TITLE – Pushin’ Buttons
SERIES – The Boot Knockers Series
AUTHOR – Em Petrova
GENRE – western contemporary erotic romance
PUBLICATION DATE – June 10, 2014
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 56,000
PUBLISHER – Samhain Publishing

 
I’m so excited to have EM PETROVA on my blog today. 🙂 Squee! Okay. I’ll try and keep it together. She brought all kinds of great stuff on her latest release, PUSHIN’ BUTTONS and a GIVEAWAY TOO!

Welcome, Em! Here’s your first question: would you please tell us about your favorite place in the world?

In this place I wear mouse ears and no one judges, because they’re wearing mouse ears too! Yep—the happiest place on earth—Disneyworld!

Gosh, that is so true. Disney is the best. Tell us about yourself and why did you start writing?

I write hardworking heroes—in bed and out. I love to write about the common man, his problems and triumphs. It just so happens that my characters like to get pretty hot and steamy between the sheets, over hay bales, and especially in trucks. *grin*

I’ve been writing since I was 12. After my daughter passed away in 2000, I had 7 years of writer’s block. When I came out of the fog, I knew I wanted to pursue writing as a career.

I can’t imagine how painful that must have been and how your emotions have tumbled along the way. You’re a strong woman, Em.

How long have you been writing?

I began writing spinoffs of Sweet Valley High, featuring 2 cute blond twin BOYS, who incidentally every girl in my 7th grade class had a crush on! My friends would pass around the new installments of my series and beg for the next one. You can see how that would make a young writer high, right?

How fun! I remember reading those books. 🙂 When did you first consider yourself a writer?

As soon as I picked up a pen.

GREAT answer. Describe your writing space.

I share an office with a ton of dead animals. No, really. I am surrounded by taxidermy! Caribou, deer, red stags, antelope…

I claim one wall, which has all my covers plastered on it. My desk overlooks acres of countryside that run up to a state park. It’s a great set-up! One thing I’d love is a new chair. Mine is straight-backed and metal, but I’d love a plump leather chair that spins!

When you are not writing what are your favorite hobbies?

Sitting in the car for hours waiting for kids to get out of school/violin/guitar/dance/baseball/basketball/softball. Yes, that’s sarcasm you’re reading.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I started by soliciting agents. Eight-some rejections later, I pushed in a new direction. Publishing digitally is the best thing that has ever happened to me and to many, many others who are worth reading!

Can you tell us about a criticism you’ve received that pushed you into a better writing place?

In one of those early rejections, the agent told me he was very disappointed because my book’s premise was so good, yet my writing didn’t match the idea. That pushed me to get my craft up to par!

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your books?

How easy it is to eat meals at your desk. Or how many grilled cheese sandwiches your children can really stand for dinner. Wait, that wasn’t the information you wanted?

Lol, but so true. 🙂 How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Besides my books, I write under 2 pen names, Hallie Knight (lesbian romance) and Ellis Greer (gay romance). Over the three names, I have over 40 titles, but it’s hard to choose my favorite. http://empetrova.com http://hallieknight.com http://ellis-greer.com

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Write what you love and the rest will come.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

Great characters and the best goal, motivation and conflict you can come up with.

Which one of your characters would you most like to meet in real life?

I love all of my characters, but I have a real soft spot for a few. One of them is Griffin from SOMETHIN’ DIRTY. He’s a 40something cowboy raising his infant daughter alone while taking care of his ranch and his sick mother. *melts*

What are you reading now?

Badly-edited biker book. Great story, but this writer needs some support LOL.

What turns you on creatively?

Music, weather, art, laughter, new experiences

What is your greatest fear?

Driving off a bridge.

*Shivers* I’ve had similar nightmares. What is your greatest extravagance?

My cowgirl boots cost as much as the rest of my shoes all put together! But soooo worth it! The leather and studs were made for my feet!

What is your favorite music (genre/artist/album/song)?

I listen to all types of music, but lately I’m a huge Miranda Lambert fan. She has a no-bullshit vibe that inspires! I especially love Mama’s Broken Heart.

What is the one thing you do after finishing a story?

Drink heavily until I pass out. No, I don’t do that. Much. Okay, never. I usually just squeeeee with my friends, because my family just waves me away. Mom wrote another book? Yawn.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

These cowboys know how to make the most of an opportunity, no matter the place. *wink*

Tell us a bit about the projects you are working on now?

I have more books in the works for the Boot Knockers Ranch. Pushin’ Buttons is book 1 and Body Language releases in September 2014. I’m also working on a brand new biker series. Look for dirty-hot bikers with attitudes and tender hearts!

Thank you for having me and to all those who stopped by!

