Please give a warm welcome to Genella deGrey

Please welcome Genella DeGrey, author of erotic historical romance Love Divine:

Blurb--
In the Highlands of Britannia, 420 A.D., Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother.
Now Rome has returned, but in place of a legion of solders, a single man peddles a new Roman god.
Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction whom his Bishop finds equally delectable.
Ryus must choose between the salvation of his soul and the woman he loves.
Aslyn must escape before she becomes the Bishop’s newest sacrificial lamb.



What - if any - was the toughest fight you had with your characters, and which one/or how many of them ganged up against you?
:) That hasn't happened just yet - At the moment, I am struggling with killing off one of my characters in my current WIP. He wants not only to live, but to have his own book. The nerve! LOL

Do you stick to a rigid writing regime and space?
No, I have a 9 to 5, so I write whenever and where ever the muse insists.

Can you write with background noise, or do you need silence?
Wouldn't it be nice if the world came with a mute button? LOL – I think I've had only a few opportunities to write in total silence. I can do either though, I'm easy.

Do you read while immersed in your current WIP?
Yes. I usually try to stay within the same time period so that the atmosphere and language is easily accessible to me when I sit down to write. This also goes with watching DVD's, too. I remember when I wrote my Victorian old west story I had immersed myself to such an extent that in my dreams people were wearing 1880's period-correct clothing.

Do you have more than one WIP on the go at the same time?
No, although I will bounce back and forth between my WIP and a manuscript that is in the critique/edit process. If I get an idea I jot down everything for later and re-visit when I'm finished writing the current manuscript.

When/if you get writer's block what do you do to overcome it?
Haven't gotten that yet – Knock on wood and wake the Fae! :)

Who, or what is/has been you greatest inspiration in your writing career?
Oh man. The love of a good story, my penchant for entertaining, the wonderful people I've met along the way to publication . . . Everywhere I turn there is inspiration.

What to you do for exercise?
Now. I've only been seriously exercising since January. I practice Yoga twice a week, I walk up to three miles (give or take) a day, three days a week. For some odd reason I feel like it takes me twice as long to lose weight as it does the ordinary person. I blame my genes – and my jeans. LOL

Other than writing what other occupation would you have like d to follow?
was 'this close' to having a makeup career in the motion picture industry. I wish I could do both writing and makeup, but I have to pay the bills somehow.

Unrelated writing hobbies? What are they?
Aside from DVD land, I love live music. One of my favorite local bands is an Oingo Boingo Tribute band called, "Dead Man's Party." I also love swing, big band and blues. I go dancing as often as I can.

When you immerse yourself in a period of history such as 410 Scottish Druid, do you feel you have a kind of mystical connection with the period, settings and characters?
Oddly enough, it isn't hard for me to imagine being a historical western European. I'm still looking into why that is, but I'll tell you what, there are other places and peoples I can't even fathom. So yes, I do think there is a mystical connection — I just can't put my finger on it or prove it.

How much time and effort do you put into research before you start one of your historical novels?
I research as I go. For instance, if I come across tiny details such as distance between place to place or specific historical event dates I jump on the internet. I try not to leave any stone unturned, as they say.

Do you interview your characters, and if so, please will you share some of their responses with us here?
I've heard of that exercise, but I've never actually done it. I will tell you, there is something that almost all of my characters share. It's that when love finds them, it's not because they were looking. They go about minding their own business and BAM! Cupid's arrow finds its mark.

When creating the setting, what gives you your inspiration?
The settings are usually just . . . there in my mind. LOL I often go a step further when I read and watch movies to see what other's think the setting looks/feels like. For me, movies shot on location are a tremendously helpful tool for getting the feel for settings.

Do your characters correct you if they feel you have strayed from settings they want you to create?
Not yet, but most of the time I have to play chaperone with them. They like to go at it ASAP and as you know, sometimes the plot doesn’t call for it right away. LOL

How much freedom do you give your characters?
Save for letting them jump into bed at first sight, I think I give them a good amount of freedom. I'm sure they'd beg to differ. :)

What is your favorite characteristic about Aslyn, your heroine?
Aslyn doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. The idea needs to be her own or she won't budge – like when she realizes she's in love. She knew everyone would want her to be with Ryus . . . She must be a Taurus like me. LOL Some might think of it as a weakness, but I think it empowers her. :)

What do you love and hate most about your hero, Ryus Jorian?
At first I was sad that before we meet him, he'd fallen in with the type of people who treat women as second-class citizens, but he soon figures things out - even though he does it in a typically logical man-like fashion. LOL I love that he internally melts when it comes to Aslyn – he is crazy about her.

Apart from Asly and Ryus who is the character you most enjoyed/connected with in Love Divine, and if it doesn't give away too much, why?
Twegan Greenwood was a really fun character to write. She loves Aslyn like a daughter, but is nosey as all outdoors. I could really relate to Aslyn's friend, Mae. I've felt hopelessly stuck in life before. Her plight is close to my heart.

Please will you give me any links you want added to the interview to help readers to your site and where to buy your book? 

  My website can be found here   
I love to have visitors, so pop by and say hi!

You can purchase Love Divine here  ~ first, enjoy the extract below :-) --

Reaching up to entwine her arms around his neck, Aslyn’s heart raced when his mouth softly coaxed her lips part. She nearly toppled over when he groaned as her tongue touched his. The wood post which bordered the stable separated their bodies, and Aslyn longed to be rid of the thing.

Suddenly remembering that anyone who had a view of the stable could see them, she broke out of the kiss.
“We shouldn’t be—”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
Aslyn glanced over her shoulder and back up to Ryus. No one was about, but that could change at any moment. Her breath came out in a huff that may have been part laughter. “Let me finish. We shouldn’t be doing this here.”
She saw his eyes light up like flames. “Then where?”
Come to me after sundown,” she whispered, unable to believe the words actually came out of her mouth. Oh, she was thinking them, but once they passed over her lips, the bones were cast. He would be leaving soon, and it would be good for her to take a few more memories with her to her grave.
Without another word, Aslyn pushed away from the stable fence and headed straight for her lodging.
She paced in her room and wrung her hands, the same way in she did just before she met Ryus in the ancient grove of Ardwinna.
Aslyn almost yelped when he came bursting through her front door.
“You have more faith in me than I do if you think I can wait until sundown.”

                                                            ~~~~~~

During Genella's virtual book tour, she will be giving away a digital edition of Love Divine to one lucky commenter! Readers, please leave your comment or questions for Genella today for a chance to win!