Welcome to Kay Berrisford, my new pal from the UK Meet, who was nervous right next to me!
She is joining my blog today answering some questions and talking about her books.
You may have seen me raving about a book she wrote after I got home from Manchester. I wrote the following about Catching Kit “…I just finished Catching Kit and i LOVED it… I recommend it anyone who likes a big strong alpha with a kink for woman's underwear. Fantastic world building and I was drawn in immediately by Kit the elf… set in London… you'll love it…”
What I loved about this writing was the lyrical poetry of the words. I could imagine the world that was being drawn so vividly and I didnt want to put the book down!
Kay is the first in my *focus on authors* blogposts. She is running a competition to win a $20 gift card plus a copy from her back catalog. Simply comment below to be entered. Good Luck!
What inspires you?
Right now, I’m lucky enough to be
sitting in a castle library overlooking a rugged stretch of the
Pembrokeshire coast. Wow! How could I not imagine smugglers, mermen,
pirates, gallant heroes from the Age of Sail, and Vikings marauding
along the shore? All of the above actually visited the coastline I’m
gazing at, save possibly the mermen…but I’m going to seek them on my
walk later, so we’ll see.
While, sadly, this isn’t my
usual writing spot, I am incredibly lucky in that I get to travel all
over the world and stay in some amazing places. Wherever I go, I see
sites that can’t fail to inspire me and I back my experiences up with
lots of lovely reading and research. But in the end, meeting and being
inspired by people is the most important thing. I love telling love
stories. However exciting the location, the characters who fall for each
other are the heart of my tales, and it’s their quest for happiness
that drives me over the finish line.
What are some of your plans for future books?
I would love to write more about Herne and Tam, the heroes of Bound to the Beast and Locking Horns.
Herne and Tam are semi stag-shifter spirits, and Herne started life as a
warlord of old. He was born nearly two thousand years ago! So far, I’ve
taken their story up to a couple of centuries past (in Locking Horns)
but I would love to see how Herne would handle the twenty-first
century. Being a shifter in the forests of yesteryear is one thing, but
what would happen if Herne started to sprout antlers in the middle of a
supermarket? Modern life could be challenging for Tam too. Tam embraces
all things new, but that could get him in trouble as much as Herne’s
hatred of the modern world might. I can envisage all sorts of tension
for them both, if Tam became a speed freak or dabbled with drugs or
something along those lines.
As for other plans, I
often have an idea brewing for a year or so before I get around to
writing it. At the moment, I’m playing with a couple of “opposites
attract” stories. The first is from a friend’s prompt, and involves a
sexy, manipulative merman and a poetic pirate—I hope their romance will
happen sometime soon. I’ve also got a gorgeous, laid back archaeologist
character, Neil, who’s kicking me to write his tale. It’s going to be
totally epic. Neil is going to have to save the world with a very angry
and intense time-traveling Viking before they can find love together.
That one will likely take some time for me to finish.
Who are some of your favourite authors, and what are your favourite plot lines / tropes?
If
I’m after a contemporary, I’m often drawn to “opposites attract”
stories or “enemies to lovers.” For a good romance that I can trust to
have a very happy ending, I adore Tara Lain’s books, and of course, our
lovely RJ. Tara’s Hearts and Flour made me grin for ages, and RJ’s Heart
of Texas was one hell of a page turner.
I adore
“rescue” plots, including some quite dark ones with BDSM themes. For
example, I always devour Lisa Henry and JA Rock’s books, whether they’re
writing together or apart. The Island, The Good Boy, and By His Rules
are among the standout stories I’ve read over the past year.
Can you link us to some of the best reviews you have ever had?
Some of my best reviews came for my m/m spin on the Robin Hood legend, Lord of the Forest. Here’s a few….
“…Fantastic sex scenes convey the depth of emotion that the two share. I highly recommend this engaging read as well as the other books in the Greenwood series. Great writing, smoldering sex and a different kind of love story awaits in each book….” – EMMA, NIGHT OWL REVIEWS. Read more>>>>.
“….The writing is as lush as the forests our characters find themselves in and despite there being elementals, spirits and fairies, everything seemed so real. With descriptions so vivid you could almost imagine yourself there among the Greenwood yourself. The writing is very lyrical, almost like poetry… The love scenes between Robin and Cal are scorching hot, but as well as the physical connection, there is also the emotional one between them… The book is wonderful and I don't really know what else to say about it except – go, read and enjoy!….” – ANNETTE GISBY, ZIPPER RIPPERS. Read more>>>>.