Thank you so much, Em! I had a blast chatting with you today. 😀

Sexual dysfunction. The words make Sibyll cringe, but after one too many failed relationships, she has to face reality. Her O-button is broken, big time. Sick of sitting on the sexual sidelines, she books a week at Boot Knockers Ranch. If a passel of rugged cowboys vying to bring her bliss can’t get her off, nothing will.

Hugh had planned to sit out this week’s rotation of sexual therapy, but when he spots sultry Sibyll, he pulls rank. His bone-deep urge to possess her isn’t enough to coax elusive orgasms out of her body, though. And his resolve to give the lady whatever she needs wavers when she shyly makes a mind-blowing request.

Riggs stepped aside when Hugh muscled in to claim Sibyll, but he jumps at the chance to fulfill her ultimate fantasy—a threesome. But once they come together, all barriers are stripped away, exposing his love for the one man—and woman—he’d break every last rule to make his own.

Sibyll followed her gaze to the door between stage entrance and hallway several feet away. His back was to her and the other dozen women, his shoulders taking up most of the door frame and his white T-shirt molded to a chiseled back. Sibyll outlined his back muscles with her gaze, cutting a path down to a backside hugged by worn denim.
The cowboy pivoted. His face was illuminated by the overhead lights as he talked to the perky Isabel, the ringleader of this insane audition process.
“He has a black eye!” someone whispered.
“From a bar fight? Please let it be from a bar fight!” a woman with a gorgeous head of red hair and thick glasses added.
The cowboy raised his head and stared at the women. Suddenly Sibyll’s muscles tensed to run. She didn’t want to be here, had made the wrong decision. So what if I can’t experience “physical and emotional sensation at the peak of sexual excitation” according to Dictionary.com?
Isabel swooped through the door and pointed at the curvaceous brunette to Sibyll’s right. “You’re next.” Then she returned to the doorway, where she leaned and talked to the cowboy with the black eye.
Dust motes swirled hectically in the lights streaming from the stage. Sibyll tried to follow one with her eyes. Anything to keep from looking directly at that cowboy’s handsome, rugged face.
He was huge—tall and broad and muscled in all the ways that made the knot in Sibyll’s core want to unravel. But it never did.
Maybe if he fights to win me, I could.
He glanced up again, and the group of women tittered. The leggy blonde was led offstage on the arm of a cowboy wearing all black except his shiny silver and turquoise belt buckle.
“Wow, he’s fine. Jenny’s lucky to get him,” the virgin whispered after they passed. They stopped at the door, and the production manager moved to the side so they could pass.
The black-eyed cowboy with the two-day-old dark stubble on his jaw shook hands with both cowboy and contestant.
“You—sexy secretary—you’re next.” The production manager jabbed a finger in Sibyll’s direction.
She looked around herself. A slight girl to her right wore a peasant dress and thong sandals, and the tall, toned girl to her left wore sporty shorts and a T-shirt with an energy drink logo.
“Wh—? Me?” Sibyll pointed to her chest.
“Yep, you.” The production manager whirled back to speak with the cowboy, but he’d strolled through the door and was making his molasses-sweet way across the stage.
He passed the first group of contestants, who froze like a herd of deer in the middle of Highway 495. He dipped his head and positioned a battered brown cowboy hat on it. “Howdy,” he drawled, lips curled in the perfect dose of Southern gentleman and cocky bad-boy.
Feminine sighs sounded in response. Sibyll’s heart thumped as he neared her small group standing nearest to the stage. The closer he got, the more his bulk seemed to take up all the space in the room. Or maybe that was testosterone.
He dropped a wink at the virgin and leaned in to speak to her. “The black eye was nothin’ as glamorous as a kick-ass bar fight. Took a hoof yesterday working with the horses.” He straightened and settled his gaze right on Sibyll.
She stopped breathing as electricity passed between them.
That’s my imagination. I’m so keyed up.
The cowboy cleared his throat but didn’t say anything. Around them, women gawked. Hell, even Isabel the production manager stood with her mouth open, glancing between the huge cowboy and her clipboard.
“Hugh, you’re not filling in today, are you?” Isabel asked.
The man blinked, severing his hold on Sibyll. He shook his head. “Nah, I’m not competin’ today. I’m Master of Games as usual.” He pinned Sibyll again with his gaze. Something dark and exciting coiled low in her belly. What if this man did stand up for her?
I’d choose him in a heartbeat.

Em Petrova lives in backwoods Pennsylvania, where she raises four kids and a Labradoodle puppy named Daisy Hasselhoff and pays too damn much for utilities. She loves to write gritty characters with lots of heart and is well-known for scorching, panty-soaking erotic romance.

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