Interview with Karen Erickson {Lessons In Indiscretion}, Excerpt, & KINDLE Giveaway on Author Blog

Today we celebrate the recent release (as in yesterday) of Lessons in Indiscretion *throws confetti*, a sexy historical romance published through Carina Press. Author Karen Erickson, is here to talk with us about it, share an excerpt from it, and talk about an extended (just for us) KINDLE giveaway she's hosting on her blog!

~*~Book Blurb~*~

Widowed Lady Julia Renwick is still young enough to crave a man's touch; but she's too old to think that the Earl of Bedingfield could see her as anything more than a family friend. Garrett Walker is handsome, charming and only 26 years old—the perfect catch for any one of this year's debutantes.

Garrett has no interest in the maidens vying for his attentions. He wants only Julia. With just two weeks left in the season, he makes a bold move by asking her to dance. When she counters with a shocking request of her own, Garrett eagerly agrees.

Soon, they are stealing away for passionate encounters at every society event they attend. Garrett introduces Julia to excitements she never knew existed, and her newfound confidence quickly attracts other eligible men. It's not long before Garrett realizes he must find a way to keep the lady all to himself...

Purchase links:

@Amazon:  

@B&N: 

@Carina Press:

You have wrote so many different sexy contemporary and even paranormal erotic romance stories, but Lessons in Indiscretion is your first historical. Were there any challenges in writing in a different genre? 

First, thank you for having me here today! And yes, I was scared to death to write a historical. You see, historicals were my first love. I discovered The Flame and The Flower on my mom's bookshelf in my early teens and devoured it. Then I found a Jude Devereaux book in the closet (my mom is a huge reader - there were books everywhere when I was growing up!). Jude sucked me in. I had to read all her stuff. Then there was Judith McNaught, Lavyrle Spencer, Julie Garwood, Karen Robards...they made me want to be a romance writer. I desperately wanted to write historical romance but I was so intimidated. All the research! The facts I needed to get straight! Oy...

Well, I finally took the plunge and I don't regret it. The challenges? Getting the language right. Making sure a word really did exist during a particular time period. But I enjoy those challenges, I like the variety of writing both contemporary and historical. 

If you could pick one favorite moment or scene from Lessons in Indiscretion, what would it be? 

The end of it but I can't share that because well, it's the end! Let's just say the hero makes a grand gesture. 

Since we all love romance here *grins*, can you tell us who the hero of Lessons in Indiscretion's perfect heroine is? 

Well, of course the Earl of Bedingfield thinks Lady Renwick is perfect for him but she believes otherwise. After all, she's a widow, she's a little bit older and he's young, an earl and he needs to marry well.

But none of that matters to Garrett. He thinks she's beautiful and smart, a woman who just needs a little coaxing in order to fully blossom. And he believes he's just the man to coax her. ;) 

As a lover and writer of erotic romances, what do you find most important in creating them: character development, steamy sex, or plot? 

Can I choose all of the above? They all matter - you need solid characters to become invested in, you need a multi-layered plot to carry out their story and steamy, emotion-filled sex to be the icing on the delicious story cake. 

Do you have a formula for developing characters? 

No, I don't really have a formula per say. They just...come to me. Now, once they come to me, I do need to figure out what their motives are, why they do the things they do, etc. But a lot of the time I just write and it happens. Like magic. LOL 

Can you leave readers with a teaser or excerpt from Lessons in Indiscretion? *crosses fingers* 

Absolutely! Here you go (warning - adult content!):

He loved the way she tasted, the sounds she made when he filled her, the sounds she made when she came. How she derived pleasure from his pleasure. Giving and sweet, sometimes a little feisty and always, always willing to do what he wanted. She was adventurous, kind and thoughtful. A constant delight.

She was like no other woman he’d ever met. And he wanted more of her. Craved her.

Needed her.

Julia pushed at him, turning to face him. He reached for her, tugged at the rounded neck of her gown and exposed her beautiful breasts, her beaded, pale pink nipples. He drew one into his mouth and sucked, bracing his hands against the door on either side of her head as he bent over her. Lavishing all his attention on her lush flesh and making her moan loudly.

“Shh,” he reprimanded when he lifted away, the sweet taste of her flesh lingering on his tongue. “Someone might hear you.”

“But it feels so good.” She flashed him a languid smile, and pride flooded him that he was the one who put that look on her face. He was the one who could pleasure her like no other.

“Want me to make you feel even better?” He cocked a brow arrogantly, knowing without a doubt that what he wanted to do to her would make her feel incredible.

“Do you believe you can?” All their illicit meetings had made her confident. He’d secretly believed she had it in her. No longer was she a shy, unsure woman. Now she was a tigress that went after what she wanted.

He was grateful that what she seemed to want was him.

“I know I can, my lady.” He gathered her skirts and petticoats so they floated about her waist, and then grabbed her, slipping his hands around her bottom and hauling her up. She wound her legs around his hips, anchoring herself to him, and he pinned her to the door and rubbed his insistent cock against her. He’d discovered last week that she didn’t even bother wearing drawers any longer, much to his delight.

“I want you inside me,” she whispered throatily. “Now.”

Now for some quickie responses…

What I love to do outside of writing...

Scrapbook/make crafty stuff with my daughter, spend time with my family, READ. ;)

A few favorite romance authors of mine...

Oh, I can't list them all! Too many.

A favorite book I’ve read within the past year…

I just finished Lori Foster's When You Dare and OMG I loved it!

My favorite type of hero… 

Strong, fierce yet tender and protective when it comes to the woman he loves.

My favorite type of heroine... 

Not too wimpy but not too snarky either. And no perfect heroines! When they can do no wrong, have no flaws, everyone loves them, blah blah blah. Boring.

If I could be a paranormal creature, it would be ...

Hmm. A cat shifter.

A supernatural power I wish I had ...

Teleport myself anywhere I need to be!

My writing routine includes… 

Check email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. open document, stare at it, write a little, chat on Yahoo IM a little, write a little more (rinse, repeat)

Something I always have to have near when writing...

Diet Coke :)

Pantser or plotster?

Mostly pantster but with a little bit of plotting mixed in.

If I wasn't a writer I'd be…

Working in an office probably.

A place I’d love to visit…

England! Dying to go there.

What can readers expect next from you? 

Well, next week I have a contemporary erotic romance coming out with Samhain - NOTORIOUS (http://karenwritesromance.com/books/notorious). In regards to historicals, the second in the Merry Widows series, HER CHRISTMAS PLEASURE, will be coming out with Carina Press sometime in November. 

Is there anything else you would like to tell fans of your books? 

I want to thank all of my readers for being so supportive, for taking the time out of their busy lives to write me emails, hang out with me on Facebook, etc. I appreciate everyone. I truly have the best job ever and I couldn't do it without their support!

And thank you again for having me here!

Links where you can find me:

http://karenerickson.com (website)
http://karenerickson.blogspot.com (blog)
http://facebook.com/karenericksonwritesromance (Facebook)
http://twitter.com/karenerickson (Twitter)
http://smutketeers.com (group blog)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Smutketeers/ (yahoo group)

PLUS! I'm having a contest where the grand prize is a KINDLE. And I'm extending the date for the contest through FRIDAY, JUNE 24TH. The grand prize winner will be drawn on the 24th (originally it was set for the drawing to be today so you still have time to enter!). For contest details, please visit my contest page here: http://karenerickson.blogspot.com/p/contests.html

Thanks again, Karen, for taking the time to stop by and give readers a little more insight into your newest release, Lessons of Indiscretion!  I can't wait to read it!