Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets: AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Would you like to introduce yourself with a short bio? Things that we don’t know about you maybe?

Marissa Carmel has loved writing ever since a young age. She has a duel degree in History and Political Science, but took as many creative writing classes in college as she could. She spent most of her twenties bartending, which is where she met her husband and a multitude of interesting people. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s hanging out with her family, experimenting in her kitchen or doing yoga on the living room floor.

When you aren’t busy writing – what can we find you doing?

Working my day job, taking care of my two beautiful babies and being a wife to my amazing hubby.

Is writing your fulltime job?

I wish.

What’s the BEST thing about being an author?

Being able to express yourself creatively, saying what you want, when you want, the way you want.

Are there any topics that you won't write about?

No, or least I haven’t come across any yet.

Are any of the situations, scenes or characters based on your life or events in your life? If so, can you elaborate any? =)

I actually do include a lot of life experience in my novels, but I keep that pretty private. I can tell you there is always a character named Daniel or Dan as a nod to my husband.

How did you name your characters?

I use the list of baby names my husband and I had. In my latest novel, Strip Me Bare the main character’s name is Alana, which is one of my most favorite names on earth. And it fit her to a tee.

What made you write your book?

I heard so many voices in my head, it was either become a writer or see a shrink.

If you could spend one day with any one of your characters…who would you chose and why?

Ooooo…Justice from my paranormal romance series, the Vis Vires trilogy. He’s pretty complex, hot and brooding.

Is there anything that is a MUST while you are writing…superstitions etc?

I need music to inspire me.

3 things your readers do not know about you.

I’m a terrible speller. Terrible.

I can throw a spiral.

I live in Victoria Secret Pink sweatpants.

What draws you to write in this genre…. =)

I love New Adult because the characters are at such a critical turning point in their lives. It can still be emotionally intense like YA, but can tackle more mature issues at the same time.

What was the hardest thing about writing your book?

Editing! Always editing.

Do you have a hardest scene you had to write? If so, can you explain?

LOL. There was this scene in Strip Me Bare where Alana asks Ryan to show her Jack the Stripper (basically give her a private dance.) After I finally nailed down the right song, the scene became what I wanted it to be, which was sexy and fun, but intense at the same time. I think I did about a zillion rewrites!

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write about and why?

Madness. You’ll have to read it to see why ;)

Would you want to be involved with one of your characters in real life? If so, who and why?

No. I don’t mix business with pleasure! LOL!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I think I can be either depending on my mood.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Stupid people.

Do you have any phobias and if so what are they?

I fear white caravans and cornfields. I don’t know what the medical term for either of those would be.

Do you have a “secret” author crush? Can you reveal….

Belle Aurora, I think her novel Raw was brilliant!

What does the color BLACK make you think of?

Slim, sexy, dangerous and mysterious

Fill in the blanks…

I am really awesome at

eating M&M;s I can polish off a king size bag like nobody’s business!

I am really embarrassed to admit

I can’t spell. I’m an author for god sakes!

The last great book I read was

Raw by Belle Aurora

My favorite book boyfriend is

to many to pick just one!

Give us your best pitch to convince readers to one click and give your book a try.

I’ll just give you a sample! This is from the chapter Madness.

Excerpt-

We stop in front of some hanging crystals. They clink as Ryan pushes them aside, “after you.” I walk under an orange spotlight, into a small space with a white leather couch deep enough to lie on and walls a warm golden yellow.

Ryan steps in behind me and presses his body flush against mine. My mind races.

Is he really going to do this?

Am I really going to let him?

Can I even handle this? Five minutes ago he was with another woman. Quite possibly in this same room doing God only knows what.

“Why do you do this Ryan?” I expel. I know he explained it in words, but I need to experience it to truly understand.

He ambles around me so close; the only thing separating us is a whisper of air.

“I told you, the money,” he says as he unbuttons his shirt.

“You said women too,” I watch him cautiously, my gaze jumping between his eyes and his chest.

“That was before you walked back into my life. You’re the only woman I want to touch now. The others, like you saw before, it’s just an act. A business transaction. It’s what I have to do to get what I want.”

“Doesn't it make them feel used?” I flick my eyes up at him.

“It mustn't. They always come back.”

“You like it. I saw your face. That wasn't an act.”

Ryan stands right in front of me, his shirt unbuttoned and dangling open. “I won’t lie to you Alana, I’ll never lie to you,” his tone is hard, but seductive. “I do like the attention. But it’s not real. It’s my job to sell attractiveness and fantasy, and I do it well. But that’s all it is, fantasy and I know it. When I’m with you, that’s my real.”

My breath catches when he says the word real. I can’t help but find the irony in his words; I’m exactly to him what he is to me. Two people one and the same, both living a double life to get what they want; a future and each other.

And that is what I want. A future, with Ryan.

I go to put my hands on his chest, but he steps away shaking his head no. “In this room, it’s all about you,” he walks around, stopping right behind me. “You have to tell me what you want Alana,” he whispers in my ear and I almost go limp, the sound of his voice is erotic as hell.

I swallow hard, but can’t utter a single word, because truth be told, I have no freakin’ idea what I want. At least, not in this scenario.

Ryan starts to rub my shoulders. I think he can feel my hesitation.

“Why are you so tense? This is supposed to be fun.”

Fun? The word rattles around in my head. Fun - a time or feeling of enjoyment or amusement.

Okay, let’s have some fun.

I turn around to face him and our eyes lock. “Show me.”

“Show you what?” his tone dripping with sensuality.

“Show me Jack the Stripper.”

Holy fuck