Wednesday, October 30, 2013

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Author Tessa Teevan




Over at our Facebook Page we'll be celebrating the Release Day of this phenomenal novel!!!

If you didn't already know, it's LIVE on Amazon for $2.99 and worth every penny, trust me.


IgniteAmazonBn Cover

 (#1, Explosive Series)
Synopsis:

After nearly a year and a half of grieving the loss of her husband, twenty-seven year old Alexa Sullivan Tate is headed back to her hometown after a decade of being away. She has no idea her high school crush, Jace McAllister, the guy who stole her heart the same night that he broke it, is more than ready to pick up the pieces. Jace has spent the last ten years in the Army defusing bomb after bomb, trying to forget the girl who ignited all his passions. Little does he know that the spark still exists. Ten years ago they had smoldering chemistry, but the spark between them now might light a fuse that leads to an explosion even Jace can't stop. Not that he wants to. If only Alexa can get past her guilt and trust her heart again. But how do you put it all on the line when you've already lost everything once before? *While this is a series, each book will be standalone with spinoff characters.




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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Tessa!!! 

What is the one thing that you cannot live without while writing? Any weird inspiration enhancers? (Besides wine haha!!) – Dammit, Lydia, how’d you know I was going to say wine?! That was essential for the steamy scenes…at least in the beginning. The most important thing to me while writing Ignite was the playlist. There are so many songs on it that inspire me and my characters, and even though I’m sure my husband was ready to throw my laptop out the window, I had to listen to it on repeat. In fact, I still do J

Is there one specific moment that you knew you wanted to write a book?- I honestly can’t pinpoint a specific moment where I thought “I want to write a romance novel!” I’ve always been pretty good with words. I had the whole OpenDiary & Xanga accounts when I was a teen where I waxed poetic silly quips of a teenage girl looking for love. In fact, that was the inspiration for Lexi’s blog post. 17 year old me. Do you remember being 17 and wondering where your life was going? Wanting to grow up, but wanting to be 17 and carefree? What a conflicting time for a girl. Okay, I’m getting wayyyy off topic. Next question!

What inspired you to write Jace and Lexi’s story? - The idea for Ignite actually formed in my mind after my sister mentioned my going with her to her ten year reunion, yes, at Navarre High School, with the idea that I’d watch her daughter while they went to events. The idea formed in my head and never went away. I sat on it for a while, and then one day my husband gave me the final push to whip out my iPhone and write the prologue. After that, I was consumed.

What is your favorite book? Current and of all time? – You realize that’s the hardest question EVER, right? Right now, my favorite book… Oh geez… I’ve actually been in a book funk. My blog mate, Erica, has been calling me a book skank (lovingly, I swear). One of my favorite books of ALL TIME is The Sweet Gum Tree. I read that book and couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks. It’s tragically beautiful, and I wish more people would read it. My current favorites…gosh…2013 has had some HUGE books come out. My two ultimate favorites? I’d have to say Left Drowning by Jessica Park and Tangled by Emma Chase. Left Drowning slayed me. I had to drink to calm myself, and then I had a few bloody marys when I wrote my review, of which I’m about to quote. “No words that I can type could ever give Left Drowning the justice that it deserves. This book resonated so deeply within my soul that I will never forget a single moment of it, and I don't want to. Jessica Park did an amazing job in bringing every emotion I could ever possibly feel to the surface. She took my heart, ripped it out of my chest, stomped on it, stabbed it, and tore it apart. When I didn't think it was possible, she repaired my heart in the most beautiful fashion and I finished this book with the cheesiest, largest grin that could ever grace my face, while crying tears of joy at the same time.” <-- Seriously, y’all, book of the year. And let’s move onto Tangled. I was in tears for a different reason. Tangled was laugh-out-loud-pee-your-pants hysterical! Emma Chase came out of nowhere, and I couldn’t be happier! Again, from my review (I’m too lazy to remember these things)… “Drew Evans is deliciously entertaining, impossible to resist, outrageously hilarious, and you simply can't get enough. In fact, I'm feeling a touch of the flu coming on & the only cure is more Drew. Tangled more than earns a brilliant, out-of-this-world hysterical, swoon-worthy five stars. Emma Chase has written a highly recommended story with unforgettable characters that are absolutely beyond comparison, and I cannot wait to get my hands on more of her work.” You seriously have to meet Drew Evans…after you get acquainted with Jace McAllister, of course ;)

