Friday, July 20, 2007

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anne Rainey lives in a small town way out in the middle of no-where-ville. She is a gorgeous blonde with wonderful curves and a money tree in the backyard. She never wants for anything and she always loves everyone. Of course, she wasn't always this way.

It all started on one Rainey day, as she was sitting on her comfy couch, reading a romance novel and sipping a hot chocolate. She realized the book she was reading seemed to lack a certain 'vavavoom!'. Thus, the talented, beautiful, and rich Anne Rainey was born.

Clearly, Anne is a mere figment. A ghostly figure that pops in and out of my head like a drive-by author. Nevertheless, I do so love it when she's visiting, because her imagination really is wickedly delicious! She'll bring you fantasies and erotic delights that will have you grabbing the ice water!


For more info, visit her website at: www.annerainey.com.



ABOUT THE BOOK:


BLURB:

Greg Stiles craves his neighbor, Sarah Templeton. He figures she should've been named Sarah Temptation. So far, he's been a good boy and kept his distance. When another man moves into their complex and starts sniffing around Sarah, Greg's honorable intentions fly right out the window. Time to show Miss Templeton just how good he can be.

Sarah isn't ashamed of her virginal status, just tired of it. She's always wanted a husband, kids, and the white picket fence. Those dreams seem forever out of reach. So when her hunky neighbor asks her out on a date, she jumps at the chance. She's watched him. Wanted him. Now she'll have him. Problem is, how does she keep him?


EXCERPT:

Sarah felt panicky. She'd changed clothes four times and still wasn't sure. Her final decision consisted of a simple black skirt that sat just above the knees and a white silk blouse. She'd left her hair down, blow drying it straight and tucking it behind her ears. It was simple, but feminine. She debated over the shoes the most. She had a pair of black flats, two-inch black pumps, and black high heels. She'd gone with the pumps, not willing to break her neck by attempting to wear the taller ones.

Good Lord, there was simply too much stress involved in dating.

She heard a knock on her front door and she fairly leaped out of her skin. She gave herself one last glance in her bathroom mirror, grabbed her purse, and left the room. Sarah took a deep breath, then opened the front door and proceeded to drool.

Greg stood on her front step, his broad shoulders braced against the doorframe, wearing a clean pair of snug jeans that appeared nearly new, a long-sleeve, navy blue button down shirt and brown, leather work boots. She'd never seen anything quite so magnificent. He'd even tried to comb the wild mane of his hair into some semblance of style. She could have told him he shouldn't have bothered, though. She liked his messy brown hair; it always made her want to dig her fingers in and play.

"You look great," Sarah complimented, hoping her voice didn't sound quite as throaty as she suspected.

His grin, laced with just a shade of masculine need, melted her insides as he stared down at her, leaving Sarah suddenly tongue-tied. "I'm pretty sure that's my line, sweetheart." He checked her out from head to toe and whistled low. "You skipped right past great though, didn't you? Truth be told, you look sexy as hell."

She smiled, feeling her confidence level rise a notch. She was going to do this. Finally, Sarah would have sex with a man and she'd get to see what all the talk was about. Something very female inside of her told her that Greg Stiles would make it a very enjoyable experience too.

***

Sarah was having the time of her life with Greg. They had gone to see a movie and, much to her surprise, he'd picked a comedy. They'd laughed themselves silly. She hadn't laughed and had such a good time with a man in…well ever.

They were back in his black Blazer and on their way home, but he turned down a different road. Puzzled, she glanced over at him. "Where are we going?"

"Oh baby, the evening is not yet finished. You aren't going to turn into a pumpkin are you?" he asked teasingly as he looked over at her for a brief moment.

Sarah saw mystery in his eyes and something else pooling in their devilish depths. Hunger? But for what, Sarah wondered. Or maybe the correct word was, for whom? She decided not to think too hard about tonight. Just to go with the flow for once.

"Well no, but I would like to know where my prince is taking me on such a lovely evening as this?"

"Now that would certainly spoil my lady's surprise, would it not?" he murmured, keeping up their lighthearted role-playing.

"Yes, I suppose it would, and I certainly wouldn't want to spoil it. Shall I close my eyes too? So your surprise will be complete and untainted?" She laughed, full well expecting him to laugh along with her.

"Yeah, close your eyes, fair lady," he whispered lustfully, "trust in me to tell you when to open them again." He paused, then asked a little too seriously, "Will you trust me, Sarah?"

"Yes, Greg, I trust you." She breathed out.



