Sunday, August 19, 2007

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

British author Saskia Walker is writing with passion. Her stories are characterized by strong storytelling with sexually confident protagonists. She has entertained readers with her erotic shorts and novellas since 1997, writing for numerous publishers including groundbreakers Black Lace, Cleis Press and Red Sage. Her work has now been featured in over forty anthologies including Best Women’s Erotica and The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica. In 2005 she was the first British author to be signed by Penguin for their new Heat line, explicit erotic romance for contemporary women. DOUBLE DARE was her first full-length novel, followed by SEX, LIES AND BONDAGE TAPE, a novella in the KINK anthology. RECKLESS, her third work for Penguin Heat will be published in 2008. Saskia also writes fantasy romance for Juno Books.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

BLURB:

Beautiful investment advisor Abby Douglas has played with a lot of men, and that's just the way she wants it. No commitments. No regrets. And no games-until she meets a dangerously sexy stranger in the elevator of her office building. Suddenly she's taking on a new identity, pretending to be a receptionist, and finally giving herself up to the kind of raw fantasies no upright businesswoman should ever consider-unless of course, she found a man strong enough to make her.

Club owner Zac Bordino is stunned to find that the hot number who gave him such a sweet reception isn't what she says. In fact, she's actually the brains behind his company's investments-and she's not even aware of it. Now Zac isn't sure what to tell Abby first-his growing feelings for her, or their secret connection. Either way, from sweltering nights in London to sizzling rendezvous in Paris, from plush offices to pulse-pounding nightclubs, Zac may have found an insatiably perfect match-in business and in pleasure...


EXCERPT:

“Coming through, hold the doors.” Abigail Douglas clutched her take-out lunch packages to her chest and made a dash for the elevator.

An arm shot out, one strong hand halting the movement of the stainless steel doors. She ducked under it, noting as she did the rolled up white linen shirtsleeve and the muscular male forearm.

She quickly counted three occupants; a couple, and the man who’d halted the doors for her. “Thanks,” she breathed, turning on her heel quickly as the heavy doors shut behind her.

Bright blue eyes met hers, a wolfish smile. “Any time.”

She looked him over and her body switched all systems to red alert. She’d already been on amber alert — it was a sweltering August day, and heat did bad things to her. Men weren’t safe from her scrutiny. Especially gorgeous ones with wolfish smiles. Tall and lean, with black hair and startling azure eyes, he was incredibly handsome. A document dispatch package rested easily in one of his hands.

As the elevator moved, she picked a napkin out of the lunch bags and fluttered it in her hand, in a futile attempt to stir the air.

Reflected in the shiny surface of the doors she could make out the couple at her side, wobbly but distinct. A suited man, flirting with a bubbly blonde. He was running his fingers over her back whilst whispering in her ear. The blonde giggled in response and shuffled on her kitten heels, pinning him up against the wall of the elevator.

Abby glanced back at the guy by the door. He caught her eye. He was half smiling to himself.

She glanced away, then back.

He didn’t falter under her stare, but then nodded her back toward the couple to her right.

The blonde was leaning in against her man, nuzzling his ear with her mouth. He was gone on it, his face contorted with pleasure. His hands clutched at her bottom, riding her dress up. He had a handful of it in his greedy paws as he fondled her behind. As a result, the tops of her lacey stockings were on display, her buttocks peeping out below the hemline too.

Abby stifled a laugh then looked back at the wolf-smile on the guy’s face. His eyes were narrowed while he watched her, watching them. Curiosity stirred inside her, and arousal. They shared the silent joke. He’d made an intimate connection with her. More than that, there was a contained sexuality about him that aroused a deep response. A pulse charged through her body and began a slow throbbing between her thighs. It was a direct response, a need: she wanted him.


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?
I wanted to be a writer when I was a little girl, but life led me in a few different directions before I went back to that early dream and tried to make it real. I still can’t quite believe I did make it real, but I’m loving every moment of it!

What do you love about being an author? Is there anything you dislike?
I love the storytelling, the fact my full-time job is now the magical task of dreaming up a story and making it work for a reader. There's a lot of waiting involved in being an author, waiting to hear back on projects, waiting to see it in print. That can be very hard, and I think most writers experience that as a negative thing at some point.

