Friday Guest: Zoe Archer (and a contest too)
Apr
22
2011

If you haven’t read Zoe Archer’s books you totally need to remedy that! Her Blades of the Rose series is one of my favorites and now, lucky folks, she’s taken a foray into SFR with Collision Course. She’s also really good at karaoke and happens to be a pretty fabulous person as well. You could hate her if she wasn’t so awesome ;).

Writing COLLISION COURSE, my first sci-fi romance, was ten kinds of fun. I’ve been published in other romance subgenres before, and tried my hand at writing everything from contemporary to historical to paranormal. Some subgenres were more challenging than others, but working in sci-fi space opera was a total blast.

At last, I finally had the opportunity to write laser battles and adrenalin-fueled space ship action scenes. I could make up worlds and words, new rules and new technology. And not only could I write a very sexy sci-fi hero, I could finally write a kick-ass sci-fi heroine.

Oh, and one of my favorite parts? Writing very hot sci-fi love scenes. It’s one of the best aspects of being a romance author: creating incredibly sexy characters and getting them to do very naughty things to each other. Sure, I have the heroes and heroines of my other romances in hot love scenes. Yet something about the hyperbolic world inhabited by smuggler Mara Skiren and Commander Kell Frayne of the 8th Wing meant that what happens between the metaphorical sheets (they seldom make it to an actual bed), could be even more wild.

From the moment Kell and Mara set eyes on each other, the sexual chemistry is off the charts, even if they’re operating on opposite sides of the law. They are forced to work together on a rescue mission, which means spending a lot of time together in some very close quarters.

She slid out of her seat and ducked into the galley. She didn’t want to think about Frayne defending her, or his reasons for doing so.

“Heading back,” she said. “You may as well get some rest too.”

He turned and stared at her. “This ship has only one sleeping quarters.”

She felt a thick pulse of heat through her body at the unspoken words. One sleeping quarters. One bed. A bed they both knew could accommodate two, even if one of its occupants was Frayne’s size. And wouldn’t she love climbing over that big, hard body of his, exploring and learning its potential and promise. She’d seen his reaction to her back at the 8th Wing base. They could do some wicked things to each other.

The cosmos knew she’d taken men to bed on shorter acquaintance. But the circumstances had been very different. She’d been able to say goodbye, or, in some situations, kick them out in the morning. Not an option with the commander. Their mission together had barely begun. Sure, she could enjoy his body for the next few hours, but what about afterward? She didn’t know what would be worse: if he dismissed her, or if he wanted something more. She had no desire for anything lasting, anyone that wanted true intimacy.

And he was 8th Wing. The other side of the law.

Complicated. Too complicated. She wanted simplicity. That’s what her life had been about, ever since leaving Argenti.

She broke away from his gaze. “I keep a hovermattress, in case of emergencies.” From one of the bulkheads, she pulled out the compacted mattress, then tossed it toward him. “It should fit in the galley.”

He caught the foil-wrapped mattress, his expression of disappointment disappearing almost as soon as it appeared. “This’ll work. The conditions are better than camping in the marshes of Jenufa Ten.”

“You’ve done that?”

He nodded.

“Doesn’t Jenufa Ten have blood-drinker moths the size of cats?”

“The size of dogs, actually. Big dogs.”

Mara shuddered. “I run a cleansing protocol every half a quarter, so there shouldn’t be any blood-drinker moths. Maybe a dirtroach or two.” She grinned.

He smiled back. “I’ll keep my plasma pistol handy.”

Well, hell, if he was going to be charming, he wasn’t going to make this mission any easier. She hit the light controls, engaging the sleep protocol. The lights dimmed. She started to edge toward her quarters, feeling strangely awkward. “Not used to guests. Is there, uh, anything else you need? Some sleep clothes?”

“When I’m on duty, I sleep with my pants and boots on. Off duty, I usually sleep naked.”

Images filled her mind. His bare flesh, the clean, solid form of his body. The tight sleeveless shirt he wore proved how fit he was, and without the shirt, she would see the planes of his chest and ridges of his abdomen, the muscles trailing lower. She wondered if his chest was smooth or haired, and what both textures would feel like against her skin.

“I sleep naked too,” she whispered.

His breath came in a sharp rasp, his eyes blazed with dark fire. In his tight grip, the packaging around the mattress tore. The noise was the sound of control being slowly torn apart.

“If you want to sleep alone, go now.”

See what I mean? And they’re still clothed at this point. It only gets hotter after this.

So, tell me, out of all of Lauren Dane’s impossibly hot books, what is your favorite love scene? I’ll pick an answer at random, and the winner will receive a book from my print backlist (US and Canada only).

