Hey everyone! I have a very special guest today at Book Savvy Babe. Author Anita Clenney is here with an interview, and Sourcebooks is sponsoring a giveaway of 2 Copies of Anita Clenney’s new release, Embrace the Highland Warrior! Let’s start with a little info on the book:
Embrace the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney—In Stores November 2011 (my 4 star review)
They were driven apart by a timeless secret…
Cody MacBain let the woman of his destiny slip away. A member of an ancient clan of Scottish warriors, he grew up beside Shay Logan as her secret protector, but his heart compelled him to become more. Until Shay’s true identity was revealed, and the fated pair’s chance was gone…
But danger will drive them back into each other’s arms…
Shay fell for the boy next door, suspecting nothing of the ancient secrets he guarded. After a stinging betrayal, she’s determined to banish the memories of her first love forever. But the past can’t let go, and the boy she once loved has returned to her a warrior determined to protect her from the unspeakable evil fate has planned…
About the Author 
NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Anita Clenney writes mysteries, and paranormal romantic suspense. Before giving herself over to the writing bug, she worked in a pickle factory and a preschool, booked shows for Aztec Fire Dancers, and has been a secretary, executive assistant, and a real estate agent. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Virginia. To find out more information, please visit http://www.anitaclenney.com/, follow her on Twitter @anitaclenney, or like her on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR.
Where to buy the book: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | ITunes | The Book Depository
BSB: Are you the type of writer who has an entire book series planned/mapped out, or do you just write as it comes to you?
AC: With this series, as soon as I started the first book, I knew it would be a series, and as the characters and plot developed, the other stories just seemed to happen.
BSB: Along those lines, Embrace the Highland Warrior is book 2 in the Connor Clan series. Do you know how many books will be in the series total?
AC: I don’t know yet. On the one hand, I could write this series for a long time. I adore these warriors and want to tell all their stories. I do have other projects. In fact, my agent just sold a paranormal relic hunter series to Amazon publishing, so I’m going to be very busy.
BSB: Do you base your characters on people you know, or do you create them all from scratch?
AC: No. I suppose there may be influences that I’m unaware of, but to the best of my knowledge, I create them from scratch and have a blast doing it. For instance, even though there are castles and demons in this story, it’s full of adventure and humor. There are two old ladies in this story who get caught up in the battle and drive the warriors batty. These ladies were so much fun to write. They’re hilarious, and often I would catch myself laughing at them.
BSB: Do you have any interesting writing quirks (things you do or have to have while writing)?
AC: I love a Diet Pepsi or Coke by my side, and lately I’ve become addicted to Sunflower seeds. Actually, I do need quiet. I can occasionally write while it’s noisy, but it isn’t very productive.
BSB: What is one of the most surprising things you have learned while creating a book?
AC: That I have talent. I’m a good storyteller. That’s remarkable to me.
BSB: What have you found to be the most challenging part about writing?
AC: Deadlines and promotion.
BSB: There is a bit of time travel in your books. If you could visit any time period, what would you pick and why?
AC: I would love to travel back to many different times. It would be great to meet my ancestors, but even if I could, I wouldn’t for fear of getting stuck there. Can you imagine getting stuck and leaving behind children?
I’m with you, I wouldn’t want to get stuck in another time either. Just for fun, I always like to play a little game of Would You Rather (please explain your answers):
BSB: Would You Rather always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?
AC: OMG. I’m a really nice person so this is torture. I would hate to not speak ever again, so I would have to go with speaking my mind.
BSB: Would You Rather make headlines for saving someone’s life or for winning a Nobel Prize?
AC: Saving a life
Thanks so much for the interview Anita! I know that I am looking forward to a hopefully long series! Readers, here is an excerpt from Embrace the Highland Warrior!…
Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles, returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”
Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.
She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.
“Get off me, you oaf.”
“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”
She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.
“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”
“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”
“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.
Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.
While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“Get away from me.”
“You can’t leave.”
“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”
“I explained it to you.”
“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.
“You’re not leaving.”
Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”
He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.
“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.
She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”
“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.
“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.
