I'm honored to have Krystal Brookes in my crib today. She hails from Scotland and unfortunately, she didn't bring any hunky men in kilts, but oh well. She does write about the Highlanders, but today she brought an excerpt from a novella in an anthology releasing today! But before that, let's ask a few questions to find out a little about Krystal.
Oh and before I forget, leave Krystal some love at the end.
CYN: How likely are people you
meet to end up in your next book?
KRYSTAL: Not very. I don't tend to make my characters like
people I know. They're more likely to be
like characters on TV programmes or in books.
CYN: If you could choose to time
travel would you go forward or backward?
KRYSTAL: I think I'd go back. Not very far.
Just back to my teenage years and whisper a few pieces of advice in my
teenage self's ear.
CYN: I like that. "If I could've known what I know now, things would be different." But, I couldn't think what I'd tell myself. Hmph!
Do you read in a different
genre than you write? If yes, why? If you read in the same genre that you
write, do you feel that it influences your writing in any way?
KRYSTAL: It depends on my mood but yes, I
generally read romance. Though I tend to
read historical romance and I'm a bit afraid to try that in case I get the era
all wrong.
CYN: Yes, that could be disastrous. Readers are saavy and if I got something wrong, I'd never hear the end of it. With that, what is the biggest piece of
your advice you can give a beginning writer?
KRYSTAL: Find yourself a good
mentor. A mentor is invaluable. I don't know if my editor ever planned to
become my mentor when I started at Pink Petal Books but I wouldn't be half the
writer I am today without her input... and that's only been within nine months.
CYN: What is your process from
idea to first draft?
KRYSTAL: I have to admit that I don't
have one. I have an untidy mind and I can't work from a plan. I have trained
myself to have a bit of an idea about how the story will pan out at the end
before I start but it's as much as I can do.
CYN: Me too. Yay for pantsters!!! What do you consider your
greatest accomplishments in your career so far?
KRYSTAL: It's been a very short career
so far. I was only published for the
first time in April this year so apart from being published with my first ever
submission, I haven't really got any great accomplishments yet.
CYN: You are such a newbie, but written some interesting books. Congrats! What comes first for you:
Setting? Storyline? Characters?
KRYSTAL: The story line always comes
first and the characters are hot on its heels. I could probably write the story
line on the back of a postage stamp when I first start to contemplate it.
CYN: If money, education and fear
factors were set aside, what three careers would you like to attempt other than
writing?
KRYSTAL: Advertising. I love the promotions I do for my books. It's hard work but it can be very creative
too.
Acting. I wanted to be an actress when I was younger
but my mother told me it wasn't a proper job.
Tour Guide. I went on the duck tour on London a few weeks
ago and it was great fun. It was also
really interesting.
CYN: Rather diverse choices. If money, talent and fear
were no object, what big adventure would you like to have?
KRYSTAL: I saw a picture on Facebook the
other day where someone had bought and kitted out an old bus with beds and it
suggested doing the same and traveling across the states. But I would want to travel the world in it
with my friends.
CYN: That would be fun, but you'd have to have one of those superpowers to traverse the oceans. :=) What characteristics do you
like to instill in your heroes? What characteristics do you feel are necessary
for a good heroine?
KRYSTAL: I like my heroes to be kind and
compassionate. I know that sounds a bit
lame but I do like that in a man. I also give them a bit of a sense of
humour. But strength to stand up to the
heroine when necessary and defend her.
My heroines should be ordinary
girls who struggle with the same things that we all struggle with... bad hair
days, running mascara, dysmorphic body image. My ideal heroine is Bridget
Jones. I became her when I turned 30.
CYN: I love Bridget Jones! What is the best advice you
want to give to a new writer?
KRYSTAL: Find your own voice. Don't try to copy the voice of others. It will sound disingenuous.
CYN: If could have a super power
for a day, what would it be? Why?
KRYSTAL: Teleportation. Imagine the time I would save not having to
travel.
CYN: Oh, that's the super power you need for that bus trip with your friends around the world! What do you have coming
next? Anything you want to tell us?
KRYSTAL: The third book in the Kilrigh
Heat Series, “Highland Hogmanay” is due to be released on 20th December
2012. It's the story of Isla, a single
mum who writes romance books. When she
meets the hunky American Mark a couple of days before New Year, sparks fly.
