Interview and Contest with Erin McCarthy

Erin McCarthy Interview Intro:

Hello everyone!  LITERAL ADDICTION and Book Monster Reviews are honored to welcome Erin McCarthy to our sites today!  

Erin is a NY Times bestselling author who sold her first book in 2002 and has since written more than 38 novels and novellas in the Paranormal, Contemporary Romance, and Young Adult genres. 

A RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader Award, Erin is a member of RWA, Horror Writers Associating and Ohioana. 

Erin’s library of literary excellence includes the FAST TRACK, VEGAS VAMPIRES, NY GIRLFRIENDS, BOWLING FRIENDS, CUTTERSVILLE, and SEVEN DEADLY SINS series, as well as many single titles and Anthology contributions.

We’re here to help her celebrate her entire amazing backlist, but also to promote her upcoming releases, “Jacked Up”, FAST TRACK book #6, which will be released on 6/5/12, and “The Fangover”, a collaboration with Kathy Love, that will be released on 11/6/12 (we’re actually hoping to have the 2 of them back together to promote that one even more).

For those of you new to Erin’s work, we thought we’d give you the synopsis of the first book in each of the series listed above as well as the blurb for the upcoming FAST TRACK novel to peak your interests. 

FAST TRACK series

“Flat-Out Sexy”

 FAST TRACK #1

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man-just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-you ma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

“Jacked Up”

 FAST TRACK #6

COMING 6/5/12!

She’s holding tight. He’s hanging loose.

Eve Monroe is a stock-car PR pro who puts her career first—until an on-track wardrobe malfunction reveals more than the sexy smile of her race-car brother’s jack-man, Nolan Ford. The video’s become an internet sensation, and it’s Eve’s job to calm the sponsors and put a spin on the unexpected exposure. It may be purely a public relations job, but now that Eve’s seen what’s under Nolan’s crew suit, it’s gotten a little personal—and after a few dates she has Nolan pretty revved up. If only she’d learn to relax and enjoy it…

And they both have the same drive.

Nolan’s sure that the spontaneous birthday bash he’s throwing for Eve in Las Vegas should loosen her up. It does more than that. Somewhere between cocktails and a smoking-hot motel-room derby, Eve and Nolan wake up hitched, thanks to a post-sex-high detour to a Vegas chapel. A hangover marriage to a virtual stranger isn’t good for anyone’s image, so Eve plans to play the happy wife long enough to satisfy the press, and then quietly part ways. Now all she has to do is convince her new personal jack-man. But Nolan has plans of his own…

VEGAS VAMPIRES series

“High Stakes”

 VEGAS VAMPIRES #1

From the USA Today bestselling author, a vampire-meets-girl story set in the city that never sleeps-except during daylight.

He's a bloodsucking freak of nature. But, unlike other politicians, Ethan Carrick is actually a nice guy. Not to mention a very hot, wealthy, casino-owning vampire. It's an election year for vampires, which means he'll first have to escape his opponent's hit men. Then he'll have to find a suitable First Lady, preferably here in Vegas.

Brittany Baldizzi fits the bill. She's smart, pretty- and sweeter than a glass of diabetic O-Negative. But her protective sister Alexis steps in with a message for Ethan: Bite me. It's then that he realizes it's the sexy, no-nonsense Alexis who raises his stake. And as much as she denies it, Alexis wouldn't mind a romp in the coffin with him. But can a mere mortal, even one who risks her life for him, make a centuries-old, womanizing vampire feel something entirely new?

NY GIRLFRIENDS series

“The Pregnancy Test”

NY GIRLFRIENDS #1

Ordinarily, I'm a fan of pink-lovely colour, does smashing things for the complexion. But not when it's the bright, glaring stripe staring back at me on the pregnancy test. Then, pink is the colour of major oops, of morning sickness, of boyfriends who seemed decent but now are part of some Jerk Witness Protection Program.

Still, I've got a few things going for me-bitter humour, a divine right to eat till I'm the size of Marlon Brando, and good friends who've managed to get me a job interview with one Damien Sharpton: in need of a personal assistant, and some say, a good, swift kick in the arse. If you want to make a lasting impression, by all means, toss your cookies in your future boss's wastebasket, which is located directly between his excruciatingly sexy legs.

