Please help me give a super warm welcome to
Elene Sallinger...
Ellen, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Thank you so much for hosting me today. It's a pleasure to be here.
As for me, I'm a mother of a young daughter and the human to two
Pitbulls. I've been writing since 2004 and have recently released my debut
novel, Awakening through Xcite Books. I love to knit, hate to cook, and go out
of my way to avoid driving whenever possible.
What or who initially inspired you to become a writer?
My daughter was my initial inspiration. She wanted me to make up bed
time stories and tell them again and again. I didn't want to forget them so I
wrote them down and illustrated them. Her dad encouraged me to get some formal
training and though I hemmed and hawed for a while, I eventually got off my
patootie and took some classes. The rest as they say, is history.
What kind of research do you do for a novel and how extensive do you
get?
I do extensive research for my books. With Awakening I joined
Fetlife, sought out Doms and Domme's to interview as well as subs. I read books
on BDSM and talked with lots of people in the lifestyle. I believe that, as an
author, you have a responsibility to be as factual as possible. Every author
will bring their own point of view to a story and that view point will be
shaped by personal experience, background, etc. but facts should be universal.
You can't know the facts without the research.
Do you have a special place you like to do your writing? Such as an
office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
I like to have a writing desk. If a TV is nearby I'll end up
watching it. Since my last apartment was so tiny, I didn't have space for a
desk and ended up writing Awakening on the couch. I had to use headphones and
lots of instrumental music to avoid being distracted by the TV.
As a reader, what types of works do you like to read and do you
think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
I read a little bit of everything. I like to read other genres in
addition to romance and erotica because technique is universal. Good story,
plotting, description and characterization can be found in any genre. I also
believe that by branching out, I'm able to provide good stories first, erotic
story lines second which is my preference. I like to think you can remove the
sex from my books and still have a story.
What is your favorite method of writing...as in laptop, desktop,
Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper??
And do you plot out your story or go with the flow of your muse?
My favorite method is laptop since I am a very fast touch typist,
however, my most productive method is pen and paper. Using a notebook
eliminates all the distractions that come with a computer. No temptation to
check email or twitter.
In fact, I was discussing the possibility of buying a dedicated word
processor just last night. Something that will allow me to type, but not be
connected to the Internet. I'm much more productive that way.
As for plotting, I have a general outline in mind when I start a
book. I always know how it ends. The specifics come to me in the writing
process. I often write a synopsis ahead of time just to have a general
guideline, but I don't hesitate to change it when a better plot angle presents
itself.
When you need a break or some time off from the trials of being a
writer, what can you be found doing?
My second favorite past-time watching movies. Now that I write, I'm
much more tuned into structure and plotting. I re-watched Gattaca a few weeks
ago and had an entirely different experience as I listened to the dialogue and
paid attention to the cinematography rather than just sitting back and enjoying
the story.
Is there anything about yourself nobody knows that you would like to
share with our readers??
I tend to be a very open book – ha! Pardon the pun. I think the most
interesting thing people don't really know about me is that I am an avid
Trekkie. I love all things Star Trek and named my daughter after a character
from Deep Space Nine.
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
2) Favorite dessert – Cannoli. I love to scoop out the cream and
then finish off the shell
3) Favorite Season – Fall, I love to wear jeans and sweaters
4) Favorite sad song- Nothing Compares to You by Sinead O'Connor
5) Favorite Romantic movie – The Truth About Cats and Dogs with
Janeane Garofalo
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic vacation??
Hmmm … that's a hard one. I'd say a beach, a pacific island with lots
of tasty drinks and much cavorting in the ocean. I'm not picky about the island
;-)
Where can our readers find you??
Email: elene.sallinger@gmail.com
Twitter: @esallinger
Website/blog: http://elenesallinger.wordpress.com/
Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and
where can we find it?
I have two new books coming out this year. Reflection with Xcite
Books (http://www.xcitebooks.com) which is the follow up to Awakening and
expands on Bridget Ross whom we meet in Awakening. Reflection is due out in
September. Also, Doing DC from U-Star Novels (http://www.ustarnovels.com) which
is a fun little romp that you can personalize. Doing DC will be out any day
now.
