Alyssa
Brooks
You know what they say, 'handsome is as
handsome does'... Well, that's certainly true of our head
cook, Handsome.
Not content to let Randy and Eddy have
all the fun, he decided to corner Alyssa
Brooks on her way into the
Rambler's Inn.
Apparently he just asked her
some questions, however the kitchen door was shut for at least
an hour, forcing Mrs. Rambler to buy drinks for the crowd of
lunchtime diners, or face the wroth of empty stomachs.
Suffice to say, Handsome's pay check would have suffered quite a
dent, if he hadn't made up for it by preparing the most
delicious chocolate roulade... Well, we found it in our
hearts to forgive him - particularly once we read the results of
his interview...
If you have an alias or pen name, what is it?
Hi! My pen name is Alyssa Brooks and
these days it's becoming more and more like my real name. Even
my hubby calls me Alyssa. LOL.
Tell us about yourself?
Ok…where to begin? I suppose at the
beginning? I am an erotic romance author and a bit of a smart
ass…can you tell? I love to kid around except when you tick me
off, but we won't go there…! Anyway, I was first published by
Liquid Silver Books in June of 2004. Since then, I've signed
with Loose-Id, Whiskey Creek Torrid, Chippewa Publishing, and
Kensington Books. I have over ten titles out, some ebook, some
print. In October, my first Kensington /Aphrodsia title,
Arrested, will be released in an anthology titled The Cop, for
which I am VERY excited. Readers can check out more about me at www.alyssabrooks.com
.
Anything special the readers should know about you?
Sure! I love to eat chocolate and give
away free stuff…so it's in reader's best interest to check out
my free monthly e-zine, Wicked Escapes, which features free
reads, recipes, and excerpts for my fans. Zip on over to www.wickedescapesezine.com
to check it out.
How long have you been writing?
Several years…though it feels like my
whole life! I started writing in 2002, was first contracted and
published in 2004, and here I am today! It all happened so fast…and
so slow!
Where do you typically find your inspiration?
Oh…just about everywhere. From a sly
comment my kids make, to a song, or television show. The way a
cloud looks. A mood I'm in. My imagination never, ever, ever
stops running...I just keep going and going…and my ideas are
always two steps ahead of my fingers.
What genre do you write in? Do you cross over to other genres?
Is it harder or easier to stay in one genre or to move back and
forth?
I'm the type of person who can't sit
still and has to try everything - except skydiving, mind you-and
I love writing in many different genres. Can't get bored that
way! It's probably harder, because you do need to be accurate in
whatever you write, but I enjoy research.
Who has influenced you in your writing?
So many wonderful people have - but I'd
never have gotten started if it weren't for one very kind agent,
Tina. She rejected me, but, she wrote me a two page letter
pointing out my mistakes and recommending I join a critique
circle. If she hadn't, I would have thrown out my book, and
given up. Instead, I found so many wonderful people online, and
much success as well!
What books do you have out? And do you have something new
coming out? Where can they be purchased?
I won't list them all…it's quite a
list…so I'll tell you about my newest release, Spell of Love:
Flame in the Rain. Here's a blurb:
Kat needs to feed, but she picks the
wrong victim. An immortal himself, Thurston has no blood to
offer Kat, only pleasure. She can't resist going back night
after night to the loner who thinks he wants to be left alone.
There's a connection between them, and it's more than just
sexual.
A past tragedy banished Thurston to
the penal colony of Australia. Hundreds of years ago he built
himself a private bungalow on Ellis beach, and hasn't left
since. His life as a recluse consists of long nights awake and
fishing.
Until Kat comes along. She changes
him in ways he can't explain. And suddenly he is her partner in
sin, luring victims to sleep with them so she may feed. He
doesn't just break out of the box. He explodes from it.
For them, forever is quite literal, but
happily ever after is very much in question.
Readers can check out this book at http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=255
, or hop on over to my books page at www.alyssabrooks.com
, and learn about all my titles, including the Spell of Love
series.
Coming later this year, my novella,
Arrested, will be featured in The Cop from Kensington Books.
Check my website for more!
Are you doing any signing or appearances soon?
