Author Interview: Beth Kery

Ladies and gentlemen, today I'm delighted to welcome to the blog Beth Kery, a delightful and talented author of sizzling erotic romances. Today Beth will give us an inside look at her new book Release, which came out yesterday from Berkley Heat. And now, without further ado, Beth Kery & Release! (**Applause!**)

RELEASE
Now Available from Berkley Heat

His need for her was so absolute, he agreed to share her with another man in order to possess her.

Genny loved her husband Max, but something was missing—a sexual charge that was instead ignited by his business partner, Sean. He was ruggedly handsome, with a heart-stopping smile and a slow, sexy New Orleans drawl that made Genny weak. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction between them became and when her husband offered to share her with Sean for one intoxicating night, both Genny and Sean were too tempted to refuse.

That night in the company penthouse, Max and Sean showed Genny the heights of ecstasy. But it was Sean who scored her very spirit, and one-on-one, they were red hot. But as Genny learns, there’s a price to pay for such impulsive pleasure. What began as a night of forbidden desire spirals into a whirlpool of murder, sensual submission, secrets, and a scorching passion that threatens to consume everyone it touches.

“Beth Kery handles intimate power play in a true and sensual way. Powerful emotion and scorching hot sex makes for an irresistible combination! I was drawn in from the very first page-a compelling read!"
Author of “A 21st Century Courtesan” ~Eden Bradley~

“Scorchingly erotic, packed with raw tension, and starring a hotter-than-sin hero, Release is an intoxicating read. Beth Kery has become an auto-buy!”
~Larissa Ione~

“Beth Kery is a powerful and engaging voice in erotic suspense. Her natural talent shines through in this sophisticated, erotically-creative novel and will keep readers feverishly turning pages.”
Award-Winning Author ~Lacey Alexander~

Read an Excerpt :: Buy It Now

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Welcome, Beth, and thank you for joining us today! Release seems an intense and powerful look at where some of the darker passions can take us. What initially drew you to write this book?

The kernel of this book had been with me for a while. I liked the idea of a man and a woman falling madly in love, but not acting on their desires until one night when the woman’s husband offers to share her with the hero for one night. The hero and heroine agree, because they’re almost going crazy with the desire to touch each other. But it ends up being a huge regret, because the husband is sort of this Machiavellian character, a career spy who is constantly maneuvering and manipulating people in his life. When he’s murdered, the hero and heroine are both terrified that the other one did it, and they are forced apart. Even though Release is a suspense, it’s the poignancy of the love story that stands out for me; two people who are reunited after years of loss and hurt, and how they fight their fears in order to be together.

The layers of this story are fascinating. You're a very prolific writer. How do you keep up your momentum and maintain enthusiasm for each new story? Exactly how many releases have you had in the last three years?

I was first published at Ellora’s Cave in January of 2007, so yeah…it has been three years. Weird. It’s been a whirlwind, that’s for sure. Let’s see, I’d say I have about fifteen ebooks, and out of those, Subtle Magic and Groom’s Gift are in print format (Groom’s Gift in the Naughty Nuptials anthology). I have five Berkley books out to date. As far as momentum and enthusiasm, it can be a challenge at times. For the most part, it’s the story itself that motivates me. Once I get a good ‘feel’ for the characters, I’m energized to tell their story. Getting started is the hardest thing, for me.

Speaking of getting started... What initially turned you onto writing romance? What do you find most challenging about writing erotic romance?

It’s funny, I read all genres of books, but for some reason, I just thought I could write romance. I don’t know for sure why. It’s like…I got it. As far as the biggest challenge in writing erotic romance? I don’t think people realize how hard it is. You’ve been contracted to write a very sexy book. How do you maintain a tension level when people are interacting sexually? How do you make sure it is super sexy while also writing a complex plot and rich characters? I look at sex in my books as a powerful form of communication. It’s not just there for no reason; it’s building conflict, character and driving the plot. It’s a lot harder than it looks, don’t you agree?

It definitely takes a deft touch - one you seem to have mastered. If you could go back in time and give your beginner-writer-self some advice, what would you say? What is the most significant lesson you've taken away from your writing thus far?

I’d probably say ‘be patient.’ It takes time and hard work to build your readership and become a recognized author. Results will come if you set realistic goals and work steadily. I was (and still am) good with taking risks in my writing career, but I’m not so good about patience and waiting. However, it’s a crucial—and inevitable—part of this job.

Excellent advice, Beth. The waiting drives me nuts, but I'm trying to build my patience. We'll see how that works out. Thank you so much for joining us today and congratulations on the release of Release.