Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Welcome Cindy Jacks to the Nook



Welcome to my Reading Nook, Cindy. Please make yourself at home and let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink.

Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.

Tell us about your latest release or upcoming release. What inspired it?

The story is titled Ravish Me and it deals with ravishment role play. A close friend revealed to me that he engages in non-consensual fantasies with his lover. As a sexual assault survivor, he told me he uses it as a way to empower himself. At first I was a little surprised because he’s such a quiet guy (it’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it?) but the more I talked to him about it, the more I found that this was a healthy and safe way for him to confront his past. His girlfriend is also very much into the forced seduction role play so I was excited to find out more about this sort of taboo topic. I can’t thank both of them enough for sharing their most intimate moments with me to help create this book!

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?
Thomas Jefferson – because it seemed like TJ knew how to party, Andy Warhol – same reason, Marilyn Monroe because she facinates me, Stephen Hawking to learn about the mysteries of the universe and Justin Timberlake because I have this crazy crush on him lately, lol.

What are at least five things you have on your bucket list and have you done any of them?

Dance with Maksim Chmerkovskiy (though I would let Val stand in if necessary)
Drink a glass of wine on a Mediterranean beach
Ride a roller coaster with a loop-de-loop
Sleep with a rock star
Become a NY Times bestselling author

I’ve done one of the above, but I’m not going to say which (and no, it’s not the NY Times bestselling author...yet, lol)

Do you work on one project at a time? Or do you multi-task?

I have a terrible habit of doing a dozen things at once. I try to focus on one thing at a time, but I always wind up switching to another task and then back to my original endeavor and then to yet another thing. It’s terrible. So usually I have two or three manuscripts open on my computer at any given time and as I work on one, ideas pop up for the others.

What song would best describe your life?

I’ve always felt a connection with the Rolling Stones Ruby Tuesday. Growing up as a military brat, I’ve moved around my whole life and even as an adult I get itchy when I’m in one place for too long. Sometimes I feel like goodbyes are what I’m best at, lol.

Do you listen to music when writing? Do you feel like some stories write themselves a soundtrack with specific music? If so, what book and what kind of music influenced it?

I always listen to music when I’m writing. It helps me set the mood and—as strange as this sounds—it frees my mind. On my laptop, I have soundtracks for nearly all the books I’ve written. For Landlocked I listened to a little country, some rock-n-roll, very exciting music. For Phantom Touch, of course I listened to a lot of Andrew Lloyd Weber. And for Ravish Me, it was 90’s grunge and some Korn and Linkin Park.

Are any of your characters just like you or have personality quirks/traits of you or someone you know?

All of my characters are drawn from people I know or have known. They’re kind of like patchwork quilts of my friends, acquaintances, sometimes even people I disliked. I always joke with my family that if they’re not careful, they’ll wind up in a book I write.

Who are some of your other favorite authors and genres to read?

In erotic romance, I absolutely love Denyse Bridger, Regina Carlysle, Nicole Austin, Kayden McLeod, Mari Carr and so many more. I also love to read mysteries and thrillers. I often read Elizabeth George and I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan. I’m also a huge Margaret Atwood fan. Her book The Handmaiden’s Tale is one of the works that inspired me to be a writer.

When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

Coffee...I need coffee :)

What is one thing scientists should invent?

A strapless bra that really stays in place.

Anything else you want to mention?

I’d like to thank you, Dawn for having me as your guest. And I want to give a shout out to my readers, my publicist—Tina Brunelle, and my editor—Jillian Bell. Without all the love and support I get from everyone I wouldn’t be able to share my words with the world!

Ravish Me by Cindy Jacks
Ellora's Cave

Blurb:
Jane’s boyfriend, Matthew, is perfect in all ways, but one—in the bedroom. Sure, their sex life is sweet and romantic, therein lies the problem. Jane harbors secret desires that she’s afraid will turn off her vanilla lover. But finally she confides in him, introducing him to the world of non-con role play.

Matthew has always believed that no means no, but in ravishment fantasy no means yes, yes, yes. He’s reticent to open the door on the darker side of his sexuality, but with Jane’s patient guidance he finds he enjoys the role of aggressor. Perhaps more than he’s comfortable with. The role play stirs up a host of memories he’d rather forget, leaving him to wonder which is his true self—the sweet, romantic lover or the ravisher.

Excerpt:
Candlelight played in Jane’s hair and Matthew couldn’t stop looking at her, electricity crackling between them. Despite the crowded restaurant, he could see only her. He refilled her glass of wine then topped off his own.
“Let’s go over the rules again,” he murmured, taking her hand.
She nodded at him, clearly appreciative of his enthusiasm. “No name calling—I don’t like words like bitch or slut. No actual violence, I’m not looking to be smacked around, hair pulling and rough sex is okay.”
“Will you fight me off?” he asked.
“Do you want me to?”
“I don’t know what I want.”
“Well, we’ll just roll with it. Do what feels natural.”
He nodded though nothing about this felt natural.
“You have to start the scene by saying, ‘green light’. If I’m ready, I’ll repeat ‘green light’ to you,” she went on.
“And ‘yellow light’ means don’t stop, but lessen the intensity. ‘Red light’ means stop. If you can’t say it, you’ll stomp your foot and cross your fingers and that means to stop.”
“You’ve got it.” She grinned at him.
His stomach did a flip-flop and he tried to return the smile, but was sure he came across more queasy than happy.
“If you don’t want to do this…” she said.
He swallowed hard. “I want to. I do.”
“You look nervous.”
“I am, but I want to do it.”
The waiter appeared, inquiring about coffee and dessert.
“Neither. Just the check please,” said Matthew.
Once he’d settled the bill, Matthew escorted Jane outside and hailed the waiting car. The drive from Georgetown to Arlington seemed to take longer than usual though there was little traffic.
His mind raced along, going over and over the plan he’d made, which seemed absurd. A plan to pretend to assault his girlfriend. The idea seemed surreal yet intoxicating. Excitement writhed in the pit of his stomach, the night air seemed to hold a palpable electric spark. He was at once eager and apprehensive. Could he follow through with his plan? Did he have it in him?
As if she sensed his self-doubt, she placed his hand on her knee, stroking it with a tenderness that seemed out of place considering what they were about to do. He gave her a halfhearted smile.
When they reached her condo building, he held the door for her and hugged her on the elevator ride up. At her door, she fished her key out of her purse.
He steeled himself then leveled his gaze at her. “Green light?”
She nodded. “Green light.”
_____________________________________________
Ravish Me will be available mid June from Ellora’s Cave. Also check out Cindy’s other EC offerings:


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