• Character Interviews

    Character Interview: Steve from Action

    Action by Liz Borino.

    Welcome to Romance Lives Forever, Liz. Tell us about your new
    book.

    Book title: Action
    Author: Liz Borino
    Genre: Gay Romance
    Buy links: Amazon AllRomance
    Publisher: Lazy Day
    Length (words): 38,000
    Heat rating: R
    Blurb: When the bright lights and flashing cameras of Hollywood capture your
    every move, how can you fulfill your deepest desires? For Zack Greene, a
    formerly out-of-control actor, and Steve Michaels, the director who unearthed
    the heart of the man beneath the ego, it’s a constant struggle.
    In public, Steve and Zack are the picture of professional
    partners. However, behind closed doors, their partnership is taken to a new
    level. They engage in a carefully constructed Dom/sub relationship that not
    only brings them pleasure, but keeps Zack from slipping back into his wild
    ways.
    Their delicate balance is thrown askew when a producer on
    the show threatens to expose their lifestyle, while taking advantage of Zack in
    a moment of vulnerability. Will Steve be able to ease the pain and save the
    love they share? Or will they come apart when they need each other most?
    Warning: Light
    BDSM, D/s relationship, spanking, and hot m/m sex
    What are your main
    characters’ names?
    Zack Greene- 28, lead actor on Ben’s Life sitcom
    Steve Michaels- 31, director of Ben’s Life

    Interview

    Tell us about the
    main character in your current book. What is he like?
    Steve Michaels is a director on Ben’s Life. He likes good
    food, his job, hiking, and his cat, Timmy. However, he loves his family,
    including his boyfriend, and sub, Zack Greene.
    If your main character
    was here today, what would he say is his strongest point?
    His ability to exert loving control in all he does.
    Does he think he has
    a weakness? (If so, what does he think it is? What does his lover think it is?
    What does his enemy think it is?)
    Steve would say his weakness is the inability to be around
    large groups of people for long periods of time, which is problematic in the
    entertainment industry. Zack adores Steve and honestly has a difficult time
    finding fault with him. He would probably wish Steve felt more comfortable
    letting his guard down, oh and put the clean clothes away instead of leaving
    them in the dryer. Rich, the producer who tries to screw things up, and Steve’s
    enemy, complains that Steve is a weak Dom. He believes Steve needs to be harder
    on Zack.
    What drives your hero
    to do the things he does? What makes him want to be the “good guy?”
    Steve was raised in a military household, until his father
    died when he was 12. At that young age, Steve had to take control of the house
    and help out his mother while she fell apart. This contributed to his sense of
    right and wrong—and his dominate nature.
    What’s your main
    character’s favorite guilty pleasure?
    Vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and a cherry.

    Answered as the main character:

    If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?
    Sandpaper. It makes everything smooth, essentially better.
    Hopefully.
    Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality
    and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?
    Movie store. I’d make sure to stock indie films as well as
    the big names because we all have to start somewhere.
    Tell us an
    embarrassing story that has to do with a pet. If you have no pets, a story
    about a significant other will do. ^_^
    How about I combine them? Zack talked about wanting pets
    from the moment we moved in together. And I’m a sucker for his blue eyes,
    especially when he begs, but I knew we worked too much for a dog. So, one day I
    sent him to get something at a store completely out of the way. I made it
    absolutely clear the product could only be found there. No, he wasn’t happy
    with me. I did it, though, because I found an ad for kittens from a local cat.
    The owner of the cat came over and let me pick from the litter. After checking
    out medical records for each, I picked chose Timmy, a stubborn and loving
    kitten his expressive blue eyes. I really like that combination. Anyway, in the
    process of setting him up in the garage to surprise Zack, Timmy peed—all over
    the front of my jeans. Wouldn’t be so much of an issue had Zack not been
    pulling into the garage at that exact moment. He jumped out of the car and
    found me holding Timmy and said, “Where did he come from?”
    “I don’t know,” I responded, “I found him here when I came
    looking for food in this fridge.”
    Zack smiled and pet the cat, then noticed my jeans. “What
    happened to you?”
    “The cat must be scared.”
    My brat of a boyfriend then took the kitten from me and
    cuddled him. “Stop blaming this precious kitten for your control issues. Why
    don’t you change so we can decide what to do?” I swear that cat laughed at me
    as I walked away. Zack still believes I have no idea how Timmy got there. And
    that pretty well describes my relationship with both of them.

