I just want to say how excited I am to host Qwillia Rain today on my blog.
Without further ado.........
Tell us a little about yourself.
Oh,
boy, hope you’re ready for this. I grew up in Las Vegas (yeah, Sin City!),
moved to Arizona for three months in my early twenties, went back to Vegas,
then Alaska for nearly eleven years. After that it was Montana for three years,
and more recently, North Carolina. I guess you could say I like to travel. I’m also
an adult with ADD(Attention Deficit Disorder), “what-if” maniac, and
choco-holic, who loves to explore ideas and information. This combination is a
good thing, because I’m always distracted by something, until I latch onto a
story. I’m a perpetual student, who would love nothing better than to spend the
rest of my life taking university classes and writing my novels.
Tell us a little about your book.
Rite
of First Claim is an older woman-younger man story, the third book in the
Diablo Blanco Club series, and tells the tale of Mike Halsey and Lyssa Lawrence.
It reunites the couple four years after an intense encounter at the DBC. When
Lyssa attends the club’s Midnight Masquerade in order to fulfill a secret
desire, Mike interferes in her plans by invoking the club’s Rite of First
Claim. The Rite of First Claim is the oldest rule of the club whereby any
dominant who has had intercourse with a submissive on the premises has the right
to claim that submissive for thirty days. All the lost opportunities and
miscommunications that have separated this pair are revealed as well as a
terrible secret that Lyssa has kept from Mike and her family.
Rite of First Claim
What's a Dom to do when the submissive he wants runs from the
feelings between them? From the moment he met Lyssa Lawrence, Mike knew what he
felt was love -- not lust. Convincing her has been an uphill battle even after
the two steamy hours they'd shared at the Diablo Blanco Club four years
earlier.
Lyssa Lawrence wished
the man who claimed to love her wasn't so damned appealing. Twelve years of
denying the pull of her submissive nature almost went up in smoke four years
ago, but she'd gathered the nerve to tell him 'no' when he asked for more. She'd
have stayed away for good if her biological clock hadn't hiccupped, threatening
her dreams of motherhood.
In the same way she'd
strategized her success in fashion design, Lyssa worked out a plan to get the
baby she wanted. The Diablo Blanco Club's annual Midnight Masquerade would
provide a number of potential donors to choose from. What she hadn't bargained
on was Mike's interference through an arcane Club rule.
When Mike invoked
Rite of First Claim, Lyssa finally became his. Now, he had one month to prove
that the role of his submissive was one she was born to play.
Publisher's Note:
This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations
that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements.
When did you start writing and when did you finish your
first book?
My mom says I’ve been changing the
endings of the stories she used to read me from the time I was three. I started
writing romances when I was in middle school, but I didn’t really finish my
first romance novel until I was in the eleventh or twelfth grade…and I only did
that because a schoolmate was reading it and she wanted the ending. (Go figure.
LOL)
Where do you get your inspiration?
From
anywhere and everywhere. (Did you see my answer to the first question? Really,
I am
a “what-if” maniac.”
Do you plot and outline or do you just write?
Depends on the story and characters. Sometimes I’ll have
a rough idea of a story and sometimes just a scene that I have to work from. I
let my characters determine which direction we’re going to go in, that way I’m
not fighting the information, just flowing with it. Plotter or Pantser? Pantser. Usually. For the most part I “pants” my way
through the story or through part of it, then I’ll end up outlining the rest of
the major scenes of the book. Sometimes I’ll end up writing the book’s ending,
because that’s all I see, and work my back to the beginning.
Can you tell us a little about the process of getting your
first book published?
My first book was Santa’s Elf (the fifth book in the
Diablo Blanco Club series—although I didn’t know the club was going to be at the center
of a series when I started.) It was a whirlwind process since it was contracted
with Loose Id, LLC by the fourth of November and it was revised, edited, and
published six weeks later on December 18th because it was a
Christmas themed book. And what I’ve never told the editor of that book was
that I wrote the last three chapters the day she asked if the book was
finished. Those last chapters had languished, unwritten in my mind for nearly
three years before I actually put them down on paper. I DO NOT recommend other
writer’s do that. LOL
What book have you most recently released?
