Friday, May 7, 2010

Interview & Giveaway: Author Anitra Lynn McLeod

A couple of weeks ago I contacted Anitra Lynn McLeod about her newest release Dark Harvest. I wanted to know if she would be interested in a review or interview - and she promptly responded with yes. :) And I am so glad she did. Wicked Harvest and Dark Harvest were my first foray into the world of erotic romance - and I am pleased to say, I was very happy there. :)

Today I am happy to introduce you to author Anitra Lynn McLeod.
She is the author of Wicked Harvest and Dark Harvest, the first and second books in her Onic Empire series - as well as a contributing author in the anthology Sexy Beast VII.

Wicked Harvest is up for the National Readers' Choice Award for best first book and best erotic.
http://www.okrwa.com/NRCA/nrca_finalists09.htm

Hello Anitra and welcome to MBB.

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I had a blast doing the interview and hope I wasn't too spazzy for you.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I love reading, writing, and white-water rafting--pretty much in that order! Some random weirdness about me: I am addicted to ChapStick, I have never owned a cell phone, and I have a 1993 Subaru with 75,000 miles on it and I bought it used with 22,000 miles. I'd rather walk than drive, I'd rather cook than clean, and I can't think of anything sexier than a man with a sense of humor. :)

2. You've said you write erotic futuristic historical fantasy - what does that mean to you?

LOL! I think it means I'm certifiable! Actually that came about when my editor asked me how I would classify my work. I stumbled around in an email trying to define it and that's what I came up with. He laughed and said I had created my own unique niche! I think what I do is similar to what some people call steampunk, but I like the term cast-iron digital. It's a blending of those four elements. In the Onic Empire series the setting feels almost historic but for the fantasy elements. The Diolans don't have elevators but they do have space flight. And of course the erotic component is built into a culture that ritualizes sex. :) I'm not sure if I've actually answered that question or forever muddied the waters. :)

3. What inspired The Onic series?

Oh, people are gonna hate me for this, but the inspiration came from a romance cliche: Males are always experienced while the females are always virgins. Now, I'm not saying all romances have this, in fact most modern works don't, but the old romances, the ones I grew up with, were like this. It bothered me because where were all these men getting this experience? Was there like one whore who did all these guys? Anyway, years later when I was thinking about it, I thought well what if I made losing your virginity a rite or ritual? Like everyone lost it at the same age in the same way . . . and Virgin Harvest was born. The title was changed to Wicked Harvest because I was told I couldn't have Virgin on the cover with a hot male chest. Which sorta confirms what I just said--men are always experienced! :)

4. Do you have a particular writing space and routine?

My desk is a massive oak monstrosity that takes up an entire corner of the office. I'm surrounded by my reference books, my world "bible" (where I keep all the details of my world straight), and a special spot beside my chair for my dog. My routine is loose as in I don't have a strict time but I do write every day. If I don't I get bitchy.

5. What genres do you enjoy reading and do you have favorite authors?

I'm a reading ho; I will read anything, anywhere, anytime! ;) Westerns, romances, mysteries, reference books, even dictionaries. The only thing I don't like to read are bills. I hate those things; however, I need electricity to work so I have to not only read the bills, but pay them. I would list favorite authors but that would be a looooooooong list.

6. Can we expect more in The Onic series?

Yes. Sinful Harvest will release in February of 2011. As soon as I have a cover and a blurb I'll post them on my webpage.

Anitra Lynn McLeod
Unique worlds, unforgettable romance
www.AnitraMcLeod.com

7. What are you currently working on?

This list of questions.

Oh, you mean novels! I'm working on a new series for Samhain. It's called the Fringe series (no relation to the FOX show) and it will be a blend of historical and futuristic. The novels will be sensual rather than erotic but still extremely hot. The first novel, tentatively titled THIEF, will release in December, so now you know what to ask Santa for. :)

Ms. McLeod has generously provided a copy of Wicked Harvest and Dark Harvest to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment or question for Ms. McLeod along with an email addy so I can contact you. Giveaway is open to all followers of this blog with a US mailing address.

