Author Spotlight: a.c. Mason

I would like to give a warm welcome to a.c. Mason for stopping by A Whole Latte Romance today. I look forward to getting to know you!


Without further ado...

I want to thank A Whole Latte Romance Reviews for having me on as a guest.

You're very welcome :-) Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born and chaos ensued.

This is official info on me.

Born from the union of her Scottish and Belgian mother and an African American and Cherokee father, a.c. Mason’s youth was filled with dichotomies and moving from place to place. She developed a curiosity to explore through writing the seedy side of our nature and desires. Given her own diverse background, she writes stories that represent the world she grew up in. She is fluent in French and English. For the past eight years of her life, she has worked with one foot in the past spanning such times as the 18th century, the Bering Strait theory to modern day, and now late Victorian. Her stories are the place where darkness meets human desire and fairytales endings are not promised but earned. In 2011 her work was nominated for six 2012 Bookie Awards. If you’d like to learn more about a.c. Mason, go to www.acmason.com.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Do you also mean when I'm not doing writing related things too? I'm working on that. I'll let you know when I come up with something.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing when I was thirteen. Then I began a gazillion stories and finished my first when I was twenty-one which was only three years after my original goal of eighteen.

Why eighteen? 

Because Mary Shelley finished Frankenstein at that age.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I write the stories that speak to me. The genre is defined by the characters and their journey. I'm kind of organic about the process and so books in a series don't always end up in the same genre which I'm sure throws some people. I hope my readers trust me to bring them the story as it's meant to be told.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I was one of the lucky ones. My road to publication wasn't as it is for most authors. I'm goal oriented so I decided I wanted to be an author in 2006. I set out to join a critique group. I joined three or four. Met a crew I really liked. I learned a lot. Spent eighteen months in the learning phase before I sent out Aequitas I Betrayal to publishers. I got an offer before I ever saw a rejection letter. All this told me was that I was on the right track. In the time since I've collected a stack of rejections like most authors. I've continued to surround myself with people I can learn from and offer the same in return. 

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

Lol. I want to go back and change things about the most recent book I published. Rather than focusing my energy on regret I put it into how I’m going to improve for the next book.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

A mix of both. I'm not explaining. : D.

How do you come up with your titles?

Titles are very important to me. If we look at my list of titled we can get a sense of what the book is about and sometimes it's isn't always literal.

Aequitas is the Latin word for justice. The creatures known as Aequitas, are responsible for the balance between good and evil.

           Aequitas I Betrayal, 

           Aequitas II Punishment,

               

           

Given the time period of the Wolf-Spirit the 1940s I had to use language of the day. Since VanWolf comes upon her, Alexia at a moment of her distress he notices two things about her. Her beautiful color and sense of nobility. The first book was titled Chocolate Damsel.  This also relates to a reference from a French film "Ernest le rebelle"'s song from late 1938 called Ma créole by Fernandel

The line:

Sa belle couleur chocolat. Her beautiful chocolate color.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x70rxr_fernandel-ma-creole_shortfilms

Chocolate Damsel, Wolf-Spirit Series Book 1,

Chocolate Temptation, Wolf-Spirit Series Book 2,

Titles are important to me and I put a lot of thought into them. I hope that gives you an idea of how I work on titles.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

I think because of the way I structure my stories I often get to spend more time with the characters I create in subsequent books. I get a chance to go back to them but not in their point of view. As for theme, I always write about the themes and ideas that fascinate me and hope that comes across to my readers.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I see criticism as an opportunity to learn about myself and others so I don't find it difficult. I'm happy to be able to insight emotional responses from readers. I'm happy that readers connect with my work.

Which character are you most like and how?

I think many of my readers would be surprised to find out that I'm a female version of Lordel from Night Reins. For those of you that haven't read the book I'm not going to spoil the experience by giving you the how.

What project are you working on now?

At any given time my taskbar has no less than three manuscripts open. I like to push myself out of my comfort zones. I've recently been working on contemporary stories. I hope to have exciting news for my readers soon. I'm writing the last of a trilogy and two sequels.

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

The next book I have coming out is in my Undead Patriot Series titled Sins of the Undead Patriot.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

As always with me expect something very different that will push your buttons.

October 8, 2012, SINS of THE UNDEAD PATRIOT is an Erotic Urban Fantasy Dystopian. The protagonist is a male and undead. Vaihan’s the Special Advisor to the President in undead relations.


The sexiest undead civil servant you’ll ever meet.


Kayla it's been a blast!


I'm glad you've enjoyed being here :-)

Tell us about your latest book(s).  

His Mortal Soul

From Lyrical Press (March 5, 2012) 17k

Can she save his immortal soul… and help him find heaven on earth?

