It’s my pleasure to welcome today’s guest Tory Richards to the blog! Tory will be stopping by the blog tomorrow and has agreed to answer your questions so please make her feel welcome by leaving a question or a comment for her. 
I’m so thrilled to be here visiting today! One of the perks of being a writer and sharing my stories is meeting and making new friends. And lately, I’ve been all over the internet, promoting my last three releases. In August Passionate Encounters and Hot Spot came out, and just this month Up in Flames was released. Passionate Encounters is a full length romance while the other two are short.
Okay, so who am I? I’m a grandma who writes smut. I’m also a daughter, sister, aunt, mother and friend. Tory Richards is my pen name. My first two releases came out in my real name, Debbie Wallace. Mainstream romances bordering on the sweet side. When I graduated to erotic romance, I felt changing my name at the time would allow me to write without restrictions while keeping my job at Disney. I’ve since retired.
Below is a blurb and excerpt of Hot Spot.
Blurb - Rachel Masters has had a crush on her sexy boss for three years. As far as she knows the millionaire architect is oblivious to her, walking past her desk every morning with barely a nod in her direction. But when the power goes out and they’re trapped in an elevator, the truth comes out in one steamy episode designed to take Rachel’s mind off being claustrophobic.
James White doesn’t have a crush on his receptionist. He wants her; it’s as simple as that. He senses there’s a real beauty hidden beneath the granny glasses and professional suites. And he plans to find out how hot she is as soon as the chance presents itself.
Excerpt - “How bad do you have it?”
His breath was warm against her face. Rachel swallowed. “I can overcome it most of the time, if I think of something else. But knowing that I can’t get out right this minute is the problem. I can’t breathe.”
“Yes you can. Just breathe in deep through your nose and release it slowly through your mouth.” He pulled the glasses off her face and tossed them away. “You’re tense. Try to relax.” His strong hands began to massage Rachel’s shoulders.
She closed her eyes and tried to do what he suggested, then shook her head no and said fiercely, “I can’t breathe. There’s no air.”
“Think of something else.”
She felt his hands move from her shoulders to the buttons at her blazer. She could tell he was unbuttoning it, and the next thing Rachel knew he was slipping it off her shoulders.
“It might help loosening up some of your clothing.”
Rachel felt a scorching blast of heat envelop her when James’ hands began to pull her silk blouse out of the waistband of her skirt. When his knuckles brushed her skin at the top of her blouse, she realized he was undoing more buttons at her breast. Her eyes bolted open, and her hands encircled his wrists. His movements stopped.
“What are you doing Mr. White?” she whispered.
“Helping you, I thought.” There was amusement swimming in his eyes.
“By undressing me?” Under normal circumstances she would be thrilled but she was still stressed over her situation.
“You can relax, Miss Masters. Your virtue is safe with me.”
“I’m not a virgin.” Why had she said that? Rachel wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.
His soft laughter filled the elevator. “Well in that case, maybe you’re not safe with me.” He nudged her hands away and continued what he was doing. His gaze followed his hands while he unbuttoned her blouse, and when he was done he raised his eyes to hers.
She detected a slight difference in his breathing, and his features hardened with what she wanted to believe was growing desire.
Right now until 9/17 if you go to my blog and leave a comment on the post that starts like, Want a chance to win; your name will be entered into a drawing for a copy of Hot Spot. I’m giving away three (3) copies and the winners will be announced on 9/18 on my blog!
Tootles!
Tory
This book sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing the excerpt. I am adding it to my ever growing tbr list.
Thank you so much Gabrielle! And don’t forget to head over to my blog and leave a comment on the post for a chance to win a free copy!
Tory
Where on the erotic spectrum do your books generally fall?
I know this is probably a difficult question. I’ve been told by other authors that it is. However, I think it’s an important one for readers.
