Interview & Contests: Mari Carr !!!

I would like to welcome Mari Carr to Book Junkie today as my Guest Author celebrating her latest release Mad About Meg set to release TODAY, Feb 16th from All Romance eBooks. When I asked Mari to be apart of Book Junkie today I didn't realize that this was part of the 28 Days of Hot, Heart-felt Romance. Frankly, I new nothing about it at all. But when I found out it was for the American Heart Association, an organization that is near and dear to my own heart. My family doesn't just wear read on Feb 5th, we wear read on Feb 13th as well. That would be the 4th anniversery of my nephew's open heart surgery to repair two holes in his heart that he was born with. We almost lost him several times in the first few weeks of his life, and now he is 100% thanks to a wonderul medical team. So I would personally like to thank all the authors who contributed their wonderful stories for such a worthy cause. I look forward to reading their books!

Mari was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her latest Erotic Romance, so let's begin!!!!!

If someone were writing a story about Mari Carr, what would your blurb say?

Aw jeez…do I have to be honest here? I’m fairly certain I’d sound better in fiction.

Fiery redhead, Mari Carr captivates audiences every night with her sultry words. Alpha heroes have fought battles in their attempts to capture her attention. Wined and dined in the finest restaurants and night clubs around the globe, Mari is one of the most sought after erotic authors in the world.

OR…the truth. Mari Carr is a librarian by day, mother and wife by night. Her weekends are spent in front of the computer where she weaves her darkest fantasies with words to create stories she hopes readers will enjoy!


Can you tell us a little bit more about the 28 Days of Hot, Heart-felt Romance?
Oh, heck yeah! During the month of love, when everyone's attention is focused on matters of the heart, All Romance eBooks (ARe) is helping to fight the number one killer of women, heart disease, with their 28 Days of Heart campaign.


Beginning February 1, 2010, ARe, the digital bookseller that owns All Romance (http://www.allromance.com/) and OmniLit (http://www.omnilit.com/), will release one new novella per day for twenty-eight consecutive days. All proceeds from the sale of these shorts will be donated to the American Heart Association.


Can you tell us a little about your newest release Mad About Meg?
Mad About Meg is a little story that is near and dear to my heart and features yet another teacher in my Lowell High School series. Other books have included Retreat, Covert Lessons and Scoring—all available at Ellora’s Cave. They say “write what you know” and for me, that’s public education!

Here’s the official blurb:

If it weren't for bad luck, Meg Williams wouldn't have any luck at all. As if traveling to a tropical island on Valentine's weekend in a nasty storm isn't bad enough, she's doing it alone after finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. Enduring the trip from hell, she arrives on Eden Isle only to discover that her hotel reservation has been lost and there are no vacancies anywhere on the island. Disheartened, Meg heads for the hotel bar.


Rob Madison is used to being in the limelight due his wealth and power. Used to being pursued by women for his fortune. When he meets Meg in the bar and realizes she doesn't know who he is, he decides to spend the evening as a regular guy. Discovering she doesn’t have a place to stay, he offers to share his penthouse with her.


As the night progresses and their mutual attraction becomes apparent, Meg wonders if her luck has turned, while Rob wonders if one weekend in each other's arms will be enough…


Are there other genres you would like to explore?
So far most of my books have been contemporary erotic romances. I do have two books available at Liquid Silver that are historical time travels (No Recourse and No Regrets). I think somewhere down the line I would like to try my hand at a paranormal series.


When reading a book I often imagine the characters in my head as thought I am watching a movie play out. If you could cast Meg & Rob for a movie who would play them on screen?
Oooo—I love questions like this. Let’s see…Rob would be either Gerard Butler or George Clooney, mainly because I’m in love with both of them and Rob is a rather dashing, handsome alpha male. Meg would probably be played by Reese Witherspoon. She’s blonde, petite, cute and fun.


Do you usually cast your characters (a mental picture) before or after you have started writing? Does it help inspire you and take the story in a different direction?
Honestly, I usually have only a vague idea of what my characters look like. I have friends who search for pictures of their main characters before they start writing a story and I’m in awe of them and that concept. My characters are always very shadowy and non-defined in my mind. This sounds terrible, but I don’t really have faces for them until the cover comes. Then when I think about them, I see those models. How unimaginative is that?!

What was your favorite scene to write in Mad About Meg?
Most of my stories start with one scene that plays itself over in my head until I finally write it down. With Mad About Meg, it was two scenes—the first and last ones! I could very clearly see a woman who was having the most terrible vacation in history (Murphy’s Law was definitely in effect). And then I saw the last scene in the parking lot—I could feel the heroine’s pain and the hero’s determination to make things right.


If you could be any of your heroines who would you be?
I cannot believe how difficult this question is! I think I’m going to go with the very first character who popped into my head—Ginny Brooks from Sugar and Spice. I loved that story and Ryan Travers, the hero, really melted my butter. He was her best friend from high school, sexy as sin, with a great sense of humor. An alpha male/bad boy who—once he fell—fell damn hard for Ginny. He’s protective and kind and kinky and—whew baby—I loved him!


What qualities do you look for in your Heroes?
Oh, that’s an easy one. I love alpha males with a great sense of humor who think the sun rises and sets on the heroine’s shoulders!


Have you ever encountered someone who said, “You write what!!! “?
No, but I can tell you why. I write incognito. Because of my day job, there are very few people in my ‘real’ world who know about my books.


What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the name of research?
Hee hee—this is a sex question, right? Hmm…better plead the fifth on this!


If you were not writing, what would you be doing?
Exactly what I am doing. I’m a librarian at a high school. Greatest job ever. I’m fairly certain I’m the luckiest gal on earth—able to do the two things I love most.


If you could ask readers any one question, what would it be?
Are there any books I haven’t written that you’d like to see me tackle? I love challenges!

***GIVEAWAY***

Answer Mari's question about and you will be entered to win a $10.00 GC to ALLROMANCE.COM 

Open to all, Winner Chosen 02/19