Monday, April 30, 2012

Giveaway and Guest Post with author Sherri Hayes and her book Slave (Finding Anna Book 1)

Happy Monday Everyone!!  Today I have with me author Sherri Hayes.  She is going to give us an in depth look into the creation of Brianna, or Anna for short. Then we will take a look at the book itself as a whole.  It was quite a unique read.  Take it away Sherri:


The Creation of Anna

For your blog followers who are not familiar with my Finding Anna series, Brianna, or Anna as she used to be called, is the female protagonist. In the first book, Slave, we find a broken shell of a young woman. She has been held captive as a slave for the last ten months and no longer has any identity except that of being someone else’s property.

Given the emotional subject matter, you may be wondering where the character Anna came from. The first ideas for this series began with news coverage of the Jaycee Dugard story. The young woman, now in her late twenties, had been held by a man for the last 18 years of her life before she escaped. It was a powerful story and a reminder that this type of thing can really happen to anyone. Shortly after that, news outlets began diving into the world of human trafficking. It seemed like every time I turned the news on they were talking about it.

With all this coverage, the wheels in my head began to turn. I wanted to create a character who’d been through this type of situation. From there, I had to figure how she would get out? Who would rescue her? How would she be both physically and mentally? How would she act? Talk? Be around people? Every detail of her backstory would shape the person she was both at the start of the series and going forward. I had to know everything that lead up to her being a slave, as well as what happened during. All of our experiences make us who we are today. Characters are no different.

The big twist in this tale is the BDSM element. I didn’t want to explore a traditional means of helping Brianna find herself again. I wanted something different.

Slave, Finding Anna Book 1, introduces the readers to Brianna and Stephan. Given the subject matter, this is not a traditional romance book. It is one that will pull on your heartstrings and make you want to hug Brianna and assure her everything will be okay. The series will follow Stephan and Brianna through her journey of healing and finding love. It will not be easy, but the things worth fighting for rarely are.
Let's take a look at the book itself.  I personally throughly enjoyed it.  My review is here: http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-slave-finding-anna-book-1-by.html


 Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?
A big thank you to Sherri for coming on today!!  For chance to win a copy, just fill out the rafflecopter!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

18 comments:

Kassandra said...

I think the healing element of BDSM is largely overlooked. Most individuals outside the lifestyle fail to accept that the relationship (if healthy) is consensual and that both people involved need and desire the play/scenes/dynamic. I look forward to your story.

sionedkla@gmail.com

Fedora said...

I tend towards reading mostly the lighter side of BDSM, but in the hands of a good author, I'll happily read just about any poison--chains? :)

I do agree with Kassandra that I like it when we see clearly that the relationship is consensual and that the power dynamic isn't typically one sided in a healthy relationship. There's such an element of trust that comes out that is lovely to read.

f dot chen at comcast dot net

Anne said...

I read a book, well, I'm not sure if I finished it, where a woman was a slave. In that book, the master wasn't doing anything to help her. As I recall he didn't really physically hurt her, but it was more sensory deprivation. It really creeped me out.

The fact that this dom wants to help, makes me feel this book might be more my style.

Riane said...

I enjoyed this book so much. And can not wait until July to read Need!!

I usually read the heavier side of BDSM and erotic romance but this book just wrapped me up in the story and wouldn't let go. Given the ending... it still didn't let go! :) I can't wait to keep reading about Brianna and Stephan.

Thanks so much for writing this.

Vanessa N. said...

I'm more towards light BEAM. So I would pick scarfs or handcuffs.

mythic021@gmail.com

Vanessa N. said...

I meant that I like the ligher side of BDSM.

Unknown said...

I LOVE to try new things. With that said I would give a turn to all of the above :)

I'm positive each one would introduce a new 'type' of feeling during the play. So yea ;)

The book sounds great BTW. I'm placing on my TBR list ASAP.

Thank you for the chance to win a copy!

~Ava~
dragonlady 029 @ aol . com

Unknown said...

I could go for a few new toys. Scarves, blindfolds, etc.

andieleah said...

This girl is down for anything! Lol. This book sounds so good!

andieleah78@gmail.com

msmjb65 said...

Now that I know more about the book, I want to read it now and not wait to see if I win it!!
And in terms of bondage - like the previous commenter, I'm up for any of them!)
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com

Shadow said...

Id like to try them all! lol Thanks!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah Elizabeth said...

I've only really read about bondage in lover unbound so i'm a bit of a novice! I think they used leather straps in that.

Anonymous said...

I've never read a BDSM book before. Maybe this story would be a good place to start.

Joanne said...

I like reading about it all but I've never tried any of it. You have to completely trust the other person and I haven't found that yet.
This book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it.

e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

Unknown said...

I like handcuffs...but I like to be the one using them not the one in them...

authorleighsavage@gmail.com

JoAnna said...

I have tried a tie before. I wouldn't mind trying leather straps!

Barbara said...

It's not something that I've tried...so, I guess...I'd choose a scarf.

Anonymous said...

Leather cuffs lined with sheepskin or silk scarves. I'm not a fan of metal handcuffs.

Thanks for the giveaway!

geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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