Today, I am pleased to host author Kelli A. Wilkins on my blog, with her new book A Deceptive Match. She has kindly taken time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions. Please find them below, as well as details of her other books.
Spotlight on… A
Deceptive Match
By
Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi everyone,
Today I’m sharing an inside look at the
making of my sizzling contemporary romance, A Deceptive Match.
A Deceptive Match is a
full length novel set in the world of professional wrestling. Wrestling has
always been a part of my life, so it was only natural that one day I’d write a
book with wrestling as the backdrop. But this book is different from all of my
other books because the entire story came to me in a rather unusual way—in a
dream.
One morning I woke up and said “Uh-oh!” and
grabbed the pen and paper next to the bed. (I keep it there in case of
inspiration.) I knew that if I didn’t immediately start writing down everything
in my head, it would be lost forever. So I sat there, furiously scribbling the
outline. At this point, it was just the bare bones of the plot and the
characters, but I knew I was onto something.
Over the course of the day, more bits and
pieces came through. Now I had a subplot, secondary characters, and knew more
about what was happening in this wrestling romance that suddenly appeared out
of nowhere. I was fortunate enough to actually “see” the book in my head like a
movie—some scenes were missing, but I had a clear picture to work from.
People who have read the book and know
about my love of wrestling always ask me the same questions: Which wrestlers
are the characters based on? How do you know all this stuff? How much of it is
real?
It’s easier to answer the second question
first. Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to be on friendly terms with a
bunch of wrestlers. My husband and I would go to matches and hang out with the
guys after the shows. (No, I wasn’t a ring rat.) I picked up a lot of terms and
got a real feel for what they did and how they experienced life on the road.
At the time, the thought of being a writer
never even crossed my mind, so I had no idea that one day I’d use what I
learned in a book. When I got the idea for A
Deceptive Match, I was able to incorporate much of what I knew into the
plot through Danni’s point of view.
The male characters in the book (Vinnie,
Ev, Thorn, and Nick) aren’t based on any one wrestler or any real person. I
specifically made sure that Vinnie and the others aren’t linked to real wrestlers, because it would take away from
the story. Like characters in any book, I invented whatever quirks, flaws, and
backstory I needed to help move the plot along.
And how much of it is real? Well, anyone
who knows anything about wrestling can tell you that it’s technically termed
“sports entertainment” for a reason. But that doesn’t discredit all the
training, hard work, and other sacrifices the wrestlers go through every day. A Deceptive Match touches on the subject
of what’s “real” and what goes on behind the scenes that most fans are unaware
of.
Here’s the book summary and a steamy
excerpt:
A Deceptive Match
Falling for the wrestler she had been
assigned to interview wasn’t part of Danni’s plan, until Vinnie Valentine
pinned her heart in a flash.
Disgruntled with her job as the office assistant
for a national sports magazine, Danni Stone impersonates a reporter to prove
herself to her boss. Her assignment? Spend thirty days on the road with Vinnie
Valentine, a sexy professional wrestler.
Life isn’t going well for the Heavyweight Champ. Vinnie is struggling with a
manipulative boss, prepping for the most important match of his career, and
feuding with his arch-enemy, Thorn. The last thing he needs is a nosy reporter
following him around—even if she is hot.
Thrown together in close quarters, Danni can’t help falling for Vinnie, and she
unwittingly becomes a key player in his title match. Their mutual attraction
grows, and late one night, they give in to the lustful feelings they’ve been
fighting.
As their relationship deepens, Danni
considers telling Vinnie her secret. But
before she can confess the truth, Vinnie discovers she isn’t the reporter she
claims to be. Her lie threatens to ruin everything between them. Will their
relationship be destroyed by her deception or will their love win out?
An
Excerpt:
Danni hurried down
the hall to the locker room. She hadn’t meant to be late picking up Vin
tonight, but the moron lot attendant wouldn’t let her back into the parking
area. She pushed open the locker room door and rushed inside. “Vin, I’m sorry
I—”
Her tote bag
slipped through her fingers and dropped to the floor. Vin stood less than three
feet away, soaking wet. A white towel barely covered his waist.
“Oh, my God!” Her
entire body flushed as a tingling sensation built deep in her belly. Vin was
practically naked and dripping wet from the shower.
