Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. Be sure to watch out for Cupid today, his bow raised, arrow in place to shoot you with one of his love arrows…At least that’s how the myth goes. We have a special guest with us today, Amber Scott, author of Play Fling, which gives a new little twist to the story of Cupid.
Besides being an author extraordinaire, Amber is the first participant in our sister blog, Indie Book Collective’s new Bestseller for a Day program. We’ll tell you a little more about what Bestseller for a Day is and how you can get Play Fling at an incredible low prices, plus a chance to get another book, and a chance to win some Amazon.com gift cards. But first, the interview.
What inspired you to write Play Fling?
Brooke and Elliot showed up after I heard the song “Clumsy” by Fergie. This song is soooo Brooke. But something was missing in their story. The thing that brings them together and keeps them apart. Millie Match. Now, Millie, stupid Cupid herself, showed up on mental screen after I caught an old face episode of Quantum Leap. I thought how funny it would be is Sam was really, royally bad at his gig. Bam! Millie jumped in and brought it all together.
She’s a riot to write and I know why she gets under some readers skin, but the fun will really be in watching her character arc over the course of the series, especially in the final book when she must match herself.
Your protagonist, Brooke, loves antiques. Do you have a similar passion?
I really dig the past and objects with a history to them but I wouldn’t say it’s a passion. In fact, I’m more like Elliott. I love thrift stores and yard sales, just to shop around. I do think Brooke’s business would be a lot of fun to run and shop for, too, though. Is it weird that I just now realized how much their individual passions connect them? LOL. Further proof that these people really do just show up in my head, I guess.
LoL. It’s funny how character do that, just show up out of the blue. Brooke is the object of Elliott’s desires. Can you tell the readers how he and Brooke met?
Ah, yes. Brooke first aught Elliott’s attention from afar. He’s a people watcher, the historian and anthropologist in him. One day at the campus Bookstore, he spotted Brooke, glimpsed her letting her guard down with her friend, Millie, and became intrigued. He found himself wondering how hot she could get under her cool surface.
Age gaps in romance can be controversial. Society seems to be more acceptable of older men dating younger women, yet when women date younger men, they are accused of being a “cougar”. Were you afraid people would think this about Brooke and Elliott?
Interestingly, I didn’t. I worried more about Millie, the poor bumbling Cupid. You see, only Elliott could thaw Brooke and teach her who she really was, to truly show her the possibilities in life that she’d put on hold by worrying what other people would think.
Millie is such a hoot. Is she patterned after anyone you know?
She isn’t patterned after anyone but she is a LOT like one of my former bestest friends in the whole wide world. To protect the innocent, let’s call her Cate. Cate is the only person I ever knew who could make superficial fun. “Okay, Amber, you know that I only make friends with attractive people, right? Thereby, you know you are beautiful, okay?”
I love her for it. Still do. Millie is a bit like that. You see, in a big way, it’s her defense mechanism, cultivated to navigate the world she came from.
Tell us about Millie’s golden bracelets.
I love the bangles! Each delicate band is essentially a handcuff. She can’t take them off. Each band equates one true love soul mate match she must make. In each match, Millie must also grow from her help, learning love in all its many forms.
What message did you want to get across to your readers by writing Play Fling?
Play Fling’s theme is “Love means letting go.” At the core of the story, fining the courage to be honest with yourself and then with the world is freeing. There are a lot of secrets characters are hiding from each other. Millie’s hiding her true role, a Cupid. A.J. is hiding what he’s doing to help. Brooke is hiding from who she is. It goes on and on.
Elliot is the most honest one. To the point that he nearly loses his heart’s desire, Brooke. But even he keeps a secret until it’s almost too late.
Will Play Fling have a sequel?
Yes. Yay! I’d like there to be a book for every bangle, with the final book as Millie matching herself. And now that Just Deserts, the Karma Court short is out, I can even see a fun and wonderful spin off with Natalie Rose, the angel who sentences Millie to matchmaking hell.
We at ParaYourNormal know your work, but for those who don’t, can you tell us what other books you have written?
I have four erotica titles: Jessie’s Girl, The Best Revenge, Wanted and Love Lust
I have a historical series that begins with Irish Moon.
Coming soon: Fierce Dawn, a dark paranormal series that links the succubus world of Love Lust to create two parallel series, on with extra heart for us guilty pleasure seekers. My muse has ADD but I have learned to shut up and obey. Otherwise, she’ll slash my tired.
LOL she sounds devious. We like devious :-p Where can readers purchase your books?
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Fictionwise, everywhere really! No, really. Three are in paperback, all are in Ebook and most online stores carry all or some of my titles. My fave stores are Indie supporters like 1PlaceForRomance and Smashwords.
Where can readers find you on the web?
My weblog: AmberScottBooks.com
Group blog: PlotMamas.com
Articles: 1stTurningPoint.com
And of course, at the Indie Book Collective everywhere.
Can you share an excerpt from the book?
Sure!...
“I think I’ve made a mistake,” Brooke said, amazed her voice didn’t crack. “I think I have to go.”
Don’t go,” Elliott said again, stepping close.
His words enveloped her. Had she thought his glasses made him irresistible? She’s been wrong. His lashes set off depths so blue, so intense, they might penetrate her soul.
Slowly, he reached up, pushed a lock of hair from her face. His finger ran along her cheek, to her lobe, down her neck and up to her chin. With gentle pressure, he tipped her chin up. Brooke’s hands shook. Her mouth watered. Her mind searched for words and found two: don’t go.
How could she?
His gaze captivated hers. He lowered his head. She closed her eyes. The tremble in her hands spread up her arms, down her legs. Yes. God, yes. Let him kiss her. Let her taste his lips on hers, his breath, his mouth.
“Stay,” he whispered against her lips.
She failed to shake her head, no, she wouldn’t go. He began at her chin, a graze, and in slow succession, breathed and kissed and wet her skin. Kisses. Tantalizing, sensual, tickling. Around her mouth, teasing her. Away again, torture.
Her knees turned to water. She almost whimpered. His mouth found her hungry lips. Brooke gasped. His hands raked into her hair. He kissed her lower lip, moved to the side, never quite meeting her fully. Brooke moaned, awash with a full body shiver. Musk and sandalwood intoxicated her senses. Mint, sweet on her tongue. She swayed her weight toward his body. He slid his hand over her lower back, steadying her.
Her lips parted, begging entry. His tongue carefully delved, explored as her lips suckled and pressed. Brooke returned each caress, mindless of all but each sensation coming over her mouth, washing her body.
Her hands rose to his chest. His roamed over her back, ever lower, inch-by-inch to her hips. He broke the kiss and pulled away.
Brooke opened her eyes. She could hardly think.
He swallowed. “I want you.”
#Ohyeah! We want to thank Amber for stopping by and talking with us. We are also doing a live interview with her on our Blog Talk Radio show today at 3pm PST. Click here for our channel. If you would like to talk to Amber, the number is (619) 639-4626. You can also check out Bestseller for a Day where we are supporting indie authors in getting up the Amazon charts. Play Fling is the book we're supporting today and you are going to get a great deal if you purchase it. Can you say #twoforthepriceofone? Yep, you can go to Bestsellerforaday.com and find out how you can get in on this amazing deal. There are some prizes up for grabs, Amazon gift cards worth over $150. Go to the website and learn more. #whatareyouwaitingfor?
I bought my copy of Play Fling today :-) Good luck, Amber~
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