Apparently, Mr. Gorgeous-But-Unbearably-Anti-Social must like personal assistants who violate his trash can, because I got the job. And if I can avoid him via text messaging for the next seven months of health insurance, everything will be just fine. Except that he's just asked-no, insisted-that I go with him on a business trip to the Caribbean. Gulp. Ordinarily, this would be cause for celebration. Ordinarily, I'd shave my legs, pack my bikini, revel in day-glo drinks and my seething lust for Mr. Swarthy-And-Secretive. But there's nothing ordinary about this situation...which means it could be absolutely extraordinary...

BOWLING FRIENDS series

“Bad Boys Online”

 BOWLING FRIENDS #1

From cybersex partners to hackers gone awry, each of McCarthy’s three fiery tales involve couples who interact with computers and find love in the process. In “Hard Drive,” Kindra is mortified when her coworker and secret crush, Mack, catches her cavorting online with her cybersex lover. But when Mack offers to show her the benefits of love the old-fashioned way, Kindra realizes what she has been missing. In “Press Any Key,” it seems like Jared can’t stand his sexy coworker Candy. But beneath his scowl, he is deeply attracted to her sweet ways. “User Friendly” finds Halley reluctantly turning to her best friend, Evan, for help with a hacker. They both have feelings for each other but are afraid to act on them until the heat of the hacker chase finds them giving in to their lust and discovering the perfect mate in each other.

CUTTERSVILLE series

“A Date with the Other Side”

 CUTTERSVILLE #1

In the three years Shelby Tucker has been leading tour groups through the haunted houses of Cuttersville, Ohio, she's never caught a glimpse of a ghost. But she does get pretty startled when she waltzes into the bedroom of a supposedly vacant cottage and stumbles upon a sexy, hot-blooded, naked man.

This is no ghost, though. This guy is solid as a rock. Bad boy Boston Macnamara is renting the so-called haunted cottage...and he's about to shake things up in Cuttersville. At least for Shelby, who's never been so hot and bothered before. And she may find herself haunted with desire if some feisty matchmaking spirits have their way.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS series

“My Immortal”

 SEVEN DEADLY SINS #1

In the late eighteenth century, plantation owner Damien du Bourg struck an unholy bargain with a fallen angel: an eternity of inspiring lust in others for the gift of immortality. But when Marley Turner stumbles upon Damien's plantation searching for her missing sister, for the first time in two hundred years it's Damien who can't resist the lure of a woman. But his past sins aren't so easily forgotten-or forgiven.

We know, they sound incredible.  Well… they ARE incredible!!  Now that we have you hunting them down from your favorite book-seller, what do you say we learn some more about the author behind these fabulous titles?

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LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Hi Erin!  We’re honored to have you here today.  Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us.

ERIN: Thanks for having me!

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  We always like to start out by getting to know our guest authors a little bit better.

Q1): Can you tell us 3 things about yourself that we couldn’t find out easily on the Internet?

ERIN: 3 things that I actually want to admit to? Lol. Okay, being serious… I went to college to be an international and maritime lawyer.  I have an obsession with English china.  I think zucchini rocks. 

Q2):  If you were told that the world was going to end tomorrow, what would you use your last 24 hours for?

ERIN: Honestly, I wouldn’t believe it.  But just in case, I would hugs my kids, eat some ice cream, watch a sunset, and have some one on one, if you know what I mean.

Q3):  What are some of your hobbies and/or things that you enjoy doing when you’re not writing or taking care of other author business?

ERIN: Gardening (see zucchini feelings above), dancing, live music, traveling, hanging with my friends, most of which are writers it seems like.

Q4):  What are 2 things that always make you smile and 2 things that never fail to piss you off?

ERIN: Babies always make me smile.  As does the way my kids look when they’re sleeping.  People who let the door slam on women pushing strollers piss me off.  Delayed flights are almost as annoying.

Q5):  Who are some of the authors and/or titles that you feel have inspired your writing career?

ERIN: I think all romance authors have influenced me in one way or another.  Jane Austen gave me a huge appreciation for dialogue and comedic timing.  Charlotte Bronte taught me how to create atmosphere.  Then modern romance authors and their amazing stories brought me to the genre when I was in my twenties.  It’s been a privilege to get to know a number of them personally.

Q6):  What is a typical writing day like for you?  Do you have a routine that you follow?  Are there specific things that you have to have with you to get the creative juices flowing, etc?

ERIN: A typical writing day involves lots of Diet Coke and my ipod cranked up very high.  I write on the third floor of my house.  Alex Sokoloff referred to it as my writer’s garret.  It has the sloped ceilings since it’s the attic and lots and lots of books crammed into it.  I write about five hours a day, and I track my progress so I can feel like super woman when I hit a goal. 

