Sunday, October 13, 2013

In the Spotlight: Raven McAllan

Welcome again to Raven McAllan with her new book! Let's find out what she thinks about heroines.



Heroine—a chief character in a book who everyone is expected to admire. Or so the Dictionary says.
However is it always like that? Immediately? I don't necessary think so. Heroines, and heroes have to prove themselves. Show their make up and true colors. Let you get to know them. Or so I think.
When I begin a story, even I don't know who they, are what they are and how they're going to turn out. I'm very much a character-driven writer, and do as they tell me. Sometimes with surprising results.
And sometimes however how much you try, you have a flawed heroine. One it takes longer to get to know. One you actually might admire, or gulp…not like. That's life.
I like to think my heroines have a little bit of any one of us in them. So it goes to say we might not all like everything, or even much about them. But I hope any reader will find something to like. Even if it's just the fact they are flawed!
Julia isn't stupid, but she was very young when she first discovered things about herself. Things she didn't understand.
Now she's older, but is she wiser? Well you'll have to read the book to decide that.



Here's the blurb
Julia ran out on Tay five years ago, so she cannot be the face he sees on the bus. However, when she ends up being the one taking notes at his meeting, he knows he will move heaven and earth to make her his once more.
Will she agree, or will she run again?
Here's a wee tease…
The Girl on the Bus Excerpt
Julia wasn't going to admit she thought her pussy might well have sealed itself up due to lack of use. "What are we watching?" The jiving whatevers were back in force with a vengeance.
As Belle pushed the heavy-looking, windowless door open and took Julia's hand, pulling her in, Julia began to sweat. Tiny black dots swam in her vision.
Oh shit, stop it, and do not faint, not here. How embarrassing. But she couldn't stop the tiny moan from escaping. Belle looked at her.
"Hell. Julia, it's not den of iniquity. No white slavers or bogey men, honestly."
Julia managed a half smile. It became hard work when you thought even to open your mouth you'd throw up. Coupled with the horrid metallic tang of blood hitting every sense possible because you'd bitten your lip, it was more than unpleasant. "You sure? Oh Belle, joke, okay? I'm sorry I just felt weird. Maybe I'm hungry. Cake and then an apology for a chicken salad doesn't really fill me up."
"You can't scene on a full stomach," Belle said and then went white. "Oh, bugger."
The butterflies in Julia's tummy turned into bats and beetles and all things nasty. Having a no holds barred fight.
"Oh bugger, indeed. 'Fess up woman, what have you said I'd do that I don't know about? I'm not going one inch further until you tell me." Julia moved to one side. A couple of girls dressed in pelmet skirts that were almost an arrest-able deal, and much too tight corsets approached the registration desk. She hoped they didn't need to take a deep breath, they'd be hard pushed to. Next to them she looked like the aged granny.
"Belle, unless you tell me what the fuck is going in, I'm out of here. You told me a demo, not a scene."
 "A demo is a scene," Belle said.
"And hell is just a hot fire to warm your toes beside. What's going on?"
Belle dragged her toward the wall, out of the way of the few interested bystanders. Obviously they wondered why someone shook like a milkshake and hung back, instead of rushing eagerly to go in.
"Well, look, why don't you just treat tonight as research? You know for the BDSM book you insist you're not going to write, but I bet you really want to."
 No, I really don't. The real thing spoiled me. It had been such a private intense night, that Julia knew she didn’t want to share her thoughts and feelings about it with unknown people. Sadly, she also knew there was as much chance of her not using her knowledge if she wrote about it as of her winning the football pools. She didn't do those.
"Wrong. Now how about you tell me the rest, you've got that look. The one you use before you get me to agree to something I really don't want to do, but you're going to do your darndest to make me."
"Oh hell, there's a chance we might get asked to participate if we want to. No way was I going to spoil it by having a full stomach, and so not fit for purpose, you know?" Belle licked her lips and winked.
In spite of herself Julia laughed. "No, thank you. Not my scene."
And if she believes that I have a bridge for sale. Argh fuck and hell. "Er, what are we going to see?"
*****

The Girl on the Bus can be found at an eBookstop near you.


and check out Raven on www.ravenmcallan.com

Happy Reading. Love R x

2 comments: