Interview & Giveaway with Shayla Black/Shelley Bradley

Shayla Black / Shelley Bradley 

Interview Intro:

Hello everyone! Book Monster Reviews and LITERAL ADDICTION are very happy to welcome Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) to our sites today!  

Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the New York Times bestselling author of over 30 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances for multiple print and electronic publishers. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her "free" time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla has won or placed in over a dozen writing contests, including Passionate Ink's Passionate Plume, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader's Choice Awards. Romantic Times has awarded her Top Picks, a KISS Hero Award and a nomination for Best Erotic Romance.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every book.

Shayla has an impressive library of literary excellence.  She is the creator of two incredible  Contemporary Romance series, WICKED LOVERS &  SEXY CAPERS,  the Contemporary/ Erotic/Menage series, MASTERS OF MENAGE, and, the phenomenal Paranormal Romance series, DOOMSDAY BRETHREN.   She also has a numerous amount of stand-alone novels and anthologies.

As Shelley Bradley she writes Historical Romance series BROTHERS IN ARMS and some spicy Contemporary Romance as well.

Too check out Shayla/Shelly's complete backlist please go HERE.

If you're new to Shayla/Shelley's books don't worry!  We've included the synopses to a few books from every series to catch your interest.  Let's check them out now.

SHELLEY BRADLEY RECENT RELEASE

"Strictly Seduction" 
Historical Re-release
Release Date: Nov, 2011
Genre: Historical Romance

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                    PURELY PASSION

As an innocent girl, Madeline Sedgewick learned that nothing comes without a price—even desire. Five years later, now widowed and deeply in debt, she’s certain that the stranger who bought her last husband’s notes of credit will demand swift, steep repayment. But she never imagines her creditor will be Brock Taylor, her baseborn former stable-hand turned newly wealthy entrepreneur—the man who stole her virginity and her heart. She’s even more stunned when he says that he’ll forgive her debts only if she becomes his wife.

Brock’s memories of their parting are no less bitter than Maddie’s, and his plans for their future are hardly a rekindling of their blissful first love. But seeing Maddie again—just as spirited, strong, and beautiful as ever—reawakens a desire he thought long dead. When she refuses his proposal, they strike a dangerous wager, with Brock’s self-made fortune and Maddie’s treasured independence at stake. It’s a wager only one of them can win—as long as they resist the other’s passionate seduction . . . and falling in love again.

WICKED LOVERS Series

"Wicked Ties"

WICKED LOVERS, Book 1
Publisher:  Berkley HEAT
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: January 2, 2007
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She didn’t know what she wanted until he made her beg for it...

Morgan O’Malley has seen a lot of kinky things as the hostess of a cable sex talk show. But she’s never met a man like Jack Cole before. A self-proclaimed dominant, he’s as alpha as a male can get–and good for Morgan to have around when an obsessed stalker ratchets up his attempts to get to her.

Though Jack is a bodyguard, Morgan feels anything but safe in his presence. Because slowly and seductively, Jack is bringing her deepest fantasies to the surface. And when he bends her to his will, what’s more shocking than her surrender is how much she enjoys it–and starts to crave his masterful touch. A willing player in Jack’s games, Morgan knows that his motives aren’t pure, but she has no idea how personal they are…

"Mine To Hold"
WICKED LOVERS, Book 6 
Publisher: Berkley HEAT
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Genre: Erotic Romance

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A friend’s duty.

Tyler Murphy was an LAPD detective, single and happy—until a near-fatal tragedy crippled his friend, fellow detective Eric Catalano. While he supported Eric, he also became a shoulder for Eric’s wife, Delaney, to lean on. But with one naughty suggestion from Eric, a drunken night with Delaney spilled into erotic abandon. Before it was over Tyler saw his best friend’s wife as a woman and yearned for more. When Eric struggled to deal with the aftermath, Delaney begged Tyler to leave. Crushed, he fled to Louisiana, hoping to escape his longing for the one woman he could never have again…and unaware of what he’d left behind.

 A lover’s desire.