I will choose a winner on Tuesday May 11, 2010.

I would like to thank Anitra Lynn McLeod for her time and generosity and wish her all the best with the NRCA. :)

M



17 comments:

Anitra Lynn McLeod said...

Thanks for the interview and I'm honored to be your "first"--erotic romance wise. ;) I'm playing in my den today so I will pop in and out to answer questions, offer advice, or dole out more of my general weirdness. :)

Anitra Lynn McLeod said...

Cool, I'm going to win my own books. :)

Aimee said...

I love it! Virgin Harvest. I'd buy a book with that title, just because it's so different. Sounds like very interesting books. Thanks for the great interview & for introducing a new to me author.

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Michelle Greathouse said...

ALM,

You crack me up. :)

M

Unknown said...

Hi Anitra!

So happy to see you at Michelle's blog. Onic sounds like an interesting world. I love gothic historical romances, steampunk is so cool!! So far, I haven't read an erotic steampuck though. And I would so totally buy a book title Virgin Harvest, LOL, especially if it was a guy on the cover and he was the virgin!! Why not? Almost every historical is about a virginal young woman, too cool if the roles were reversed! I can't wait to try your books! Thanks for sharing some of your world with us.

If you could write any other genre, what would it be??

Dottie :)

(Michelle, I'll post this on my blog)

Anitra Lynn McLeod said...

Hi Dottie! I've always wanted to write a Scottish Medieval. Something about a man in a kilt . . . :)

Michelle Greathouse said...

Pixie13,

Thank you for stopping by. :)

Dottie,

Thank you for the giveaway pimpage. :)

M

bittenbyromance said...

Great interview Michelle! I have never read any books by this author, I always like meeting new authors to me at least;) Thanks Anitra for taking time to do this interview for Michelle.

homemom1620(@)aol(dot)com

Booklover1335 said...

Hi Anitra,
I remember reading about Wicked Harvest on the Aphrodisia blog and being intrigued by the premise.

The first romances that I started reading were much like the ones you read also, and I think that is what initially drew me to your book.

Congrats! Not only the award, but on the continuing series. I'd love to win both and catch up before your new one is out next year.

booklover1335 AT gmail dot com

Sam McCall said...

I am wanting to read more stories like this and I loved Ms. MCLeod's classification for them. They are very wonderful-sounding to me! The interview was definitely fun to read, one of the best author 'views I've ever read.

Would love to enter the contest for these books!

carlocheerleader@hotmail.com

Mitzi H. said...

I'm a reading Ho too...Hehehe...and I love erotic novels. Your series sounds yummy and I would love to be entered in your drawing. Thanks Michele for the great interview and giving us another great author to read.

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Happy Mother's Day To All!!!

Christina said...

Anitra, I'm a reading ho too. :) Your "Eye of the Beholder" in Sexy Beast was a fabulous and hot romp of story. Looking forward to reading more of your stuff.

Anitra Lynn McLeod said...

Hi Laurie--Michelle has been a blast to chat with so I'm certainly coming back! :)

Hi Booklover--glad I'm not the only one who grew up with that kind of romance!

Hi ReadingRainbow--Love your handle! It was a very fun interview to do--Michelle let me be myself, which is just a shade shy of crazy!

Hi Mitzi--woo hoo! Another reading ho! We should have shirts and meetings. RHA: reading hos anonymous. ;)

Hi Christina--great to see another Aphrodisia author here! Thank you so much for the compliment! And you must join our reading ho group. :)

Unknown said...

Hi, I just found your blog froma link on another site. Glad to have fiound you. I'll pass it on to some friends and family.
It's probably to late to ask a question. I'm interested in winning these books though

Thanks, grandmalarkin@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I love erotic romance, I'll have to get these books if I don't win them.

chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'd like to know what other author she'd like to work with is given the chance?

shundelt@yahoo.com

Anitra Lynn McLeod said...

Hi all! Shirley--I'd love to work with J.R. Ward and Kate Douglas on a blend of our three types of novels. What fun! :)