What are your thoughts about the indie book community? Do you think the authors, bloggers, and readers work together and support one another well?- I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the indie community. I’ve had such an outpouring of love and support just from having been a blogger, and it’s been an unreal experience. When I first started this process, I was in it alone. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing. I put a random post on Twitter asking for beta readers, and I hit the freaking jackpot. I ended up with the most amazing ALPHA (thanks Sarah Ashley Jones, <3 you!) team. I hear a lot of author talk about critique partners, and I know that works for a lot of people, but for me, my bloggers/readers turned out to be the best critique team that I could’ve formed. They didn’t blow smoke up my ass. In fact, I’m calling out Teri Beth. She called me out on so much shit that she started typing “Don’t hate me” instead of what the problem was because I knew exactly what she meant because I’d done it so many times. And no, I never hated her. I needed her. And I appreciated that she was open and honest with me, even if she thought I’d end up hating her. Which I still don’t. Even though she likes the Steelers.  But seriously, I can’t imagine not having my team. They’re my Sisterhood, and I hope we can continue this long journey together.
I’ve also had so many authors RT Ignite news, and that means the world. We’re also busy, so it means so much when they take time out of their days to encourage me! I really love the Indie community!


Lately, there has been controversy over the content of certain books. Do you think a book should be pulled in any circumstance?- I’d say absolutely not, but then I will the craziest, most disgusting scenarios thrown my way with people saying that I’m okay with them, when I’m not. For example, the newly introduced dinosaur erotica. Holy hell, genius authors. People are buying these books for 3 bucks a pop to read 30 pages of dinosaur porn. It’s INSANE, but we as human beings have a morbid curiosity for all things taboo. To this day the guys at my work talk about it, and they haven’t even read it! Wow…this is a really tough question. Obviously, I want to say that the reader draws the line. He or she knows what they can handle. But at the same time, when a book called “Pedofile’s Guide” goes live on Amazon, I want to beat the crap out of someone. However, I think most books being pulled were purely fiction, dark romance, twisted stories. I don’t think it’s up to a company to decide what’s appropriate. That’s up to the reader. And yes, my next book is called Sleeping With the Stegosauras. (Total Joke…unless you think you’d buy it…I have ideas for mosquitoes and centipedes)

Not many people know, but you’re in the Military. Thank you for your service! We’re curious, what inspired you to join the Air National Guard?- There wasn’t ever an A-HA moment for me. I grew up an Air Force brat. The military lifestyle was ingrained in me at a very young age. To be honest, when I graduated at 17, I had no idea what the hell I wanted to do. I knew if I joined the service, I’d have structure and a way to make it through college. That was eight years ago and I just signed on for another six. I love it, and I work with the most amazing group of guys (you’ll find them in my acknowledgements). I’ve been deployed twice to the Middle East, and they were definitely eye opening experiences. I’m thankful every single day to live in this amazing country. I don’t care what the news says. We’re freaking blessed.

Jace, the very HOT hero in Ignite, is in the Army. How much of your personal experience in the Military can we see in the book?- I actually was fortunate enough to do some training with a couple of Army guys this past summer who taught me so much about the EOD lifestyle. I got to pick their brains, and with additional research, I think Ignite is one of the most accurate military romance novels out there. My experiences, combined with the training, definitely made it easy for me to write Jace’s story. And I think it’s important for readers to get that. I’ve read a lot of military romance that is… very exaggerated. And that’s okay, it’s fiction, you have those liberties. But to me, I wanted Sgt. Jace McAllister to be as authentic as he could be. I want an Army wife to be able to read Ignite and ask her husband about it and him say, yep, that’s how it goes. Because that’s real. And that’s how I want Jace. Real. Raw. Relatable. And I hope it sends a message. This job is no joke. These guys freaking work with explosives that are made by amateurs. They aren’t pretty James Bond-esque bombs. They’re made with plastics and tires and whatever they can get their hands on. They’re dirty, simple, and you never know when they’ll go off. The fact that a man can walk up to one with steady hands astounds me, and the entire EOD force will forever me revered by me. Not only that, but the wives, girlfriends, and families whose lives must go on while their loved ones are away? They’re heroes to me, as well. These men need love and support behind them, so those they leave behind are just as special to me. I could go on and on, but I freaking love the United State Military. I’m honored to be a part of it, and Knox’s book will show a lot more of that side of it. The volunteer groups, the PTSD, the hardship of returning home a broken man. It breaks my heart, but the world deserves to know the realistic truths of a long, lonely war.