Blurb:
This is the story of Claire Ryan and Evan Lang. 35-year-old Claire joins a local book club for romance readers in order to get over the breakdown of her 10-year relationship, there she meets book shop owner Evan, a dominant man who has never recovered from the sudden death of his submissive wife.As their relationship develops and they embark on the path of Claire’s submission, it becomes harder and harder for Evan to keep his emotional distance. Claire is open and responsive and he wants her badly, but refuses to let himself go.
As Claire falls deeper in love with Evan, she realises that he is holding back and decides to end their relationship, forcing Evan to confront his own past and his feelings in order to save his new love.
Winner of the New Writing Competition at the Festival of Romance 2011
Buy links:
Excerpt:
‘I feel safe here.’ She waved a hand around
to encompass the bookstore. ‘You make me feel safe. Despite your attitude, I
don’t believe you would hurt me.’ Claire flushed such a sweet shade of pink as
she spoke, her hazel gaze roaming the store as she looked everywhere but at
him.
Safe. She thought she was safe with him.
That he wouldn’t hurt her. Evan sat in stunned silence for the briefest moment
before a red tide of fury suffused his body. Fury at Marianne for dying and
leaving him alone when she had been the centre of his life. Fury at Claire for
tempting him and reviving desires that he’d believed were dead and buried with
his love. Fury at himself for being so damned foolish and afraid in the face of
his temptation. In that moment, he knew himself for a coward and he snapped.
‘Safe. You think you’re safe with me?’ he
all but sneered at her. ‘You know nothing.’ He spit the words at Claire as he
leant, forward his hands clenched into fists on his knees. She shrank away from
him, pushing so far back into the leather club chair her feet no longer touched
the floor. Her eyes were wide with shock and the beginnings of fear. Shame
crawled over his skin and he reached for self-control, only to lose it all over
again when her small, white teeth bit into her trembling lower lip.
‘Damn you!’ He slammed a fist down on the
arm of his chair, causing her to jump at the violence of his action. ‘You are
anything but safe with me. Every time you walk through that door all I can
think about is bending you over my lap and spanking that pretty little ass
until it is shiny, red, and stinging. Then fucking you from behind so that the
sting feeds the orgasm I give you. I fantasise about binding you and whipping
those sweet little tits, your pussy, and your ass. Marking you everywhere so
that each time you look in the mirror you remember me and how I put them there,
and then beg me to put more on you when they heal. I want to drench you in my
come, fuck you in every goddamn hole, and make you scream until you can’t
speak.’
As the words died on his lips, he dragged in
a breath and took Claire in, really saw her now that the apex of his anger had
passed somewhat. She was glassy-eyed and panting. The knuckles of her slim,
elegant fingers were white and she gripped the arms of her chair as if her life
depended on it. She looked like she was having a panic attack.
Fear and shame overrode his anger and he
lurched forward, coming around and sitting on the table before her. He took her
face between his palms. She was so tiny, his hands seems to swallow her up.
‘Claire.’ He spoke softly, soothingly, as he
rubbed his thumb over her cheeks. ‘Claire, please. Look at me.’
She turned just a fraction, closing her eyes
and refusing to look at him. Her motion brought his thumb to rest on her lower
lip. Quickly, so quickly he almost missed it, she licked his thumb. It was the
barest touch, but the sight of her pink tongue against his skin was more than
he could take. What control remained to him was lost.
‘Damn you,’ he repeated, but this time it
was the hoarse whisper of a drowning man.
Last but not least, do you
have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?
I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share
:)
Quick & Easy Garlic Cheese Bread
Ingredients:
1 Pillsbury French Loaf (found in the refrigerated isle)
3 cloves garlic minced
Shredded cheese of your choice (I generally use a Mexican blend)
Dried oregano
1.
Preheat oven according to the package
2.
Unroll the French loaf dough and liberally spread cheese and
oregano. Add the minced garlic and re-roll the dough.
3.
Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake according to the
directions on the package.
This is great with pasta!
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