It's that fabulous time of week! Author Saturday Spotlight time! YAY! This week we have Z. Allora. Author of such books as Lock & Key, Illusions and Dreams, Club Zombie Series, and many more. Today we will have a nice sit down and get to know this amazing person and author. So, as always, grab your beverage (s) and enjoy!
Jake O’Neil’s open pansexuality yields him interesting bedmates, but he’s never chased after the mythical illusion of love. He focuses on others, like his best friend Randy, who needs a Bang-Cock vacation. Finding an adorable little imp named Boon-nam wasn’t on the itinerary. Gay, straight, and undecided, Jake has had ‘em all, but never a virgin aching to take a walk on the kinky side after having her affirmation surgery. Talk about pressure. And what’s with everyone warning him not to break her heart? His is the one in danger.
That’s Jasper’s problem too. After decades, the ex-priest has given up on finding a mate. He’s willing to be Kai’s mentor and friend. Gorgeous, distant, and off-limits, meet young, virile, and gay.
Zack Davis wanted to serve only one man, Andrew Nikeman. He was denied because Andrew thought he was too young and because their brothers were together. So Zack crushed his submissive tendencies and focused on being the perfect Dom, giving every sub he played with something he couldn’t have.
After years of denying his submissive side, Entwined’s charity auction “Are you Dom Enough to be a sub?” gives Zack an excuse to get a little of what he’s always craved.
Andrew doesn’t know when his infatuation turned into more, but it kills him to see Zack with a constant parade of submissives. He’d refused to jeopardize his brother’s relationship or become Zack’s regret; however, Zack isn’t a kid anymore, and his brother’s relationship is unbreakable. Now Zack’s popularity and success as a Dom might ruin Andrew’s dreams of collaring him, but he can’t wait any longer to confess his feelings or he risks losing the man he loves forever.
Interview
Thank you so much for being here today, Z. It’s a real
pleasure. I’ve never had the chance to pick your brain and I very much look
forward to it. So, let’s get to know you a little better.
(Straightening beret & grins) Glad to be here Meredith.
I’m an oversharer so ask away!
What are three little fun facts about you that isn’t widely
known?
Wow, as an over sharer I’ll need to dig deep.
1) The smell of bananas makes me nauseous… which is totally
a bummer because imagine the fun I could have with a phallic fruit. (SIGH)
Evidence life is UNFAIR!
2) On my 10th visit to India, the customs agent
demanded I get a special visa since I kept going back and forth so much from
China >>> If I wasn’t there for business WHY was I going to Bangalore
so often??? (Explaining I’m a love slave who doesn’t wish to be parted from my
love wouldn’t cut it….)
3) I’ve lived in 3 other countries (Singapore, Israel and
China) & I’ve traveled to 32 countries. I try to entwine my travels and
experiences into my characters and their journeys.
What are some of your favorite scenes to write?
Sex scenes… People roll their eyes or say they skim the sex
scenes >>> I can’t imagine why. During these scenes everything is cut
away and the characters are raw. It’s not about tab A into slot B… Sure, these
can be fun, interesting and hot but I need to know/show: What do the characters
say? What do they avoid saying? What are they thinking? Usually when the body
is so completely engaged the lies they tell themselves fall away leaving only
the purest of truth. Sex can be a book’s sodium pentothal.
Are you a plotter or a pantster?
Plotter… Usually I’m bitten by a plot bunny >>> in
the form of a compelling scene. Then I have to detective work my way into who
the hell this person is and what’s their story.
I use Scrivener so as I develop scenes and chapters I can easily shuffle
the order as the story unfolds in spurts of discovery. (I’ve taken as long as 4
years to write one story and I have as many as 10 works in progress on my
laptop.)
How important are names in your books and how do you choose
that perfect one?
I can’t begin to really write the character in depth until I
have their name (& face). I’ll take notes calling characters: A and X, but without
the names I can’t truly begin the story. When choosing a name I figure out the
characters age, and parental situation then I look to see what were
popular/unpopular names to figure out if any hit me (or their fictional parent)
as a fit. I use Scrivener’s tool that helps with names as well as baby name
sites. I use another website for my sci-fi names.
Aside from writing, what are some of your other talents?
Multiple… oh… um, never mind I’m behaving! Let’s see…
Oh! I can twirl a rifle (I was in color guard for years). Broke
my nose & needed carpal tunnel surgery on both hands to prove it.
