Warrior by Cheryl Brooks (An Interview)

The Cat Star Chronicles: Warrior

Tisana is a witch on the planet Utopia, but Utopia isn't a paradise for everyone. When her former lover brings Leo, a half-dead Zetithian slave, to Tisana for treatment, a sizzling romance ensues, culminating in a dangerous adventure. Will Tisana get to keep her lover and find a way to escape her own fate?

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Terra: How did you come to write about the world of SciFi Romance when so many other authors are doing historical, paranormal or suspense?

Cheryl: I have always loved science fiction, but it never had enough romance in it to suit me. Plus, as you said, so many other authors are doing the other genres, and I not only wanted to write something different, I wanted to read something different! I've had the idea to write this kind of book for a long, long time. I just finally got around to writing it, and I'm not alone!

Terra: Your hero's sense of honor and sexual drive seem to be his top priorities, was it hard to keep these two in balance so that he wouldn't damage one by craving the other?

Cheryl: It's funny, but I don't think about those things as I'm writing. I just envision characters and they pretty much behave the way they want to. Leo was honorable and sexy, but he was also a slave, and that life put pressures on him in ways that free people can only begin to imagine—but though the drive to escape is strong, his inherent honesty still shines through. Zetithians are very sexual men, and they will entice you mercilessly, but they won't take you if you don't want them, which is, perhaps the most honorable thing about the species as a whole.

Terra: I have to say your hero has the most mind blowing attributes that I've ever encountered, kudo's to you for creativity sweetie. If you came across a real man like this how would you react? Would you be as easy as Tisana or would you be more prudish?

Cheryl: That would depend on whether I was single or not! As I am happily married (29 years and counting!) I think I'd have to admire a guy like that from a distance. However, if I happened to be unattached and one of these guys took aim at me, I'd probably turn to mush in a heartbeat!

Terra: A man who has the ability to make you have back to back orgasms must be every woman's dream. Do you think the women of today could handle a man like this? What do you think the male population as a whole would do if there were such a man?

Cheryl: The one thing I have to think about when I'm writing this stuff is that the orgasms do continue—and sometimes, they can be a little distracting! I've had more than one of my heroines make a point of trying to ignore them so she could concentrate on the pleasure she was trying to give to her mate. For today's woman, I'd have to say it would depend on the woman! Some can't get enough—and a Zetithian would be just right for them—but others are less gung ho. I don't know about the men. Jealousy was the reason that Zetith was destroyed, but I'd like to think that it wouldn't be such a threat to men on Earth that they would feel the need to do that. One of the best things about Zetithians is that they aren't belligerent by nature. They are great lovers, but aren't cocky alpha males,which, for me, adds even more to their appeal.

Terra: Okay, you must be one heck of a dreamer and must have some really outrageous fantasies. If we could step into your mind for one day what do you think we would experience the most?

Cheryl: Right now? Stress! I'm writing like a fiend, trying to keep up with my nursing job, a family, and who knows what else! I do think a lot, though. My mind is going all the time. I've heard it said that men have a “nothing box” where they can retreat in their mind and think about nothing at all—and I wish I had one—but my brain will not shut down! I do have plenty of fantasies, though, the most notable one hitting me so hard and unexpectedly that I actually experienced the kind of gut-wrenching spontaneous orgasm I like to write about—and I was driving a truck at the time!

Terra: Has your husband read your books and is he intimidated by all of the fantasies that you write about?

Cheryl: Like most men, my husband is not a romance reader! He has not read Slave or Warrior, but he did read a book I self-published a few years ago. Right now, he mostly reads books written by the Dali Lama and keeps telling me I need to live in the now. I don't think he's intimidated, but, like I said, it's just not his cup of tea. However, he's heard me talk about them enough to probably figure he doesn't need to read them. His line is: “I don't have to read it. I've lived it!”

Terra: Your heroine is a witch, a healer, someone who can converse with animals and torches things with her temper, how does she keep herself from being discovered by the general population and why? How much of the situation with Tisana is similar to the low tolerance of witchcraft of the 1600's in our own world?

Cheryl: These witches are alien-human hybrids, and it is their alien ancestry that is the source of their powers. Unlike the witches on our world in the 1600's, Tisana's powers are real, which means she could fight back if necessary. However, these women live in harmony with their world, and keeping their powers secret isn't difficult as long as they have control, and Tisana definitely has control! I think anyone with powers must be able to practice that or they will become too powerful and be feared. With fear comes hatred, and since the witches are mortal, persecution is something they try to avoid. The tolerance of these witches is considerable because without conventional medical practitioners, they are needed for their abilities as healers—which is a learned, rather than innate, ability.

Terra: I know you have Rogue coming out in 2009, how similar is it to Slave and Warrior? In Rogue will the hero and heroine have a bit more conflict? And, no spoiler please but will either the hero or heroine have even more exotic attributes than Warrior? What I mean is I was having hot flashes with Slave, power surges with Warrior, am I going to really blow a fuse with Rogue? (evil grin)

Cheryl: Rogue features another love story between a human female and a Zetithian slave, but this time, the slave has been the pampered pet of a queen. There is conflict, but not too much between the hero and heroine. I prefer to have outside circumstances keep them apart, or threaten to split them up once they have fallen in love, rather than their own differences setting them at odds with each other. The lead characters in Rogue are no more exotic than they are in Slave or Warrior—the hero is Zetithian, and the heroine is a human piano teacher. But . . . . our hero has a brother . . . I think you'll probably blow a fuse!

Terra: What would you say is your most embarrassing moment since becoming an author? Ah come on, you know you want to spill! (wickedly evil laugh)

Cheryl: Not knowing what a blog or an ARC was! I've had to learn a whole new jargon since this all began—along with a ton of other stuff. Makes me feel really stupid sometimes!

Terra: If you found a genie in a lamp and he granted you three wishes but they would have to pertain to something out of your books, what do you think you would wish for?

Cheryl: If it was just for me, I'd want feet that didn't hurt, more time to relax (and maybe get to read all the new books by my Casablanca sisters!), and a body that didn't try to sabotage everything I try to get it to do.

If those wishes could benefit anyone, I'd wish for greater peace and understanding among all people, good health for all, and happiness everlasting.

Cheryl Brooks
http://www.cherylbrooksonline.com/
"The Cat Star Chronicles: Slave"
"The Cat Star Chronicles: Warrior"
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/
http://wickedlyromantic.blogspot.com/

Cheryl will pick one winner from all those comment today to receive a copy of "Warrior".

P.S. Make sure and leave an email addy or check back to see if you are a winner.