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS!!!
Hard candy or chocolate? Chocolate
Tattoos or piercings?
Tattoos unless it’s a Jacob’s Ladder. HOLY HOTNESS
Dogs or cats?
I’m a cat lady. They need less attention so I can write
Book Series or Stand Alone? Stand alone series. I hate cliffhangers.
Christian Grey or Gideon Cross? Christian Grey. Then James Cavendish. Gideon’s not even on the radar.
Kellan Kyle or Travis Maddox? Kellan Kyle, hands down. Or in my pants. That’s preferable.
Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles? (Warning: Choose CAREFULLY - LM Augustine chose the WRONG one) What’s wrong with this question is that the Power Rangers are even a choice. TMNT ftw, always. 
Luke Bryan or Hunter Hayes? That’s harder than I thought (that’s what she said) Ummm wow… I, personally, think Hunter Hayes is a better singer…but Luke can totally shake it….


Okaaaay, now it’s time for some FUN.
***If you are easily offended by sex-related questions, stop reading this interview HERE***


 “Let’s get down and dirty with Tessa Teevan!!!!!”

There are some HOT sex scenes in Ignite. Are any of them inspired by your real life? Go Mr. Teevan!!!!!!!! He’s going to KILL me for this! He actually just read Ignite for the first time this past weekend. He asked me…”Where did you get the inspiration for when Jace when down on her?” I totally blushed and he grinned… “I thought I recognized a few things…” So… yes, he inspired a bit of it.

Do you try out the logistics of a sex scene before writing it? I never tried them out with Mr. T. There’s one scene were movements vary, and I sat on the bed and made notes on a notepad, trying to choreograph it myself. EVENTUALLY, it all worked out. But let me tell you, writing sex scenes is no joke!

If you had to categorize your sex life into a book category, what would it fall under? Is it sweet and innocent like YA, pretty hot but normal like NA, or full on erotica? I’d say I’m blushing but I think that’s just the red wine making my cheeks flush. If my sex life was like YA, I’d want a divorce. Are you crazy?! NA, while it can be hot, still lacks the ultimate, undying connection for me.  I’d say we’re a cross between Contemporary Romance and Erotica. I’ll forever thank E.L. James for changing my sex life in 2011. I don’t care if you hate her writing, but she brings the steam. I’ll leave you with two tips… Buy a Wartenberg Wheel… and an orthopedic bed wedge. Don’t get that crazy $100 dollar Liberator when you can buy a $20 one off of Amazon. And one last thing…if an Amazon package shows up with de-sensitizing anal lube…run very far away (unless you’re into that).

Where is the weirdest place you've ever had sex? The weirdest place? Umm… I’m not an exhibitionist by any means. I am skittish and get freaked out way too easily… I think for me, it was probably in the Gulf of Mexico, in broad daylight. I had my top on!

Did you have sex today, Tessa?? You should! Celebratory sex!! Hey, it’s “RELEASE” day, after all! Hahaha!!! It’s my wedding anniversary and my release day. What do you think?!

BONUS! RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS!
Dildo or vibrator? (Haha) Why would you want a dildo that doesn’t vibrate? The best part is that you don’t have to move it!
Eggplants or Carrots? Carrots, to eat. Eggplants…y’all are freaks. *Note to readers*  (Here we're NOT LITERALLY talking about Carrots and Eggplants, of course! *wink* This really started off as in inside joke on Voxer, then we took it to Twitter.... you can use your imagination as to what we are referring to haha!!)
Front yard or back yard? (For you know, your garden!) My back yard is off limits.
Drunk sex or morning sex? Morning
Rough or gentle? Gentle morning sex, rough drunk sex. 



Tessa, Thank you SO much for taking the time to answer these questions for us!!!
Everyone, go and one-click her book!!! It's a MUST READ!!! My review will be posted on Nov. 11th during the Blog Tour!! 

xx,
Ly




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