“I…um…you’re…I…oh
God,” she muttered and whirled around. Why wasn’t he saying anything?
Vin’s warm hand
settled on her shoulder. He gently turned her to face him. Beads of water
dripped down his chest, and she longed to lick them away. “Um…you…you’re wet.”
She glanced at the towel and prayed it would fall off his waist.
“And you’re not?”
She squealed as
Vin drew her to his chest. His mouth covered hers, and she lost all sense of
reason.
A wet heat built
between her legs as Vin’s tongue entered her mouth. She clutched him tight and
dug her fingers into the solid flesh of his back and ribs. He smelled like soap
and water and yet there was a hint of something manly, musky about him.
Vin moaned and
cupped her buttocks through her sundress, melding her body against his. A
high-pitched mewing sound escaped her throat as a long-denied lust flared
within her. Was this really happening? She’d had this fantasy for so many
nights, would she wake up and discover it was only another erotic dream?
She slid her hands
down Vin’s flat stomach to the edge of the towel. For a second, she hesitated,
unsure. Did she dare do what every instinct commanded? Vin’s tongue plunged
deeper into her mouth, wordlessly urging her on.
Vin moaned as she
ran her hand along the length of him. It was so huge, it would never fit inside
her—but that didn’t matter—she wanted to try.
***
I enjoyed creating the characters in this
wrestling universe, and as I was writing, I fell in love with Everett, Vinnie’s
best friend. I knew I had to tell Ev’s story and give him his own book, so I
wrote A Secret Match. That book is
all about Everett, but Danni and Vinnie play supporting roles in the storyline.
Although the books are connected, they each stand alone as individual reads.
I hope romance fans and wrestling fans
alike will check out A Deceptive Match
and A Secret Match. They’re a good
blend of action, drama, romance, humor, and spicy love scenes.
Happy Reading!
Kelli
Order
your copy of A Deceptive Match here:
Look
for A Secret Match, coming in late
May!
Interview with Author Kelli A. Wilkins
1. When did you first
realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve
always been interested in writing, but my professional writing career began in
2000. Growing up, I read every book I could get my hands on, and eventually I
started writing short stories. I took creative writing classes in high school
and college, but I didn’t try to get anything published until I took a
commercial writing course. I got a lot of great feedback from the instructors
and other students and began submitting my stories.
I started writing
because characters, plots, settings, and story ideas kept popping into my head.
One way for me to deal with them was to write the story (or idea) down. I’m
still inspired by ideas that come to me from out of nowhere, the Universe,
muses, or by something I see or hear at random.
2. How
long does it take you to write a book?
That
depends on the book. Some of my romances are shorter novellas (A
Most Unusual Princess, Killer in Wolf’s Clothing, A Secret Match) and
others are longer full-length novels (A Deceptive Match, A Most Unfortunate
Prince, The Viking’s Witch, Dangerous Indenture). Obviously, the longer
the story, the longer it takes to write, revise, edit, etc. I generally take
about a month to write the first draft of a novella and anywhere from two to
four months for the first draft of a full-length novel.
When I’m writing, I
focus on one project at a time. As I write the first draft (whether it’s a
short story or a romance novel), I divert all my attention and energy into the
story until it’s finished. After that, I set it aside and work on other
projects, such as submissions, promotions, blogging, updating my site, or
outlining another story. After a few weeks or so, I go back to the new project
with fresh eyes and start making revisions.
3. What do you think makes a great story?
An interesting (and maybe unusual) plot, believable details, and
well-developed characters that I care about. If the author can accomplish all
that, then he or she has written a great book.
4. What
is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Busy. I’m always multi-tasking. Although I can only write one
book at a time, I constantly find myself adding something extra to my ‘to do’
list. I might be writing a book, promoting another book, blogging, Tweeting,
and writing my newsletter all in the same week! I also write short horror
fiction, so I’m toying with those storylines while thinking about other
romances to write.
I get new story ideas all the time, so I’m always thinking about more
than one plot or set of characters. For example, I’ve been in the middle of
writing a book and had the entire plot for a new book jump into my head. When
that happens, I take a break from the book I’m writing, make an outline and
take notes for the new book (so I don’t forget anything), then go back to the
first one. I can only write one book at a time, so the new title has to wait in
line until I’m ready. I think that’s why I’m able to write so many books—I
always have the next one (or two) lined up.