Touching Sephora may cost Kieran his mortal soul…

Kieran has always been a good Catholic, even studying for the priesthood. But there are complications. A few weeks before his ordination into the priesthood, he was made a vampire.

And then there’s Sephora, the beautiful, independent American student who draws him to her. His “blackbird”, she seems to hold all the secrets to life and happiness, like the mythological creature of the ancient Celts. Despite his best intentions and though he knows he can only hurt her, her hold on him increases by the minute.

Although Ireland promised Sephora an escape from the horrors of a brutal attack she suffered two years ago, she has discovered that the true scars lie within. But being with Kieran melts away the pain and his touch provides her the refuge to reclaim her body.

WARNING: A gorgeous Irish hero and gutsy heroine. Biblical and religious themes that might offend. Graphic sex. The theme of survival and healing after sexual assault.

Teaser:

This curse of being bitten and becoming a vampire was a test of his faith. And so was she. Kieran couldn’t let her lure him from saving his soul–from lifting the hex. Admittedly, stalking her wasn’t helping him achieve that. Nor did he have any intention of stopping. Father O’Brian would be disappointed, but tonight was Kieran’s last on earth. Better he spend his time where he wanted to be–with her.

A well-dressed male student wrapped an arm around her and guided her away from the hall through the exit. Inside, students wasted money and brain cells in the name of a good time.

The door shut behind the clift–fool–and her, muting the blaring music. The asphalt pathway where they walked was deserted. The freckle-faced man laughed as he stumbled. The scent of his illicit intent reached Kieran. He hadn’t thought she was that type of woman, but lately he’d learned he was wrong about a great many things.

The devil and demons weren’t just the stuff of myth and legends. Evil dwelled within the heart of every human. All that was needed was something to unlock it.

House of Saints

From Decadent Publishing (Feb 24 2012) 17k

In 1890s London, young Simone Baden is left with responsibility of her two brothers. Being a woman of color with very little experience, she cannot provide for them through honest means and is soon desperate. From the women at the boarding house, she hears of a brothel that caters to the unusual—supernaturals. With the ache of hunger growing in her brothers’ bellies and the threat of eviction looming, she has no choice but to barter her body and freedom.

Eravas Lilu is an ancient spirit of desire who excels at what he does—teaching the arts of pleasure to women—but Simone is different. With a male and female helper, decadent instruction follows to mold his charge into Magdalene. Enthralled by her inner beauty, he finds himself at a crossroads.

Shall he let her new profession take her soul, or give up his own in exchange for hers…?

Content: Graphic sex including m/m/f, f/f/m, and m/f. Discipline.

Teaser:

Magdalene didn’t know what he was thinking. His expression remained hard. Since Eravas had shown her pleasure, her body craved for more, and more.

“I cannot allow you to disobey my instructions without consequences.” As he lifted his gaze to hers, he loosened his cravat and collar. He slipped off his jacket and removed a razor strop from his pocket. The leather strip gleamed in the light of the fire.

Pain seemed an unavoidable part of her life. She wouldn’t cry. No matter the sting of his punishment. She’d earned the consequence she now faced.

He unbuttoned his shirt and pushed aside his braces. A light dusting of dark hair lined the lean ridge of his abdomen. A man’s body had never held as much marvel as his.

“Given my failure as your instructor to garner your obedience and respect, there must be a penalty.” He removed the fabric, revealing defined muscular arms and flawless skin. He walked past her, tossed the razor strop to her lap, and stopped at the post of her bed. Between his shoulder blades were two deep craters of scarred flesh.

“Five lashings at your hand, Magdalene.”

“No, I cannot.” There was no way he could expect this of her. She wasn’t capable of such an act. As her father’s wife had whipped her, she promised never to inflict the same on another.

“And that is why you must,” he shouted. “By doing so you’ll never dare disobey me after this.”

“I’m sorry.” Tears formed in her eyes. “I won’t do it again.” He couldn’t ask this of her. “I’ll take a hundred to spare you one,” she said. “Please, I beg your mercy.”

“I cannot give you what even God failed to give me.” He lifted her from the bed and placed the metal end of the strop in her hand. “Five, and each must count, or you will start again. The pain you shall feel whipping me is what I suffer for you breaching my request.”

The leather felt warm against her fingers. Her hands trembled.

“If you do not do as I have asked, you shall force a far greater pain on me.” He leaned his head to the post.

Be sure to stay tuned this month as A Whole Latte Romance will be posting a review of House of Saints!

Thanks again Mason for joining me today. It has been a pleasure and I wish you the best in your future.

All My Best,

Kayla