I have my hair license in NY because I was afraid 3
Bachelor’s degrees (Psych, English & Philosophy) and a Masters in
Psychology might not be enough to find work >>> true story.
Bargaining: Living in China & Israel taught my how to
get the lowest prices available (to a foreigner). I enjoy the process of the
back & forth. I have fun with it so the shop/stall keepers have fun too.
Can you tell us about some of your future projects?
The Craving is a Sci-fi/space
opera, which will be out in Nov/Dec 2016 with Dreamspinner Press. As a long
time Trekkie I found it fun to play in this arena but make NO mistake it’s a
ROMANCE 1st and foremost!!! In the Xantha star system’s dimensional
art made by Ambrosial monks can change not only hearts and minds, but promote
action. Monks need to maintain the Principles of Purity… how long do you think
that lasts in one of my books?
Secured and Free is
a BDSM ménage novel being released in Mar/Apr 2017 with Dreamspinner Press. I
tend to highlight the variations on any given spectrum. In this book, I look at
sadism, dominance and submission from different angles than are usually written
about because I enjoy exploring the edges and celebrating the differences. (There’s
no one way to sub/Top space.)
Will you be attending GRL this year or any other upcoming
conventions?
I’ll be attending YaoiCon in San Francisco this year! This will
be my second YaoiCon and the first I’m going to have a table (insert terrified
rant). But unfortunately that means I can’t go to the GRL this year, but I hope
to be there next year.
Can you tell your readers and future fans how to follow your
career? Website, Facebook, Twitter etc…
E-mail: Z.AlloraHappyEndings@gmail.com
Facebook: Z Allora
Allora
Twitter: @ZAllora
Website: www.zallorabooks.com
Blog: zallora.blogspot.com
Pinterest: ZAllora Allora
What brings you the greatest joy as a writer?
Writing! So much of being a writer isn’t about writing (if
you care about selling your work). When I work with a publisher I feel a huge
responsibility that they get their investment back for taking a chance on me.
This means I have to promote my work and my brand. Some of it is natural:
Facebook, or playing on your website over sharing cause that’s what I do… (&
somehow by sharing who I am is my brand so whew!). But posting about my books
(aka remembering to post buy links or linking my blog posts to my work) doesn’t
always come naturally to me though I’m working on it.
Fast Fire Questions:
Okay, buckle up…
Cat or dog? Dog
Night or day? Day
Dancing at a club or Netflix and chill? Depends… I’d like to think dancing but more
likely curling up with my love watching movies.
What’s your favorite movie?
Only You
Favorite color? Teal
One place you’d love to visit? Erotic Temples of India
Cupcakes or brownies?
Cupcakes (cause icing!)
Favorite childhood book?
Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of Nimb
Okay, thank you, Z., for being here. This has been a lot of
fun! I can’t wait to see what you write next.
Giveaway
Z is doing a great giveaway for one winner.
Book 1 and 2 of Club Zombie Series
Book 1: Zombie ahead
Book 2: Zombies Suck
Enter the rafflecopter below. Contest ends
August 12th.
Winner will be contacted via email.
Thank you to Z for being here and being fabulous!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi Z, hi Meredith! 😄😊 thanks flank the awesome interview and excerpt! 😊❤
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating! Hugs, Z.
DeleteHi Z (& M). What a great interview and post, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks! Hugs, Z.
Delete>> Sex scenes… People roll their eyes or say they skim the sex scenes >>> I can’t imagine why.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am one of them. To me I have always been more fond of romance outside of bedroom, because romance is not the same with sex to me. Maybe it is also because of my asexuality but truthfully, reading about the little things the characters do to each other means more than sex that they do. Sex is just like an extra topping on pizza. Sometimes it's nice and delicious but I don't always want/need them *shrugs*
I agree it's the little things: the look, the hand touch, squeezing fingers, words carelessly tumbling out (I want to know what words? Why did he say that? He did he feel about saying that...) Sex scenes should be simply another dimension of romance.
Delete((Thank you for sharing about your asexuality. There are many people in the m/m community who are asexual and are beginning to help educate us and think about things from a different perspective.))
Hugs, Z.
Great interview! I've read a few of your books and have enjoyed them greatly. I have to admit I haven't yet read the ones above but I'm looking forward to checking them out.
ReplyDeleteCool! It's always great to hear someone enjoyed my work.
DeleteHugs, Z.
Thank you for the great interview and giveaway, Z!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHugs, Z.