VBT - Cowboy Lust Anthology Edited by Delilah Devlin

Welcome to my stop on the Cowboy Lust Anthology edited by Delilah Devlin Virtual Book Tour.  Delilah was kind enough to answer my interview questions below.  Please make sure to leave a comment or question for her, there will be two prizes awarded to two random commenters during the tour.  You can follow the tour here.  The more you comment, the better your chances at winning.

Interview

Me:   Fournicopia is the 2nd book in your Delta Heat series, based on a group of law officers getting their groove on in the BDSM scene.  Can you tell us what inspired you to write this series and how many books you are planning to write?

Delilah:  I’ve made many trips to Memphis in the past couple of years, doing research for a paranormal book (SHATTERED SOULS, which releases in January 2013). On my very first research trip to Memphis, I pulled into a small park beside the Mississippi for a stroll. In the parking lot was a group of ladies who had been in Memphis to select bridesmaids dresses, but whose car was broken into when they’d stopped to check out the river. A police cruiser sat behind their car. The officer was taking their statements. I snapped photos, then once he was done taking statements, I started asking him about his work, taking a peek inside his squad car, doing all those nosy things authors do. From that moment I knew I wanted to write a series about Memphis PD cops. When the time came, I imagined the sexiest possibility – five men with a bond as strong as brothers. I plan to write five books, featuring each man’s quest to find his perfect someone or someones. :)

Me:   You have a wide variety of books in your backlist, anything from Contemporary to Western to Historical and Paranormal.  Is there a sub genre in the romance field that you haven't tackled yet but want to give it a try?

Delilah:  I’m not sure what’s left that I haven’t tried! As you said, I’ve written contemporary, Western, historical, and paranormal. I’ve also written time travel, futuristic and science fiction, as well as stories that lean toward horror. Perhaps a new time period for a historical story? Something prehistoric or set in Ancient Sumer—wait, I’ve done scenes set in Ancient Sumer. Maybe something more deeply rooted in fantasy, featuring the fae...? Have to make a note.

Me:  You've been published by both ebook publishers (Samhain, Ellora's Cave) and a traditional print publisher (Avon, Berkley and Kensington).  Can you tell us what you've taken from your experiences in both areas and how the publishing world has changed since you first got published.  Lessons learned?

Delilah:  I’ve learned that writing for epublishers allows me more freedom to jump genres at will. They can afford to take chances. It’s very freeing for me as a writer, because I’m easily bored writing the same ole thing.  From my experiences with traditional publishers, I’ve learned that no matter how good the book is, or how much your editor loves what you do, if you don’t sell enough books within a certain time frame, you can’t sell them another book. That was a tough lesson to learn. I poured my heart and soul into my Dark Realm and New Icelandic Chronicles stories, earned rave reviews, but they didn’t find a large enough audience for me to continue those series with those publishers. It’s tough to let go of those worlds when I still have stories swirling in my head!

Me:  It's been a while but can you remember "The Call" or your first "Acceptance Letter/Email" and compare your feelings then to your feelings now when a book you submit is accepted?

Delilah:  My very first acceptance email came when I submitted a “pirates in space” series to Ellora’s Cave. I was over the moon! After squeeing and calling everyone I knew to tell them I’d sold a book, my stomach dropped at the realization I had to write another book. :)

Even now, I get giddy with each sale. I sell on proposal now, meaning I don’t have to write the whole book first, so after the euphoria that same old sinking feeling sets because I realize I have to finish the project!

Me:  What do you think it is about the American Cowboy that keeps Western romance a viable sub genre today in our digital world?

Delilah: Cowboys are iconic. Just the image of a man in a cowboy hat and blue jeans sends you to a certain place. You imagine how hard he works, how lonely it can be for him, working that hard on a large ranch, isolated from rest of the world. You sense his confidence, his fiercely independent spirit—and it’s a complete turn-on to imagine yourself as that one woman who can ease his burdens and give him comfort. And don’t you want to be held inside the strong arms of a man like that?

Me:   Your sister, Myla Jackson, is also a published author - with some of the same publishers you write for.  Can you tell us what it's like to have a fellow romance writer in the family? 

Delilah:  It’s like I have a partner, a sister muse. We bounce ideas off each other constantly, push each other to get through tough projects, share good news and provide each other with a sounding board when things don’t go well. I’m lucky to have her. And it sure makes for interesting conversations at family reunions.

Me:   Who would you credit with being the most consistent supporter of your writing career?  Who was your mentor?

Delilah:  My sister. We started the journey together. We’ve shared every triumph and failure along the way. We’ve helped each other figure out the industry as well as learn to write good books.

Me:   Is there an author you have a "fan" crush on and would love to meet at this stage in your career? 

Delilah:  Hmmm... Maybe Johanna Lindsey. She inspired me with stories featuring hard-headed, hard-bodied men and wonderfully smart and independent heroines. 

Me:   Can you tell us what you're currently reading? 

Delilah:  The Ultimate Guide to Kink by Tristan Taormino and Girls Who Score, edited by Ily Goyanes. The first because it’s a wonderful research book for anyone writing BDSM. And the second, because I want to know what the other women who wrote stories for the collection (mine was “Playing the Field”) did with their girl athletes.

Me:   What can we expect to see from you next?

Delilah:  More cowboys. Laying Down the Law releases September 11, 2012. And the first full-length book in a new paranormal series, Shattered Souls, releases in January 2013. 

Quickie Questions:

Whiskey or Tequila? Tequila!

Cowboy Boots or Manolo Blahnik? Cowboy boots!

