Today I'm interviewing Naima Simone and sharing an excerpt from her new book, Secrets and Sins: Malachim. There's also a giveaway so make sure you fill out the rafflecopter!
Hello and welcome, Naima, I want to
thank you for taking time to stop by For Whom The Books Toll today.
Can you tell us a little bit about
yourself?
Absolutely! I’m a Yankee transplant
who married a Floridian. I have two kids who, between the accents and
slang, I have no idea what they’re saying. I’m a PK (pastor’s
kid), have a twin sister, had a dog I named Maximus after Russel
Crowe’s character in Gladiator—but he ran away. Vin Diesel
and I have a love thang going on. I worship the ground Nalini Singh
walks on, loves me some romance—no matter the genre—and am a
romance writer! Whew! You’d be surprised that I said all of that in
one breath…
What is a typical writing day for you
like?
Well, I get up in the morning. Get some
coffee. Dress, pack up and head on to Books-a-Million. Have coffee.
Do some promo and then get to writing for about five or six hours.
Have a coffee refill. Arrive home in time for the kids to hop off
their buses. Nag, nag, nag about homework, cleaning up rooms and
clothes for the next day. Cook. Answer emails, maybe write some more
depending if a deadline is looming. Nag, nag, nag the kids about
getting in the shower and going to bed. If there’s a deadline,
write some more, and if not do some reading and then hit the sack to
start it all over again in the morning!
On average, how long does it take you
to write a book?
It depends. If the idea is so freakin’
vibrant and clear, the book can write itself. I wrote my first
paranormal Under His Wings—which was about 55k words—in
six weeks. The characters, the story, the plot—it was like the book
wrote itself. But on the other hand, Stroke of Midnight, a 23k
novella took me almost 2 months because the story didn’t “click”
with me until I was thirty pages in. Then I had to get rid of
everything but chapter one. So it all depends on the story. Sometimes
I connect with the characters, hear their voices as clear as bells
right from the beginning. And sometimes it doesn’t happen until a
quarter of the way through. My most recent book, Secrets and Sins:
Malachim took me about three months. I’d say that’s an
average. Did I just go off on a tangent? I think I did… Ya’ll
should’ve reined me in! LOL!
Where do you find writing inspiration?
Oh man, anywhere! TV, movies, music,
restaurants, the radio, conversations with my father, stories from my
sister—she’s a teacher, church, people watching. Absolutely
anywhere! I came up with the idea for the Secrets and Sins series
from watching a Girlfriends marathon! LOL!
Do you have a must have snack while
writing?
Co-ffee!! Why yes, I did sing that…
(LOL!!)
What is your biggest writing
achievement? Why?
My biggest so far has been working with
Tracy Montoya. Before I even submitted to Entangled I was a fan of
Tracy Montoya’s Harlequin Intrigue books. She is an a-MAZING
writer, and when I received an email from her in response to my
submission, I almost fell off the couch! LOL! No lie. It was a
serious fan girl moment discovering my editor was Tracy Montoya. That
first email wasn’t an offer to buy the book—it was a revise and
resubmit, but in a way, it was better than an offer. She loved my
voice, wanted to work with me, help me to strengthen my suspense
plot. An author I admired wanting to take me under her wing, work
with me and help me to be an even stronger writer? Yeah, it was an
awfully cool moment. And an achievement.
Can you tell us a little bit about your
current book?
Definitely! The title is Secrets and
Sins: Malachim, and it’s the second book in the Secrets and
Sins series from Entangled Publishing’s Ignite line. Boston
attorney Malachim Jerrod is facing the loss of his law firm and
license, the fall-out of a twenty year-old secret coming to light. In
walks Danielle Warren, seeking a position as a paralegal. The
mysterious, beautiful woman has bare-bones experience, yet he hires
her, and finds himself drawn to her. Danielle is wrapped in secrets
and lies, but he’s falling for her. And when her dark past comes
calling he must convince her to trust him with her truth. Because
some secrets can kill… Insert creepy cackle here…
What are you working on next?
Currently I’m working on the third
book in the Secrets and Sins series, Raphael. He’s
the tattooed, pierced bad boy of the group. When a one-night-stand
turns up pregnant four months, he has to face wounds from the past as
well as protect this woman, who calls to his heart and body, from an
unknown danger stalking her and their unborn child.
If you could ask 5 people to dinner,
who would you ask?
Joan of Arc, Queen Boudica, Oprah
Winfrey, Eowyn, and my sister. What a Girls Nite Out that would be,
right?
Here are a few fun questions:
Pepsi or Coke?
Coke. I am the Destroyer
of Cherry Cokes after all.
Chips or pretzels?
Chips! Sour Cream ‘n
Onion! Pretzels are the ones left least in the variety snack bag
because no one wants ‘em!
What is your favorite color?
Black. And not just ‘cause it’s
slimming…
Shoes or barefoot?
Barney Rubble all the way. Barefoot.
Restaurants or stay at home?
Stay at home…with restaurant
take-out.
Thanks again Naima for stopping by
today.
You bet! Thank you so much for having
me at For Whom the Books Toll today! I so enjoyed the interview!
I did too, it was so much fun and your answers were awesome.
