Sometimes sugar isn’t so sweet and secrets can be deadly...especially with matters of the heart.
Sienna’s bestie, Harper warned her not to intern for famous bad boy artist, Casper Mason. After all, he just fired Harper who helped Sienna get the interview. But the moment Sienna sees Casper—or Caz—sweaty, practically shirtless and swinging from chains as he works on his sculpture, she’s hooked. He’s the richest, hottest artist in New York, and he lives in the fabulous Williamsburg Sugar Factory. But he’s also an incorrigible game-player, who seems to relish testing Sienna’s loyalty with a string of unsettling tests.
She knows she should get away fast. But by the time Sienna sneaks into his locked storage room and begins to unearth his dark and terrifying secret, she’s fallen way too hard for the handsome, charismatic Caz.
Can
you tell us a little about yourself?
I am absolutely passionate about telling stories and
entertaining my readers. I write whenever I can. I also teach part time at an
art college—a workshop in writing speculative fiction and a lit class. I love
turning students—anyone, really—on to great books, from whatever era! I’m
married with two sons. At one time I had two Vietnamese potbellied pigs
(sisters), and one day I hope to get a friendly dog that likes to hike. I live in
New York City, but I often spend time in the Catskills, immersed in nature.
Did
you always want to be an author?
Yes, and an artist. I was always writing stories and drawing
the characters in them. In fourth grade I created a thriller series and drew little
book covers for each of them. Most of them had portraits of the main players. One
problem, though: I started the stories but had trouble finishing some of them.
Now I make sure to finish my novels. J
Did
anyone in your life influence you or encourage you to be a
writer?
My sixth grade teacher photocopied one of my stories and
sent it to children’s magazines, trying to get it published. That made me very
proud. My high school Lit teachers were inspiring and brilliant, and two of
them moderated writing groups that I participated in. Later, when I did my MFA
in creative writing I learned tons from my thesis advisor. Look for solid mentors
and cherish them. They are invaluable.
What
is your writing atmosphere like?
I
write in three different places—at home, at a communal writing space and in the
country—again, a testament to the various parts of my personality. My small
home office in New York I call the Rabbit Hole. Its walls are papered with illustrations
and photos, which I find motivational. I choose ones that look like my
characters, which I gaze at, imagining what each might do and say. I also
belong to a writers’ space in downtown Manhattan, where I work in a cubicle to
the sound of other writers typing. It helps me stay serious and focused to hear
others working too! On some weekends, I work in the Catskills, in an old cow
barn.
What
is your favorite aspect or writing? Least favorite?
I love the editing and polishing stage—the third, fourth,
fifth drafts! It’s similar to adding layers of varnish on a painting—each one
deepens, brightens, or clarifies the story.
The hardest part is writing that very first draft. It’s
exciting at times, but also nerve-wracking because even through I outline, the
story takes unexpected turns.
What
book are you currently promoting?
Private
Internship is my new adult romance, which just
came out with Inkspell. Here’s the blurb:
How
did you come up with the storyline?
For about ten years I showed my paintings in NYC, so I know
the ins and outs of that world quite well. It’s wicked fun to write about the
inside scene because it’s filled with sexy artists, cutthroat gallery dealers,
quirky situations and interesting settings like the old Brooklyn sugar factory
I set this in, where Sienna’s love interest creates his sculptures.
Is
this book part of a series?
Yes, it is the second in my Art of Love series. The first is a novella called Model Position where artist Sienna has
trouble deciding whether to date Erik, a mysterious live drawing model or Dave,
the well-connected nephew of a trendy art dealer. Who would you choose? Model Position is on sale at Amazon for
a limited time should you want to check it out. You don’t have to read the
series in order.
How do
you choose your characters names?
I love thinking up names of characters and titles and I
always think them up before I set to writing a manuscript. I choose very
carefully, because it really does make a difference. The name has to be matched
to the personality, to the purpose and quest of a particular person. For
instance, Sienna’s love interest in Private
Internship is named Casper Mason, Caz for short. Why Casper? Well, he’s
carrying a deep and shameful secret, and as a result he has become a ghost of
his former self. The nickname Caz also fits because even though he’s troubled
he has a fun, charismatic side for sure. Sienna was also chosen consciously.
She’s a visual artist, and Sienna is actually a color—a certain rich earth
tone.
