Monday, July 30, 2012

Are You the Master or Are You Having an Identity Crisis?

Please Welcome Lila Munro author of Assumed Master, Identity Crisis and True Identity Crisis.

Lila will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host with the most comments (excluding the author's and the host's).


INTERVIEW


1. What or who inspired you to start writing? 

I can remember wanting to make up stories before I could read stories, so I’m not sure what inner voice stirred that urge but I’ve had plenty of inspirations and supporters along the way to encourage me to keep my dream alive and help it to come to fruition. My earliest influence was my sixth grade creative writing teacher, Mr. Trokey, who told the rest of the class I had a penchant for driving a story forward. Nothing like stoking the young writer’s ego, right? ☺ Then through the middle school years I had a very good English teacher, Mrs. Pruitt, who drove my imagination through reading and drama. In high school, more teacher’s prodded me to succeed and finally after many, many years of back-burnering my dream, my husband “helped” me decide it was time to do something about it. He’s my biggest fan.

2. What components are necessary for the genre of this novel?

A strong understanding of the lifestyle and the psychology of M/s and D/s relationships. I’ve known people for years that practice and I suppose I was doing research before I realized what it would be used for later. 

3. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans? 

I’m working on finishing up the Identity series, so long as the characters cooperate and no one else pops out of a box demanding their story be told and I would like to finish up my Slower Lower series this year. Logan’s been dying to tell his story and so far has taken a back seat to all the Masters that keep shoving him aside. As far as plans to expand or climb the ladder, someday, but for now I’m happy working where I am and building my readership. I’ve watched a couple of prominent names in the genre topple and fall this year due to over extending and no one having their back. If success in so far as who I contract with means compromising the quality of my product I’m happy hanging out where I am for now.

4. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing? 

I don’t, but think they do hold merit. I do have a couple of people in my life that do read for me before each submission and it helps to have that extra set of eyes looking for discrepancies in plot and so forth.

5. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing) 

The best advice I ever received was write what you know and if you don’t know it learn it. The rest of the advice might not have been the best but it didn’t category in the worst either. I think all advice is invaluable as you learn something be it good or bad.

6. Do you outline your books or just start writing? 

I’m a bit plotster with a dash of pantster. I started out a die-hard plotter. Every single detail had to be on “the map.” Then I had a bit of a dry spell and allowed my panster muse to take over and found out that approach made me a bit crazy, so I reeled that in and but quickly. Now I do outlines and keep detailed notes, but if the characters raise their hands politely and suggest things I listen and consider their wants. ☺ Assumed Master was plotted from the editing stage of Assumed Identity as, although, it’s book four in the series, it’s the first book to directly carry on any characters story. 

7. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book? 

I have started the next project and it is in fact book five of the Identity series, Assumed Calling. It’s Allen’s story that readers may remember from Assumed Identity as well as Assumed Master. I have an unedited blurb I believe my editor will be okay with me sharing:

Like the beat of a primal drum, whispering the rhythm of an ancient dance, the lifestyle calls…
At the seasoned age of fifty-six, Allen Bourke has resigned to the fact he’ll probably never find someone to top that he can also love. After several years toying in the darkest of playgrounds, he met Julie, whom he adored, but found out within the first twenty-fours he shared no chemistry with. Since then, he’s had wives and lovers, none of whom endured. And while he’s continued to look, he’s always watched. He and his friends are getting older as the players emerging on the scene are forever getting younger.
But can one Master bring himself to answer the call even as it pulls at him like the moon pulls the tide?
While watching his friends get older, Mason also witnesses the death of a dear friend who leaves his sub without a rudder and her compass spinning wildly as she finds her way in a new relationship. Stubborn as she ever has been, Julie sequesters herself to Allen’s second home in Savannah where Dante finally bends her to his will and Allen finds himself bending to a quite young Nicki Cartwright. She’s the very spit and image of Julie, complete with attitude—and a thumb sucking complex. Nicki’s full of energy and a lot of fun to service, but Allen can’t help but wonder if they could be more to each other. If they can ever drop the roles they’ve established and discover the real people living beneath the slick veneer of Nicki’s school girl fantasies.
8. What is your favorite reality show? 
Honestly, I don’t watch much television and reality TV doesn’t do it for me at all. Reality is what happens in my house every day and with a husband in the military and gone most of the time, my reality trumps Snookie’s any day of the week. ☺ 

9. Who are your favorite actor and actress?

Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn. Yes, I’m a TCM junky. Actually Jimmy runs a close race with Bogie. I recently had the good fortune of seeing Casablanca on the big screen during its 70th anniversary and was thrilled to be able to do so. I’ve also seen The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind on the big screen.

10. Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?

Assumed Master starts off in the black moment to be honest. Chapter one sees Julie learning of her fate, that her Master of eighteen years has passed away and willed her to another man. Black indeed. 

11. If you were a casting director for the film version of your book, who would play your lead roles?

Antonio Banderas as Dante for sure. Julie’s a bit harder to envision. And Allen? Wonder if Bruce Willis is available?





