Guest Author & A Giveaway: Shelli Stevens

So today, we have the super fun Shelli Stevens visiting with us! Ms. Shelli actually hit the NYT Extended list in March this year, which is totally awesome. She writes some fabulous stories, and I definitely think you should give them a try. I’ve even reviewed a few (when I was with TGTBTU…) – but anyway, today we’re playing a “getting to know you” thing. Well, more because Shelli wanted me to interview her. I tried to warn her, but you know how those crazy author types are. ๐Ÿ˜‰

1. What’s the first thing you learned how to cook? Well, hmm, not sure I remember the very first. But if we went back to Middle School Home-Ec (do they still have that?) it was probably those caramel pull aparts. With the biscuit dough. Anyone remember those? So good. So bad. [We called that monkey bread, if we’re talking about the same thing…]

2. What was your first job? your most interesting one? I was a hostess at a restaurant. And most of the waitresses were just mean and refused to tip me out. I wasn’t there long ๐Ÿ˜› My most interesting one was probably working as a Medical Assistant. I worked at a family practice and did everything from blood draws to taking X-rays. Loved befriending the patients and seeing the strength of the human spirit.

3. What’s your favorite tv show? And also your favorite guilty pleasure secret shame show. I’m talking Real Housewives, The Kardashians, Bridalplasty, Jersey Shore, etc. *shudders* I want real shame here. My favorite tv show is Modern Family (that or Happy Endings). I love to laugh. And I’m a huge news buff, but I don’t think that counts as a ‘show’. My secret shameful guilty pleasure show? Hmm…well, I do catch myself watching Power Rangers Samurai, even after my daughter has gone outside to play.ย  In fact when she sneaks on my Tweetdeck to tweet, she loves to tweet about how much I love the ‘Deker’ character on it (but seriously, he’s hot).

4. What would you name a pet rock? Sir Rocky Road. Or Betty. [I’ve got to know – why Betty? Because it’s random?]

5. 15 degree weather, or 105 degree weather? Why? It’s freezing in the Pacific Northwest. We break out the shorts if it hits 60. I used to love the cold, but the older I get, the colder I get. So give me heat all the way…and maybe a one-way ticket to Palm Springs.

6. How’d you come up with your author name? Or, if you write under your name – what made you choose to do so? Along the lines of the first one: have you ever forgotten your author name and not responded when someone called you? [Think about when you started out.] It was actually a nickname from college. And the domain was available to I took it ๐Ÿ˜› I’m just used to writers and readers calling me by my pen name, and ‘civilians’ (the non-writing/reading types) call me by my real name. Coming back from conference always takes a bit to readjust.

7. Celebrity/Author death match – who would you most want to take on? [you don’t have to say why ;)] Karen Erickson. I will take that wench down. Why? Because she has that Victoria’s Secret dress that I’ve always wanted and they no longer sell. Better put a lock on your closet, girly!

8. Do you prefer primary, secondary, or tertiary colors? You do realize I had to Google tertiary (maybe I shouldn’t admit that). So I went by a very pretty pie chart that broke the colors down, and then I envisioned them as handbags. My final answer is primary. I like’m bold.

9. What would you put in your ideal candy bar? Hmm. Maybe salted caramel, dark chocolate, nougat… and bacon (what…you need protein).

10. What three animals would you combine to make a super creature? A pegasus (come on, you know you believe in them). A cat. And a porcupine. Otherwise know as the Pegacatupine. It’s the ultimate warrior. It flies from danger. Is self-cleaning. And can have needle like projectiles when needed.

11. Who do you think is the hottest actor right now? What about hottest actor *ever*? Hottest actor right now would have to be Chris Hemsworth (Thor). He’s got the most beautiful eyes. And chest. In Star Trek he totally should’ve abandoned ship with the others. I’m just sayin’, I wanted him to stay around way longer than the opening scene. Hmm. Hottest actor ever. Now that is a hard one. I will say an actor who continues to make me swoon (by voice alone) is Matthew McConaughey. I loved him in A Time to Kill (powerful movie/book). Doesn’t he also do those beef commercials? I don’t eat beef, but when those commercials come on I just swoon a little and think, “Yeah, Matthew…maybe beef is what’s for dinner.”

