Guest Author Day with DD Symms

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

Comfortable? Wonderful. Now let’s get started.

To get us started can you tell us a little about what you are working on or have coming out? 

My novel Boarding is scheduled for release July 19. The heroine, Jessie Carter, is in her mid-20s and determined to make a splash as a fashion designer and dreams about working with an internationally renowned model. She's shocked when she actually gets the chance.

How would you describe yourself using only five words? 

An extroverted introvert with humor.

If you could write a warning label for yourself as a person or an author, what would it say? 

Caution: You Don't Know What I'm Really Thinking Right Now

Do you have any guilty pleasures? Sure do!

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you. 

My granddaughter was born in my mid-forties.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Southern California – with several other places in close second.

How do you get yourself in the mood to write? 

I start writing and my mood catches up with me. Although playing music by Hall and Oates or The Piano Guys helps.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing? 

I often write late morning to early afternoon and again at night. I also write non-fiction and I try to knock that out first thing in the morning. Access to YouTube and a glass of lemon water or coffee have become "must haves" when I write.

Who are some of your favorite authors? 

John Grisham, Anita Shreve, and a limited amount of John Updike

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for? 

Honestly, fellow Breathless Press author Dianne Hartsock's Without Aiden is in my TBR.

Is there something special you do to celebrate when one of your books is released? 

Maybe when my second novel Arrival is released. Otherwise, I just shake the hand of a friend of mine.

Do you have a favorite TV show you can't miss? 

I don't anymore. I do like NCIS.

If you could date any character from any book, who would it be and why-no it doesn't have to be from your books?

Louisa from the Janet Evanovich novel, Naughty Neighbor. She's sexy, funny, and down to earth.

What is the strangest source of writing inspiration you’ve ever had?

Gosh, this ties in with a guilty pleasure.

If your muse were to talk behind your back, what secrets would he/she tell?

My characters for several works-in-progress would all get revealed.

Boarding --Blurb

True Friends are Life's Greatest Pleasure

Jessie Carter is in New York City when she's shocked with the chance to design a dress in one day for the model she reveres, Veve Rouselette.

Jessie's entrepreneur boyfriend, Raymond, fears losing her to a pursuit of fruitless dreams and wants her to settle for a position in his high tech firm.

She finds herself attracted to the assistant to the model's manager, Callan Delongpre, who encourages her talents. He's also the manager's bisexual lover with sensual tastes and shows Jessie a world she only fantasized about.

Racing against the clock, Jessie must conquer her boyfriend's challenges and a gossip columnist's mission to destroy Veve's reputation.

Visit ddsymms.wordpress.com for Boarding contests and release info.

EXCERPT

Jessie couldn't deny herself. She leaned and kissed Callan on his cheek and ran a hand on the inside of his thigh, squeezing hard. She parted her lips with a light gasp and fought to regain her concentration. The driver sped along the streets but stopped quickly at a red light. Heat was simmering and she couldn't stand being this close to Callan any longer and thinking about his naked body without a release.

Flying place to place, on edge, and finding herself more defensive with Raymond instead of in love caused every nerve to jangle like an alarm.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "It'll be okay."

"Yeah, thanks." She leaned against him, spied his erection pushing through his slacks, and feeling as comfortable as she did daring, whispered in his ear. "When we get there, can I have you?"

The light turned green and the driver pulled ahead.

"Have me, huh?" He looked straight ahead.

"Yeah."

The driver changed lanes and the vehicle lurched. Callan made no further response until the driver pulled to a stop at the address. She could barely breathe from the anticipation of his answer and wondered if she had overstepped a boundary.

"Sure. Let's do it."

The doors opened, Sal was waiting, and Jessie was more than relieved and ready to get down to business. Sal padded up the flight of wooden steps with Jessie and Callan's steps echoing off the walls.

"Darla said you've got a project."

"Yeah."

"Cool. So what is it?"

"Well, it's still in the works, but we're having a young woman stop over soon and I'm making a dress for her."

Sal smiled. "Like the one you made for Darla?"

"Oh?" Callan turned to Jessie. "You made one for—?"

"Wednesday, just for fun."

Sal opened the door. "Okay, go ahead and get set up anywhere you'd like."

"Hey, is it possible to use one of the bedrooms, just for setting up and a changing room so to speak?" asked Jessie, trying to sound as professional as possible.

"Sure. Second door down, that's mine. I don't mind."

"Okay, Callan, can you take a look with me and see what you think?" Jessie took Callan's hand, moving quickly.

"Sure."

Once inside, she gave him a hug and rubbed her pussy against him. "A quickie? Would that be okay?"

"Yeah, fine with me."

She locked her lips on his, grinding away and probing with her tongue in his. Time was burning, but so was she. In seconds, his shirt was unbuttoned and completely loose. "Take it off."

"Damn, you know how to take control," he replied in a low voice, sweet with the anticipation of sex.

"I'm learning. Just found out how last night."