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Friday, January 16, 2009

IT'S WENDI DARLIN DAY!



Roll out the red carpet because Linda Howard Award winner Wendi Darlin is here! As a fellow lady of the South, Wendi sure knows how to write super sexy stories that take place—you guessed it—right here in the South! In fact, her tag line is “Hot Southern Lovin” and I’m a huge fan! Not because she’s representing the southern half of American erotic romance—but because she represents well! OH MY GOD well! Just look at the cover for Cowboy Games and drool for yourself.

The story packs as much sizzlin’ punch as the cover does, bringing a truly unique setting to readers and a hero that you’ll want to sink your teeth into from the onset. But more on that later! First, let’s get to know the woman behind “Hot Southern Lovin.”

So happy to have you here, Wendi! Let me just say, there’s nothing like a little hot Southern love to warm up a brisk January night and you deliver!

Amber, thanks for such a warm and enthusiastic welcome! I’m thrilled to be here. I love your blog.

Tell everyone why they have to read Cowboy Games:

Gavin. LOL! Seriously. I love him.

The thing that struck me most about Cowboy Games was the fact that it puts the ROMANCE in Erotic Romance. Yeah, this is a hot story—but it has tender undertones that I found really breathtaking. Can you tell us what compelled you to go the Erotic Romance route instead of straight-up Erotica?

No matter what genre I’m reading, the romantic elements of the book are my favorite parts. I love to fall in love. :) Prior to writing Cowboy Games, I had only written women’s fiction with strong romantic elements. Cowboy Games is my first true romance, and honestly the erotic nature of it came secondary. First and foremost I focused on the developing relationship between Gavin and Rebecca.

I was very nervous about writing the erotic scenes. No one had ever read anything like that from me before and I was worried how it would be received. The whole book has a strong sensual quality to it, so I think that made it easier for me in the end.

Gavin Carter. Wow. The name says it all for me. How did you find Gavin and how did you know this was his story?

Gavin snuck up on me. I didn’t really plan him the way he turned out. At first I thought he was going to be this really bad playboy that the heroine had to turn around, but when I started writing him he didn’t end up that way at all. Thank goodness! I love the way he turned out. Did I mention I love Gavin?

If anyone’s going to give this cowboy a good run for his money, it’s Rebecca Ryder. She bucks the rule book right out the window. Was it hard or easy to develop a heroine with enough challenge and punch to make our cowboy throw up his hands and give a little more every time?

Sassy heroines come easy for me. I can’t imagine why. :) When I first got the idea for Cowboy Games, I only knew about the ranch. I mean, how fun would it be to go to a resort ranch for a week and pretend to fall in love with a cowboy? Sign me up! But in real life, what would make an average woman in her early thirties do something like that? Rebecca needed to be someone who wasn’t afraid to throw her hesitation to the wind and she needed a really good reason. Her wound ran deep, and I wanted her to have the courage to let it heal.

This is a story of healing on both sides. The characters are deep and emotional and one of the most fun things about this story is jumping into their hearts and watching them grabble with what’s going on underneath. Without giving too much away, can you elaborate on this for us please?

Like any romance couple, Gavin and Rebecca both needed good reasons not to fall into one another’s arms and ride off into the sunset on page one. I wanted them both to have to work for this relationship and be deserving of it. Because I’ll tell you right now, if she couldn’t prove she needed him more than I did, I’d have done a quick find and replace. Rebecca Ryder could have become Wendi Darlin in just a few keystrokes. She better know how lucky she is! LOL!

As if Cowboy Games isn’t enough—yep, there’s more, people! Prior to reading Hired Hands, I’d never read a ménage of any sort. But this 34-page TWRP Rosette is an absolute treasure—one that I’ve been known to go back to on cold nights. Again, there’s more to it than the steamy bedroom trio. At the top of the list: character depth—a heroine you truly sympathize (even as you turn green with envy over her…ahem…predicament), a hero you want to box and priority ship to your door, and—oh yeah—that other hot guy thrown in there for us to drool over. Tell us more!

