Interview with Annabeth Albert (@annabethalbert)

I’m happy to introduce Annabeth Albert to my site for the first time. Find out more about her, her books and ponytailed hotties…

Tell us about yourself. Both your writing self and your non-writing self. What are your interests and hobbies? Do you have a day job, etc?

My writing self writes both m/f and m/m erotic romance. I joke that I write “heart warming smut” as my stories are both sweet and just a little naughty. In the past I’ve written contemporary romance and young adult romance before finding a home on the spicy side of things.  I’m married with two young kids and I’m an adjunct professor. Does Twitter count as a hobby? I’m a frequent late-night tweeter. I’m a sports junkie and can’t wait for the winter Olympics to start. Oh and I’m a compulsive knitter—I hate just sitting without something to do.

Give us the background on your latest release.

When I saw that EC wanted more married stories, I immediately knew that I wanted to do one. The question of what happens AFTER a happy ending has always fascinated me, and I wanted to look at the hard work it takes to keep happily-ever-after going. I also knew that I wanted a story where the conflict didn’t center around cheating temptation. I wanted an average couple finding their way back from okay to fabulous.

How did you get started with writing? And what was your route to publication like?

I started writing my first book in 2003 while I was in graduate school. I finally finished that book in 2005, and while it didn’t sell, I discovered RWA and the awesome community of romance writers. I went onto to write another four books that still live under my bed. Then in 2012 I decided to see what would happen if I upped the spicy content in my writing. A few months later, I sold book #6 to Ellora’s Cave and book #7 to MLR press. My path to publication was lined with hundreds of rejection letters and close calls. Having five books not sell was really disheartening, and I was tempted to give up writing at several points. But I’m glad I kept on it.

What are you currently working on?

I have a full-length m/m erotic romance featuring a music reality show, a bad boy, and a kinky virgin hero that is currently on submission along with a m/m novella about a barista with a crush on one of his customers. Right now I’m working on a m/m friends-to-lovers story.

Do you have a particular Muse for your writing? Do any of your characters bear startling resemblances to sexy celebrities or people you admire?

My muse can be fickle so I beat her into submission by making myself do something related to my WIP every day. I use Pandora and copious amounts of coffee to coax her into cooperating. Sometimes a particular picture or celebrity may influence my brainstorming but most of the time I have an idea then go hunt down some images to help things along.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Both writing-wise and non-writing-wise?

I have young kids so I have trouble thinking that far ahead. Writing wise I want to get faster, more productive, and have a decent sized backlist in five years.

And now for some silly questions…

Muscled or skinny? Both? I am an equal opportunity appreciator of body types J

Tall or short? I love tall heroes, but I’ve also got a soft spot for height challenged heroes like Lorelei James’ Chasin’ Eight.

Boxers or briefs? Boxers.

Moustache or beard? Beard. If you’re going to go fuzzy, go bold!

Long hair or shaven head? Both! I’m married to a pony-tailed hottie, but I love bald-by-choice too.

Tattoos or piercings? Ink is sexier than steel to me!

Intelligent or funny? Both! A girl can dream!

Blond, brunette or red head? All three 🙂 But I love a great ginger hero!

Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)? Jamie on Mythbusters. A hot, commanding nerd who knows how to use explosives? Yes, please!

Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) Reese Witherspoon—I’ve loved her since Man in the Moon back in the 90s.

Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) Duck Dynasty

Favourite food—Mangoes!

Favourite book (tell us why, if you like) Just one? Really? Promises by Marie Sexton is very high on my list because it was the first m/m I read, and it opened up a whole new world for me.

Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like)—My bed because I see too little of it!

Anything else you’d like to add? I love making new friends on twitter @AnnabethAlbert and facebook! See my contact deets below!

Now give us the blurb, an extract and buy links for your latest release.

Mark and Jill Evans have an enviable marriage—great kids, nice house and a loving relationship. But lately, Jill can’t escape the feeling that things have gotten a bit stale. Mark’s been working long hours and she misses the days when their bed was used for more than folding laundry.

