Interview & Giveaway: Bonds of Trust by Lynda Aicher

Today I have Lynda Aicher here with me. Let's get to know her a little better.

Tell us about yourself:

I have a B.S. in Scientific and Technical Communications and in my previous life (before kids), I traveled weekly as a consultant implementing an integrated business system into global companies. Now I have the good fortune of being a stay-at-home mom with two kids in elementary school and a husband who brings home the bacon. J This means I have the luxury of being an author without the stress of a full-time job and I’m very grateful for that. I was raised in the Mid-West and lived in ten different cities after graduating from college before settling in the Pacific Northwest.

Do you prefer:

Milk chocolate or Dark? Milk

Coffee or tea?  Coffee

Vodka or tequila? Vodka

Romance or a Thriller?  Romance

Mystery or Horror?  Mystery (can’t do horror at all)

Did you always want to be an author?

Yes and no. I first wanted to write a book when I twelve, only I realized even then that it was really hard. I thought about it a lot as I got older, but never honestly tried until much later. I guess I always had a niggling that I’d like to write a book, but I don’t know if I ever believed that I could write a book. But when I finally got serious about it, it all worked out.

What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?

Wow. Let’s see. It was The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton that first made we want to write a book. And I loved Nora Roberts’ early books. She’s a master at crafting a story you can’t put down. I love the skill of Sherrilyn Kenyon in using Acheron as a hook character to keep you reading the series. And the world and character building of J.R. Ward is incredible.

Did anyone in your life influence you or encouraged you to be a writer? (teacher, family member, friend)

My husband has always said, “Go for it.” I never really said much about it, so not a lot of people even knew I thought about writing a book. I wasn’t one of those people who started scribbling down stories at ten years old. I didn’t have a file folder of hidden manuscripts on my computer either. I had ideas in my head, but the reality of life always came first. But my husband always has and still does support my writing.

What is your writing atmosphere like?

I started off at the kitchen table. It was the family joke that Mom had to move her office every time we ate. I’d put on my headphones and try to ignore the world to write. Earlier this year we finally remodeled our office (it was the junk dumping and kid toy storage area before) and made it my writing space. I love it. I still wear headphones to write, but now I don’t have to pick up everything when I’m done writing for the day.

What is your favorite aspect or writing? Your Least Favorite?

Favorite is having someone explain back my story exactly as I’d envisioned it when I was writing it. It means I did something right. My least favorite is a tie between editing and reviews. Both require a tough skin and the mental reminder that this is a business.

Your current book your promoting is:

Bonds of Trust, book #1 in the Wicked Play series. This is the first book in a contracted six book series with Carina Press.

How did you come up with the your story line?

Honestly, it just kind of evolved. I had basics in my head then it kept percolating and changing as I dug into the characters. I really wanted to write a story that was about the emotions people go through when they step outside of the social norms. It takes a lot of strength to do something that’s different and not understood.

Like usual, the story that I ended with was different than the story I started with because the characters grew as I wrote them. I also did a lot of brainstorming with my critique partners and beta readers to flush out problems and get feedback on plot issues.

How do you choose your characters names?

With my contemporary books, it’s usually what pops into my head in that instant. If an unexpected person comes into a scene, I go with what’s in my head. I’ve also used my kid’s yearbooks to find unique spellings or to spark an idea. The one thing I always ensure is that no characters have names that start with the same letter in the same book. That drives me crazy when I read a story that does that. It gets too confusing.

For my paranormal series, I did a ton of research on ancient Greek names for my characters. I have all kinds of charts with meanings and references and ugh! I’ve spent hours of work on those names.

BLURB:

After ending her passionless marriage, Cali Reynolds is eager to live out her forbidden fantasies. Her first step is attending new members' night at The Den, the most exclusive sex club in town. Perhaps here she can find a man who understands her desire to be dominated…

At first, Jake McCallister thinks Cali has come to his club for the wrong reasons. But when he discovers she is seeking fulfillment after years of denial, he's intrigued—and takes it upon himself to initiate her into the pleasures she's been missing.

Her first encounter with Jake is everything Cali has always craved, and more; she's not prepared for the feelings he inspires in her. And Jake is just as surprised by his overwhelming attraction to Cali. As their play intensifies, so does their bond. Now, Jake doesn't want anyone but Cali—but is he ready to officially claim her? And will she submit to being his forever?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Inhale, exhale. Two simple, reflexive actions that seemed almost impossible for Cali to execute. Breathe. She had to forcibly remind herself oxygen was necessary. But then, she could hardly hear her own thoughts over the pounding of her heart.

It’d been four days since her final interview. Four days to digest and stew on the fact that she’d been granted membership to the exclusive sex club. She’d be mortified if anyone ever found out she was here. Just the thought of it had her swallowing back her dinner.

They won’t, she reminded herself. She could fulfill this side of her life without anyone knowing.

She forced herself to look around the small room in an attempt to focus on something besides her increasing anxiety. The space was tastefully decorated in deep burgundies and greens. The black leather love seat where she sat was positioned across from two matching chairs. A waiting room that with its warm tones and expensive furniture was more suited for a corporate office than a sex club.

What was she waiting for?

Had the club decided to revoke her membership before she’d even started? Then why did she spend the last half hour listening to all of the rules being repeated to the small group of new members like herself? It didn’t make sense. No one else had been excluded, pulled aside and singled out.

She’d gone through the interviews, both on paper and in person. Paid the exorbitant membership fee. Completed the new member checklist filled with questions that made her cheeks flame and her heart race at the images they conjured. Submission, spanking, bondage, anal play, voyeurism, exhibitionism—oh God, she had to think of something else.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lynda Aicher has always loved to read. It’s a simple fact that has been true since she discovered the words of Judy Blume at the age of ten. After years of weekly travel as a consultant implementing computer software into global companies, she ended her nomadic lifestyle to raise her two children. Now, her imagination is her only limitation on where she can go and her writing lets her escape from the daily duties of being a mom, wife, chauffer, scheduler, cook, teacher, volunteer, cleaner and mediator. If writing wasn’t a priority, it wouldn’t get done.

To learn more about Lynda, you can find her at:

Website:  http://lyndaaicher.com

Facebook:  http://facebook.com/lyndaaicherauthor

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/lyndaaicher

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Bonds-of-Trust-ebook/dp/B0092ML9AC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1348874289&sr=8-3&keywords=lynda+aicher

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bonds-of-trust-lynda-aicher/1112682879?ean=9781426894695

Giveaway:

Lynda will award a Grand Opening new member gift box valued at $75 from THE DEN (the club in the series) to one randomly drawn commenter.

Includes:

·         Vibrating Silver Bullet

·         Red Satin Mask

·         Double Sided Whipper Tickler

·         Nylon Wrist Cuffs

·         Classic Butt Plug - Medium

·         Passion Natural Water-based Lubricant

·         Condoms

·         $10 Amazon Gift Card

Note: This is opened to residents in the US & Canada only.

To enter to win just leave a comment with your email address and for more chances to win follow her tour here  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/10/virtual-book-tour-bonds-of-trust-by.html