Fantasy Unbound with Rachel Haimowitz: Chatting with S.R. Claridge

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Chatting with S.R. Claridge - ATRS Guest Interview

Let's all give a warm welcome to S.R. Claridge, who's here today to talk writing, happily ever afters, and her latest release, Tetterbaum's Truth.

As always, let's begin with a blurb and some lovely cover art--I'm a big fan of this one. We also have a video book trailer today :-)

Angel Martin plans to marry Tony and live happily ever after… until Tony disappears. Nursing a broken heart, she takes a job at Tetterbaum’s Pub, unaware it is the most prestigious Mafia hangout in Chicago. Through an unlikely turn of events, Angel finds herself in the middle of a revengeful scheme from a past she’s never known and a Mafia blackmail scandal that’s already left several dead.

Racing to find answers, she discovers her entire life has been one carefully orchestrated lie. No one is who they say they are and everyone has an agenda of their own.

The closer she gets to uncovering hidden evidence the more the crime families want her out of the way.

With her true identity now exposed, learning who she can trust becomes a matter of life and death and unraveling the past becomes her only hope for staying alive.

And now I'll turn the floor over to S.R., beneath the jump.

What draws you to romance?

I think everyone is drawn to romance in some way. We all have a need to feel wanted and a desire to be craved… sought after… pursued… enjoyed and in the end, deeply loved. It is the excitement of romance that pulls me in.

Have you ever written outside the romance genre? If not, do you ever plan to?

My novels are actually more suspense than pure romance.

What’s the sexiest feature on a man to you? Why?

Definitely the eyes… then big, strong, manly hands.

What’s your own sexiest feature?

I don’t know… maybe my eyes???

What was the very first romance you ever read? How old were you? Were you being naughty and sneaking it off the shelf before you really even knew what sex was? How did it make you feel, and is that what hooked you on the genre?

I was 10 years old and I got the book from the bookmobile that came to our school. I can picture the cover but don’t remember the name of it. It was definitely inappropriate for a ten year old and caused me to have to look up certain words in the dictionary. J

Who are your latest crushes (celebrity, book character, or otherwise)? Do you ever keep those people in your mind when writing your own works?

George Clooney is my mainstay celebrity crush. He has sexy eyes and his humor and smile add to the attraction. He pops in my mind when writing love scenes now and again, but mostly in the context of adding character depth and personality.

What’s your favorite hobby outside of writing?

I’m a full-time mom, so right now my life is too busy for hobbies. I have a ten year old daughter and an eight year old son that keep my running.

What would constitute your own personal happily ever after?

A long, healthy life with my family and friends; filled with success and love and tons of laughter.

Do you own an ereader? Why or why not? If so, what’s on it?

I own an ipad but have not downloaded books to it. I prefer the real book in my hand. I know we’re all headed toward ebooks, but I’m dragging my heels. I like books on a shelf and I like to touch the pages.

Are you a book hoarder?

No. I keep my very favorites and give the rest away.

If you were doomed to spend the rest of your life on an island with only one book, one person, one food (coconuts and fish aside), and one object from the modern world (computer, deodorant, vibrator, etc.), what would they be?

One book: Bible One person: Husband One food: Mexican One object: Toothbrush

Do you have a favorite character out of all the ones you’ve written? If so, who is it and why is s/he your favorite?

Angel from TETTERBAUM’S TRUTH (and the Just Call Me Angel mystery series) She is real and I like that about it. She is stronger than she realizes and despite everything against her, she doesn’t quit.