No signings are booked to date, but are
planned for this fall. Readers can check in at my website later
in the year. www.alyssabrooks.com
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
You've got to have grit. The moment you
give up is the moment your career is over. I failed and failed
and often still do - but I don't let anyone tell me no! Stick to
learning your skills, and make sure you have a great, UNIQUE
premise, and you'll land a contract. What many new writers don't
realize is that publishers don't just buy talent -they have a
schedule and marketing plans for the year they must stick to. A
rejection doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong with your
MS. It may just be that they didn't have a slot for it.
Do you have a website or a blog?
www.alyssabrooks.com
Do you prefer for your fans to mail or email you?
Email me BrooksAlyssa@msn.com
Other than being a writer, did you ever picture yourself doing
anything else?
I was supposed to be a vet, then a
teacher, then an anthropologist, then a psychiatrist. Never did
I think I'd be an author. It just wasn't a career I'd dreamed
of. One day my brain clicked - I could write down all the juicy
stories in my head and make money!
If you had time off to do whatever you like, what would you do?
I'd probably sit like a lump on a log
in front of the boob tube, watch CSI, and eat chocolate. I never
get to just sit. Relax. One of these days, I'd really like to do
that…if my brain could shut up for a moment!
If you have a book coming out soon or just out would you like
to give us an excerpt?
Sure! Here is an excerpt from Spell of
Love: Flame in the Rain, available at http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=255
A sudden loud pop burst through the
air, and her car went squealing across the dark road. She fought
for control of the vehicle, gently depressing the brakes as she
pulled the Jeep off the road.
Great. Just what she needed, a flat
tire! Ughh! She was too hungry for this. She opened the door
then stepped out of the vehicle. What should she do? Cairns was
miles down the road yet. Quite a flight for her to take with
weakened powers. She could do it, sure, but it would've been
better if ...
Her sharp eyes skimmed the slanting
tree line. In the far distance, she noticed a subtle yellow
glow. A light. Perfect! She pushed the button on her keychain,
the locks to her vehicle immediately clicking shut. Then she set
off down the steep hill into the thick rainforest. Shadows
darkened all around her, whipping and peeking out around the
tall trees. The twisted, hanging vines looked like black snakes
dangling from the sky.
The night air warm and humid, but the
dark night and tree cover provided relief from the scorching
temperatures she'd experienced earlier that day. A slight breeze
caressed her skin, and she shivered, chilled. When she was
hungry she always got cold, now matter how warm it might be.
She'd come to Cairns for the warm, sunny Australian weather and
the virile young surfers. So far, so bad.
Whoever owned the place with the light
better be young and healthy. With rich blood. If she didn't feed
soon, she'd start to wrinkle and age. The last time she'd gone
so long without drinking, she'd put on five years. If she were
destined to live forever, she'd prefer to do it without
wrinkles.
As she approached the glowing light,
she realized quickly it was a larger sized bungalow. Nestled
into the rocky cliff side, it overlooked the beach. Tall, lush
tropical plants of all sorts camouflaged it.
Her eyes scanned the beach. Moonlight
shimmered down on the water lapping over the white sand.
Methodically the tide surged back and forth, creating a
rhythmic, relaxing whoosh. Beautiful. Maybe once she fed she'd
stay the night here. Unlike most vampires, she preferred
solitude and quiet. Rather then staying near a clan, near her
home, she traveled, hitting beaches where young party kids were
easy targets. Sure, she had to carry a touch of her native soil
with her. But she was strong enough to venture out and would not
be tied down. She liked seeing the world and figured if she had
to live forever, she would enjoy it. She had never really liked
the fact that she'd been bitten. She hadn't wanted to be a
vampire; she'd wanted to be a doctor. But how could she?
Daylight burned her like acid. Damn the one who had done this to
her.
Yet, sometimes she thought she might go
home. Find her original clan, and be amongst other vampires She
longed for someone to love. A place to belong. Friends. Family.
Even just someone to talk to.
Forever on this earth was a long time
to spend alone. She relished the fact that she would never die.
She hated the thought of death and always had. But, sometimes
her life just felt empty. Still, she'd never found a place or a
person she felt comfortable enough with to stick around. Other
vampires reminded her too much of who she had become. Sure, she
might be lonely, but when she examined her choices, she'd rather
be alone.
Kat slid her hand down the rail that
guided several stone steps. They led to a wood, wraparound
porch. The foot wide lumber was well varnished and maintained.
She rounded the corner and found a sliding glass door.
She knocked.
And she waited.
She knocked.
And she waited.
She knocked.