After two years of living with regret, Tyler finds Delaney on his doorstep, her husband having abandoned her long ago. She’s protecting a shocking secret and desperately needs refuge from a killer determined to see her dead. As they fight to stay alive and catch the stalker, they struggle to resolve the guilt of their past pleasures. But they can’t deny that what was once a spark is now a flame burning out of control. To possess Delaney—body and soul—Tyler must heal her pain and thwart the evil that’s a mere breath behind her…

MASTERS OF MENAGE Series:

"Their Virgin Captive"

MASTERS OF MENAGE, Book 1
Contemporary Erotic Romance/Menage a quatre 
Release Date: August 30, 2011

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Brothers Gavin, Slade, and Dex, fall hard for Gavin’s new secretary, beautiful Hannah Craig. The oil executives know they must give her time to get to know them before she can choose one . . . who will seduce the virgin and keep her for his own. But when a dangerous predator begins stalking the small-town beauty, they work together to protect her, abducting Hannah and spiriting her to an isolated hideaway. Once alone with her, none of them can contain their burning desire. Though Slade and Dex don’t mind sharing, Gavin’s tragic past has put distance between him and his brothers. Now, they’re hoping that not only will Hannah love them back . . . but maybe mend their fractured family.

After overcoming her initial fears, the men teach her wild pleasure she’s never imagined. She grows closer to each, their devotion melting her inhibitions. Hannah finds herself embracing love with all three men—and hoping she can heal Gavin’s wounded soul. But her new found happiness turns to terror when her stalker finds her. Will Gavin, Slade and Dex lose their woman to a menace that threatens everything they hold dear, or will they finally unite to make Hannah theirs forever?

"Their Virgin's Secret"

MASTERS OF MENAGE, Book 2
Contemporary Erotic Romance/Menage a trois 
Release Date: Dec 24, 2011

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Two Men on a Mission

Security Professionals Burke and Cole Lennox have shared women before but never meant to fall in love with one. Their lives are precarious, always on the edge of trouble. But Jessa Wade is too tempting, too perfect to let go. They’re on a dangerous mission, but they can’t help but get close to the beautiful, innocent artist. When their mission takes them to a foreign land, they reluctantly leave their love behind, promising to return for her one day.

A Woman with a Secret

After her lovers disappeared, Jessa Wade bravely moves on with her life, protecting her secret. But when she becomes the target of one of Burke and Cole’s enemies, the men leap into action, vowing to save their woman and to never leave again. As danger stalks all three, they must come together and face the mistakes of their past. On the run and out of time, Burke and Cole will fight for their future with Jessa. But will Jessa’s secret bring them together…or tear them apart?

DOOMSDAY BRETHREN

Tempt Me With Darkness
DOOMSDAY BRETHREN, Book 1
(Marrok’s story)
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: August 26, 2008
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
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He’s an immortal knight hungering for satisfaction. . . .

As soon as Marrok sees Olivia Gray, he’s sure they met in eons past. He’s felt her soft, gentle curves writhing in pleasure beneath his own powerful body. . . Morganna! For centuries, towering Marrok, once the mightiest of King Arthur’s warriors, has endured a terrible curse the witch cast upon him when he spurned the witch.

She’s a modern woman about to discover ancient magic. . . .

Olivia shares a mystical—and irresistible—connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful—and intimate—than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna’s hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love—with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren—can save them.

"Embrace Me At Dawn"
DOOMSDAY BRETHREN, Book 5  

(Lucan’s story)
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Release Date: May 29, 2012

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No man will ever define her again.

Anka MacTavish lost everything when Mathias D’Arc captured her, shattered her bond with her mate, and broke both her body and spirit. Determined to heal her bleeding soul, she joins the Doomsday Brethren’s fight to vanquish the evil wizard and seize her revenge. But becoming a magical warrior will require close contact with her former mate, the love who’s never left her heart, Lucan. And she’ll have to explain why she left him and fled to the arms of another lover…

No woman can ever take her place.

Lucan’s world crumbled when Anka escaped Mathias and sought protection from his long-time rival, Shock. Now she has returned, and Lucan must train her to confront a new and terrible danger that threatens magickind. With every punch, blow, and parry, Lucan discovers that Anka isn’t the demure wife he once knew, and his growing desire for this woman is a need he can’t control. He vows to do whatever it takes to reclaim her heart and make her his once more. But when the Doomsday Brethren are forced to make an unlikely alliance, it will test Anka’s resolve like never before. To survive, she and Lucan must rely on one another, face their deepest fears…and expose the dark secrets that threaten to destroy everything, including their love.

UPCOMING ANTHOLOGY

 HOT IN HANDCUFFS

"Arresting Desire"
Berkley Sensation Trade
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Genre: Sexy Contemporary Romance

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FBI Agent Jon Bocelli never stopped wanting beautiful professor Lucia DiStefano. She's interested in taking her first lover, and he intends to be that man. When her past puts her life in danger, Jon risks everything to save her and prove this fling is forever.

If you've read any of Shayla's books you already know how amazing they are! And if you haven't had the chance to read them yet, you can definitely fix that now! But, before you run off to start buying her books, check out our interview below so you can find out more about the amazing author behind the books.

