Interview with PG Forte + Giveaway

Today I'm so excited to have PG Forte with us. PG has written over 20 books and been published through several different publishers like Loose Id, Samhain, Liquid Silver, and her latest release This Winter Heat part of -A Clockwork Christmas Anthology -Steampunk) with Carina Press. She has also just released an audio book Waiting for the Big O, and yes it's just as good as it sounds ;)

Miss Forte writes heartwarming Steampunk, not so frilly Fairies, sexy contemporary, and very hot vampires. While I haven't read everything (yet) I am a bit partial to her vampires, Conrad, Damian, Marc, and Julie. Since I love her vampires so much and have been craving more from them Miss PG has so kindly offered to answer a few questions for us.


Hi PG ;) thanks for stopping by I know you are a very busy women so I appreciate the visit.

Hi, Dawn! Thank you. You know I always enjoy our visits.


You write both m/m and m/f romance, You obviously don't just write in one genre is there one that you prefer over another and why?

I think Paranormal is probably my favorite, but I do enjoy variety. I think I'd hate to be limited to just one. Paranormal just allows you greater leeway in terms of what you imagine. I guess the same could be said for anything in the fantasy realm--steampunk, sci-fi, etc. I do like straight contemporaries too, but...I guess I just like my imaginary worlds.


Is one genre funnier or easier to write then the other and why?

I think my contemporary stories have been some of the funnier, less angsty stories. While I definitely have found some stories have been easier to write than others, that doesn't seem to be confined to a particular genre. For instance, In the Dark and Waiting for the Big One were two of the easiest books I've ever written--and they have almost nothing in common with each other.

As a writer you I'm sure you have to do lots of research. What is the wildest and craziest thing you have found while researching ;) ?

Oh, yeah. research is fascinating. One of the strangest stories I've come across was something I just found recently. I can't even remember what I started out researching--something to do with weird blood conditions, probably. I'm always looking for stuff like that in order to make the vampires more interesting.
Anyway, I stumbled across a story about this family in Kentucky who had blue skin. I'm so going to use that at some point! I'm thinking perhaps an erotic paranormal, maybe something combining the Kama Sutra with Hindu mythology overtones, since Krishna is always depicted as being blue...perhaps a dream/fantasy/I don't know what all else yet. lol!


Here's the link, in case you're interested: http://gma.yahoo.com/fugates-kentucky-skin-bluer-lake-louise-200247843--abc-news.html


I know that I have my favorite characters in books I read, do you have favorites in book you write?

Well, sure. I think you can't help showing some favoritism. I really do love them all, however, and--generally speaking--whichever book I'm currently working on, those tend to be my favorite at the time. But, having said that, yeah, Conrad and Damian are definitely up there. lol--I'm sure you're surprised to hear that, huh?



Speaking of favorites I am totally in love with Damian... and Conrad too - I just can't choose. I think it's there complex relationship that has drawn me in so tight. I'm very curious what you have up your sleeve for the next book in this series. Do you think think you could give us a little taste of what next? I'm dying to know.

Ah, the next book. Yes. Whoever said 'third time's the charm' couldn't have had this book in mind when he or she said it. The third book got so long, it's now the third and fourth book...or it will be, as soon as I figure out how and where to split it.


As you know, all the books in this series go back and forth in time between present day (okay, by present I mean 2009/2010 at this point) and some point in the past that relates to what's happening 'now'. Basically, the next book(s) in the series was supposed to be dealing with the twins' childhood. So roughly, a thirty year period spanning the years between 1970 and 2000. I'm having a lot of fun with that part...maybe too much fun. lol! It's a much longer time frame than I covered in either of the first two books. Of course, the rest of the books in the series will cover even greater time periods. Hopefully I won't have to split ALL of them as well. Gulp.


There are a couple of new characters who show up in the next installment. One of them, Paul, was a love interest of Damian's. Conrad was not too happy about this, by the way. He feels--quite rightly--that this is 'his' series.

Here's a little peek. It's unedited--I should mention that! So it could definitely change. This scene takes place on New Year's Eve 1981. The twins are about eleven and Conrad and Damian have been pretending to be father and son to explain their relationship to the twins and each other. Damian has convinced Conrad to throw a party. He's told him that it was to help the twins learn to socialize, but really it was because he wanted some sort of neutral ground in which to introduce Paul to his family. Conrad is upset because he's jealous. Paul is upset because he's not buying the whole father-and-son story...



“Happy New Year, Mr. Quintano,” Lillian added as her husband dragged her away. “It was lovely speaking with you.”


Conrad nodded vacantly at them, taking care to keep his smile plastered to his face for fear of what his expression might otherwise reveal. His eyes continued to track Damian’s progress as he made his way around the room, pausing, from time to time to chat with various guests.


