Author Spotlight With J. Hali Steele

Hello everyone! Please welcome J. Hali Steele!

J. Hali: Hi, Charisma. Thanks for having me. I love to get out of the writer’s cave—I call mine the cat cave--and talk with readers and other authors.


CK: I here ya Cat Lady! You got to get out some time.


When did you become serious about your writing career?


J. Hali: Actually, not until recently by most standards. I’ve always had a vivid imagination and enjoyed penning little stories and writing poetry. But it wasn’t until I attended my first Romantic Times Con that I became serious. I’d played with the idea of attending one for years to meet some of my favorite authors and in 2008 I actually did it. Talk about inspirational! I met so many helpful people, made friends with readers and other aspiring authors. That was the end of my peaceful, easy existence! The bug had bitten me, and it bit hard. I looked for critique groups and found a couple awesome sites. Once I learned the mechanics of writing and polished a few stories I had, I started to submit them and the rest is history as they say.


CK: Ah, poetry. You are gifted indeed. It takes a special someone to write poetry. My hat goes off to you.


I think that’s pretty awesome about attending Romantic Times Con. It sounds inspirational. I need to make the necessary arrangements to attend one this year.


What are the pros and cons as an author of erotic romance?


J. Hali: For me, it continues to be a fun ride. I’ve enjoyed pushing the envelope. The biggest con was I’d heard stories about how erotic romance authors were initially treated for writing in the genre. I started out writing erotic romance, so it’s hard for me to tell if I’m judged any differently for writing it. With groups like the RWA’s Passionate Ink chapter to help pave the way, it’s not been bad for me. Unlike some, in regards to family and friends knowing what I write—I don’t use a pen name, those who know me take it in stride.


CK: Pushing the envelope is the way to go. There is nothing wrong with that.


So, please tell us about your most recent project.


J. Hali: That would be a series I’m working on called the Stonegar. The first book, Stone Cold, has been contracted to Liquid Silver Books and I’m really excited about getting the second one, Stone Dead, accepted after I do some rewrites. I’ve been working on edits and I’m looking forward to readers enjoying the first story real soon. Using mythical Stonehenge, I’ve created a world of statues that come to life. They’re bi-sexual and constantly aroused, so you can imagine the fun I’ve had working with the first two stories which are ménages. The third…I’m not so sure. It may just be one hot romance with a secondary storyline as a ménage.


CK: Oh J. Hali, you have piqued my curiosity with the Stonegar series. BTW, congratulations on that contract.


Out of all the stories written, what are your favorites?

J. Hali: Ooh! Hard question. I think it would have to be Hope in Love. I had to give a lot of thought to how erotic angels would be received before writing it. Glad I did because damn if Ramiel isn’t material for anyone’s knight in shining armor. *grins* But it could be Screwed. I simply love the Purple P Rose character. And, yes, her name evolved from all the purple prose I use in the story which is an erotic satire about a vampyre ménage.


CK: Wahoo! Hope in Love. I was so in love with the cover. I read that book, and it was awesome. I’ve known about Screwed for quite some time, I just haven’t gotten around to purchasing.


Where do you see yourself two years from now?


J. Hali: Writing eBooks for sure!


CK: I’m down with that!


What are your hobbies? How do you unwind?

J. Hali: Gardening is a big love of mine. I find it very relaxing and the end product is worth it. Listening to music, my taste is very eclectic—I like techno tango, blues and opera. That’s pretty much what I use to unwind too. Well, that and a tub full of hot water surrounded by candles and a good glass of wine.


CK: Interesting tastes of music. Sounds like you have a green thumb.


Do you mold your characters strictly from imagination or from those you cross paths with in everyday life?


J. Hali: I’d say from my very vivid and overactive imagination. I won’t say that a few traits of people I know haven’t slithered into a story or two!


CK: LOL


What are your favorite paranormal creatures? Pick two please.


J. Hali: Cat shifters and vamps.

CK: Purrrr You go girl!

Where can you be found on the internet? If possible, please provide all your links. : )


J. Hali: You can find out more about me, my books and my characters at http://www.jhalisteele.com/, http://www.sovereignkind.blogspot.com/, I’m on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/purpleprose, I blog at http://www.paranormalromantics.blogspot.com/ every Friday and http://www.trampyvamps.com/ the 6th of every month.


CK: What is your favorite color?


J. Hali: The color PURPLE! Not fake purple, real PURPLE! lol


CK: What does your ideal man look like??


J. Hali: Ramiel, gray hair and all!


CK: Super HOT! I once knew a man with long gray hair!


Please tell us about your books.


J. Hali: My first contemporary just released at Ellora’s Cave, Rhythm of Love. It’s a story that grew out of my love for Tango and Dancing with the Stars! Here’s the blurb:


Carter Gates, amateur Latin ballroom dancer, is ready to make a move on his sexy new assistant. Bree’s scent intoxicates him, and her lithe body makes it hard to keep his hands to himself. But Carter owns the company and has one rule—hands off the staff. His body isn’t listening.


Bree’s no better off. She has a taste for her new boss, one she can’t quench. Hiding the fact she’s best friends with his partner, and a dancer herself, she slips into a revealing outfit and his arms…just for one night of sexy, hot competition and a highly erotic tango that gives new meaning to “going up in flames”.


Bree’s friend has other ideas—she wants to keep Carter for herself. However, after spending a passionate evening in Carter’s arms, and his bed, Bree wants more. And she’s determined to get it.


Coming April 21st from Ellora’s Cave is Ace of Spades, taken from another passion of mine, the show Poker After Dark. Here’s the blurb:


Ace Spade is a gambler who knows how to handle success and luck—until he meets Rosemary Carino, the new hostess of the gentleman’s club he frequents. He has reasons for keeping his business dealings private but his life quickly spins out of control. Roe’s sexy and curvaceous body stirs a fire in him he can’t extinguish. Ace is consumed with the need to have her in every way possible.


Roe gave up working the pole in topless clubs long ago. Thrust back into the business, she fights to stay out of the clutches of hotter-than-hell Aldan “Ace” Spade. It’s not going to be easy. Her body melts around him, aches to know his intimately. And hiding her past from Ace turns out to be much harder than just stripping off her clothes.


Available at Changeling Press is the Extra Cream and Screwed series. I have two books at Eirelander Publishing, A Panther’s Flight and Clawless. At Ellora’s Cave you can find Hard Case along with those mentioned above.


CK: All very interesting reads. I’ll need to check out Ace of Spades. You Rock J. Hali Steele! Love the name BTW. It possesses a special something, something. ; )


Joann, thank you so much for sharing. It was awesome having you here, and of course your new releases will be added to my TBR pile on Goodreads!