Author Barbara Han Joins Us To Talk About Seducing Avery

Today I’m pleased to introduce guest author Barbara Han who is here to share a bit about herself and her latest novel Seducing Avery. Please do your part to make Barbara feel welcome by leaving a question or comment for her in the comments section following this post.

 

Laurie’s Interview With Barbara Han

Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself – when did you first know you wanted to write – what was your journey to publication like – do you have a spouse or significant other – kids? Pets? Where in the world do you live? Where did you grow up? What real life events and experiences fuel your writing?

First of all, thanks so much for having me here, Laurie! I was born in Chicago but moved away before my first birthday. The early part of my childhood was spent in Ohio. I’ve been in Texas most of my life where we enjoy plenty of sunshine. I have a wonderful husband, and together, we have three gorgeous and talented children. Our family clown is a spunky overgrown goldendoodle.

I’ve always found a certain beauty and power in words. As soon as I learned all the letters of the alphabet, I started stringing together sentences. It grew from there. One of the dorkiest things I did as a child was read the Dictionary like a novel. I loved reading Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, C.S. Lewis, and pretty much everything else I could get my hands on.

 

Q: Please tell us a bit about Seducing Avery.

Blurb:  Avery McAdams believes in order to truly be herself she needs to keep her head down, her guard up and her focus on her career. Until she’s hired by sexy, charismatic Ryker Li to pull off the event of the century, and he shows up personally to convince her to handle his next party. When she meets him face-to-face, she realizes a piece of her wants him to see her as attractive, which goes against everything she’s convinced herself she believes.

Rich, powerful Ryker has made an art form of getting what he wants, when he wants it, and then moving on. But something about Avery makes him want to stick around. When he finds everything he never dreamed to look for in a woman, can the billionaire playboy commit to the biggest deal of all?

Or will a lifetime of mistrust and suspicion turn them forever into rivals?

 

Q: Please tell us a bit about the idea behind Seducing Avery. What inspired the story? What part of the story did you get first? How did it build on itself till you had the complete story? What was it about this story versus others that compelled you to write it?

I felt compelled to write this story because I could relate to the characters as they came to me. Ryker’s demons have created his drive to become successful, which has also alienated him in many ways. Avery has to accept that her kind of beauty is just as good, if not better, than the cosmetic surgery/air brushed ideals of women.

I think we all feel inadequate in some way. I wanted to see how Ryker and Avery overcame their emotional barriers when real love came their way. Would they walk away and hide in the walls they’d constructed? Or would they risk it all and take that scary step forward into the abyss?

 

Q: Was there one particular scene that was your favorite in Seducing Avery? Please tell us about that scene. What happens in the scene? Why is it an important scene in the book?

I do have a favorite scene, but it’s at the end and I don’t want to give it away. Let’s just say there’s a Cinderella moment for awkward Avery.

 

Q: Most writers know a lot of things about their characters that never make it into the book. What can you tell us about your characters that didn’t make it into the book?

Much of the specifics about Ryker’s youth didn’t make it in the book.

 

Q: What can you tell us about your book that isn’t in the blurb?

Ryker and Avery might have been from two different worlds and looked totally different, but they are so much alike on the inside. They share similar pain.

 

Q: What has been the hardest scene you’ve ever written and why?

Any scene that pushes me as a writer is hard. Some days my brain hurts.

 

Q: What aspect of writing do you find the most difficult?

Good question! Letting go is excruciating. There’s a point when you’ve made the story the best it can be and you have to trust it’s done and let it go. Otherwise, you can literally tweak it forever.

 

Q: What kind of writing do you find the most fun?

I love to write poetry but I’d never try to sell it. It’s personal and would probably only make sense to me. I used to write news reports and feature articles. Loved it. Of course, my favorite form of writing has to be novels. I’m most at home there.

 

Q: Where on the spectrum from sweet to erotic does your book fit? What do you see as the dividing lines between sweet, sensual and erotic?