Inside, she heard gruff grumbling. She
couldn't make out what the man was saying, but he wasn't happy.
Well, she was not giving up. She
pounded harder.
"Damn it! Can't you get the bloody
point?" he yelled. But thankfully, she heard his heavy
footsteps approaching the door.
The curtains flung open, revealing a
man glaring at her through the glass. Kat's gaze skimmed over
him. He looked like a certain Hollywood star ... hunky in a cute
way. She couldn't quite place her finger on whom, though, and
immediately it starting bugging her. Who did he look like?
She drank in the sight of him. Over six
feet tall, his brawny frame supported thick, well-defined
muscles. His skin glowed with a deep, bronze tan, accented by
curling, bleached blond hair all over his bare chest.
She swept her gaze upward, noting the
sinewy muscles of his neck, the way his veins were defined in
certain places. Perfect.
And he was handsome, as well. Shaggy,
uncut hair, practically white from the sun's bleaching rays,
framed his strong face. Though, his scowl did little for him.
His jaw was hardened, his full lips pressed tight. Framed by
golden lashes, his sky-blue eyes glared at her. She'd like to
see him smile. She'd bet it was heartbreaking.
She couldn't help but run her tongue along the inside of her
mouth. He was strong. He was healthy. He was sexy.
"I need your help," she
purred in a low, demure voice.
Again she flicked her gaze over him,
settling right on the bulge in his worn blue jeans. She didn't
just want to feed from him. She wanted to enjoy him. She wanted
to devour his whole body with hers.
Immediate lust flooded through her like
a heat wave. It settled in her lower regions, tensing her with
want.
Suddenly, all she could envision was
herself on top of him, their sweaty, naked bodies slapping
together as her sex swallowed his cock. Ah, the pleasure he
would bring. Especially as she sank her teeth into his neck.
* * * * *
Thurston stared through the glass into
the pale, angelic face of the woman begging for his help. From
her skin tone, she definitely wasn't an Aussie. But how had she
not burned the second she stepped onto the continent? She was
whiter than anyone he'd ever seen in Australia, her skin smooth
and porcelain-like. In fact, she looked a lot like a doll, with
her heart-shaped face, and huge, pleading green eyes. Small, yet
full lips pursed as if ready for a kiss.
Silky, immensely curly, thick black
hair fell all around her shoulders. She wore too much makeup,
and her mouth was painted blood red. If she'd wipe off some of
that damn lipstick, she'd almost look innocent.
Almost -- except for that body. She had
more curves than a Playboy centerfold. She was neither too tall
nor too short. Just right, he'd say. Her breasts practically
poured from her tight fitting tank top.
An overpowering feeling to help her
overtook him. To peel away her too-tight jeans, free her breasts
from the push-up bra she obviously had popping them up and out,
and wipe away her lipstick. And kiss her so thoroughly she'd be
begging for something else entirely.
Blast it! He was very tempted to
quickly sling the curtain shut. He didn't want to be bothered.
Didn't need it. He hated all these invading tourists and surfers
who had no inkling of the notion of privacy or respect for the
earth. They were ruining his beach, and his life. He hated being
near any people besides his brothers. He was beginning to think
he should move to the Outback. Maybe after two hundred years it
was time to find a new home.
Yet, she looked so damn pathetic. Cute.
How could he not aid her?
How could he not fuck her?
Already he knew she'd be the death of
him and he'd only set eyes on her three seconds ago.
"What do you want?" he all but boomed.
"I'm Kat. My tire's flat. I'm
afraid I don't have a spare and if I could just use your phone.
Please?" Again she pouted those sexy lips. He wanted to
devour them.
His cock jerked and hardened, the vein
in his shaft pulsating with need. He hadn't touched a woman in
hundreds of years. Hadn't wanted to. But damn ...
He unlocked the door and slid it open.
"I don't have a phone."
"No phone?" She wrinkled her
dark brows in disbelief.
"Nope. I don't have anyone to
call."
"Well ..." A sigh of
frustration escaped her. "What can I do? I'm
stranded."
Did he dare? Could he? He felt so
compelled. Drawn.
He stepped aside, allowing her entry.
"Why don't you come in, then?"
Many
thanks to Alyssa for speaking with our cook, Handsome!
You can find
out more about Alyssa
on her
website, here:
www.alyssabrooks.com
:-)
