Author Interview & Giveaway: Joanna Wylde Discusses Reaper’s Property

by Letitia on Monday, January 21, 2013

Today we are beyond thrilled to have Joanna Wylde with us, author of the HOT new release Reaper’s Property—a super steamy romance featuring a bad boy biker dude. Named Horse. Because he’s hung like one.

*fans myself* Yes, he really is very deserving of that nickname. For more of my thoughts on all things Reaper’s, check out my review. Or you can read Paula’s. Or you can read the first chapter exclusive on Miz Wylde’s website!

Miz Wylde is also giving away one ebook copy of Reaper’s Property to one random (and lucky) reader!

I’ve got questions and she’s got answers! Let’s chat!

Hi, Joanna! We’re so happy to have you with us today at Romantic Book Affairs. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Joanna: Thanks so much for inviting me! First and foremost, I’m a voracious reader and I’m always on the hunt for that next great book. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about – a book that just takes over your life, until you’re willing to read all night even though your eyes are burning and you have to be up in three hours.

I like to hang out at romance blogs in search of my next fix -- just like your readers -- so it was very exciting to be invited here as a writer. It’s the ultimate compliment.

Reaper’s Property hit shelves January 9th. Tell us a little about it.

Joanna: Reaper’s Property is gritty romance set in the world of outlaw motorcycle clubs. It’s the story of how Horse – a member of the Reapers MC – falls in love with Marie, a working class woman who knows nothing about club life. From the moment he sees her, Horse knows she’s the one. But Marie isn’t so sure. She’s hot for Horse, no question, but living with Horse means living with the Reapers. In their world, women are property.

That’s not good enough for Marie, so she cuts him loose.

When the Reapers discover her brother has been stealing from the club, Horse sees his opportunity. He offers to spare her brother’s life if Marie goes with him and becomes his woman.

Reaper’s Property is an intense read, because it’s set in an intense culture that exists in the real world. These men don’t follow rules and they aren’t afraid to take what they want. In the end, Horse will have to realize he’ll never find real love with Marie if he can’t accept her as an equal.

Where did the inspiration for this story come from? Are you a big Sons of Anarchy fan?

Joanna: Definitely! I love Sons of Anarchy. I discovered SOA last summer, which led to a huge series binge on Netflix. I was mesmerized. I started reading books about motorcycle clubs, from Hunter S. Thompson’s classic work on the Hells Angels to The Biker Babe’s Bible, an amazing little book written by a life-long Old Lady named Throttle. That’s when I decided I had to try to write a book – it’s just such a rich world to explore.

So I started looking for real bikers, guys who could tell me what modern club life is like. A lot of public perception of life in an MC is based on information from the 60s and 70s. I wanted to talk to bikers who are out there right now. They’re hardcore, but they’re modern. They text, they talk online and they play video games – and despite their reputation, they were very gracious and helpful to me. (It helped that I took time to research MC etiquette before approaching people, and was careful to show proper respect for their boundaries.)

Bikers are just like any group of people you find. A lot of them love their wives and kids, most hold jobs and they definitely don’t fit neatly into the boxes created for them in popular culture. Some are criminals. Some just love to ride bikes and don’t like being told what to do. One size doesn’t fit all, and only a tiny percentage of people who ride bikes would qualify as members of outlaw clubs.

Why do you believe readers would enjoy a romantic book affair with Horse?

Joanna: Well, I think most of us are looking for the same thing in a romance – a fantasy of the ultimate hero, and the vicarious rush that comes from a passionate relationship as it explodes into life.

I’d love to declare proudly that my book nails the fantasy, but only the readers can decide whether I’ve pulled it off, LOL. A lot of people have liked it, but there are a few who haven’t been shy about expressing their displeasure ;) That doesn’t bother me -- I’m just thrilled anyone’s read it at all!

What I can tell your readers that I wrote Horse to fulfill that fantasy for myself. He’s alpha, he’s tough and he can be a real asshole. But he also loves Marie and would do anything for her. He’s not afraid to put himself on the line and he says what he thinks, even if it’s politically incorrect or it gets him in trouble. He’s not rich, but everything he has is Marie’s for the taking.

Writing him was exciting and cathartic and fun. I didn’t hold anything back and I kept a sense of humor about it. My favorite reviews so far are the ones that seem to appreciate that even a gritty, dark romance doesn’t have to be a hundred percent serious.

Can you share with us the thought process behind his name? It’s a pretty perfect name for a sexy biker.