Unfair Advantage is my recently re-released title. It’s the first book in
the Diablo Blanco Club series. Since I received the rights back to it and
decided to self-publish it, the only change I made to it was an epilogue, but
for readers who already have it, the epilogue is a free download on my website.
What was your favorite part of the book?
Oh man, why’d you have to ask me that? There are so many
that I love, but I’d have to say, when Mike returns from Europe and Lyssa gets
in the shower with him. He’s such a strong man, a powerful dom, and so in love
with Lyssa and that scene is amazingly moving (at least for me.)
(Mmmm... That is a good scene.)
Rate your story on a Heat level of 1-6?
8. LOL, okay, maybe it’s only a 5, but I leave that up to
the reader.
Do you have another book in the works?
Oh gosh, way too many. LOL. I have four more books to
work on in the Diablo Blanco Club series. The beginnings of a young adult
time-travel novel; a paranormal trilogy with Archangels; a five or six books
paranormal series about a parallel world; a two book story with both a werewolf
and a vampire with time-travel; and a five book series that I call my “Golden
Girls meets Failure to Launch” Poker Posse… See, told you way too many!
What advice would you give new authors?
Trust your writing process. Learn as much as you can
about the craft, but don’t betray your process by trying to write using someone
else’s methods. And don’t give up. If you love writing, keep writing. Never
lose the joy in telling a story, that’s more important than money.
Boxers or Briefs? Boxer-briefs.
(Character Questions)
What were your first impressions of each other?
Mike: That she was mine. No matter how long it took or
how much she fought it, she belonged to me.
Lyssa: (laughs and gives him a
grin) Really? (turns to face interviewer) My first impression was that he was a
kid.
Mike: (low growl issues from his
lips)
Lyssa: (looks at him then shakes
her head) Seriously. I swear he could have passed for sixteen, but I was
attracted to him which only made things worse, because his older brother was my
little sister’s boss.
What’s your favorite characteristic of each other?
Mike: (grimacing) Her determination. When Lys sets her
mind to something, nothing is going to stop her. It’s only when she makes a
poor choice that I have to step in —
Lyssa: (rolls her eyes) Puh-lease!
You wrote the book on stubborn! (leans forward, looking intently at interviewer
and points back at her husband) Twelve years he spent propositioning me to pose
nude for him. Me! (she looks down at her full-figure)
Mike: (picks up Lyssa and puts
her in his lap, his right hand settled over her slightly rounded belly) You
were perfect, beautiful. And I have the awards to prove I was right.
What are your plans for the near future?
Mike: (adjusts his hold as Lyssa snuggles into his shoulder)
Keep her from overdoing things until the baby starts school— High School. And help Tuma, my daughter, get settled in
at my studio.
Lyssa: (snorts but doesn’t move
from her spot) Finish the designs for my Spring line and start on my Summer
line as well as the Fall. Get the nursery decorated and run up some baby
clothes for this one (she puts her hand over Mike’s on her baby-bump) and for
Mattie’s twins which are due in a few months. And (tips her head toward Mike)
get him to relax.
Excerpt from Rite of First Claim ~
The majority of the guests were dressed
in evening gowns or tuxedos. The only ones in costume, like her, were submissives—both
those owned and those looking for owners. Scanning the faces, she identified
several of her potential donors, but she was careful not to stare at them in a
way that might arouse unease or make them leery of her approach. She ignored
the tiny pain that twisted her heart when Mike wasn’t among the guests. Forget
the fantasy and face reality, Lyssa.
“Smile. We aren’t that scary,” David
whispered, his warm breath stirring the hair of her auburn wig over her ear.
A tingle slid up Lyssa’s spine.
“You’ve been here often enough to know
we don’t bite.” A wicked grin lifted his lips. “Well, not unless you ask us
to.”
Lyssa smiled and shook her head at his
jest. “And just how do you know how many times I’ve been here before?”
David reached up and rubbed a curl from
her wig between his fingers. “You might be in costume, but I’ve seen you visit
a few times with Vance and Ben.”
She met his gaze, trying to read his
intent. His capricious eyes gave nothing away. Another tremor worked through
her at the thought that this man would never allow another person to guess what
he was thinking. Good information to have if she hoped for events to proceed as
planned. Especially if she chose him this evening.
