Lila Munro is an author of contemporary erotic romance encompassing everything from the sensual to BDSM and menage. Her newest work 'Identity Crisis' is available from Rebel Ink Press.
What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?
My latest creation available is Identity Crisis. The title came about because one of the heroes, Chad Dearborn, literally struggles with who he is and what he wants from his relationship with his wife, Tori.
What is this book about? And what genre is this book in?
Identity Crisis is a contemporary erotic romance with BDSM and ménage elements. I think the blurb does it justice in telling what it’s about:
Someone once said you never truly know a person, Chad Dearborn was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was given everything a person could want and more, country clubs were his daycares and Paris and London his playgrounds. Heir to Dearborn Inc., Chad stands to inherit a veritable fortune. But the problem is his parents want to gift him the perfect wife to go with it. A woman in the form of a molded, plastic, jet set dolly. Certainly not Chad’s idea of an ideal mate. He wants a woman that can hold her own, in and out of the bedroom. Who knew he’d find her in one of Portland’s hottest leather clubs? Chad was fascinated by what went on there, but something just wouldn’t let him cross that line.
until you sleep with them.
Country clubs? Europe? The closest Tori Myers ever came to those things were the covers of magazines. With an absent father, a less than attentive mother and nowhere to go, Tori finds herself drawn to an alternative lifestyle at the tender age of eighteen. Vertigo is a treasure chest of Dom’s willing to give her anything she wants. But when Chad Dearborn walks through the door, Tori figures out sometimes what your heart wants isn’t necessarily what your body is willing to compromise to have.
Or do you?
The thing that just wouldn’t let Chad cross the line with his sexuality has come home to roost. And as a result, he's faced with a huge decision. Accept who he is and what he wants. Or continue to fight the biggest identity crisis of his life.
Who is/are the main characters? And why did you choose them?
The main players in Identity Crisis are Chad Dearborn, Tori Dearborn and Ren Taylor. I’m not so sure I chose them so much as they chose me to tell their story. I was doing research for book two in another series I am writing and it occurred to me I was quite intrigued by the lifestyle that Chad, Tori and Ren live, and the sociology major in me itched to learn more. The more I researched the louder Chad spoke to me. He was the first character to make an appearance, followed by his wife Tori and finally Ren, who was a surprise really. I didn’t know Ren was invited until he showed up with his party invitation in hand.
What is the coolest or best part about your book?
I do have a favorite scene in the book in which I really got to showcase all the things I learned about the lifestyle during my research. The scene is one in which Tori accepts Ren as part of her and Chad’s relationship on a permanent basis and Ren marks her. I was really able to highlight the dichotomy of the Dom/sub relationship and all its complexities in a manner of paragraphs. I’d share the scene here, but it has such a heat level I’m fear it may be inappropriate to share with a mixed audience.
Do you have a favorite character in the book? If so, why?
I love all three of my characters for different reasons. I love that Chad struggles with who he is and what he wants but still tries to account for Tori’s feelings and needs. Tori is so down to earth and although she’s been give the world on a silver platter she never forgets where she came from, and, well, Ren…he just does it for me. The man oozes Dom and masculinity and tempers it with a healthy dose of understanding and compassion.
Is this book part of a series? If so? What can we expect in future books?
Yes, Identity Crisis in book one in this series. Book two, True Identity is slated to release in June with Master Steph and Jill’s story between the covers, and the third installment is due out this fall.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
In every book I write in looking back I find things I would have changed or expounded upon. In this particular work, I was just learning the ins and outs of how this lifestyle works and I realize now that some of Tori’s vocabulary may be a bit off, but I’ve pinpointed that now and know to do differently in the next book.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned that I have a submissive personality and am a pleaser. I’d always suspected as much, but my research confirmed it.
Do you have a publisher? And if so, why did you choose them?