Quote:
“Emotional,
suspenseful, and sexy, with wonderful characters…”—Christy
Reece, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Red
hot romance, heart-pounding suspense!”—Katie Reus, USA Today
Bestselling Author
Title:
Secrets
and Sins: Malachim
Author:
Naima
Simone
Genre:
Romantic
Suspense
Release
Date:
September
2013
Imprint:
Ignite
Books an Entangled Publishing Imprint
Secrets
and Sins: Malachim BCC:
Blurb:
Looking
like sin and smelling like trouble…
She’s the last thing he needs…
Danielle’s name is not her own, but the new identity finally allows her to take control of her life, make her own decisions, and she refuses to allow anything—even an unwanted hunger for her new employer—to distract her. Distraction is as dangerous as the desire she spies in Malachim’s gaze and the need that renders her defenseless to his touch. But the shadowy figure stalking her every move and growing more violent by the day makes letting her guard down impossible.
But the only one he desires…
Danger is on the hunt, threatening the boss she’s falling in love with. Should she fight for the future of her dreams or flee to save Malachim’s life? Danielle must make a decision. Because her lies are unraveling. And some secrets can kill…
Excerpt:
Silence
reigned in the cab. Malachim wedged his body into the corner of the
backseat, sprawling his legs as far as the cramped space would allow.
In the close quarters, he studied her exotic profile. The high brow;
thin, aristocratic nose just a shade too long by conventional beauty
standards; the wide mouth with its full bottom lip; and the small,
stubborn chin. His gaze dropped to the elegant, tightly clenched
hands on her lap. Even in the shadows, he noted the paler skin
stretched over her knuckles. Did she fear him? God, the thought
caused the alcohol in his gut to roil and pitch.
“Danielle.”
He’d deliberately softened his voice, yet she flinched as if he’d
roared her name.
“Yes,”
she said, keeping her head averted, continuing to stare out the side
window.
“Look
at me.” He paused. “Please.”
Her
shoulders stiffened, and her fingers were clenched so hard, he feared
they wouldn’t easily straighten. After several seconds, when her
head turned in his direction, his lungs relaxed.
God,
he longed to touch her.
Yes,
he would be a eunuch and a flaming liar if he denied he wanted her
beneath him, straining against his body as he thrust deep into soft,
hot flesh he knew would squeeze his cock in the sweetest, tightest
embrace. He craved it. Woke up in cold sweats from dreaming about it.
But this… This need swelling within his chest now was gentler but
no less hungry. No less desperate.
He
yearned to rub his thumb over the hard line her mouth had become,
coaxing the sensual fullness to appear once again. More than the next
critical beat of his heart, he desired to brush his lips over her
brow, ease the panic and pain in her eyes, and replace them with
pleasure. With wonder. With joy.
What
would Danielle look like carefree, laughing…unburdened?
Jesus,
he wanted to know.
He
straightened from his slouch, at the same time shifting closer to
her. Carefully, unhurriedly, determined not to spook her. Not to
threaten her.
In
the darkness, her eyes widened, and her breath quickened. At any
other time, he would’ve backed off. But not tonight. As much as he
needed to have her sun-kissed skin under his fingers, she needed to
understand—believe—he would take a blade to his own hand before
harming her.
Gently,
he cupped the nape of her neck. Pressed a thumb into the side of her
throat and circled. She went rigid beneath his hand and loosed a tiny
whimper.
“Shh,”
he crooned. “No, look at me,” he tenderly ordered when her lashes
fluttered. He had to see her eyes, had to be able to detect if his
caress became too much for her to bear. Even more, he had to see the
moment the fear bled from her beautiful dark gaze and trust entered.
“Thank
you,” he murmured, staring into the brown depths. Yes, panic still
lingered, but so did another emotion…an emotion that set his heart
racing for his throat. “I would never hurt you,” he said. “Not
that way. I may be an asshole sometimes and kick the hell out of your
feelings, but I’ll never hurt you in the way that makes you shake
under my hand.” He slid his hand into her hair, loosening the bun
and cradling her head. And had to bite back his groan at the sensuous
glide of her heavy hair over his hand and wrist. “You’re safe
with me. I promise,” he said hoarsely.
Buy Links:
Buy Links:
Naima
Simone is a multi-published author in contemporary and erotic
romance. She’s a member of RWA’s Southern Magic chapter, mother
of the Dynamic Duo, lover of everything Vin Diesel and wife to the
fabulous husband who tolerates this affair. Come visit Naima on her
website, Facebook,
Twitter and
Goodreads.
So, what can you win? There will be a total of 5 winners at the end of the tour.
From Naima Simone: 1
$10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
From
Ignite Books: $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
From
Annie Seaton author of Dangerous
Desire:
1 sailboat necklace,
From
Caridad Pineiro author of For
Love or Vengeance:
1 "Reborn' t-shirt and a signed copy of her book Kissed
by a Vampire
From
Gail Ranstrom author of Sweet
Treason:
1 signed copy of Courtesan’s
Courtship
and 1 Swarovski Crystal Bookmark (made by Gail)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Our interview was so much fun, Naima, and your sense of humor is fantastic. Can't wait to read Secrets and Sins: Malachim
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me here, Julianne! I had a ball with the interview, too! You've been so awesome. And I hope you enjoy "Malachim"!
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