
    I remember when you first came out with Heart of the Witch. I was intrigued from the get go and have been delighted ever since. Please do keep writing so we can keep reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, Jennifer. I appreciate the compliment. And the loyalty. Hope you enjoy Soul Seducer and Cupid's Beau. And yes, I will keep writing. Can't seem to help myself. LOL

      Delete
  4. hey alicia, this sounds like such a fun book. I hope you'll try more sweet and funny novels. you have a great voice for it. (not that i have anything against grim reapers, mind you)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. I don't have anything against Grim Reapers, either, as I'm sure you know. Thank you. I'm shocked I have the voice for sweet and funny with all the darkness in my writing history. :-) Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. As a plot driven author, I can relate to your anxieties. I'm always worried that my heroines will be too generic. I never have that problem with my villains, though! Great interview, ladies.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, Jannine. I totally understand. I think you do a great job on all your charcters, though. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are such talented and quick turnaround writer. You leave us in the dust. This is a great read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it amazing how much she gets done?

      Delete
    2. Thanks, ladies. Kathy, you accomplish quite a bit yourself. I appreciate the kind words!

      Delete
  8. Great interview! I just started reading Cupid's Beau today, and I'm loving it. :-) I'm amazed at all Alicia does in a day. All the best!

    ~Jessica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jessica. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. Have a great day!

      Delete
  9. I enjoyed the interview and the excerpt. WTG on another great book, Alicia!

    Maggie
    www.maggietoussaint.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping in, Maggie. Glad you enjoyed it!

      Delete
  10. Thank you, Maggie! I appreciate you stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love an interview where I get to learn a little more about fellow authors. Enjoyed yours Alicia, and your book sounds amazing. One I'm going to have to read.
    Thanks for sharing .
    Lynda

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Lynda...I love getting to know more about other authors too. Thank you for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am truly looking forward to reading this book. I've read other Alicia Dean books and this one is way up on my que. :)
    -R.T. Wolfe

    ReplyDelete
  14. Really fun (and funny) book. Love the characters!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I loved Soul Seducer and I'm sure I'll love Cupid's Beau!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great choice for the excerpt Alicia - anyone reading that has just got to be hooked

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice interview. I think you are just too hard on yourself, Alicia. I've read some of your books and find it hard to believe you have trouble writing wonderful characters! :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great interview. It's nice to get to know you. Cupid's Beau sounds like a fun read. On my list for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks so much, ladies. I am truly blessed with great friends. I appreciate the kind words about my work. Hope any of you who read Cupid's Beau enjoy it.

    ReplyDelete