Interview of Author Nikki Lynn Barrett

Today I'm pleased to present an interview of romance author, Nikki Lynn Barrett.

Latest Book: Baby Stetson - Love and Music in Texas, Book One
Buy Links:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo


BIO:
Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki's site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at nikkilynnbarrett@yahoo.com


Q: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
A: For Baby Stetson, I'd have to say Lucas. He has so much character growth from the kind of cold, distant man he was in the beginning of the book, the loving man he becomes at the end. He's been jaded and shut off from emotions for so long, but there is something about Avery that brings out the better man in him. He connects with her on a deeper level than just a very strong physical attraction. Though their situations are still very different, they both had an abandonment in their past that affects them. Lucas took a much darker path, so he learns a lot from Avery and how she's dealt with her own. I loved writing him and how he slowly begins to open his mind up to the possibility of love and happiness.

Q: What hobby do you enjoy when not writing?
A: There's quite a few! I mean other than reading and blogging...I love singing, writing songs, photography, especially of weather. And as of lately, jewelry making. My mom and I have recently bonded over jewelry and have been creating quite a few things. We're still trying to get our business off the ground, and with different, hectic schedules at the moment, it's hard to get together, but it's been very fun.

Q: What’s your strongest point as a writer?
A: I'd have to say channeling emotion. I've always been an over emotional person, and now I know how to put that to good use, lol. I put that in the stories with the characters!

Q: What part of the book is the hardest for you? Why?
A: It's between the love scene or the beginning of the story.

The love scene, well, because how do I keep writing them to be different and exciting? Ha!

The beginning, because it's not always the easiest to start the book at the perfect place.

Q: Do all your heroes and all heroines look the same in your mind as you “head write”?
A: No. As I start to think of my characters, I get a pretty clear Idea of what they look like. With Baby Stetson, while I was writing, I started to search the stock sites to find the perfect couple for the cover to help even more. I had an easier time liking photos for Avery, but Lucas was much more difficult. I like to search for photos in the beginning or middle of the story so that I can use that description in the book and seal the image in my mind.

Q: You’re on a remote island with a handsome man, a computer, and a “mysterious” source of electricity to power your computer. What do you do?
A: Hmm, maybe I should make sure all my books I want are on my computer....just in case...

LOL. Umm...The man would be Keith Urban.We could work on the Love and Music in Texas CD soundtrack...oh yes! Beach time, singing...with Keith Urban? Yup, I'm all in. When we do leave?

Tell us where to find you.
www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett
https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor
@Stormgoddess925 on Twitter



BLURB:
In small Texas towns, strangers come and go...

Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.

By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town.

Some strangers come with secrets and lies.

Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.

Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know.

Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie.

But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.


EXCERPT:
"This is a nice kitchen,” Lucas said, closing the door behind him.

Avery faced him.

"You like to cook?"

"Oh yeah. I learned at a young age that I had to take care of myself, so I taught myself to cook. Now it's something I enjoy.

"Are you good at it?"

"I'm good at a lot of things, Avery. Lucas closed the gap between them.

Too close, too close!

She couldn't back up anymore, though. Behind her was the counter. Her back was already pressed up against it.  Lucas looked at her like he wanted to devour her.

"Lucas..."

"I know I need to stay away from you, Avery. All I want is one kiss. I've got to taste you. Tell me no, right now, and I'll back away."

Lucas pressed his body to hers. He slid his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. His face, only inches from hers, lowered.

"Tell me now, Avery. Because if you don't, I'm going to kiss you."

Don't! Yes! No! Do it! No!

She couldn't get the words out. All she could think about were Lucas's lips, mere inches from hers, sexy, tempting, inviting.  Avery opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.

"I'm not supposed to be so attracted to you, Avery," Lucas whispered, then his lips crashed down on hers.

He cupped her face, pulling her into his kiss. She didn't even have time to decipher what that comment meant. Avery tilted her head upward, responding to his kiss. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders as her fingers dug into them. Holy hell, this man could kiss. The deep urgency of his kisses drove her mad.

"Lucas," she muttered against his lips. His touch was lethal. It wasn't supposed to feel this good. Or amazing. Or sensational. Avery wasn't supposed to react to him this way. She didn't even know this man! Oh, but she knew his gaze, so intent on her, and she was fixated on him.

"Yes, Avery?"

He trailed kisses along her neck now. Desire burned within, igniting quickly. His lips were back on hers now. He darted his tongue out, touching the corners of Avery's lips, pushing his way in gently. Avery opened for him, needing another taste. Lucas's erection pressed into her, only making her want him more. She lost all senses, other than to kiss him. Lucas hoisted her up, still pressing her against the counter. Avery squealed and wrapped her legs around him. More fiery kisses came next. His tongue was gentle, daring, inquiring. He moaned against her lips, nipping lightly. "I want to take you to-"

They broke apart as the sound of loud voices neared. Lucas put her down quickly and backed away from her.

"Oh shit." Avery giggled, heart thundering in her chest, and blood roaring in her ears. That was close. Had anyone come in to see them, especially her parents... She'd never live it down. Need pooled within her, but the distraction was probably a good thing, otherwise she didn't know what would have happened next. She could almost picture what they might have- No, no. She wouldn't have let things go that far, not here!

The fact that she had to convince herself of that meant that she very well might have given herself to Lucas, right then and there. What was wrong with her? She never lost that much sense, not for anything or anyone. Emotions heightened, she fidgeted with her hair, smoothing it back and straightening her clothes as if nothing happened. Lucas still stared at her, that look of lust in his eyes, and smiled. "Well, that was fun," he teased. If he was trying to ease the tension, it worked. Avery laughed out loud. Inside, she wasn't. How could she lose control like that?


Anything else you'd like to add?
Add this book to your goodreads list!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17341981-baby-stetson


Other books by Nikki Lynn Barrett
The Secret Santa Wishing Well
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16159845-the-secret-santa-wishing-well


Thanks so much for having me here today!