Bitten by Books
As a kid I fancied myself a bit of a tomboy. There’s just myself and my sister in our family, no brothers. So I took it upon myself to fill the void I was positive my father had in his life due to the lack of a boy child. I built ramps to jump my bike, went on motorbike rides with him, and followed him around on weekends asking him a gazillion questions about cars and engines and stuff like that. Plus, I hated going clothes shopping with my mother and sister (l liked clothes, just not the shopping part!). All that aimless wondering through shops. Argh! I’d rather go fishing with dad.This phase did of course end. The girliness in me could not be suppressed as I tumbled ungraciously into my teens. I grew out of it, like a lot of girls do. Unlike my heroine in Crashed. Alex is the ultimate tomboy (though she, like me, has a secret love of beautiful clothes, it’s the shopping part that gives her hives). She also loves cars, a lot, which is how she became a mechanic. A job in a male dominated industry, and she kicks ass at it!
Crashed is the first book in my Axle Alley Vipers series, and is based around three women running a garage/car restoration business in Miami. Alex works alongside her two best friends’ Piper and Rusty, who also just happen to be Deacon’s little sisters’, the hero of the story. Deacon left behind the family garage years ago and chose a very different lifestyle, and spending time with him, in his world, pushes Alex way out of her tomboy comfort zone!
So a show of hands! Are there any other tomboys here, past or present?
Here’s an excerpt from Crashed and a little taste of how Alex handles those fish out of water situations:
God, she couldn’t bear to see him suffer this way. She would give anything to go back in time and give him the chance to heal the wounds between him and his old man. “So how many charities do you donate to, hotshot?”
His lips lifted on one side. “A couple.”
She turned to face him. “Huh, so you’re not hard and stingy after all.”
He laughed, dark and low. “Oh, I’m hard…”
She slapped her hand over his mouth and shot a look to the front seat. “I’m sure Martin could go the rest of his life not knowing how hard you are,” she said under her breath.
“I’m hard”—he grabbed her wrist when she tried to cover his mouth again—“on those that deserve it. Otherwise I’m a pushover.” He arched a brow, that grin getting bigger. “You have a dirty mind, Miss Franco.” And before she could pull her hand away, he placed it over the massive bulge straining the front of his very nice, very expensive trousers. “And this is what you do to me.”
Goddamn. Right now he was doing things to her as well. She squeezed the ridged flesh beneath her hand, and he sucked in a breath. “You’re such a perv.”
He barked a laugh. “My condition is completely your fault.” He pulled her hand away and held it tight in his. “Now stop trying to seduce me.”
She snorted. “I’m doing no such thing. You kind of remind me of that creepy kid at high school… What was his name again? Robert? Roger? Roger Edgar. That’s it. He spent all his time darting around corners, hiding the tent pole in his pants. Get some self-control, dude.”
He released her hand. “Creepy? Roger freaking Edgar?”
This was fun. She was actually enjoying herself. She shrugged. “You’re the one sitting there with a boner. You’ll terrify your charity guys, walking in with that thing pointing at them.” The look on his face was priceless, and unable to rein it in, she laughed her ass off. When she finally got herself somewhat together, she glanced over at him, and the remaining chuckles died a sudden death. The heat aimed her way should have turned her to ash.
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About Sherilee Gray
Author Bio:
Sherilee Gray lives in beautiful New Zealand with her husband and their two children. When she isn’t writing, she spends her time reading, hoarding books, and eating copious amounts of chocolate.
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CONTEST INFO: Open to readers worldwide.
Prize 1: $25.00 Amazon Gift Card
Prize 2: 2 - $5.00 Amazon Gift Cards
Be SURE to TWEET and FACEBOOK this link using the SHARING is CARING buttons below so your friends can enter too.
Who are some of your favourite authors?
Hey Minna! I started really getting into romance when I had my son, my sister gave me a novella written by Sherrilyn Kenyon and I gobbled it up. So paranormal was my first love! Nalini Singh, JR ward, Gena Showalter, Larrisa Ione are some of my favs. For contemporary I LOOOOVE Kylie Scott, Jonanna wylde, Kristen Ashley to name but a few!
Hi Sherilee!
Welcome to Bitten by Books, it is fantastic to have you here live all the way from New Zealand!
My question for you is; What’s your favorite vacation destination?
