Blog Tour: The Submissive by Tara Sue Me Interview

Today we feature Tara Sue Me, the author one of Penguin's newest hot titles: The Submissive! The Submissive is the 1st in a trilogy. The Submissive series contains The Submissive (book 1), The Dominant (book 2) and The Training (book 3). 

About the Author: Tara Sue Me wrote her first novel at the age of twelve. It would be twenty years before she picked up her pen to write the second.

After completing several clean romances, she decided to try her hand at something spicier and started The Submissive. What began as a writing exercise quickly took on a life of its own. An avid reader of all types of fiction, she soon discovered she enjoyed writing a variety as well.

Tara lives in the Southeastern United States with her family, two dogs, and a cat.

Follow Tara Sue Me via: Web • Goodreads • Facebook • Twitter

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Once Upon a Twilight Interview with Tara Sue Me

OUaT: Welcome! We are thrilled to have you featured today. Can you start of by telling everyone a little bit about yourself?

Thanks for having me! I’m a quiet, small town Southern girl who works in the pharmaceutical industry during the day and writes romances at night. I’m married with two high-energy children, two higher energy dogs, and a cat who ignores us all.

OUaT: As an old fanfic reader and follower, did you ever expect this to happen to you or your story?

Absolutely not. THE SUBMISSIVE was a way for me to see if I could write erotic romance. Even when I posted it as fanfic, I only expected to have ten or so readers. Everyone’s response to it blew me away.

OUaT: I’m sure you don't mind that it’s becoming a hot trend now to publish stories that began as Twilight fan fiction stories. What would you say or recommend to others that have written their own stories to do or try?

Find yourself a good editor who can be completely objective about your work. Be teachable and willing to take criticism and negativity. Realize you’ll never make everyone happy and it’s not the end of the world if someone doesn’t like your writing. I mean, I think my mom’s nuts because she doesn’t like chocolate, but I love her anyway. Lastly, find yourself a good agent.

OUaT: How easy or hard was it to get the story/book ready so that you could be published?

It took some time to get it ready. I changed the characters ages, killed off a few people, and moved the location. In the fanfic, I had Edward essentially give Bella a truck. During the rewrites, I realized Nathaniel would never do that, so there were quite a few things I had to redo to make that work.

OUaT: Did you have to delete or edit any of your favorite scenes?

The poetry quoting in Chapter Eighteen was always one of my favorite scenes. When my editor suggested changing it, at first I thought, “YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE POETRY QUOTING!” But I rewrote it as a game, just to see how it flowed, and I found I liked it better. I’ll repeat myself here and say, “Find a good editor.”

OUaT: Did you add any new material to the published version?

Not in any huge way. I revised the conversation when Abby asked Nathaniel about his cousin. I also had Abby and Elaina initially bond over a conversation about losing their moms.

OUaT: What next for Tara Sue Me? Do you have any new ideas or material you’re working on?

I’ll be editing THE DOMINANT and THE TRAINING next. I also have a new series I’m working on. It’s another BDSM trilogy, but this one follows three couples, with each couple getting their own book.

OUaT: If The Submissive were to become a movie, who would be your Nathaniel West?

I honestly haven’t thought about actors a lot, but off the top of my head, Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

OUaT: Tell us what was the first thing you did when you got the call/email that your story was being picked up by NAL?

I was actually driving home from an appointment when the email came through on my phone. I pulled into the first parking lot I could find (it was a Burger King) so I could read it, then I called my husband and asked if he was sitting down.

Fill in the blanks:

The Submissive: is just one side of the story.

If Nathaniel West was: visiting me this afternoon, he’d be upset at how I’ve let my yoga practice slide.

Something you don't know about me: I can tie a knot in a cherry stem in under five seconds with my tongue.

Whips and Chains: Everything is better with love

The last thing you would ever expect me to like (even though I secretly do) is: old Disney cartoon movies

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The Submissive
The Submissive Trilogy #1
Author: Tara Sue Me
Reading Level: Adult
Release Date: June 4th 2013 (paperback edition)
Publisher: NAL Trade
Available: Amazon • Barnes & Noble

Summary: (from goodreads) One word and she'll never see him again.

The city of New York knows Nathaniel West as CEO of a powerful corporation, but Abby knows he’s more. Nathaniel lives by a set of exacting rules. From the boardroom to his bedroom, he must be obeyed—and any woman wanting to be part of his life must submit to his will. When Abby finally meets Nathaniel and agrees to wear his collar, she has everything she’s ever wanted—or so she thinks.

Nathaniel drives her to new heights of pleasure and introduces her to a glamorous world of power and privilege she knows only through the social pages. Heeding Nathaniel’s commands is never hard—but before long Abby wants more. Her master’s rules don’t allow for negotiation—but the heart never plays by the rules and love is the most extreme fantasy of all.