Hi everyone, today I’ve got a special guest on the site, NY Times Bestselling author Caridad Piñeiro. She’s here to talk about her very first erotic paranormal romance, and let me tell you, not only is it smokin’ hot, but it’s got a very unique paranormal theme. Without further ado:
As a writer there are many firsts in your career. Your first rejection. Your first sale. Your first ugly cover. AMAZON AWAKENING was a first for me – my first erotic paranormal romance.
What did that first mean for me? For sure it meant stretching the boundaries I had already been pushing as I strove to “love on edge.” But it also meant exploring the nature of the hero and his behavior toward what would hopefully be the future love of his life.
It was a little tough to do for a number of reasons. Since AMAZON AWAKENING is a novella, there had to be an immediate and credible attraction between the two because of the length of the story.
“Credible” being the operative word on many levels. We can all understand that instant physical attraction to a handsome man and the hero in AMAZON AWAKENING, Rey Peralta, is one sexy guy. Part of it is the alpha Guardian power he possesses, but the greater part is that he’s a totally hot hunk.
But this is a romance remember, and that means something more than just sex. It means attraction leading to love and for me that involves a measure of trust. Especially if you are going to be exploring not only a “sacred space” in the Amazon rainforest, but also your sexuality and the boundaries of where you are willing to go intimately.
Rey has to create that trust in Paola, the woman whom he wants to travel with him to the Amazon. The woman whom he almost instantly knows was meant to be his, body, heart and soul.
How can Rey do that? How can any hero do that in such a short time? Plus how can he do it while still remaining that alpha that seems to capture our imaginations in the romance world?
For me it was about relinquishing control and allowing the heroine to take the lead in what is going to happen during their first encounters. It is also about letting her know that in both their emotional and physical relationships it will be a partnership with the requisite give and take so both can experience pleasure, be satisfied emotionally and most importantly, have enough trust in their partner to let them try something new and different.
Rey does this by slowly allowing Paola to see more and more of him physically and emotionally. It takes restraint on his part, but Rey understands that nothing worthwhile is every easy. With his care and patience, he engages Paola in sharing more of herself with him until that initial attraction blossoms into more.
It’s been fascinating exploring the dynamic that allows everyday people to be able to trust and love so completely that they are able to undertake a journey of both emotional and physical discovery. A very erotic, but romantic journey.
I hope you’ll take a moment to explore the very complex and sexy Rey and Paola and their journey in AMAZON AWAKENING.
To learn more about Caridad and AMAZON AWAKENING, visit her at www.caridad.com.
About Rosalie Lario
Sounds like a great book! I can’t wait to give it a read.
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I read Amazon Awakening and I really loved it. I could’nt put the book down. Once I started to read it I had to finish it. This is a book that does not disappoint.–Rachel
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Caridad Pineiro Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 11:51 am
Thank you, Rachel. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it.
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It is a good book. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one.
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Caridad Pineiro Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 11:52 am
Thank you, also! I got a kick out of writing such a different story.
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Creating a viable hero, isn’t as easy as it looks. I struggled with my first hero. I had to channel him in sorts to get in his head and figure out his feelings. This sounds like a great read and is now on my TBR list…
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Caridad Pineiro Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 11:53 am
Not at all easy. You want him to be strong, but not be a brute. Sensitive, but not mushy. Very hard to do.
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Hi Caridad!
Took a break from your blog to come check out your post here. And you’re right, credibility is a must and somethings just can’t be, shouldn’t be, rushed. Good luck with this new writing direction!
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Caridad Pineiro Reply:
December 21st, 2011 at 11:53 am
Thank you, Mina and good luck to you, too! So exciting to be doing something different.
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Sounds like a great book! Novellas are tough because you do have to build the relationship quickly. I would think erotic novellas make that challenge even greater because it needs to get physical faster too…
I’m looking forward to reading this one! Congrats on another first!
Lisa
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Sounds great! I’ll add it to my TBR list.
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