Interview of Author Nina Pierce

Today I'm pleased to present an interview or romance author, Nina Pierce.

Latest Book: Reclaimed in Ecstasy
Buy Link:Amazon

BIO:
USA Today bestselling author, Nina Pierce, grew up in a house full of readers. So becoming enamored with books was only natural. She discovered romance stories in her early teens, falling hopelessly in love with knights in shining armor and the damsels who saved them. She now spends her days at the keyboard writing her own stories, blissfully creating chaos for her characters by throwing in a villain or two, a little murder and a whole lot of mayhem as they struggle toward their happy-ever-afters.

Nina resides in New England with her high school sweetheart and soul mate of thirty-something years and several very spoiled cats who consider her “staff”. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her three grown children, one love-sick son-in-law and a heart-melting grandson.

Q: How did you celebrate publishing your first book?
A: You mean after I cried my eyes out? I don’t remember exactly what Mr. Nina and I did that night, but I bought a special necklace with my first royalty check that I still wear.

Q: Your novel is being made into a TV series/movie. Who’s in your dream cast?
A: Oh, wow. Let’s see. If my current novella, RECLAIMED IN ECSTASY, were made into a movie it would have to be Christina Aguilera portraying Sara and Victor Webster as Derek … I wouldn’t mind if he flogged me!

Q: What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?
A: *sigh* Schedule? I’m supposed to have a schedule? LOL! Well, a typical day involves marketing in the morning: answering emails, shopping for ads and social media (and house management stuff). After lunch my muse is finally ready to settle down and I work until dinner writing or editing. I don’t have a word count goal, for some reason that gives my muse hives and she tends to throw her hands in the air and walk away. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I just plug away at my stories, even if they seem to be coming together rather sloooowly.

I used to worry I wasn’t getting my first draft down at the rate other authors seemed to manage. A: But then I realized, I can’t help but edit as I go and by the time I finish my “first draft”, it’s pretty much a finished product.

Q: Of all your characters, who’s your favorite, and why?
A: Rainmaker, the FBI agent in my romantic suspense novel, IN HIS EYES.  He’s not the hero of the story, but he definitely drives the plot. I just love his outlook on life and how he’s willing to sacrifice his career to bring down a serial killer no one in the FBI believes exists. Plus, he’s a wise-@$$ and a cynic and writing his scenes was just so much darn fun.

Q: If you could change something about your first book, what would it be?
A: *pulls notebook out from under couch and blows off dust* The first book I ever wrote remains buried, probably never to see the light of day. The writing is just, well … rough. I’m not sure I could ever save it from itself. But I love the idea of the story and the characters. If I could change anything about it, I’d love to find the nugget of a story in the meandering plot that goes nowhere and create a romance novel readers would love to read. But yeeeeeah, it’s so not going to happen. *tucks notebook away*

Q: Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?
A: I’m one of the few people I know who requires complete silence when I’m writing. Music … any music, completely screws with my wiring. I can’t think if music is playing because I tend to sing along. I can ignore a television if Mr. Nina is watching sports, but not if he has on a documentary or movie.

Q: And comfort food? Nope. But I always have a drink on my writing desk. Coffee in the morning. A: Water (cold or hot depending on the season) in the afternoon. And wine in the evening.

Q: How do you choose names for your characters?
A: Names are VERY important to me. Once I have a little nugget of an idea I go to a couple of favorite websites and come up with names. I can’t write a word until I know my hero and heroine’s (and very often the villain) names. From their names I get a picture of who they are and then I actually go out and find a picture of them. This is always my first step in discovering who they are. It’s weird, but I’m such a visual person. I actually figure out their personalities just from their names and photo.

Q: Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change?
A: Oh goodness, yes! Several of them. One of my publishers went through what I call their “lazy period” where they just seemed to throw couples on the covers of my novels. But the worst was when they chose a very handsome African American model for my cover, but my hero was very much Caucasian. Surprisingly … that story never sold well. LOL! (I’m happy to say I got the rights back and re-released it with a cover that better depicted the characters and the story.)

Q: Out of your entire backlist, which book has the best opening line? What's the line?
A: My sci-fi erotic romance, A TOUCH OF LILLY.

Lilly D’Angelo wasn’t expecting a trip down memory lane when she sauntered into the dingy tavern, but the acrid stench and gruff hum of the Friday night crowd carried her back to one of the seedier establishments on Chicago’s south side nonetheless.

Q: How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas?
A: Wow, I’ve really got too many to count. Several of them are continuations of stories I thought would stand-alone, but when I finished the novel, I loved the characters or settings too much to just leave them. I’ve got files on my computer of stories I’ve started. I’ve also got a file labelled “What if”, where I jot down ideas for stories or great lines and in a couple of cases, some awesome titles that have no stories yet. LOL!

Fun Stuff:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: Thanksgiving. All the family, food and wine … none of the pressure of worrying about gifts!

Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: That I’m a thrill-seeker … I’ve been parasailing, hot air ballooning, skydiving and done white water rapids in an inner tube! Still on my bucket list—whitewater rafting the Colorado River!

