
What genre do your currently write? And, is there a genre you'd like to write, but haven't tried yet?
I write mostly Fantasy/Urban Fantasy with a
bit of Sci-Fi. I do have two contemporary works but I love world building as
much as the story telling so I always seem to gravitate back to fantasy. What I
would like to try, when I get some time, is Steampunk.
Many authors use a nom de plume, and they
may use one opposite to their own sex. Do you think an author's sex or sexual
orientation should dictate what genre they write?
No, of course not. A person's sexual
orientation does not and should not dictate the genre they write in. People
take pen names for many reasons, most are for personal motives from how the
person self-identifies to honoring someone in their life. I know that in
several years ago in the M/M romance genre people took ambiguous or pen names of
the opposite gender for the purpose of being accepted. It all had to do with
perception, preconceived belief that someone could not successfully write about
characters who did not match the author's sexual orientation. Forget that
mainstream fiction writers, across all genres, had been doing it for decades
before. Male authors writing female main characters just as female authors
wrote male leads. As a people, gender rolls, categorizing persons as only
capable of doing/being "XXX" isn't as strict or boxed in as it used
to be, although there is still room for growth.
Some authors have issues with character
development, writer's block, plot summary etc. What is the biggest challenge
you face when writing? How do you overcome the problem?
Twice I had writer's block. Both times I
had attempted to write a strict contemporary. There was nothing I liked about
the story and I was ready to start killing off the characters. After a series
of deleting and rewriting, the stories sat untouched for a couple of weeks until
I changed the scenery to a different genre. I kept the characters and their
backgrounds but once I switched and changed the plot, the story just poured
out.
What has been the single most successful
marketing tool you've used to date?
LOL! The jury's out for this question. I
will have been published for one year as of October 6th and I'm still very
green when it comes to how to market my books. I have joined social groups,
appeared on blogs, and paid for advertising. I’m still not sure what to do with Twitter. Thinking on it
I'd have to say a quality free story gave me the best results that I could see.
I put a free story up on All Romance. I posted to my blog and I think my
Facebook page once about it and left it at that. A week later I started getting
fan mail that was so touching that I cried a little. Every one asked when they
would see more and prompted me to get my butt in gear to continue the Valespian
Pact series.
What are you currently reading?
I'm an avid reader and always reading more
than one book at a time. Sandstorm by Megan Derr, The Replacement Guitarist by
Lori Toland, Soulless by Gail Carriger, Hexed by Kevin Hearne and always some
kind of reference book/encyclopedia.
Right now it's an encyclopedia of secret symbols.
How do you measure success?
To know that someone somewhere enjoyed the
story.
Just for fun–
What is your favourite drink?
Coffee first, tea second
Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog person. I have two big dogs, Hoover the
½ Akita and Dyson the ½ Bernese Mountain Dog. The other halves are up for
grabs.
Love or lust?
Both. Lust stokes the fire, Love keeps it
burning
If you could spend the day with any famous
author, who would it be? And, why?
Laurel K. Hamilton so that I could impress
upon her the importance of finishing the Merry Gentry series… or to give it to
me. ^_^ She cannot shelve all those luscious men. If she's not going to use
them then I'm more than capable of taking care of them.
If you could indulge free of any
consequences, what would be your ultimate sexual fantasy?
Dude! Just one, huh? Because they all rank
pretty high up there. But if I have to go for one, I'd participate in a
threesome. The gender doesn't matter to me, it's the emotional connection… but
then I'd want to keep them.
Website Link: www.lexiander.com
Alpha Trine
Blurb:
The sole survivor on a science vessel
adrift in deep space, Zeus was adopted by the Emperor and Empress of the
Mar'Sani, though he is both human and blind, and seen by most as unfit to join
the royal family. Though they were able to repair his vision, Zeus does not
trust his eyes and the nobles of his parents' court refuse to ever trust a
frail human.
