We are very happy to have author Sara Brookes here at Book Lovers Inc again today.  She writes books in a variety of genres and well let’s just say she likes them hot. 😉 No Restraint, book 3  in her Sypricon Masters series  was released in November and Slow Break, book 4 will be released in December- so today she will tell us a bit more about this series. Please give Sara a warm welcome. 

BLI: Sara can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Sara: Thanks for having me here! I’m an award-winning romance author who writes in various genres with various heat levels. I’m a geek girl to the core and you can just as easily find me sitting in front of a video game as writing on my computer.

BLI: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?

Sara: Pantser. I rarely plot and the thought of doing so freezes my brain. I usually know a few high points of the story when I start, but that’s about it. I also never write a story the same way twice. What worked one time, doesn’t always work again. One of my books was actually written from the end to the beginning instead of the other way around. It worked out well for that story, but I haven’t duplicated that process in the numerous books I’ve written since then.

BLI: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?

Sara: A reader is just someone who enjoys books, but books aren’t—pardon the pun, LOL—written into their soul. Book Lovers cherish their books, treating them as if they were precious pieces of art that should be cared for. I still have books I purchased and read when I was 16.

BLI: You have penned several series, what is the appeal for you of writing interconnected books?

Sara: Sometimes a story can’t be contained in just one book and has to play out over several books. Sometimes a secondary character demands to have their story told—they want their day in the spotlight. Both approaches to series appeal to me which is why I write them both. It’s always the story that dictates, though.

BLI: Do you prefer to write series or independent titles?

Sara: I’ve written a few independent titles and while they’re fun, sometimes there’s just more to the story to be told. I like the feeling of letting characters go at the end of a stand-alone title, but there’s something nice about writing a series, creating a world and getting to visit it again.

BLI: You novels genres vary widely- do you have a favorite genre to write in? And is that the same one you prefer to read yourself?

Sara: No one certain genre is my favorite, which is probably why I write in several. Each genre brings its own eccentricities to the table. I read a wide variety as well because of the same reason.

BLI: Have you ever “messed up” and write in a later book something that happened completely differently in a previous title? How do you keep track of what happens or who everyone looks like?

Sara: I try very hard not to do that and take copious amounts of notes when I’m working on a series dependent on details such as that. I have world bibles I keep in order to keep track of everything. I know a lot of authors who develop their own spreadsheets and such to keep track of such things, but as much of a geek as I am, I still keep all my notes handwritten. It’s a little odd, but it actually helps me remember when I’ve physically written it down on paper.

BLI: Your covers are amazingly atmospheric and very suggestive. Do you contribute in any way to the creation of the covers? Did you ever receive a cover which simply did not suit your story?

Sara: Thank you! I’ve been very lucky as far as covers. I can’t take the credit, it’s all to the artists who have given me fabulous covers. The only contribution I give is filling out the questions asked on cover art forms. LOL I’ve never had one that was wrong for the story, per say. But, as a reader, I’m a series purist—I love covers of series books to have the same “look” to them. I have asked for one to be adjusted a little to fit in with the previous books and it wasn’t a major change, just colorwise and whatnot.

BLI: How did you discover the erotica genre? Do you still remember what was the very first book you read in the genre? Was it love at first read or did it put you off/leave you lukewarm about this genre?

Sara: My mother inadvertently gave me my first erotic novel when I was in my late teens. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t aware of it and I’ve never told her otherwise. I enjoyed the fact the doors didn’t close during a sex scene. It made it seem more realistic to me—sex doesn’t stop when the door closes, why should the book?

BLI: You write erotica, ménage, BDSM, do you have a special ritual to get in the mood to write sexy scenes? (scented candles, instrumental music, etc)

Sara: Oh I’d love to tell you I do, but I don’t. Now, I do listen to music when I write and there are some songs that are sexier than others, but that’s about it.

BLI: Sara, Slow Break is part of your Sypricon Masters series, can these books be read as stand-alones or would you suggest readers enjoy them in order.

Sara: The series can be read in any order the reader chooses. They were specifically written to be understood if the reader picks up the fourth book or the first.

BLI: Slow Break is Jack Cotton and Denton’s story. Is this your first book in the m/m genre?

Sara: Strictly m/m, yes. I wrote a book that released back in July from Ellora’s Cave, Ragged Edge, that has m/m scenes, but is ultimately a m/m/f book. But the relationship the two men have in Ragged Edge is actually what made me decide to write Slow Break, and also my upcoming release Hard as Stone (which is m/m as well).

BLI: The other books in the Sypricon Masters series are m/f any reason why you decided to integrate an m/m story into the series?

Sara: The nice thing about writing a series as open-ended such as Sypricon Masters, is that I can write any combination the story dictates. There was a brief mention in the second book of the series, Perfect Limit, of a mineral harvester whose mine had caught fire. I wanted to dig into that a bit more and as soon as I developed Jack, I knew Slow Break would be a m/m story.

BLI: Please tell us about Jack, he has a tragic past doesn’t he?

Sara: Jack has definitely had a tough go. His mine was nearly destroyed in a fire and he’s still reeling from a tragedy that struck his family. He’s definitely at his lowest when the story starts.

BLI: Denton is a Dominant at the BDSM club Tawse and he had a previous relationship with Jack. Can you explain a little about their history and why Jack returns to Tawse?

Sara: Though Jack was a member of Tawse at one point, he was ashamed of the reason he went to the club. That shame finally takes its toll and he leaves behind Denton, even though he thinks the Dom is the best thing that’s ever happen to him. Because of that, Denton is bitter when Jack just shows up at the club again, expecting to be forgiven because he realizes he needs Denton and what he gives him.

BLI: Where is Sypricon?

Sara: In a galaxy far, far away…oh wait. LOL That is right, though. Earth is mentioned a few times through the books, but Sypricon isn’t anywhere near our galaxy.

BLI: Can you tell us about your plans for the future? What can we expect next from you?

Sara: Let’s see, Slow Break, the fourth Sypricon Masters story, will be available on December 16. The first three stories, Impulse Control, Perfect Limit and No Restraint are all available now. Hard as Stone, a m/m paranormal erotic romance, will be releasing soon (in the next month or so) from Ellora’s Cave. I’m currently working on a m/m/f contemporary erotic romance, a m/f contemporary erotic romance and a m/m sci-fi erotic romance.

BLI: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?

Sara: If you’re in the mood for sexy stories about relationships, learning to trust and, ultimately, to love, have I got some stories to tell you!

BLI: Can you summarize Slow Break for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less)?

Sara: Ready to make amends, Jack returns only to find Denton is prepared to uphold the rules—even though it could leave both men broken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Sara has generously offered digital copies of one of her  Sypricon novels (Impulse Control, Perfect Limit or No Restraint.) to one lucky commenter!

All you have to do is leave a meaningful comment about Sara’s interview or a question for her!
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

This giveaway is open worldwide!

Giveaway ends on Saturday 10 December 2011 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck!

About Susi

Susi is a geeky vegetarian from Gemany. She just finished university and now works as a civil engineer in steel construction. Besides her reading addiction she also knits like a maniac while listening to audiobooks. Susi also blogs at the Secret HEA Society.

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