12. What’s your favorite movie? Your favorite bad movie? What genre do you gravitate towards? Favorite movie ever is Love Actually. It makes me laugh and cry. It shows all sides of love, not just the happy ones. I watch it every Christmas Eve after the kid falls asleep. Favorite bad movie would have to be Robin Hood (the Kevin Costner one). I saw it in middle school (I think?) and fell in love with stories set in that time period.

Shelli is a New York Times Bestselling Author who read her first romance novel when she snatched it off her motherโ€™s bookshelf at the age of eleven. One taste and she was forever hooked. It wasnโ€™t until many years later that she decided to pursue writing stories of her own. By then she acknowledged the voices in her head didnโ€™t make her crazy, they made her a writer.

Shelli currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her daughter. She writes various genres of romance and is represented by literary agent Laura Bradford from the Bradford Literary Agency. Sheโ€™s a compulsive volunteer, and has been known to spontaneously burst into song.

Isn’t Shelli adorable? ๐Ÿ˜€ She’s also offering one ebook from her backlist – which is a great prize in and of itself. But ALSO? A $10.00 giftcard to Sephora! Sephora, you guys!!! Augh. I’m so jealous. I need to start telling other people to host these giveaways so I can win something… ๐Ÿ˜‰

Feel free to answer any or all of the questions I asked Shelli… or ask her a crazy one of your own! I want to see what all of you can come up with! ๐Ÿ˜€

0 thoughts on “Guest Author & A Giveaway: Shelli Stevens

  1. wyndwhisper

    when you burst into song what do you sing? i tend to sing country western oldies or gospel, thanks for the great interview and the chance at such a wonderful giveaway.
    [email protected]

    Reply
  2. StacieDM

    Great questions and answers! My question for Shelli would be: What is the craziest food you have ever eaten? Mine would be fried rattlesnake. I’ve had calf fries too (don’t ask) and lots of other Southern “delicacies” that I can’t mention without gagging. Can you tell I grew up in the sticks? LOL

    I would love to win Take Me! I downloaded the sample to my Kindle and can’t wait to see how the couple gets together.

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      I’m THE pickiest eater. Hmmm so weirdest food I ever ate is hard, because I’m so grossed out by meat and stuff. I do love bacon maple bars. Some people think that’s weird! ๐Ÿ˜›

      Reply
  3. Danielle

    Robin Hood, the Kevin Costner version huh? I have to say that one is an interesting choice. ๐Ÿ˜‰ What about comedies? Do you have a favorite comedy and if so, what is it? Personally, mine is The Hangover…saw it with my brother and fell in love with it!

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      Okay since doing this interview I actually tried bacon chocolate, and I hated it! ๐Ÿ™ So sad. Cause I love bacon. And chocolate. You’d think they’d be good together.

      Reply
      1. Fedora

        Oh really?! Oh dear ๐Ÿ™ The death of a dream, Shelli, right there! ๐Ÿ™ I guess two great things aren’t always better together?

        Reply
  4. pommawolfjohnson

    Thank you for the contest *S*
    I haven’t one but ya gotta keep trying right?
    Okay..I grew up in the northwest, eastern Washington,
    But what part of the northwest do you enjoy that is
    different from New York?

    Thank you Shelli & Limecello!

    Darcy

    pommawolf @ hotmail.com

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      Hey! We’re WA neighbors! I’m Seattle area. I don’t live in NY and really have only been there a couple times. I love the ocean and puget sound. I’m a Pisces cusp so I think that’s the draw for me.

      Reply
      1. pommawolfjohnson

        Cool. I’m in the interior of Alaska north of Fairbanks right now. We will move back to Washington probably next spring /summer but around the coast this time. H has his sister in Ellensberg. I love Alaska but miss my evergreens and pine trees too much, I was born in Seattle, but my whole life in Spokane until 1995 then Idaho, then Alaska in 2001.

        Reply
  5. Kim B

    My favorite actor right now is Bradley Cooper. Something about dark hair and blue eyes does it for me!

