Coming Up At FVBR
Fiction Vixen Giveaways
Zsadist as Trhixie
Pearl's Place
Men keep doing this :)
For Smexy
Me & Bones :)
Smut Club
Thank You SHB
Downside
Fiction Vixen Tweets
Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
Interview and Giveaway with Author J.A. Saare
I’m pleased to be chatting with author J.A. Saare today.
FV: Tell me about J.A. Saare.
JAS: That question is so hard, because I so want to be the “cool” person everyone wants to talk to. Unfortunately, I’m just me – a stay at home mom with four growing rugrats and a constant stream of madness consuming her household.
When I have me time I love to read, write, listen to music, shoot pool, eat Girl Scout Cookies, drink imported apple cider, and watch horror movies. ;)
FV: You also write under the pen name Aline Hunter. Tell me about that.
JAS: The Aline Hunter pen was something that occurred over confusion in regard to my stories. When I started out, I wrote what was supposed to be a YA romance (Crimson Moon is now a paranormal romance, which will release in June). At the time, I was a wimp and refused to write any kind of sex. Then, after I wrote Dead, I started exploring sexier themes and wrote Eternity and a Day (the first in an erotic paranormal series). However, even then, the sex was pretty tame.
One day, I decided it was time to get over my fear of writing sex. The result is a batch of short stories and novellas at Amira Press (A Kiss Before Dying, Moon Kissed, Soft As Moonlight, and Lick Of Frost). For the first time, I wrote with sex being a focal point versus a component. The reaction was good, so I took Eternity and a Day, rewrote all of the steamy scenes with Runa and Eric, and created my first full-length erotic paranormal romance.
The trouble was people were attaching the J.A. Saare name to erotica, not urban fantasy, which created a problem when I started trying to promote and get some kind of networking started. People saw the cover for Dead and immediately asked, “What kind of story is this, exactly?” A few explanations later, and the decisions to create an alias was all but cemented. Since the stories at Amira were the only ones I’d written so far (and only rate as spicy, not hot), I decided to keep them under my original name and create a new pen for my “naughtier” side.
FV: Now that you've ventured into the world of Erotic Romance will Urban Fantasy remain your main focus or will you balance between the two genres.
JAS: I’ll rotate, definitely. There is something positive to be said for both.
Believe it or not, writing erotica challenges me in a ways UF never does. For some reason my brain was always comfortable writing about gore, death, and the depravity of humanity. Yet, when I tried to write a sexy scene, there was something “wrong” about it.
It’s really perverse, when you think about it. Violence is a socially accepted norm. But don’t discuss people making love or their “kinks”. It’s time to kick the taboo!
FV: What character from Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between, would you most like to spend an afternoon with and what would you like to do.
JAS: I’d want me some Disco time, although my CP, Cari, would probably fight me over it (she’s informed me he is hers). ;-) I’d ask him to take me to the park and share a few of the stories he’s collected in his lifetime. He’s the one character I misunderstood when I started writing Dead, but forced me to truly “see” him for the gentleman he is and cut him some slack.
FV: Where do you tend to find inspiration for the books you write?
JAS: Anywhere and everywhere. It can be a glimpse of an image I see in my head, a scene in a movie, the stanza of a song, a catchy baseline… The muse strikes anywhere and everywhere. The tiny composition pads I carry in my purse are a testament to it!
FV: Tell me about your current work in progress.
JAS: Aside from the second story in Rhiannon’s series, The Renfield Syndrome? *grin* I have several projects on my plate, but I’m focusing on one in particular.
Omega Mine is a shifter story of a different kind. It’s about Diskant Black, the Omega of all the shifters in New York City. Blessed with the ability to shift to any form, he also protects the races by pooling their strength and bringing them together during times of crisis.
One night after meeting with the Alpha of a local pard, he comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress – who just so happens to be his mate.
