Ravin' One on One - with Danielle Ravencraft and story-stars, Ophelia and Trace

Hello everyone and welcome to a new room at Ravencraft’s Romance Realm. I’m delighted to play such a fun, interesting, and informative role as chief interviewer to these amazing authors, my RRR sisters :)

Ravin’ One on One will post the first Saturday of every month. You’ll learn more about the authors who reside here, their stories, and of course their fantabulous story-stars. With the authors of Ravencraft’s, you’ll get a taste of almost every romance sub-genre…after all, RRR specializes in anything Romance ;)

Which brings me to who’s here for the first maiden voyage—post…RRR’s most excellent leader, Danielle Ravencraft, contemporary, paranormal, and urban fantasy spicy hot romance author. She brought, Ophelia Martinez and Trace Curtis, story-stars of A Trace of Love (Book 1) and A Trace of Passion (Book 2), contemporary sensually hot romance Trace series.

Welcome Danielle, Trace, and Ophelia, it’s so wonderful having you all here in the same room :) I love your stories! Thank you for sharing it…all of you. I’m looking forward to the next part of it. *grins*

Okay, I know everyone is on a schedule (it's Saturday after all - isn't that play day), so let’s get on with the interview…

Danielle, my first question is for you…who of these two, Ophelia OR Trace, spoke to you the loudest to get their story written? Tell us about it.

Danielle:  Well, I wouldn’t say she was loud, but it was definitely Ophelia who high-jacked my subconscious and said, “Listen, I got this sad story to tell…” and once she told it, I couldn’t get it out of my head. It had to be written.

Thank you, Ophelia, for being persistent and insistent;) *smiles*

Ophelia, tell us what it’s like working with Danielle. Did you ever have a moment of doubt with her style or the way she worded something? Give us the grit and the good stuff ;)

Ophelia:  *Laughs* Oh, I didn’t doubt her at all. I knew she’d do the story justice. The only thing we argue about now is how to end the series.

Danielle:  I don’t want it to end. In fact, I ended up writing a free flash-fiction story with them for Halloween. I want to keep them around for more.

Ophelia:  Well, I’ve told you how that could be done.

Danielle: True, you did, but still. Writing “The End” just feels so final.

I don’t know…why does it have to end, Ophelia, Danielle? I’m sure Trace and Ophelia have a lot more experiences to share…I’d love to read more. *grins* Think about it.

How about you, Trace? Have you enjoyed working with Danielle…getting your own way with the wiz-bang author?

Trace:  I think Danielle and I certainly had fun…you know…she got to describe my abs in so many words. *Chuckles* No, I have to be serious about this…she really got Ophelia and I through a tough time. It’s a very emotional story for all three of us and Danielle delivered it well.

Wow, what a compliment, Trace…I think Danielle did a fabulous job, too. I’ve added my review to this chat to show how much I appreciate her Trace stories.

How about we break for a minute or two and grab a beverage from the well-stocked bar…coffee, tea…anything with an extra kick?

Help yourself…Danielle knows the barista. Thanks for popping in Charlene and handling the drink orders ;) Charlene A. Wilson, everyone :) *hugs Charlene*

*A few minutes later, everyone settles back into the soft over-sized circle of chairs, drinks set on the low table in the center*

Ophelia, tell us about the location – where does the majority of the story take place?

Ophelia:  Actually, it takes place in Chicago and was inspired by a certain bar Danielle used to frequent. *Laughs* Even though it’s our story, I sometimes think there is a little fantasy in it for Danielle. *Wink*

I’m sure you’re right in your assumption, OpheliaJ

Trace, when did you become a musician? How many are in your band, and what’s it called?

Trace:  Well, I’ve always been musically inclined, since I was a kid. I played in my school’s band at first. But, I dropped out of high school after my dad passed away. I had a hard time coping with it all. I used to be attached to my guitar, like I carried everywhere with me, but that first year after the funeral, I just didn’t have it in me to play.

When I did finally pick it up again, it was really angry depressing music. I got together with a few of my buddies and we just belted out frustrations over a case of beer until it turned into songs. There are five of us now and we call ourselves Molten Silk.

Sorry to hear about your dad, that had to have been hard. Thank goodness for Ophelia, right? *smiles* *turns to Ophelia*

Ophelia, what’s your job like? Is it something you enjoy?

Ophelia:  Oh goodness, my job is so boring compared to being a rock star! I’m an accountant. I work for a firm. Nothing fancy. What can I say? It pays the bills

.

Trace:  Now that she has me, she can live a more glamorous lifestyle.

Ophelia: *rolls her eyes* I’m happy with my life, thank you very much.

Yeah, I bet Ophelia can live more glamorously, but we all know and love Ophelia as a pretty down- to-earth kind of gal;)

Would you both give your own take on the first time the two of you met?

Ophelia: Well, technically we met in high school…I had a crush on him, but I guess I wasn’t good enough…

Trace:  I’ve explained and apologized for that a million times. *Mumbles* Women and their grudges.  *He leans forward to speak to Kay Dee* I had no idea she felt that way and I was a bit preoccupied by father’s passing.

Ophelia:  We ran into each other ten years later at one of his gigs.