5. Where do you get your information or ideas for your
books?
Ideas
are everywhere. I’m constantly observing what goes on around me, listening to
other peoples’ stories, seeking out unusual settings, and noticing what most
people don’t see. All of that, plus my overactive imagination, leads to story
ideas. Once in a while, a story idea will just come to me out of nowhere.
Sometimes I take two ideas and combine them into one, or I take an idea and ask
myself “what if” to invent new scenarios.
6. What
was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your
book/s?
I
never know what to expect when I start writing a new book. I might think that I
know everything about a character (since I created him or her) but that’s not
always the case. I’ve had characters surprise me by experimenting with same-sex
relationships, having a secret child, sharing backstory details from their
childhoods, etc.
I’ve
also had secondary characters (Ev from A Deceptive Match and Allan from A
Most Intriguing Temptation) try to take over the book they’re in. Usually
when that happens, I know they need a book of their own.
Each
book is a new adventure for me as I’m writing it, and every so often I find myself
pleasantly surprised by the story or where the characters take me.
7. How many books have you written? Which is your
favourite?
To
date, I’ve written 19 romance novels. I write in just about every romance
genre: contemporary, gay, paranormal, historical, fantasy… in every heat level
ranging from mild to super-scorching hot. I write wherever the stories take me,
but most of my romances are historical or historical/fantasy.
I
like writing historicals because I can explore different settings and time periods,
but I’m not “married” to one particular genre. I have certain books that I’m
more “in love” with (because of the characters) but I can’t pick one absolute
favourite.
8. Are your characters based on anyone you know?
Sort of. I’ve taken bits and pieces from real people and used some
elements for my characters, but no one character is 100% anyone I know. I’m
also a “people watcher” so I pick up character traits from observing people and
how they act.
9. Do you have a favourite
place you love to write?
That
depends on the season. When the weather is nice, I like to write outside in my
back yard. In the winter, I’m forced to write inside. When I do, I sit in a
comfy chair in the living room.
10. What
do your family and friends think about your books?
My friends and family have been very supportive. My husband is proud to call me
the “resident writer” in the family. I have a few close friends I turn to for
encouragement and guidance about my writing, and family members are always
asking about my latest (or next) project.
11. What do you like to
do when you are not writing?
When
I’m not writing or reading, I like to spend time with friends and family,
travel, visit haunted/creepy historical places, and go to flea markets and
garage sales.
12. Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers
better themselves and their craft? For an aspiring writer what do you feel are
certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?
The
best advice I can give to any writer (regardless of what genre he or she likes
to write) is to keep writing. It takes a lot of dedication and determination to
sit down every day and write something. But the more you write, the easier it
gets. Writing classes are a great way to learn the basics and meet other
writers. If possible, join a writer’s group or a critique group to get feedback
on your stories. When you’ve written the best story you can, submit it! You
can’t get published if you never submit, and you never know when your first
acceptance will arrive.
I’m always asked to answer writing-related questions (how to get
published, where ideas come from, how to create characters etc.) so one day I
decided to write a book about it! My non-fiction writing guide, You
Can Write – Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction covers
everything about writing (regardless of genre) from A-Z. It’s perfect for
beginning writers who need motivation or simple advice on how to get started.
The book is on Amazon and other platforms and includes fun writing exercises
and helpful tips all writers can use. (Read more about it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00THWLFQU)
13. What are your favourite books and which authors inspire
you?
I read
everything, so in a sense every book I’ve read has influenced me in some way. I
read a lot of Stephen King growing up, and I’m a big fan of The Twilight Zone, so I was introduced
to the world of speculative fiction and great storytelling at a young age.
Right now, my two
“go-to” authors are Stephen King and John Sandford. I read a lot of books in
different genres (mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, non-fiction, horror), and
my books-to-read shelf is overflowing.
14. What
are you working on now?
I’m
having a very busy 2016! So far this spring, I released five romances, and my
third Medallion Press historical romance will be published this fall.
I was with Amber Quill
Press for ten years, and I published 16 romances (in all genres) with them.
These are great stories that I don’t want to see vanish forever, so over the
course of 2016–2017 I’ll be re-releasing all of them on Amazon and other
platforms. (Stay tuned to my blog and social media for more information and
updates and full title lists.)
