Tuesday, September 04, 2007

ABOUT VONNA HARPER:

Mild-mannered, mostly harmless, with out-of-control imagination. Loves mountains, early morning walks, her grandchildren, and "hot" books. Has no marketable skills beyond writing which is no problem because there's nothing else she'd rather do. The product of the ultimate in a rural upbringing, Vonna has no interest in cities or panty-hose, but is passionate about plant nurseries and baseball. She's had over fifty books published, all but one fiction.

Drop by her website at www.vonnaharper.com


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've been writing forever. As a child, I wrote and illustrated comic books with the Lone Ranger's horse as the hero.

What do you love about being an author? Is there anything you dislike?
I love not owning pantyhose or having to 'go' to work. Doing the only thing I've ever wanted to is fantastic! As for dislikes, it has to be the lack of control over the way the publishing world works.

How do you balance your personal and writing time?
I've been writing since before my children were born and I'm now a grandmother so everyone is conditioned to backing off when I'm in my office--most of the time. It's my job and they understand that, except for a certain three and five year old but they're worth the distraction.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story?
I don't think any two stories come to life the same way. I'm heavily influenced by location. Setting becomes its own character complete with a mood to go with that setting. I have a vague idea of what kind of plot I want but that doesn't solidify until my protagonists become real people to me.

What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?
I started out doing confessions, moved onto category romance, moved onto mainstream Native American historicals, and am now doing erotica while my agent tries to sell a romantic suspense. I've learned what I can sell and that's a big influence.

What is the biggest misconception about being an author?
Only one misconception? Probably that it gets easier with time. NOT.

Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
I'd have to say its a mix. I start with a dominant personality trait, a character flaw. Usually I know someone with elements of that flaw but fortunately most real people have easier lives than I give my characters.

Out of all the characters that you've written, who is your favorite and why?
That's easy. Unfortunately, I've never sold the story. Ria Torrez is half white/half Mexican, a public health nurse who also works as a coyote bringing illegals into the country. She's carrying on her murdered father's work and lives outside the law. Her younger brother is her life and she'll risk anything to protect him.

If you were writing a script for the big screen, who would you want to act in your movie?
Yikes, I'm the wrong one to ask that because I don't watch that many movies.

What would you want readers to take away from your books?
Good question. Hopefully that my characters grow stronger and have more insight after they've jumped through all the hoops I've thrown at them.

Do you have any advice for beginning writers in regards to writing a book?
Understand that publishing is a business. Our writing is seen as a product, thus we must produce a product publishers need.

Who are your favorite authors?
King, Koontz and several dozen others.

What are you reading right now?
Ah, I've just discovered Cherry Adair and am inhaling her erotic adventures.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

BLURB:

Though born as lowly chattel, the beautiful Nari has grown up free among the Baasta people until a band of conquerors shatters her world. The invader’s leader is the muscular, magnificent Tarek, come to avenge his father’s death—and to make Nari his slave.

In Tarek’s powerful hands, Nari fights the erotic training her captor has designed to make her his slave to desire. Teasing and tormenting, Tarek takes the bound Nari to the brink of climax again and again only to cruelly deny her release. But even when she is completely in his control, Nari vows to resist…until her hungry desires betray her.

Despite his rage at the Baasta, Tarek cannot deny his growing passion for the defiant Nari. And now slave and captor are swept beyond the boundaries of ecstasy, where total submission is only the beginning of a dangerous and unstoppable love.


EXCERPT:

Before she could backtrack, he launched himself at her, knocking her to the ground. His greater weight pressed her against the grass. Still, she struggled to turn over so she could punch and scratch and bite.

"Enough!" He punctuated his command by sliding lower so he straddled her buttocks. Leaning forward, he splayed his hands over her shoulders. With her arms reaching for nothing and her face buried in grass and rotting leaves, she tasted panic. He began tugging on her thick braid as if playing with her.

He was going to kill her! Or rape her. Or both.

Or even more terrifying, enslave her.

"No!" She bent her knees as far as she could and kicked. Her heels connected with his lower back, but there was no power behind her blow.

Still holding her hair, he rocked on her, grinding her breasts and belly by turn against whatever she was on. Her flailing arms found his thighs, and she buried her nails in his flesh. He grunted and grabbed her upper arms, the grip so tight she began to lose feeling. She thrashed her head from side to side, breathing loudly.

"Fight, Baasta chattel. Fight. It'll do you no good, but at least this way I know you're alive."

Chattel? Never!

"Dung!" she threw at him. "Eater of rotting flesh."

Capturing a wrist, he yanked her hand behind her and up. "I'll teach you what you can and can't say. What you will or won't be allowed to do."

"Animal dung!"

He forced her arm even higher. Pain exploded between her shoulder blades, but she fought him and the pain, twisting under him. He rode her as if she was a bucking wilding, prompting her to increase her struggles. Maybe he'd relaxed his hold on her arm because it no longer hurt as much. Still she continued to tear at his thigh with her free hand, her breath harsh and hard, sweat turning her skin slick.

Reaching behind him with his free hand, he repeatedly slapped what he could reach of her buttocks. The sharp sting told her that her short skirt had ridden up during her struggles. Thoughts of what he'd do to her once she was truly helpless sent more strength to her failing muscles, and she bucked and thrashed.

Sweat ran off her sides and throat and between her breasts and legs. Her muscles trembled. He stopped slapping and pulled her other hand up between her shoulder blades. Robbed of what little leverage she had left, she collapsed and breathed in the scent of grass and dirt.

"That's all, chattel? There's no more fight in you?"

Again she tried to kick him, but this time her heels barely tapped his buttocks.
"There. The answer I was waiting for. You're mine now. Do you understand, mine."

Determined not to say anything, she turned her head to the side and panted. He brought her hands down so they rested at the small of her back. After crossing one wrist over the other, he held them in place with a large and powerful hand. Then he released one wrist. An instant later she understood why; he was wrapping rope around the still-held wrist. Although she tried to pull free, he easily looped several strands around it.

And when he took hold of her other arm again and began lashing her wrists together, her struggles became like those of an old woman.

Caught.


REVIEW:

"Ms. Harper has a way with capturing a story that is sure to set many a reader drooling in appreciation. Her characters are strong willed, yet she is able to depict their emotional vulnerability in ways that make them captivating. The BDSM elements add an edginess to the sex scenes that increases the excitement level immensely."
== Coffee Time Reviews


Roped Heat by Vonna Harper
ISBN-13: 978-0758215277
Genre: Erotic Romance
Release Date: June 1, 2007
Publisher: Aphrodisia (256 pages)
$10.36 from Amazon.com


Purchase Roped Heat by Vonna Harper HERE!!!