It’s very cool to be here!
Well, I haven’t traveled to many places. I love New Zealand, but I would love to do some more travelling. A great holiday for me would be getting in a plane and exploring new exciting places!
To answer your questions that are on the Contest Widget:
1. Do you prefer alpha or Beta heroes?
I like a mix, sometimes I like an anti-hero. Just depends on my mood. I am pretty moody today. LOL
What about you Sherilee? What’s your preference?
Heh, I fins it hard to choose! Variety is the spice of life and all that! But I am partial to an alpha hero, and yeah, I do love me an anti-hero!
2. Staying at home with your man for a cozy home cooked meal or a romantic night out?
I enjoy both, but romance will win the night with me, especially if it is my favorite Lebanese restaurant.
What about you Sherilee? Which do you prefer?
Yum! I’m a bit of a hermit LOL. A cozy night at home is always a winner for me, as long as I’m not doing the cooking!
3. Suit and tie or jeans and muscle a hugging tee?
Well, I am definitely riding the fence today. I actually like both. OR a man in Uniform. hehehe Something about a guy in a suit with a splash (not a bath) of nice cologne can be sexy. But so can the rugged look. Again MOOD determines. LOL
How about you Sherilee? (aren’t you glad you asked these questions?) lol
LOL well, I’m riding the fence with you! I write both, so I can’t play favorites
And I’m sooo with you on a man in uniform! So hot!
Congratulations on the release of Crashed! Who is your favorite character from the books you have written? Was this character easy or difficult to write?
Thanks Bonnie! It’s super hard to pick a favorite, but for now, I’ll say Deacon, the hero of Crashed. He’s been in love with Alex for a long time, but lost his chance, and hurt her in the process, years ago. Alex has gotten so good at guarding her heart and pushing people away, that he’s forced to play a risky game to get her back. He knows she wants him to, but he also knows she won’t willingly risk her heart again. Writing a hero that might come off as unheroic in the beginning of the book was tough. Balancing that with the intense way he feels about Alex, and his own issues and insecurities was extremely difficult. I hope I managed to pull it off!
Author questions
Alpha heroes are my favorite.
I enjoy both a cozy home dinner and a romantic night out. It really depends upon my mood.
For me a man in a suit and tie is very attractive.
A man in a nice suit does it for me every time!
If you could only give ONE piece of advice to newbie authors and writers, what advice do you think is the most important one to give?
Give a pro of being a writer? A con?
Besides writing a lot. Getting a critique partner, or beta reader so you can get feedback on your work is extremely important. The pro of being a writer for me, is getting to do what I love every day. Hmm, as for a con, that’s a tough one. There are things I don’t enjoy as much, like opening that 1st pass email from my editor! I love you Karen
I’m a stresser!
Suit and tie or jeans and muscle a hugging tee?
— Give me beat-up jeans that are well worn, holes in places and a muscle-hugging tee. I have never been much impressed with suit and ties, they make a man look too stifling.
Staying at home with your man for a cozy home cooked meal or a romantic night out?
—- Too long around people gets exhausting for me, and they tend to start to annoy me ( hence why the hubby does not like to take me shopping during Thanksgiving or Christmas time) so a cozy home cooked meal at home.
Do you prefer alpha or Beta heroes?
—- Both have their unique qualities.. I like alphas but I don’t like them to be too conceited. I like for them to know when to back down.
Well worn jeans with holes in the right places…now there’s a nice mental image
I’m right there with you when it comes to crowds! I find it draining to be around a lot of people. I guess that’s the introvert in me. I love alpha heroes of all varieties, as long as the heroine stands up to him I’m good!
I’ve grown up around bikers, along with liking hard rock/heavy metal, jeans with holes in the right places is normal. And on a yummy male.. Rawr
Nice! And totally RAWR!
I was and am a tomboy. Where did you grow up and what tomboy things did you do?
Hey Lisa! Glad to have another Tomboy stop by! I live in a small town in the center of the North Island of New Zealand. We have a lot of farm land, rivers and bush around us, which meant there were a lot of cool things we could get up to! My dad used to ride motorbikes and would take me with him a lot. He also used to take me fishing, which I loved when I was a kid. And of course there were the bike jumps and terrible attempts as building things lol.
Always alpha
Always an excellent choice!