This spring I
re-released my historical/fantasy Royal
Desires Series that’s made up of A Most Unusual Princess, A Most Intriguing
Temptation, and A Most Unfortunate Prince.
(Although the books are connected, each stands alone as an individual read.)
In May, I released two
contemporary romances set in the world of professional wrestling: A
Deceptive Match and A Secret Match. My gay paranormal, Killer
in Wolf’s Clothing, will be released in late May/early June.
My third Medallion
Press historical romance, Lies, Love & Redemption, will be
published in September. This Western is set in a small Nebraska town in 1877
and blends spicy romance, humour, and danger. It was a lot of fun to write and
I think readers will enjoy it.
Thanks for letting me
share my thoughts with everyone. I welcome questions, comments, and feedback
from readers. You can contact me on social media or via the email address on my
website.
Happy Reading,
Kelli A. Wilkins
Thank you Kelli for being with us today!
Here are a few other books written by Kelli:
A
Secret Match
By
Kelli A. Wilkins
A SECRET MATCH
Everett Kinkade is a world-famous
professional wrestler and the sexy heartthrob of millions of adoring female
fans. But Ev has a secret he doesn’t dare share with anyone. He’s gay.
After years of being Ev’s secret lover, Josh is tired of hiding in the shadows
and wants Ev to openly acknowledge their relationship. Coming out is the last
thing Ev wants and fears it will ruin his career.
One night in a moment of truth, Everett outs himself on live TV. There’s no
going back, and his announcement sparks a firestorm of problems—both personally
and professionally. He’s forced to come to grips with who he really is while
facing down a manipulative boss and a tag-team out to destroy him.
Torn between living a lie and losing the man he loves, Ev has risked everything…
can he find a balance between his career and his heart?
An
Excerpt:
Everett finished his beer and gazed
around the living room. It was comforting to have someone to talk to, instead
of constantly keeping everything bottled up inside. It had been years since
he’d been alone with a guy, and he liked Josh, liked him a lot. But he was
worried. What if something went wrong? What if Josh told someone?
Josh gave his shoulder a little
shove. “Come on, out with it, Muscles. Either you really love staring at my
bookcase, or you’re too shy to face me. I know you’re thinking about something
behind those beautiful blue eyes.”
“I… nah…”
“What? Anything. Say it.”
He sneaked a glance at Josh out of
the corner of his eye. “I was wondering what it would feel like to”—he bowed
his head—“kiss you.”
“Why don’t we find out?” Josh took
Ev’s empty beer bottle and set it down on the marble end table. “Come here.”
He let Josh draw him into his arms.
Ev closed his eyes and waited, his heart hammering out of control.
A second later, Josh’s lips gently
pressed against his. Ev gasped and kissed him back gingerly. Josh increased the
pressure, and their mouths moved in unison. The scent of Josh’s spicy vanilla
cologne washed over him and he lost himself in the tender embrace. Josh’s beard
grazed his cheek, sending an electric tingle racing up his spine. God, this was
good.
He clutched Josh tighter, holding on
to him for dear life, not daring to let go. Josh groaned and slid his tongue
into his mouth. An adrenaline rush of excitement flooded through him, and his
cock sprang to life.
Dear God, he wasn’t supposed to have
these kinds of feelings, this hunger, for another man, but it felt right. The
wet heat of Josh’s tongue swirling around his drove him into a frenzy, and he
kissed Josh deeper, praying this would never end.
After a few minutes, Josh eased
away. “You are amazing. That was hot.”
Ev smiled. “It’s been so long. I
forgot how good this could be. I feel safe with you. I really do.”
Josh rested his head on Ev’s chest.
“You should, because you are. And don’t worry, we’ll take this slow. You set
the pace, Muscles. Whatever you’re comfortable with works for me.”
The Royal Desires Series: A Most Unusual Princess, A Most Intriguing Temptation, and A Most Unfortunate Prince
Spotlight
on… The Royal Desires Series
By Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi everyone,
Today I’m sharing an inside look at the making of the Royal Desires Series. This trilogy of
historical/fantasy romances is made up of A Most Unusual Princess, A Most Intriguing Temptation, and A
Most Unfortunate Prince.
