Welcome Author Heather Rainier!

ABOUT

HEATHER RAINIER

heather.rainier@yahoo.com

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About Heather Rainier…

I live in South Central Texas, writing the type of novel I love to read: more erotic and edgy than the mainstream, with plenty of sweet romance mixed in. I write erotic romances exclusively for Siren Publishing, under their Everlasting imprint. My love of romantic fiction began as a teenager when my mom gave me copies of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s “The Flame and the Flower” and Bertrice Small’s “Skye O'Malley.” To this day I'm pretty sure that was her idea of the “birds and the bees” talk.

 My husband and I met in a scenario very much like the ones I’ve written about. He was the alpha hero who stepped in when this “damsel in distress” needed rescuing from a nefarious pervert. It’s no wonder I went on to write erotic romance when I had him to inspire me.  My favorite type of hero is the gentle, lovable giant but readers will discover a variety of heroes and alphas in my novels, from nearly perfect to very flawed. I hope readers relate to my heroines, and the challenges and dilemmas they face head-on.

I love to chat with readers on Facebook and talk about my books and whatever else comes to mind on my blog, The Divine Tease. When not pounding on my keyboard, I'm usually busy corralling my kids or loving on my smokin’ hot husband, who thankfully loves to cook.

THE DIVINE CREEK RANCH COLLECTION: TANGLED IN DIVINE

Robbed of her family’s legacy, Gwen Henderson blindly

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sets out to win it back. In Divine she finds employment until she rejoins the rodeo circuit for one more winning year. What she doesn’t foresee is getting tangled up with two cowboys who have her yearning for life in Divine when her dreams are in Colorado.

Rolling like a tumbleweed through life, Julian Alvarez takes the chance to be with Gwen, knowing she can’t stay permanently and his heart may be in ruins when she leaves.

Resigned to loneliness, Chris Potter believes his faults and lack of finesse may mean he’ll spend life looking out for others but never knowing love—until the day he sets eyes on a feisty cowgirl named Gwen.

Can she trade her dreams of life in Colorado for love in Divine, Texas—and is she even capable of leaving the two cowboys who have stolen her heart?

Standing Out From the Crowd

I’m approaching this topic as a successful published author but much of what I have to say applies to all aspects of my life. Standing out from the crowd means that I’m different from every other author, and every other person out there. I’m purposely handling myself differently. Not because I’m better but because that’s how I get noticed.

If the social media landscape is overwhelmingly negative, I make a point of being positive or encouraging. If I’m talking in person or online with a group of women and they complain about their spouses, I either withdraw or do my best to course-correct. This is important because if you’re my friend and you’re complaining about your spouse that’s going to make it hard for me to like your husband if I ever meet him. This gig is hard enough with a supportive spouse and I want to kick the ass of any man who doesn’t give his author-wife his full, loving support.

I also stand out from the crowd as a writer by engaging with readers. Don’t get me wrong, I love interacting with my fellow authors, Gabrielle in particular, because she’s just so damned real. But when I get on social media, my goal is to be sociable with readers. I can blog hop, guest blog, and shout out for other authors until I’m blue in the face but if the audience is only other writers what good did that do me? I want to be with readers. I want to talk to them. I want to crawl inside their heads and find out what they want to read about so I can give it to them. I want to be different because different is memorable. That is true in life too, not just as a professional author/entrepreneur.

Life is so fast-paced and complex that many of us go through our days not taking the time to simply greet each other or make eye contact. I’m naturally a shy person but when it became apparent that I was going to go for this whole published author gig, I determined to overcome that. I cut my teeth for socializing with strangers on all the poor cashiers at our local Wal-Mart and the grocery store, and the bank, and the clothing store I shop at, and the gas station. I chat them all up. I grew up in this town, but it wasn’t until the last two years that I got to know any of the people living in it. Many of them are shocked that someone will do something as simple as make eye contact with them and remember their name. Tell me that’s not standing out from the crowd.

In this current publishing landscape, to stand back and disdain socializing with readers because “I have a book to finish” is tantamount to saying I don’t have time for my readers but I sure want their money.

So here I am, the curvy chick who writes for other curvy chicks who enjoy reading erotic MFM ménage romance, with an MF thrown in there when the mood strikes. J

I want to thank Gabrielle and wish her a big, BIG Happy Birthday!! I hope all your birthday wishes come true and that your birthday spanking is a memorable one! <3

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

Q: Thinking back on your first book, is there anything you would have done differently?

My first book, Divine Grace, is the longest book in the Divine Creek Ranch Collection at 200,066 words. That’s a long-ass book. I wouldn’t change the story—the soul of the book—because readers still share with me how much the story meant to them. But I’ve learned a thing or two about pacing and streamlining since I wrote that book. If I ever had the chance, I’d go back and streamline. Then I’d add back in the BDSM my first, and former, editor suggested I cut out of it. Big mistake. Huge.

