1. What do you write and why?
For the most part, I write paranormal romance. I prefer ghost stories and vampire tales with suspense mainly I guess because it’s what I grew up with. I lived in a haunted house as a child but that aside, I grew up with a brother that loved to scare the hell out of me and my little sister by placing a glow in the dark skull head in my closet, or hiding under the bed and grab my feet when I went to bed. One of my older sisters also got me into loving suspense by taking me to see Stephen King’s Cujo. One could say I was desensitized to scary stuff at a young age but it sure inspired me to want to create my own terrifying or spooky tales. J
2. What do you read and why, especially if it's different from what you write?
Obviously, I love to read paranormal romance, given I write it, but I also like reading non-fiction works like Jack the Ripper and Elizabeth the first. I’m also a die-hard Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb fan and have read every single In Death book she has ever written. I love reading about her cop stories, how she creates the story from a death and investigates it with such realism you the reader feel like you’re right there with her doing it.
3. What publisher do you write for?
Right now I’m writing for two publishing houses. Breathless Press and Decadent Publishing.
4. How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember. I wrote little stories when I was in grade one, two and three, then delved more into it when I became a teenager. I’ve always had a vivid imagination and the only way to stay sane was to put those ideas down on paper. LOL My nickname in school was Dreamer. Instead of listening to the lessons, I would make up stories in my mind. (G)
5. it’s the month of love and romance. What was the funniest/ greatest Valentine your Significant Other ever gave you?
I would have to say the best Valentine’s gift I ever received was from my hubby several years ago. He was out of town on Valentine’s day and I was feeling pretty down with him being away. Around noon, the doorbell rings. I think nothing of it and answer the door. Much to my surprise, there’s a delivery person on the other side with a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. Baffled, I take the flowers, thank the gentleman and close the door. I’m sure there must be a mistake because no one ever sends me flowers, but as I pull out the card, my eyes begin to tear up. Because we couldn’t be together, my hubby ordered flowers for me. He’d NEVER sent me flowers before. NEVER! For the rest of the day, I was on cloud nine. That was the best Valentine’s day ever. J
6. How do you build characters and their personalities and looks?
When a story comes to me, the characters are instantly created in my mind. They’ll have specific hair color, style, eye color, features and characteristics. I can actually see them as I write their story. I know how they’ll react to a joke, or to bad news. It may seem odd, but they’re prebuilt with the story.
7. Tell me about some of your heroes and heroines:
My heroes are often flawed and my heroines are almost always strong and free willed. I grew up in a Mennonite family where women did as they were told by their man. Women didn’t work, or drive. That was a man’s job and women certainly didn’t work unless they had to because the husband was incapable or insisted they work. My father wasn’t as strict a Mennonite as his family, but it was still there. It always bothered me that the women had to wait to eat until the men had finished. So when I started writing, I wrote my females strong and often, getting the man out of a jam.
Trinity Ford in Seducing the Darkness actually stepped in front of a dangerous evil vampire as he tries to kill her love, Basil.
Cassie Evans from Discovery in Passion uproots and moves to a town she points to on a map and starts her life over all on her own.
Thomas Healy from Discovery in Passion was raised by a single mother who he doted on. So when he falls in love with Cassie, his instinct is to protect her. It takes him some time to realize Cassie can take care of herself for the most part. I like to make my heroes sweat for their love by giving them headstrong women. (G)
- Are you a pantser or plotter?
I’m a little of both. When I first get an idea for a story I just sit down and let it flow. Sort of writing by the seat of my pants. LOL But if I’m doing a series, then I’ll do a rough outline of what those next stories will be.
- What's your latest release and tell me about it:
Horsing Around is the first book in my Carnal Desires series.
Mistress Bella owns a hotel and starts up a sex dating service. She’s had nothing but failed relationships because the men have never been able to give her what she wants in bed. She figures she can’t be the only one that feels that way and voila Carnal Desires is opened. She brings people together who have similar sexual needs and if love blooms from it, all the better.
I got the idea from seeing on-line and TV ads for dating services. I thought to myself that is was great to enter yourself into a database that matches you with others who have similar likes as you, but what if you’re not sexually compatible? Voila Horsing Around came to be.
- What genre haven’t you tried, yet, that you would love to explore?
I’ve often thought of writing a historical novel based in the Tudor era. My fear of getting the language, clothing and timeframe accurate are all that prevent me from doing it. Maybe someday. J
- If you could take one of your characters out on the town, who would it be and what would you do?
