Marketing with Mandy~ NCP Authors Part I

Q: Tell us a little about your experience with NCP.

A: NCP was the first publisher to pull me out of the slush pile and put me out there for readers. They have this incredible talent for being able to pick awesome writers to publish. Not only that, but they know how to pick the best artists. Their book covers are spectacular. Eliza Black has done all of my covers, and I’ve been thrilled every single time. Obsession is Eliza’s latest cover art for me, and it’s the most fantabulous cover EVER! I love great abs, but Eliza created a cover that screamed my heroine.

Q: Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

A:Sebastian Rockwood, Earl of Melton, is a man with a secret. He believes he’s responsible for his mother’s death. Since that terrible moment, years ago, he’s learned to control his emotions and avoid the risks that love brings. So when he finds himself impulsively bidding on a woman in a private brothel auction, his well-ordered existence is suddenly turned upside-down.

Tricked into entering a London brothel while fleeing an abusive home, Helen Rivenall finds herself drugged and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Her uncle has done his best to convince her she’s a woman teetering on the brink of sin, and trusting herself to believe otherwise is a difficult task.
Especially when the earl makes her believe that sin is a pleasure.

Q: What’s your favorite genre to write in and why?

A: Well, a year ago, I would have said historicals hands down. BUT I’m in the process of doing some world building for a new series, and I’m having WAY too much fun! So I’m on the scale on this one. Historicals and paranormals balance out my favorite genres.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your current WIP’s?

A: Well, as with all good things, one must wait. *grin* Actually, things are still in the developmental phase at this point, so I can’t tell you too much because I’m still trying to figure out what something is myself. Building a world takes time, but I can tell you that the heroes look hawt in black leather, they’re wiser beyond their years, and they love to fling Shurikens at their enemies. That’s those pointed stars like Ninja’s use. And they each have their own sword. My imagination is running amuck with this world building stuff, but it’s loads of fun.

Q: How did you get into writing?

A: I’ve been writing since I was nine years old. I had all these notebooks with short romance stories in them, and I always signed them Monica Burns (obviously not my real name). So when I decided five years ago to actually pursue publication, I tried a couple of different names, but nothing broke for me until I used the name I’d picked out as a kid. Freaky cool that was!

Q: What types of research do you do for your books?

A: I do tons of research. I love to read historical information and cruise the net, but I do other things too. For example, just this week I talked with a museum historian about espionage. The gentleman had written a huge academic book, but he was wonderful to talk to, and I learned a great deal.
That’s where some of my best research comes from; people in the know. It’s absolutely fascinating to listen to people who know so much talk to me. The knowledge is fantastic.

Q: How do you come up with your ideas?

A: It varies. For example, the current paranormal world I’m building had evolved out of a lot of different places. I’m big fan of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger series. It’s this phenom hit with readers, and while I read for pleasure, I read with an eye toward what it was readers love about the series. So I came away with that info and then I watched, read or remembered things from all the paranormal shows, books and topics I’ve always been fascinated with. I then started to build the world. One thing that I really want to do with this series is to keep the romance feel I have in my historicals in this new series. I think I’m going to be able to do just that as I’ve come up with several ideas on how to combine romantic with HAWT! LOL

Q: What authors inspired you growing up?

A: Lots of authors inspired me. I loved Baroness Ocrzy Scarlet Pimpernel novels, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities was an assigned book in school. I put off reading the first chapter until the night before it was due for discussion. I read the whole damn thing that night. He reeled me in hook, line and sinker. Then there was Edgar Allan Poe, Barbara Cartland, Victoria Holt, Rogers, Woodiwiss and even Edgar Cayce. Whenever I was grounded, I never cared because I had a book to sweep me off to a whole other world.

Q: How do balance family and writing?

A: I don’t. I’ve got a terrific husband who is Mr. Mom, and we have two great kids. Essentially, we treat it as Mom is working two jobs, so everyone has to help out and do things, first and foremost being quiet because Mom is writing. *grin* Hopefully I’ll be able to quit the day job in the future.
Then I’ll be better able to balance things. The one thing we do though is camp. It’s a great way to spend time with the family, and I work in the car on the way to and fro. Plus while the kids are out riding bikes in the campground, I’m clicking away on my laptop out in the fresh air! LOVE IT!

Q: Why do you like writing romance/erotica?

A: Because there’s nothing more beautiful than two people sharing an intimate moment in the most intimate way possible. Sex is often viewed in our culture as something to be hidden and as something shameful. Sex can be a beautiful experienced when shared by two individuals who love each other.

Q: What would you do if you weren’t a writer?

A: I haven’t a clue. I’ve always been a writer. Maybe not in the sense of always been published, but when you’ve been writing as long as I have it’s not possible to imagine what your world would be like without it.

LINKS:

www.monicaburns.com
www.monicaburns.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/monicaburns

Monica’s Announcements ONLY Yahoo group – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MonicaBurnsAnnouncements/

CONTEST: Monday-Friday of this week– anyone who comments on ANY of the posts for Marketing with Mandy’s New Concepts Publishing Spotlight (going on all week long) will be entered to win a download of their choice from Mandy M. Roth’s New Concepts backlist and Michelle M. Pillow’s New Concepts backlist. (There will be two winners, each selecting one download)

To enter: Comment on the blog in a Marketing with Mandy New Concepts Publishing Spotlight post this week! The more you enter, the more chances you have to win. Winners will be selected on SUNDAY and announced on the blog.

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