Dargon Kal-Turak, along with his symbiote
and lover Alpha, command one of the most dangerous ships in the stars. Narrowly
escaping a trap, they dock in a space port to make repairs, but find that the
Psonics hunting them are closing in fast. In desperation they kidnap the port
Master Mechanic, unaware that the man they've brought on board is more than he
seems, and will bring far more upheaval to their ship, their lives, and the
stars than any of them could have imagined.
Excerpt:
"I almost forgot your promised
kiss," Zeus said against his lips before a warm, soft tongue darted out
and ran over Dargon's bottom lip.
Dargon instantly opened his mouth. He had
never been kissed before, by any of his lovers, and he marveled at the feel of
the deft tongue against his. Zeus tasted like nothing he had ever encountered,
and he shared the experience with Alpha, who began to hum and rub excitedly
against Dargon. Zeus moved his lips against Dargon's, and Dargon mimicked the
action.
Hands cupped and stroked his face, pulled
on his braid, then traced the line of his outer ears. His back arched from
feathered touches over such sensitive places, the thrumming started up in his
chest, and before he knew it, Dargon was lying back on his elbows with Zeus
straddling his hips, trapping his sex in the cleft of Zeus's bare ass. Zeus
consumed him with one kiss that seemed to go on forever. Dargon did not want it
to stop. Alpha moved against his skin, sharing in his pleasure. Zeus's hands
were everywhere, touching, exploring. Dargon pushed against Zeus, his slick
cock riding in the perfect space, as if Zeus's body had been made for him.
Zeus grabbed Dargon's hands, placed them on
his hips. "Touch me, please," Zeus begged in a low voice.
Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/
Publisher Link:
http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/
"Okay-STOP THE PRESS!" Lol I always wanted to say that. :) Anyway, I need to add an important notice that was accidentally forgotten.
BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!
The author would like to giveaway one paperback (printed) copy of her new novel "Alpha Trine-The Valespian Pact Book One" due for release on September 25! If you're interested in receiving a copy of the book, please leave your name and email address in the comment section at the bottom of the post. The author will pick and contact the winner!
"Okay-STOP THE PRESS!" Lol I always wanted to say that. :) Anyway, I need to add an important notice that was accidentally forgotten.
BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!
The author would like to giveaway one paperback (printed) copy of her new novel "Alpha Trine-The Valespian Pact Book One" due for release on September 25! If you're interested in receiving a copy of the book, please leave your name and email address in the comment section at the bottom of the post. The author will pick and contact the winner!
Very cool interview and intriguing story. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks Iyana! Glad you liked it!
DeleteThis one sounds very cool! (Love the reading list, too...THE REPLACEMENT GUITARIST had me falling hard for Blaze, and I'm kind of a reference book gal myself!)
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(dot)com
I know what you mean. I'm struggling with Blaze's family. He's such a sweetheart. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks for stopping by, lyana and Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteLoved, loved, loved this book and am anxiously awaiting Striker! I would also love to have a paperback copy - its so awesome :D
ReplyDeleteGreat interview Lexi!
tdblomander(at)yahoo(dot)ca
Yay! Thanks Teresa!! Working on wrapping Striker up to get it out soon. The paperbacks are so pretty, really. :)
DeleteThat's a great interview Lexi :-)
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely love a paperback copy.
Hey, Alison! I told my husband about the interview and he was dying to know the answer to the fantasy. Nooo. That's partially in fun. No way would I tell him. "You'll tell a bunch of people you don't know and not me?" I figured if he really wanted to know he would read the interview. O_O He did! LOLOLOL! Interesting dinner conversation!
DeleteI love sci-fi, I love threesomes, I love the excerpt... I really can't go wrong here!
ReplyDeleteashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks, Ashley! Tickled you liked the excerpt! <3
DeleteWonderful interview Lexi. :) I'm slightly biased, but I love the book in all of it's incarnations. But they do get better and I would love to have a paper version.
ReplyDelete<3 <3 <3. You gave me such a great prompt. :)
DeleteThis book sounds amazing and just what I like to read. I'd love to read it. Please count me in.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteI enjoyed reading the excerpt and can't wait to read the rest bibbiesparks@yahoo.com
ReplyDelete