At present I am contracting for several works through Rebel Ink Press and am very happy there. I chose them because they work on the philosophy of quality is more important than quantity and they are intent to raise the bar on quality in e-publishing. They give their writers top-notch service through a full staff that include full time editors, an in house graphic arts department and they have a marketing and public relations staff to help with promotion.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
There are so many I’m not sure I could choose just one. Sparks, Banks, Sinclair…the list goes on.
What books are you reading now?
I try to read what I write. Lately I’ve been indulging in a lot of Maya and Cherise Sinclair, but I’ve also taken a liking to m/m and have read a lot of Andrew Grey lately. For anyone that has a hard time reading m/m because of lack of story line Andrew will not disappoint. His stories have a story and not just a lot of poorly written sex.
What are the current writing projects that you are working on?
Currently I have works in progress on four separate series. I’m working on book two of the Identity series, book two of the Delaney Brothers series, book two of the Force Recon series—an anthology project with three other writers, and I’m working on a series called The Sergeants of Echo Company. I’ve got a full plate and enough to last well into next year.
Do you write full time?
Fortunately my husband provides well for me and with my nest empty I can indeed devote all my time to writing.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I’ve had an interest in making up stories well before I could even read. Many people have read my account of how Santa brought a toy typewriter one year for Christmas and I wore it out. In fact, I just finished a blog post about how I am sure my muse new which genre we would gravitate to even then. Funny how those little love notes in second grade can be the beginning of epic love stories.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I am my worst critic. My greatest challenge is living up to my own expectations which I feel I never do. I’m a stickler for detail and realism, so I’d say making sure I get it right is a struggle at times.
Do you have any advice for other writers seeking to get published for the first time?
Do your research. Check out potential publishers thoroughly before committing to any of them. I went so far as to check with the BBB to make sure potential publishers didn’t have any pending legal actions against them. Many small presses won’t make it past their first three years and legal problems attribute to that. Make sure their philosophy matches your own and their goals mirror yours. Ask other people that write for them about their experiences. Most of them are more than willing to tell you how they feel and if they’ve had a good experience or not.
Bio:
Lila Munro is a writer of contemporary romance currently residing on the coast of North Carolina. She is a military wife and takes much of her inspiration for her heroes from the marines she’s lived around for the past fourteen years. Coining the term realmantica, she strives to produce quality romance in a realistic setting. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading everything she can get her hands on, trips to the museum and aquarium, taking field research trips, and soaking up the sun on the nearby beaches. Her works include The Executive Officer’s Wife, Bound By Trust, All I Want for Christmas is Redemption, Destiny’s Fire, A Slower Lower Love, Salvation, Force Recon: Beacon Bayou, and Identity Crisis. Currently she’s working on sequels to several series to be released throughout 2010-2011. Ms. Munro always works as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Rebel Ink Press. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted via her websites:
http://lilamunro.weebly.com , her joint effort website http://www.wickedmuses.blogspot.com or through Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Lila_Munro You can also contact her via email at lilasromance@gmail.com For more information about Rebel Ink Press please visit their website at www.rebelinkpress.com
Please enjoy an excerpt from Identity Crisis which can be purchased at: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-identitycrisis-521393-146.html
An electric hum sizzled across Tori Dearborn’s sun kissed skin, setting the tiny hairs on her arms and on the back of her neck on edge as she stared at the outfit hanging over the closet door in her bedroom. It was quite a number. A set of red leather chaps accompanied a red leather corset and matching g-string. Tori walked over and buried her face in the chaps, inhaling deeply, and a slow, delicious warmth enveloped her sending a dull ache straight to the core of her womb. Leather. New leather. God how that smell turned her on.
Tori reluctantly pulled her face away from the chaps long enough to notice the accessories set upon her satin covered pillow along with an envelope. She walked over and picked up the red leather handcuffs that lay there. Her fingers glided over the smooth edges of the restraints wishing her husband was home right this minute to try them out on her. But Chad was away on business. It was the first time in their five year marriage he would miss their anniversary, but clearly by the gifts he’d left behind this morning before leaving, he was anticipating quite a homecoming to make up for it.
