Interview of Annie Alvarez, RBRU Member Author!

It's my pleasure to interview fellow RBRU Member Author Annie Alvarez today!

BIO:

I can put together a lesbian erotica at the drop of a dime, but ask me to write an autobiography and my mind goes completely blank. So, here goes...
I was born in New Orleans Louisiana. That's right, the Big Easy or the bathtub, whichever you prefer. Anyways, when I was born, Mercy Hospital was still called Mercy, so I've got a few years under my belt.At the age of 5, my family moved to sunny South Florida. I spent the next 27 years baking in the sun and enjoying the constant, predictable weather.
As a teenager, I caused my share of trouble, which I will not go into here. Needless to say, when I turned 18, I came out to my friends and family. I'll never forget that day, either. My picture was plastered on the front page of the Miami Herald's Sunday edition. For those of you who don't know what the Miami Herald is, it's only the largest newspaper in South Florida and my picture took up half the front page. Woohoo! My first fifteen minutes of fame.
I've had my share of relationships, some were good and some were downright wrong. At the age of 32, a mutual friend introduced me to my current partner, who lived in Texas. We seemed to hit it off, even though she spoke with a funny accent. She returned to Texas and I followed her. We've been together 13 years now and I wouldn't trade a single day of it. We don't have kids even though we both want them. What we do have is 3 cats who are highly opinionated, and 2 huge, lovable dogs.
I never said, oh geez, when I grow up, I want to be a writer. No, that didn't happen to me. What did happen was that imagination sideswiped me one day and an erotic story complete with characters, consumed every bit of my waking moments. To get it out of my head, I put it on paper, smart huh? Well, that's what started my writing career. I successfully have four published ebooks, The Hightower Series, and I'm working on the forth.
My stories center on Izzy and Tamara, both vampires and both very sexy, but deadly. It's full of hot, explicit love scenes between them and sometimes- other partners. A lot of people have asked me if I tend to write from experience, my answer is yes, and no. Yes, because I write lesbian erotica and I'm a lesbian, duh. No, because I'm not a vampire although some days, I wish I was.
Well, there you have it, my life in a nutshell. Of course, I left stuff out...I already share my dirty mind with you; I can't very well go sharing my dirty laundry, too!

Q: What’s the first thing you did when you received word you’d sold a book?
A: I did my infamous happy-happy-joy-joy dance. Then I called my partner, all my friends and spread the good news. In that order. I was so stoked, I had to read the email a few times before it registered!

Q: What part of the book is the easiest for you to write? Why?
A: I find it all easy to write except, when my muse has a different idea on where the story should go. That’s when it becomes a battle of the wills between my characters and I and believe me…they are opinionated!

Q: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
A: Oh, that’s easy. It would have to be Tamara Hightower. I see her as my complete opposite. She possesses everything I don’t. Patience, a great sense of humor, patience, a canning ability to read people, patience. Oh, did I mention patience?

Q: If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as one of your heroines? Tell us about your heroine.
A: Kate Beckinsale, as Tamara. She was fantastic in Underworld! The way she portrayed the tough, cold vampire side, even though she was falling in love. Yeah. That’s definitely Tamara!

Izzy is a little harder to cast. Half witch, half vampire with spells running amok all the time. She’s young and bubbly…Maybe you have a suggestion or two?

Q: Do all your heroes and all heroines look the same in your mind as you “head write”?
A: Absolutely not! I actually “see” them as different people. That’s what helps me get in their head, so to speak. I “see” Tamara as a more refined person, but not stuck up. She always has a reason for doing something. She’s intelligent and overly cautious.

Izzy is a bubbly, happy go lucky, save the planet nut that loves to live life to the fullest. She wears flip-flops, and has a killer tan. She likes to sun bathe a lot.

Jazz? Well, as a vampire, she got stuck in the hippie era and refused to put it behind her. She likes to wear flowy, tie dyed clothes. She’s a good mixture between Tamara and Izzy.

Q: Facebook, MySpace, Blogs, Chats, or Twitter. Which do you like best and why?
A: I don’t like any of them because people and I’m referring to readers, don’t really get to know your work. They are all looking for more, whatever’s…ranch buddies, flower power petals, who knows. However, having said that, you can find me on all, except chats. I haven’t checked that one out, yet.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Yes! I take reader’s emails. If you have a question of comment let me know. Annie@anniealvarez.net
http://www.anniealvarez.net
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Naughty-Little-Vamp/222738366205 
http://naughtylittlevamp.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/Anniealvarez
http://www.myspace.com/anniesreality
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/board

BLURB:

Is it not enough that I have put up with her blatant disobedience and have tolerated her abandonment to our way of living and our life together? As Matriarch of the Hightower Clan, I should take what rightfully belongs to me. No one would deny me that right, but I want more than just her body standing next to me. I want her heart and love to follow willingly.

EXCERPT:
It was close to the Winter Solstice and Connecticut was cold, but that didn’t bother me. The sleepy little town teamed with suppressed energy that built stronger as each night passed. It was enough that it made me edgy and that wasn’t an easy thing to do. Luckily, Faelyn bumped up against New York and Massachusetts so it was only a quick run into the city to visit one of Kaley’s Donor Centers, or find an unsuspecting donor to calm my jittery nerves. Either would do for me. I’m not picky about feeding, but I do draw the line on Demons. It takes weeks to get the retched taste out of my mouth.

I heard the branch Layla was standing on creak. I smiled and turned to her. “You are a goddess, and yet, you stand on a limb that cannot hold your weight.”

“This is not about me.” She stepped onto a thicker branch. “This is about you maintaining order in your clan. You’ve sat here night after night, indulging in self-pity, watching what you once had instead of reassuring your clan that your strong hand will continue to protect them.”

“They are vampires,” I said, stretching my leg off the branch and casually swinging it. “They should take care of themselves.”

Layla firmly grabbed the limb above her and swung her body close to me. “Need I remind you that you are only as powerful as your clan? If you continue to lose members, you will have failed your mother as well.” She paused. “Look.” She pointed across the street. “In the three weeks you have been perched here, she hasn’t noticed you because she’s moved on with her life, as should you.”

Layla was right. Yesterday, their neighborhood was a typical foliage-covered, standard-looking suburb, and tonight…it glimmered with shiny, white Christmas lights and solstice wreaths cleverly hung from trees. Their house was no exception. They were preparing for the Winter Solstice. Layla had an incredible knack for making a point and this one stung. I already felt as though I failed Izzy and now for a little extra spice, she added mother to my already simmering pot of failure. Maybe she had been right. What I needed was a good fight to get my head and my new priorities screwed on straight.

Anything else you’d like to add?
In these times when M/M is quite popular, I have dedicated myself to writing about what I know, F/F erotica. If you want a little break, join my lovely vampire ladies as Izzy battles to keep her humanity and Mistress Tamara battles to keep Izzy.