I have been much too lazy as of late here on my blog, so I am starting my guest blogging series back up. Figured I'd start it off with a bang. A bang named Avril Ashton, that is. Avril is a multi-published best-selling author of Paranormal and IR/AA erotic romances. She's also a fellow author with me at Evernight, as well as my fellow moderator in the FB Evernight Reader's Chat Room. (You can join us HERE.)
Her latest title, In Wicked Chains, came out in December from eXtasy Books. You can find it HERE.
Look below for a blurb and an excerpt from the story. Now on to the grilling!
Alexandra O'Hurley: Okay, was going to introduce you as a multi-published, best selling author of Paranormal and IR/AA stories and my fellow mod over on the Evernight Reader's Page.
Avril Ashton: LOL you was? Changed your mind?
AOH: Maybe I will, smartass.
AA: lol
AOH: I headed over to your blog and read through some of the excerpts for In Wicked Chains and, well, let's just say that it was some mighty hot stuff. So, let's start out with the one million dollar question that every erotic romance author gets (and then rolls their eyes about)...where do you find your inspiration?
AA: And the answer would be I hear voices in my head. They are quite raunchy
AOH: So you are crazy too?
AA: Music inspires me but yep, I'm all crazy
AOH: Favorite music to listen to when you write?
AA: Music depends on scene and characters. I'm listening to Mary J. Blige's Mr Wrong at the moment cause it inspired a new wip. The music video to that really works with the story in my head so that's how I'm going. Next up would some slow jam, anything that gets the juices flowing hip hop and rock is always on.
AOH: Music always helps me get into the groove, too, and helps push out the real world around me. So if you had to classify what you write, what would you call it?
AA: Porn with better dialog...lmao!! erotic romance. Cause the love scenes are defintely erotic, but it's all about the romance.
AOH: Of course, the conversation we had recently in the author's loop about smut/porn versus erotic romance has been a hot button topic. Why do you think some have such an aversion to the smut/porn concept?
AA: I think people like to pretend sex doesn't exist. That it isn't as messy as we write it. There are those that are easily offended by the slightest thing and others who just bitch to bitch.
AOH: Really? Bitch to bitch? Naaahhh, you don't say. But let's get back to your most recent piece of porn with better dialogue - In Wicked Chains. Can you tell us a little about the story?
AA: lol In Wicked Chains is bk#3 in my Wicked series with eXtasy books. It's Kingston and Elina's story, they were intrduced in bk#1 and waited patiently while I wrote and rewrote the damn book a million times.
Kingston is a womanizer, hiding a painful past and Elina has a crush on him that she's tired of ignoring. She also comes with massive baggage and this is the story of them finally attempting to share the load of the weight on both their shoulders.
Plus dirty sex.
AOH: All Romance has the heat rating at three flames, but what I read on your blog just about melted the page!
AA: lol yeah. Dunno how AllRomance does the choosing for their flames.
AOH: What are the first two titles in the series?
AA: Book #1 is A Wicked Ride, Niko and Sasha's story. Sasha is Kingston's sister.
Book #2 is One Wicked Night, Justice and Myka's story. Justice is one of Niko's best friends
AOH: So what's next up on your agenda? Have a current WIP?
AA: I have three current wips. All of them are kicking my ass. Make Me Burn is Jayce and Wes' story, from Make Me Sweat with Evernight. The other is Wicked is His Touch, Wicked bk#4 and the new wip I began two days ago is titled Go Hard. It's dirty...for no reason
AOH: I wouldn't expect any less than dirty from Ms Ashton. Nice to know you are busy working. So lastly, why should a reader pick up one of your books? You know, besides the dirty sex part...lol.
AA: Despite the dirty sex...or in spite of it, there's a real story with real characters I've dropped in impossible situations who have to work hard for their HEA. And hold on to it. There's always a heroine ready to drop kick someone and a hero worty of droolage
AOH: Sounds delicious. Thanks for giving me some of your valuable writing time today, I appreciate it.
AA: Thanks Alex! My first FB chat interview. I'm moving up, I tell ya!
Avril will be giving one lucky commenter a copy of her eXtasy title, In Wicked Chains. Read more below!
Blurb
Two lovers will have to decide whether to break free from their pasts or remain forever bound In Wicked Chains.
Everyone has secrets. Some people simply bury theirs deeper. Kingston Hughes is one of those. Painful childhood memories plague him, sending him spinning out of control and running from any kind of commitment. He pretends not to feel the pain and loneliness while indulging in sexual encounters with nameless, faceless women.
With the twist of a doorknob, his carefully cultivated façade is shaken by the woman he’d forbidden himself to need.
The daughter of a recently slain mobster, Elina Vicente has secrets, too. They weigh her down, stealing her strength and her dreams. She’s developed an unhealthy crush on Kingston though he’s never looked at her as anything but his sister’s quiet friend. When she walks in on him in a compromising embrace, Elina seizes the chance to move Kingston from her dreams and into her arms.
For only the second time in her life, Elina takes something just for her, but try as she and Kingston might, they can’t prevent their pasts from intruding. Shadows of pain and bitterness rise with a vengeance and the lovers will have to decide whether to break free or remain bound…In Wicked Chains.
Excerpt
“Why her?”
He stopped short at the soft question. Kingston spun around, wrinkling his brow in confusion. “What?”
Elina shifted. Tilting her chin upward, she met his gaze squarely. “The woman I saw you with. Why her? What’s so special about her?”
Of all the things he expected, that wasn’t it. He shook his head. “I don’t get it. What are you asking me, Elina?”
“Did I stutter?” Her voice rose sharply. “Why her and not me? Why?”
He burst out laughing. The surprises kept coming, didn’t they? Elina glowered at him before turning and stomping away.
Taking two strides after her, Kingston grabbed her by the shoulder and forced her to look at him. “What the hell are you asking me, Elina? Why I’m not fucking you?”
Color appeared in bright spots of red on her face and neck. She couldn’t possibly mean it like that. She couldn’t—
“Yes.” She shrugged away his touch. “I’ve been here, waiting for you to see me as someone other than your sister’s best friend.”
“No.” One word, but his voice still trembled. Kingston spun away before she saw the reaction her words had on him, on his body. “You’re not—I’m not the person for you.”
“You are, King. It’s always been you. You’re the one I want.”
Those fucking soft words. “Don’t say it. I won’t…it can’t happen.”
“Why not?”
He faced her again. “I choose those women because I can walk away after the fucking is over. No one’s looking for anything other than skin on skin contact and no one’s fazed when I move on to the next. You’re different.” So different.
“But I want it.”
She stepped closer, laying a gentle hand on his chest. Too close to his thumping heart for his liking, but Kingston couldn’t move away from her touch even if his life depended on it.
His deepest fantasies where coming true in front of his eyes, yet Kingston couldn’t allow it. He’d wanted her for so long. From the moment she fainted at his feet inside his club, he’d needed to touch her. And now that she offered herself, he had to say no.
“Not going to happen, Elina.” He removed her hand from where it lay on his chest. “Don’t bring this up again.” He shifted away, but her fingers dug into his upper arm.
“Test me. Test me and if I don’t pass, we can forget it.” Elina stepped back and clasped her hands in front of her. Voice strong, gaze steady on him, she said, “I was made for this. For you. Only you can make me feel like this. Whatever you require, I accept.”
Links for Avril:
Website: http://avrilashton.webs.com
Blog: http://avril-ashton.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/writeravrilashton
@AvrilAsh on Twitter
Amazon link: http://amzn.to/s6Kmw6
ARe Link: http://bit.ly/smcF94