Trace: Ran into? You plotted the whole thing, Love.

Ophelia: *Blushes* Then we ran into each other again one year later…

Trace: And this time, I’m not letting go.

*giggles* Thank goodness you stuck it out this last time…it sounds like you were meant to be together from the get-go;)

Danielle, I’ve heard you talk about Ophelia and Trace with respect and a deep love of their character…would you care to share anything here about them – maybe the way you understand them OR anything you can think of you’d want a reader to know about them.

Danielle:  Their story is kind of tragic and emotional, but also inspiring. I can’t say what makes it tragic because I would give the book away if I did. I had planned to have the third and final installment out already, but it’s been really hard to write it because I know exactly how it ends and well… I don’t want it to end! *LOL*

I’ve been told I have a flare for drama in my writing, but because the Trace series in a contemporary piece (no magic or paranormal creatures), it’s much more realistic to me. It’s erotic and HOT, like you’ve said, Kay Dee, and think all those layers of passion and heart break really touch the readers. It’s definitely one of my favorite works.

Thanks so much for having me and my characters in the spot light again. I always enjoy these. *Hugs*

Danielle, it’s always a pleasure chatting with you and it was a real treat to have Ophelia and Trace included in our chat todayJ This was exciting for me interviewing a Ravencraft’s sister.

Here’s more about Ophelia and Trace’s stories…

A Trace of Love Amazon

Trace of Love

Blurb:
Ophelia Martinez has a chance encounter with internationally famous rock-star, Trace Curtis. To Ophelia, Trace will always be the charming boy she met in high school. They share one night together in which Trace falls in love with Ophelia. But Ophelia knows she can't continue to live in the past, at least not with the secret that haunts her present.

A Trace of Passion Amazon

Trace of Passion

Blurb:

Ophelia's in for a birthday surprise that turns out to be a birthday nightmare as she's reunited with hunky rock star, Trace Curtis. The pain of her defiance runs deep and he won't leave Ophelia alone without an explanation. The more time they spend together, the more their passion grows. Ophelia knows in her heart she should tell Trace the truth, but will her secret drive him away?

About Danielle Ravencraft:

Danielle Ravencraft graduated from the International Academy of Design and Technology with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her two Pomeranians. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, her writing is influenced by the multicultural urban society of her youth which she continues to visit each summer. Danielle enjoys writing sensual erotic romance exclusively for a female audience. Danielle’s books are available in e-book formats from Muse It Hot Publishing Inc. and select e-book retailers. She loves to hear from readers. You can reach her via email to Danielle_Ravencraft@yahoo.com  or visit her website at http://RavencraftRomance.com

A Trace of Love by Danielle Ravencraft – Book Review

Genre: Contemporary Erotica Romance

Book Review by Kay Dee Royal

First Line: Ophelia sat in her favorite spot in the entire world; the little bar in the very back of The House of Blues.

Ophelia, a loner, writhing with low self-esteem, but a beauty in her own way, loves to hang out at The House of Blues.

Trace Curtis, born as Matthew Curtis and unbeknown to him is Ophelia’s forever heart-throb, plays lead in the Molten Silk band.

They discover each other in an evening of bliss – for Ophelia it’s a longtime crush consummated, for Trace it’s something he’d never known with another woman.

Ophelia knows there will be no relationship beyond that night, but Trace believes different. Ophelia wants to believe, but reality smites her away.

Is it possible, love at first sight? According to Ophelia not in the real world…or can it?

Miss Ravencraft pulls a longtime crush to the forefront, holding Ophelia and Trace to a one-night-stand and the realities that go along with a hunky traveling band member and a shy hometown girl.

Miss Ravencraft writes sensual and real, leading her reader into the thralls of Ophelia and Trace’s rocky relationship. She also binds the threads to her next book, A Trace of Passion.

This sexy, short story promises more to come, passion with a bite of reality. Good read! 

Trace of Passion by Danielle Ravencraft – Book Review

Genre: Contemporary Erotica Romance

Book Reviewer: Kay Dee Royal

First Line: Ophelia rushed into the first stall.

Ophelia Martinez, star of Trace of Love, returns in Trace of Passion. Eleven months, twenty-four days, six hours and eleven minutes later and still she holds tight to the reasons NOT to contact the love of her life.

Trace Curtis, blue-eyed, dark-haired wonder and lead singer of rock band Molten-Silk, died a little last time he sang at The House of Blues. Now he’s back and expecting answers from the woman who broke her promise and his heart.

What happens when their two worlds collide at a rock concert? There’s only so much a person can avoid, right?

Ms. Ravencraft’s Trace of Love hooked me to her story stars, but Trace of Passion locked me in a room with them. She’s created impressive strong emotional characters, each unique in their realism. I crave reading tight, clear prose that carries me away within a romance and Ms. Ravencraft delivers.

I’m looking forward to the next in her series ~ Trace of Hope…I’m not quite finished with Ophelia and Trace’s story. Highly recommended read.

Stop in every day to read what’s happening at Ravencraft’s Romance Realm – it’s always something to do with romance…it’s what we read, it’s what we write;)

Next up on Ravin’ One on One – Louisa Bacio – March 2, 2013