She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”
“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”
“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”
Sourcebooks is sponsoring a giveaway for 2 copies of Embrace the Highland Warrior. Since this giveaway is from the publisher, the contest is open to US/CAN entrants. The giveaway will run from today, November 16 through midnight on November 22. To enter, comment with your answer to Anita’s Question (below), and fill out the rafflecopter. Here is the question:
If you had to be a literary character, who would you choose?
November 16, 2011 at 1:37 am
If I had to be a literary character, I think I would want to be Nancy Drew. She lives a life of traveling all over, meeting lots of people, having wonderful friends and has a life thats never boring with all the mysteries she solves. True that she gets in trouble but in the end everything always turns out well. She’s a safe character to be in the literary world.
November 16, 2011 at 4:40 am
I would be Dr. Jane from Lover Unbound. She gets Vishous all to herself, everday, forever!
What a lucky character!
November 16, 2011 at 5:11 am
Hi LadyVampire, oh, I love Nancy Drew. I remember the thrill of getting a new Nancy Drew mystery from the library when I was young.
November 16, 2011 at 5:13 am
Missy, it sounds like you’ve thought this out well.
November 16, 2011 at 7:22 am
I would love to be Nancy Drew too! I adore her books and have literally read all of them
edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom
November 16, 2011 at 7:43 am
Hi Krystal. I also loved the Hardy Boys books.
November 16, 2011 at 7:38 am
This is a hard question to answer there is so many but I would have to say Amber from Forbidden Blood.
November 16, 2011 at 7:55 am
Hi Danielle. It is a hard question.
There are so many great characters out there. I’m not even sure who I’d choose.
November 16, 2011 at 7:48 am
Mac from the Fever series. Barrons, enough said!
November 16, 2011 at 8:25 am
Jennifer, LOL! Got it.
November 16, 2011 at 10:22 am
I totally would want to be Mac too!
November 16, 2011 at 10:29 am
LOL!
November 16, 2011 at 8:36 am
If I had to be a literary character……hmmmm. I think I would be Rowan from Lauren Dane’s Goddess with a Blade. She is fierce and snarky and is really good with sharp pointy things.
November 16, 2011 at 9:16 am
LOL. I haven’t read Goddess With a Blade. Maybe I should. It sounds interesting.
November 16, 2011 at 9:30 am
I would love to be Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Somedays I would really enjoy falling down a hole and hiding for a while.
Kristin
November 16, 2011 at 10:29 am
Oooh, Alice in Wonderland. That’s a good one. I sometimes feel like I’m living in a rabbit hole.
November 16, 2011 at 9:47 am
I cannot wait to read this!! Awaken was so great! A paranormal relic hunter series sounds exciting I can’t wait to hear more about it! I can’t think of a specific literary character. I’m sure I would choose someone rather dramatic. I would like to be a fierce and strong woman who can fight her own battles while seducing her man.
miranda.grissomATgmailDOTcom
November 16, 2011 at 10:31 am
Thanks so much, Miranda! I’m glad you enjoyed Awaken. If I chose a female character, which I assume I would
I might choose either Amelia Peabody from Elizabeth Peter’s series, or Claire from Diana Gabaldon’s OUtlander series.
November 16, 2011 at 10:11 am
I’d want to be Dr Temperance Brennan from the Kathy Reichs. books.
November 18, 2011 at 1:08 am
This is a new character for me. I need more reading time.
November 16, 2011 at 10:13 am
By the sounds of this excerpt, I wouldn’t mind being Shay! Cody sounds wonderful. lol
November 16, 2011 at 10:33 am
Sandy, LOL. I started to say, Shay or Bree wouldn’t be bad. In fact, I might remedy my earlier choice of Amelia or Claire.
November 16, 2011 at 10:34 am
And there’s Ronan’s mate…hee hee. But we haven’t met her yet!
November 16, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Hi!
I would like to be MacKayla Lane… I really like Barrons! But one of my fav is Regin from Kresley Cole series! Barrons and Aidan the Fierce have something alike…. LOL Thanks for the giveaway!
