.jpg)
I love interviews! They give readers a fun insight on authors, so here's today's interview:
Tell me a bit about yourself, and your writing. We both have backgrounds in the arts—Roy in theater, standup comedy and visual arts, while Alicia spent years as a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. One reason we can write romantic comedy together is because we actually had a love-at-first-sight, whirlwind romance that ended in an HEA that has lasted many years.
That's fabulous! I love hearing about real life HEA's on top of reading them in romance.
How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? Roy: I never would have guessed I’d become a writer. Alicia: I always wanted to write. I grew up in a family that loved books. I’ve been an avid reader since childhood and began writing stories at an early age.
What are your favorite genres to read? Alicia: My favorite is romance, whether it is contemporary, historical, paranormal, YA, or literary. But I read absolutely everything, including classics, thrillers and non-fiction. Roy: I like every kind of comedy, whether it’s adult romance, guy stuff, or middle grade fiction. But Stephen King is also a favorite.
How many books do you have published? What genre? Two chick lit style mysteries. And Kiss Me, Dancer is contemporary romance. Alicia also published Snow Dance, a short story prequel to our Dance ‘n’ Luv series.
I love chick lit and mystery! I'll have to check them out.
Do you write in multiple genres, or do you just stay with one? If you do not write in more than one genre, do you ever consider it? Alicia: We definitely like to cross over genres. I’m currently at work on a paranormal YA novel and have a related story in the Eternal Spring anthology coming out soon. Roy: I am sinking my teeth into a new experience, a graphic novel.
What are some of your passions and hobbies outside of writing? Animal rescue, cruelty prevention, wildlife preservation, the environment. Roy is obsessive about working out and loves boxing. Alicia still does ballet and loves classical music.
What's the strangest question or thing you've had to ask/do for research purposes? Roy: How do you drive an 18-wheeler up the steepest streets in San Francisco? (Answer- Very slowly!) LOL!
Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants? We do a combination, starting out with a loose plan and going back and forth form plotting to writing as the story elements evolve.
Name four books that stay on your keeper shelf. Roy: Night of the Hunter by Davis Grubb, Woody Allen’s Side Effects. Alicia: I guess I would have to include Pride and Prejudice since it’s the arc type for all romance novels, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, Great Expectations, and One For the Money(Evanovich) But there are so many others I love just as much! It’s like asking a mother to pick a favorite child.
Ebooks or print, which do you prefer? Roy: I prefer e-books. Alicia: I like both.
What is a talent you wish you had, but don't? Alicia: Roy: I wish I were not afraid of heights so I could jump from the world’s tallest building like Tom Cruise. (And get paid three hundred million for it – also like he did.)
What are you working on now? Alicia: We’re completing our second Dance ‘n’ Luv novel, Touch Me And Tango that will be coming out in May. Plus the individual projects we mentioned earlier.
What is a typical writing day/schedule like for you? Alicia: I begin working early in the morning and go throughout the day. Roy: I am nocturnal and work alone at night. When we work together we meet during the afternoon or early evening.
Does your mood influence what you write, or read?
Roy: When I see the world as a nasty place, I tend to prefer lightening up my mood with comedy. Maybe that’s why I write so much in a humorous style these days.
What genre of writing style would you like to see make a comeback? Alicia: I would say chick lit, except that I’m already seeing it sell very well in self-pubbed e-books.
If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go? Roy: Another bang up question. I’d get a penthouse in Manhattan, a house on the beach next to Seinfeld in the Hamptons, whereupon Jerry and I would play softball each day before wine and dinner at night.
Thanks for the great responses. It's interesting to see how a duo of writers works together.
All right. Are you ready for an excerpt? :)
Here'tis!
Casey swallowed hard when she saw Drew Byrne’s teal blue eyes studying her. She tried glaring at him, but the way his sculpted torso filled out the sleeveless tee he wore and tapered down to his tiny jeans-clad hips made her pulse race.
Ought to be illegal to be this sexy.
She glanced at his perfectly carved delt. Sure enough, there was the tattoo of a blue tractor-trailer. So, he was definitely the womanizing player her brother mentioned. Knowing it spelled bad news, she tore her gaze away from him, forcing back fantasies of licking him from head to toe.
Casey turned to his son and covered her discomfort by saying, “How about a game of ping-pong, Josh?”
He tucked in his chin and shook his head. “I’m terrible at it. You’d only get annoyed with me.”
“No, I wouldn’t.” Poor kid. Was it his father who made him feel that? “In fact, I’ll teach you some slick moves.”
Drew stepped forward, his expression cocky, his eyes doing the elevator dance on her. “Like what?”
A nervous Josh must have feared another run-in between his father and his dance teacher because he said, “My dad is a champ at it. You should play with him.”
Oh, she wanted to play with him, all right, but not ping-pong.
Before Casey had a chance to decline, Drew said, “Think you can handle a grown man?”
