Friday, December 12, 2008

Playing for Keeps - Devon Gray



Please welcome my special guest today, bestselling author Devon Gray, who writes for the Scarlet line of The Wild Rose Press. Devon's latest release is Playing for Keeps.

Over to you, Devon!

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Playing for Keeps is a story of reunited love and all the obstacles a couple must face to overcome their past to forge a future. Here is the blurb:

Pasts are best left behind, hidden deep in your memory—that is where I buried mine. The feel of his hands and mouth on my body, the height of sensuality I reached beneath his touch. I'd fought so hard to forget—how could just the sight of him bring it all back, forcing me to become lost in him?

Again.

Years before I had watched him, craved him—a guitarist in a band riding the wave to stardom—my brother's best friend. On the verge of womanhood, I never dared to reveal how I yearned. Until a cold New Year's Eve when I offered myself as the woman I'd become, bringing to fruition the deepest of wants. As that night turned, so did my life. Devastatingly so.

I never dreamed I'd become another of his one night stands.

Can pasts be exorcised if they come back to haunt you? And when a notorious playboy who broke your heart offers you his…how do you know if he's playing for keeps?



How did the idea for the plot come about?

I was asked to participate in an anthology with three other authors. Our assignment? Write a book based on the song “Same Old Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg. The end result is four stories of reunited love with the theme of New Year’s Eve woven through them. The other books in the anthology are: Sugar Shack by Paisley Scott, Blindfolded by Lust by April Vine and Stroke of Midnight by Ana Aragon. Each book is available now through The Wild Rose Press-The Wilder Roses, and they will be in a print anthology available for the 2009 holiday season.

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

My first published book was Addicted. I was talking to a fellow author friend about the new project and she told me she had worked with an editor from the Scarlet line of the Wild Rose Press and thought my book would be something she would have an interest in. I sent her a query, and she requested the manuscript. Not too long after that I was offered a contract on Addicted. Two months later I was invited to participate in the anthology.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I’m really into Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series now. Obviously, they are outstanding books. I am reading the series for the second time now, and from a writer’s perspective, I am completely awed with the intricate plot (which progresses over 2500 pages in four books, one picking up where the previous left off) and the author’s talent of keeping the reader engrossed and surprised. My favorite Harlequin Blaze author is Sarah Mayberry. Her stories are very emotional and HOT! She also puts a humorous spin into her work—delivering some lines that make me laugh out loud. I am also a big fan of Judith McNaught—her historical and contemporary romances. As for movies, some of my favorites are Love Actually, Oceans 11, Titanic, and, of course, Twilight. I really don’t watch much tv…there are too many good books to read! As for a fantasy squeeze, it would have to be the hero in my current wip…

What are you working on now?

I have completed a category romance and am currently in the polishing stage. It is the story of a woman who escapes a painful divorce by relocating to rural Georgia to refurbish a dilapidated farmhouse. She is intent on throwing herself into the project and using the time and solitude to forget her past. It seems like the perfect plan…until her new neighbor walks through her door.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Readers can visit me at www.authordevongray.com

               

13 comments:

April Vine said...

Hi Christina and Devon

Huge congrats on PFK’s success.
Emma and Christian tell such an emotional tale.
Good luck with your category romance.

Devon Gray said...

Thanks for having me Christina! Emma and Christian's tale is emotional. His side was a little TOO emotional in the first draft. Since it is written in dual first person, my editor had to point out that Christian was thinking "like a girl" in a few passages. LOL. Well, I AM a girl, so there you go. It was fun to put on a male brain and reword what I had written.

Suzanne Brandyn Author said...

Congratulations Devon,
Also good luck with your category..

All the best,

Suz :)

Pat Posner said...

Congrats, Devon.
Christina, there's an award for you over on mine.

Christina Phillips said...

Devon, you're very welcome!

Though I do write from the hero pov, I haven't yet tackled that in first person. I think that would be very challenging!!

Christina Phillips said...

Hey Pat! thank you!!

Helen Hardt said...

Hi ladies -- great interview. PFK was great, Devon! I just finished Twilight, the first book in Stephenie's series, and am looking forward to exploring the rest of the books. Good luck with your category romance! What line are you targeting?

Helen

Judith Leger said...

Hey ya, Christina and Devon!

Wow, wonderful blurb. Loved it.
Wishing you the best!

Hugs,
Judith

Rebecca J. Clark said...

Hi Devon & Christina

Congrats on your success, Devon! That's very exciting.

Love Actually is my all-time favorite Christmas movie. In fact, I may have to watch it today...

:)Becky

Devon Gray said...

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Helen- I pitched to a Harlequin editor at conference and she requested the partial of my category. I'm targeting Blaze. I'm glad you liked PFK. Good luck being able to put "New Moon" down. I've gotten my husband all addicted now and he's upset because I lent the second book to our babysitter and she hasn't finished it yet.

Catherine Bybee said...

*Waving at Christina and Devon*

I have this on my hard drive I just need to find the time to read it.
Great interview, Devon.

Shelley Munro said...

I love a reunion story. They're one of my favorite plot devices. You're the second person to recommend Sarah's books. I really must find one to read.

Good luck with your category romance :)

Cari Quinn said...

Great interview, Christina and Devon! :) I was lucky enough to win Playing For Keeps and can't wait to read it.

I'm also targeting Harlequin Blaze, and writing for them has been my quest of sorts for some time now. Best of luck with your future projects, Devon!