Never in her wildest imagination would Tori have ever thought to marry someone like Chad Dearborn. Not only was he a successful VP at a top notch land development firm, he’d had the good fortune of growing up in the lap of luxury. He’d enjoyed the best private education money could buy and all the amenities to go along with it. Private country club memberships, private music lessons from some of the world’s elite musicians, and European vacations. But none of those things compared to the one thing about Chad that had almost kept Tori from marrying him. Chad was the most conservative and restrained man she’d ever known. When he’d discovered her lifestyle choices Chad was less than thrilled, but he professed a love so deep he agreed to try to somehow make their relationship work through some creative compromises.
For three hundred sixty two days a year, Tori would be the model conservative wife. She would dress appropriately for the country club life, mingle in all the right circles, and attend all the necessary functions. That wasn’t to say that the lifestyle was completely absent those three hundred sixty two days. In the privacy of their own home, Tori sat at Chad’s feet and he fed her. He put her on a pedestal and she wanted for nothing. And in the bedroom he would occasionally pull out a silk scarf and blindfold her. But the full on, leather and bondage games that Tori thrived on were restricted to special occasions. On those three days of the year, Christmas Eve, Tori’s birthday, and her and Chad’s anniversary, Tori was allowed to be the leather loving submissive that Chad had found in a less than conservative club one night while he was out rebelling against his parents desires for him to marry a stick figure Barbie from the jet set.
It wasn’t love at first sight by any means. In fact, Tori resisted him with sass and even tried to turn him off.
“Hey, Tori,” J.C., Tori’s best friend, said. “Baby Trump over there’s giving you the eye.”
“You mean Richie Rich?” Tori laughed. She’d noticed him when he first walked into Vertigo. “I don’t think he realizes he’s not in Kansas anymore.”
The man J.C. referred to sat at the end of the long stainless steel bar in his faded Lucky low slung jeans and indigo ED Hardy tee shirt. He stuck out like a sore thumb as everyone around him was wearing black or red and most of the attire was leather. Tori could plainly tell he didn’t belong in Vertigo, but he didn’t seem daunted by the fact that he was an anomaly and made himself at home on the black leather clad stool with the big silver rivets all around the edges. Completely oblivious to anyone else, he nursed a tumbler of whiskey and steadily stared at Tori.
“Maybe you should take him on the tornado tour.” J.C. laughed cynically and twirled her flogger around her wrist.
“I don’t think he’s my type, J.C. Maybe you should be the one to break him in…not so gently. He looks like a sub to me. He’s more your type.”
J.C. alit from her stool and left Tori’s side. She walked down the bar and stopped beside the man that didn’t belong. After a few words were exchanged J.C. came back and once again took up residence on the stool next to Tori.
“Well, Madame? Any luck?” Tori asked and took another sip of her Royal Flush.
“Nope. He says to tell you someday he’s gonna marry you,” J.C. told her and laughed again.
“Whatever. He’s just another rich boy out to sow his wild oats before settling down with whichever playmate of the year mommy and daddy have picked out for him.” Tori hopped off her stool. “However, he’s the worst dressed one I’ve ever seen in here. Most of them at least try to fit in for their one night of glory.”
Tori’s eyes met the man’s in a steady gaze and as she maintained that contact, she walked across the dance floor to a Master named Rio. Rio wasn’t a Master by accident. He could take a submissive where he or she wanted to go so well, they often times never realized the trip was so painful. Never breaking eye contact with the man on the stool, Tori allowed Rio to claim her for the night. Rio ran his big hand down the thin silver chain that hung on his belt, took the clasp at the end and attached it to the open lock collar Tori wore around her neck. She shot the man a taunting smile and locked her bright blue eyes on his rich chocolate ones as Rio led her away to a private room.
