Interview with Anita Clenney and Giveaway - November 2, 2011

Anita Clenney first visited The Qwillery as part of the 2011 Debut Author Challenge and now returns as both a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author! Congratulations to Anita and welcome back. Anita's most recent book, Embrace the Highland Warrior, was published yesterday.

TQ:  Welcome back to The Qwillery!

Anita:  Thanks for having me back. I’m thrilled to be here. And I’m celebrating!! Not only did Embrace the Highland Warrior come out yesterday, but I learned that I actually made the NYT best seller list for ebooks in September and I had no idea until my agent stumbled on it. We knew I had hit the USA Today best seller list, but this was a surprise.

TQ:  Please tell us about Embrace the Highland Warrior, the second novel in your highlander series. Does the series have a name now?

Anita:  My publisher didn’t give the series a name, but I’ve noticed that reviewers are calling it The Connor Clan series. It’s full of poignant love, betrayal, and loaded with suspense. Here’s a blurb:

Cody McBain and his family spent years protecting the identity of a powerful female warrior who was targeted by an ancient demon, keeping the secret from even her. When she found out her entire life had been a lie, she abandoned Cody and her clan. Now, vampires and demons have discovered she's alive and are in a race to find her and the clan's sacred Book of Battles. Cody will have to break all the rules to save the woman who shattered his heart.

When the powerful demon who left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. But the vampires also want the book, and they want her. Knowing she can’t fight this evil alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse.

TQ:  Which character has surprised you the most in the series?

Anita:  Ronan surprised me. He started as a very minor secondary character, and he just exploded on the page. His dialog came without me even trying; witty, natural, and his relationship with Bree just flowed. Now he’s the character EVERYONE wants to know about.

TQ:  Scottish Highlanders - what makes them so attractive?

Anita:  I can’t figure it out, either. I think in reality Scottish Highlanders are like any other segment of the population. There are good and bad, gorgeous and not gorgeous, but when it comes to books and our imagination, for women, there’s something about a man in a kilt that is magic. I’m still trying to get my husband in one. Seriously, I do think that throughout history, highlanders were depicted as so passionate and fierce, and that’s a characteristic we like in our heroes.

TQ:  What do you wish you'd known when the 1st book, Awaken the Highland Warrior, was published that you know now?

Anita:  I wish I had realized how busy I would be with writing and promoting. After publication, it gets crazy. I should have planned my time better.

TQ:  Describe a typical writing day for you.

Anita:  My days vary. Sometimes I do most of my writing in the evening or at night, which means I might have to nap or sleep during the day. I’m really bad about structure.

TQ:  Are there any other genres in which you would like to write in addition to paranormal romance and romantic suspense?

Anita:  I have a cozy mystery on the backburner. I love any combination of mysteries and romance.

TQ:  What's next?

Anita:  I’m working on book three in the series, Unleash the Highland Warrior, and also another paranormal romantic suspense, but no warriors this time.

TQ:  Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.

Anita:  Thanks for having me. I love connecting with readers.


About The Connor Clan Series

Embrace the Highland Warrior

Connor Clan 2
Sourcebooks, November 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

When the powerful demon that left Shay for dead discovers her empty grave, he comes seeking retribution, believing she possesses an ancient book he has sought for centuries. Knowing she can’t fight the demon alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse.

Amazon : Barnes & Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : iTunes

An excerpt from Embrace the Highland Warrior

          Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles, returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”
          Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.
          She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.
          “Get off me, you oaf.”
          “I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”
          She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.
          “I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”
          “What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”
          “Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.
          Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.
          While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.
          “Where are you going?” he demanded.
          “Get away from me.”
          “You can’t leave.”
          “Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”
          “I explained it to you.”
          “Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.
          “You’re not leaving.”
          Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”
          He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.
          “Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.
          She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”
          “How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.
          “Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.
          She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”
          “Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”
          “You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”

Awaken the Highland Warrior

Connor Clan 1
Sourcebooks, May 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 448 pages

A man from another time…

Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. Betrayed and locked in a time vault, he has been sleeping for nearly two centuries when spunky historian Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him. She’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him, and if he’s not careful, she’ll uncover the secrets his clan has bled and died to protect…

Could be the treasure she’s been seeking all her life…

When Bree inherits an old treasure map, she discovers a warrior buried in her backyard. But the warrior isn’t dead. Bree shocks Faelan with her modern dress and her boldness, and he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her.

With demons suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan’s duty as protector is in his blood, and that her part in this fight was destined before she was born. But nothing is ever what it seems…

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About Anita

Anita Clenney grew up an avid reader, devouring Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books before moving on to mysteries and romance. After working as a secretary, a Realtor, teacher’s assistant, booking agent for Aztec Fire Dancers, and a brief stint in a pickle factory (picture Lucy and Ethel--lasted half a day)…she realized she'd missed the fork in the road that led to her destiny. Now she spends her days writing mysteries and paranormal romantic suspense about Secret Warriors, Ancient Evil and Destined Love. Anita lives in suburban Virginia, outside Washington DC, with her husband and two kids.

You can find out more about Anita and her books at:

http://www.anitaclenney.com
http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR
http://www.twitter.com/anitaclenney
http://www.mysteriesandmargaritasblogspot.com
http://www.goodreads.com/anitaclenney
http://www.redroom.com/anitaclenney


The Giveaway

THE RULES

What:  One commenter will win Mass Market Paperback copies of Awaken the Highland Warrior and Embrace the Highland Warrior from The Qwillery.

How:  Leave a comment answering the following question from Anita:


Who is your favorite writer and why?

Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.

You may receive additional entries by:

1)  Being a Follower of The Qwillery.

2)  Mentioning the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. Even if you mention the giveaway on both, you will get only one additional entry. You get only one additional entry even if you mention the giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter multiple times.

3)  Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.

There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.

Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. Void where prohibited by law. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*