CYN: Okay, thanks for being a good sport and answering my questions, now you can take it away.
If you miss having a chocolate
advent calendar but still want to open a surprise every day until Christmas
eve, go and have a look at the Naughty List Advent Calendar. Suzanne Rock, Em Petrova, Lyncee Shillard and
I have combined our talents so that every day you will be treated to a sexy
cover image, a hot excerpt and buy link from our new releases and back
catalogs. http://www.advientos.com/destinatarios-publico.php?codigo=7244-2865
Underground by Krystal Brookes – Part of the “End of Days” anthology
from Pink Petal Books. Released on 6th
December 2012. Available at http://pinkpetalbooks.com
Blurb:
In
the midst of a nuclear attack, Kerys finds comfort and protection for herself and her small child in the arms of two
lovers. Stuck with few other survivors on a Glasgow Underground train,
she wonders if this sultry affair is born of circumstance or if
they can make it last.
Excerpt:
Kerys had woken to the sound of her name being said.
She doubted that she had been in a very deep sleep. The long train seat was far
from comfortable, and she was probably too aware that Eve may start crying
again. No one had been willing to share her carriage because of the baby,
except for Zain and Caleb.
A groan from down the carriage made her look to see
what was happening.
The dim torchlight from the other carriage allowed her
to see that Zain was pulling Caleb's jeans and boxers over his hips. They were
going to have sex—right here in an underground carriage in the middle of the
frigging apocalypse.It was kind of kinky.
As Caleb had put Zain's cock in his mouth, moisture
flooded into Kerys's knickers.
It had been a year since Kerys had sex. Joe had
refused to have sex once she became “fat” from her pregnancy, then the bastard
had left just a month before Eve was due. Eve was now nearly five months old.
Watching the two men’s tender kisses sent a pain of
want into her pussy.
Fuck it. If they could wank each other off, she could join
in the fun.
She opened her jeans and pushed her hand under the
material of her knickers sighing as how slick and warm her pussy was. She found
the little throbbing nub immediately and nearly snorted when she remembered how
the little bundle of nerves had so eluded Joe.
She'd not realised how much she'd needed a release.
She hadn't ever fingered herself since before the birth and had no idea how much of a turn-on watching
two guys mutually masturbating would be. She rubbed at her clitoris, feeling
the blood and heat filling her groin and causing her to stifle a groan.
Zain was now giving Caleb, who leaned back watching
her, a blow job. Could he see what she was doing? When Caleb lifted his hand
and languidly motioned for her to come over, she wondered what the hell she was
getting into. But on the other hand, she'd probably be dead in a week. She
might as well live a little dangerously and try something different.
She rose, and without bothering to do up her jeans,
switched on the torch near her and approached the men. Zain looked up from what
he was doing and grinned.
“Would you like to join us?” asked Caleb, as if he was
asking her to join them for a cup of tea.
“Umm well.” Now that she was here, she wasn't sure.
“Let me touch you and if you don't like it, you can
say no.”
That sounded reasonable. He tugged her around the waist until she stood
next to his thigh and against the seat. Then over her jeans, he pressed hard on
her pussy. Even through two layers of clothing, his touch was exquisite. She
whimpered slightly as she pressed harder against his hand.
Author biography:
When Krystal Brookes isn't enjoying staring at
the beautiful scenery of her Scottish home, she's writing about what's under
hunky Highlanders' kilts, feeding her nieces too many sweets then taking them
home, and drinking way too much coffee. She started out writing Star Trek fan fiction but has recently
progressed to original stories for publication. She writes contemporary
Scottish romance and science fiction romance. When the wet dreary weather in Scotland
gets too much, she dreams of taking off in a space ship to find warmer climes.
Who wants to go to a sunny country when you can head for a sunny planet?
Krystal is the author of the Kilrigh Heat series of Scottish Contemporary Romance books.
Krystal is the author of the Kilrigh Heat series of Scottish Contemporary Romance books.
Links:
That was great Krystal! Hope to see you again. Good luck with your new releases! Don't forget to leave Krystal some love and comment about her visit.
Cynthia Arsuaga
Hi Cynthia & Krystal, great interview!
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