Together, they are a fun series, but each story stands alone as a separate
read. Why? Because when I
wrote A Most Unusual Princess, I
never knew I was writing a trilogy.
I’ve been asked how I plotted the series. Did I
use note cards to keep track of each character’s description? Did I make an
overall outline of the whole trilogy, and then write each book?
Nope. The truth is… I just wrote the story that
was in my head. I didn’t intend to write a trilogy—it kinda happened on its
own. (With a lot of typing on my part, of course!) I wrote each book by itself,
with its own setting and theme, apart from the book that came before. So, although
they share characters, each book can be read apart from the others.
A
Most Unusual Princess is a sensual novella about unruly
and willful Princess Elara, and Dalton, the handsome (and incredibly patient)
guard tasked with protecting her while she searches for a suitable husband. The
book is a unique blend of comedy, human drama, and romance. It’s also the
first fantasy romance I ever wrote—and it was a lot of fun.
I liked the idea of following a very headstrong
and spoiled Princess Elara as she looked for a husband. From
the outset, we learn that Elara is an opinionated young woman who is used to
getting her own way. When Dalton innocently catches Elara doing something very
unladylike, the Dalton-Elara love/hate/love relationship is born.
I enjoyed writing Dalton and Elara’s story and fell in love
with them. I never expected I’d visit these characters again, but not long
after completing A Most Unusual Princess,
I knew Dalton needed his own book, so I wrote A Most Intriguing Temptation.
A Most Intriguing Temptation focuses on the theme of fidelity. Elara wants to test Dalton’s
loyalty, so she masquerades as a sultry kharim
girl in a pleasure palace. Naturally, she gets in over her head and into big trouble.
I took Elara out of her element and gave her new challenges and experiences. We
also got to see a different side to Dalton’s character and learned about his
weaknesses and desires.
When I wrote A Most Intriguing Temptation, I
introduced readers to Prince Allan. He’s basically the male version of his
sister, Princess Elara—hedonistic, selfish, and utterly wild at times. I had fun
creating the character and enjoyed setting him free in a pleasure palace
completely without limitations. I soon realized that Allan needed a book of his
own, so I wrote A Most Unfortunate Prince. (Several readers also asked me if
Allan’s story would be told, and I was happy to oblige!)
But before I wrote a word,
I knew that Allan was going to have to face the music for his bad behavior. At
the start of the book (yes, right there on page 1) Allan is banished for his
actions stemming from A Most Intriguing
Temptation. His father kicks him out into the real world alone and broke,
and he’s forced to make his own way in life.
I decided to take this
carefree, roguish prince and turn his world upside down. I asked myself: How
bad can you make things for him? He has nothing: no food, no fancy clothes,
certainly no job skills, and no real sense of identity. He had lived a pampered
life where everything was handed to him on a silver platter (literally), and
now was in for a rude awakening. I really put the screws to poor Allan, and at
times left him broken, sad, and utterly miserable.
Over the course of the
book, Allan suffers life’s lessons at the hands of his evil employer and falls
in love—twice. The story introduces us to Claudette, a sassy seamstress who
fancies Allan and helps him adjust to the life of a commoner. Once a carefree womanizer, Allan discovers a secret side to
himself, and through his relationship with Claudette, he learns what is truly
important in life. And to round things out, a more settled Elara and Dalton
also appear in the book and help wind up the series.
I enjoyed writing each of these books. It was
fun to create the characters, give them unique adventures, and complicate their
lives—all in the name of love. Although these are historical/fantasy romances,
there’s enough spicy love scenes, adventure, drama, sadness, and humor to keep
readers of all genres entertained and enthralled.
Read
the Royal Desires Series from the
start:
If you’ve read the trilogy,
let me know what you think. What was your favorite book? Which scenes did you
like best? Readers can contact me via the email address on the “News” page of
my site or on social media.
Happy Reading!
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 95 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels.
In 2016 Kelli is re-releasing her romances previously published by Amber Quill Press. Visit her website and blog for a full title list, book summaries, and other information as it becomes available.
Her writing book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative non-fiction guide based on her 15 years of experience as a writer. It’s filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use.
If you like to be scared, check out Kelli’s horror ebooks: Dead Til Dawn and Kropsy’s Curse.
Here are a few links to find Kelli & her writings on the web
The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