His young man never moved from Damian’s side. Occasionally, he even placed a hand on Damian’s shoulder, although whether he was offering comfort, or seeking the same, Conrad couldn’t decide and really didn’t care. What concerned him more—far more in fact—was Damian’s reaction. Did Damian even notice the way he was leaning, ever so subtly, into the boy’s touch? That soft smile that lingered on his lips whenever his glance strayed to his friend’s face, was Damian even conscious of it? He looked smitten. They both did. And the beast that made its home in Conrad was enraged by it.


Mine, the beast howled loudly. All mine. Always mine. It was an old promise, one Damian had made centuries earlier, and Conrad was certain he’d meant it at the time. Was it anyone’s fault, other than Conrad’s own, if Damian no longer felt that way now?


At last, Damian stopped to introduce his new friend to the twins. The love and pride he felt for them was clear on his face. The boy shook hands with them both. Julie dimpled up at him cheerily, which was no surprise, but even Marc, usually the more cautious, smiled with friendly curiosity.
And then, at last, they were heading in Conrad’s direction. Conrad gave serious thought to the idea of seducing the boy, charming him away from Damian just to teach them a lesson, to show them both what they were up against. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d done such a thing, and why should he not? Rank did have its privileges, after all. But, on the other hand, what good did he think he would come of it? Damian already knew, and all-too-well, the depths to which Conrad could occasionally sink. Conrad certainly didn’t need to give him any more reasons to despise him.


“Good evening, Papa.” The breezy, confident tone of Damian’s voice was marred by the thinnest thread of worry. Otherwise he hid his feelings well, far better than Conrad who only just barely managed to conceal a grimace. Papa. The name by which they’d agreed Damian should address Conrad in public. Never had it struck so sour a note. “Will you allow me to introduce my friend Paul to you?”


Would he allow it? An interesting question. And how clever of Damian to make it seem as though Conrad actually had any choice in the matter.


Still annoyed, Conrad allowed his gaze to lock with Damian’s and time lost its meaning. The look in Damian’s eyes was one Conrad had seen countless times before. There was something Damian wanted tonight, something he wanted very badly and only Conrad could give it to him. Oh, if only it were the same thing that Conrad wanted—just as badly—from Damian. It wasn’t however, and Conrad knew it.


“Of course you may.” Smiling determinedly, Conrad turned his gaze to the other man, only to find his eyes had narrowed suspiciously. Conrad extended his hand all the same. “Paul, is it?” he murmured in dangerous tones, practically daring the boy not to take his hand. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”


The young man clenched his jaw and said nothing.


“Paul,” Damian prodded softly. The plaintive note in his voice nearly undid all of Conrad’s good intentions. Who was this boy that Damian—nearly as stiff-necked and proud as Conrad himself—should feel obliged to beg?


Paul shot Damian an angry look then reluctantly forced a smile. “Very pleased to meet you too,” he said his eyes still flashing a challenge as he shook Conrad’s hand, squeezing it with all-too-tight a grip.


Conrad sighed in annoyance. He sent an appealing glance in Damian’s direction, apologizing for what he was about to do, then he too tightened his grip, just enough to pull a gasp of pained surprise from Paul’s lips.


Damian cleared his throat and frowned pointedly at Conrad, but Conrad had already released Paul’s hand. “So, tell me, Paul,” he said, smiling at them both. “How did you and my son meet?”


“Son. Right.” Paul snorted quietly. “Well, actually, if you must know, we first met—”


“At a bar here in town,” Damian finished quickly. “Several months ago. You know how we’ve discussed bringing in another couple of tutors for the twins? After talking to Paul, I thought he might be just what we were looking for.”


“Did you?” Conrad hadn’t missed the angry look that passed between the two men. He wondered what he wasn’t being told this time. Before he had a chance to pursue it, or Damian to respond, a chant broke out in the room around them.


“Ten…nine…eight…”


The countdown to the New Year had begun. Conrad’s lip curled into a rueful smile as he once again met Damian’s eyes. In seasons now long since passed, they might have heralded the New Year’s arrival with a kiss. Or even, perhaps, with a more intimate display of their mutual devotion.


“Seven…six…five…”


Now, of course, their masquerade as father and son precluded any sort of intimacy in public and the sins that lay between them kept them apart the rest of the time, as well. But it didn’t always have to be that way, did it?


“Four…three…two…”


Someday, perhaps, there would come a time when all these petty constraints would be lifted and the two of them might ring in the New Year as they once had done. Someday. Perhaps.


“Happy New Year!”


