Tuesday 31 January 2012

Spotlight on Multicultural Romance Author, Empi Baryeh

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome offer my blog up to debut author, Empi Baryeh, to do as she pleases :-) That's because Empi's celebrating her upcoming release, Most Eligible Bachelor, through Evernight Publishing.

 
Over to you, Empi,

Hi Ea. Thanks for offering up your blog. I promise to be very nice :-). Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by to share in my excitement as I eagerly await the release of Most Eligible Bachelor, a contemporary romance set in Accra, Ghana.

I’m really excited about the release of this novel after getting countless rejections—called Rs in the by the literati. Most Eligible Bachelor is about a guy and a girl who meet on Valentine’s Day and fall in love. Since Valentine’s Day is all about love, it seemed like a great idea to write a story that starts on that day.

I began writing at around thirteen years of age after stumbling upon a Young Adult story her older sister had started and abandoned. The story fascinated me so much that, when I discovered it was unfinished, I knew the task of completing it rested firmly on my shoulders. Amazingly, once I decided to continue the story, the ideas and the words began to pour into her mind. I’ve been writing ever since. However, it wasn’t until another thirteen years later that the romantic in me geared me toward romance. While I also write mainstream stories, my current focus is on heart-warming romance set in Africa with African heroes and heroines. I write the kind of story I like to read – sweet and tender, but with enough passion to enthral readers who want a little sizzle with their romance. (Yes, I do have sex scenes in my stories, but I like to think they are tasteful - that means I won’t mind my fun aunt reading it. LOL). I live in Accra, Ghana, which provides the exotic setting for most of my novels.

If you hop over to my blog (http://empibaryeh.wordpress.com) on 3rd February (my book release day), you can find out how Most Eligible Bachelor came into being, and some challenges I’ve faced trying to break into the publishing world with this story!

I’m giving away a free copy of my book to one lucky commenter on this blog post. That’s right – leave a comment or question and you could win a free copy of my book. Winners will be announced on my blog on 19th February.

Now, without further ado, here’s a sneak peek at Most Eligible Bachelor.

  
Blurb
Magazine columnist Chantelle Sah doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day—not since her fiancĂ©’s betrayal three years ago—and after botching her first assignment as a feature writer, she’s more than willing to put in a hard day’s work this Valentine’s Day; even if it means going on a date with gorgeous construction Tycoon, Lord McKenzie, and opening herself to an onslaught of all things love.

When Lord—his given name, not a title—sets his sights on Chantelle, it isn’t just work he has on his mind. But even he couldn’t have predicted the magnetic attraction between them when they meet, nor the evening ending with more than an interview. Now he has to convince Chantelle that their one-night stand wasn’t a mistake. Can he win her love without revealing a secret from their night of passion, which could prove fatal for both their hearts?


Excerpt – The First Kiss

He seemed amused by her lack of a response as he took her hand and led her back to the dance floor. The music had turned slow.

She hesitated. Slow music meant being in his arms, their bodies touching. She shouldn’t do this. Yet for some ridiculous reason, she wantedneeded, eventhe closeness, to feel like a woman again. Just for a moment. Even if she was certifiably insane for wanting all this in the arms of Lord McKenzie.

He pulled her gently, bringing her body flush against his. A tremor rushed through her. His warm breath on her face sent tiny tingles running over her skin. Heat radiated to her from each part of his body touching hers, his powerful thighs, lean hips and firm abdomen, his hand, pressed firmly on the small of her back.

When was the last time she’d been this close to a man? Her breath quickened as raw need surged through her. Far too long. Not since Martin.

Tears stung her eyes as the familiar loneliness accompanying Valentine’s Day closed in. Old love songs always got to her. She turned away from his watchful gaze, focusing on other couples huddled close together on the dance floor. Yearning pierced her heart. She gave herself a mental shake. She couldn’t entertain such thoughts. Once she did, there would be no salvation.

As if sensing her distress, Lord pulled her closer, his hold tightening around her. Every thought flittered out of her mind as soon as their gazes locked, and she began to drown in the deep pools of his dark eyes.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Chantelle.”

Was it stupid that she liked the way her name sounded on his tongue? She opened her mouth to say somethingabout how Valentine’s Day had been commercialized to the point of triviality, an occasion for errant lovers to feel better about neglecting their significant others, a day to buy enough credit for another year, one day to make the unloved feel even less lovedanything to hide how hard it was to hear those words, but nothing came out.

His face hovered just inches away. Her heart stutter-stepped; her breath snagged. Without explanation, she wanted to know the taste of his lips. She wanted to erase it all from her mind, her pain, his reputation. She wanted to simply believe he really was just the most eligible bachelor in town, and he had her in his arms.

He smiled, really smiled, not the movie star grins he’d been flashing earlier. His gaze emitted pure heat wrapped around a hint of sadness. What in the world could make a man with his looks and popularity melancholic? Surely Lord McKenzie didn’t have the same kinds of problems as mere mortals.

His fingers feathered her cheek, sending another wave of tremors through her. When his hand reached her chin, he lifted her face. Her mind barely registered what was happening before the space between them vanished. His searing kiss was nothing she could have imagined. It scorched her, inside and out. A soft moan escaped her throat before she could stop it. She melted into him, curling her fingers around his nape.

When he pulled away, her breath came in fast, shallow bursts. In stunned reflex, her fingers came to her lips, which felt swollen, having not been used for this purpose in a while. Weak-kneed and aroused, she sensed she only remained standing because of his strong arms around her.

One of the couples dancing bumped into them, jerking her back to reality.

Shoot. This evening would be more difficult than she could have guessed. How was she supposed to conduct a professional interview when she’d just kissed the interviewee, and now her mind insisted on dancing around words like ravished?
***

I hope you enjoyed that excerpt and you’ve marked you calendar to get your very own copy from Friday at:
Where else to find me online:
My blogMy website | Facebook | Twitter: @empibaryeh

 
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing this exciting moment with me. Have a wonderful week!

Empi

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting me today, Ea.

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  2. I enjoy reading Romance novels. Some of them are so real it's like they are a video tape of what you have been or are going through, some of them are so enticing you feel like asking the author how you can get into similar circumstances like those in the book. This title promises to be one of those, and I hope it will.

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  3. Here I am again and I think this is great, Empi.

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  4. great Empi! a realist painter's dream i reckon!

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  5. Nice work, Empi. Looking forward to release day! Jean Maxwell

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  6. Just one more thing. I’ve decided to announce winners at the end of each week, so as not to keep people in suspense too long. Winner list for the week coming up soon

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  7. And the winner is...
    Celestine!

    Congratulations. Send me your email either by the ‘contact me’ form on my blog or PM me on Twitter or Facebook. I hope you enjoy the book

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