It’s going to be penned under the Aline Hunter moniker, so you can expect some super-smut to take place. ;)
FV: What are you reading right now?
JAS: March Misfit by Barbara Stremikis. A YA story about life, death, and second chances (available at The Wild Rose Press).
Since I started writing in the e-pub industry, I’ve made it a point to purchase from them as well. There are so many outstanding authors who, due to the congestion in the market, have ventured into smaller press publication to see their dream come to life. If you’ve not checked out books from some of the smaller presses, I highly recommend them. There is some great material to be found, and there are a multitude of voices you’re sure to love. <---I agree!
FV: I understand you are a Nine Inch Nails fan. Tell me your favorite NIN lyric and what it does for you.
JAS: Again, so many! Let’s see…
From Something I can Never Have: I still recall the taste of your tears…
Gives me goose bumps, every single time! There is something so powerful in that, tasting someone’s grief. It can be taken literally or figuratively, which I love.
FV: Does music inspire you when you write? Do you use play lists?
JAS: I have several playlists, and depending on what I’m doing, one is always on. I have a constant loop of all my M83 for editing, romance scenes, or revisions. (It’s truly fantastic for those) I also have my heavy metal music, my musical scores and soundtracks, and just about any other thing you can imagine.
Normally, the iTunes goes on random. I love getting a variety of music when I work. But sometimes I’ll get a hankering for something specific and I’ll adjust accordingly. ;)
FV: Quickfire: Don't think, just answer!
Prep or Punk? Punk
French toast or Pancakes? French Toast
My Chemical Romance or Fall Out Boy? My Chemical Romance
Emo or Goth? Goth
Jacob Black or Edward Cullen? Jacob
Shaken or Stirred? Shaken
MTV or VH1? MTV
City or Country? Country
FV: Thanks so much stopping by FictionVixen.com today.
JAS: Thanks for having me on the blog! ;-) And for allowing me to share! It’s great to meet everyone and to get to know new people!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~GIVEAWAY~~
Ms. Saare has generously offered a signed copy of her book, Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between.
To enter, leave a comment here, and tell Ms. Saare why you’d like to read Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between. (pssst…her birthday was yesterday so if you want to wish her a happy birthday that’d be cool too)
You have until March 20 to enter, I will announce the winner the following day. Thanks to Ms. Saare the giveaway is open to all!
Currently Reading
Friends
Facebook Friends
BBAW 2010
Subscribe Via Email
Search FVBR
Search by Label
Popular Posts
Book Review Ratings
Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
5 Heart Rating System
5 hearts: I loved it! Seriously, get this book NOW!
4 hearts: Very good, I'll recommend it.
3 hearts: Good
2 hearts: Not for me, but had it’s good points.
1 heart: Just not my cup of fiction.
DNF: Did not finish
You Know You Want One
Favorite Book Quotes
Bloggy Friends
59 Comments:
Happy Birthday Ms. Saare! I hope it was a swell one!
I would like to read your book because I have heard great things about it. Mandi at Smexybooks could not stop talking about the vamp in your book named Disco. LOL! He sounds like a great character. And if Mandi liked the book I know it will enjoy it. :)
Happy Birthday!!
LOL..well apparently my Disco obsession is known ;) He is such a great character..as is everyone is the book.
I totally agree with you and FV about checking out the smaller pubs.
And I'm glad you are a "shaken" girl - not sure about the french toast though ;)
Happy Birthday! Better late than never, right?
I would love to read your book because you chose Punk over Prep and French Toast over Pancakes. Oh- also because it sounds great. I've been hearing good things. Like Bellie said- who doesn't want to read a book with a vamp named Disco!?
Well, Happy Birthday to you! We do try to wish those with birthdays... a wonderful day!!!
Now why I want to read this book... Because FV pimped and reviewed this book out the other day and made us want more!! Enough said! She is good at what she does.... Hussy!
Great interview ladies! Have a great day!