“Invitation.” A security guard dressed
in a black tuxedo and white shirt stared down at her.
David nodded at the man, who then
consulted the clipboard in his broad hands. Both men waited for Lyssa to fish
the card from the pocket of her costume. She handed the heavy velum over and
watched the doorman check her name off a list.
“Hand.”
When Lyssa held up her left hand, he
slipped a white plastic bangle over her wrist. There were other colored
bracelets, similar to the one she’d been given, in little boxes on the table
beside the bouncer.
Once she walked through the double
doors leading from the foyer to the lounge area of the Club, she searched the
assembled guests for the other men on her list and ignored the urge to scan the
crowd for the one man she already knew was not going to be there. She spotted a
few of the members she’d designed and created gear and costumes for, and nodded
when they waved at her. At the bar, her neighbors Ben Murphy and Vance Justiss
were chatting with each other and a few Club members. Vance stood behind the
long expanse of teak nestled between the curving staircases leading to the
second floor.
His snug black cotton T-shirt
emphasized his muscular build and highlighted his copper skin and
silver-threaded black hair. In the four years since he’d been back in San
Diablo and retired from the Marine Corps, he’d allowed his hair to grow.
Tonight the long, thick waves were pulled back into a ponytail that brushed the
area between his shoulder blades.
Ben looked sophisticated and sexy in a
tailored tux that fit his athletic frame. His dark blond hair, which he kept
neat and short, brushed the collar of his white linen shirt.
She sneaked a look at her companion.
Four years ago David, with his goatee and long, tied-back black hair, had
seemed yummy when dressed in jeans and a shirt. Now that he was dressed in a
well-fitted tux, Lyssa wasn’t surprised to see several women moving toward
them. The colors of the women’s wristbands varied, but not a single white one
was among the group.
Retreat definitely seemed the wiser
choice at this point in the evening. There would be plenty of time to determine
if David would fit her needs. Lyssa smiled up at him and conceded softly, “I’ll
leave you to your admirers.” She eased her hand free of his arm and headed for
the bar.
If he protested, she didn’t hear or see
it. She smiled at the surprised looks on Vance’s and Ben’s faces as she moved
toward them.
“Lys!” Ben rose from the stool he’d
occupied at the bar to envelop her in a warm hug. “Darlin’, what are you doing
here?”
Vance leaned over the teak counter and
kissed her cheek as she took the seat Ben had vacated. “Decided to finally
check out a Select-a-Sub Night?” Vance teased with a grin.
“I thought I’d see what all the fuss is
about,” Lyssa hedged. There was no way she was going to give away her true
purpose behind accepting Mike’s annual invitation.
Ben picked up her wrist and ran his
finger over the white band. “More than just see?”
Lyssa ignored the glint of concern in
his gaze and asked a question of her own. “What’s the significance of the
colors?”
Ben looked at her, his gray eyes
measuring as if she were one of his patients before he answered. “Red means a
sub has recently left a master and is actively searching for another. Black
indicates a sub who is mourning the death of a master, usually within the last
three years, and is just returning to the search. And yellow is a sub currently
being tested but who is still unsure of the master she is interested in.”
“And white?” Lyssa fiddled with the
bangle.
“White means you’re a virgin, baby.” Vance grinned as he set a
highball glass filled with ginger ale in front of her and a rocks glass of
Scotch in front of Ben.
Thank you so much, Qwillia, for being here today. I hope you all enjoyed the interview as much as I did. Please be sure to let us know you stopped by with a comment or question for Qwillia. She has promised to give away a copy of Rite of First Claim to one lucky commenter!
Be sure to visit Qwillia @
Website:
www.authorqwilliarain.com
Twitter: @Qwillia
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Qwillia
Facebook Fan
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Qwillia-Rain-Fan-Page/234065069968987
Thanks for having me, Krystal, it was fun to revisit Mike and Lyssa!
ReplyDeleteHave a great Good Friday.
Q
Your Welcome!
DeleteFantastic interview Krystal!!!!!! Loved the teaser Qwillia!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks April, Glad you liked it.
DeleteThank you so much for coming by!
DeleteHmm. Biological clock hiccups, huh? Mother Nature can be very conniving.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Qwillia and Krystal.
