T.L. Anderson and her Black Irish by Vonnie Davis

T.L. Andersen is my guest today. She lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with her husband Brian and her three children – her sons, Jake and Jon, and her daughter, Alex.  She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in English and from Kirkwood Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Communications Media/Public Relations.  Along with writing, T.L. Andersen enjoys coaching and competing in track and field and traveling to cheer on her children in their various activities. She's agreed to answer a few questions for me.  

What is your life like away from the computer? Tell us something about your household.   
I am married and the happy mother of three (one son who is 19 and in college, one son who is 15 and a sophomore in high school and a 10 year old daughter in fourth grade).  So I spend a lot of time playing taxi – to football games, to volleyball practice, to robotics meetings and to track and field practice.  I also coach youth track and field.

Oh, I remember those busy years with taxi duty and homework and rushing to sporting events. They were THE best years of my life. Stressful, but so fulfilling as a mom. Tell us, what authors and genres do you like to read? 
My favorite author is Karen Marie Moning.  I do love paranormal/medieval romances (knights and princesses, that sort of thing).

What is your writing schedule like? 
I write late at night after the family goes to bed.  It’s easier to think then.

I'd be too tired to think by that point. What part of the writing process brings you the most pleasure? The most angst? 
My favorite part is writing the conflict between characters especially the hero and heroine.  I like to write the interaction and see the passion behind their words.  I have the most trouble with action scenes.  I’ve never been in a high speed chase (unless you count being late getting the sophomore to school).  I’ve never fired a gun or been in a sword fight.  It’s had to write about things I’ve never experienced (even though I would like to try the sword fighting!).

What is one of your most embarrassing or laughable moments? 
The time I was in seventh grade and recited the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet while perched on a folding chair.  I didn’t know my best friend’s dad was behind me the whole time.

Oh, I bet the rascal was making faces and gestures, wasn't he? Tell us about your current release…or soon to be release. 
My current release is Black Irish.  It is about a children’s writer, Abbey Wright, who flies to New York to sign her first contract.  At her meeting she meets her sinfully sexy illustrator, Sloan O’Riley, an Irishman with a dark past.  Abbey nearly runs from her contract feeling Sloan is a threat to her relationship with her boyfriend back home.  To put her at ease Sloan tells her he’s gay.  Sloan goes to great lengths to keep this ruse and the many others he is forced to keep from Abbey.  However the deception is nearly short lived when a letter from the INS threatens to deport Sloan.  Even though Abbey’s boyfriend has proposed Abbey suggests the only thing that comes to her mind to keep Sloan in the country – she offers to marry her “gay” illustrator.

Black Irish is currently self-published.  However in May it will be published with Secret Cravings Publishing along with its two sequels! (SQUEE!! How awesome for you. Congrats!) I am currently working on the sequel to Black Irish.

 

Abbey couldn't believe he was gay. 

She nearly ran away from her dreams of being a children's book writer when she was introduced to her illustrator Sloan O'Riley, a dark, sensual Irishman with incredible ice blue eyes. He certainly couldn't be good for Abbey's relationship with her boyfriend back in Iowa. How could she stay in New York and work intimately with the sinfully sexy Sloan even if he was gay? And when Sloan is threatened to be deported, how far would Abbey go to keep him in the U.S.? 

 

Sloan was forced to tell a little white lie. He had no choice. 

He couldn't let the sweet, beautiful, innocent Abbey Wright flee from his life - not without a chance to explore the sudden desire he felt for her. Lying to her by telling her he was gay seemed to put her at ease. But what would Abbey do if she ever discovered the truth about Sloan's sexuality - or learned the deeper, darker secret he's been hiding?

EXCERPT:
           Sloan watched from a distance.  Aubrey fought to keep Abbey from dashing away, a frightened doe in a terrifying forest named New York.  Up to this point all the vicious predators of the city hadn’t sent her fleeing home.

Apparently, that was, until he entered her world. 

Sloan had to admit something about her frightened him too.  He knew many women and he had been with several.  But none of them were like her.  Innocent.  Naïve.  True.

He couldn’t pull away from her wide-eyed burning hazel gaze.  He wanted to free her soft, brown tresses from her pony tail and bury his fingers in the locks.  He wanted to taste her soft, plump rose lips.  He wanted to caress her soft curves to him, feel her warmth.

Sloan could hear Abbey beg for another illustrator.  He heard Aubrey counter there was none better than him.  He was part of the deal or there was no deal.  Abbey was ready to walk away from a contract worth potential millions over a fear of him.

Sloan couldn’t let her do that.  He couldn’t let her leave his life before she was ever a part of it.  He slowly approached the two women at the end of the hall.

“Aubrey, can I have a moment please?  Let us talk it out and see if we can come to an agreement,” Sloan offered.

Aubrey looked uneasily from him to Abbey then nodded.  “Sure.”

Sloan waited for Aubrey to return to the conference room.  He shot a warning glare at the associates that had gathered to watch the scene unfold before turning his attention back to Abbey.

“What is the matter, Miss?”  Sloan took Abbey’s hands in his as he smiled encouragingly.

“I’m sorry.  I am sure you are very talented.  But I don’t think I would be comfortable working with you,” Abbey confessed.

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know.  I am sure you are a perfect gentleman.  You see, I don’t think Michael would be very happy with me working with such a…talented man such as yourself.”

“Michael?”

Abbey blushed.  “My boyfriend,”

Ah.  There it was.  A boyfriend.  Sloan berated himself silently.  He should have known a woman so beautiful would have given her heart away already.  He couldn’t, however, let her get away so quickly.   Perhaps he couldn’t have her, but it didn’t mean he had to let her go.  He thought quickly.

Sloan pressed one of Abbey’s hands to his lips.  “No worries, luv.  I am no threat.”

“How can you say that?” Abbey demanded.

“I am gay.”

Abbey’s face brightened with relief.  “Really?”

“Yes, Abbey.  Gay.”

Abbey’s face blushed pink.  “I am so embarrassed I overreacted.  Please forgive me?”

“Of course I forgive you.  Now, will you stay and undertake this project with me?”

Abbey smiled brightly.  “Of course.  I would love to.”

Sloan motioned for her to precede him down the corridor towards the conference room.  He watched her go before him, his gaze transfixed on her curvy hips, her slim waist, her luscious curves.  A little white lie.  She would never know.

BUY LINK:  http://www.amazon.com/Black-Irish-ebook/dp/B00A72A76I/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358914029&sr=1-3&keywords=black+irish

Website: www.triciaandersen.com

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Twitter: @triciaandersen