Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Giveaway and Interview with Myra Nour and her book Love's Captive


Hello and Welcome to the kick-off of Myra's tour!  I'm thrilled to be hosting her today!!  But before we start talking about her book, let's talk a little more about Myra!  I was lucky enough to score an interview.  This is what she had to say:


How old were you when you realized you wanted to write? I’m not typical of many authors I know who started writing when they were young. I had a vivid dream when I was 24 years old. I jotted the story down and wrote some of it. It got stuck in a drawer and in 1996 I dusted it off and wrote my first story Love’s Captive. It was published in 2001.

Most authors have an unusual story or way that they come up with their ideas for books…Do you have one? I use several methods. My favorite is when I dream a story, because that is super easy. I do this occasionally, but Love’s Captive was the most vivid. Sometimes I pick a topic and build a story around it. This past week I wanted to write a short horror story and decided that writing about someone waking up with amnesia would be very horrifying. Especially when their world had been turned upside down once they woke up. I had amnesia so I know how it feels intimately. Sometimes I see a person or object and a story pops in my mind about them or it. Like, one time I saw a sweet looking old man pulling a red wagon with coke bottles (back when people collected them for $). And I thought, wouldn’t be cool to build a story around him, but make him evil.

What was your biggest influence that steered you towards writing? Dreaming Love’s Captive and loving to read so much.

I have to ask, what are the hardest scenes for you to write? Very hot sex scenes. I enjoy writing sensual lovemaking, but hard-core sex is a push for me. I can do it, but I’d rather be writing sensual sex. Why do it? Because for a while I wrote for Ellora’s Cave, which is a great company to work with, and they require sex that is hot, hot, and hotter.

Do you see yourself writing in another genre? Already doing it. I turned a zombie short story into a publisher last week, and another publisher wants to see a short story I wrote about a female serial killer. I am finishing up another short zombie story and working on a zombie novel. I’ve always loved horror in book and movies, and writing horror has become a huge interest of mine recently.

Has your family been supportive? You bet! My husband edited many of my books, but became too busy later to do. Now he is retired and looking forward to helping me again. If not for my family I would never have written Love’s Captive. They kept “bugging” me to write it, after I told them about my dream. It took 19 years of gentle encouragement from them before I decided to take the plunge.

Are any of your characters reflective of you? Hmmm, I don’t believe so unless it is a tidbit here & there. My heroines tend to be very athletic like Serena in Love’s Captive, a warrior princess like Kasha in Heart of the Dragon, or a bold, sexual person like Angela in To Tame a Werewolf. I’d love to be strong and athletic but I have health problems. While I enjoy sex, I could never be brave enough to make love to a werewolf in a partially changed condition as Angela did. I do use tidbits from people I know, creating a composite person. I put a love of history into Amber, my heroine in Wanted: Handsome Alien Abductor, which is straight from my daughter, Chris. Serena’s friend, Nicole in Love’s Captive, is a duplicate of my friend Ronda.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? I go to the gym almost every morning with Simon. Our interests include dancing, walking in the woods or mountains, being at a beach, and antiquing. My personal interests include reading and watching my favorite shows or an interesting movie on TV.

Do you have any unusual habits that revolve around writing? Not really. I prefer writing by hand first and then putting it into my computer. My mind flows better when I actually write.

What is your favorite mystical creature? Probably a werewolf. They are human most of the time, but having the ability to change into this ferocious creature is scary and awesome.

How do you feel about reader comments? I love receiving reader’s comments. I have a Reader Comment area under each book’s area on my website.

Do you have any advice for new authors? Keep writing. Once readers love a book or series, they want more, and this builds your brand name. Also it is very important to do promotion on a regular basis. I suggest Facebook, blogging, Twitter, Virtual Tours, Google +, Goodreads, and placing ads at least occasionally on websites for readers & authors. It is a MUST to have your own website.

Where are your books available? New Concepts Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Fictionwise.

What can we expect from you in the future? Short stories in anthologies and Kindle, and hopefully my zombie novel will be published. I also plan on finishing Volarn Chronicles Book 3: The Princess and the Barbarian.

Where can we reach you and become informed of updates?
Book & Trailer Showcase: www.booktrailershowcase.com. My website for readers and authors.

 Fabulous Interview!!  Now let's take a look at the book:


 

When Serena awakes, after a close and unpleasant encounter with some sort of stun gun, she learns that resistance is futile and escape only a yearned for dream. She comes to find that she and the other Earth women have been captured by the Moyds.....interstellar merchants, and their mission is to procure fertile wives for the men of Volarn because their own race has been endangered due to the wide-spread sterility of their own women. Serena is disgusted to realize that they are nothing in the men’s eyes but baby makers, but she’s aware that she has no other choice than to face the fate that awaits her with as much dignity as she can.

After arriving on Volarn, Serena finds that her assessment had not been entirely accurate. The Volarn men used their power crystals in the Tarthra Ritual to approach the women to find the mate most suited to them, a women to love and who can love them and Serena has been chosen to become King Rhamus’ Queen but, just as she feels herself weakening to him and his romantic, passionate nature, Rhamus’ enemy Xarath abducts her......

Excerpt:
Her stomach fluttered when the King slowly looked her up and down. This time

she could tell he liked what he saw by the heat in his eyes. And when his hand came up to
rest lightly on her right cheek, she was overcome with a sudden urge to touch him.
Unconsciously, she turned her face into his palm and rubbed against it ever so slightly.
The King gently turned her face back toward him and stared deeply into her eyes. Serena
saw that he was as stunned as she was by her reaction to him.