Tell
me something about you that may shock your readers?
I’m almost a music groupie, and I’ve met many a musician. To
name a few: Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Mark Anthony and Jamar Rogers from season
two of the Voice. I’ve also gone to backstage parties with John McLaughlin, and
the entire set of finalists for this year’s American Idol. Don’t believe me?
Check out my recent Facebook photos. J
Now
let’s have some fun!
Do
you prefer Milk Chocolate or Dark? Milk chocolate
Coffee
or Tea? Coffee in the morning, tea all
afternoon and evening
Coke
or Pepsi? Pepsi girl
Almond
Joy or Mounds? Almond Joy or any chocolate
bar with almonds
Romance
or Thriller? Do I really have to choose? How about a
romantic thriller!
Mystery or Horror? Depends. I like both. Victorian horror is very cool.
If you could be any animal,
what would it be and why?
A Bird of Paradise. I’d love to be able to fly and see New
Guinea, which I’ve never been to.
If you could have lunch
with any three (living or dead) famous people, who would they be and why?
Anton Chekhov. He was crazy-sexy, tortured and brilliant,
and I admire his spare but heartrending prose.
Stephen King. I adore his On Writing book and he’s such an inventive and creeptastic
storyteller.
Alma Katsu. We could have an interesting chat about the fine
distinctions between dark fantasy and romance.
He locks his rich, hot-chocolate eyes on me, and studies my every curve and angle, seems to be piercing right through my skin into the alleys of my mind and heart. Curious, he’s so curious. I sense him asking where I’m from and why it took me so long to find him, and what kind of art I do, and whether I’ve ever sold it or gotten a review, or who I know, who I hang out with, and how much experience I’ve had in galleries, in school, in the world, in bed. My neck heats up. Did I just think that? Or was that something in his head that crossed wires and invaded mine? He’s close to me now, still staring boldly, when suddenly I feel his inner questions stop. And a wall, like one of those metal store gratings, clatters downward and slams. Closed for business, closed for questions, closed for good.
This, all before we’ve exchanged one word. When I come back into myself, I’m embarrassed to realize that I’m wringing my hands—the old-fashioned hysterical Victorian damsel in distress kind of wringing. I stop, immediately. Rub my sweaty palms on my dress. Buck up! I scold silently. And I extend my hand. “I’m Sienna. I’m your new intern.”
Casper Mason doesn’t take my hand. The nerve. He’s standing there, boldly, legs wide apart in some twisted warrior stance, arms folded across his wide chest. Jaw jutting out rebelliously, eyes daring me…to do what? So after an excruciating few seconds, I retract my hand.
“My new intern?” Caz mumbles as though an intern is a radioactive space rock or some otherworldly object and he never ordered one. “Well, it’s about time. That last one was a disaster.”
Buy Links: Amazon All Romance Ebooks B&N Kobo
Praise for Private Internship:
"Beautiful. Amazing. A fantastic read that left me wanting more." -XoXo Book Blog
"A juicy read full of passion and magnetic chemistry that will have you hooked from beginning to end." -From the Purple Matter Book Blog
Kitsy Clare hails from Philadelphia and lives in New York. A romantic at heart, she loves to write about the sexy intrigue of the city, and particularly of the art world. She knows it well, having shown her paintings here before turning to writing. Model Position, her new adult novella is about artist Sienna and her friends. Living in a Bookworld says: “Beautifully written! We get to learn things about art & painting, which is refreshing. A colorful story from a promising new adult author.” Private Internship is the next in her Art of Love series.
Kitsy loves to travel, draw, read romance, speculative fiction, and teach writing workshops. She also writes YA as Catherine Stine. Her futuristic thriller, Ruby’s Fire was a YA finalist in the Next Generation Indie book awards. Fireseed One, its companion novel, was a finalist in YA and Sci-Fi in the USA News International Book Awards and an Indie Reader notable. Her YA horror, Dorianna, launches in fall, 2014. She’s a member of SFWA, RWA and SCBWI.
Subscribe to Kitsy’s newsletter to stay on top of all Kitsy's releases and giveaways.
~Author Links~
~Author Links~
Kitsy is giving away one ebook copy of Private Internship and one ebook copy of Model Position (book one) during her tour.
No comments:
Post a Comment