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The Writeminded Fun Continues with Maya Banks

Thursday, May 1, 2008

First, yesterday’s winner of a mini-Writeminded promo pack and goodies from me is:  Darla (comment #12)
Congratulations!  Please e-mail me using the addy in the sidebar!

 

Today’s guest is Maya Banks (who also writes under the name Sharon Long)!

 

Maya’s book, Sweet Surrender is available now!

 

 

Sometimes the first step in taking control is surrendering.

Under Faith Malone’s deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants.  A strong man who’ll take without asking—because she’s willing to give him everything…

Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner—and bring him to justice. So far, he’s found a link between the killer and Faith—and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it.

Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she’s playing games. No way she would allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she?

Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it’s no game she’s playing. She’s willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner’s killer has to be his first priority. Until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her.

 

You can learn more about Maya and her books at her website:   http://www.mayabanks.com

And you can learn about her books written as Sharon Long here:  http://www.sharonlong.com/

 

Let’s see what Maya had to say…

 

I am: happy

I like: orange

I love: my children

I dream: of falling off bridges…

I wish: vacation was here

I pretend: that I’m sane

I know: I’m not sane.

I fear: death

I appreciate: bluntness

I hope: that my children are happy and healthy

I look: around me and realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family

I read: romances.  Lots and lots of romances.

I want: to be successful

I need: my husband’s hugs.

I will: finish this &*^$%@ book!

I can: feel joy

I dance to: uhm I never dance.  Ever. (scary)

I cannot live without: my family and friends

I am happy when: my daughter crawls into my lap for hugs and snuggles.

I am annoyed by: mean people, stupid people and judgmental twerps.

I have always wanted: to travel on a whim
I encourage people to: Dream big and just do it.

I think it would be cool if: I got to travel on a whim *g*

I love to _____ when no one is looking.  I’m always paranoid someone is looking.

I write romance because: the thought of a job outside the home gave me hives :)
I would love to know what readers think of: their favorite authors, their favorite books and favorite characters.

  

Thanks, Maya, for taking the time to complete the sentences!

So, readers who are some of your favorite authors?

Favorite books?

Favorite characters?

What makes them favorites for you?

 

Just like yesterday, if you comment below, you will be entered to win a mini-Writeminded promo pack with bookmarks, magnets, a pen, and goodies from me!

Tomorrow, I will announce the winner and begin another giveaway as I welcome Stephanie Tyler!
So please remember to come back!

32 comments

  1. Well, Maya is one of my favorite authors (Sweet Surrender was excellent), also Jill Shalvis, Suzanne Brockmann, Jayne Ann Krentz, Lori Foster and Lora Leigh.
    I have too many favorite books to name. This is nice, thanks for hosting this.


  2. I have so many favorites I can’t list them all. I haven’t read Maya yet so I can’t say her lol I would say Nalini Singh, Lena matthews, MaryJanice Davidson, Erin McCarthy.


  3. Woo…I’ve been waiting for this one! On my way to the book store today!


  4. Maya is one of my fave authors. Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker, Jaci Burton, Sydney Croft, and Jennifer Crusie are some of fave authors.


  5. Good Morning Maya,

    I don’t dance either…maybe sometimes when no one is looking, but never in public. I have so many favorites…right now, I really LOVE author Adrian Phoenix! There are just so many authors and not nearly enough space.

    I absolutely love the cover to Sweet Surrender and I cannot wait to read it…it is on my tbr pile.

    Have a great day everyone!


  6. I have several different favorite authors: I love Maya, Jaci, Amy, Stephanie, Larissa and Sydney. Also among favorties are: Nora Roberts, Jessica Anderson (I love her harliquen intrigues), Lauren Dane, Delores Fossen (another harliquin intrique author), and Linda Howard.

    Favorite books: Mackenzie’s Mountain, Colter’s Woman, Riding Wild, the Cascadia Wolves series. These books leave you with a happy ending but also leave you wanting more. You feel as if you’ve gotten to know the characters intimately and that they have book friends & family - you want to go back and visit with them.


  7. Good Morning!!

    Hi Maya!!

