Virtual Blog Tour - Lori Toland's The Long Con

Greetings all!   Today I want to welcome Lori Toland to my blog. She agreed to respond to some interview questions for me so we can all get to know her better and yes, prizes can be involved. Grin...

*Lori will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter and to the host with the most comments (excluding the host's and the author's).*

Remember to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/03/virtual-book-tour-long-con-by-lori.html

1. Which person in your life influenced you the most with your writing?

My mom. She told me I could do anything I wanted and she always believed in me. I really wish she was around to see me getting published. She would probably be more well-known than me! J When she was alive, she was loved very much.

 2. What is your writing process? Are you a plotter or a “pantser”?

I’m officially a plotser. I love plotting and having this huge, grand idea that is all plotted out, but I also know when to let the characters take the reins.

3. Is one of your books your personal favorite?

I have to say “The Long Con” is my favorite so far. The chemistry is wildly sexy. It was a fun book to write and when editing it, I really enjoyed reading it. I would get lost in reading the story.

4. What inspired you to write male/male romances?

Two men together is pretty hot but I just tell the story however the characters decide. It’s not really up to me and, boy, if I suggest something that the characters aren’t going for… Haha! It just won’t happen. I’ll run into a brick wall.

5. How did you come up with the idea for your latest book?

Well, my husband told me about an agency in the UK tasked with protecting the borders from organized crime called the Serious Organised Crime Agency. He more mentioned the agency’s logo, which is a seal that looks like it’s from the Thundercats cartoon. LOL. And a story was born when Agent Bradley showed up.

6. What’s coming up next for you in your writing?

Well for writing, I have several projects. I’m working on another story in the SOCA universe with a new pairing. We’ll see where that goes :D but more BDSM for sure. And of course, I have my next story with Dreamspinner Press coming out for the June Daily Dose about a time traveling scientist. The story is called “Worth The Wait” and I hope you enjoy it.

7. How did you do research for The Long Con?

There was a lot of research to do on this book, including the Mafia, and the Fabergé egg. It seemed like all I did was search online for different websites. I also had to research the hierarchy of England’s police force and find out if SOCA really would be involved in an theft of a piece of art. It was a lot of fun though!

8. What do you enjoy reading for pleasure?

Anything I can get my hands on, as long as there is a great romance.

9. What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

Pinkberry! I love my frozen yogurt! :-)  Okay, that’s not a guilty pleasure really because frozen yogurt is good for you at least.

10. What is your favorite quote and why?

I don’t think I have one. I use movie quotes in person. :-)

11. What's your favorite curse word and why?

Twat. My husband has this certain way of saying it that makes me laugh. He’s British and with that accent, he sounds very sexy when he says it. ;)

* * * * *

BLURB:

British Agent Nathaniel Bradley is tasked with bringing home a stolen heirloom. After tracking the Faberge egg all the way to a group of criminals in New York, Bradley infiltrates a ring of con artists and gets sucked into the role of a high priced prostitute.

While hoping for a chance to take back what is rightfully his, Bradley’s sole mission becomes to seduce Tony Terranova, Jr, the heir to a notorious mafia dynasty. Though Tony is strikingly handsome, the usually dominant Bradley is hesitant to submit to the sexual whims of a dangerous Mafioso.

What Bradley doesn't expect is for Tony to fall to his knees so eagerly for him, leaving him blindsided by how intensely their dark tastes complement each other. Now Bradley is caught up in a deadly game of lies and desire, where what he truly wants may not be what duty requires.

Excerpt:

I walked through the crowd and traded my glass of champagne just as I saw my target. He knew how to dress to stand out, and it wasn’t just the color of his jacket. His thick build was obvious and accentuated by the cut of his jacket. His muscles rippled beneath the expensive material as he lifted a glass of champagne to his mouth. I swallowed my sigh.

He glanced my way, and I froze. Amanda had described him and shown me a few grainy reconnaissance photos, but nothing prepared me for facing him head-on. His dark hair and tanned skin contrasted with his pale blue eyes, and I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.

I held his gaze for a minute and then turned away, but his curious expression made my heart pound. I walked toward another display near the one he stood by, a portrait by a famous Russian artist. Terranova noticed me, but he wasn’t being obvious with his interest.

It was this perfect moment where everything seemed to be falling into place, and for one second I worried this was a setup. Always being on my guard kept me alive, especially during drug busts and dangerous missions. I brushed aside the fears and pushed on.

I looked over at him and shot him an enigmatic smile, one that begged him to come and find out what I was thinking. When I saw him walking in my direction, I mentally patted myself on the back and sipped my champagne as he got closer to me. His gaze never left mine.

I could see why this man intimidated people. His eye contact alone would make almost anyone nervous, but not me. He had an aura about him, as if he were a caged animal kept hungry and was just waiting to pounce. Confidence poured from every ounce of his being. I didn’t look away as he came up to me. I couldn’t; he had seduced me.

* * * * *

Wow, sounds way hot! Thanks so much for visiting my blog today, Lori. Good luck with your new release!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

CEO by day, erotic romance writer by night, Lori Toland lives in Orlando where the summers are hot but the romance between her characters is even hotter. Writing since the tender age of 13, Lori somehow finds time to play video games and watch movies while taking care of her beloved cats and a husband who will forever be her hero.

Lori’s Website: http://www.loritoland.com

Lori’s Twitter: loritoland

Lori’s Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lori.toland

Buy Links:
http://www.loose-id.com/The-Long-Con.aspx

Other buy links will appear here as available:
http://loritoland.blogspot.com/2012/02/long-con-loose-id-4242012.html