Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lexi Ander author of Surrounded by Crimson (Sumeria’s Sons, 4). Hi Lexi, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Do you buy a book because of the cover, the blurb, or something else?
The cover will catch my attention and then I read the blurb. I read more Sci-Fi/Fantasy than contemporary books. But I have been known to go ahead and by the contemporary if both the cover and blurb catch me. Unless I’m a fan of the author then I’ll buy it without caring how the cover looks or if the book is in my preferred genre.
What does ‘romance’ mean to you?
For me, it’s the tension between the main characters. How they look and interact with each other. What they are thinking. They can go out to a romantic dinner but if the asides aren’t there giving an insight to what’s going on, then it could be any old meal just with a pretty backdrop.
What are your current projects?
At this moment, I’m working on the last book of Sumeria’s Sons, Releasing Chaos. It’s been more a challenge than I had anticipated. I’m also working on lengthening the manuscript for Ruby Red Booty Shorts And A Louisville Slugger. That one has a release date in September. I’m also working on Darksoul, an extra free read I volunteered to do for the GoodReads M/M Romance group’s Don’t Read In The Closet event.
I’m hoping by the time this blog tour comes around I will have completed all three of those projects and I’ll be working on Bespoken (The Valespian Pact, 3).
What is the most difficult part of writing for you?
Self editing the manuscript after I’ve finished it. I’m so ready to go on to the next project. I compromise with myself. I’ll but the finished ms off to the side for a couple of weeks and start my next project. Well, as long as I’m not on a deadline, then I make myself plow through until the ms is done-done, if you know what I mean. If I wait to self edit then when I come back, I have fresh eyes to see the problems and sometimes I can be more articulate than the first time around because I’ve had longer to think about certain sections.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.
What would surprise people about me. That’s a hard question because I’m pretty open about myself. How about this. I was the flag football quarterback for my junior high’s girl’s gym. Roberta and I were good. We made a great team. Wherever she ran, I could always throw it to her and she always caught it. We were unbeatable until Roberta became pregnant. I never did find that synergy like I had with her with another player.
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Series: Sumeria’s Sons
Book: Four
Series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment.
Release Date: July 1, 2015
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Cover Artist: Londen Burden
Tristan has agreed to bond with Ushna but there is still much to do and returning to Tribe Enkidu puts everyone on edge. Tristan is being stalked like prey all the while fighting depression as he mourns the loss of Nikita and enduring a battle of wills with the Elder Council over his birthright. The pleading of his adoptive daughter only adds still more stress to the situation.
Stumbling onto a secret prison while searching for Ushna leads Tristan to risk everything to free a lost God. But breaking the tie to his Flame has more repercussions than Tristan knew and the assistance of a forgotten Goddess and a centuries old lover may not be enough to save him.
Pages or Words: 48,000 words
Categories: M/M Romance, Menage/Poly, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
Excerpt:
Ushna was out of the car and greeting his parents before I unbuckled the seatbelt. Hami wasn’t as tall as his son but he was wide, very wide, barrel-chested with a set of deltoids on him the size of small children. His dark hair was cut above the ears and I’d never seen the man without at least three days growth of facial hair. It looked good on him. That kind of scruff made me resemble a bum.
Donya was tall and lean, one of those women who had a natural sway when she walked. Her blue-black hair fell to her waist in thick glossy waves. Her skin was a deep almond, darker than her husband’s or son’s, and her bright, emerald-green eyes were large and expressive.
They both greeted Ushna with festive exuberance, and why not? I’d kept him away from them for a very long time. I observed them for a moment over the hood of the SUV. Hami picked his son up in a bear hug, laughing loud and boisterous. Donya took his face between her palms as she gazed deeply into his bi-colored eyes—eyes that were forever changed by me. At that thought, I wondered how they truly perceived me. My stomach rolled with anxiety-induced queasiness.
With all the grace of someone my size, I made my way into the house, leaving Ushna to his family reunion. I had hoped we wouldn’t see them until after the children were born. I’d entered the home stretch of my pregnancy. Even with the ring of illusion, I had a hard time hiding my condition. Early in my pregnancy, Gregori had fashioned a ring of magic, creating the illusion that hid my continually growing stomach and constructed a normal appearance.
