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Friday, January 24, 2014

Interview & Review: Control by Charlotte Stein

Author Charlotte Stein joins us today for an interview.  She is promoting her book Control.  Enjoy her answers to our questions after my thoughts.

Author: Charlotte Stein
Publisher: SOurcebook
Date of publication: January 2014
(Originally published in 2010 by ExCite books)

When Madison Morris decides to hire an assistant to help run her naughty bookshop, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. Aggressive Andy doesn't quite make the grade, but continues to push her buttons in other areas, while uptight and utterly repressed Gabriel can't quite take Madison's training techniques. One makes her grasp control, while the other makes her lose it. But the lines are blurring and she's no longer sure who's leading and who's following. In the midst of kinky threesomes and power plays, can Madison work out what she really wants?

My thoughts:

I really wanted to like this book.  I thought the concept was good, but it fell short for me.  When I read erotic books, I like to be able to connect with the characters. I never felt like I got to really know the characters. I also like to feel like there is a plot.  This book was too much on sex and not enough story behind it.  I know others liked the story, but it just wasn't the book for me.

Thank you for having me here to answer your lovely questions!

Autumn & Kari: What inspired you to become a writer?

Charlotte: I don’t think there was ever one thing that inspired me. I think I’ve just always wanted to be one, as far back as I can remember. Certain things pushed me in one direction or another – my love for Black Lace books, for example, encouraged me to write erotic. But there was never one thing that made me sit up and go: I want to write!

Autumn & Kari: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Charlotte: I always wish I could say something really deep and fascinating here, but the truth is my ideas are generally sparked by whatever crush I have at the moment! Some hot actor will give me a little character point or plot kernel, based on something he did in a movie or show. And then I’ll be off, writing away.

Autumn & Kari: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Charlotte: I’ve got lots of ideas in the pipeline and a few things under contract. Next up will be my movie star New Adult novel with Ellora’s Cave – lots of angst, lots of feeling, lots of passion. Then after that I’ve got another New Adult novel about a girl stifled by her parents and their need for perfection, and the inappropriate guy she ends up falling for. And the end of the year will hopefully see the release of my Sherlockian hero story, Sweet Agony.

Autumn & Kari: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Charlotte: I would probably have to say Jane Eyre! She is everything: a plain but brilliant woman, railing against the forces that constrain her, and who manages to triumph in the end. What more can you ask for?

Autumn & Kari:  Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?


Charlotte: I would be Falkor the Luck Dragon. And yeah I know he’s not real, but come on can you imagine being a gigantic feathery flying creature that looks kind of like a dog and lives in Fantasia? That would be so cool!

About the author:

Charlotte Stein has published many stories in various erotic anthologies, including Fairytale Lust from Cleis, and Sexy Little Numbers, from Black Lace. Her own collection of short stories, The Things That Make Me Give In, is out now, and was named one of the best erotic romances of 2009 by Michelle Buonfiglio. She has novellas and a novel coming soon from Ellora's Cave, Total-E-Bound and Xcite, and you can contact her at her blog: www.themightycharlottestein.blogspot.com

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