Monday 23 September 2013

#AuthorInterview Stella Ajanaku has a Husband To Rent @StellaEA #Giveaway

Happy Monday, folks. Today I have a new guest, author Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku. She's talking about her new book, Husband To Rent. Please make her feel welcome.

She's also giving away 3 copies of her new book to 3 lucky commenters.

Last week's winners of The Wild Life by Stacy-Deanne are Nana Prah and Dee Little. Congratulations! Stacy will contact you shortly.

Now on to this week's interview...

Q1) Welcome to my blog, Stella. Tell us a little about yourself


I was born in a lovely bustling place in South West Nigeria called, Benin City but I live in London. I’m second in a family of six. I have a B.Sc in Microbiology and an MBA.

I started reading romance novels as a teenager. My writing of romance novels that are a fine blend of intense sensual romance, intrigue and conflict started in 2008. My characters are larger-than-life, feisty and have a heart and soul. The storylines are detailed with heart-stopping romantic twists that come alive.

In 2010, I created Flirty & Feisty Romance Novels. The collection of contemporary romance novels includes, LOITERING SHADOWS, STORMY DEFENSE, BEYOND the LADY, the National Novel Writing Month 2010 winning novel, THE GARDENER’s ICE MAIDEN, SPARKLING DAWN and the New release, HUSBAND to RENT.

When am not writing, I take care of my handsome, life-size hero of a husband and two vibrant & loving ‘near teenagers’. I love to read romance novels, swim and watch TV, including Nollywood and am a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?


Not clearly. The thought may have lingered in my subconscious. In my secondary school days, I wrote scenes for plays that never saw the light of day. I simply wrote as a hobby. In 2008, out of nowhere, I expressed my inner desire to get published to a colleague. Honestly, I didn't think anything will come out of such wishful daydream. She encouraged me by immediately sticking a notepad and pen into my hand.

Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?


My favourite writers include Carole Mortimer, Liz Fielding, Susan Napier, Susan Mallory and more recently, Netty Ejike.

I have developed my own writing style that dwells less on detailed description of the characters environment. I prefer the use of distinctively-rich, witty conversational style that engages the reader.


Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like.


There's no strict routine to my writing. I write every chance I get. When its quiet, in the absence of my husband and children or when they're around. I write when I commute(in the train, on the bus or escalator). Ideally, I prefer writing either very early or late in the day when its all quite.

Q5) Let’s talk about your new book. Can you tell us a little about it?


HUSBAND to RENT is a dramatic story about an unmarried twenty-nine year old woman forced to live at home. With her inheritance at stake, she's pushed to marrying the man her father chooses for her...until she stumbles across an escape route out of her wealthy bonds. And then, she plans the unthinkable!

HUSBAND to RENT Blurb

Trapped in wealthy bondage

With her siblings legally married, parental and societal pressure mounting daily successful banker and cynic, Otasowie Idah knew she was fast running out of excuses. How long was she going to pretend that being single at twenty-nine didn't carry a stigma?

Her inheritance is at stake! She's pushed to marrying the man her father chooses for her...until she stumbles across an escape route out of her bonds. And then, she plans the unthinkable! To rent a husband for a week! Will Otasowie’s carefully woven scheme unravel their locked infatuation?

Will he be her husband for a week?

With his parents and friends reservations ringing in his head, Gambian born and bred hotelier, Fara Damba shoves his recently broken engagement behind him to trace his grandfather in a country he knows nothing about. His only purpose in Nigeria is to quickly find his grandfather, and return to his homeland.

A chance meeting with Otasowie at the Registry office is all it takes to kick start a chain of events that will test their values. Is Fara willing to get help at any cost? And will he grant her absurd wish to be her husband for one week?

Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?


Usually, there are couples at bus stops, in buses or walking along the road. In the buses, I also observed women looking like the world weighed heavily on their shoulders. Sometimes, the women looked lonely and in dire need of male company and the fun that comes with such experience.

A weird thought crept into my mind asking, what if women could actually 'rent' a husband to achieve their aim of appearing 'married'. Justification for such craziness readily came to mind as I remembered my youth. I have seen children of wealthy parents wallow under the unbearable weight of their dictatorship. Such overbearing parents outline unrealistic rules that 'imprison' their children. In their bid to gain freedom, they search for ways to outsmart their parents.

To compoud the issue, in Nigeria (especially in the South), there's a desperate rush and an intense pressure to get married as you approach age thirty.

Once the story took firm root in my heart, I was amazed at how quickly the plot developed. I love the characters, their personality and how they struggled to resist temptation and fight to achieve their heart's desire.

Q7) What is up next for you?


I’m currently working on my first Nigerian Historical Romance. It's a series of three books set in Ancient Benin City. The three titles are set in three era, the 18th, 19th & 20th Century respectively. I'm thrilled for the opportunity to research my ancestors of the ancient Benin Empire. I'm keen to throw in the reign of Oba Ovoranmwen Nogbaisi (1888 – 1914) who was exiled to Calabar in 1897 by the British. I'm determined to bring the bustling Benin Empire to my readers.

Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to a budding writer?


Follow your heart. Be true to yourself and don't expect perfection at the start. Jump in and tell your story. Your skills will get sharper as you trudge along the wide road of publishing.

Q9) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?


I have a few on my to read list. Bewitching Corals by Netty Ejike, Chancing Faith by Empi Baryeh, Nothing Comes Close by Tolulope Popoola, Scars by Kiru Taye and Marriage by Mistake by Alyssa Kress.

Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?


I derived true Joy in bringing Ota Idah and Fara Damba's story to life in HUSBAND to RENT. Theirs was an instant attraction that quickly grew out of proportion. Their romance is so intense, readers run the risk of burning up with passion.

Favorite Quiz


Favorite city: Barcelona, Spain (until I visit Venice and Las Vegas).

Favorite beverage: Tea with lots of milk.

Favorite place you’d like to visit: Venice, The City on Water.

Favorite place to write: On my bed.

Favorite hobby: Watching TV with my family, wrapped up comfortably with mug of tea in hand.

Favorite movie: Les Miserables

Favorite book: I love lots of romance novels. It's difficult to pick one book.

Book Links



Book Except @

http://flirtyandfeistyromance.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/husband-to-rent-excerpt.html

Book Review

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18345006-husband-to-rent

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/346894

"I just finished reading it right now...and I LOVED IT!!! But l think this is the most erotic book in your collection . You are a very talented writer and the glory of GOD shines through your work . l cant wait for your next book. And l loved the character Fara.... lol.'' by Ella De Castillo.

Buy links

Paperback @ https://www.createspace.com/4316524

eBook @ Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EI4GYT0

eBook @ Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/HUSBAND-to-RENT-ebook/dp/B00EI4GYT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1376559803&sr=1-1&keywords=Husband+to+rent

eBook @ Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/346894

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Stella-Eromonsere-Ajanaku/e/B004LXE09E

Website http://www.flirtyandfeistyromancenovel.co.uk

Blog: http://flirtyandfeistyromance.blogspot.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flirty-Feisty-Romance-Novels/117094721659024?v=wall&ref=pdem

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