Q: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and why?

I’d want to spend the day with Grace Warner, from Divine Grace, since she is the anchor heroine and chief matchmaker for the entire series. If readers want to know which hero I’d want to spend time with, it would be Ethan Grant, one of Grace’s husbands. The epitome of the Loving Dom, he doesn’t need any club play scenes for readers to know that he understands the needs of a sub, and a woman.

Q: What is one thing about the publishing world that surprised you the most?

That I merited mentorship of someone in the publishing field who clearly didn’t have to spend their valuable time on me, but did in order to give me a good start as an author.

Q: How do you know you’ve written a good book?

I know I’ve written a good book when I cry as I write the last chapter because I’m so sad to see it end, and I’m just not ready to let go of the characters.

Q: How do you keep your characters and stories organized?

Organized??? Isn’t that what the “Find” feature in Word is for? Oh…look…shiny!

Q: Are you plot or character driven? Please elaborate.

I’m character driven. If I’m not completely in empathy with the heroine and in love with the heroes by the end of the first chapter I know I’ve done something wrong. My highest priority is well-developed characters who readers either want to be or want to be in love with.

Q: What is the one thing you must have to be able to write?

Quiet. J Not always easy to achieve when I share an office with my husband and have the Rainier children—Brattley and Tragedy are their pseudonyms—bursting in on me while I’m trying to create. They know the real meaning of fear, LOL.

Q: What are you currently working on? How is it different from other books you’ve written?

Besides preparing for the release of Tangled in Divine on April 19th, I’m currently writing Lucy’s Revenge, book 15 in the Divine Creek Ranch Collection. One of the heroes in this book is…well…a bit of an ass. He has his reasons, which are valid, and he is coming around. But he’s been a challenge. Good thing I love a challenge. J

Q: What advice would you give an aspiring author about the ins and outs of the industry?

There has never been a better time to be a published author than now. But know up front that your dream is going to require a lot of late nights and long hours if you want to achieve long-term success. The writing of a book is the easy, peasy part. If you ever have the luxury of being accepted and edited, take the advice of your editor to heart. Never, ever stop learning your craft. If you aren’t already reading craft books and following writer’s blogs, you need to start now. Be very careful who you trust your weaknesses with. Do not assume because you deal fairly with people that they will afford you the same luxury. Learn to spot narcissists and avoid them like the plague. And keep writing. Always keep writing.

Q: Can you offer advice on how to move on from the dreaded rejection letter?

What follows is my opinion only. I believe the “dreaded rejection letter” is part of the Old World Print Publishing Paradigm. As a writer submitting to, and being rejected by, the NY print houses, we’re told that we should save those rejection letters and be proud of them like a badge of honor. I kindly say bullshit. J In the digital age of publishing, where the playing field is much broader and there are more of us, if an author receives a rejection e-mail with the request to revise and resubmit, this is NOT a badge of honor and should never be discussed online. Just revise according to the house style and standards and resubmit. A rejection from a digital publisher does not carry the same connotation as it does from a print publisher. In my opinion, neither type of rejection is something that should be discussed online but definitely learned from. Hone your craft.

Q: When is your favorite time of day to write?

Late at night after everyone else is asleep, when I’ve had a long, hard day. Once my self-editing inhibitions are totally exhausted, the primordial brain kicks in and magic happens.

Q: When and where can readers look forward to seeing you this year?

I will be at the RT Booklover’s Convention in Kansas City, MO from May 1-5, co-hostessing the Siren BookStrand table in Club RT with fellow Siren authors Morgan Ashbury, Corinne Davies, and Peyton Elizabeth. During this convention, I will be signing at the E-book Expo on Thursday, May 2nd from 4-6 pm. On the morning of Saturday May 4th I will be greeting readers waiting in line outside the Giant Book Fair which starts at 11:00am and runs until 2:00.

I will ALSO be signing and greeting e-book lovers from 2:00-5:00pm at the ROMANCING THE PLAZA Book Signing Event put on by Kallypso Masters at the Marriot Country Club Plaza which is nearby the convention hotel. FREE looping shuttle service will be provided and the admission to THIS book signing is FREE and OPEN to the public. There will be many big door prizes offered and author gift baskets raffled off at this event. Shuttle service back to the Sheraton will be provided until 5:30pm so RT attendees will not miss out on any of the festivities planned for readers.

I encourage all readers to attend as this may be their only chance to locate their favorite e-book/POD authors who have unfortunately been EXCLUDED from the Giant Book Fair at RT.

Q: What is one of your biggest pet peeves?

Paying nearly one thousand dollars in registration fees for a convention and then being told at the last minute that I’ve been excluded from the single most well-attended event of the entire convention. The important thing in life is to find ways around obstacles.