Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Welcome Berengaria Brown
My guest today is Berengaria Brown. Berengaria, welcome to the blog. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires and werewolves) and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men…. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.
HEAs for sure! How did you celebrate when you received “the call”?
I wrote a book, researched the various houses, and sent it to a publisher that sold that kind of book. While I was waiting to hear back, I wrote another book in a different genre, sent it off to a house that sold its type of book and waited. So I actually contracted four books in a two-week time-span. When I sold the first one I was very excited. By the time I received the fourth contract I was delirious with joy! This meant I had four books come out with four different houses quite quickly one after the other. It also meant I had edits at four different houses almost simultaneously too, though.
I'm surprised you survived. I just did edits for two at one time, and it almost killed me. You write erotic romance. What drew you to this genre? Do you write in any other genre?
I read very widely across genres, so I write different genres, too. But I do tend to enjoy erotic romances, so that is what I write. I don’t think I have the patience to craft the intricate plot a straight mystery book needs.
When you have a new book coming out, do you worry about reader reaction?
Sending a new baby out into the world, I always hope people will like her. But readers enjoy all different styles of book, so sooner or later your book is not going to suit someone. I am amazed that people who buy a short story complain that it wasn’t longer, though. It is impossible to have the depth of plot in ten thousand words that can be achieved in fifty thousand.
That's very true. Is there a particular author who has especially influenced your writing? If so who and how?
I have written two Regency-set historicals and that is because Georgette Heyer instilled in me a great love of the era. I am endlessly amazed at how women of those days, with almost no legal rights, managed to carve out lives for themselves and find happiness.
Would you share your links with us?
http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
http://berengariabrown.webs.com/
http://www.facebook.com/people/Berengaria-Brown/100000055736290/
http://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown
Please share an excerpt with us. Don’t forget to include a buy link.
Blurb “Changing Cherry”
Cherry gives up her life in America to live with Harry and Lee in China. Will she regret her decision or find happiness as well as great orgasms?
Cherry McNair has been invited to come and live in Beijing with Song Hao (Harry) and Li Chang (Lee), two of the one hundred million young men for whom there are no brides available in China.
The men are kind and caring, and at first Cherry is happy, learning to cook for them and settling into her new life. And the sex is fantastic, innovative, fulfilling.
But one day she realizes she has no job, no hobbies, no friends. She knows only a few words of Mandarin and the traffic frightens her. Should she return home or stay?
PG Excerpt
Cherry McNair shook her shoulder-length dark brown hair off her face and pushed her luggage trolley out of the customs area and into the arrivals hall at the Beijing Capital International Airport, ready to start her new life. Well sort of ready.
I’m almost thirty years old. All my remaining possessions are in two suitcases. I’ve quit my job, left my country and my friends, and am about to start a whole new life in a new land where I don’t even speak the language, and be the “wife” of two men. Well, it’s what women have been doing for centuries after all. Although they probably didn’t have two husbands!
Lee and Harry had promised to meet her, and they’d all exchanged plenty of photographs in their emails, but she was still feeling rather dazed after the long flight and the huge size of the airport and worried about recognizing them in such a large crowd. They’re part-American, part-Chinese, but to me they look quite Chinese. Will they look like their photos?Lee’s hair sort of shaggy and a little bit longer, Harry’s skin a slightly darker brown?
Sheesh. I thought LAX was big, but having to catch a train to get to your luggage— Sheesh.
Nevertheless the crowd was very well behaved. People were talking and laughing, but they were standing in neat lines, waiting politely for others to pass. There was no pushing or shoving or screaming as there had been back at LAX. I’ve never travelled so far before, through so many time zones. It’s all so very big. But I like it. It’s friendly and welcoming and totally fascinating.
Lots of people were holding up signs with names on them.
And there they were, Lee and Harry, Lee holding a sign saying “Cherry” and Harry holding a bunch of bright yellow sunflowers.
Cherry pushed her trolley down the aisle then into the arrivals hall proper and stood to the side as Li Chang and Song Hao made their way through the crowds to meet her.
Both men bowed slightly then broke into smiles.
“Welcome to Beijing, Cherry,” said Harry.
“I hope your journey was not too tiring,” added Lee.
“The flight was smooth. I made all my connections without any worries. Everything went well. Thank you for coming to meet me,” replied Cherry rather disjointedly.
Harry handed her the flowers, bowing slightly again, as Lee took charge of her trolley.
“Come this way. I’ll go and get the car while Harry waits with you and the luggage.”
Cherry nodded, trying to pull herself out of her daze as her blue-gray eyes looked around at the spectacular building, filled with light from its high glass walls, with lots of interesting metal shapes in the structure and huge artworks dotted around the floor space. And flowers. Lots of flowers and plants in planter boxes.
Buy link: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/new-releases/changing-cherry/prod_373.html
Berengaria, thanks for stopping by. Good luck with your book.
Thank you for inviting me here, Elaine. You asked some awesome questions.
ReplyDeleteBerengaria
Excellent interview, ladies!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting, Cindy
ReplyDeleteBerengaria