Please join us in welcoming Vivian Arend back to BLI today who is here to celebrate the release of Rising, Freestyle, the second novella in her Xtreme Adventures series which is available from Samhain today! Falling, Freestyle, the first story in the series released on November 30, 2010, is a sizzling hot story friends to lovers story, and the main characters are extreme alpine sports enthusiasts. Rising, Freestyle is Melanie Dixon and Derrick James’ love story and they are into extreme rock climbing.

 

 

Viv: It’s great to be back!

 

 

Viv: As you mentioned, all the books in the series are set around an extreme sport. It’s not just a place for the adventures to happen, it’s a basis for a lot of the underlying issues the characters have to face as well. In this book, rock climbing in the past led to Melanie’s trauma. In the story, it’s a part of the healing process and loops through all the way to the happily ever after.

Now, I’ve had an advance reader of the book who said she was going to die reading it—she’s afraid of heights! But the wonderful thing I find about books is that I don’t have to know how to be a speedcar driver to enjoy a book with racing in it. And even when I take them out on a limb—you’ll be safely behind your ereader to enjoy the thrill.

 

Lea: Melanie Dixon is a seasoned climber who experienced a horrific fall. She has healed physically from her injuries and wants to climb again but is suffering post-traumatic anxiety attacks related to climbing again. I thought you did an excellent job of characterizing Melanie, her fear is paralysing but she is determined to conquer it. Can you tell us a little more about Melanie’s personal journey in Rising, Freestyle?

 

Viv: The biggest thing about Melanie’s story is that for her, like most of us, the progression out of a tough situation is two steps forward, one step back. No matter how determined we are to do something (learn something, face something) we can have awesome plans, try them out, and then fail. Melanie knows this is true, but discovers having someone beside her makes the failing, well, not always go away, but easier to face. Because having a hand to help her to her feet so she could try again makes the difference.

 

 

 

Viv: The thing I like most about Derrick is he’s totally comfortable in his own skin. Everything about him simply screams the kind of guy I’d want holding the other end of my safety line. Dependable, patient. OMG strong- inside and out. And then there’s the part of him that’s not so gentle—the take control and take ownership part. Yum. Contrasts like that are my favorite parts of heroes.

 

 

Lea: Falling, Freestyle is a contemporary erotic friends to lovers romance with a menage theme. Should readers expect more smoking hot ménage action in Rising, Freestyle? :))

 

Viv: Yes, and no. (Love being vague!) See, I don’t write to a formula. Xtreme Adventures is not a series of ménage books, it’s a series of romance stories within an extreme sports setting, with the appropriate heat for the situations and characters. Book one totally called for a complete ménage including a HEA for three. This book? Just as hot, in a whole new way. Ménage? Oh hell, yes, but maybe not how you expect.

 

 

 

Viv: I loved doing those definitions openers! Yes, I enjoy those sports, and all the types of activities I plan on writing for the series. Love the outdoors. In terms of the innuendo—anyone who’s read my earlier books especially the Granite Lake Wolves series knows I love puns. This is simply another way to play with words, and yes, each chapter definition is a tease into what you can expect to read.

 

 

Viv climbing…or rather hanging 😉

Viv: The kind of people who do the sports in real life definitely sets the tone for the type of characters that occupy the stories, which in turn makes for very appropriately sensual settings. Another thing to consider is that in many cases we’re talking about people who use their bodies as their tools—their equipment. This can make people more aware of the power of their own bodies and sex is another thing to enjoy whole-heartedly, same as attacking the ski slope or the side of a cliff.

Now, I have to add this. While the characters in these stories are athletes, the trained-conditioned body doesn’t make them better than us less active types. 😉 What I love is seeing a confident person of any size who knows they are attractive, because it’s not the body that ultimately makes us beautiful. Even people in great shape can feel they are unattractive—as Melanie does at the start of the book—and that’s all about the head games we play.

 

 

 

Viv: There are at least two more books planned—but considering I’ve got whitewater kayaking, rafting, sky diving, hang gliding, surfing, scuba, wild caving… mountain biking… There’s the potential for a lot of fun for a while.

 

 

 

Viv: Quick answer- three series starting up over the next while, two contemporary and one paranormal.

August– Bandicoot Cove, an exclusive Aussie resort, opens and myself and two Aussie friends have written a set of three novellas to heat up the end of summer. My book, Paradise Found, and a free short read will be out August 23, with the next two books Sept 6 (Tropical Sin by Lexxie Couper) and 23 (Island Idyll by Jess Dee).

 

September– Arwhoooo! Book 1 in the Takini Wolves releases. It’s a spin-off novel from my popular Granite Lake Wolves novella series. Look for it September 13.

November– the re-release of the expanded Six Pack Ranch books begins. Rocky Mountain Heat is out on the 15, with Rocky Mountain Haven following in January of 2012 and a brand new book Rocky Mountain Desire in March. These are contemporary cowboys, with a high heat level.

You can find more information, including excerpts for all these at my website.

 

 

-heart pounding excitement from the safety of your reading location.

-happy ever afters that work for the characters and will make you smile

-hot sensual levels, without the gritty icky stuff 😉

Stella: Can you summarize Rising, Freestyle for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less)?

 

Viv: You know what? I tried. But when it takes over 40 thousand words to tell the story, it’s tough enough cutting it to the length of a blurb! You’re killing me here. Words are my tool…I like to use more of them, not less! But how about this:

 

“falling in love with another person is sometimes easier than falling in love with yourself & people who truly care will give until it hurts.”

 

 

 

Viv: Thank you so much for having me!

 

 

 

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Vivian has generously offered an ebook copy (winner’s choice of ebook format) of Falling, Freestyle, the 1st book in the Xtreme Adventures series to 3 lucky commenters!

All you have to do is leave a question/comment to Viv.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email in blogger profile or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).

Giveaway is open worldwide!

Giveaway ends on Saturday, 16 July 2011 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck!