TANTALIZING TUESDAY

Please help me welcome Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal author, Melisse Aires, into the moonlight today. I goofed and sent Melisse the February interview questions rather than the March interview questions. And since our questions require an author to think really, really hard to get to the meat of their work and we're only two days into March, I didn't require Melisse to answer the March questions. I'd already tortured her enough with the February questions! ;-)

Melisse is the author of Shadow Rescue, published by Red Rose Publishing, and Del Fantasma: Tiger Juice, published by Aspen Mountain Press. Her newest release is Cybot Awakened, by Red Rose Publishing. Melisse refers to herself as a shy bookworm that moved to a big city in Tornado Alley with a great guy! But don’t take my word for it, visit her website and learn more: http://www.melisseaires.com/

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GRACEN: Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions like watching a Lifetime Channel movie marathon, spending the day with your significant other, writing, etc.?

MELISSE: My husband is a terrific cook and cooks a wonderful dinner and dessert which we share with our three teenage daughters. There are usually stuffed toys and chocolates,too!


GRACEN: Many of us feel that Valentine’s Day is just one more day that has been overly commercialized and isn’t something that should only be celebrated once a year, but at least once a day. What was the most romantic gift you’ve ever received, when did you receive it and who was it from?

MELISSE: When my husband proposed 21 years ago, the engagement ring was attached to a red rose.


GRACEN: Since this is the time of year when many people (teens included) feel the need to find a significant other, what suggestion(s) do you have for our readers as to what trait(s) should be added to their list?

MELISSE: I tell my teens to look for good character—are they a good friend, do they have integrity, are they hard working, carry their own weight? There ARE good guys out there!


GRACEN: There are many relationship superstitions out there such as, “rain on your wedding day is bad luck,” are you superstitious when it comes to love or relationships? Why or why not? If so, what superstitions do you believe have merit?

MELISSE: I don't really have a superstition,but I think a woman should look beyond the physical or financial to the character of the man.


GRACEN: Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe in the power of love? If so, do you think that love can exist beyond this life and carry over into the next or has the power to keep a soul attached to the mortal coil never to cross over? Do you believe that ghosts have the ability to effect humans in a sexual manner?

MELISSE: I do believe in ghosts but my experience in college was more of a scary stalker type ghost. My sister lost her husband of 30 years and sometimes feels he is communicating with her.


GRACEN: Please tell us, if you have any, 3 funny, strange or silly things that happened to you, or someone you know, on past Valentine’s Days. Any rendezvous fiascos that you now find humorous to tell? Have they ever been inspiration for some hi-jinks in your stories? Which ones? (Sharing may help others not feel so bad if it happened to them, as the saying goes, “misery loves company”)

MELISSE: I've never written a Valentine's story but now you have the plot bunnies hopping around!


GRACEN: For years, romance readers have experienced flack from non-romance readers saying or implying, “that’s just porn for women.” What can you say that might help non-romance readers understand the current essence of the romance genre?

MELISSE: I think that romance that leads to healthy relationships and family are the basis for a healthy, family, community and society. I think women see romance in a more global context beyond a hot love scene and most of us know a romance in real life without the physical attraction is not that desirable or long lasting!


GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Melisse…What genre is your work considered to be? Why this genre? What was the draw for you?

MELISSE: I write in speculative romance—fantasy, futuristic and paranormal. Since childhood I have been fascinated by fairy tales and myths, sci fi and fantasy novels. I think the speculative element entertain us and yet may make the human responses more intense in the 'otherworld' setting.


GRACEN: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

MELISSE: Good people win.


GRACEN: Do you prefer romantic gifts (flowers, chocolate, jewelry, etc.) or romantic acts (massages, dinners, fun night out, etc.)? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

MELISSE: ACTS. In my upcoming Del Fantasma: Demonade, my hunky expriest gives my lonely pysvamp-demon heroine a back massage because she never gets touched for her pleasure or comfort.


GRACEN: What school of thought are you when it comes to romance, love at first sight or that love takes time? Does this show through in your writing? If so, how?

MELISSE: I think the attraction and decision to pursue a relationship can be instant--you KNOW you have to be with this man. But if time will show he if he is really what you want.


GRACEN: When reading stories, many of us find secondary characters to be as interesting as or more interesting than the main characters. Are there any secondary characters that you plan on giving their own story? Or any that readers have requested have their own story? Are any of them your favorites? Why?

MELISSE: I have had a reader/reviewer request to follow up with my couple from Del Fantasma: Tiger Juice, and I am exploring that idea. I tend to think in series or families with all my stories.


GRACEN: Of all of your heroes, who would you say is the most romantic and why?

MELISSE: Hmmm, I am a girl of the moment. I like the hero in the current wip the best!


GRACEN: Of all of your heroes, who would you say is the least romantic and why?

MELISSE: Well, Kaistril in Cybot Awakened is a military man, a warrior. But he is not hopeless!





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BLURB:

Sabralia lives a lonely but luxurious life in Emperor Sirn’s Harem, her only companion is her obedient servant, Qy, a cybot. Her life has largely been controlled by others, but when Sirn demands his Harem pleasure his Commanding Officers at a victory celebration, Sabralia makes a daring plan to hide to avoid rape by Sirn's men.

The Palace is ambushed and her cybot gets her off world. The impossible has happened−Qy the gentle cybot becomes the man he once was, the warrior Kaistril. Pursued for valuable information, Sabralia is thrust into dangerous, unfamiliar situations where she must stand up to the challenges, or lose the man she loves.

EXCERPT:

Kaistril dreamed. A woman was in his arms…his Mistress Sabralia, with her dark hair, dark blue eyes and white soft skin. His staff roared into hardness. He tightened his arms around the woman, pulling her closer…she was so sweet, smelling of flowers, her soft bottom cradled his straining member…

Something is wrong. His eyes snapped open in a starless night and he sat up so fast he swayed, dizzy. They were on a cushioned pallet in thick woods. A body was pressed tight against him and he knew it was his mistress, Sabralia. They were hiding from…unrest.

Something is wrong. My name is Kaistril. No! I am Qy, in service to my mistress.

He couldn’t remember…but Kaistril seemed right.

He shook his head to try and clear his confusion.

The air reeked of smoke. The fire, soldiers, danger, weapons…

His head ached, as did his stomach. He was thirsty. He reached into Sabralia’s food basket and got a fruit drink, which helped a little, but his mind was still clouded.

They were in the woods…a fire at the palace…

Something is wrong. Breathe deeply, calm yourself, a voice he recognized as being from his past, told him. He closed his eyes and breathed in through his mouth and out through his nose, concentrating.

There was a sound. It was important. He listened.

Far away, so far away he could only feel the vibrations through the earth—death! He slid off the pillows onto the forest floor and placed his palms on the ground—

−The Strafe, attacking his Tier, the entire contingent in their observation units, dying. Burning, blinding white flashes, men falling dead in an instant, dead bodies everywhere… He knew it well. It had killed his men. The Strafe was coming!

“Wake. Wake.” He hauled the sleeping woman into his arms. “We need to get down to the beach, to one of the caves.”

A timer went off in his brain, the timer he was to obey, for his nightly maintenance. He groaned with confusion. No− The caves! He threw the queen over his shoulder with her blankets over her, and loped toward the beach, ignoring her protests and squirms. She was round and soft, not strong, not a warrior woman and he was able to subdue her struggles easily without harming her. In the far distance the Strafe slashed through the air, lighting the way with its killing white light, and the woman screamed in shock, her whole body going tight.

“Underground. The Strafe,” he grunted. She probably had no idea what the Strafe was. But he knew. He remembered. Fierce triumph filled him. He remembered and they would not kill this warrior, or his queen.

“What’s wrong?” she cried.

The soft voice of his mistress sent a shiver down his spine. His body was still hard, clamoring for her touch, despite the raging light. The danger, the excitement flooding his body, his memories, the woman in his arms. He paused for a moment, suddenly overwhelmed with confusion.

The Strafe moved closer, so its individual tines of killing light were visible.

“We need to get to one of the tidal caves. The Strafe will kill us.”

“The Strafe,” Comprehension colored her words. He sat her down, pulled the blanket from her face then grabbed her hand and they raced down the beach.

He found the section of beach with shallow caves. They’d explored them before, collecting shells… Once inside he shoved her against the back wall of the cave and covered her body with his own.

“The Strafe doesn’t go through soil. We might live if we …” His words trailed off. She was staring at him, mouth agape, eyes huge and dark in the night.

“You are different.” His mistress sounded faint.

“Yes. There is no time. Close your eyes,” he said. “The light can damage your vision.” He pulled the blanket over them, holding it cupped to her eyes with one hand while he did the same to his own with his other hand.

Kaistril listened carefully but could hear nothing now except their breathing, heavy with fear. The Strafe was concentrating on populated areas, though it would eventually sweep outlying areas for strays.

Bright, deadly tines stroked the beach and suddenly clashed around them, lighting even their closed, blanket covered eyes. They sank to the ground as the light sizzled just feet from them, close enough they could feel its strange heat. It disappeared, though they could still hear it.

Qy ran out of their shelter. The Strafe had returned to the Palace area. “Come on. It has gone straight back to the city. This is our chance!”

He grabbed her by the hand and ran up the beach, dragging her along.

“Qy, where are we going?” she wailed.

He paused for a split second, then continued pulling her along.

“Staying alive is the plan,” was all he said. No need to tell her it’s a gamble. Soon the Harvesters will be here to kill those that remain alive…

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