Book Monster Reviews/ LITERAL ADDICTION: Hi Shayla! Welcome to Book Monster and LITERAL ADDICTION! We’re so happy to have you here today.

Shayla: Thank you so much for having me here. It’s a pleasure to be able to spend a little time with you and all of the Book Monster and Literal Addiction followers.

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

Q1):  Can you tell us 3 things about yourself that we couldn’t find out on the Internet, in your bio, etc?

Shayla: No! Then it will be on the internet! Just kidding. I have a terrible addiction to Coach purses. Seriously, At a conference recently, I drooled over someone in an elevator. My assistant later found out all the details about her GORGEOUS red patent-leather purse. She shares my addiction. What else? I prefer Diet Coke to coffee to get me going in the morning. Hey! It’s diet! And I hope someday to spend a few weeks in Italy with my husband, just to soak up the culture and the scenery and the people.

Q2):  When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Shayla: Oh, I wanted to be a lot of things I think, but was never too sure. I think even then I had a lot of “people” in my head who kept changing my mind. I ended up in the corporate world, but knew that was not the answer. Even though it was not a terrible job, it certainly was not what I was passionate about. I started publishing about half way through and finally left to write full time.

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?

Shayla: Spending time with friends and family. I love Rock Band. LOL! I like unwinding with guilty pleasure television like The Bachelorette and trying to relax by the pool when I can.

Q4):  When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?  

Shayla: I think I knew I wanted to be a writer for sure when I was about 23. My husband has always been very supportive, if baffled at times by some of the things that go through my head. He’s also puzzled by the fact that I’m sometimes good at taking on my characters’ angst. My friends are largely writers, so we’re all really supportive of each other. My few non-writing friends think it’s a cool, if strange business. My parents really only came around in the last 2 years or so. I left a very lucrative corporate job to write full time, and they didn’t understand why I’d want to give up a steady, stable job for one with so much risk. But they’re with me now.

Q5):  You write so many amazing stories in multiple genres of romance; Paranormal, Contemporary, Erotica & Historical. What are some of the best things about writing in so many different genres and what are some of the challenges you face?

Shayla: Thank you. Probably the biggest challenge for me (and many other writers) is questioning whether or not I am giving the reader everything they want and still remaining true to the characters. Each genre and story is clear for me, but I want to always be able to entertain and meet the expectations readers have for the next book in each series. I love writing, and I love talking with the readers about what they think of each book.

Q6):  What type of scenes (dialogue, action, sex, etc) do you enjoy writing the most and why?

Shayla:  I really enjoy writing the deep, complex emotional scenes that hopefully make readers invest in the characters. It is the basis for everything else that transpires within the story. If you’re not invested in the hero and heroine’s journey to get over the hurdles they have to overcome to be together, the suspense scenes and the sex scenes are meaningless, because it is always about their love and their desire to be with each other in the end.

Q7):  Is there a book in your backlist so far that happens to be your personal favorite, or maybe one that has extra special meaning for you, etc?

Shayla: Each story means something different to me for different reasons. I have a special place in my heart for Wicked Ties because it started the Wicked Lovers series. I never imagined it would grow to this. I just wrote a book for me, for the fun of it. I really never imagined letting anyone reading it, much less publishing it. Of the Doomsday Brethren series, the book that’s just about to release, Embrace Me At Dawn, is really my favorite of the series. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve enjoyed the others and have an especially soft spot in my heart for Ice and Sabelle. But Embrace Me At Dawn takes the series to another level, I think. It’s more action, more emotion, more difficult choices—and lots of changes. I’ve been looking forward to writing this story since I started the series, so I’m finally glad to be able to share it with you all.

Q8):  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?

Shayla: I’m a plotter. I know about 75-90% of the book before I even get started. That’s actually the most important thing I do, the pre-work. I prefer to write with music, and I’m always looking for new musical inspirations. I will sometimes spend hours finding just the right songs that move me.

With the actual writing itself, I tend to move all over the house with my laptop, depending on weather, time of day, and whatever else is going on. And, I always get my best ideas while driving or talking on the phone. My friends all know that if I’m calling, there may be conversation about plot involved. I plot aloud and interactively. Many writers are introverts, but that’s not me, so bouncing ideas off others works for me.

When I worked full-time and wrote on my lunch hours, I could write with a lot of distractions and filter them out. Now, that I’ve been writing in a dead quiet house all day for a couple of years, I have a tougher time with distractions, especially the TV. Drives me nuts! Once I’m in an environment that’s conducive to getting words on the page, I’m usually instant messaging with a few of my buddies as we “sprint,” which is to write as many words as you can, flat out, in a specified period of time, often between 20 and 30 minutes. At the end of that period, we compare totals, take a short break, and do it all again. It’s really a great way to get usable words down. After all, you can’t read or edit a blank page.

