5 QUESTIONS FOR...TAWNY WEBER

Welcome to our continuing feature here at Sizzling Pens,
"5 Questions For..." It's a mini-interview with some of your favorite authors, and today, we're thrilled to bring you Blaze author, Tawny Weber!
Tawny Weber is usually found dreaming up stories in her California home, surrounded by dogs, cats and kids. When she’s not writing hot, spicy stories for Harlequin Blaze, she’s shopping for the perfect pair of boots or drooling over Johnny Depp pictures (when her husband isn’t looking, of course).

Tawny’s most recent Blazes: COMING ON STRONG and GOING DOWN HARD are out April/May of 2009. In September ’09 she launches Dressed to Thrill, a fun, four-author costume shop continuity with her release of FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME. Come by and visit her on the web at www.tawnyweber.com

1)How many manuscripts did you write before you sold one?
It took me 4 years and I sold my 6th manuscript. 3 of those had been targeted at Temptation (sob- then the line closed), 1 single title and then Double Dare, which was my second attempt at a Blaze. I loved the sassy, sexy tone and feel of Temptation and was really excited to see them bring that into Blaze... just a bit hotter

2)Which book was your hardest to write and why?
My current book –always . Just when I think a book can’t get any harder to write, the next one comes along, with its own set of challenges, and proves that I still have so much more to learn. And then I look back fondly at the last one –which I swore was my hardest to write—and miss how much easier it was

3)What do you think is the most difficult thing about being an author?
Promotion, I think. It’s really hard to know what works, what doesn’t and how to make that connection with readers that in turn makes them want to read your book. Luckily with Harlequin, the distribution rocks so the promotional angle gets to be a little bit easier.

4)What authors have most inspired your work
Oh, so many! Nora Roberts, who shows that a strong heroine can still be vulnerable. Vicki Lewis Thompson with her incredible sexy humor. So many of the Blaze authors; Rhonda Nelson, Julie Leto, Tori Carrington, the list goes on and on. I’ve been a fan of their writing for so long.

5)What are you working on now?
I’m finishing up my Blazing Bedtime Story anthology for January – it’s a fun take on the Frog Prince (aka that horny toad) that’s let me play with a light paranormal element that I’d love to write more of. I’m also gathering information for a digital enhancement that Harlequin will be adding to the e-version of my September book – FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME, which kicks off the Dressed To Thrill costume shop series with Samantha Hunter, Karen Foley and Lisa Renee Jones. As soon as that’s all in (June 1) I’ll shift right back to another Blaze that I was really having fun with, tentatively titled THE BOY TOY SEXPERIMENT that’ll be out in Sept ’10.

And now a sexy excerpt from GOING DOWN HARD:
“Running away?” Reece asked as he snuck up behind her in the foyer.
In a blur of motion, Sierra yelped, spun around to face him and threw her purse with astonishing strength right at his face.
Lighting fast, Reece grabbed the leather missile and lowered it to his side. He raised a brow at the woman in front of him, his irritation at being attracted not dimming his appreciation for what her panting breaths did for her luscious breasts.
Her black silk tank, so sedate and ladylike at dinner, pressed tighter with every inhalation. He could just make out the lacy fabric of her bra beneath the fabric. And, his body realized with instant hardening appreciation, the outline of her nipples.
Mouth going dry at the sight, Reece craved to taste those straining peaks through the rough lace. Despite their hot and crazy encounter in the closet of Mitch’s resort, Reece had never actually seen Sierra naked. His brain stuttered as he imagined the glorious sight. He’d felt every delicious inch of her body and devoted many dreaming hours to appreciating how good she’d felt.
But seeing her naked? Nope. And from the irritated look on her face, those stalker shots, photoshopped abominations that they were bound to be, was the closest he was going to get.
“Is this an invitation to go with you?” he asked, reining in his fantasies and handing her the black leather bag.
“I’m sorry I threw it,” she murmured. “You startled me. I guess I’m a little edgier than I thought.”
Reece raised a brow, and glanced at the door. He remembered her earlier offer to hide. “Edgy enough to run off?”
“I wasn’t going anywhere. I was checking my messages,” she excused quickly. Interesting that she instantly honed in on his suspicion. “Is this how you handle security for your clients? By sneaking up and hounding them?”
“Hounding? C’mon, sweetheart. You and I both know I might sneak under your skin from time to time,” his appreciative gaze trailed a caress over that skin, just like his fingers itched to do, “but I’ve never hounded you. You’re just a little jumpy.”
With good reason, he was about to say. But her sneer stopped him. God, if he wasn’t already crazy about her, that look alone would have sent him over the edge. Pure sexual challenge, the curl of her glistening red lip made crave a taste of the soft flesh.
“I’m only edgy when some huge, irritating guy follows me around for no reason.”
“So you remember me as huge, huh?”