Yeah, see, you know you've done a good job as a book reviewer when your readers call you a pimp and a hussy all in one comment. LMBO!!
I would love to read Dead, Undead, or somewhere in between because that's how I feel in the morning before I have my coffee.. ha no seriously I would love to read it because it sounds like a great read, I think that's reason enough and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ms. Saare ;)
Awww, thanks for the birthday love everyone!!! It was a relaxed day for the most part, which I'll take! It's always chaos here.
Mandi ~ I love Disco as well. I got him wrong at first, so I'm glad he got under my skin and forced me to see he's not so bad.
Vamps are my favorite reads and I'm always looking for new authors to read! Enjoyed the post today, I need to add this one to my TBR pile! tWarner419@aol.com
I want to read Dead, Undead because, one of the characters name is Disco! That is way too awesome. Plus, yanno when a stripper takes off her heels it's a big thing. Haha, it makes me think of when I was in high school, and the girls would fight and would screech "DONT MAKE ME TAKE MY SHOES OFF, OH HELL NAH HOLD MY HAIR." (Yes they would actually start taking out their synthetic hair when they were going to fight.)
Email - findtimetoread@gmail.com
Thanks :)
-Jess.
P.s: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY :)
Happy Birthday! I am still exploring paranormal romance, and this sounds like a good one...besides that fact that FV gave it 4 hearts. As stated earlier...she's a real book pimping hussy!
JASI wished you Happy birthday yesterday girlie but I will say it again--HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Please enter me in the contest! I would love to read this book!
Amy J
djsfoxylady@gmail.com
Happy Belated Birthday! I am a fan of french toast too - especially if it's deep fried - yummy! Maybe we could do a weekly schedule for Disco and everyone can sign up for a Disco day ;)
No need to enter me in the contest - I already read the book and loved it!
Happy Birthday!
This book has been on my to be read and I keep eyeing it on my wish list. Was thrilled to see it come out in print format. Also looking forward to the shifter book mentioned!
Seriously though, Jacob over Edward!!! *gasp*
Happy birthday! I love the title of your book and I'm a serious fan of paranormal romance. I'll have to look past the whole choosing Jake over Edward thing. Yeesh!! J/k!!
お誕生日おめでとうございます(Happy Birthday)! I would love a chance to read this book because it sounds like a kick-ass paranormal romance! I devour books from this genre, it's safe to say that it's my favorite, and finding new authors and new books to fall in love with never gets old!
Got to address the Edward/Jacob thing -- I'm a werewolf fan. Yes, Dead is a vampire tale, but give me the choice between a furry beast or a fanged vamp and I'll choose the wolf every single time.
;-)
NIN quote brought me back to my youth when I used to roller skate to Closer. Good times.
FV wrote such a stellar review for Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between had me instantly adding to my TBBP (To be bought pile).
PS please don't enter me 'cause I just bought this book, lol.
Happy b-lated B-day!
I'm absolutely addicted to paranormal and erotic romances. I would love to read "Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between" as an introduction to your work.
I already bought Dead in eBook format, and it's next on my TBR list! I'm stoked to read it! I didn't know yesterday was JA's birthday - hope it was fantastic!!
KC--Oh yes, I've been a fan of Trent's since he proudly proclaimed he wanted to feel me from the inside. Yeah. LOL.
Great interview! Yes, I claimed Disco as mine awhile ago, though I suppose I'm willing to share occasionally for the good of man - or woman - kind. ;)
Dead's a fantastic book! And luckily between TRS, Eternity and A Day, Crimson Moon, and Omega Mine, there's lots more JA Saare/Aline Hunter goodness to come. :D
LOL, FV, yeah, that line of Trent's was my introduction to NIN too. Ah, the first time. ;)
Happy Birthday! I loved the interview and the book sounds like a fabulous read. Can't wait to get my hands on it so please count me in!
Well Happy Birthday! Hope you have a good one with friends and family!
I would love to read this because it is fantasy and involves vampires.