Authors and readers and publishers use a variety of measurements to arrive at what is or isn’t sweet romance or erotic romance. At BVS our sweeter romances (TENDER DESTINATIONS) may or may not have sex scenes. Sex scenes may occur behind closed doors. If they don’t they are described using euphemism. SENSUAL JOURNEYS our more spicy line has sex scenes which may be described graphically. But SENSUAL JOURNEYS do not include fetish content. Our most erotic line FORBIDDEN EXPERIENCES includes stories that have some kind of fetish content. So…this is how we break it down…but how do you break it down?
Where do your stories fit within the continuum from sweet to erotic? Where do you think the defining lines are between sweet, sensual, and erotic?
Curious…
My 2 earlier releases were sweet romance. There was one sex scene in each book but there was plenty of heat between the characters.
My erotic romances hold nothing back. Graphic language, explicit sex scenes between the hero and heroine from vanilla sex to anal sex. But I want to make it clear my characters are very much involved with each other.
I always like to ask visiting authors which authors they enjoy reading. I find that when I find a new favorite author often their favorite authors become my favorite authors. So…who are some of your favorite authors?
Who has inspired you most as an author?
My favorite is Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. Others I also enjoy are Rosemary Rogers, Karen Robards, Paige Tyler, Janet Daily, and Barbara Cartland.
Sure! Get ready for a lot of reading! LOL
Cupid’s Arrow – A mistake lands a sexy detective on the doorstep of a pretty divorcee, Sarah. And soon, thanks to her sisters match-making skills, they are running into each other wherever they go.
The Senator’s Daughter – A senator arranges for his daughter to be kidnapped on the eve of her wedding, convinced she’s being blackmailed into marriage. Complications arise when she and her kidnapper begin to fall for each other.
It’s All in the Jeans – Logan is staying with his grandfather to recoup after a fire takes the lives of his two best friends. Libby is on a hell-bent mission to keep her beloved grandmother out of an assisted living facility. They meet, of all places, a retirement community. And the sparks fly when they can’t keep their hands off each other!
Wicked Desire – A woman running away from her stalker ex-husband. A small town sheriff beginning a new life without the woman he loves. Both come together to find there are second chances for love.
Someone to Love Me – Two strangers, stranded for the winter in the mountains of Alaska. Find hope and survival in each other’s arms. Their attraction is instant…explosive…and consuming!
The Cowboy Way – Murder, arson, an escaped convict, and a scorned ex-lover get in the way of the scorching romance between a rancher’s daughter, and his foreman.
All the Right Moves – A detective breaks the rules to protect a doctor being stalked by a killer, but who will protect her from him?
The Mercenary Way – Sarah is kidnapped because of mistaken identity. Clint, an ex Navy Seal, reluctantly agrees to rescue her. They mix like oil and water. But there’s no denying the scorching passion between them when they let their emotions run wild.
Breathless Surrender – An FBI agent working undercover kidnaps his sexy neighbor to keep her alive.
Talk Dirty to Me – Reunited lovers discover nowhere is off limits as they rekindle their passion for one another.
His Hands-On Man – Payback sex, anywhere, anytime…
The Promise – A Marine home for the holidays…his brother’s beautiful widow…and a promise that binds them together as much as the passion between them!
I can only say yum! Such a great list.
I notice that several of your stories feature heroes kidnapping heroines. Captive bride/captive heroine stories are popular. I know it is one of my favorite kinds of romance. I like them because the stories are usually very hero and heroine focused. The hero and heroine are usually forced together in close proximity…the same house…the same cabin…or whatever. Usually stories with this set-up are high emotion…and I like that.
I wonder what it is that attracts you to this kind of storyline.
I also noticed a fair number of stories in which the heroine is stalked or is in some kind of other danger. These seem like romantic suspense type titles. What draws you to romantic suspense?
I’m pleased to see so many great looking titles. I will definitely be adding samples to my Kindle. Pretty much…most of what is added as a sample is eventually purchased. I use the samples feature to hold things that I want to read so I don’t forget about them.
