HOT TICKET BLOG TOUR ~ INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Welcome to my stop on the Hot Ticket Blog Tour! I am so thrilled to be participating in the celebration of the latest release for one of my favorite series and author. Today I have an interview with author Olivia Cunning and a giveaway! 

 Series: Sinners on Tour #4
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: 2/13/13

There are things in bassist Jace Seymour’s past that he is unwilling to share with anyone. To cover his guilt and anguish, he seeks dominatrix Mistress V (Aggie) to temporarily placate his inner turmoil. Aggie doesn’t have much use for men–besides the power rush she gets when they’re begging for mercy at her feet–but Jace isn’t like her usual clients. His cool defiance and unexpected dominance in the bedroom drives her to distraction and quickly steals her heart. When circumstances threaten Jace’s position in Sinners, Aggie must help him regain his rightful place in the band while showing him that time and love can heal all wounds.

 

 

 

 

 

Interview with Olivia Cunning

 

 

Hot Ticket read as a much more thoughtful, darker story than the first three Sinners books. Was it harder to write?

OC: If by harder you mean that I required a large box of tissues to get me through it, then yes. If by harder you mean that it was a challenge to write, then… um, yes. But every book is hard to write. Especially when you get farther into writing a series and have to keep everything straight. I’m like, wait, what tattoo does he have on his left forearm? How old was he when that happened? What city are they in now? Is the bathroom on the left or right side of the tour bus? That’s the stuff that’s hard for me. Details. Writing the emotions, the dialogue, the actions; that’s the “fun” part.

 

Which song best describes Jace? Aggie?

OC: Jace is easy. His theme song is Pain by Three Days Grace. Aggie is a little tougher because she has two sides to her. The tough as nails dominatrix would be best described by the song Cold Hard Bitch by Jet. The part that wants Jace happy? I’m not sure there is a song for that, but the song Erase My Scars by Evans Blue is about as close as I’ve found to portraying what she’s about.

 

Did you have a playlist while writing Hot Ticket? Care to share any of the songs?

OC: I compiled the playlist after I wrote it (with the exception of Jace’s theme song), but I’d hear certain songs and they’d remind me of the book. That happens a lot when I listen to music. This song reminds me of such-and-such a book I’ve written. Or I’ll hear a song and think that needs to be incorporated into a book somewhere. I am so influenced by music.

The entire playlist for Hot Ticket is located here: http://oliviacunning.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/hot-ticket-official-playlist.pdf

Share as many as you like!

 

Aggie's role as a dominatrix was very well-written. Did you do a lot of research? What sort?

OC: Thanks. I worried about how her character would come across. She is a bit sadistic. I actually read about a hundred blog posts written by a real-life dominatrix. It was, um, interesting. She wrote anonymously, so I’m not sure who she is, but I’d like to thank her for bringing reality to the life of a domme for hire. And she shared her story of being sexually abused as a child. Very said. I think her posts added some of the emotion to this book. I was certainly affected by them.

 

Going into the series, did you always know that Jace had such a troubled past, or did that reveal itself as you wrote the books?

OC:  I knew he had a heartbreaking upbringing and I knew most of it centered around his parents (that Kara thing took me by total surprise, by the way), but I didn’t know the details until I got to the scenes. I usually write like that. I love discovering my characters as I go along. I always have to go back later and change things earlier in the story as things come to light, because so much is revealed to me in the moment as opposed to carefully plotted. That’s the best part about writing. The surprises! I’ve tried plotting books and writing them based on a tight outline. It bores me to tears. I like to discover things as I go.

 

I know you love your rockers (as do I!), is there anyone specific you based Jace, or any of his traits on?

OC:  He’s more based on a song then a person. Physically, he was originally inspired by Johnny Christ of Avenged Sevenfold, but like all of the Sinners, the personalities aren’t based on anyone. The personalities aren’t even inspired by anyone. In my mind the characters are unique, “real” individuals. And the song that drove Jace’s creation is Pain by Three Days Grace. If you don’t like metal music, at least read the first stanza of the lyrics. That’s Jace. 100%. Granted, I do sneak a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll lore into the books here and there. Can’t help myself. I always wonder if people pick up on those little nods to the real world. Occasionally, I’ll get a list from a fan that points them out. It’s like a treasure hunt! And occasionally, someone will point out a bit of lore I’d used and I didn’t even know it was lore. Here’s an example. Apparently, Metallica used a different rhythm guitarist for one of their tours because James Hetfield (singer and guitarist) had broken his wrist in a skateboarding accident. So he sang during the tour, but didn’t play guitar. I had NO IDEA. None. It’s weird that Double Time used a similar premise to introduce Reagan into the Exodus End mix. I wonder if I heard that somewhere in passing and incorporated it subconsciously. Strange how the mind works. Sorry, I’m rambling. About a different book, even.

**"Pain" is a fantastic song. Here's a link to the lyrics.

 

Rambling about Exodus End is welcome here!**

 

 

I always look to your Music Monday posts for good music recommendations (thanks for introducing me to Adelita's Way!). What band/song can you not stop listening to now?

OC:  Is this where I complain that we don’t get any good metal stations in Galveston? The rock station we get here plays too many pop songs. I used to listen to the radio to discover new songs and now I’m stuck listening to my old favorites as I’m not getting introduced to anything new. I suppose I’ll have to resort to Pandora, but their variety is a bit too far reaching. Too many B-sides of albums I already have. Occasionally I’ll find something new on there. Framing Hanley, for example. So lately I’ve been listening to Hot Ticket’s playlist, because I’ve been trying to get the right mix of songs. Are there any great up-and-coming bands out there right now? I could use some new music to obsess over.

 **Sirius Octane is your friend. Lots of A7X, Chevelle, 3DG, Metallica, Godsmack, FFDP, etc.**

 

Describe Hot Ticket, twitter-style.

OC:  Two people meet and fill a need in each other that neither realized existed. Stuff happens. Laughter and mayhem. Love and loss. And some hot sex!

Argh! It’s 5 characters too long. Modifying it Twitter style.

2 ppl meet & fill a need in each other that neither realized existed. Stuff happens. Laughter & mayhem. Love & loss. & some hot sex! #buyit

 

Major THANKS to Olivia for stopping by! If you haven't read this series, go get it NOW.  

 

 

 

 

Sinners on Tour Series

(click the cover to read my reviews)

 

You can purchase Hot Ticket at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction -- first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Growing up as the daughter of a career soldier, she's lived all over the country and overseas. She recently moved to Galveston, Texas.
 

Connect with Olivia Cunning at:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

GIVEAWAY

I have one copy of Hot Ticket to give away, courtesy of Sourcebooks. This giveaway is US Only, 18+ years of age.


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