Author Francesca Hawley Interview & Giveaway

Summer is finally here so are you guys ready for some HOT reads? To start things off for the month of July, here's one hot author for you all to check out. Recently, were were able to sit down with Ellora's Cave author, Francesca Hawley for a quick chat. She has written many titles published by EC, but her most recent release Alpha vs Alpha has left something to be desired. That is if you want to be charmed by these dominating men. But whetther they charm you on a date or charm you in bed, author Francesca Hawley surely knows how to deliver a hot and steamy novel to fulfill every woman's dream.

Alpha vs. Alpha

Alpha female Serena Goldwolf has spent a lifetime vowing never to be a submissive mate to any Alpha male. But all it takes is one surprisingly sexual meeting with Damien Blackwolf, a dissatisfied client of her shapeshifter dating site Predator-Match.com, and she’s down on all fours, wanting to be mounted by the hottest male on two legs—or four—whom she’s ever met.

Damien Blackwolf doesn’t understand why the voluptuous Serena won’t admit they’re True Mates. To convince her, he decides to bring out her baser desires by dragging her off to someplace private to get to know her…intimately. But how can he convince her of their destiny when she runs away from him? Guess he’ll just have to hunt her down and persuade her.

 

In a passionate battle of wills, there most definitely can be two winners.

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BBL: *Waves* Hi Francesca. Could you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?


Fran: Hi. I’m Francesca Hawley and I’m a fat chick. A woman with dangerous curves just like my heroines. Many people don’t like the word, “fat” but I do because it’s the truth and I’ve learned to own it. I am a fat chick and I always will be.

When I began writing, I wanted to create a fat heroine who loved herself—or at least learned to love herself—and a hot alpha hero who liked her jiggly bits just the way they were. Since I didn’t find many big girls to read about, I decided  to write about them myself. After all, I loved to write and had been writing almost as long as I’d been reading, so Francesca Hawley – author of "Romance with Dangerous Curves" was born.

In a Francesca Hawley romance, my readers will find authentic, sensual, fat heroines who love and are loved by their intense, passionate, and seductive Alpha heroes. I hope you enjoy their dangerous curves just as much as their hunky heroes do.

BBL: Do you remember the first romance novel you read and what/who inspired you to write Romance?


Fran: I read a lot of Victoria Holt when I was young. I loved the gothic romance style that I read back then. My reading tastes have always been really varied but I loved a happy ending. My mother was really my inspiration. She told me I could do whatever I wanted to do. She was my biggest cheerleader and she knew that one day I'd be published if that was what I wanted to do.


BBL: Can you tell us what is your writing style and do you have plans for expansion?


Fran: I write in a lot of different subgenres of romance. I've written paranormal, contemporary, BDSM, and historical. Stories just come to me so I try not to limit myself to one particular subgenre. I love having the opportunity to write whatever inspires me. Sometimes it can be a drawback because I can get a little scattered, but overall I enjoy the variety.

BBL: Have you ever had writer's block? If so, how do you go about it?
Fran: I had some tough health issues last year and because of the illness and after effects of the general anesthesia, I got very little writing done last year. To try to get past the problems I'd had, I spent Christmas with a family friend in San Jose last year. It made a big difference and my writing is going better for me. I'm excited to write now

BBL: Can you tell us about your current release and any WIP that will be coming out soon?
Fran: My most recent release is Alpha vs. Alpha. I originally wrote it back in 2004 and it was released in 2005. When I received my rights back, I rewrote it a bit and submitted it to Ellora's Cave. I was super excited when my editor offered me a contract for it.

Right now, I'm working on another shapeshifter romance featuring Serena's Predator-Match.com  matchmaking agency. Yohana Whitewolf is a packleader in need of a mate to placate her pack and Dr. Per Goldwolf is a surgeon in need of a mate to placate his boss and be accepted as partner in a surgical practice. When Serena pairs them up, sparks fly. 

BBL: As a published author, do you have any advice you would give to other aspiring writers

Fran: There are a couple of things I tell aspiring writers. First, find a writer's group of some kind. At least find someone that you can critique with because it's hard to write in a vacuum. You need input from others. Second, I'd say to never give up. Rejections are hard to take sometimes, but if you don' t give up at some point you will receive "the call" and be a published author.

BBL: As an erotic writer, do you read outside of your genre? if so, who?

Fran: Yes, I read outside my genre often.  I read erotic romance, but I also read some "mainstream" romances. Most recently, I've been re-reading some fantasy novels. I enjoyed David Eddings' series The Belgariad. I also love reading books by Robin D. Owens. She's an auto-buy for me whenever she releases something new.

BBL: Do you have a favorite line from any of your published books?

Fran: One of my favorite passages from Alpha vs. Alpha is where Serena and Damien first meet one another and Serena is immediately attracted to him, despite herself.

Unable to suppress her temper, Serena growled. His gaze flashed to her and she felt it all the way to her womb. Damn but he was hot. Life was just not fair.

She challenged him—head up, shoulders back—inspecting him from top to bottom and allowing her gaze to linger, as if she were checking for fleas. His shoulders were broad and filled his Italian suit to perfection. His broad chest narrowed to athletic hips, and she would bet money that his belly sported a six-pack, and not of the beer variety. He had the kind of face that artists wanted to sculpt and women wanted to sit on. His eyes were the piece de resistance—large, dark brown and thick-lashed beneath perfectly arched brows.

In short, he was a god—or a male model.

BBL: People say practice what you preach, where do you get your research and was any of them were hands on?

Fran: A lot of my research is from books, but I do a bit hands-on research too.  I've attended a Citizen Police Academy. It was a lot of fun, and it helped me with some specific points. I've also been active in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) for a number or years. When I was writing my medieval romance, Seeking Truth, I had some questions that I asked some of my fellow SCA folk. They were a wonderful resource.

BBL: When not writing, what are your hobbies or things that you enjoy doing?

Fran: I enjoy photography, weaving, bead making, and traveling.

BBL: Do you have any personal indulgence that you can share with your readers?

Fran: Chocolate. I love all kinds - dark, milk, and even white.  There's a fabulous store in the Des Moines area called Chocolaterie Stam. They have some of the best chocolate around.

Giveaway: There you have it guys, a new author BBL has the pleasure of meeting and introducing to you all. We hope you'll find her books and give it a twirl, we hope you'll enjoy it as much as some of our other readers and staff. As always, our giveaway is OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL. One (1) signed book will be awarded to US readers, and one (1) ebook will be awared to our International readers. For participation guidelines, please see below:

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