INTERVIEW:

Why did you become a writer? Was it a dream of yours since you were younger or did the desire to write happen later in your life?
Writing sort of found me. It all started one day as I was trying to find the appropriate poems for my two daughters as a gift for Valentine’s Day. I decided none of them truly fit the lovely little girls they are, so I wrote my own poems. Poetry soon led to stories. And even though I didn’t start writing until I was an adult, books have always been a big part of my life. Being the only girl with three older brothers, I discovered books were a great way for me to entertain myself. I read everything from Greg Iles to Jaid Black. I have my mother to thank for that. She used to sit and read to us at night. Then, when I was old enough, she bought me Nancy Drew Mysteries. It wasn’t long before I was reading Martha Grimes and Agatha Christie.

What do you love about being an author? Is there anything you dislike?
I love hearing from readers. I get such a joy knowing that something I wrote touched someone’s heart or gave them a pleasurable escape from reality. The worst part of writing is always the rejections. It can eat at your soul. Writers put their blood, sweat, and tears into their work, so when someone shoots it down, it can be very discouraging.

How do you balance your personal and writing time?
I have a very supportive family. My husband and daughters are terrific. They help out around the house and give me the time I need. I don’t know what I’d do without them.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story?
I’m an odd duck. I first check publishers and decide if there’s anything that catches my attention. A particular call for submissions, etc. Once I have a general idea of where I’m submitting to and about how long the story will be, I come up with the characters. They have to start talking to me, or I can’t write the story. Next is a title. I can’t create a single word unless I have a title in mind. Crazy, huh? LOL Generally, the story begins to take shape once I have those things figured out. I’ve recently discovered that I enjoy coming up with a rough synopsis or outline before I start writing the story. It gives me something to start with and keeps me on track as the story moves along. Once a rough draft of the story is finished, I go back to page one to revise and edit. Lastly, I proofread, line by line editing, then I clean up the synopsis and I’m ready to go.

What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?
I generally write erotic contemporary romance. But also sensual contemporary romance. I enjoy writing about real people with real problems. Finding love with your next door neighbor, or finding it when you aren’t even looking. Hot scenes, bad-ass heroes and always a happy-ever-after. I write the way I do because I don’t think love should stop at the bedroom door. I want to open it and explore the carnal side of a relationship. The thrill of discovery and dropping inhibitions. It’s exciting to me.

However, and you’re the first to hear this, I’ve been playing with the idea of a paranormal erotic romance. Think shapeshifters from a different planet. A brother and sister, stuck on our world and trying to keep their identity a secret...but a mysterious man with amnesia finds out who they are and all hell breaks loose.

Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
I’ve only written two characters that were based on real people. Most of my characters are pure fiction. Which two characters, you say? I’ll never tell! LOL

Out of all the characters that you've written, who is your favorite and why?
Kevin Haines. He’s the hero in my story titled “Scandalous Behavior”, which comes out in print December 2008 in Secrets Volume 25: Wicked Delights. Kevin is very Alpha and very naughty. My next favorite is Bane Riley from my story titled “ Sun City ”. He’s ruthless and determined and obsessed with Roslyn. That story comes out August 2007, through Lady Aibell Press (ebook). It’s sort of a different type of story for me and I’m curious what readers will think.

What would you want readers to take away from your books?
I want to make readers smile. To remind them of what it was like to fall in love for the first time. To give them a reprieve from their troubles, even if it is for a brief period of time.

Do you have any advice for beginning writers in regards to writing a book?
Please, do your homework. If you really want to become an author, then search the internet and study your craft. There’s information on everything right at your fingertips. There are no shortcuts in this business. And there’s not a single author out there who is an overnight success. We’ve all had our fair share of rejections. All of us! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and go right back at it. Join a writer’s group or find a critique partner. Join your local writing chapter, it’s a great way to meet and share information with other struggling writers. Last, but not least, read! Before you submit a story to ANY publisher, read the books they’re selling. That really is the easiest way to find out if your manuscript is something they’ll buy.

What are you reading right now?
Safe Harbor, by Christine Feehan. She’s an amazingly gifted woman!

If you could be anyone or anything that you wanted, who or what would you be?
I would be me. Only I’d be a New York Times bestseller. LOL


REVIEWS:

5 hearts: "I give Anne Rainey 5 blistering hearts for her e-book, Instructing Sarah. This story was astounding. It was very descriptive to each event, and very well written. I think I am going to have to go get a cold drink just to cool off."
-- Crystal with 'Reviews by Crystal' full review

***

5 hearts: "I can't recommend this book enough - very sweet and shockingly erotic at the same time. I love how Ms. Rainey mixes in the male POV while at the same time letting the reader feel the emotions of the heroine. Instructing Sarah is surely a not to be missed treat to kick off your summer reading."
-- Lisa, The Romance Studio full review



Instructing Sarah by Anne Rainey
Genre: Contemporary
Heat Index: Erotic/Carnal
Book Length: Novella
Cover Artist: Anne Rainey
$3.99 from Forbidden Publications


Purchase Instructing Sarah by Anne Rainey HERE!!