“The last time I was covered in whipped cream, I wasn’t wearing quite so many clothes.” Jill snagged a stray red cup as she rounded up discarded plates and forks. A shout echoed from the living room followed by the sounds of electronic violence. “And I definitely didn’t have a house of teens.”

Bree made a strangled sound. “Jill á la mode?”

Jill glanced over at her friend, who’d collapsed onto one of the bar stools. Jill leaned back against the granite breakfast bar, surveying the damage wrought by a dozen eighth graders in under an hour. The kids had abandoned the open kitchen-great room space in favor of the video games in the living room—no matter what their architect had intended, there were no “formal” spaces in the house, only varying distributions of the kids’ stuff.

“What?” Jill’s cheeks heated. Maybe she had been far too long without adult conversation. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had fun with sundae toppings.”

“Oh, I have.” Bree’s smile of newlywed contentment made Jill grind her teeth.

Jealousy? A low ache bloomed in her gut. Oh yeah, she was jealous. But she couldn’t let that show. She straightened her smile and lightened her voice. “And probably a whole lot wilder in Barbados. You didn’t even get a honeymoon tan.”

“I just can’t picture…” Bree trailed off, cheeks pinkening. “Not that I picture you and Mark at all… I mean, I never thought of you guys as being… Oh crap. I’ll just shut up now.” She buried her face in her arms.

“What? We don’t seem like the wild monkey-sex types?” Not anymore, at least.

And when had that changed? She’d never been the type to kiss and brag in the carpool lineup, but she and Mark had good sex. And okay, maybe it wasn’t the wild, over-the-top, sweaty marathon of their twenties, but it was good. Except when it wasn’t anything at all. She grabbed a dishtowel and scrubbed at a nonexistent stain on the beige granite.

“We need wine.” Bree gestured to the bottle she’d brought, which sported a little bow and card—Mom needs a birthday present too! She grabbed two plastic cups from the stack of party things.

“What? Are we seventeen?” Jill snatched the cups away and returned them to the counter. Tonight she felt every minute of the five years separating their ages—her bones hurt and, unlike Bree, she didn’t have a sexy excuse. “I’ve got real glasses.” Somewhere.

She snared the footstool, then stretched to reach the top shelf. Somehow an assortment of plastic tumblers and thermoses had relegated her good crystal to the cheap seats behind a turkey platter. Thanksgiving. That was the last time we used the good dishes and served wine.

Feeling more boring by the second, she poured a generous amount of wine into two glasses.

“These are pretty.” Bree twirled her glass,looking at the lines of color snaking up the stem, glinting from deep inside the crystal.

“They were a wedding present from my dad.” Looking at the glasses, Jill could almost hear the rustle of satin and the smell of chrysanthemums and feel the weight of her father’s hand as he’d told her how proud her mother would have been. Other women always talked about how nervous they’d been on their wedding days. Not her. She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. “Fifteen years ago this year.”

Bree’s eyes narrowed, and Jill could see her friend doing the math in her head.

“Yeah,” Jill said. “Mallory was a bit of an early wedding present. Mark’s mother swears she was the biggest preemie she’s ever seen. Married in October, baby by Easter.”

“Cheers.” Bree raised her glass. “To the happiest couple I know.”

“Other than you and Jack.”

“Other than me and Jack.” Bree’s smug smile was back and so was Jill’s ache. “But really—you guys are totally my inspiration. Fifteen years. Three kids. And apparently you still know your way around a can of Reddi-whip.”

Not anytime lately. Jill took a healthy swallow of wine, the oaky  flavor making her throat tighten and her eyes sting. Or maybe that was from the effort of not confessing to Bree how wrong her assumption was. No, she’s not wrong. Mark and I are happy. We are.

Want to find out how Jill and Mark rekindle their passion and strengthen their bond? Read the rest of Move Me!

Now give us your author bio and website/social media links.

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Website:  http://www.annabethalbert.com
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/AnnabethAlbert
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/annabethalbert

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this interview and wish you the best of luck with your latest release. Many sales!