Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel.
Today we are welcoming Minnette Meador to the blog to talk about her latest book, Gladiator Prince. She has visited with us before and I’m happy that she has come back to talk about her new book. She is touring with Goddessfish Promotions and she is giving away a $25.00 gift card from Amazon to a random commenter from the tour. To see the rest of the tour stops, click HERE.
Gladiator Prince sounds like an outstanding book!!! My glasses steamed up just reading the interview….it’s going on my wish list 🙂 So, without further ado, here is my discussion with Minnette:
Barb : Describe your new release in 20 words or less.
Minette : Man! That’s hard to do!
Thane escapes to find his children. Phaedra makes him take her with him. Love and disaster ensue. Rome burns.
Barb : Who is your favorite character in your new release? Why are they your favorite?
Minette : Thane has a definite place in my heart with the three H’s: hot, honest and honorable. However, Hasani is the ultimate bad boy; sneaky, conniving, funny, and gorgeous. As Hasani would say:
“You have proven a worthy opponent, gladiator, and presented me with a bit of a dilemma.” Hasani pursed his lips and whistled. “A veritable maelstrom of indecision”. He tilted his head to the side and smiled at Thane. “Then, to make matters decidedly problematic, I find myself somewhat… infatuated with the girl. You see my difficulty?”
Barb : Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
Minette : Oh, there are always bits and pieces here and there. I try to stay out of the mix as much as possible; the characters are much more interesting than I am!
Barb : What was your favorite scene? Why?
Minette : Phaedra sneaks into the ludi to watch Thane make love to a woman who has bought him for the night, so she can learn about sex. After he is finished with the woman, Phaedra slips off the roof and falls into his arms. He decides to teach her a lesson, but not the one she expects… Here’s a teaser:
He reached for his loincloth and tied it around his waist. “You were looking for instruction,” he said simply.
She gasped at him, and the red blossomed into her ears. “I…I… was not…” she sputtered then turned again to go.
“I could teach you, you know?” Thane was startled that he said it and even more when she turned around.
Her eyes darted quickly over his body, finally settling for his chin. “What?”
An irresistible thought sparked in Thane’s mind. Perhaps he could teach her something at that. He pulled the flap up between his legs, making certain to do it slowly for her benefit. Phaedra would get a lesson, all right, but not the one she came for.
“I said I could teach you.”
“What makes you think I need lessons in… in…”
“Sex?” He lifted one hand and ran it through his hair, knowing this was going to be very satisfying. “Partly because you cannot even say the word and partly because it is obvious you are still a virgin.”
Her eyes got as big as Persian tiles. “A virgin? Me? Why, I will have you know I was married to the son of a very famous Roman senator. Virgin indeed!”
Thane nodded and rubbed his hands against his thighs. If he thought he could get away with it, he would have turned her over his knee first, but this was better.
Barb : What were the challenges in bringing this book to life?
Minette : Finding the time to write it. I wanted it to be perfect and to take my time with the historical details. There is a lot of research in this book with a new subject (gladiators) and a new place (ancient Rome). I’m very proud of how it came out. Also, this story was a lot more intimate than my other historical; they were a bit epic and sweeping where this one was really about personal relationships and insurmountable barriers.
Barb : Did you know the title before you started writing?
Minette : I knew the title as soon as I thought about writing a new book about Thane. He is a very small character in The Edge of Honor, but I fell in love with him instantly. Since he was a Celtic Prince and a gladiator, it was a natural.
Barb : Tell me a little about yourself
Minette : Well, I live in beautiful Portland, OR with my husband and his sister, our cat Shelly (the cat formerly known as Spook), and a 22 year old miniature poodle named Pierre. As I’ve said before, Pierre pretty much runs the show, though the cat thinks she does. I am currently working for a mortgage company, write and promote full time. We travel locally a lot for book signings and I try to stay active, though my life has been pretty full as a writer. I used to teach special needs kids at my neighborhood grade school, but was laid off last year. I’m happy just to have a job right now.