    Well of course my favs are all the writeminded ladies…….Maya was the first author from the group that I read………I won Coulters’ Woman in ebook and that was pretty much it……….I’ve followed her ever since!! Besides all these ladies I love Beth Williamson and Linda Howard……..her Mackenzie series and Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series is a lot of fun too!!

    Actually I have lots of favorites………I love to read!!


  8. Congrats, Darla!

    Maya/Sharon, you dream of falling of bridges? Please tell me that you have a bungee cord on in your dreams! :wink:

    I have too many favorite authors and books–and generally dislike listing them, ’cause I always leave some out, you know? A partial list includes Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Mary Balogh, Elizabeth Lowell, Maggie Osborne, Lorraine Heath, LaVyrle Spencer, Diana Gabaldon, Agatha Christie, Isaac Asimov…

    What makes each of these a favorite depends on the book–Asimov’s style is so easy to read, and his obvious love for all things science and history make things like his Chronology for the World an engrossing read :grin: (yeah, I’m a dork). Christie’s mysteries appeal to me because they are tidy, cozy, and in a way, a mental exercise. While I know that there are people who think her characters are very flat, it was through her that I started thinking about how personality and character informs people’s actions, and reactions.

    In most of the other cases, it’s the characters that make the books memorable. Some of these authors use well known plot devices but their execution is fresh, because their characters are three dimensional people, with quirks and emotions, and that makes the old feel new.

    And now that I’ve rambled… :grin:


  9. Sorry Jennifer, but I didn’t know where else to post this, but you’ve been tagged!

    The rules:

    Tell seven random and/or interesting things about myself. Get five blog buddies to play, too and link to their blogs. Don’t forget to post the rules!

    :)


  10. So many wonderful books. Kate Morton, taylor Holden, Jacqueline Winspear, Billie Letts. I enjoy their beautiful stories, their unique writing style and the wonderful characters that they develop and the interrelationships within the stories.


  11. Hi Maya!
    LOL - why is dancing scary? And dang- that’s a big question! I really like a TON of romances, but some of my *favorites* are Lisa Kleypas, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Christina Dodd, and Susan Lyons. Some of my favorite books by them… Dreaming of You, Prince of Dreams, Devil in Winter, Heaven, Texas, Kiss an Angel, Breathing Room, Lost in Your Arms, That Scandalous Evening, Champagne Rules… the list goes on. My favorite characters are strong in character, smart, witty, and able to take a challenge. The heroines are also able to turn the heroes on their ears. I could go on… [but I can't b/c I have to go study!]
    Thanks for visiting with us today, and thank you to Jennifer for doing all of this! Yay writeminded writers!


  12. Oohhh thank you, Kris! :) I’m so glad you liked Sweet Surrender *g*

    Ashley, I love Nalini Singh and Lena Matthews too!

    *eep* Darla, I hope you enjoy it!

    Hey Amy! That’s an impressive list of authors!

    Lori T, glad you like the cover!

    Greta, hey girl! Glad you made it :)

    Big hugs to you, Blanche :)))

    Uhm no Aztec, unfortunately when I fall, I start for the water but for some reason I never hit the WATER. I veer off course and hit the bank. Really, really hard. I’ve always been curious as to why I apparently deem it better in my dream to hit the bank and jolt myself out of sleep rather than hit the water. Maybe I’m worried I’ll drown rather than suffer a gazillion broken bones hehe

    Hi Anne! glad you came over to visit.

    Lime, it’s not the actual dancing that’s scary. It’s ME when I’m dancing that is scary. Scary, scary, indeed….


  13. Jennifer, hook me up to be a guest blogger any old time! I love ya!

    Cher :-)


  14. I certainly can’t list my favorite authors as there are WAY TO MANY. And favorite books have the same problem but mostly I love reading any books with suspense, intrigue or some kind of mystery.


  15. I like Elizabeth Lowell’s older western romances, I love Lora Leighs shape shifters and I loved your book Seducing Simon I re read that book and I would like to have a story about any of the secondary characters in that book


  16. Hi Maya,

    Great answers! I don’t really have a favorite author, but I have a few favorite genres: historical, paranormal,susoense, contemporary,… Well, anything with romance and a good ending in it actually. So maybe I don’t have a favorite genre either…


  17. Hi Maya, it’s great learning more about you, thanks for sharing.

    Some of my favorite authors:

    Maya (of course, lol)
    Jaci Burton
    Lora Leigh
    Sara McCarty
    Nora Roberts (especially her JD Robb persona)
    Joey Hill
    LKH
    Lauren Dane
    Karen Chance


  18. Oooh i have lots of favorite authors

    All the Writeminded girls just rock, of course.