Favorite Color? RED

Favorite type of food? Ethnic and spicy! Favorite dish? Menudo

Favorite Vacation Spot? Anywhere there’s sand and water.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Cowboy Lust

an anthology edited by Delilah Devlin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

These cowboys ride hard...

There's a reason Western romance novels never go out of fashion. The cowboy is an iconic figure embodying the dichotomy of the fiercely independent, earthy alpha male crossed with the male as a nurturer and protector. Cowboys take care of their women in every possible way. Wild and wayward women are gentled by the scent of horse and cow and the sight of sun-kissed skin, the feel of work-hardened thighs and arms, and the sound of a deep-voiced Texas drawl.

Contributors at the top of the Western romance genre, including Charlene Teglia, Randi Alexander, Cat Johnson, and editor, Delilah Devlin, have corralled strong and memorable characters ranging from ranch hands to cattle barons, to a rodeo star and a feisty female gunslinger. Traversing romantic settings from Montana, Texas, California, Mexico, and the Outback of Australia, the stories in Cowboy Lust are risky and risqué, full of studs in spurs hot enough to send you to a vacation on a dude ranch!

Show More

Show Less

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT: 

From “Runaway Bride” by Delilah Devlin:

Jackson Lowry cussed softly when he spotted the blue lights spinning at the roadblock just ahead. Too late to turn back now. He’d only draw more attention.

Squaring his jaw, he rolled down his window and forced a polite smile as he peered into the darkness at the sheriff’s deputy checking IDs with a flashlight.

As soon as the deputy waved the car in front of him to move along and turned to watch the black pickup roll forward, Jackson’s tension eased a fraction.

Maynard Colby’s expression turned from crisply professional to worried in a second, as soon as he recognized Jackson. “Dammit, Jackson, where have you been?”

“Around. Why?”

A soft moan sounded beside him, and Jackson reached surreptitiously beside him to tap the tarp covering his precious load.

“You didn’t hear?” At Jackson’s vague expression, Maynard stepped onto the truck rail and leaned toward Jackson. “It’s Sammi Jo. Her car was found in Shooter’s parking lot, the door wide open. No one’s seen her. Looks like she’s been snatched.”

Jackson cleared his throat. “How serious is this gettin’?”

“It’s only been a couple of hours, but Sammi Jo’s daddy is buckin’ to get the sheriff to call in the FBI, the CIA, the ATF—and whatever other agency his money can buy to find her. I tried callin’ you, but your phone kept goin’ to voicemail. After the way things went down at the weddin’ last Sunday, I don’t blame you a bit for layin’ low, but I thought you’d wanna know.”

Another sound, this time a snort, sounded beside him.

Maynard’s gaze cut to the dirty tarp folded over a moving bundle on the floor of the cab. A ruddy eyebrow shot up. “What’s goin’ on, Jackson?”

Jackson rolled his eyes, then pulled up the corner of the tarp to reveal a bound and gagged Sammi Jo whose eyes glittered furiously back at both men.

Maynard barked a laugh, then tightened his lips. “This time you’ve gone and done it, boy. This is seriously fucked up.” He laughed again, then tipped his hat to Sammi Jo. “No disrespect meant, missy.”

Jackson cleared his throat. “Don’t s’pose you can forget about this?”

Maynard’s gaze shot to Sammi Jo again, raked her once as though ensuring she didn’t look to be in any real danger, then tipped back his cowboy hat. “Tell ya what. I’ll put a bug in the sheriff’s ear, but she better come walkin’ through the po-lice house doors come Monday mornin’.”

“Not a word to her daddy?”

One corner of Maynard’s mouth crooked up. “Man’s already caused enough problems. Deserves to cool his heels a couple o’ days. Don’t do nothin’ I’ll have to arrest you for.”

With a nod, Jackson rolled up the window and pulled past the barricade. In his side mirror, he watched as Maynard crossed to the other deputy’s car and both men bent over laughing.

“See that, Sammi Jo?” he murmured, not expecting an answer because he’d made double-damn sure he’d tied some serious knots and gagged her pretty mouth. “I’m not the only one who thinks you need a good paddlin’.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bio and Links:

Delilah Devlin is an award-winning author of erotic romance with a rapidly expanding reputation for writing edgy stories with complex characters. Ms. Devlin has published over a hundred stories in multiple sub-genres and lengths with Atria/Strebor, Avon, Berkley, Black Lace, Cleis Press, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington, Kindle, Running Press, and Samhain Publishing. 

Website: http://www.delilahdevlin.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DelilahDevlinFanPage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DelilahDevlin

Please be sure to leave a comment or question below to be entered in Delilah's giveaway.  You could win:

One randomly drawn commenter at each stop will win one of the following:


Cowboy Bad Boys (digital) by Randi Alexander
Reader’s Choice of any backlisted ebook by Lissa Matthews
Reader’s Choice of any backlisted ebook by Charlene Teglia during her stop
Reader’s Choice of any backlisted ebook by Cari Quinn (x4)
"I'll show you my e-reader if you show me yours" T-shirt (Large size) from Kimber Vale
Reader’s Choice of any backlisted ebook by Delilah Devlin during her stops (x2)
Signed copies of Cowboy Fever by Delilah Devlin to two winners
Love in Short Order (digital), a romance by Michael Bracken writing as Rolinda Hay
Stud (digital), an erotic romance by Michael Bracken writing as Rolinda Hay


Plus one randomly drawn commenter during the tour will win a $50 Amazon GC grand prize

You can follow the tour stops here.