Friday, July 17, 2020

Unwrapping an Interview with Debut Author, Estelle Pettersen plus an #Excerpt from LESSONS ON SEDUCTION

Hi Everyone! I’m so glad you’re with us today because I’ve got a special guest visiting, Estelle Pettersen, debut author of LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, a soon to be released erotic romance novel, published by Black Velvet Seductions. Release date is set for July 30, 2020 and it’s available now for pre-order at Amazon.

Blurb for LESSONS ON SEDUCTION:

When college student Sapphire Blake finds herself fresh out of a breakup, she is ready to embark on a new journey in her life. A dark, sensual journey.

Freeing herself from the expectations set by her family, friends, and church, an innocent and unworldly Sapphire begins experimenting with her new casual lover, Vera Richland.

Vera’s brother, Julian, is ridiculously handsome, smart, and intimidating. This university professor finds himself enthralled in a sensual relationship with a woman willing to pay top money for his time in the bedroom. To pay off his debts and continue leading his lavish lifestyle, Julian discovers the world filled with sex, drugs, and lies may not be for him as he first thought.  With his contract almost up, Julian has his sights set on a new endeavor.

When Vera introduces Sapphire to Julian, sparks are ignited as Julian sees past the conservative stigma Sapphire believes the world has placed on her. Instead, he sees a sexy vixen– and he can’t help but admit he wants her.

As the couple begins a dangerous, passionate relationship, secrets become exposed and lives are threatened. Will Julian be able to save his relationship with Sapphire and rekindle the fiery flame they share? Or, will fate have another ending in store?

So without too much fanfare, please join me in welcoming Estelle Pettersen, debut author of LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, to Unwrapping Romance … 

Unwrapping Romance: Welcome Estelle, it's an absolute delight to have you with us today, and I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join us. 

Estelle Pettersen:  Thank you so much for having me. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be here!

Unwrapping Romance: I adore talking with debut authors. You’re experiencing a first that rivals most any other you experience over your lifetime. Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't know you yet.

Estelle Pettersen: I’m Estelle Pettersen and I’m an Australian married to a Norwegian and living in Norway. I love the simple things in life, such as coffee and going for walks in nature. I’m an animal lover and I feel at home when I’m near the ocean. I started my passion for reading and writing at a young age, and I’ve been an avid romance reader since I was fifteen.
I tested my fiction writing on a writers’ platform called Wattpad in 2019 and found my voice there, thanks to the support of other readers and writers. I plucked up the courage to submit the manuscript of my erotic romance novel, LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, to Black Velvet Seductions, and was thrilled when they accepted my work.

Unwrapping Romance: Estelle, congratulations on being signed by Black Velvet Seductions. Wattpad is a wonderful writer’s platform for getting feedback and encouragement. Here at Unwrapping Romance, authors are rock stars, which is why I can get kind of nosy. I’m always interested in what lures someone to be a writer. What, or who, inspired you and why did you choose the romance genre and in particular, erotic romance?

Estelle Pettersen: My mother and my high school English teacher are two people who inspired me to become a writer. My mum was incredibly tough with grammar and spelling when I was in school, and tested me if I understood the stories I read. Being an introvert, I spent many lunch breaks in the library to get away from the ‘noise’ and escape to the world of books—I remember my friends finding me there and pulling me away from the books. My English teacher encouraged me to pursue a career in writing, which was why I studied journalism later on.
I chose the romance genre because I’m a big romantic at heart. I adore love stories, especially when the protagonist has a strong voice. As for erotic romances, a few people challenged me to write something on the steamy side, so I dared and pushed the boundaries with my writing.

Unwrapping Romance: As a former English teacher, I’m delighted to hear yours had such encouragement for you. I had an English teacher who did the same for me and I’m so grateful to her. It’s extra nice to have your mom in your corner. J Your friends are obviously very supportive and you’re awesome for taking such a challenge.
What was your inspiration for LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, and where does inspiration come from for your characters?

Estelle Pettersen: I wanted to read a steamy romance novel where the protagonist dared to step away from her comfort zone and project her strong voice. At the same time, I wanted the protagonist’s lover to be smart and sexy, yet strong and masculine. I was tired of reading stories about a possessive alpha male character and submissive female character, which I didn’t think portrayed healthy relationships, so I wrote LESSONS ON SEDUCTION.
The protagonist, Sapphire breaks away from societal expectations to find her strength, and to have courage both in and out of the bedroom. Her lover, Julian gives her both independence and empowerment, and their relationship is a balanced one. All in all, I was inspired by the concepts of freedom, equality, and empowerment; both Sapphire and Julian personify that in their own ways.

