Please help me welcome Draven St. James to my blog today. She’s given me a great interview that I think you’ll find interesting.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a northwest native and love the stormy weather. I actually am able to write better when the weather is on the dark side. I’ve traveled a great deal and am a part of an extensive family/friend base. All of those in my life are very supportive and I firmly believe that has helped in my success.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

Yes, prior to dedicating my time to being a writer, I was a psychological profiler. It was a unique and interesting job to be a part of. Never boring, but it definitely had its disturbing qualities. It actually helped me to develop a better grasp on creating more in depth characters.

Tell us about your current series/WIP.

My current series is Firehouse Six, which revolves around the lives of the firemen and other medical professionals who work in that region. It is in the m/m genre and it tells the stories of how these amazing men fall in love. The first was Grey’s Hidden Fire, which was the story of how Mica and Grey met. It’s fairly heated in many different ways. The steam they create with one another, but also what they have to overcome to be together. The second book, Fire and Mistletoe, is a sequel and revolves around Grey and Mica’s developing relationship. I’m in the process of working on a third book, which will be Simon’s story. He’s one of the side characters in the first two books.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

My next project will be released in the spring and it is a standalone. I delved into my past experience in psychological profiling and gave a little peek into a boss-employee connection, with a great many roadblocks keeping them apart. It is a m/m contemporary erotic novel and I hope Aspen and Garren inspire people to keep reading!

Do you have critique partners?

I have a couple of people I go to when I have writers block, and those who read my books to give me input. One person in particular I send him excerpts all the time to see if a single scene, standing alone, can inspire an emotional response. I think that is important.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

I wouldn’t ever develop a character entirely from one individual person. I do however, take pieces of people that I know, at times, and mold them into the characters that I’m creating.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. If writing is what you love than keep writing and sharing your work. Sometimes it is hard to find your niche, but if your passion comes through your work, than you can be successful.

What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

I primarily do guest posts on other blogs, cover reveals, giveaways, blog hops, radio interviews and just getting the word out there with friends and fellow authors. I think the most amazing thing about the writing community, that I’m lucky to be a part of, is that it doesn’t feel competitive. We support one another and share our wisdom as we come across it.

Where can readers find you?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draven.stjames
Blog: http://dravenstjames.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DravenStJames
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dravenstjames/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7155623.Draven_St_James
Email: Dravenstjames@gmail.com

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Draven%20St.%20James&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank
Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/draven-st-james.html
http://www.loose-id.com/fire-and-mistletoe.html

Excerpt
For Mica, there was nothing better than starting the day watching Grey saunter shirtless around the kitchen, preparing him breakfast. Grey’s only clothes were a pair of sweats that hung so low on his hips Mica couldn’t help but be amazed they didn’t slide off. Hell, that was what he anticipated happening.

Such an event would truly be the beginning of a merry Christmas. Mica sat on a stool next to the island at the center of the room to continue his ogling.

“Stop objectifying me,” Grey said before looking over his shoulder and smiling.

“You like it,” Mica teased. The muscles of Grey’s back flexed each time he reached for a spice or stirred the eggs. His hair was wet from his shower and glistened with shades of gold and cinnamon in the overhead lighting.

“I may like it, but you need to eat, and then I have to work. If you’re lucky, when your double shift is over, I’ll entertain those dirty thoughts I know you’re having.”

“Oh, now that’s promising. How about we compromise for the moment? Drop your pants and bring on the food.” Mica leered comically at him. Grey’s face became an adorable shade of pink. He loved that even now Grey had his shy moments. There were so many things Grey did that made his life more complete, both at home and at work, because he was lucky enough to work and play with his lover. He’d met Grey when he’d made the best decision of his life and transferred over to Firehouse Six.

It also didn’t hurt that the man was a fantastic cook. He pivoted to stir the scrambled eggs, and Mica moved to stand behind him. With a deep inhale he breathed in the intoxicating, spicy scent that always clung to Grey, and nuzzled his face against Grey’s neck. He wrapped his arms around him, tracing his fingers along Grey’s abdomen before pulling Grey fully back against him.

“Are you sure you can’t fit me in before breakfast?” Mica whispered and nipped his ear playfully.

The vibrations from Grey’s moan resulted in an answering hardening of Mica’s cock.

“You are the worst tease,” Grey admonished.

“And you’re so damn practical.”

Grey shifted around in Mica’s arms and grinned. “That is one of the many things that you love about me.” He ran his fingers through the damp strands of Mica’s hair. “As it is, because of our shower time, I’m already going to be late.”

Mica trapped Grey against the counter and gave in to the temptation of Grey’s soft lips. Grey’s hands tightened in his hair and drew him away.

“Before you, I was always on time.”

“I exist to create fun chaos in your life.” Mica wiggled his eyebrows.

Blurb

When Greyson Hayes envisions the perfect first Christmas with Mica Cruz he sees twisted sheets, a bottle of wine and a roaring fire. What he doesn’t see is a holiday spent with the uproarious Cruz family. Grey hasn’t taken part in a family Christmas since the death of his parents. Despite his misgivings, he can’t seem to form the word no when it comes to Mica.



Mica knows that Grey’s not a grinch. Hell, the man shares so much Christmas cheer during the holidays that he leaves no time to experience any for himself. Not this year. Mica plans to make a few changes, starting with a few wicked and whimsical gifts. He enlists the help of his co-workers at Firehouse Six. They band together and strive to provide Grey with the same joy he gives to everyone else–with five a.m. tree hunts, strategically placed mistletoe and Mica playing Santa’s not-so-little helper.

But while Mica is busy being nice, Grey has plenty of time to be naughty…


Bio:

Draven St. James is a born and raised Oregonian. She has traveled extensively in search of mischief and mayhem to fill her books. Her ventures have been quite successful in inspiring a wealth of stories. Of course at the end of the day, coffee within reach, laptop at the ready is where she finds her peace.