Joanna: I’d love to share the incredible, detailed artistic and spiritual journey that led to the naming of Horse, but there isn’t one. I knew bikers had road names and I looked at hundreds of them during the course of my research. They range from the terrifying to the funny to the whimsical, and often the biggest, toughest guys have the silliest names. Bikers pick them up along the way – some say they serve a valuable purpose, because when you use a nickname, it confuses law enforcement – and there are often really cool stories behind them. I tried to show a little of that in the book.

I couldn’t figure out what to call Horse, but my daughter has a little stuffed horse she likes to carry around the house and she left it lying next to my computer. I looked at it and decided to call him Horse until something better came to mind. By the time I hit the second chapter, I couldn’t imagine him as anything else.

An interesting side note – the one thing people have found difficult to take seriously in the book are the names given to some of the bikers (Picnic, Bam Bam, etc.). I guess people assume that every outlaw needs a name like “Ripper” to prop up his reputation. This makes me laugh, because most of the names in the book are real road names, or variations of real ones.

For example, several people have said that “Picnic” is a ridiculous name to give the president of an MC, no real badass would let people call him that. What they don’t realize is that I named the character after a real biker, but his real-life road name wasn’t “Picnic.”

It was “Picnic Table.”

I’d love to know the story behind THAT one!

If you could cast the movie version of Reaper’s Property, who would play Marie and Horse?

Joanna: Unfortunately, I’ll have to disappoint you on this one, because I haven’t seen any actor who perfectly fits them compared to the images I have in my head. Having said that, I wouldn’t be disappointed with Henry Cavill for Horse. As for Marie, if this mythical film project ever came to be and they got Henry Cavill, the only woman I’d want touching him would be ME, LOL. I mean, if I’m going to fantasize about a movie, why not go all the way with it? (I would also fantasize a hot, behind-the scenes affair between us… who says Marie can’t be an older, slightly dumpy soccer mom who likes to eat ice cream for breakfast? Henry Cavill’s into that, right?)

What songs were on your playlist while writing Reaper’s Property?

Joanna: I played a lot of Pandora while I wrote it, and then I took all the songs I bookmarked and created a “Reaper’s Property” play list out of them when I finished. Some of them fit the book perfectly. Others are sort of random. Either way, this is the “Reaper’s Property” playlist that’s loaded on my iPhone:

“Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet
“Awake My Soul” by Mumford and Sons
“Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
“On Day” by Matisyahu
“On and On and On” by Jack White
“The Promise” When In Rome
“Little Lion Man” Mumford and Sons
“Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye
“We Are Young” by Fun
“Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance
“Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (This is a favorite at biker funerals. Even some of the younger bikers I talked to refer to their dead as members of Freebird chapter)
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult

Please, please, please tell us you plan on writing more books featuring those sexy Reapers! What can we expect next?

Joanna: I started Painter and Em’s story this weekend, and have plenty more I’d love to write.

What is the most unusual resource you have ever used while writing?

Joanna: I really enjoyed talking to bikers who are currently members of real MCs. Topics have covered everything from women’s roles and what they’re called (“sweetbutts” are a real thing) to the meaning of 1%er patches and “wings” (don’t ask – EWWW!) to pictures of girls from their clubhouse. All the bikers I spoke with were very nice to me.

What are some of your favorite books or authors that you’ve read?

Joanna: Oh, that’s so hard to answer because I love so many romance writers. On top is Kristen Ashley, who is the undisputed queen of biker romances and the most unique romance writer I follow. Recently, I’ve really enjoyed “Painted Faces” by L.H. Cosway, “On the Island” by Tracey Garvis-Graves, “Flesh” by Kylie Scott, the Kathleen Turner books by Tiffany Snow, everything written by J.D. Nixon (the Heller and Little Town books), “Duff: The Designated Ugly Fat Friend” by Kody Keplinger, and “Sempre” by J. M. Darhower. I could list books forever! I’d also like to give a shout out to my fellow Elloras Cave author Cara Carnes, who’s always been there when I needed her.

Thanks again for taking the time to interview me and look over my book.

Joanna

Thank you so much for joining us today, Joanna! Who else thinks that’s completely badass she got to talk to actual MC members? I bet they had some stories to tell!

And, now, I will be (im)patiently awaiting the next Reaper’s installment! *wink*

Giveaway!

One randomly drawn reader will win a digital copy of Joanna Wylde’s Reaper’s Property! Open Internationally. Please follow the Rafflecopter widget directions and terms and conditions. Giveaway ends at 12:01am on 1/26/13.

Please leave us a comment telling us why you’d love to have a romantic book affair with Horse!

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LABELS: author interview, Erotica, giveaway, Joanna Wylde

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