Q7):  What are the best and worst parts of writing for you?

ERIN: The best part is creating the stories and connecting with readers and other writers.  The worst is that it follows me everywhere, twenty-four/seven.  I never really take a break because there’s always email to answer, ideas to write down, edits, website updates, FB/Twitter, etc.

Q8):  If you could spend the day with any of your characters from any of your series, with whom would you want to spend it, and what would you want to do? 

ERIN: I would go shopping with Amanda Delmar from HEIRESS FOR HIRE and let her buy me designer clothes. Lol. 

Q9):  Since “Jacked Up” is your next release, we’ll focus there for a bit.  Was there any specific inspiration behind the creation of the FAST TRACK series?  What’s the plan for the series (i.e how many books, etc)?

ERIN: JACKED UP is the last book in the series, so six all together.  The series came about from my friend and I bored driving on a ten hour road trip and tossing out the idea for the first book in the series, Flat Out Sexy.  She’d say, “I’d have them go to a carnival” and I’d say, “I’d have them rockin’ his RV” and then suddenly, we had a book. J

Q10):  What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, logistical, etc) in bringing the the FAST TRACK series to life?

ERIN: Other than the fact that initially I knew nothing about racing, there really weren’t any huge challenges.  I had a lot of fun learning about the sport and I went to some NASCAR races and toured garages.  It was a tough job doing research with a beer in my hand but I’m dedicated, what can I say? J

Q11):  Which of the other series that we featured in the intro (VEGAS VAMPIRES, NY GIRLFRIENDS, BOWLING FRIENDS, CUTTERSVILLE, and SEVEN DEADLY SINS) are completed?  Which do you still have installments coming for? 

ERIN: I’ll be revisiting Cuttersville with my next book, which doesn’t have a title yet, but will be out in March 2013.  It is Piper Tucker’s story, the daughter of the hero in Heiress For Hire.  It was awesome to go back and give an update on everyone we saw in both Heiress and A Date With The Other Side.

Q12):  Do you have a personal favorite book/series in your backlist – maybe one that had deeper meaning for you when it was written, etc?

ERIN: I love all my books, honestly, I do.  But I particularly loved writing the Sins books, My Immortal, Fallen, and The Taking.  New Orleans is the city that soothes my soul and it was such a pleasure to bring the Quarter to life on the page, and I got to explore blending historical scenes with a primarily contemporary setting.  As a writer, it was deeply satisfying to stretch and grow.  Plus I love a good creepy vibe.  I’ve always been a bit of a Goth girl.

     

Q13):  What about your amazing library thus far are you the most proud of?

ERIN: That I’ve written this many books!  That they’re being read by people who actually appear to like them.  The emails that I’m the most proud of are when a reader says I impacted their life in some way… if I made someone laugh when they were grieving over the loss of a parent, then wow, what I do have immense value.   

Q14):  Is there anything special you would to say to your readers while we have you here today?

ERIN: Thanks for reading!  I appreciate so much being able to make these crazy characters come to life and without readers I’d just be filling up my hard drive and laughing in a room by myself.  Not a good image.  So YAY readers! J

LITERAL ADDICTION/Book Monster Reviews:  Erin, thank you so much again for being with us today.  We hope that we’ve introduced some new readers to your amazing work.  We’d absolutely love to have you back to promote “The Fangover” in November if you’re interested.  Kathy has already said she’s game for a dual Event if you are!  J 

ERIN:  Sounds good!  Thanks for letting me come out and play.

If you would like to keep up with ERIN, you can find her online here:

Website:  http://www.erinmccarthy.net/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-McCarthy/109095619158630

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/authorerin

GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7941.Erin_McCarthy

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CONTEST:

Erin is graciously offering up an ARC of JACKED UP to a  winner from Book Monster Reviews and another winner over at the LITERAL ADDICTION Website. 

TO ENTER:

1)  Please become a member of the Book Monster Blog by clicking on the “JOIN THIS SITE” button at the top left hand corner of blog page.

2) Leave a comment on this blog post and be sure to leave your email address.

*Any comments without an email address will not be entered into contest. 

Don't forget to drop by the LITERAL ADDICTION website (http://www.literaladdiction.com/) and follow the directions and links to enter their contest for an extra chance to win!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!