You’re correct. A lot of my stories are filled with suspense. I don’t know why but I’ve always been drawn to kidnap plots or plots where the hero and heroine are forced into close proximity during most of the story. Maybe because it gives them the chance for their emotions toward one another to develop and grow. Almost anything can, and does happen.
In Someone to Love Me, the only two characters in the whole book except for the last couple of chapters are the hero and heroine. That’s a full length erotic romance, and probably the hardest story I’ve written to date. The characters were trapped in a cabin in the Alaskan mountains.
Sounds like my kind of book Tory. I too am drawn to kidnap plots or plots where the characters are forced into close proximity and kept that way. I especially like it when there is a misunderstanding that is buried in a secret and you know that at some point the secret is going to come out…and you wonder how it will impact the relationship when it does.
I also like stories that focus almost exclusively on the hero and heroine – usually – though there have been stories with wider focus that I have enjoyed as well. Generally I like tight focus on hero and heroine though.
I like trapped together stories for the same reasons I like kidnapped stories I think. The characters are forced to be together…cannot get apart.
I cracked up about the ” Grandma who writes smut”.
How do decide which stories will be full length? Is that a conscious decision before you begin, or does it pan out that way?
Hi Mary, I never gave it any thought before. I used to think I didn’t have a short story in me, now it seems that’s all I write. It’s certainly easier writing a shorter romance. I guess it was a conscious decision because it allows me to get more books out there without such a long wait in between.
Tory
I think sometimes it’s a matter of how difficult the conflict is between the characters. A character with deep baggage and a lot to overcome to reach a happy ending will likely need a longer story than a character who has less to overcome. At least that’s been my experience.
Exactly right! That’s why when I write short romances, we’re talking 15,000 words, I usually think of a plot where the hero and heroine knew each other in the past. It’s easier if they have some kind of history.
You’ve written both sweeter romance and more erotic romance. Do you notice that you are treated differently in author circles as a writer of erotic romance vs. straight romance?
What did you like most about writing sweeter romance?
What do you like most about writing erotic romance?
Do you have any plans to write more sweet romance?
Not really Laurie. At least I haven’t noticed if I’ve been treated differently. I started out writing sweeter romances to test the waters. Also, I was worried I didn’t have an erotic gene in me. LOL But I read a few and they helped me to evolve. Will I write more sweet romances? Honestly, I never know what I’m going to write. My characters lead the way.
What do I like about writing erotic romance? The freedom. The excitement. The passion!
Tory
I agree with you. I love the same things about writing erotic romance. I like being able to take the passion into edgy areas. I’m not confined to nice missionary sex in the bedroom when I write erotic romance. I can venture into edgier scenarios. In fact, my readers expect me to venture into edgier scenarios. I like that.
Some authors have favorite themes that they like to work with. For example they might like working with trust and trust is an issue in most if not all of their books. Another author might like dealing with stories in which the hero and heroine are reuniting after a bitter break-up. Another might enjoy writing about commitment. Do you have any favorite themes that most, many, or all of your stories incorporate? What are they and what is it that fascinates you about that particular theme?
Well, Laurie, the first thing that came to mind is their commitment to one another from early on in the story. As for theme I do tend to write stories where the alpha male is in some kind of law enforcement, or in charge. I know there’s a lot of different hero types out there but if I had a choice between reading a story where the hero is a shoe salesman, or a mercenary, I’d pick the mercenary everytime.
Tory
lol…yes…I agree with you. Alpha heroes who are in charge…who have dangerous, exciting jobs are hot. They are also well suited for certain kinds of plots…where heroines are in danger for example.
I noticed you had a pretty long backlist. Would you tell us about your backlist…with a mini blurb for each?
LOL, for some reason my response to you showed up at the top:)
Tory
It happens. I do that myself sometimes. It usually happens when you click reply at the very bottom which is reply to the WHOLE conversation vs. reply to an individual part of the conversation. It’s easy to remember till you get to the last one. It catches me all the time too.