    My question for Shelli would be, do you have any books that you have stored away under lock and key that would mortify you if someone read it? You wrote it and was proud, but now you’re like, what was I thinking?

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      Ha! Too funny, Kim! A lot of what I write was erotic romance, but most of it pretty vanilla and barely being called that. Though my Aphrodisia books with Kensington, and some menage and more books are much spicier and I was experimenting with hotter. I don’t think I’ll go that hot again. I get especially embarrassed hearing how my Sis-in-law read Take Me aloud to my brother and his friends when they were drinking. *Head desk*

      Reply
      1. Kim B

        OMG! Your brother is in a whole different realm of embarassment. I would be crawling under the table if someone was reading one of those spicy books to any of my three brothers. Make me the author of said book, I don’t know what I would do! I’m embarassed to even imagine such an event. Now if they were drunk, I could always say they were mistaken, they must of been dreaming. LOL

        Reply
  6. Jacquie Rogers

    Shelli, I had to stop by to see what you’re up to these days. I love your Pegacatupine–are we going to see one in a book anytime soon?

    Congrats on making the NYT Extended List!!!

    Reply
  7. Kira Brady

    15 and 105 degrees both sound horrid, but i agree we could use a little more sun. I want to know what your favorite mountain is, and if you carry an umbrella (wimp or tourist?). Seattle’s Best, Tully’s, or Cafe Ladro? Molly Moon’s or Baskin Robbins?

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      Oooh I really like Mount Rainier. I haven’t been to a whole lot besides that one and St. Helens. Camped at Mt. Baker but didn’t explore it too much. I’ve camped/hiked Mt. Rainier (the hiking about knocked me on my butt!). Tully’s (I used to do Ladro and Uptown when I worked on lower Queen Anne!). Never tried Molly Moon’s! I’ll have to! And honestly…. I’m not much of an ice cream fan. I know. Weird.

      Reply
  8. Fedora

    LOL! Such a fun interview, Shelli and Lime! So… if you suddenly came into massive, MASSIVE wealth (let’s say that Warren Buffet passed and made you his sole heir–that’s over 50B…), what are the top few things you’d do?? And what are a couple of things that are way down the list, but you’d take care of anyway, since hey, what’s a few mil between friends? ๐Ÿ˜‰ (Hmm… do you think Karen could be persuaded to part with her VS dress? If not, you could probably just commission a new one, to be named after you!)

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      I would probably travel a bunch. Donate to charities. Buy lots of Kindles and hand them out! Invest/Save. Buy a house/new car. It’s the little stuff ya know. But i’d definitely give back. It’s not as fun spending alone!

      Reply
  9. Marianne Strnad

    Ooo! Shelli is your pen name-didn’t know that-guess that means I’m not a “civilian”-lol! Shelli, did you know that you can get Maple Bacon Bars – it’s a donut- at Frost in Mill Creek? Some people are crazy for them-not moi. My favorite movie is “Return To Me”, I can identify with it on SO many levels! Worst-“The Wedding Singer”. See you soon in NYC!

    Reply
  10. Dawn

    I loved the interview Shelli ๐Ÿ™‚ it’s always fun to see what people say. My question for you is … What is the craziest thing you’ve dressed up as? Since going to RT and dressing up I’ve really thought wow! how crazy could I really go.

    Reply
  11. Becky W

    Great interview! I enjoyed learning more about Shelli. Iโ€™m with Shelli, I prefer primary colors! Shelli, it would be interesting to see your super creature Pegacatupine in one of your stories.

    Reply
  12. Limecello Post author

    Personally, I’d like to see a sketch of this “Pegacatupine.” Also – bacon and chocolate!? Bleh. Granted, I really hate sweet and savory flavors. They just… no. I don’t care for that combination, regardless of whatever umami people want to claim.

    Reply
    1. Shelli Stevens

      Oooh I may draw a sketch in my free time. Yeah I’m not a sweet/savory person either. My syrup cannot touch my eggs! Ooh and I’d name the rock Betty so I could sing ‘Rock Betty’ instead of ‘Black Betty’.

      Reply
  13. Pingback: Shelli Stevens’s Winners! « Limecello

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