I’m also a math and science geek … yep, I was the one who always ruined the bell curve in college.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Barbra Streisand – loved her music, loved her singing. There was just on teeny tiny problem … I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!

Q: Favorite food.
A: Any meal I don’t have to cook or clean up after! LOL!

Q: Favorite happy memory.
A: Wow! Just one? I think my wedding day because it was so much flipping fun! And let’s face it, most of my other happy memories happened because of that day!

Q: Favorite drink.
A: Frozen Margarita.

Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: Summer days … though that heat is a killer on my MS. Still, I LOVE the warm weather and long days!

Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: It’s a tossup between a cruise in Alaska and an African safari.

Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be and what would you be called?
A: Cyclona! I would be able to clean through my house in 5 minutes flat including laundry, dishes (ick), vacuuming and dusting (quadruple ick!). And I’d morph into a body that could wear a bikini while I did it all! That would leave me plenty of time to write and hang out with my family and friends.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Nina loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at Nina@NinaPierce.com.
You can also keep up with all her newest releases on her website: http://www.ninapierce.com/ and her blog: http://www.ninapierce.com/blog or by following her on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/nina.pierce.

BLURB:
A woman unwilling to trust …
Sara Lancaster isn’t sure accepting her invitation to a BDSM weekend at XTC Resort is a good idea—though she does have something to prove. Months of abuse at the hand of her former Master have taken their toll. Now, two years later, Sara believes she’s ready to embrace her submissive side once again and enjoy the carnal pleasures of a younger Dom.

A man testing his limits …
Derek Thomas has lost belief in his abilities as a Master. Accepting an invitation for Dom training could be exactly what he needs to regain his self-confidence. Challenged with an experienced older woman, he soon realizes wielding a flogger isn’t always enough to break down the emotional walls and heal a damaged submissive.

Two people with something to prove …
Sara and Derek sizzle with sexual heat the moment they step into the dungeon. The mind blowing sex and physical pain may satisfy their bodies, but wounded souls and broken spirits just may require something even more intimate—their hearts.

EXCERPT:
Ethan had said the Doms this weekend would be green, but the stiff way Derek moved through the club and down the stairs made Sara wonder if he had any idea what he’d just agreed to. The man had mentioned a dungeon, but the nervous energy buffeting her led Sara to believe that perhaps the man beside her had never dominated a submissive on his own.

Testing her theory, she boldly looked directly at his silhouette. “Master Ethan said we should use his private room down there on the left.” She pointed and moved a half step ahead of him. She hadn’t baited a Dom in a long while and she was feeling just foolhardy enough to test this kid’s mettle. The boyish face and youthful curls brushing his collar marked him as some college kid probably experimenting.

The man’s heavy boots pounded along the tile floor of the lower hall, the steady cadence never changing. “You’re well trained, Sara. You know better than to look at me that way. And I’m sure as hell not going to put up with you trying to top me.”

"Top you?”

He stopped abruptly, and Sara forced herself to take three more steps before casually turning and offering him a lackadaisical arch of her brow. Despite how hard she pushed, the man held tight to his control. His eyes narrowed, raking over her face with disapproval. Biceps bulged as he crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for her to acquiesce.

Great, a pissing match.

She’d see what kind of stuff he was made of and make this man prove his worth. Squaring her shoulders, Sara met the annoyance sparking in his eyes, mutely challenging the obedience he demanded.

“I’m not sure what you thought you understood from my conversation with Master Ethan.” The power of his deep, even tone shivered down her spine as he closed the distance between them. “But understand this now—for the next hour or two, I am your Master. You will obey me. You will treat me with the respect I deserve or you will be punished.” His full mouth twisted in an arrogant smile that sent butterflies fluttering in her tummy. “Which means you’ll turn those beautiful blue eyes to the floor. And unless I ask you a direct question or you’re screaming your safe word, you will keep those pouty lips of yours sealed shut.” He leaned in close, her strangled pants mingling with his heated breath. “Have I made myself clear, Sara?”

The rational part of her brain screamed to obey, but it was the sarcastic hellion begging for attention who currently had control. Ignoring both logic and the heavy pounding of her heart, Sara lifted her chin in defiance. “Perfectly.”

“You want to play it that way? Fine. Game on.” Grabbing Sara by the elbow, He pulled her to a stop in front of Ethan’s private dungeon and looked up into the camera monitoring the hall. His determined expression curled heatedly in her gut.

“Do you enter this room of your own free will as my submissive?”

“Yes.”

“Do you understand this room is monitored by cameras to protect both of us? And that the use of a safe word will halt all play immediately without repercussions or questions?”

“Yes.”

“And what is your safe word, Sara?”

“Attila the Hun.”

The smile he flashed held no mirth. “That’s a mindset, not a safe word.”

“Yours or mine?”

He leaned close, overwhelming her senses with the spicy scent of him. “Keep it up, Sara,” he whispered, his breath feathering heat across her cheek. “Punishing you for your defiance will be entirely my pleasure.”

Anything else you’d like to add?
I just want to say thank you for having me today. It’s always fun to hang out in another corner of the Internet and chat with people!