Another great question. I’d have to say my stories are spicy. In a sweet romance, the door is often closed on the sex. Sensual stories are more about the emotional connection leading to the physical act of Sex. While with erotic, sex often leads to deeper emotion. It’s the gateway.

 

Now for some just for fun:

Q: On Pinterest are you a A.) Hoarder in disguise (you collect images of everything you like) B.) Minimalist (you only collect images that fit in with some project – my next book – a home remodeling project – etc) C.) you’re not on Pinterest.

I’d have to say B.

 

Q: On Twitter are you A.) The life of the party engaging with my friends and followers B.) Mostly a promoter – I use Twitter primarily to promote my books  C.) Mostly a lurker. I follow a lot of people looking for useful information – some of which finds its way into my books.

I wish I was A. I’m probably C.

 

Q: Did you read 50 Shades of Grey? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?

Nope, haven’t had time. I will most likely read it. Will have to report back after.

 

Q: What was the last book you read that you really loved – enough that you’d recommend it to someone else?

The Green-Eyed Doll by Jerrie Alexander. If you like dark, gritty romantic suspense, pick it up ASAP. A word of caution though, you might not be able to put it back down.

 

Q: If you could go backwards or forwards in time and have dinner with anyone in history who would it be and why?

Backwards. Stephen J. Cannell. He is such an inspiration to me. I missed the chance to meet him when he was alive and I’m still kicking myself for that. If I could get a do-over, it’d be that!

 

Q: Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

I love meeting new people and crowds don’t bother me, but they can drain me. I refill my well when I’m by myself.

 

Q: Describe your ideal romantic getaway?

Anywhere with my husband and a good bottle of wine.

Q: If you were to be stranded on a desert island with one of your characters which character and why?

Oh, this is a good question! Hmmm. Elizabeth from GONE has this internal strength that blows me away. She’s a survivor against the odds. Between the two of us, we’d figure out a way off the island. Qualifier: I’d take Elizabeth because I’m married to the man of my dreams. If I hadn’t met him, my answer would be totally different.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers about yourself, your books, your characters?

I’d love to connect with them. They can find me Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. Also, my newsletter has prizes and cool things just for subscribers.

 

An Excerpt

“When you despise something, you’d be surprised at what you’re willing to do to avoid it.” She picked up the blanket, noticing how the air in the room had gone thin. Avery couldn’t swallow. Her throat dried up and her stomach quivered. Being near this man made her pulse thump at the base of her throat. Because when his gaze landed hard on hers, it spoke pure sex.

Thick, sooty lashes framed the most intoxicating shade of exotic brown eyes. His high cheekbones framed hard planes on his face, anchoring perfectly full, perfectly formed lips.

Looking at those lips almost made her forget he thought himself too important to attend the charity event he lent his name to. She quirked an eyebrow at him, curious as to why he really stood here in her office? After all, he’d been too busy or too good to show last night. Then again, why would a man like him waste an evening on orphans when he could have any supermodel he wanted at his side, and in his bed?

Coffee. She needed caffeine. She gripped the Styrofoam cup and took a sip.

His thick lips curled. “What is it now?”

About Barbara Han

Barb Han lives in North Texas with her husband, has three beautiful children, a spunky Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle mix, and too many books to count.

When she’s not writing, researching, or otherwise getting lost in a story, she volunteers at her children’s school, is in the kitchen ‘creating’ dinner, or can be found on or around a basketball court.

Writing contemporary romance and romantic suspense has been a dream come true for Barb—something she’s wanted to do for as long as she can remember. She left her corporate job, at her husband’s urging, and has been happily playing with her imaginary friends ever since.

In her down time, she plays video games and loves reading with her children. She also enjoys traveling with her family. Many of the places she visits end up in her books.

Links

 http://www.barbhan.com

I’m on Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/BarbHan

Twitter @BarbHanAuthor