Night out.
jeans and muscle shirt
The two combined sounds like a great night!
Hi Sherilee and Congratulations! I think we must be long lost relatives because I also spend my time reading, hoarding books, and eating copious amounts of chocolate! Who is your favorite character from any book?
Answers to Sherilee’s questions:
1. I prefer a blend~don’t want over-the-top macho or milquetoast!
2. As long as I don’t have to cook or clean up, either setting is great with me!
3. I’m pretty casual so I’d go with jeans. I agree with Rachel, a little cologne is great but don’t bathe in it!
Thanks so much Betty! A woman after my own heart! Heh, agreed. No bathing in cologne! I like subtle
A good night for me is always when someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning!
As for a Favorite character? I have an undying love for Acheron, a character from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series. I luuuuve him. He breaks my heart. I want to hug him and take care of him… and um, other stuff
Hello! Is there any popular series that you haven’t read yet but want to check out?
Hi Susan! There are sooo many, but one that keeps popping up is the Charley Davidson Series by Darynda Jones. My sister loves the series and told me I need to read it! I just haven’t gotten to it yet!
I just started that one myself. Just finished book two. It is really good.
Oh yay! I need to bump it up the list!
Do you have a favorite kind of chocolate?
Well, for alooong time I’ve been addicted to Cadbury’s Rocky Road, but my awesome critique partner sent me a package of goodies a couple weeks ago. She put a couple bars of Lindt in there. Caramel and sea salt, and Raspberry Intense. Oooh boy, it’s dangerous stuff.
What actors would you pick to play your leading man and lady?
That is a tough one! Trying to match what’s in my head with real live people is super hard. What I tend to do have instead is make a Pinterest board where I put inspiration
https://www.pinterest.com/SherileeGray/axle-alley-vipers/
Who is your favorite Muppet and why?
Miss Piggy all the way. She kicks ass!
Is this your favorite book cover?
I’ve been really lucky with my covers. I love them all. All three for this series are up on Amazon and Goodreads. I think they compliment each other really well. I definitely think Crashed is super hot!
alphas
night out
suit
Hehe those three combined, sound like another great night out to me!
Suit and tie or jeans and muscle a hugging tee?
Usually - Jeans muscle-hugging tee, but I can except some exceptions.
Staying at home with your man for a cozy home cooked meal or a romantic night out?
Both - it make things more interesting
Do you prefer alpha or Beta heroes?
Both have their unique qualities.
Great answers! Alpha and Beta heroes definitely have unique qualities. Why limit ourselves! There’s plenty of room for them both
My question: Do you ever experience writer’s block?
I’ve never suffered from writers block thank goodness! I do get stuck from time to time, though. When that happens I have to sit down and do some plotting. It works every time for me.
Suit and tie
Staying at home with your man for a cozy home cooked meal
Alpha
Nice, Lisa! We’re getting a lot of votes for Alpha! I like it
Would you please share 3 unique things about yourself with us? thanks
Hmm, I don’t know how unique these are lol!
1. I didn’t become a romance reading addict until I had my first child. He’s nearly thirteen!
2. The toes on my right foot can move in kind of a crazy way. I used to love freaking my friends out with them (yeah, I was that kid).
3. I live in the country. I look out my windows and there’s lovely green paddocks between me and our neighbors. Which I love, being a bit of a hermit!
1 beta
2 cozy home cooked meal
3 jeans and tee
Excellent choices, Jo Anne!
Do you envision a correlation between strong women characters and being tomboys in their youth?
Great question, Linda! I think what makes a strong female character, are the life lessons thrown at her along the way, and the impact they’ve had on her. Tomboy or not.
Is there a genre you have not written in yet that you would like to?
Hmm I think writing two different genres is enough for me! Buuut never say never. I have a character from REVVED, the second book of this series, screaming out for his book. He is a younger character, so more like a New Adult story. Not sure if I’ll do anything about it though!
You said you asked your dad questions about cars and stuff. How much of the stuff you asked about then influenced your heroine?
Unfortunately, I retained none of his wisdom lol. My husband actually used to restore classic cars and we have a classic car. I even gave the hero in book two the exact same car!
I’m not a girly girl. I find it easier to write heroines that are a little rough around the edges. The car stuff came from grilling my DH!
answers to your questions.
lol seriously though, I think a suit and tie can be just as sexy as jeans and tee.