Q9):  Are there any authors and/or titles that you feel may have influenced you to become the writer you are today?

Shayla:  Wow, that would be a very long and illustrious list! I’ve been influenced by two decades of books I’ve adored. I think as writers we all have our own voice, but certainly the books I read by other authors help me to challenge myself to be a better writer.

Q10):  If you could spend the day with any of your characters, who would you want it to be and what would you want to do?

Shayla: Oh, boy. I am torn between Shock, Jack, and the Edgington Brothers. Shock because, well…he’s Shock! What’s underneath all of that machismo and snark? What does he really care about? Can he be tamed? I’m confident the right woman can turn him into a great hero (and a bit of a teddy bear), but don’t tell him I said that. Yet. Jack because, really, what woman wouldn’t want to spend a day with a sexy Cajun Dominant like Jack Cole? The Edgington Brothers are just so darn gorgeous and intense. Definitely intense. That would be its own kind of fun. Obviously, I like the bad boys with hearts of gold.

Q11):  The DOOMSDAY BRETHREN is one of our favorite series. Now that you are self publishing the books, can you tell us what you have in store for the series and what will be coming up next ?

Shayla: “Embrace Me At Dawn,” which features Lucan, Anka, and Shock is out electronically on May 29^th. I’m SO excited to have the die-hard Doomsday Brethren followers read it. I’m also thrilled to be self-publishing the rest of this series. Now I’ll have so much more latitude and creative freedom with regard to character and story, not to mention release dates, which are now completely being controlled by how long it takes me to write the next book. I still have Bram’s story to tell. And, of course, Shock has a story. Both of them will be complicated and I have no doubt that neither one will leave me in peace until I get their books done.

Q12):  What about your WICKED LOVERS & SEXY CAPERS series? What do you have planned for both these series?

Shayla: Right now, I’m working on Xander’s story for the Wicked Lovers series, OURS TO LOVE. Xander is quite a handful, and he has a lot to deal with, so he’s taking me on a wild ride. HOT IN HANDCUFFS, an anthology I’ve done with Sylvia Day and Shiloh Walker, releases July 3^rd. That’s a Sexy Capers tale. Eventually, I’m hoping to do another story from the Sexy Capers series that involved Jon’s brother. I have been wanting to write that book for years.

Q13)  We saw on your website that you have a new series planned called PROJECT ALPHA. Can you tell us about this series and when the first book is expected to be released?

Shayla: My Project Alpha romantic suspense series is about super soldiers in a top secret, now defunct military program who risk all to save the world and the women they love. It will be published by Berkley, beginning in September 2013!

Q14):  What’s up next for Shelley Bradley? What do you have going on under this pen name in the near future?

Shayla: I will be re-releasing STRICTLY FORBIDDEN this Summer. I will then be looking at what I may want to do with all of the rest of my Shelley Bradley titles and deciding from there. I’d like to re-release the Brothers In Arms series out in the fall.

Q15):  Is there anything special that you’d like to say to your readers while we have you here today?

Shayla: I have the best readers on the planet! I love all of the feedback I get, and all of the patience and kindness they have shown me. I had some personal challenges this past year that pushed back deadlines and the outpouring of love and friendship was overwhelming. I really enjoy interacting with everyone on Facebook, and when I can, over email and on Twitter. I am striving to wrangle my schedule so that I can do more personal appearances. I actually really love them. Every single time someone tells me they love a certain book or they are a fan of a particular series, I am a little bit surprised and deeply grateful. That may sound odd, but it’s true. So thank you for reading, for your enthusiasm, and most of all for your friendship and kindness.

Book Monster Reviews/LITERAL ADDICTION:  Shayla, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with us. We’re were very happy to help you promote all of your backlist and your new releases today, and we hope that we turned some new readers on to your work. We’d love to have you back to help celebrate your next big release if you’re interested.

Shayla: Thank you so much for inviting me! I loved being able to take a break from writing to be here with you all.

REMINDER:  Shayla will be chatting with us LIVE over in the LITERAL ADDICTION Chatroom from 2:00-3:00pm EST (1-2pm CT, 12-1pm MDT & 11am - 12pm PDT) so set a reminder and come on over and join us!

If you want to keep up with Shayla (Shelley) and her latest news, you can visit her Website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Shayla is graciously offering up a signed book from her backlist 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) Fill out the Rafflecopter form, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

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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!!!

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