Yup, Allie, Mother Nature can be a pain, but she does have her schemes and it's best to just go with the flow.
DeleteLOL
Q
Thank you so much for stopping by!
DeleteGreat interview, Krystal and Qwillia! I do love knowing you've more planned for the Diablo Blanco Club--it's a real treat knowing there's more to anticipate in a good series! Are you writing full time (in between classes?)?
ReplyDeleteyup, I'm writing full time. Which means the characters are a little more picky about visiting...now that they don't have to compete with a day job for my attention. LOL
DeleteQ
Thank you so much for stopping by!
DeleteI'm sooo going to check out this series! You had me at "full-figured". ;) I love stories about real women in extraordinary circumstances. Great interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pauline,
DeleteI hope you like the series. I love my DBC family. They're so supportive of one another.
Q
It is a great series! Thank you so much for stopping by.
DeleteVery interesting story concept; like the cougar theme. When you say she's wearing a "virgin" white bracelet, she's new to the bdsm club scene and is not technically a virgin?
ReplyDeleteYou've moved around quite a bit, Qwillia - just as much as I have. Bet Alaska winters were quite a change from NV/AZ!
Cara,
DeleteNah, she's not a virgin, Mike wouldn't be able to invoke the Rite to First Claim rule if she were.
And yeah, I've moved around alot, but I love the trips to and from. I drove from Alaska to Montana and from Montana to North Carolina. I love it...driving is so relaxing for me. Ironically, I miss the winters in Alaska. It's actually colder in NC than AK to me in the winter because it's a wet cold here in the South, and Alaskan winters are a dry cold.
Q
Q
Thank you so much for visiting!
DeleteSounds delish Quillia!! Can't wait to get my copy and give it a read!
ReplyDeleteLynn
Thanks Lynn,
DeleteI love Mike and Lyssa despite the pain and suffering I went through to get their book done.
I hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear what you think of it when you finish it.
Q
Thank you so much for stopping by! The book is fantastic!
DeleteFab interview! Such fun questions and really fun answers! Enjoyed seeing Qwillia in N O! The series sounds VERY interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely meeting you as well, Mary.
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the interview.
Q
So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteOoohoo, I love the other Diablo Blanco books. And I'm looking forward to reading this one. Great teaser, Qwillia!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cherise, It's a great compliment that you like my DBC books. I love your Shadowlands series and am looking forward to your next one as well.
DeleteQ
Thank you so much for stopping by! I was so excited to see that you made it.
DeleteHello Qwillia & Krystal,
ReplyDeleteThank you Krystal for hosting Qwillia Rain on your Blog today, she is a new Author to me, but after having her on your site, she is not going to be new to me for long. :)
Thank you Qwillia for taking time out of your busy day to spend with Us & share such a Great Interview about yourself, your writing & your new release, "Rite of First Claim".
I realy enjoyed your Interview, especially when Krystal asked you, "What was your favorite part of the book?"...Mmmmm that shower scene with Mike and Lyssa sounds sooooo Hot and Delish!!! Oh that was such a Tease!!! LOL
I can't wait to read more about the Diablo Blanco Club & Mike and Lyssa...definitely going on my next "to buy" eBook shopping spree! Your Cover Art is Sensually Erotic grabs the Reader in where you HAVE to buy this Book & your Excerpt seales the deal!!!....& it has ALL the ingredients I just LOVE in an Erotic Romance: "....explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements"...Ohhhh Yessss SIGN ME UP!!!! ;)
I would very much appreciate the opportunity to be considered in your very generous giveaway of a copy of "Rite of First Claim". Thank You.
Take Care Ladies & Happy Easter,
PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)
paranormalromancefan @ yahoo dot com
So glad you enjoyed the interview! Qwillia is amazing and her books are fantastic BDSM romances. Thank you so much for joining us.
DeleteThank you PaParanormalFan (Renee' S.)
DeleteI'm glad the story interested you. I loved working with Mike and Lyssa and the way their story turned out was very different than I'd originally written it. I love the covers Loose Id, gives me. Good luck on the drawing.
Thank you, Krystal for having me on your blog. I'm glad you enjoy the DBC books.