1. Alpha- though I know we’ll but heads, I’d rather a guy that takes charge and does the big strong protective thing
2. either is good but if we are staying home, the kids need to go somewhere else!
3. No preference, I’m more concerned with what’s in the clothes!
An alpha girl through and through! Nice! I love reading books with heroes like that! Haha I’m so with you there. It’s only relaxing if the kiddos are away for the night. Heh, what’s underneath is extremely important
Do you have a bucket list for your writing? If so, what is it on it?
Hey Debra! I probably should have something like that! At this point my main goal is to try and not suck too bad, and write the best books I can!
From any of your books, what has been one of your favorite scenes, or types of scenes, to write?
The hot scenes are always a favorite, but it’s the fun, silly, humorous scenes that I really enjoy writing. I had fun with the Alex and her friends in this series
To answer your giveaway questions:
Alpha hero
Cozy night in
Jeans and a muscle-hugging tee!
Another woman after my own heart!
What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever heard?
I think the worst piece of writing advise anyone can get, is that they should stress too much over writing advise. There’s some crazy stuff out there that “experts” say you MUST do. I think if I took on board all the information I’ve read, I’d be rocking in a corner. Yes, hone your craft and seek out information, but don’t get to twisted in knots about it either. Some will work for you and some won’t. Do what works!
ADVICE!!! LOL. Too not to. I’m a writer really I am. O_O
I go for betas…alphas always seem to protest too much!
I’d probably go for the romantic night in, unless it was some event that was meaningful to us both…
Hmm…depends on the occasion. Maybe hockey gear?
Thanks Trix! LOL those alphas are definitely opinionated! Oh I like the Hockey gear option!
What is your favourite season? We are in winter at the moment and getting some lovely frosty mornngs with crisp clear days. Much prefer those kind of days to hot summer ones.
Yes! NZ has been extremely cold. With some very heavy frosts and snow where I am! I’m not a fan of the heat, or exposing my lily white skin! I’m more an autumn/spring kind of gal.
Hi Sherilee!
How much car/mechanic type research did you have to do for this book/series?
I like an alpha…and if he wears a suit well, forget it! As for the night- depends entirely on my mood. I am very comfortable doing both. Sometimes a gal likes to be wined and dined and sometimes a home cooked meal while we watch Netflix in sweat pants is what the dr. ordered. Although, in my house I am the one doing the cooking.
Hi Kristin! Research wise, I was very lucky. My husband has worked on classic cars, restoring them, and owns one as well. He can also fix pretty much anything with an engine! So I could pick his brain to my hearts content.
I’m with you, suits are so hot, especially if the body underneath fills it just right. With your Alpha in a suit, you definitely need to be taken out
hi Sherilee,
have you had any strange requests from fans for your stories?
either is good
cozy home cooked meal if he i cookin
jeans & tee for me
No! But now I want a strange request! I feel totally left out.
Oh yes, he’s the one cooking, in those snug, worn jeans
Are there other genres you would be interested in writing?
I started writing paranormal before Contemporary. I love both, and am pretty busy with my contemporary projects at the moment, but I do have a New Adult character from one of my other books that would like his story told. Maybe one day
What is your favorite movie that was based from a book?
There are so many to choose from! I love watching the Harry Potter movies with my kids. We adore them!
who is your favorite author?
Oh I have so many! Right now for contemporary I LOVE Kylie Scott
Her Stage Dive series is awesome!
Congratulations on the release of Crashed! We just watched the Harry Potter movies again. Which is your favorite?
Alpha
Staying at home
Jeans and muscle shirt
Thanks Zonell! I think it would have to be Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I love them all, but they get darker as they go on. Don’t get me wrong, I like dark. But I just love the feel of the first one. I love seeing Harry discover his new world
Oh and nice choices there! An alpha at home can only be a good thing, get him in the kitchen coking for you as well? Even better
Um, that should be cooking….
Have you ever felt like giving up or discouraged? What did you do?