Assumed Master
by Lila Munro

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BLURB:

We may be born to the lifestyle,

Julie Stevens and Dante Larson always knew their tastes were a bit more eccentric than those of the average person, but acknowledgement of their chosen paths came at different times. While their lives have run parallel for the last twenty years, destiny always came knocking at the wrong time. Julie was a closeted edge player and before Dante could pull her free of her fears, Mason came along and dragged her kicking and screaming from her self-inflicted darkness, leaving Dante wanting. Although Dante’s been in love with Julie since the day he first laid eyes on her, he's happily married to Blake. But the tides are turning.

But Lady Fate dictates how it should be lived…

Still mourning the death of the only Master she’s ever known, Julie finds herself forced to live with the one man she’s been terrified of for years, Dante. While she has to admit something between them feels right, just as many things feel very, very wrong, starting with the fact he’s married to her gay best friend. Before she even has time to sort out her current predicament, another man catches Julie's attention. But after losing her mother, her sister, and her husband, can Julie come to grips with the fact that Keegan McKettrick jumps out of perfectly good helicopters for a living, rescue diving for the Coast Guard? And where exactly does that leave Dante, who knows for sure he needs a woman to complete his unconventional marriage? Quite frankly, he's tired of waiting.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Excerpt

“What is it?” Julie whispered, her heart pounding.

Drake cleared his throat again, took a staggered breath, and began to read.

“My dearest, angel. I’ve asked Drake to read this to you as I knew it would be a very hard thing for anyone to do. Dante and Blake are with you at my request as these instructions involve them as well. I’m so sorry I left you alone. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you, but karma and fate had a different plan and I was powerless to stop it. But I’m not powerless to play a part in your future. When you gave yourself to me, you willingly gave me the power to make your decisions for you, although I only did so in cases where what was best for you was against what you thought was right. It never happened often as I never wanted you to lose yourself or your voice. You were always so pleasing to me in that way. I’ll never forget your confusion as to why some subs would purposely displease their Master. It made me so proud to know I had a rare gem in you, a sub that would give so freely and willingly of herself. Angel, what I’m about to do will go against all your instincts, but make no mistake. This is one of the rare times I’m setting my foot down and doing what I know is best for you regardless what you might think.”

Drake stopped and wiped the sweat off his brow, glancing at the three of them.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lila Munro currently resides on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and their two four-legged kids. She’s a military wife with an empty nest and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fifteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. Her genre of choice is contemporary romance that spans everything from the sensual to BDSM and ménage. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, Destiny’s Fire, Salvation, Three for Keeps, the Force Recon series, the Slower Lower series, and the Identity series. She’s a member in good standing of RWA and Passionate Ink. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2012. And has a brand new line scheduled for winter 2012-13.

Ms. Munro loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted via her website http://realmanticmoments.blogspot.com  or through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lila_Munro You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com
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So don't forget to comment for the chance to win a $25.00 amazon gift card.

OTHER BOOKS




12 comments:

Mary Preston said...

You really can't go past the cinema greats & movie classics.

All advice, good & not so good, can be useful at times.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thank you for hosting Lila today!

Anonymous said...

Hi Marybelle! I love, love, love old b/w movies. And you're right on on the advice--with bad advice the lesson is often that's what NOT to do. :) Thanks for following me, hope you've enjoyed the tour and good luck in the drawing!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Christine for hosting me today! I'll be by off and on all day today to answer comments and chat it up. :)

Paula Martin said...

Interesting interview, Lila. This isn't a genre I'm familiar with, but your blurb and excerpt sounded intriguing. Very best of luck with your books!

Anonymous said...

Hi Paula! Thanks for coming by. :)Good to see a familiar face out and about. :)

Christine Young said...

Lila, welcome to my blog. Hope you have a great tour and sell tons of books.

Anonymous said...

Gotta love classic movies, preferably in a good revival house where you can see them in all their glory! And I've never been convinced that critique groups are the way to go, either...

vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

Rita Wray said...

It is amazing how much planning goes into writing a book. I wish I had the talent. By the way I love old movies, I have a big selection and watch them with my daughter.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Mistress of the Red Ink Pen said...

I wish someone would have encouraged my mother as you experienced. Our 25 years crisscrossing the country with the Marine Corps in the 50's -70's would have made great books.
I've taken up the writing torch and hope to, similar to you, capture my life experiences.
Thank you for your wealth of information.

Anonymous said...

Hi Christine and thanks again for having me by! Anonymous...the classics were so much better on the big screen--I wish theaters did that more often. Hi Ingeborg! We have an extensive collection as well that seems to grow by the day. Thanks for coming by! Hi CL! Thanks for your family's service and wow what a time to live it! They would make terrific stories. People are writing romances during that time period now and they're being tagged as retro-romance rather than historical. Would love to see some good reads come from that time period! :)

Rebecca Hipworth said...

I enjoyed the excerpt. Looks like a new book to read. :)

Becky01x(at)gmail(dot)com