The entire room erupted in a cheer and Paul, who was under no constraints whatsoever, turned suddenly toward Damian. He clasped Damian’s head between his hands and kissed him—hard and fast and far too intimately for two men who were mere acquaintances. If Conrad had still retained any doubts, that kiss would have resolved them. The two were lovers, but he already knew that. What he didn’t know, and what he needed to know, badly, was how deeply entrenched Damian’s heart had become.


Damian grasped Paul by the shoulders and pushed him away, breaking the kiss. His face was white with shock, his eyes wide with fear, but, for once, Paul seemed not to notice Damian’s distress. Instead, he turned to Conrad with an insufferably smug smile on his face. “And a very Happy New Year to you, too.”


Conrad could feel his temper boiling rapidly away. There were only two things keeping him from exploding in rage, the look in Damian’s eyes and what was left of his common sense. He could certainly kill Paul. In fact, at the moment, he’d have liked nothing more. But to do so now, to reveal his true nature here, in this room full of people, would mean a death sentence for the twins and himself and for Damian as well. No amount of insolence was worth that.


With his self-control stretched taut, Conrad once again appealed wordlessly to Damian. The message in his gaze was clear, or so Conrad hoped. Get him away from me. Now. Or else.


“Come, Paul.” Damian’s hand closed on the other man’s arm. Let’s see who else we might introduce you to.”

So now that you have intrigued us do you have anything new coming out?

Well, the print version of Old Sins, Long Shadows will be available in April. I think you can pre-order it at Amazon now, in fact. Other than that...I have several things in the pipeline, but sadly I have no firm dates at this point.

(Isn't that a gorgoues cover? I want to lick it)

Do you have any signings or appearances coming up?

I'll be at RT in Chicago in April. I'll be signing books at both the eBook Expo and the Print Book Fair. I'll even be taking part in a workshop or two with some of the other Naughty Nine and the Smutketeers. I can honestly say I just can't wait for April to get here!


RT?? WOO HOO I'll be there too! Save me a spot at the bar, I'll be the one in the tutu and the I love Damian shirt ;)

lol! Okay. You got it. ;) I also have an online radio appearance coming up. Tomorrow, in fact. February 27, which also happens to be my birthday. I'll be at Other Worlds of Romance with Linda Mooney at 8PM  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/other_worlds_of_romanceI'll be talking about 'the boys' ;) by which of course I mean Conrad and crew. I'll also be reading from Old Sins, Long Shadows.
Oh, and I guess I should also mention that it's a call-in talk show. So if anyone wants to call in and ask questions the number is: (646) 727-2932

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! XOXOXO (I reserve the right to give you spankings at RT :) with either my Skylar Kade ruler or my pretty pink crop that was inspired by Miss Erin Nicholas)

Radio appearance? Wow that is way cool! I am so there.

I know. I'm very excited about it. :)


Now for a lil' quickie

Fredrick's, Victoria's Secret, or Hustler?
Hmm. That's a tough one, but I think I'm going to have to go with Victoria's Secret.

Chocolate Syrup, or Whip Cream?
Whipped cream. Absolutely. Now, if you'd said hot fudge...it would have been harder, but I'd probably still have gone w/ whipped cream. Ooh. Especially some of that alcohol-infused whipped cream Kelly Jamieson has promised to bring to RT for us all to try. ;)

Umbrella Drink, Beer, Wine or Champagne?
Another tough one! You know I love them all! I'd have to go with wine for regular consumption. Although if I ever have a really tough day, it pretty much demands an umbrella drink.

Man-scape or no man-scape?
In general, no man-scape. But there are always exceptions.

Romantic weekend , Night out on town, or Foreign Affair
Romantic weekend. I'm thinking Mendacino B&B. Sigh.

Jewelry, Flowers, or Sweets?
All very good suggestions, and I do love getting flowers, but lately I've been jonesing for the entire Brilliant Earth catalog. http://www.brilliantearth.com/

Thanks for stopping by and chatting with us. Please come back when ever you want I always love having you- xoxoxo

Thank you! And you know I will because I love bing here xoxo.

In honor of PG Forte's visit and her birthday I will be giing away her newest release This Winter Heat.

To be entered into the drawing answer this question:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GENRE TO READ?

Winner will be drawn Wednesday 2/29 at 11:59 pm and announce on Monday 3/1. So be sure to leave me an answer and your email so that I can contact you win. Best of luck and hope to hear you on the radio :)

P.G. Forte can be found hanging out around the web at:

Website: http://www.pgforte.com/
Blog: http://www.rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://ninenaughtynovelists.blogspot.com/
Newsletter: www.openzine.com/oberon
Chat Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/pgforte
MySpace: www.myspace.com/pgforte
Twitter: twitter.com/pgforte
Facebook: www.artist.to/pgforte
Kindlegraph: http://kindlegraph.com/authors/pgforte