Author Interview ~ Juniper Bell

Good morning, everyone. Today we have with us for our interview, Author Juniper Bell. Let’s all make her feel nice and welcome here at The Menagerie! :::snapping fingers::: Caban Boys, make sure you take care of her!

Welcome Juniper, our boys will take good care of you, and hopefully so will we. LOL Megan’s gonna get us started today, so take it away, girl!

Hello, Juniper. (Ooh that sounded all Hanibal-esque... hee hee). We’d love to get to know you. Where are you from?

First of all, thanks for inviting me to your couch! It sure is cozy here. I’ve lived in so many places, I’ve lost count, but right now I live in Alaska most of the time, and Hawaii some of the time (not nearly enough.) We’re headed back there shortly, and I’m counting the days. In Alaska, I live outside of a little town known as the “Halibut Capital of the World.”

Sounds very interesting, although I’m sure you didn’t think so at the time.

I love me some sand and surf, too. Not too sure how I feel about halibut, but someone’s gotta live there. Tell us your latest news?

I’m very excited about my newest books, Her Three Lords is coming soon from Ellora’s Cave and Training the Receptionist, which is coming out on March 2 from Samhain Publishing. It’s an erotic novella about one girl’s naughty dream job and her two extremely naughty bosses. It was a ton of fun to write. If it’s okay, I’ll share the blurb:

It’s her naughty dream job—if they’re satisfied with her performance…
Eager to escape her miserable existence in Low-Life, Long Island, street-wise Dana Arthur jumps at an entry-level position with the consulting firm Cowell & Dirk. As her training period begins, she quickly discovers she’s required to do more than take messages and order office supplies. Her job description contains some deliciously naughty duties that give receptionist a whole new meaning.
Simon has almost given up on finding the right woman who will please his clients as well as his demanding partner and mentor, Ethan Cowell. No one measures up—until Dana. Her inner fire and fearless nature are perfect for the job. No matter what wicked punishment he devises to chastise her for her on-the-job mistakes, she accepts with a relish that leaves him wondering which one of them is really in control.
The last thing he expects to discover is that she’s a perfect sexual soul mate he can’t bear to share. But share he must—it’s part of his business agreement. Unless he makes Ethan the deal of a lifetime…
Warning: This title contains explicit sex, bondage, ménage, ingenious use of office furniture, lingerie, and the occasional sex toy. Oh, and did I mention the package delivery guy?
Looks interesting!

Saucy and a tad raunchy in a good way. I love those kind of books. But I gotta know, How much of the book is realistic?

LOL! None! Well, the office job setting and the dead-end town where Dana lives are realistic, but the things that go on at the firm of Cowell & Dirk are not exactly professional! Hopefully readers will keep in mind that this book is not meant to be a manual for proper on-the job behavior.

LOL that could cause some issues if they took it as a manual. *snor*

Not a manual... sheesh. Take all the fun out of it. Hee hee. Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?


That question almost made me spill tea all over my keyboard! Um, no, the events depicted in “Training the Receptionist” are completely fictional and based only on the kind of daydreams that flit through your head when you’re totally bored at work. I’ve done my time in office job cubicles, and sometimes my imagination gets a workout. This book is the result.

You mean you never … misbehaved in an office?

A worked out imagination is either the best thing in the world, or totally dangerous. I like dangerous. The book had my attention. Do you see writing as a career?

I do see writing as a career, and I’ve been a professional writer in one form or another since I started working. (Well, after the chambermaid and grill cook stints.) Mostly I’ve worked in TV news promotion, writing teases for upcoming newscasts. (You know, “Tonight at 11, Lose weight while you sleep! Plus, another robbery spree stuns local dry cleaners.” That kind of thing.) I started writing erotic romance about three years ago, and I hope I can make a career out of it because it’s so fun and so satisfying and I love it so much. But no matter what, I’ll be writing.

Seems like you have a lot of practice.

Yup, so glad you came on over to the dark side with us. We have cookies! How long does it take you to write a book?

Some books go quickly, some take longer because I decide they need more rewriting. I’m a big rewriter. I’m not satisfied with a book until I’ve let it sit for a while, then gone over it a few more times. Sometimes I change entire plot lines that don’t seem to work. I seem to be getting faster the more books I write. I admire authors who are able to write a lot of books while keeping the quality high. Maybe someday I’ll be like that!

See, that’s why I’m a pantser. I, too, never finish editing. Then again, maybe you can take a discarded plot line and use it for another book? Oh, but I’m getting away from topic.What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Did you know that iridescent tattoo ink is hard to find and considered dangerous? I wanted a character to have an iridescent tattoo, but I had to change it. Maybe I’ll write a paranormal set in a future world where a non-toxic iridescent ink has been invented.