A pregnant male wasn’t something we wanted to explain to humans. With the looming threat of assassination, if my identity was discovered, we thought it best to continue to keep my birthright a secret until after the children were born. So I’d continue to wear the illusion even though the ring wasn’t much help now. The giveaway was in the walk and the way I stood. People could see there was something different by how I held my body and it couldn’t be helped. I was able to hurry, in spurts, and then I lumbered like an elephant—very National Geographic.
Neesie followed me into the kitchen. She was dressed differently than what I’d become accustomed to. Gone were the combat boots, black jeans, and white tees. She wore a pale blue silk blouse, a pinstriped pencil skirt, and knee-high black stiletto boots. She appeared fierce in a whole new way.
“Why didn’t you wait and greet Ushna’s parents?” she asked.
With a plate in hand, I inspected the cold cuts tray that sat on the kitchen counter. I was starved and wanted something quick to eat before everyone came in. When I didn’t answer Neesie, she took the plate from me and started placing fresh vegetables on it.
“I thought I’d give them some time to catch up,” I finally replied. It wasn’t a complete lie. “They haven’t had their son to themselves in quite some time. They don’t need me hanging out in the background.”
Neesie pinned me with her golden-brown gaze. “That is such bullshit and you know it. What’s the real issue?”
I quirked a smile at her. “You know I love ya?”
“Yes, and you’re the one who called me for dating advice because you suck at subtle. Your ‘hey moron, get your hands off my sister‘ ranked right up there.”
“I can’t help it if Mr. Octopus Arms was oblivious to his audience.”
“Go ahead and keep playing that song because I know you still refer to him as Lonnie Fucking-Fowler. Before you walked into the house, your face turned green and you practically sprinted in here.”
“Ahh, stampede!” I gave mock crowd screams. Neesie was not impressed.
“Spill, jackass.” She shoved a full plate into my hands and a chair under my ass. Neesie glared at me but her expression was filled with concern.
“Fine, you tyrant. I wanted to make a good impression. I wanted to be able to show them that I am a strong partner and worthy of their son’s love and devotion. But right now I’m huge, and miserable, and swollen, and hungry. Why did you give me carrots? You know I hate carrots. You’re trying to torture me, aren’t you? I’m an elephant, not a rabbit. I get like peanuts or something, not Bugs Bunny hand-me-downs.” I threw the carrot at my cackling sister. The woman was not remorseful.
“Tristan.”
I threw another carrot at Neesie before turning to see who called for me. I swallowed a curse as I faced Donya. She stood in the doorway, her large green eyes soft and liquid as she searched my expression.
“Ma’am?” Embarrassingly, my voice cracked like I was fourteen years old.
“How can we not be proud of you, son?” Donya crossed the room in a smooth glide and gently took me in her arms. “We’ve always been proud of you, Tristan, don’t ever believe differently.” Tentatively I embraced her in return and ignored Neesie’s sniffles.
Sales Links: Less Than Three Press ♥ Amazon
Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.
Where to find the author:
Web site: http://www.lexiander.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexi.ander.9
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LexiAnder1
Blog: http://lexiander.blogspot.com/
E-mail: lexi.ander.author@gmail.com
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6521302.Lexi_Ander
- Prize offered: $20 Amazon Gift card, $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)
- $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)
- hard copy of Surrounded by Crimson, swag (pens, bookmarks)
- e-book copy of Surrounded by Crimson
- e-book copy of Surrounded by Crimson
Tour Dates & Stops:
27-Jul
28-Jul
29-Jul
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
30-Jul
31-Jul
3-Aug
4-Aug
Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves
5-Aug
6-Aug
7-Aug
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I would like to give a big Thank You to Lexi Ander and Will at Pride Promotions for letting us take place in this Blog Tour.
Rainbow Gold Reviews 
Congrats on the new release! I’ve been waiting for this!
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Hope you enjoy it, Serena!
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Congrats on the new release! Great cover =)
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Thank you H.B.! London did such an awesome job.
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Congratulations on your newest release,and looking forward to reading it!
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Thank you, Milica! Hope you enjoy the book!
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