How do you balance your personal and writing time?
I don’t, ha! I try to get into routines but it almost never works. When I had a day job I used to write at night and even now I find that’s often my most creative time. When I’m on a roll I have to stick with it, and if I don’t write for a few days I get rusty very quickly. It’s hard to create balance, but I’m always striving for it.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story?
Most often it’s the world, the situation, or the lifestyle of the characters that is the foundation, and their story grows out of that.

What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?
I write contemporary erotic romance, paranormal and fantasy romance, as well as short erotica. I write the stories I write because relationships fascinate me -- the dynamics of attraction, how people relate to each other, and how passion can thrive in the most unlikely of situations.

What is the biggest misconception about being an author?
That we all earn a lot of money!

Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
Imagination. Although I try to find images of people who fit the character after I've written a story, to put on my website for readers.

Out of all the characters that you've written, who is your favorite and why?
That’s hard, because it’s usually the ones I’m working on. Now that I think of it, I do have a special affection for the hero and heroine in my exotic fantasy romance UNVEILING THE SORCERESS, because it was my dream to write that novel for a long time and they lived in my head all the while, tempting me to write their story.

If you were writing a script for the big screen, who would you want to act in your movie?
Ooh, that’s such a fun idea. I’d love Rachel Weisz (The Mummy) to play one of my heroines. She’s got sensuality and strength in equal measures, and that’s what I try for in my protagonists. I’d love for Sean Bean (Lady Chatterley, Sharpe, Lord of the Rings) to play one of my heroes. He comes across as immensely strong and male, without being aggressive, and that’s incredibly sexy. I’m also enjoying Jason Statham (Transporter, Crank) at the moment. For an action suspense hero he can be in my movie any day! I sometimes write a more thoughtful, brooding hero, and I’d love Julian Sands (Room with a View, Warlock) for that kind of role. Hmm, I seem to have plenty of heroes in mind, don’t I? I hope that's not a bad thing ;)

What would you want readers to take away from your books?
A warm feeling, a sense of fun and adventure, and I’d like to feel that they’ve been able to escape into another world and enjoy a good story there.

Do you have any advice for beginning writers in regards to writing a book?
Stick with it. The best way to learn is to keep writing.

Who are your favorite authors?
Oh, so many, Patricia McKillip, Storm Constantine, and Emma Holly, to name just three.

What are you reading right now?
I just finished Linda Howard’s KILL AND TELL, I’m trying out more romantic suspense at the moment and enjoying that high-stakes angle a lot.


REVIEWS:

5 stars: "From the emotional interactions of the characters to all of the heart stopping sex, this book is a brilliant romance that has definitely earned a place on my keeper shelf. "
-- Caye Kim, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

4.5 roses: "I Double Dare you to go out and get this book! It will strike such a deep sensual reaction in you that you will definitely need relief. This is more than just an evocative erotic romance, it's a story of sensual exploration between soul mates. What woman doesn’t dream of that? I hated for the story to end. It was beautiful, stirring, solid writing and I can’t wait for more from this Black Lace vet. "
-- Cynthia, A Romance Review

4.5 ribbons: "DOUBLE DARE is an awesome tale and keeps the reader hooked from the first page to the last. Erotic doesn’t begin to describe this tale and the heat will send you running for a cold shower and make sure to keep plenty of ice handy. Abby is a strong willed woman who enjoys pleasure and doesn’t make any excuses for her lifestyle. Zac is the sexy playboy who is used to women falling at his feet, but you know that once he meets Abby they are both going to fall hard and fast. Saskia Walker has done an excellent job of creating characters that pop out of the pages and a plot that readers are sure to enjoy. I can’t wait to see what she will come up with for her next book."
-- Angel, Romance Junkies

5 Angels: "These two characters are a perfect match and the combustible love scenes throughout the book serve to underscore their compatibility. I also enjoyed the unique flavor that Saskia Walker, as an English writer, adds to all of her books. "
-- Serena, Fallen Angel Reviews



Double Dare by Saskia Walker
ISBN: 0425212971
Release Date: October 2006
$11.90 from Amazon.com



Purchase Double Dare by Saskia Walker HERE!!