Hired Hands started with a picture I found of two gorgeous identical twin cowboys. Holy moly! Talk about inspiration.

I honestly had a very hard time writing this story and I’m truly taken aback by how well it’s been received. I can give a lot of credit to my fabulous editor, Diana Carlyle, who pushed me for more, more, more.

Hired Hands was the first ménage I wrote, and I had a bit of a stick up my butt in the first draft. Diana wouldn’t let me get away with that and we went through a few rounds of revisions before we were both happy with it.

Come on, be honest, Wendi: did you get jealous of Nora while you were writing those kitchen and bedroom scenes?

It would suck to be her, wouldn’t it? :)

Any chance we might see Jesse (the other hot guy) in the future? Have you considered giving him his own story? I just can’t stand to think of this guy out there on his own while Cole and Nora heat up the ranch house :)

Yes, yes, yes! I was talking to my editor this week about Jesse’s story. I haven’t written it yet, but I’ve finally come up with the heroine who’s ready to tame him. He’s a handful and I think his story is going to be a blast to write. I’ll keep you posted.

In addition, you’ve got Rough and Ready. The title is enough to make me hop over to BookStrand and click the buy button! Your website warns: “This one is for those who like their cowboys EXTRA HOT!” Hotter? Any hotter and I’d break the thermometer, LOL. Tell us about R&R and why you wanted to write something with extra sizzle:

Rough & Ready is an action-packed erotic romance. From the very beginning, Taima, the heroine, is ready to kill the hero. Literally. The tension of the plot adds to the erotic tension. That’s what I like most about this story. It’s like getting into a pillow fight with your boyfriend or husband. The adrenaline is pumping and when the pillows hit the floor you’re both ready to throw all that momentum into lovin’. Ahhh…

Once you’ve read these three titles, don’t despair. Better Than Chocolate is coming soon to The Wild Rose Press. Can we have a peek, Wendi? Pweeety pweease?

Sure! I’ll try to keep it as clean as possible since there isn’t a content warning on your blog, but honestly there aren’t many places in this story that aren’t adult in nature. This is my first paranormal. Can you believe it? No cowboys??? But I think you’ll like Titus. He’s got powers every man should be born with. :)

Better Than Chocolate
Available February 27, 2009
www.thewilderroses.com

Blurb:
Titus is better than chocolate. Dark, dangerous, impossibly gorgeous and capable of giving Randi an orgasm from clear across the room. His skill with telepathy fills her head with his naughty thoughts. A telekinetic ability to make love with his mind leaves her quivering long before he ever lays a hand on her. But this is the same man who has dragged her into the center of a psychic war and exposed the truth of her birth. With her abilities revealed, Randi's connection to Titus is forged. Can he protect her against their enemies or will their irrepressible attraction bring defeat?

Excerpt:
“Then what were you doing back there? You
don’t fake orgasms even when you’re actually having
sex.”
“I wasn’t faking.” Randi bit her lip while the
bartender set the drinks down. She twirled the stem
of her cherry and lowered her voice. “It was that
man. Tight Ass. Titus. The security guy.”
“He was across the hall.”
“I know.”
Mila looked anything but convinced, but their
friendship had weathered bigger storms than this.
“So how are you going to get Clementine to sign a
deal? She thinks we’re a couple of strippers gone
straight. Probably thinks we’ll flake before the first
order is filled.”
“Leave it to me. Just come to the presentations
tonight, and if Tight Ass shows up, run
interference.”
“This guy really got under your skin, didn’t he?”
“You could say that.” She sipped her cocktail
and raised a questioning brow. “Cherry Coke?”
Mila tapped her glass to Randi’s and shrugged.
“Figured one of us needed to lay off the sauce.”
Randi set her drink down slowly. A keen sense
of awareness washed over her. Something she
couldn’t explain happened, but one thing was
certain. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “He’s
here.”
I want to taste you again.
His voice lilted through her mind like a memory
or a thought. Her thighs quivered, and heat curled
in her belly. A hand she couldn’t see slid around her
waist, and a warm breath sent shivers down her
neck. She gasped. “Oh, God.”