If you want to learn more about COLLISION COURSE, including links to buy, you can find it here . You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook

16 comments to “Friday Guest: Zoe Archer (and a contest too)”

  1. Denise A. Agnew
    April 22nd, 2011 at 7:07 am · Link

    Zoe, you already know I love your work. Haven’t gotten a chance to read your Sci Fi romance yet, but very much looking forward to it. Many happy sales to you. ๐Ÿ™‚



  2. Stacie
    April 22nd, 2011 at 7:10 am · Link

    Hello Zoe! Loved that excerpt, OMG.

    I think my favorite love scene is from Relentless, when Abbie and Roman know they can’t be together and they only have one more night with each other. They both know that he will have to arrange a politically acceptable marriage. It is a bittersweet moment.



  3. Ivelisse
    April 22nd, 2011 at 7:20 am · Link

    Just pushed that button on the buy link cause I love your work lol ๐Ÿ˜€
    It was great meeting you at RT too, you are all types of wonderful.



  4. Regina Ross
    April 22nd, 2011 at 7:34 am · Link

    just bought your book for my nook this morning so far i really like it ๐Ÿ™‚



  5. Artemis
    April 22nd, 2011 at 8:56 am · Link

    I admit all of Zoe’s work is on my Wish List. The budget only goes so far and then, kaput. ๐Ÿ˜ฅ

    But, I do want to find out and soon, all about those love scenes!



  6. Zoe Archer
    April 22nd, 2011 at 9:15 am · Link

    Denise: CC is a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy it!

    Stacie: Wasn’t that scene in Relentless hot? And emotionally wrenching, too. Lauren wins!

    Ivelisse: Great meeting you at RT, too! You’re one saucy dame! Thanks for buying CC.

    Regina: Yay! Have fun!

    Artemis: So many books, so little money! It’s the reader’s lament. I totally feel you on that. And the CC love scenes are pretty hot, if I do say so, myself. ๐Ÿ˜‰



  7. CrystalGB
    April 22nd, 2011 at 1:28 pm · Link

    Hi Zoe. Your book sounds good. I like the cover.



  8. Darcy
    April 22nd, 2011 at 3:22 pm · Link

    I have reread several times the sample that I downloaded on “Laid Bare” since it was released. I love the scene in the beginning, and I never got to finish.
    I followyou on Twitter, and enjoy your post.
    Thank you fo rthe chance to win!

    Darcy
    pommawolf @hotmail.com



  9. missmarisol
    April 22nd, 2011 at 5:09 pm · Link

    There are so many great love scenes but if I had to pick just one it would be the first time Ella & Cope get together in Inside Out. Her facing her insecurities with her mental & physical scars & Cope helping her deal with them. Swoon!

    Never read anything by Zoe Archer but the authors Lauren has recommended in the past have been amazing!



  10. Chelsea B.
    April 22nd, 2011 at 6:27 pm · Link

    Hi, Zoe! Thanks for sharing ( especially that excerpt ๐Ÿ˜‰ ) I look forward to reading your new book!
    I am new to Lauren’s books so I can’t yet say ๐Ÿ™‚



  11. Jen B.
    April 22nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm · Link

    EASY! My favorite is the first time Erin, Todd and Ben are together in Laid Bare. The emotion. The sex. And Todd embracing his inner freak. I have to stop thinking about it now.



  12. Diane Sadler
    April 22nd, 2011 at 7:22 pm · Link

    Wolf Unbound:
    รขโ‚ฌล“I know you like the rope. I saw your face last night, heard your gasp. Did it make you wet? Imagining it against your skin?รขโ‚ฌย ๐Ÿ™‚



  13. Virginia C
    April 28th, 2011 at 5:47 pm · Link

    Hi, Zoe! “Collision Course” looks and sounds fabulous! I love the fact that you are having fun–that means more fun for your readers!

    My favorite Lauren Dane love scene is the cover for “Never Enough”! That cover has conjured all kinds of love scenes in my romantic imagination…and the hero is a Rock Star! The story line for “Never Enough” packs as much punch as that hubba hunka man on the cover!

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com



  14. Robin K
    April 29th, 2011 at 11:33 am · Link

    I feel so bad for not have ready any books of Lauren’s yet. Though from reading these comments I know I am missing out! Love the Inside Out cover.



  15. Kris M.
    May 1st, 2011 at 7:34 pm · Link

    That looks great!, i love hot sci-fi romance ๐Ÿ™‚ It is really hard to pick my fav Lauren Dane book, they are all awesome. I guess I would go with either Undercover or Laid Bare (love menage relationships ๐Ÿ™‚



  16. Darcy
    May 1st, 2011 at 7:53 pm · Link

    I still love Laid Bare,when they first come together….definitely pun intended….*S*
    And it will be my favorite until I can either finish the book when I get it, or until I read another of your titles, in there is no doubt that I will…*S*
    Cause I really want to know what happens….
    Thank you!

    Darcy