Barb : Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
Minette : Rome… or London. Either one works for me.
Barb : Who are your cheerleaders?
Minette : My family and especially my fans/friends. I have made some amazing friendships with the people who follow me on my blog hops, FB, Twitter, etc. They are all amazing people and I wouldn’t give that away for anything. We laugh, we cry, we stand together in our indignation and our silliness, and, above all, love to share virtual hugs and profound wisdom.
Barb : Did you have support at the beginning and/or during your writing?
Minette : When I first started writing, I didn’t have much support; in fact, it was a very rough critique that made me stop writing 25 years ago. However, with the amazing support of my sons and my DH, I started again in 2007 and haven’t looked back. My husband is the best kind of supporting spouse; he listens intently to everything I write, gives me invaluable critiques and praises, and loves everything I do. I have him trained so well! We’ve been married 18 years and still hold hands. I’ve never been loved like this before and I have never loved like this before.
Barb : What do you love about writing?
Minette : Plotting the book and finishing the book. The middle is kind of hard when you want to get to the end. But the addiction is lifelong, I’m afraid; as long as someone reads it, I will write it. I could do nothing else.
Barb : What’s the hardest part of writing a book?
Minette : The interminable edits. I try to go through the book at least a dozen or more times, hand it off to a critique partner who sends me suggestions, make more edits, send it off to beta readers, do more edits, send it off to my editor who makes more edits, and then 3-5 more after that does the trick. You kind of get sick of the whole book by that point, but like it again when it comes out in published book form!
Barb : Where can your fans find you?
Minette :Minnette’s Web Site
Facebook
Writer’s Room FB Group – Tips, Tricks, & Traumas
Barb : Where can readers find your books?
Minette : Here are links, but they can be found just about anywhere books are sold:
THE CENTURION SERIES:
PARANORMAL ROMANTIC COMEDY:
EPIC FANTASY (YA APPROPRIATE):
URBAN FANTASY THRILLER
THE BELL STALKER – Excerpt
Barb : What is in the works for you next?
Minette : The Bell Stalker will be hitting the stands on October 26th… here’s a peak:
THE BELL STALKER – Excerpt
an urban fantasy thriller
by Minnette Meador
RELEASE DATE: October 26, 2011
Resplendence Publishing
For a year, Belle Stark has struggled to conquer fears plaguing her since being attacked by a maniac who continues to roam free and the murder of her father. And she nearly succeeds, until she discovers her lover’s murdered body spread over the furniture, making Belle a prime suspect. Certain her attacker is to blame, she seeks help from her ex-husband, homicide detective Mike Cranston, the one person she swore she would never let back into her life, or heart. In their hunt for answers, the two uncover more than a lunatic: a supernatural underworld hidden beneath the tall skyscrapers of the city and a secret that could kill them both. Faced with a terrible choice, Belle surrenders herself to the hands of a monster and Mike must solve an ancient mystery before it’s too late to save her—
Also, I’ll be working on new books for next year. To see a list, just visit: http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com/p/books-to-come.html
Barb : Is there anything else you’d like to share to your followers and readers?
Minette : Just a big thanks to Sugarbeat’s Books for all their support in giving me an amazing place to share my books and my quirky foibles. You have one of the best blogs I’ve ever seen and I really love how much you support romance and romance writers. You guys are the best! :o)
I’d like to thank Minette for dropping by for a visit – and of course, steaming up my glasses with that racy interview 🙂 Everyone needs to click on a link above and pick up a copy of one of her books – they are outstanding! Here’s the blurb for Gladiator Prince. Just check out that cover…..
Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver’s raid, Thane escapes, forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.
Author bio: Somewhere between thirty and dust…red hair, blue eyes…six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time… wanttabe hippy… wanttheirmoney yuppie…pro musician and actress for 20 Years… native Oregonian… lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.
