Today on the Vampire Scribe, I'm happy to interject a bit of testosterone with an interview from an extremly talented romance novelist by the name of Ray Sostre. Ray has a new book out, The Girl Upstairs, published by Romance Divine. So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Interview:
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog, Ray. I love your blog, AfterDark Online. I hope you don’t mind, but I kind of lurk there sometimes. It’s has such a positive, supportive vibe. How did it all get started?
Wow, thank you so much for having me here and I really appreciate the feedback about AfterDark Online. I don’t mind you lurking there at all. When I first created AfterDark Online, it was an idea that started in the summer of 2009 when I wanted to create an online store selling lingerie, lubes, toys, and other intimate products. However, the idea didn’t fall through so I placed the idea of creating the website on hold, until one year later when I decided to host a site for erotic stories.
I was amazed at how well-known it became over last year. On top of that, I created a personal blog, related to AfterDark Online called The AfterDark World, where I hosts interviews with authors, along with guest interviews by authors and snippets of my work.
At the turn of 2012, I partnered with a well-established author and blog-guru Dawne Prochilo to help both AfterDark Online and two of her famously known blogs Sex Marks The G-Spot and Front Seat Romance take off like never before by promoting events, contests, interviews, guest appearances, and more. I really enjoy the professional relationship that comes together.
Tell us about your current release, The Girl Upstairs. What’s the story all about?
The Girl Upstairs is about a man name Carlos who lost his job from the stock crash and leaves New York to settle in Pennsylvania, where he gets to know his sexy upstairs neighbor, while dealing with her over-protective brother, who is a police officer, and her dangerous ex-boyfriend that just got released from prison.
When I created the story, originally it was about a guy who moved from the country to the big city and tries to find a way to get to know this girl from upstairs, but it really didn’t pan out the way I wanted. So in mid-September, I re-wrote the story and decided to write a hero-twist to it, because I wanted to show the reader what an “Average Joe” like Carlos would do to save the life of the woman he wanted.
Do you do anything special to get into the zone for writing (music, books, movies, etc.)?
LOL, while silence may be golden, I do need music and books. My mind is always thinking of ways to create and finish. Depending on what scene, I’ll listen to some chill-out grooves like di.fm, respectfully, or I’ll listen to electronica on my phone or website. I can’t enjoy a day without music actually. When I need to get deep in my thoughts I have to have silence at times. Sometimes, my ideas come at the wee-hours of the morning. On top, I read a lot of other books, whether they are short stories or novels to get a general sense of what some authors are doing, and how I would want to put it.
I loved the concept of The Girl Upstairs? Where did you draw your inspiration for your main characters, Bella and Carlos?
Good question! The name Annabella came from the name of an actress Annabella Sciorra. While one guy would choose Angelina Jolie, or the next hot thing from the media, I stuck with real beauty, style, grace, and talent. I’m fan of her and have been since the movie Jungle Fever and Law & Order CI, respectively. I guess I wanted to describe the female character liker her, but I wanted to put it in my own twists where she is emancipated, but had a dark past.
Carlos’ name just jumped in my mind because I wanted to describe a man who just wanted to go for a woman like her. Maybe it was because when I got my very own place I wanted to put out how I would get to know a sexy neighbor, but not in a guy’s way where he would do anything to sleep with her, but how he wanted to know her personally. Although, you might laugh on where I got his nickname in the story from, I got it off a 1993 film Carlito’s Way, respectively, where I wanted to add some spice to the story.
Tell us what books you have on your own personal To Be Read list?
I just finished reading Dawne Prochilo’s “Callie’s Way” and I’m very amazed of her f/f romance. And I’m about put Insatiable Kate and First Chance on the TBR, after I get done with Ken Charle’s Sex Tales from West County
Right now, I’m looking at The Cooper Stud Ranch by Jodi Olson, and oh it’s a very good western erotic romance as I’m amazed by her true nature of her work. She can write a good western romance
Plus, there are more which I need to go through my flash drive and smart phone, because I read these books when I can.
What can your fans expect to see from you in the near future?
I’m right now working on a series called “Suburbian Secrets”. I’m working on part two, and this is the first time I ever wrote something that could be nearly dark. In the first part I wrote my very first ménage scene (m/f/m), and I’m touching on other things I never wrote before. The series is about a married couple that decides on having an open-marriage, where they invite their closest friend to join them in a threesome, but the wife in the story had other intentions with her closest friend.
I’m working on a project called “Finding Possibilities” an older woman/younger male romance about a woman who turned 40 years old and gets involve with a man who is ten years younger than her. It is a romance, but I want to display the realities of that kind of relationship. What most people assume in that relationship is just sex, and how older woman are always horny for young men. In actuality, and from my experience, there’s more than what people assume. So what they see, is not true at all, and there are a lot of big misconceptions that I want to clear up about an older woman/younger man relationships. I’ve been in a relationship with a woman who is twelve years older than me for more than seven years, and we are happy. I want to show that side, and what it takes to make a possibility in that relationship.
Okay, seriously now. I’d love to collaborate with you on a project (on a writing project, blog tour, participation in one of the contests on your blog). Are you interested?
I’m very honored. Of course I would be interested. All you have to do is name your project and feel free to email, chat, or DM me at anytime. After reading your work, I’m very honored to do a collaboration with you.
I really appreciate you having me on here and I look forward to working with you. :-)
**Look for Ray and Annalynne's upcoming project, the Dirty Deeds Diary, a multi-author collaboration set to launch soon.**
BLURB:
Carlos Munoz left New York and his financial analyst position for a simpler life in Pennsylvania. The slower pace and relaxed lifestyle took some getting used to, but came with certain…benefits, his upstairs neighbor. The voluptuous woman intrigued him, but what about her ex—and her policeman brother? Was part of Carlos’ new life going to include a new love? He had a lot to learn about…The Girl Upstairs.
EXCERPT to The Girl Upstairs
She smiled, “Thanks, being with you has really made me feel safe for some reason. I really didn’t want to tell you this because I didn’t want you to think I’m a fragile woman. I’m not. I was just young and confused back then.”
“I never saw you as a fragile woman. As a matter of fact, I thought of you as an attractive woman that lived above me, who was worth getting to know.”
She smiled. “Thanks, you are sweet. But can I lay a confession on you?”
He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. “Depends. What’s your confession?”
“The first night you moved in, I was watching you and your brother helping you move in. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” She looked away, “I masturbated about you a lot.”
He sighed and could feel his cheeks heat, with the thoughts of her confession, “Can I give you a confession?”
“What’s your confession, you masturbated about me too?”
“Well, not just that, but I knew you were masturbating. Every time I was in the bathroom you were like clockwork, where I heard you moaning. The radiator pipe that runs
through our bathroom has a nice shaft to hear you.”
She rolled her eyes in disbelief, “Oh my god. You mean to tell me—”
“Well, it’s an old building we live in. I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”
She looked at him with a straight look, leaving him wondering if she was going to get upset or forgive him. Then, she gave him a brilliant smile. “Only because I like you. I’m
not going to get mad at you.”
Really enjoyed the interview! Can't wait to check out your blog, AfterDarkOnline. What's the address?
ReplyDeleteHi Shannan, Here's the link to Ray's AfterDark Online http://www.afterdark-online.com/
DeleteGreat interview, Ray - good luck with you sales, and your next project.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for having me on here. I really loved it being here. I hope to be on here again! :-D
ReplyDeleteP.S. I definitely look forward in collaborating w/ you!
Delete