#AuthorInterview - Aleah Barley

Hiya, WordWranglers! We're putting Aleah Barley (and her new romantic suspense Leaving Las Vegas) in the round corral today to answer a few pressing questions...

WordWranglers: Aleah, ready or not, here we come! Please tell us a little about yourself.

Aleah: Howdy, Wranglers! My name’s Aleah Barley, and I write funny (I hope) contemporary romance… during the night. By day I work hard to save the world, using the power of my brain (I’m a researcher). I’ve got a hot boyfriend, a fluffy cat, and the smallest apartment in Detroit (the location is fantastic). I drink anything caffeinated, and my favorite food is… chocolate… cheese… raspberries… ice cream… seriously, I can’t choose.

WordWranglers: Talk about the book(s) you’ve written. What was the first seed of an idea you had for your book? How did it develop?

Aleah: Leaving Las Vegas is a rip-roaring romantic suspense about Luke—a sexy Las Vegas billionaire—Glory—a West Virginia wild child on a mission to save her hometown—an underground poker game, and a couple of car chases. There are a few shoot outs, some explosions, and one red hot, wild time.

WordWranglers: Was there a scene that was more difficult than others? One that you pondered whether or not to include it?

Aleah: Running from bad guys, Luke and Glory drive from Las Vegas to West Virginia in a luxury sports car. It’s super hot, but it doesn’t give them a lot of rolling around room. The first time they—ahem—do you know—ahem—the dirty, they’ve stopped to hide out at a local lover’s lane. There’s a gorgeous river. They go skinny dipping. It—well, it’s pretty freaking hot, but it was super hard to write. I mean, everybody says to write what you know, but have you ever had red hot monkey sex under a waterfall? (I’m adding that to my bucket list.)(I’m starting a bucket list.)

WordWranglers: What do you keep in mind as you write? An overarching question? A theme? The last line of the book?

Aleah: For me, a romance is about a man, a woman, and explosions. I want things to be exciting, so I’m always looking for the next wild twist. I also like to keep a few simple themes in mind.

WordWranglers: What are you currently working on?

Aleah: I’m working on something that some people might call crazy, but I’m going to stick with innovative. It’s about a sexy small town police chief and the spunky circus ringmaster he can’t get out of his mind, or his town. That’s right. I said circus. Complete with big-top, clowns, and an elephant who gets dropped off in the middle of the night.

Kristina: How do you balance writing, marketing, promoting, bookkeeping, family and work?

Aleah: Something’s got to give, and I’ve chosen sleep. I get a couple of hours, occasionally, but mostly I’m a lean, mean, coffee drinking machine always ready, willing, and able to do whatever it takes.
Of course, that doesn’t always work. If anyone has any time management tips then I’d be happy to see them in the comments section.

It’s been fun talking to you, and I hope you decide to check out Leaving Las Vegas today!

WordWranglers: Okay, readers, read on for your peek at Aleah's book:

All About Leaving Las Vegas: 

When West Virginia wild-child Glory Allen gets caught in the middle of a kidnapping attempt, she has to decide if rescuing the sexy Luke Tanner is worth risking her life. Especially after the high and mighty casino magnate just accused her of cheating in his casino.

Her decision to help, causes Luke to step into her hometown to develop a community that doesn’t need improvement—a community Glory’s gambling earnings were meant to save—and Glory can’t help but question her judgment, because the chemistry between them is about to explode, and it has nothing to do with the Vegas thugs hot on their trail.

Now Glory is stuck helping Luke figure out who set him up and what to do about their own burning attraction…before Glory’s hometown, and her life, are lost for good.

Read an Excerpt:

     She flushed and shifted into fourth. She’d never fantasized about a man with green eyes before. Her ex-fiancé’s eyes had been pale blue, the color like well-worn jeans on a clothesline. The only man she could think of with green eyes was sitting right next to her.
     But it wasn’t just the eyes. The fantasy man currently in her mind had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and an expensive jacket.
      Luke had strong lips, capable hands, and emerald eyes. He was a damn good-looking man, and his suit had to be custom. It made him look like one of the models printed in the magazines at Daisy’s Clip and Curl. But that was no reason for her body to mistake adrenaline for lust. What did she know about the man, anyway? He was rich, gorgeous, and sharp enough to see through her poker tactics. If he could fix her plumbing, survive her sisters, and make her laugh, then he’d be perfect.
     No one was perfect.
     Besides, Luke had a great big stick up his butt. He wouldn’t be caught dead in Beaux. Not for a visit. Not forever.
     “I think they’re gone,” Luke commented.
      He adjusted his position, and his hand brushed against her leg. She tingled in a rush of sexual heat. He might have a stick up his rear, but it was a mighty fine rear.

     “Pull over and stop the car,” he said. “It’s time we got you a different ride.”

Buy Leaving Las Vegas Amazon | Barnes & Noble

All About Aleah: 

Aleah Barley is an author of funny (she hopes) contemporary romances. After recently moving to Detroit, she discovered that the rumors are true: it is a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of abandoned buildings, zombies, and hipster coffee shops that don’t open before nine in the morning. It’s also a great place to live.

Really.

Promise.

She spends her days working hard to make the world a better place and her nights writing about kick-ass women who live life to the fullest and the men who love them.

She’ll do anything for a box of chocolates. Or ice cream. Seriously. Try her.

Find Aleah online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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