Finally, she was close enough to inspect those wondrous Volarnian eyes. She
discovered that the King's were somewhat different from the other natives she'd met so
far. Most had ranged from pale lavender to a deeper violet. His were darker, almost a
purplish-blue, and there was a distinctive dark blue ring outlining the iris of his eyes.
An intense heat seemed to radiate from the King's hand and eyes. Serena felt as if
he were drawing her closer to him by a magnetic force. At first she struggled and her
mind reacted with fear but, as if sensing her fear, the King forced her to look deeper into
his eyes. Somehow Serena knew that he would not hurt her. She felt herself opening up,
becoming pliant to his will.
As Serena accepted the strange wash of feelings that passed over her, she noticed
a reflection of the same in the King's expression. He appeared surprised. An acceptance
came over his handsome features as he drew Serena further away from herself and into
his power.

The attraction Serena felt earlier seemed mild now compared to that which he
stirred this time. There was an electrical feeling to the charged atmosphere surrounding
them. Her lower lips were swollen and her sensitive clit hidden between them throbbed.
She suddenly wanted his hand there, his fingers sliding between her moist flesh. She
moaned softly as her nipples pebbled painfully. Her whole body screamed “take me”

Inhaling a deep breath, she sought to control the desire galloping through her
nerves. Staring at Rhamus’ handsomely expressive face helped her connect with him
emotionally and push her passion back slightly.

Somehow, it seemed as though she knew the King better than anyone else in the
room, but could put no words to describe it. She only knew that she liked what she "read"
about the King from their personal contact.
As the magnetic force that flooded her body earlier suddenly became stronger, it
was if she was invisibly pulled toward him, and then they were only a hand span from
each other. She knew instinctively that he wanted to kiss her, but waited for her to make
the first move, and when Serena moved within a breath away from his lips, the King
moved into her space and their lips met. Wet, warmth, and an aching need filled her
mind.
She’d been kissed by other men before, but never had she been in the hands of
such an expert. Heat curled in her belly and seemed determined to move lower as their
kiss continued.
The lust that had sprung to life but seconds ago ravaged her body once again.
Pushing her breasts against him, she groaned into his mouth when her aching nipples met
the muscular barrier of his chest. She clutched at his biceps to keep from grabbing his
hands and shoving them between her thighs. There was a madness in her blood--one that
disregarded the many eyes upon them. If he had ravaged her at that moment, on the cold
floor, she would have been ecstatic.
Trying mightily to ignore her demanding body, she concentrated on their kiss.
Rhamus' lips were soft, firm, demanding. A thrumming sensation shot between her and
the King. Out of the corner of her partially closed eyes, a soft bluish light materialized. It
surrounded them like a cloud and appeared to be the source of the thrumming sensation.
The King seemed to sense her distraction and pulled back just a short space, again
giving her a searching look. He concentrated on her face as if memorizing its details. A
shout went up from the crowd and he turned to nod and smile at them.
Great Excerpt!!  Myra has generously offered up a copy of her book!!  Just fill out the rafflecopter!  Good Luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway



21 comments:

Unknown said...

Not sure if dragons are really considered mystical. If so, they are my ultimate favorite! They are unpredictable, vicious and not to be messed with ;)
If not I'll go with fairies :)
They are so sparkly and lively!

Thank you for the chance to win & I wish you the very best of success!

~Ava~

Anonymous said...

Mermaids are my favorite. Ever since I first read Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid" I loved them. I loved the Disney adaptation when I was a teen and still do.

Thanks for the giveaway!

jlhmass at yahoo dot com

Vanessa N. said...

It's between dragons and phoenix. Great excerpt.

mythic021@gmail.com

Shadow said...

i love fairies! :)

Mary @SweepingMe said...

Angels...Love them...

andieleah said...

My fav mythical creature is a mermaid...love The Little Mermaid!

andieleah78@gmail.com

Kassandra said...

Dragons are my number one mystical, after that anything to do with the Fae.

sionedkla@gmail.com

lavendersbluegreen said...

Well now it all depends on my mood. Sometimes dragons, sometimes faeries, other times weres or shifters, then sometimes... oh heck, whatever book is my book of the moment has that moment's fav mystical.
lavendersbluegreen(at)yahoo(dot)com

divavixenqueen said...

Unicorns. They're graceful.

sienny said...

i have a lot of faves in this area.. dragons, phoenix, fae, unicorn, leprechaun, pixie, dwarf, etc. okay, i admit, i like them all and can't play favorite :D

wanda f said...

I love them all my top favorites are dragons,fairies,and angels .Have a fantastic week

wanda f said...

I love them all my top favorites are dragons,fairies,and angels .Have a fantastic week

Yvette said...

Dragons!
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com

Jolene and Family said...

I love Mermaids and Fairies

Unknown said...

Actually I like more than one mythical creature... But fairies are on the top followed by fallen angels...

Dustykatt said...

The Green Man. Although he's more of a legend I think.

Barbara said...

I'm going to go with shifters. Thx for the giveaway op! :)

Unknown said...

It's a really heard choice I'd have to say Unicorns.

authorleighsavage@gmail.com

Darlene said...

It's a toss up between vamps and shifters.

msmjb65 said...

I've never really thought about mysticla creatures, per se. Vamps and weres aren;t mystical are they? They would be under the paranormal creatures? I guess dragons would be my mythical go to creatures. They're realy cool!
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com

Megan@Riverina Romantics said...

I've always loved unicorns!

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