Plus, J.A. Saare sounds like a cool author, and I would love to read and review one of her books on my blog.
Thanks for the contest and interview!
Kelsey
krae991@yahoo.com
www.thedoortowonderland.blogspot.com
great interview. I would like to win becausee I think naming a character "disco" is awesome!!
I'm impressed how J.A. Saare described her process with sex scenes. It's great she was alble to work thru any blocks she had. :)
You know, I'm in awe that you find the time to write when you have four kids. Great interview, J, and I hope you had a fun birthday.
I have Dead already, and I can't wait until my holiday so I have time to read it!
Happy Belated Birthday!
A kick-ass heroine who bartends at an NYC club and just happens to raise the dead...how could I not be interested in picking up a copy?!?
Thanks for the contest and interview.
Jen
iiiioneloveiiii(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Well happy birthday! Mine was on Sunday, so this is already a fun month for me. I figure there is always room for another sexy vampire story, and I loved the first line too. The excerpt is perfect, I love your brand of humor.
Happy belated Birthday! I'm surrounded by March babies!
Why do I want to read this? Because it sounds like something I'd really enjoy! It sounds just simply fabulous!
Btw, MTV or VH1? do they play music? I'd say FUSE! :D
Happy (late-ish) Birthday!
Why do I want to read your book? Because I am a book addict and your book sounds like it's gonna be a goooood read!
Oh, and I have to agree with Melissa, FUSE is waaaay better than MTV or VH1!
happy belated birthday.
i want to read it cuz it looks awesome. im on an iphone so i cant write more. sorry?
danielleeloko78@aol.com
Love the first line in your book. Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and keep celebrating the whole month through. Enjoyed the interview.
1st off Happy Belated Birthday!! I hope it was a good one. I would love to read her book because I have never read it and have heard good things about it! I love finding new authors to read:)
My email is bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
Happy Late Birthday! Wonderful interview; after reading FV's review this sounds like a great story; and with a character named Disco how can you go wrong? :)
Happy Belated Birthday! This book sounds great, and I always love new vamp books!
notreallysouthernvampchick(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy late birthday! Hope you had a great day.
I'd like to read this one because you are a new to me author (which I love finding) and am a serious fan of paranormal books!!
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
Again, thank you (EVERYONE) for the bday well wishes. I appreciate each and every one. :)
Happy belated birthday to you !
I'd love to read your book coz i love vampires stories, and paranormal is my favorite genre
hoping that you'll become one of my Favorite Author in this genre :)
uniquas at ymail dot com
Great interview, interesting questions and loved reading your answers! Wishing you a very happy belated birthday! I also wanted to tell you that I'm so proud of your approach ("Violence is a socially accepted norm. But don’t discuss people making love or their “kinks”. It’s time to kick the taboo!") and wholeheartedly agree!!
I would like to read your book, because I ahve to admit blushingly I haven't had the chance to read anything yb you YET! and not only are the synopses of your books exciting I have read such raving reviews I would love to finally see for myself! :-)
stella.exlibris (at) gmail DOT com
Happy belated b/day to you - and for a wonderful interview - congrats ladies...
Thanks for the heads up on the pen name - I will be checkingout more of your work...
P.S. Love your taste in music...I love The beginning of the end...
E.H>
Happy Birthday!
Do any of your friends & family tease you or give you grief for writing erotic ficiton?
Hiya Eva~
I have gotten the stray comment here and there about writing "sex" (I call it "smut" but folks often just go for broke). They'll ask me the understandable questions -- does it turn you on (sometimes), do you take things from your own bedroom (err, if I did, I wouldn't tell you!), do you watch porn (I worked in an adult video store in college, so yes, I've seen porn!), do you research sexual devices (if the material calls for it, absolutely) -- but usually there is a level of respect and understanding involved.
