Author Spotlight: Arianna Skye

I am extremely pleased to welcome author, Arianna Skye to A Whole Latte Romance today. Her interview is a great one, and as you'll see below, we have some prizes to give away to some lucky commenters. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and without further ado...I give you Arianna Skye.


 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m not nearly as exciting as my books. LOL. I’m a single woman in my mid-thirties who obviously enjoys writing, as                                                                                                                                                                           well as arts and crafts. I love more than the written word when it comes to creating. I also have a bit of a geeky side too when it comes to computers and technology.

What do you do when you are not writing?

Daydreaming about what I should be writing? To be honest, I enjoy playing video games.  We recently got a Wii. It can be a great stress reliever when things get a little sticky.

Do you have a day job as well?

Currently I am between jobs. The economy kind of sucks right now, but I’m remaining optimistic.       

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

My first book? It was a whole 20 page masterpiece about the woes of peer pressure. Quite a feat for a ten year old.

 How did you choose the genre you write in?

I’m not quite sure I chose it. I think it chose me. My first attempt was historical romance (still one of my favorites to read) but fantasy sort of called out to me. I always try to incorporate some form of history into my books though.

 Where do you get your ideas?

Anywhere and everywhere. Dreams, sitting in line at Taco Bell, watching people at the mall. Inspiration has no boundaries.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I plead the fifth. Haha. In times of stress, my thoughts and words can sometime get stuck. The best thing to do is just write. I’m not sure where I heard this, but it really hit home. Dreck is better than a blank page, because it can be edited.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

It varies from project to project. I see myself as a plotting pantser. I start out with a general story idea and let my characters do the walking. They may go off course every so often, but they always end up at “the end.”

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

I would have to say Johanna Lindsey and Kathleen Woodiwiss really inspired me to explore the possibility of writing romance. Historical romance also helped me explore my love of history.

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

Wings of Desire, now being re-released, was my first published novel. Not many publishers were interested in fantasy erotic romance. And the word count—111K was way too long. Most publishers want your book between 80-90K, so options were really limited. 

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?

To be honest, it was a learning experience. And we grow from our mistakes and bumps in the road. So, in that aspect, I don’t think I would have changed anything.

 How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

I tweet, use facebook, and have bought ad space on sites like Manic Readers. I also have made some Romance Trading Cards, which seem to be quite popular with some readers. The best ways I’ve marketed—which is also pretty darn fun—are book signings and reader and author get-togethers. Nothing better than meeting readers face to face.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

That would probably be my Regency-set historical, A Most Unlikely Match. It’s half-finished and moldering under my bed. Not because it’s bad, but my writing has ventured off in another direction.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

My current release is Wings of Desire. It’s a fantasy erotic romance set near Beltane. There’s a lot of Celtic lore in the story.

Here’s a short blurb:

Rhiannon Kinsley's ready to call the men in white coats when an intriguingly sexy man appears and insists she's a faerie princess. Cerne Silverwing has a duty to save his kingdom. He needs Rhiannon to be his consort and help defeat the Dark Faerie Queen. Will these two discover that their true destiny lies together?

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

The idea for the story is based on a  real life what if moment. Ages ago, I used to spend an ungodly amount of time in computer chat rooms. Told you I was a computer nerd, eh? I took a look at the names of people who logged in. Ares, Aphrodite, Osiris, Morrigan, and tons of other godly names. My name, included. It was storming one night, and I wondered what if someone’s computer got struck by lightning? What if someone from ancient  times was trying to summon that particular god, but instead summoned the person in the chat room instead? I clearly have an overactive imagination. I then turned the computer off and went to bed. I didn’t want to get electrocuted after all.

Ten years later, I decided I wanted to write an erotic romance. My muse, ever so helpful friend reminded me of my brainstorm. I realized it wasn’t a “god” at the computer, but a faerie. And she wasn’t just any faerie, she was a missing faerie princess. And that’s how Wings of Desire was born.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

Every chapter is important to the book, so I can’t play favorites.

Chapter 7 is the most interesting chapter. Dueling Butterflies anyone?

How did you come up with the title?

Part of the plot involves them gaining their wings when they join as one. And the Desire, part… it sort of just fit.

What project are you working on now?

I am working on Sidney Ayer’s Demons Unleashed series right now. I’m putting the finishing touches on Kalli’s story.

 Will you have a new book coming out soon?

A Demon To Die For (Demons Unleashed 3) comes out in February 2013. I may have some short stories in between though.

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’ve got a kick ass idea for a regency set fantasy series I’d like to get into.

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

I was once told in a contest by a judge to “use my burgeoning voice on a plot we can relate to.” Kind of like a backhanded compliment. But that book sold, so obviously someone related to my plot.

The best compliment? “I love your books! I can’t wait to read the next one!” How can you top that?

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Don’t give up. Keep writing. You’re writing skill develops with every word you write-whether you’ve only written one page or one-hundred books.

 Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I love hearing from you all. You can contact me through both  my websites at www.ariannaskye.com and www.sidneyayers.com.

       Also, I’m in a generous mood today. 3 lucky commenters will win a free pdf copy of Wings of Desire. 1 lucky person will win a $20 gift card to Amazon!

Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?

I have put my shirt on backwards before, but I snuck into the restroom and quickly adjusted myself. What can I say, I’m paranoid like that.

Do you prefer fuzzy or tube socks?

I  don’t have a preference, just that they don’t have holes.

Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?

Why make a bed if all you’re going to do is climb back into it later anyway?

 Be honest, how often do you wash your hair?

Every other day.

Do you get road rage? What pisses you off the most about other drivers?

I will admit I’ve flashed the bird a few times in my life. My pet peeve is people who drive below the minimum speed limit on the expressway. Hello, what part of express do you not understand?

Do you go out of your way to kill bugs? Are there any that make you screech and hide?

It depends on what kind of bug. If it’s an annoying fly that just won’t leave me alone or a spider that just decided to drop in for a visit, then I will swat it. If it’s a grasshopper or a lady bug, I will usually let it live. I’m deathly afraid of bees, hornets and wasps. I’ve done my fair share of screaming when dealing with them.

 Have you ever secretly wished you were a character in a book? If so, which character did you wish you were and why?

Who hasn’t ever wished they were Scarlett O’Hara? She’s a strong character who overcame a lot. You can see her mature as the story progresses. I always wanted to run after Rhett and give them their happily ever after. 

Thanks again Arianna for being here today. It was a pleasure having you and I wish you all the best in your writing career.

All My Best,

Kayla