Guest Author and Giveaway Lila DiPasqua, AWAKENED BY A KISS

Today I am so thrilled to have author Lila DiPasqua! Lila is celebrating her debut release TODAY from Berkley (Sensation), AWAKENED BY A KISS !
AWAKENED BY A KISS is comprised of 3 very differnt Fairy Tale Romances....... with a twist that is.

You can read all about AWAKENED BY A KISS in my review HERE! So please give Lila a warm welcome today, enjoy the interview and don't forget to enter the giveaway for one of two signed copies of AWAKENED BY A KISS!!!!!


If someone were writing a story about Lila DiPasqua, what would your blurb say?
A girl who spent her childhood playing make-believe, daydreaming and reading books, grows up to marry a handsome man, have three children and realize her dream of being a romance author.

Can you tell us a little about your newest release, AWAKENED BY A KISS that isn’t in the blurb?
Absolutely! The first in my Fiery Tales series, AWAKENED BY A KISS, is a collection based on three classic fairy tales by the creator of The Tales of Mother Goose, writer Charles Perrault. I’ve taken these well known tales, given them my very own steamy twist – and set them in Perrault’s lifetime, when the genre of fairy tales was born!

Sleeping Beauty --- Sleeping Beau --- Adrien d’Aspe was awakened with a sensuous kiss by a mysterious seductress who disappeared by morning. She has been making appearances in every one of his erotic dreams ever since – leaving him with unanswered questions, and fantasies he can’t fulfill. Their night of raw ecstasy is one he can’t forget. Now, five years later, he’s just spotted her. He wants to know everything about her. Heck, he just plain wants her. It’s supposed to be simply a torrid affair. But it isn’t. It can’t be. Everything about Catherine de Villecourt inspires tender feelings as well as hot desire. Take the bastard son of the King and pair him up with the only woman who has this seasoned rake undone.

Little Red Riding Hood --- Little Red Writing --- Nicolas de Savignac, dubbed le Loup “the wolf” for his cunning, is on a mission for the King and encounters a redhead at his grandmother’s house who he soon discovers is his sexual soulmate. Perfect for him in every way, actually. More than a wicked distraction, she jeopardizes his very mission for the Crown and leaves him torn between duty and love. Expect some unexpected twists at the end. :)

Puss in Boots --- Bewitching in Boots --- Everyone thinks being the favorite daughter of the King is an enviable position to be in. But Elisabeth knows firsthand that it has its serious drawbacks. Her father is going to marry her off again. Before she’s trapped in another unhappy marriage, she is going to go after the only man she desires. But the delicious ex-commander of the King’s private Guard wants nothing to do with her. Undeterred, she’s not above using seduction, her wit and her lucky boots in order to have him.

Why were you inspired to write a Fairy Tales themed Romance?
I was actually inspired by the time period first. I know quite a lot about the historical time period when the genre of fairy tales was born. It was a period in history that was as decadent as it was opulent. A time of elegance and excesses. The pursuit of sinful pleasures was a pastime. Sex, an art form. What better place to set my fairy tale retellings than in such a salacious, yet romantic time – when the genre of fairy tales was created!

What was your favorite scene to write in each story?
This is a difficult question! It’s hard to pick a favorite scene, since I really did enjoy writing this book cover to cover. Hmmm… let’s see…

For Sleeping Beau, I’ll pick the black moment---when it looked as though Adrien and Catherine were never going to get their happily ever after. I loved the scene in the library and writing Adrien’s anguish. The man was so heartbroken.

In Little Red Writing – The first love scene between Nicolas and Anne. Nicolas is in the grips of desire and plagued with pangs of guilt all at the same time. He wants her so badly, yet Anne doesn’t know that he’s a member of the King’s private Guard, there to arrest the author writing under the name of Gilbert Leduc. His suspects have been narrowed down to Anne and her two sisters.

In Bewitching in Boots – The scene when Tristan gets Elisabeth to say “I love you”. That was a touching and sweet scene to write. It makes me smile every time I read it.

When creating your Hero’s, what do you consider to be their, (Adrien d’Aspe, Nicolas de Savignac & Tristan de Tiersonnier),best accomplishment?
Their ability to see that the heroine is their perfect match and acknowledge their love for her. It’s not something that’s easy for these rakes to do, but they definitely open their hearts and ultimately express the depth of their feelings. There is something about seeing an unrepentant rake fall hopelessly in love with the heroine that I find downright delicious. And in AWAKENED BY A KISS, they do fall for them – hard.

If you could trade places with one of your characters, would you want to?
I would trade places with any of my heroines! I may be biased here, but I consider their men the ultimate heroes. Strong, sexy and decent men to the core. Their love for these heroines is as strong as their desire for them. Each woman brings out the best in her man – and vice versa.

What accent is guaranteed to make you do naughty things?
Oh, so many! LOL! I think the accents that are my biggest undoing are an English accent, Australian and French. *sighs*

What are you currently working on?
I sold another book to Berkley. The Fiery Tales series will continue into 2011. This book won’t be a collection of fairy/fiery tales, but a full-length historical romance novel based on one single fairy tale – and the most romantic of all fairy tales has been chosen. I’m doing my own steamy yet romantic version of Cinderella! I promise you will get a sinfully delicious hero. A strong smart heroine. And a historical romance with a unique take on Cinderella, and, of course, scorching hot love scenes.

What was the first romance book you read and how did it effect you?
At fourteen my best friend sneaked an old and tattered copy of Rosemary Rogers’ SWEET SAVAGE LOVE out of her grandmother’s house. It was over 600 pages and I devoured it over a weekend. (Which wasn’t easy, because I had to hide it from my mom). I laughed, I cried and I fell in love with romance novels. I couldn’t get enough of them after that. I’ve been hooked on romance novels ever since!

Have you ever encountered someone who said, “You write what!!! “?
LOL…No, but that’s because I’m still new. I’m pretty comfortable in my skin and I love what I write. Any such comments wouldn’t be taken to heart. Everyone has the right to their opinions, and I have the right to keep writing what I’m passionate about – steamy, passionate love stories.

If you could ask readers any one question, what would it be?
What makes a book a “keeper” for you?

AWAKENED BY A KISS – A Fiery Tales Collection

Berkley Sensation

BY Lila DiPasqua

ISBN: 978 - 0425235560

AUGUST 3RD, 2010

Three classic fairytales—“Sleeping Beauty,” “Puss in Boots,” and “Little Red Riding Hood”—cleverly retold with enough sensual twists to prove wickedly ever after does exist…

Author’s website: http://www.liladipasqua.com/

Excerpt of AWAKENED BY A KISS – http://www.liladipasqua.com/awakenExcerpt.htm

***GIVEAWAY***

MUST Answer Lila DiPasqua's question below!

MUST be a follower

MUST leave e-mail

OPEN TO ALL!!!
Winner picked Aug 6th

QUESTION: Who would you like to awaken you with a kiss? You can name up to three if you’re having a difficult time choosing. *winks*

My list: (aside from hubby) Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper. *sighs*

Two lucky commenters will win a signed copy of AWAKENED BY A KISS!