I can tell you this -- when I get someone who gives me a bit of grief about it, I tell them that there is a reason the romance genre continues to sell well and has a very strong standing in the market. Like it or hate it, but you might as well get used to it!
Great question. ;)
Happy Belated Birthday. Your book sounds like a good one.
The novel looks really good! And happy belated birthday!
faked_sugartone at hotmail
Happy belated Birthday!! Hope you had a good one.
Sounds like a great book. I love reading new authors and stories involving strong characters and vampires.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Happy belated B-Day! I hope you had a great one!
Great interview and I love the pic!
I would love to read your book because I've heard great things about it!
Thanks for the cool giveaway!
This sounds like it has a little twist to the normal vampire story. I also read a review of it at Cookies, Books and Bikes. I'd love to take a look at it. I love strong female characters - which is what draws a lot of us to urban fantasy.
Happy Birthday, Ms Saare- Hope it was a wonderful day for you.
I want to read this book because you, Fiction Vixen, are my book pimp and told me so! And I really, really, REALLY want to read it.
Happy Birthday Ms. Saare!!! *bumps fists* Team Jacob!!
And just for the record, my favorite NIN lyric is "I want to f*ck you like an animal". Yeah, that lyric comes to mind when I read sexy vampire novels (and werewolves too).
I’d love a chance to win. I downloaded a sample to my Kindle and enjoyed it. It’s next on my to buy list :) I have to break up my ebook purchases so hubby doesn’t start questioning all the Amazon charges LOL
Oh and I <3 french toast. Pancakes are overrated ;)
Happy belated birthday!!! I kinda have a thing for vampires - no one knows or suspects so I gotta keep it on the down low. But I'm so intrigued by a vamp named Disco - I can't begin to tell you all the things my imagination is conjuring up so I have to read Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between to find out the truth! annhonATaolDOTcom
That was a very interesting interview. I love how how you faced your fear. I want to read your books to see how the other side of you writes. lol. By the wa, Happy belated birthday!
dorcontest at gmail dot com
wish I could subscribe by email.
I would love to win this copy of Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between because I have not yet had the pleasure of reading any of your works and since I love vampire stories, why not start with this one?
I am a follower
Kate Leger aka YzhaBella
mleger0546 (@) rogers (dot) com
http://yzhabellasbookshelf.blogspot.com/
I would love to win Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between because it sounds really awesome!
aikychien at yahoo dot com
Happy Belated Birthday! Hope it was a great one!
I have heard much talk about Disco and I trust when FictionVxn and Smexybooks rave about a book, it's definitely worth reading!
Enjoyed your interview and hope to win!!!
Amy/tnsongbird865@aol.com
Happy Belated Birthday!!!
"I’d want me some Disco time, although my CP, Cari, would probably fight me over it (she’s informed me he is hers). ;-) I’d ask him to take me to the park and share a few of the stories he’s collected in his lifetime. He’s the one character I misunderstood when I started writing Dead, but forced me to truly “see” him for the gentleman he is and cut him some slack."
This is why I want to read your book. Disco sounds smexy! I love me some smexy men in my books, haha.
-Lena
longhorn08fan(at)gmail(dot)com
Happy belated birthday. I'm looking forward to reading Dead, Undead or Somewhere In Between, it sounds like a fantastic story.
*sings* Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!
I have to admit that I have not heard of you or the books but would love to give them a try! lynsey@narrativelyspeaking.com
Thanks for the giveaway and good luck to everyone!
Happy really belated Birthday! :]
I must say, I havnt heard of your books, but from your Quick Questions, we have a bit in common. I always like to read author's descriptions and if we have a bit in common and the book seems good, ill get it.
-Leilani
vampiregirl813@gmail.com
Happy Birthay J.A.! I hope you had a terrific one.
I just read FV's review on Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between, there were two things that grab my attention the first line and love surprise endings. Plus Urban Fantasy has fast become one of my favorite genres and I'm always on the look out for new authors to read in UF. I'd love to read this book.