Oh yes! Most definitely. This business is not easy. You have to have a thick skin. The first writing competition I entered, I was slayed. Two of the judges were quite nice, kindly pointing out where I needed to improve, but the third just cut me off at the knees. At first I was devastated, like why the hell am I doing this to myself? But I didn’t stop, I felt this massive serge of determination. I had a goal and I wasn’t going to give up. Despite negative feedback, and like all writers I’ve had my fair share. I have to write. I love to tell stories, so I have to get past it and keep going. There will always be someone who doesn’t like your book, and that’s completely fine, but there will be those who have gotten pleasure, or an escape from your work. And that’s what makes it all worthwhile!
I love your determination!
wheres your favorite place to write?
As long as it’s quiet I’m good to go. I usually write when my kiddos have left for school. I set myself up at the kitchen table and get down to business!
did you always want to be a writer?
Hey, Stacey! No, I was late to the game. I wanted to be an actress. An excellent job for a painfully shy, introvert lol. I sucked in school. I struggled a lot. I learn best by doing and have always been a creative person. I painted and sold my work for a lot of years. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t my passion. I was a flitterer lol. Going from one thing to the next. When I discovered romance novels after the birth of my son, and got totally hooked, I knew I wanted to give it a go myself. I haven’t looked back. But I had to go back and learn the basics from the ground up. My way. Barely a day goes by now when I don’t write, or do something writing related. I found my passion
If you could spend the day with any literary character, who would it be, and why? What would you ask them?
I’d love to spend a day with Mel from Kylie Scott’s Stage Dive series. I don’t really have a question for him, I’d just want to soak up the crazy. That man is hilarious.
Answers to Author’s Questions:
1. Do you prefer alpha or Beta heroes?
Definitely Alpha heroes
2. Staying at home with your man for a cozy home cooked meal or a romantic night out?
Staying at home, it has its advantages.
3. Suit and tie or jeans and a muscle hugging tee?
I think it depends on the situation, and the guy….so both.
Alphas are definitely the winners here! I like it
She filed,
I am an ALPHA gal because I love the FORBIDDEN! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE a great a$$ hugging battered jeans on a male & tee that exposes all had s tattoos. A night in with dindin because clothing is optional & you don’t need to worry about get arrested.
I like your way of thinking, Patty!
What are some of your favorite tv shows and books right now?
I don’t watch a huge amount of TV in the evenings. It’s my reading time! But I love Penny Dreadful. So bummed at the end of the series. At the moment I’m reading Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley and loving it.
I have penny Dreadful on hold at one of the libraries i work at and i just finished Ride Steady today and i loved it and now I’m reading Soaring by Kristen Ashley because so far she can do no wrong
I haven’t read Soaring yet! I just love her books
Penny Dreadful is awesome!
Answers to Questions:
1. Do you prefer alpha or Beta heroes?
Alpha heroes for sure
2. Staying at home with your man for a cozy home cooked meal or a romantic night out?
Staying at home is always my answer that way we can cuddle and do other stuff quicker lol
3. Suit and tie or jeans and a muscle hugging tee?
thats a hard one but i’d have to go with muscle hugging tee so i can see more of the smoking body
Being able to do “other stuff”
quicker should always be a consideration when making these kinds of decisions! 
Do you have a specific day or time where you sit down to write? Or is just as the ideas hit you?
I write best in the morning! So as soon as the mini monsters are off to school, I’m at my computer, butt on seat! I just have to try to ignore the lure of FB and Twitter…and…and… :p
Love alpha heroes and beta heroes are great as well…
Sometimes only a beta hero will do. It doesn’t happen often with me, but it does happen!
What genres of books do you write ?
Paranormal and contemporary romance
Name your top 3 favorite things (other than writing) to do and why
I have to start with the obvious!
1.Spending time with my family! My kids are used to their mum working a lot, and they’re great about it, but I make a point to carve out time for just us everyday
2. Reading! (of course)
3. Getting together with my fab CP. It doesn’t happen very often, so it’s exciting when we finally get to hang instead of talking via email, text and phone calls!
What is the title of the most expensive book that you own?
I don’t have any reaaally expensive books. I am a poor struggling author after all! But the most expensive one I brought recently was probably The King by JR Ward. $10 for the ebook
1) beta heroes
2) stay at home
3) Either actually. It’s what’s under the clothes that matters:)
Agreed! Anything can look good of the right body is underneath
IF you could have three folks to dinner living, dead, real, or imaginary who would they be and why?
!. either I like them all
2. in only if I don’t have to cook otherwise out.
3. jeans and tee definitely