To celebrate, she's also hosting a giveaway! Huzzah! We love giveaways here.
So what's the prize?
The prize is 5 eBooks copies of any title from author's back list (winner's choice; 1 each to 5 winners) PLUS swag pack (magnets). Contest is tour-wide, open internationally and ends Apr 13.
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
So let's get to the interview! Ms. Landen was kind enough to let us get to know her better, and we all want to know more about the creative mind behind such an awesome book like Disintegration!
Available at
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What’s your name and where do you come from?
My nom de plume is Thea Landen, and I was born and raised in New York, where I’ve always lived. (I don’t live in the city itself, but it’s close enough that I can pop down there at a moment’s notice!)
Tell us a bit about your latest release.
Disintegration is probably my most complex project to date. It’s heavy on the sci-fi/fantasy and world-building, and the sex scenes are among the hottest I’ve ever written! If you’re not sure about committing yourself to a full novel, I have a collection of three short stories (also erotic) that serve as prequels to the book available for FREE at Smashwords.
How do you go about creating the perfect "Swoon" worthy man?
The perfect swoonworthy man has it all – he’s strong, yet sensitive. He’d shoot through an army of villains to protect us, and then go save a kitten from a well. He can make us giggle and blush with his witty remarks and warm our hearts with eloquent professions of love. And, naturally, he’ll listen to us and strive to fulfill our needs in the bedroom.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? Why are they your favorite?
Ro from Disintegration is my favorite, as she was just so much fun to write. She speaks her mind (even if other people don’t want to hear it), has no evidence of a brain-to-mouth filter, and got some of my best sarcastic/flippant remarks. As the book progressed, I enjoyed gradually chipping away at her layers and exposing her vulnerabilities to both the other characters and the audience, all while keeping her in line with the persona I’d already presented.
Definitely! It's always so much fun to uncover so much about a character that is so hard to get to know. Sometimes the characters with the more difficult traits are the funnest to write and read about. So what trait do you find the sexiest?
A killer sense of humor. I’d take Adam Sandler over Brad Pitt any day of the week.
Oh, me too, me too! lol
What are the hardest scenes for you to write? Suspense? Sex? Dialogue? And why?
I struggle the most with action/combat sequences (though I’d like to think I’m getting better!). While I do play some video games and watch the occasional action movie/TV show, I’m not that great when it comes to battle strategies and special ops missions and the like. (Yet somehow, they keep winding up in my plots.) I’m very lucky in that I have a number of friends I can consult who are interested in that sort of thing, and they help me keep my action scenes both realistic and exciting!
What are your favorite types of heroines? Do you like the damsel in distress who needs saving or the kick-ass variety? Why?
Kick-ass all the way! Sitting around waiting to be saved by the hero is BORING. I much prefer the heroines who either help save themselves, or are fighting right alongside the hero to achieve victory. Regardless of what sort of dynamics are present in the sex scenes, I like to have my male and female characters on equal footing when they’re out and about in other situations.
What was your worst date ever?
I met a guy at a music festival, and after we *cough* had a good time one night, we agreed to get together the following month when he’d be visiting my town for another event. While I was on the phone with one of my best friends telling him about the festival, the guy sent me a friend request on Facebook, and I was super excited to accept it…until I clicked on his profile and saw that he appeared to be functionally illiterate. This was back in the day when you listed your favorite books and movies in the designated spaces on your profile, and he’d even written “i dont read books just magazines lol.” My friend on the phone will back me up on this – I almost cried.
He did seem really nice and we DID have that *cough* really good time together, so we went out again when he was in the area. It was the most awkward dinner I’ve ever sat through. We had nothing to talk about, and I just kept thinking “don’t mention books, don’t mention books, don’t mention books….” He left the next morning (yeah, I know…), and I never saw him again. Moral of the story? If you like to read books, don’t expect a lasting relationship with a man who considers this an utterly foreign concept. Even if their bodies are the stuff dreams are made of.
Oh, poor Thea! I mean, I'm kind of chuckling over here, because who hasn't had that awkward date where you have nothing in common? But functionally illiterate! *facepalm* You're braver than I would've been; you at least went out with him again, lol.
So if that was your worst date ever, what was you most embarrassing moment?
I used to proctor the SATs to pick up some extra cash a number of years ago. Once, the students were at least halfway through the test before I realized my zipper was open. The zipper was on the side of my pants and the strap of my underwear was CLEARLY visible. A number of people had walked by the classroom (including the school’s principal), and I just blithely waved to them, unaware that one unclothed hip was hanging out for the whole world to see.
I don’t proctor the SATs anymore.
Yeah, I don't blame you! Oh dear, you poor thing! (Is it wrong that I'm laughing, though?)
Who has influenced how you perceive love? Why?
I am married, so it makes sense that my husband has influenced my perception of love. One of the reasons our love is so strong is our unconditional support for each other in whatever goals we hope to reach. We do have different interests, and while I know he’ll never quite “get” writing sci-fi/fantasy erotic romance like I do, I know he’s always behind me one hundred percent of the way. In a perfect world, we’d all get that kind of support from the people who love us and go on to accomplish amazing things!
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Thank you so much, Ms. Landen! That was certainly fun, knowing more about you! Some of your answers were quite interesting. *cough*
About the Author
Thea Landen lives in New York with her husband and a variety of houseplants. A former educator, she strives to encourage creativity and passion in all those around her, and uses writing to help inspire.
Though she reads and writes in nearly all genres, she has a special fondness for science fiction and fantasy and anything that pushes the imagination beyond its usual limits. When she’s not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games.
Connect with Thea Landen
Website/Blog: http://thealanden.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thealanden
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheaLanden
Dutiful soldier Callum Renwick wakes up in the underground laboratory of a mercenary organization. He learns he was the sole survivor of an attack that destroyed his unit, his hometown, and his family. In addition to the loss of his loved ones, he discovers that due to his injuries, half his body has been supplanted by artificial skin and cybernetic parts. Once he has recovered, he is assigned to the care of Ro Bernard, who leads the effort to turn him into a powerful assassin. She is outspoken, yet secretive, and uses unconventional means to mold him into a depraved killer. Mind games and rough sex are in her repertoire of training tactics, and Callum is both infuriated and fascinated by her. As he comes to terms with his grief and his new role, many of his biological body parts fail and must be replaced. Will he adapt to survive in Ro’s world and exact vengeance on the woman who ordered the attack that changed his life?
Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.
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