    Please Fill in the Blanks (as the character)

    I love pizza* with pineapple.
    I’m always ready for cuddling.
    When I’m alone, I think too much.
    You’d never be able to tell, but I need my boyfriend as
    much as he needs me
    .
    If I had a halo it would be made
    of fire and ice
    .
    If I could fly I’d never drive in LA traffic again.
    I can never administer pain without pleasure because
    I love Zack too much.

    Author Bio

    Liz Bornio
    Liz Borino is the author of
    the Taylor Twins series, including Expectations, What Money Can’t Buy, and
    Gifts from the Past and Ben’s Life series, beginning with Action. She lives
    behind her computer screen, currently stationed in some irrelevant small town
    in Pennsylvania.
    When she leaves her computer, Liz loves to spend time in cities around the
    world, particularly New York and London.
    She’s the quiet one with
    Snapple or green tea, at the local Starbucks, until someone threatens human
    rights within her earshot. Should you be around when that happens, take a step
    back and wait for the storm to pass. Her two pet causes are women and gay
    rights. Why? Because contrary to popular opinion, and current legislation, they’re
    people, too.
    Liz believes her best
    training in the craft of fiction came from her Public Relations undergraduate
    degree. Now, when she isn’t writing or editing erotic romance novels, she’s applying
    literary theories to the classics in pursuit of a master’s in English.

    Booklist

    Taylor Twins: Expectations,
    What Money Can’t Buy, and Gifts from the Past
    Ben’s Life: Action

    Books Coming Soon

    Ben’s Life: Cutaway,
    That’s a Wrap and the prequel (only
    available in the forthcoming print edition) Casting.

    Find Liz Online

    Website: http://lizborino.com
    Facebook: 
    https://www.facebook.com/liz.borino.1

  • RLF Gems

    RLF Gems – Blog Stats for June 2012

     

    RLF Gems.
    The top bloggers (by page load) for the month of June
    resulted in a tie for third place in the top five. This month was unusual in
    that the blog was closed for a period due to my illness. The good news is that
    I did not have a heart attack. The bad news is that I learned my heart did have
    a slight weakness that needed medication. I’ve been on the mend and taking
    better care of myself as a result.
    In June, we had a few character interviews, which were well
    received, and every day that we had a posting saw top numbers. The article I
    wrote for the Marketing for Romance Writers blog tour (in preparation for
    Marketing Summer Camp) scored nearly twice as many hits as the next in line.
    That was gratifying, and a surprise. Model and photographer Cherif Fortin and his
    business partner Lynn Sanders hit it out of the park with their interview this
    month. I had them on twice because their article was so unique. They helped
    pioneer a new media that combines film, ebooks, audio books, and images to make
    a new media. You can learn more about it at this URL. http://is.gd/a3oh1m
    Top Post – MFRW

    Here are the top bloggers for June 2012:

    1. Kayelle Allen – Why I Created Marketing for Romance
    Writers
    2. Cherif Fortin, Lynn
    Sanders – New Media for Authors
    3. K. D. Grace – Character Interview
    3. Lynn Cahoon – Character Interview
    4. Jane Wenham-Jones – Author Interview
    5. S. A. Garcia – Not Only Angels Fall from the Heavens
    My thanks to everyone who took part this month. Guests this
    month included (in alpha order by first name, not including myself): Alexandra Stewart, Berengaria
    Brown, Cherif Fortin, Cinsearae S, Danita Minnis,
    Jane Wenham-Jones, Juliette
    Springs,
    K. D. Grace, Lynn Cahoon, Lynn Sanders, S. A.
    Garcia.