She wasn’t sure if that was a sultry double entendre or just a snide challenge. Either way, Casey decided this obnoxious, arrogant butthead who didn’t want his kid in her ballet class could use a good ass kicking. “Try me.”
I had the pleasure of being able to get a copy of Kiss Me, Dancer for review, and I am now ready to share the review with readers-
BLURB: Ballet instructor Casey Richardson takes an immediate dislike to the brash, arrogant Drew Byrne when he pulls his nine-year-old son out of her “silly” dance class. Still, she cannot help noticing his smoking hot body and bedroom eyes.
A working class girl raised in the small fishing and farming community on Long Island’s rural North Fork, Casey knows all too well how easily a girl can get hurt by the notorious womanizing hunks that flourish on the South Fork in the Hamptons. Men like Drew Byrne.
The last thing she needs is for him to be the only one who can save her from losing her dance academy, the dream she has worked so hard to turn into a reality.
Remarrying is definitely off Drew’s list of things to do. As head of his Fortune 500 trucking company, he enjoys his wealth and has no problem keeping it a game with some of the world’s most beautiful women. So why should his son’s challenging, straight talking dance teacher get under his skin in a way no other female has?
Sure, Casey Richardson has luminous brown eyes and a lean, taut body that drives him nuts, but he’s seen plenty in his day with the supermodels he is used to dating. He tells himself it is because Casey is the only one who was able to bring his shy, uncommunicative son out of his shell. But even that isn’t it.
Bewildered, Drew decides he just might make use of those ridiculous psychic readings he won at North Cove’s Annual Fourth Of July Bazaar raffle. Little does he know the local psychic who donated the readings has taken off last minute for some trekking in Tibet —and Casey was swayed into substituting for her with phone readings to the anonymous winner.
Add in a stint on a hit TV dance-off series, a cozy local coffee shop, a narcissistic rock star and a protective big brother to make KISS ME, DANCER a sexy, heartfelt and fun read.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this romantic comedy. Casey and Drew are so different, yet they have a chance to beat the odds and find love. It's going to be tough though!
Casey is a strong heroine, though she has her moments. She's struggling to keep her dreams alive and a situation within the book really challenges her feelings and emotions. There's a few times she really beats herself up, which puts a crack in her strong facade, but she has so much to lose. I really like her, and felt drawn to her character immediately.
Drew is a bit hard to handle sometimes. I had to grow into liking his character. He could be crude, mean, and an all out jerk sometimes, but as the pages went on, i finally saw a softer side of the man. He struggles with his relationship with his estranged son, and sometimes, though he tries, he just can't seem to get it right. When I got a glimpse of some of these scenarios, my heart went out to him a little bit. Drew is the portrait of any regular man- complex, challenging, but in the end run, a good man trying to do his best in a crazy world.
Kiss Me Dancer is real and raw. Though it's a HEA romance, there were some rocky moments in the story that resembled every day real life. I couldn't put it down. I'm waiting for more from the talented duo that penned this great book.
Here are some links and bio-
Author Bio:
In addition to being part of today’s Indie author movement, Alicia and Roy Street are also traditionally published. In 2009 they received a Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. They both share backgrounds in the performing arts. Alicia spent years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Roy in theater and standup comedy. Alicia is a chronic reader of every genre including the classics. She also loves old black-and-white movies, making organic soups from recipes she invents, working out and, of course, dancing. Roy’s into sweaty workouts, too, as well as watching boxing on HBO and eating Alicia’s organic soups. Their cat’s name is Wallace, an orange ten-pounder who’s crazy over pizza. He and Roy do slices every Friday night.
Connect with Roy & Alicia:
website- http://aliciastreet-roystreet.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AliciaRoyStreet
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AliciaStreet1
Buy the Book!
Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108417
Thanks for stopping by today! Alicia and Roy, I look forward to more of your work! Continued success to the both of you!
Until next time,
Storm Goddess
Thanks for stopping by today! Alicia and Roy, I look forward to more of your work! Continued success to the both of you!
Until next time,
Storm Goddess
Great interview and I will definitely be checking this book out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being in the tour!
ReplyDeleteFun interview! Kiss Me Dancer sounds like a fun contemporary romance and I like that the characters both have to grow through the process of the book in order to get their HEA. Thanks for sharing this with us and for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLoved the interview.
ReplyDeleteYour book sounds very, very interesting.
Love the interview and love books with dancers in them.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. I need to check this out, I've been involved in the dance world for over 25 yrs and this book has caught my eye =)
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by this book! Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to stop by to say thanks for having us on your superfab blog! We really enjoyed the interview and look forward to meeting new reader-friends!
ReplyDeleteLove these guys. Great interview!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute couple you are.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Nice to meet a writing duo.
ReplyDeleteVery neat interview! The book sounds great as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check this one out! I love dance shows and movies but I've never read a book...that would fun!
ReplyDelete