“….There is danger and treachery and even a little bit of heartbreak before an ending that effectively resolved the demands of the Greenwood that the protector bloodline must endure. It is an alchemy that only the Fae could perpetuate; it challenges the imagination, and it also left me wondering if (read: hoping) the author might consider a sequel to the adventure….” – LISA, THE NOVEL APPROACH. Read more>>>>.
“….We are pulled into a wonderful new story that combines fantasy with history, myths with facts, and legends with historical figures, combining everything together to give us a new spectacular Greenwood story… I will recommend this story to those that love history mixed with their fantasy, who love folklore and legends, hot sex and a happily ever after….” PIXIE, MM GOOD BOOK REVIEWS. Read more>>>>.
“….This smoothly written story celebrates the erotic and supernatural adventures of Robin Hood within a perilous forest… a fun way to spend an afternoon. Recommended….” – VAL KOVALIN, JESSEWAVE REVIEWS.
How do you deal with a bad review?
I’ve never received anything too bad from a review site—as of yet—but I’ve had many a critical reader review. I don’t have a great way of dealing with it, as I have a very thin skin, though I do try to listen to any form of criticism that can help me improve in the future and satisfy more readers. But you just can’t please everyone. One person’s perfect book will be another’s “did not finish,” so I try to remind myself of that too.
Can you recommend two or three of your *go to* authors?
Escapism/fairytale/comfort read (with plenty of lovely angst too!) – Megan Derr.
For well-crafted kink – Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow.
Favourite film?
Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Favourite book in general?
Oh,
so difficult. I’ll go for some classics I’ve enjoyed – Vanity Fair by
WM Thackeray and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.
Favourite book in your genre?
Too hard to choose, but recently I’ve admired…
Brute by Kim Fielding
The Bacchi by Belinda McBride
Close Quarter by Anna Zabo
The Aloysius Trilogy by Tara Lain
Want to know more about Kay Berrisford?
Visit her website at: www.kayberrisford com
Email her at: kayberrisford@yahoo.co.uk
Facebook her at: https://www.facebook.com/kayberrisfordwriter
Twitter at: https://twitter.com/KayBerrisford
Kay's published works are :-
Catching Kit (Loose Id)
Simon, Sex, and the Solstice Stone (Loose Id)
Lord of the Forest (Loose Id)
Bound for the Forest (Loose Id)
Bound to the Beast (Loose Id)
Locking Horns (Loose Id)
Prisoner of the Mountain Watch (free read)
and these are available at: –
Loose ID | Amazon | All Romance | iBookstore (selected titles only)
Great interview! I can't wait to read some of your books in the future, Kay. 🙂
I enjoyed your interview. Looking forward to reading your books. Please count me in for the Giveaway. Thank You..
ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
Hi RJ! Thanks so much for having me 🙂 And to Trisha and ShirleyAnn – thanks for dropping by! Really hope you enjoy my books if you decide to read 🙂 🙂 🙂
You are very welcome Kay! HUGS XXXX
Great interview! Thanks for sharing it. I really enjoy Kay Berrisford's books. 🙂
Lisahelo(at)outlook(dot)com
Thanks so much, Lisa 🙂
What a terrific interview, RJ and Kay. I think my mouth dropped open at the castle library, Kay. Lucky, lucky, lucky, and I couldn't be happier for you that you get to travel and meet people if it means more of you getting inspired. Then, as a reader, I get to be the lucky one. 😀
I just adore the idea of the merman and the pirate. I hope I get to read that story somewhere in the (not too distant) future.
Thank you for so many great book and author recommendations. I adored Brute so much, so I got a little happy smile when I saw it. While you were wonderfully generous in naming them, I am doing that reader sigh now, knowing I only have one life to read. 😉
By the way, I'm with you on the thin skin, but I'm glad you know that every book is not going to be every reader's treasure, but that doesn't make it junk. I especially remember that every time I read glowing reviews on a book I didn't like or couldn't finish, which is always a sad thing.
Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Carolyn
caroaz [at] ymail [dot] com
Hi Carolyn 🙂 Thank you so much for you lovely comment.
Heh, yes, sadly I'm now back in my poky little flat and that lovely castle library in Wales seems a distant dream, but its there in my memory and imagination…and funnily enough, I've used it to fuel a real writing kick over the last week, and got 25k into my merman/pirate story! Yay!! So hopefully you will get a chance to read it one day soon 🙂
Brute was amazing, wasn't it? I'd never read anything by Kim Fielding before, but am off to grab some of her back catalogue next time I top up my kindle 🙂 But I'm with you on the 'reader sigh'. There's never enough time to read 'em all!!!