    I also love:

    Nora Roberts
    Nalini Singh
    Lora Leigh
    Meljean Brook
    Gena Showalter
    Colleen Gleason
    Lauren Dane
    Joey Hill
    Linda Howard
    Karen Marie Moning

    Well…the list could go on…and on. ;-)


  19. Some of my favorite authors are Julie Garwood, Heather Graham and Julia Ross. “The Bride,” “The Lion’s Lady,” and “Games of Pleasure” are my favorite books.


  20. Oh I love Elizabeth Lowell and Julie Garwood. LOVE them with a scary passion.

    Some of my “recent” finds for authors were Susan Mallery and Hannah Howell. I went nuts on their backlists and hunted them down.


  21. I am loving these posts and my to buy list is getting even longer
    Some of my favourite authors Anna Campbell Stephanie Laurens Jenna Petersen Nalini Singh Christine Wells Donna MacMeans Loucinda McGarry Anne Mallory the list goes on and on

    Have Fun
    Helen


  22. so many favorites so little space.. i am a huge Sarah Mccarty and Susan Lyons, and Kate Douglas fan.. the list is long… thanks to all the Write minded gals for sharing with us this week..


  23. Thanks for being here Maya. I enjoyed the interview. Some of my favorite authors are Nalini Singh, Robin Owens, Christine Feehan, and .CL Wilson. Some of my favorite books are: Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh, Lord of the Fading Lands by CL Wilson, Guardian of Honor by Rovin Owens, etc.


  24. Hi ladies! I love MAYA!!! I loved Colter’s Woman and have read it at least 10 times. I love all the WM ladies and have read almost all of everyone’s books. I’m still catching up on Jedi Jaci’s books, but I’ll get there. LOL

    My other favorites are Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, NJ Walters, Bianca D’Arc, Lora Leigh, Lauren Dane, and just so many more…

    Can’t wait for next week when Maya’s Stay With Me comes out. I’ll be first at MBaM picking it up. OK, maybe not first…

    Valerie :D


  25. Stephanie Laurens, Elizabeth Lowell, Lisa Jackson, Maya, Jaci, Sydney Croft :) Vonna Harper, Linda Howard, Lora Leigh, Joey Hill, Lisa Klepas, Julie Garwood, Jo Beverly, John Grisham, and so many others.

    I have such a long list of favs and trying to collect all of their backlists. I recently read Ann Aguirre’s Grimspace..Really fun to read. And I read a Gena Showalter, my first, it was great.


  26. great interview jen and maya. such a hot cover and book.


  27. Great answers Maya, by the way I love your books also. Keep up the good work.


  28. I tend to like eccentric quirky characters. The kind that are very impulsive or very unique! I like to read historicals because people were different in every time period. The culture and social aspects of society figures in and how people relate to one another. A favorite book of mine is “To Kill a Mockingbird!” Scout, Boo, etc. were very different from many others in their society. Thanks,Cindi


  29. Here are some my favorites: Jaci Burton, Sandra Brown, Nicholas Sparks, Carly Phillips, Jennifer Crusie.

    Thanks for sharing your sentences. :)


  30. Thanks for the fun interview, Maya/Sharon :) A few favorite authors–Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Crusie, Julia Quinn, Sarah Mayberry, Stacey Kayne… One thing they have in common is that they include humor somehow–maybe a little, maybe more, depending on the book. I do like the funny ;) I’m looking forward to reading some of your books soon!


  31. I have to many faves, I couldn’t list them all. I love books of all kinds, from romance to fantasy to paranormal to mystery! As long as the book is engaging, I’ll get lost in it! :)
    Sweet Surrender looks awesome!


  32. my fav. authors are Sandra Brown, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Debbie Macomber, etc.
    I love contemp. romance, Western stories, and most of all I love some humor in my books. If I can laugh even a little it is a good day for me.


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