An Interview with Hayley B. James

 It looks like Undercover Addiction is part of a series, can you tell us a bit about the books?

Hayley B. James: Secret Sin has two books: Undercover Sins and Undercover Addiction. The two novels aren’t directly connected. Both follow a police officer going undercover to get close to a human trafficker, but neither follow the same path.

How did you come up with this story?

I tossed around a lot of ideas for a sequel to Undercover Sins for a long time. I wanted to move away from the looser version of reality from Undercover Sins into a stricter real world setting for Undercover Addiction, so I knew I needed new leading men. Connor was created first as the cop who enjoys tiptoeing the line between good and evil but hating himself for it. I originally had a different ending and a love triangle, but after Riley appeared on paper I couldn’t have Connor love anyone else.

What is your favorite type of character to write and why?

I like dry wit characters. Sarcasm can often be lost in written words (and spoken as well) but it’s fun to get those jokes across and to annoy other characters with it. I’m a dry sarcastic person myself so maybe that’s why I enjoy writing those types. I’ve been told “I don’t know if you’re serious” a few times by close friends. Sometimes I can’t even tell where my sarcasm ends.

What is your writing process like? Do you plot or just wing it?

I used to wing it, but plotting out helps me brainstorm plot and character ideas. I now plot and write test scenes before starting a project. Having a frame of written down plot points helps me write faster as well. I almost never follow the first outline to completion and end up writing a bunch of outlines, so I try to contain my outline to only a few plot points or up to a certain key point in the story before I start writing. When I reach the end of my outline I either outline more or continue writing until I get stuck.

What authors do you find inspirational?

I find that when I lose my desire to write (that isn’t related to time constraint) if I just read a novel I can find the motivation to write again. This year I read everything Charlie Cochet released.

What can we expect to see from you next?

I’ve been chipping away at a very long fantasy story. It’s a rewrite of something I wrote before Undercover Sins. It’s about seven years old, I think. I also have a third book for ABQ Heat series outlined and started. I’m slow because I went back to college to finish a degree before credits expire, but I hope to at least have the third ABQ Heat book finished in 2015.

Blurb:

Working Vice for the Seattle PD, Connor Bishop’s favorite part of the job is going undercover. His current assignment is to get close to Riley Drapeau, a human trafficker backed into a corner by the FBI and turned informant. Connor needs to milk him for information on his organization, but while doing so, sees an entirely different Riley than he expected.

Caught off balance, Connor relies heavily on Lucas, his outside man and only link to the real world, but he gets sucked in by Riley and his attempt to clear his name and prove his partners fabricated evidence to frame him.

Up to his eyeballs in the dark world of trafficking, Connor finds it easier to believe Riley than what the FBI is saying, especially when a leak is uncovered within the Bureau. The choices Connor has to make become even more difficult when Lucas admits he has feelings for him and promises a safe life far from harm. But Connor can’t deny the only man he wants to be with is Riley. Which forces him to decide if his addiction to the dangerous side of life can include loving a criminal.

Connor’s eyes had adjusted to the lighting. There wasn’t enough to make out many details, but he could see Riley’s lips pulled up into a relaxed smile. Connor put his hand over Riley’s on the back of the couch and smoothed his touch up Riley’s arm to the collar of his white shirt.

Riley was a monster. He admitted to viewing humans as things to be bought, sold, and used. His soul was blackened by the cruelty he believed to be normal. Connor knew it was in his best interest to keep his distance, but he couldn’t fight the urge to touch the darkness Riley harbored.

Curling his fingers around the expensive fabric, Connor forced Riley to bend down. He found Riley’s mouth and kissed him. The initial slight resistance immediately vanished. Riley held the back of Connor’s head and leaned into the embrace.

Desire raced through Connor. It was different from the times before. Connor knew what Riley was now, and being far from help placed him at Riley’s mercy. Sex shouldn’t have been on his mind, and Connor knew he knew better, but the thrill of playing with danger mixed with his lust and created an undeniable thirst.

Riley climbed over the back of the couch and straddled Connor, without parting too far from his lips. Connor moved with him, reclining when Riley pressed him down. Riley slipped his hand beneath Connor’s shirt and up his chest and used his other hand to thumb open his jeans.

“I want you,” Riley whispered against his neck.

Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press ~~ Amazon ~~ All Romance eBooks ~~ Barnes&Noble

Leave a comment to this post and get a chance to be the lucky winner of a marvelous goodie pack!!

The Goodie pack includes – A paperback copy of Undercover Addiction, Seattle-themed Mug, WA-made truffles and a magnet!

Hayley B. James will be touring through different blogs – the tour schedule is mentioned below. Follow this blog tour and leave your thoughts to her posts in order to increase your chances of winning!

Contest Deadline Date: 23rd November, 2014

Tour Schedule:

17th Nov. – Andrew Q. Gordon’s “The Land of Make Believe”

18th Nov. – GGR-Reviews & MM Good Book Reviews

19th Nov. – Prism Book Alliance

20th Nov. – The Blogger Girls & Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews

21st Nov. – Love Bytes Reviews

22nd Nov.- The Novel Approach