Aw, *hugs.* Yes, it's important to remember that about 'did not finish' books. I recently dnf the first of a very popular series, but I still respected why it was popular. The world and characters were not right for me, but clearly gave pleasure for plenty of others, so hurrah to that. Long may the series continue. If we were all the same, and loved the same things, the world would be a bit duller 😉
Great news about those 25K. If you ever want to share a work-in-progress blog post, I'll keep my eye (well, both of them!) out for it. 😉
I've got Kim's "Bones" series waiting for me on my nook because I hear great things about it, but so far have only read more of her through her "Speechless" and "Gig" follow-up. Short stories both, but I was charmed.
Couldn't agree more with your closing thought. I know plenty of people who shake their heads or roll their eyes anything that smacks of romance, so let me never be down on someone else's pleasurable reading experience!
Thanks for taking the time to respond, Kay. 🙂
Hi again 🙂 Actually, I shared a little of the merman and pirate story here, if you'd like to peep at some stage.
http://kayberrisford.com/2013/09/29/excerpt-from-piratemerman-wip-and-some-winners/
It's only a short excerpt, but I hope it captures a little of the spirit. Raef (my merman) isn't wearing much (!) but this story is actually a little lower heat level than my previous stories, and a slightly different tone for me 😉
Oh, I must get those Kim Fielding short stories. Time being tight right now, they sound just up my street 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hehe, yes, I totally agree. The variety now available in fiction is wonderful, and we should really celebrate it more 🙂 *hugs* and thank *you* for taking the time … k x
Great interview! I can't wait to read some of your books in the future, Kay. 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂 🙂 🙂
great interview :3
brootalzdotcom@hotmail.com
Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Great interview! I've loved everything by Kay that I've read so far, and I've particularly had Catching Kit on my to-read list for awhile now. I need to get around to that one soon! Also, I completely agree with Kay's rec for Brute by Kim Fielding. Amazing book!
ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com
Aw *hugs* – thanks so much for your kind words. Brute was amazing, wasn't it?? Such a beautiful story – *happy sigh* 🙂
Please count me in. Thanks!
gisu29 at gmail dot com
You're in – thanks so much 🙂 🙂 🙂
I liked Hearts and Flour and The Heart of Texas too! Envious of your Welsh coast library spot too.
Littlesuze at hotmail com
They were both wonderful reads, weren't they? 🙂
Heh, as I saw saying above, my coastal library seems a long way away now I'm back in my tiny Southampton flat…but it's a happy memory, and veeeeeeeery inspiring 😉 Thanks for you comment 🙂
Great interview. I'm forward to reading more of your books.
dreamseeker331(a)gmail(dot)com
*hugs* – thank you so much 🙂
Really awesome interview thank you for sharing.
Yayz 🙂 Thank you for dropping by 🙂
Lovely interview. Always interesting to see what books or authors that another author is partial to. Woman in White was such a thick volume and the writing style so dense that I decided not to read it.
strive4bst(AT) yahoo(Dot) com
I def. agree about the start of Woman in White. I wasn't sure I'd get on with it, though I persisted, then got through surprisingly quick once I got going. But there's plenty of other awesome reads out there 😉 I'd never be able to pick a single favorite book – I have to many 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂
Thanks for sharing and the giveaway. I love your book covers. They are all so lovey.
Thank you so much! I've been so lucky with my covers, haven't I? I've got them all printed out on my notice board 😉
I've loved Kay's books thus far, and it looks like we have similar tastes in other authors, too (Tara's books are definitely a go-to comfort read for me, and I have a few others queued up on my Kindle). Looks like I'll need to check out BRUTE (I've read some other Kim Fielding books, but not that one yet). Fun interview!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Oh, I'm sure you'll enjoy Brute – it's amazing 🙂 And yay for Tara – she is indeed awesome!! *hugs* for your lovely comment 🙂
I have Bound for the Forest to read. I think I am going to read it this week.
debby236 at gmail dot com
I really hope you enjoy it, Debby – thank you so much 🙂
Ohhh this "I’ve also got a gorgeous, laid back archaeologist character, Neil, who’s kicking me to write his tale." sounds amazing. Please let him tell you his story but only after you've told the sexy, manipulative merman and a poetic pirate one. I really need more Kay soon. 😉
kalimar2010 @ gmail.com
*hugs* – you know, the merman/pirate one is galloping through, so I really hope to get onto Neil's story next–and now I know you like the idea, I'll pester him to tell it to me much faster 🙂 Thank you so much!! This is the first time I've mentioned the story, though he's been whispering at me for ages.
And thanks for your lovely comment 🙂