Oh this would definitely be Draco Starr from my upcoming novel, Awaken the Demon. Draco is a demon who also happens to be a direct descendant of Satan’s. Draco was a tough-ass demon who collected souls for Satan. After years of doing his masters bidding, he wanted more from his life and started his own business in real estate. He’s worth more than Donald Trump and owns real estate across the world. But beneath the tough guy persona lies a softy. I think it would be a hoot to have dinner with him and learn all of his secrets from when he was a soul collector.
13. Favorite naughty dessert and decadent drink.
It’s not really naughty, just an indulgence. Triple chocolate cake. Just thinking about all that sweet chocolate makes my teeth ache but hell, you only live once. (g)
14. If we looked on your bookshelf right now, what are some of the titles we would find?
Plenty of In Death books. Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Criminology for Dummies. Wicca for Dummies. Jack the Ripper. Elizabeth, and some local non-fiction stories. Just ignore the dust please. J
15. Where can we find you on the internet? (Please list your links here)
You can find me at www.shielasbooks.ca
Or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/shiela.stewart
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ShielaSue
Horsing Around Blurb:
Carnal Desire’s: We've got a match for all your sexual pleasures.
Sara Miller needs a real man. One who can give her what she desires in and out of the bed. So far, none have met her expectations. She’s hoping all that will change after submitting her application to Carnal Desire’s Web dating service.
The owner of several prize-winning horses, more money than he knows what to do with, Andy McDonald has it all. Except for the love a good woman. He’s sick of flighty bimbos wanting only his money and not satisfying his sexual desires. After a friend pressures him into looking on line for a woman, Andy gives in and submits his application.
Sex takes on a new twist when Sara and Andy get together and nothing is taboo.
Horsing Around excerpt:
Sara’s heart was beating so hard, she was sure Mistress Bella could hear it. She could very well turn tail and run. Why did she need a man in her life right now, let alone someone she might consider for the long haul?
Then the door opened. Before her stood the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.
He wore nothing more than a towel around his hips, dipping low enough to reveal a thin line of hair from his navel down. . His chest was glistening with moisture from the shower he’d obviously just stepped out of and was firm and muscular. His sandy blond hair was damp and messed up. He had a bit of stubble on his face, which made the ruggedness even more prominent. And when he smiled, those big blue eyes twinkled. He was definitely yummy. His picture didn’t do him justice by any means. Sara nearly swallowed her tongue.
Then he spoke.
"Well howdy, ladies."
Her heart calmed. His slight Southern drawl, with its deep resonance, was soothing and somewhat relaxing. And very arousing. She loved a man with an accent, and even though Andy’s was faint, it was still enough to turn her on. Between her legs, her flesh began to swell and moisten.
"Good afternoon, Andy. Looks like we caught you in the middle of your shower."
He stroked the damp sandy-blond hair from his face and Sara nearly swooned. "I just stepped out. I’m running a bit behind, I’m afraid." He turned his attention to Sara and her pulse pounded in her ears. "Pleasure to meet you in person, Sara."
She took the hand he held out to her; he completely surprised her when he turned her hand over and brushed his lips across her knuckles. "Pleasure’s mine." Like tiny electrical charges zapping every sensitive nerve in her body, he had her quivering with that one simple gesture.
"Well, come on in and make yourself comfortable while I go change."
He stepped aside to let them in and as Sara walked past him, the scent of the woods after a light rain shower wafted off of him, like fresh, aromatic greenery touched by a kiss of sunlight. She was going to have no problem at all being with this man.
She and Bella headed to the sitting area of the suite while Andy headed to the bedroom. It was spacious, and came complete with a mini kitchen, sitting area, TV and plush sofa and chair. Almost identical to her own suite.
"Pretty easy on the eyes, isn’t he?"
Sara smiled at Bella’s comment, taking a seat on the sofa. "I’m not having any trouble looking at him."
"And what better first meeting than to see him practically naked." Bella winked and beamed a huge grin. "Well, I’ll leave the two of you to get acquainted now. If you need anything, you know where to find me."
"Thank you so much, Mistress Bella."
"I love making people happy. I’m heading out, Andy," she shouted at the bedroom door.
"Catch you later, sugar." He stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in jeans and a dark blue t-shirt just as Bella left the suite. "Looks like it’s just you and me now, doll."
God, he was going to make her come, just by speaking. "Looks like.” She got to her feet. “So…how should we start this?"
"Let’s start with this as an opener."
He swung his arm around her waist and she gasped when he yanked her against his chest.
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