I have stolen some time with an author who has done something extremely few have…. She had 2 recommended reads from Joyfully Reviewed in the same month!

What is your most current work out?

Forbidden: The Temptation, published by Samhain, is book 4 in the Forbidden series. Books 2 and 3 were June Recommended Reviews

Tell us a little about Forbidden: The Temptation?

Although each book in the Forbidden series is written to stand alone, my sinister plan is to lure readers into the universe and get them hooked. Here’s the blurb for The Temptation, book 4.

There’s a fine line between man and beast…one only the heart can cross.

A year ago, Jacob Madison got more than he bargained for during a rock-climbing trip to Yosemite. A freak accident left him badly injured, at the mercy of the elements—and the wolves who rescued him. If it hadn’t been for them, he’d be dead. He’d also still be human. Now he’s back, hoping to find out who he is and what he’s become. Instead, he finds smart, sexy Allison Connelly.

A forensic psychologist, Allison is newly divorced and proudly standing on her own two feet…until an unexpected storm shears off the snow bank she’s standing on. She plunges down an icy ravine, thinking she’s heading for oblivion. Then she lands in the arms of a tall, dark Texan. Jake.

Brought together by circumstance and bound by passion, secrets from their past threaten their future before it can begin. And somewhere in the mountains lurks a rogue Were turned serial killer. Whatever the danger Jake’s inner beast poses to Allison, there’s only one way to protect her—unleash it. Even if it costs him her love.

Warning: This book contains raging winter storms, truly inspiring sex, a kick-butt heroine, and one very hot, dirty-talking cowboy…who’s sometimes furry.

What inspired you to write the series?

It was conceived during a flight back from London. I’d ended up having to extend my stay there because I’d fallen terribly ill. I’d thought at the time that it was food poisoning or a horrible flu. I was still in a very bad way during the flight home. I slept on and off. I was in the middle row on the plane and there were a bunch of seats across so I could stretch out. There was only one other passenger sharing the row with me and he was busy watching gay porn on his portable DVD player. Orlando Bloom was on the cover of the American Way magazine and I started thinking that he’d make a great mild-mannered vampire. Between naps I jotted down notes. By the time I landed in San Diego I had the series laid out. It turned out I didn’t have food poisoning. I was severely anemic and ended up in the hospital for blood transfusions. Did my anemia inspire my vampire series? Hmmmm.

When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?

In most aspects of my life I’m organized and detailed. My writing process, however, is very organic. I always start with a comprehensive profile of my main characters. I get to know them inside and out and then I like to set them loose. What happens after that is really up to them; they tend to take on a life of their own.

What inspired you to write in your genre?  Is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one?

I’m a big fan of Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy. Although I’ve written some straight contemporary romance and a historical romance, Paranormal is my favorite hands down.

Do you have a favorite character you have written?

Oh my gosh, that’s an impossible question to answer. Jake, my dirty-talking cowboy from The Temptation was very fun to write. He was a real Alpha who could be wildly irreverent and cocky as hell. But he also was sweet, sensitive, and vulnerable.

Do you draw inspiration for your characters from real life?

Like most writers, I constantly draw on my experiences. You’ll find bits of my husband in every one of my heroes.

Name one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you.

In 2007 I left what I used to call my “real life” job as a psychotherapist to pursue writing full-time.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Wine.  My husband was a Marine. When we received news during Desert Storm that his unit was being deployed, he told me I needed a hobby. That’s when I discovered wine. I toured vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, and Temecula and stated attending wine tastings. Living in California I’m surrounded by fabulous wine. We built our own cellar a few years back so that we could start collecting.

What do you need before you start writing?  Anything that is just a must have or the creative juice don’t flow?

Just my laptop. I can write anywhere.

Does music influence your writing?

No. I find I can’t write with music playing, it’s too distracting.

If your story was optioned for a movie, who would play your characters?

A young Josh Holloway for Jake and Catherine Zeta-Jones for Allison.

Where were you when you got your first contract?  Who did you tell first?

I was home, sick with the flu. As soon as I got the news, I picked up the phone and called my husband.

How old were you when you read your first romance book?

I was probably around thirteen. It was Captive Passions by Fern Michaels. My mother bought it over the summer. As soon as she finished I absconded with it. I’ve been hooked on romance ever since.

What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?

I’m currently working on a Young Adult book that’s set in the Forbidden Universe. My sixteen year old has wanted me to write this for a long time. I hope to be finished by the end of August fingers crossed*. With luck, this will be the first in a series.

Where can readers find you? (Include all links you want, facebook, twitter etc….)

Website: http://www.samanthasommersby.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/samanthasommersby

Twitter: https://twitter.com/samsommersby

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/samanthasommersby

Newsletter: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Join/signupId:56104

And for the silly side – What is your favorite type of chocolate?

Dark chocolate is definitely my favorite. I recently bought some that had bits of honeycomb in it. Amazing! If I’m feeling really indulgent, I’ll order the Dark Ephemere Truffles from Dilettante (http://www.dilettante.com/).