November 16, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Proserphine, I’m almost embarrassed to say I’ve never read Kresley Cole. I can’t say I’m not familiar with Barrons because I’ve heard the name so much, but I haven’t read the story. I need some good reading time.
November 16, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Wow! what a hard question but I have to say I would love to be Tori from the Dark Hunter series. She is everything I love in a character plus she gets to be with Ash (Acheron).
November 16, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Hi Donna, Ash is one of my favorite characters. He’s so larger than life.
November 16, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Cat from Jeaniene Fros’s Night Huntress series. She has the love and devotion of a good man!
November 16, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Megan, the love and devotion of a good man is very appealing. Good choice.
November 16, 2011 at 2:34 pm
I would love to be Sherlock Holmes! How fun would that be?
November 16, 2011 at 4:23 pm
I thought I responded to this. I was waiting to see who would mention Sherlock Holmes. He’s one of my favorite characters. And now they have a show about a modern day Sherlock. It’s actually interesting, sort of a CSI/Sherlock combination.
November 16, 2011 at 2:50 pm
I would have to choose Cat from the Night Huntress series or Merit from Chicagoland Vampires series. Both very strong woman. I like the sounds of this book. Thanks for the chance.
November 16, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Hi Sariah, I haven’t read either of these series. I’ll have to check them out. Good luck.
November 21, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Both series are very addictive. Enjoy!!
November 16, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Tough decision! An off the wall answer – I’d like to be Eve Dallas from JD Robb’s In Death series because she’s a kick-a$$ cop and is married to Roarke – just think of those bennies!!! No part of her childhood, though.
November 16, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Ah, Nora/JD…I’m going to see her tomorrow night at her Girls Night Out event at the bookstore her husband owns. And I’m signing with her on December 3rd. She’s such an inspiration. Her characters are always good.
November 16, 2011 at 5:10 pm
I have no idea who I’d be.
Terri m
November 16, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Hi Terri, it is a difficult question. So many choices…
November 16, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Tough question…but, I think I would be Kara MacAllister (the Chosen One) from Pamela Palmer’s Feral Warrior series. She’s married to Lyon…but she gets to lay her hands on all the other warriors when they need her. She provides them with radiance (earths energy)…to help them heal and/or recharge after a battle. Not a bad gig…
November 18, 2011 at 1:09 am
Barbara. are you trying to have your cake and eat it too? LOL!
November 16, 2011 at 8:42 pm
I would chose to be Jo in Little Women.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
November 18, 2011 at 1:10 am
Oh, there’s an interesting choice.
November 16, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Xhex from BDB… I like the fact that she is kick butt!
Or Tori from DH
Or Mary from BDB…
Maybe I should just say too many to choose =D
Thanks for the awesome contest
Emily T
November 18, 2011 at 1:11 am
LOL. It is a difficult question.
November 17, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Elizabeth Bennet, for sure
November 18, 2011 at 1:11 am
All these suggestions have me craving a good book.
November 18, 2011 at 12:58 pm
If I had to choose one character today it would probably be Rachel Morgan with all of her freckles, pain, and joys. She is awesome and does not give up, she may get knocked down now and not want to get up, but she always does. I have just received my copy of Embrace the Highland Warrior, so am not joining in on the giveaway, but had to stop by for the fun
November 19, 2011 at 10:29 am
Nice shoulders and ink! The handcuffs are a bonus. I think I’d like to do more than “embrace” him.
November 20, 2011 at 8:36 am
Oh, this one is hard for me to answer because there are two heroines I wish I could be: Cat or Kate Daniels. They are both females who are women, they are comfortable is their own skin and can kick some serious ass like a man.
Happy Reading,
Laurielu
Bona Fide Reflections
November 21, 2011 at 8:06 pm
thats a toughie..i would probably love to be in sherlock holmes’ brain for a day.. otherwise i would love to be ANY of jayne ann krentz’/amanda quicks’ female characters.. they kick butt, are awesomely unique.. and sometimes have great psychic powers!!
November 18, 2012 at 6:52 am
I think I would choose Charley Davidson from the Charley Davidson series. I love her character