Unwrapping Romance: They sound like a wonderful couple and have the type of relationship I think we all seek, especially in romance stories. What do you have planned next?

Estelle Pettersen: I’m working on a short story, an Australian cowboy romance for Black Velvet Seductions. After that, I’ll continue working on book two in the Seduction series, which is Julian’s sister Vera’s story. She is also Sapphire’s best friend (and love interest early on) in LESSONS ON SEDUCTION. My beta readers cheered for her, asking if I could write her story, so I decided to do it. She’s sassy, daring, and more outspoken than her brother, Julian, who is an introvert.

Unwrapping Romance: Sounds like fun. We love sassy heroines. An Australian cowboy sounds especially intriguing. Estelle, if you're like every other writer (myself included), I have no doubt then that you're also a prolific reader. Who are your favorite authors and have any inspired your writing?

Estelle Pettersen: I love literature, especially the classics. One of my favorite books is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë; in my teen years, I had a crush on Heathcliff, who gave me some inspiration for my male character Julian in LESSONS ON SEDUCTION. I’m a fan of the poets W.B. Yeats and Sylvia Plath—I love poetry and experiment with literary tropes such as metaphors and allegories in my writing. My taste varies: one day I could be reading The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius and another day it would be Violin by Anne Rice.
I’ve just finished reading Mystic Desire, an anthology of supernatural romance stories published by Black Velvet Seductions. I’m a big fan of the authors at Black Velvet Seductions, who have been my rock of support. As a romance reader, I was already familiar with some of the authors’ previous work.

Unwrapping Romance: Ahh…the classics…I totally understand your love for them. Your eclectic taste in reading makes me a huge fan. I believe we can learn so much from both past and present authors. Storytelling has been happening since the caveman and I hope it will continue far into the future. Books are our greatest means for time travel.
My last question for you and my personal favorite – this is one I ask every author when I get the chance. If you could be ANY character in ANY book, not necessarily your own but any book at all - who would it be and why? 

Estelle Pettersen: I would love to be in Nick Carraway’s shoes just for one night in The Great Gatsby; to be at one of Jay’s decadent parties. Plus, I like Nick—he comes across as relatable and intelligent.

Unwrapping Romance: What a wonderful answer, Estelle. I think you might be the first to choose a male character and such an interesting one too. That would be a fun night indeed. Thank you so very much for spending some time with us. I am very excited about your upcoming release, LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, as well as your future projects. I wish you great success and a long career writing wonderful stories.

If you’d like to sample a steamy bit of LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, Estelle has graciously shared an excerpt from her upcoming erotic romance. I hope you’ll enjoy it and pre-order your own copy which is available at Amazon.


Excerpt from LESSONS ON SEDUCTION by Estelle Pettersen:

I turned left, headed toward the direction of bedrooms, and stopped when I reached the main en suite bedroom. This must be Julian’s room. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it wouldn’t get the better of me, so I dared.
I dropped my bag on the floor and walked into the master suite, which featured two dimly lit lamps and a king-size bed with a charcoal duvet and matching pillows. The unmade bed was the only untidy element in this otherwise clean home, indicative of either his most recent sexual activity or his forgetfulness to make the bed up. I doubted that it was the latter. As I walked past the bed, I noticed leather handcuffs on the crumpled duvet. The soothing sound of water running in the shower caught my attention, enticing me to take a sneak peek in the bathroom.
The bathroom door was left open at a forty-five-degree angle, and the pull of temptation gravitated me toward it. I was curious. I usually did not pry into the privacy of others, but I had never seen a naked man in real life, and I was ready to find out.
Oh, my lord! There he was in the shower, a beautiful man in all his splendor and glory. Julian was wet and naked, reminding me of the marble statue of the biblical, nude David by Michelangelo. Droplets of water ran down his hard, taut, body, all the way to the curve of his muscular back and firm buttocks, then along his sturdy legs. He rinsed the soap off his broad shoulders, chest and slim waist. His body tapered down like a perfect V, and delicate veins ran along his muscular forearms. His penis was thick and admirable, even in its relaxed state, and his testicles hung below. Eyes closed, he lifted his head to absorb the streaming water, and ran his long fingers through his hair, washing out the remaining shampoo foam, which flowed downward.
The heavenly sight of Julian in his nakedness, together with the fresh scent of the citrus body wash, triggered my nipples to harden and the inner walls of my vagina to clench, eliciting a wetness that coated my labia.
Julian’s eyes opened and fluttered rapidly, making direct contact with mine. “OH, FUCK!”
“Oh shit, I’m so sorry! I was looking for a spare toothbrush and didn’t realize you were here!” I babbled in a flustered state. I was a bad liar.
He turned off the shower faucet, grabbed a towel, and started to dry himself slowly.
“Did you enjoy the show, Sapphire?” Julian smiled smugly, emphasizing my name when he spoke.
“I, uh, I’m staying over with Vera tonight, as we’re heading out for a girls’ night. I hope that’s okay with y-you,” I stammered.
“Oh, it’s more than okay with me, love. However, you haven’t answered my question.” Julian’s mischievous eyes dangerously twinkled with devilish delight.
“I like what I see,” I admitted, gazing at the towel, which he now wrapped neatly around his firm torso.
“Good. Now, come here, baby. Touch me.”
I took one step closer to Julian and stroked the blade of his left shoulder with my right hand. My fingers traveled down his chest and stomach, drawing him to release a groan of pleasure.
“That’s it. Lower.”
“Lower?” I gasped.
“Yes. Further down south, if you get my drift.”
My fingers traveled below his navel and down to where the towel met his skin.
“Stop.”
“Stop?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Yes, stop,” he commanded.
Julian’s hands swiftly reached around my neck and untied my halterneck top, exposing my bare breasts to him.
“You’re exquisite.” His long, dark lashes lowered as he gazed at my topless body. I sucked in the citrus-flavored air as he began rubbing my nipples in circular motions with his rough thumbs.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Estelle Pettersen is an Australian author and former journalist whose romance stories explore empowerment, freedom, and finding one’s strength. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and Psychology, from the University of Queensland, Australia. Her second degree is an MBA from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and is passionate about history, languages, cultures, traveling, food, and wine. She is happily married and living in Norway these days.

If you’d like to learn more about Estelle and her debut romance, feel free to visit her at the following:





15 comments:

Alice said...

Great Excerpt! I've pre ordered the book and can't wait to read it.

Ric said...

A great interview Amy. I was privileged to read an ARC of Estelle's book, and I loved it. The language is strong, and you can tell it comes from the heart, I really engaged with the characters. I think Estelle is a writer to keep an eye on, I will be looking out for her next book.

Unknown said...

I love getting to know new writers. Norway has always fascinated me. Kudos to your mom and English teacher for inspiring you. Can't wait to read Lessons on Seduction!!

Suzanne said...

Great interview Estelle! Can’t wait to read your book.

Estelle said...

Thank you, Alice. I hope you will enjoy the book.

Estelle said...

Thank you, Ric.

Estelle said...

Thank you, Gibby. I hope you will visit Norway one day - it's a beautiful country rich with Viking history.

Estelle said...

Thank you, Suzanne. I hope you will enjoy reading it.

Callie Carmen said...

Great blog. I'm in the middle of reading, Lessons On Seduction and I loved the scene that you included above. I can't wait to see how this exciting novel ends.
Callie

Estelle said...

Thank you, Callie. That was one of my favorite scenes. I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the book.

Amy Valentini said...

I am so very happy everyone is enjoying meeting the lovely, Estelle Pettersen. Thank you all for visiting and I hope you'll give this wonderful debut author a try. xo

Dee S Knight and Anne Krist said...

Estelle and Amy, what a great interview! I've read an advanced copy of Lessons on Seduction and enjoyed it!

Amy Valentini said...

Hi Dee,
I'm glad you enjoyed the interview and the ARC of Estelle's book. We never did your interview. I was fearful the virus got you since I never heard back from you. You're still welcome to do one whenever you're ready. :-)

Estelle said...

Thank you for giving me the opportunity for the interview, Amy. I really enjoyed taking part in it. :)

Estelle said...

Thank you so much Dee! I'm glad you enjoyed reading Lessons on Seduction.