** I better stop there. :)

One more question: what’s flaming in your WIP oven at the moment?

Funny you should ask! I’ve got an erotic romance that I’m hoping to finish this week titled Roped & Tied. I think it’s the hottest yet. Two more cowboys and a heroine who isn’t afraid to tell them both what she wants.

I’m also working on one called Long Hard Road. The hero in this story is damaged, but determined. He reminds me a little of your Judd in Blackest Heart. You love him from the word go. Or I did. I hope readers connect with him the way I think they will. His fight to be the man he wants to be and the heroine’s role in getting him there is what makes this one special for me.

Wendi, thank you SO very much for visiting. Here’s your chance to say anything you want about reviews, upcoming releases, or just babble!

Thank you for having me! I’ve been very lucky to get great reviews on all of my books, but what means the most to me are emails I get from readers who enjoyed the stories or fell in love with the characters. If anyone wants to contact me, my email address is
wendi@wendidarlin.com or you can always leave a comment on my blog.

If erotic romance isn’t your thing, I’ve also written a sweet coming of age story, The Water Bearer by Wendi Christner. It’s available through Bookstrand, Amazon, or any of your other online bookstores. Of all the books I’ve written, these characters stay with me the most.

Stay warm!

Click here to buy Cowboy Games:
http://www.sirenpublishing.com/wendidarlin/cg.asp

If you’d like to know more about Wendi, check out her impressive trophy collection, or know where to find her other books, visit her website:
http://wendidarlin.com

Visit Wendi’s blog to immerse yourself in Hot Southern Lovin’ (the eye candy is enough to add the site to your link list ;)
http://www.wendidarlin.blogspot.com/

I think I might just sneak off for a little while with my copy of Cowboy Games. What? It’s cold!!!

14 comments:

Helen Hardt said...

Hey, Wendi, great to see you over here! Few people love hot cowboys more than I do, LOL. Congratulations on the upcoming release of Better Than Chocolate. (And if it's better than chocolate, you know it's got to be great!)

Helen

Wendi said...

Thanks, Helen! :) Those cowboys are something aren't they? LOL!

Wendi Darlin

Donna Marie Rogers said...

Another lover of hot cowboys here! Wendi, you know how awesome I think you are! I can't wait till I have the time to catch up on all your great reads! ;-)

Wendi said...

Thanks, Donna! You're so sweet, and the love is mutual. :) I still haven't curled up with There's Only Been You. But I have it here, ready to go. I know it'll be as great as your others, and I'm really looking forward to it. :)

Wendi Darlin

Uncle Sam said...

Good job, Darlin' Love the interview. That reminds my I have one to finish myself.

Wendi said...

Thanks for stopping by, Dee. Now back to work! **crack** That's my whip. :)

Wendi Darlin

Tessa Rae said...

Hi, Darlin' Darlin! Your books are HOT, HOT, HOT. I LUVED Better Than Chocolate and Hired Hands.

T.

Nice Girls Play Naughty!
www.tessarae.net

Unknown said...

Wendi! Great interview, HOT book covers and even HOTTER book content! I have to read Cowboy Games! It looks so good! You have steadily become one of my favorite authors! Each book is better than the one before. Keep up the wonderful work!

Wendi said...

Thanks so much Tessa and lastnerve. You ladies make me blush. :)

I have been very lucky with my covers haven't I? Jinger Heaston designed Cowboy Games and Tamra Westberry did Better Than Chocolate and Hired Hands. I love, love, love them!

And Tessa, congratulations on your new release today! Vertical Climax is very hot! I'm so glad I got a sneak peek at that one. :)

Wendi Darlin

Kytaira said...

Gotta love cowboys! And now a paranormal too! Some of my favorites. Your website looks great.

Wendi said...

Thanks so much, Kytaira! And I appreciate you checking out my website. :)

Wendi Darlin

Cari Quinn said...

Great interview! I've got way too many books on my TBR, but after this, I see I need to add a few more! :)

Wendi said...

Thanks so much, Cari. :)

Wendi Darlin

Chiron said...

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