Say hi to the amazing Lynne Roberts!

I'm so pleased to have a chance to interview my friend Lynne Roberts. She's a great writer and fun to boot. :) Her latest scorching release, After Hours, is out now with The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses. Pick it up now - you won't be disappointed!

1) First off, tell us all about After Hours. I've read this one, and it's a scorcher that will definitely warm up those cold winter nights! What was your inspiration for the story?

The idea for AFTER HOURS was conceived one early summer day when I was taking my teenage daughter to school. We stopped at a red light and this man crossed the street. The way he moved would have drawn any red-blooded woman's attention, and I'm no exception. I watched him walk all the way... to the high school. He was a student and I felt, for the first time, like a cougar. Okay, I blushed. But I also started wondering if it was a design of the hip that made some men walk that way, almost predatory, definitely yummy. Somewhere along the way, David was born.


2) After Hours is a cougar tale. As some of you know, I like those myself (actually, I think your David and my Alex would be good friends, LOL.) Why did you want to write a story about an older woman/younger man? And in your opinion, what age officially starts cougardom? (I have no interest in this answer myself, I swear!)

It has nothing to do with the fact that I could be considered cougar-aged. Nope. Nope. Not a thing. Let's face it, when you're in your thirties and forties, a woman is in her sexual prime. We need a younger man to keep up with us... literally. And they are so pretty to look at. 

I don't have an answer to when you enter cougardom. (35?) I think that you can't be a cougar too young because the younger man has to be old enough to know a thing or two.


3) Since I'm all about the se...uh, attraction, what attracts Elle to David and vice versa? And do you have an excerpt to leave us salivating for more?

Elle is attracted to David's walk, his scent, his voice and to his masculinity. David is attracted to Elle's appearance and her experience. He wants a woman who knows who she is and what she wants. Lucky for him, Elle wants David. Bad.

This is a scene in which David and Elle are working together: He still wore a pale blue button-down shirt but had removed his tie and unfastened the top buttons to reveal the silky smooth skin below his neck.

Picking up a heavy box of files, he moved it from the desk to the floor. His chest muscles rolled with the effort. Was there hair farther down? Perhaps a trail leading all the way to heaven?


Stop it, girl! But for a moment she imagined undoing the rest of the buttons, letting her hands explore his chest and tiptoeing her fingers down his firm stomach to satisfy her curiosity. That's not the only thing I'd satisfy.

She swallowed with a suddenly dry throat. At least she knew where the moisture went. Maybe I just shouldn't wear underwear.

As though he could hear the thought, he looked up, met her gaze and smiled that dazzling smile that made her knees weak. She was melting into a little pool of wanton need in the chair across from him and he had no idea.

Yummy, right? Let me tell you, that hint of goodness is only the beginning! ;)

4) Your first story, First Date, came out recently from The Wild Rose Press's Wilder Roses. How long had you been writing before you sold your first book?

I've been writing for six years, but I took some time off to edit three manuscripts, two of which have been published by Random House. I wrote FIRST DATE almost on a dare to myself. It was challenging but fun. So much so that I sat down and wrote AFTER HOURS.


5) What one piece of advice would you give aspiring writers? 

Write. And when you don't feel like it: write. There are scores of things we all need to learn regarding grammar, pace and technique, but you can't edit an empty page. Second to that would be to find a good critique partner.


6) And just for fun: if you had to pick, would you prefer stamina or experience in a man? Of course, getting both in one would be a nice bonus. ;) Why?

Have I ever told you that you're an evil woman? I should.

I think, if I had to pick, experience. You see, if I had to choose between one or two pieces of premium chocolate and a box of ordinary chocolate, I'd take the premium and let it melt in my mouth, savoring it slowly.


Great answers! Thanks Lynne! If you want to find out more about Lynne or her work, stop by her blog or follow her on Twitter: Lynne Roberts. And don't forget to go buy After Hours! Believe me, you won't regret it! ;)