Hmmm... sounds all CSI to me, but I like it.

Me too, love that side of it. What animal do you think makes the best pet and why?

Besides a man? But seriously, I’m obsessed with yaks. We don’t have one but I want one. My sweetie thinks I’m insane. I know people here in Alaska who have yaks on their farms. Yaks like this climate. They’re playful and weird-looking and have curvy horns and shaggy coats. I think it would be the coolest thing ever to wake up in the morning and go play with my yak.

Some people might read that and think you’re referring to a wayward demon—curved horns and shaggy coat. Wait, that could be the next hero for a book!

Megan, lol, you crack me up. We are not here to mine ideas for our stories.

Yeah, yeah, back to the topic... When you looked in the mirror this morning, what was the first thing you thought?

I haven’t looked in the mirror yet today. I’m sure I look fine, but hm, maybe I should go check … AAAAAGGGHHH! Okay, I’m back. My first thought was maybe I should have done that earlier. How many people have seen me looking like this?

ROTFL, I think we all have to reaction at one time or another during the day!

Oh hon, you look fine to us. No one blames anyone else for wandering around in PJ’s. They’re comfy. Speaking of comfy, what is your favorite pizza?

I love pesto pizza. With black olives and feta cheese. No meat, no pineapples, no onions unless they’re caramelized, mushrooms are okay but not required, and please do NOT put a sun-dried tomato on my pizza. Those shriveled little things freak me out.

Ew... just the description sounds gross.

Yeah, no kidding, :::shudder::: But to each their own, yanno.

Blech, I’ll have nightmares thinking of shriveled things. On to less icky thoughts .Have you ever cried during a movie? If yes, which one and why?

I cry at almost every movie. I’m the type that cries during tampon commercials. The last movie I saw was Avatar, and yes, I cried. Several times. But when Home Tree went down … I could hardly watch for all the tears.

OMG, I am so glad that I wasn’t the only one sobbing when Home Tree goes down. I almost couldn’t see what happened next through the tears.

I’ll have to say. I haven’t seen that movie, but I can relate about the commercials. There are some that are total tear-inducers. Are you a morning person or a night person?

I used to be a night person, but I trained myself to become a morning person because when you’re working it’s the best way to get things done. So I used to get up at five every morning to write. Then I met my sweetie, who’s a total night person. So I’m having to retrain myself so we can actually spend time together. Turns out it’s not so hard to let go of years of getting up before you really want to. I’m liking the new schedule.

But you get to be with sweetie, so it’s all worth it. Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?

Pepsi all the way. Yes, I can taste the difference. Come on, blindfold me, I’ll prove it.

Never give us the option of using blindfolds... we’ll take you up on it. Hee hee.

Ah… yup, we will definitely pull Cabana Boys aside to… distract you while you’re testing. :-D If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?

Other than a yak? I feel guilty wishing for anything because I’m very lucky. There’s a little prayer I like that says, “May all living beings be happy and free.” I’ll go with that. Oh, and I hope your readers will check out “Training the Receptionist” on March 2, it’s hot and it’s fun! Just don’t read it at work. I also have a linked Free Read called “Thanking the Receptionist” available for download on my blog.

Thanks so much for having me, it was a blast!

Thanks for hanging out with us today. It’s been a blast being here. So glad you enjoyed it..

Juniper Bell lives with her sweetie in a cabin in Alaska with no running water and a spectacular view of glaciers. She wound up in the frozen north after leaving her career as a stressed-out Los Angeles TV writer. Luckily, her love for writing survived the move. She’s been writing erotic romance for three years. “Training the Receptionist” is her third book, her second with Samhain Publishing after “Doll.” Her first book, “The Extremist,” was published by Liquid Silver Books. Visit her website at http://JuniperBell.com, her blog at http://AuthorJuniperBell.blogspot.com, friend her on FaceBook or follow her on Twitter.

My Three Lords by Juniper Bell

How is one innocent country girl to choose between a Duke, a Marquis and an Earl?

Must she?

When Miss Alicia Silverwood marries the Earl of Dorchester, he whisks her off to Notre Plaisir, a country manor where erotic surprises await at the hands of three powerful lords and longtime friends.

The young Earl needs a wife and heir. The cynical Marquis de Beaumont needs a playmate. And the commanding Duke of Warrington needs a reason to live. As for the new Lady Dorchester, she’s just beginning to discover the true nature of her own sensual needs. To complicate matters, she’s falling in love.
It might take a miracle for Lady Alicia and her three lords to come to an arrangement that makes everyone happy. Or maybe all it requires is a little scandalous rule-breaking…