Oh, things are hopping today in Anna’s World. Or maybe it’s just Anna who’s hopping. And believe me it’s a tad bit hot and steamy, too. My favorite Cougar Bait, Ryan O’Leary is in the house. Shh…don’t tell him, but I’ve locked all the doors and windows and he’s not getting out for at least a week. We’ve been throwing out little teasers on Facebook about this interview for the past week or so…Ryan says the interview took place in his shower…and I say I had my camera so I might have a few blackmail pics…

Ryan was one of the first people I met on Facebook after I began writing. One of the characters in my Fab Five series is named Ryan O’Grady and I often get asked if I named him for “our” Ryan. The answer is no, I didn’t, although “our” Ryan likes to think I did, since both Ryans are playboys. I actually wrote the first book in the series long before I met Cougar Bait.

All teasing aside, Ryan O’Leary is not only a sexy, sweet young man who knows how to keep his huge female fan base happy but he’s also one of the most talented writers I know. His short and sexy books about a young, married couple and their sexual escapades that involve bits of clothing from the wife’s closet are fantastic. If you like a short and sexy read and haven’t yet been introduced to the J’s Closet series, go check it out. Ryan also writes with Sable Hunter, who you met on this blog last week, and Sable’s brother, Jess Hunter, who I interviewed a few weeks ago.

Now get real comfy because you’re about to find out why I think this is one of the best young authors around, as well as just a really sweet guy.

 BIO

Rarely will you find Ryan O’Leary in a state of rest; if he’s not on the ice or kicking around a soccer ball, he’s plotting his next story or out on the town with friends. His fun and flirty nature makes it possible for him to write the kind of romance that makes the reader both smile and tingle.

Anna: What inspired you to choose your genre (genres)?

Ryan: Write for women? Write sex that will turn women on? What’s not to love? I only wish I had of thought of it earlier. That’s not entirely true, I did think of it years ago, but my plan was to write mainstream romance, not the hotter erotica I write now. One day I happened to stumble across an article on how to self-publish Ebooks. In the article they featured an erotic writer, so I figured I’d take a stab at it. I knew it’d be fun. I’m sure this’ll sound corny, but the most rewarding thing I get out of writing the stories that I do, is the thought that my words might turn a woman out there on. It’s the number one reason I do it, so don’t be shy ladies, Ryan wants to hear all about the effect his words have had on you.

Anna: Hear that, ladies? Don’t be shy! Whew…the effect his words have on me…Moving right along, we all have issues with balancing our time between writing, editing, promoting, along with other obligations and personal time. What works best for you?

Ryan: Liek most things in life (including life), I don’t take it too serious. Luckily, I’ve met a few people who have offered their assistance with all that other stuff that you have to do, the editing, the promoting, the blah, blah, blah. Without them, I’d be lost, unmotivated and probably not doing this interview with you right now. Instead, we’d just be sitting here, alone, a glass of wine in each of our hands, talking, laughing, smiling and I doubt that’d be very much fun for you. Writing isn’t my life, I do it for fun and I’ve said it a million times in public and in private, if it ever gets to be anything other than fun, I just won’t do it anymore. Uh, Anna, I think it’s your turn to talk now…

Anna: What? Oh, sorry, you had me at drinking wine, talking, laughing, smiling, and … Okay what’s next? Oh yeah, tell us about your characters. I’m surprised you write about a married couple in the Travis and J stories, what made you decide to do that? I noticed your little trademark “liek” in there too. Your fans have picked that up and are now spelling it that way…you’ve started a trend.

Ryan: Most times, my fingers work faster than my mind; some typos I just don’t bother correcting because I do them so often. The stupid games we play with each other when we first meet and are getting to know one another; that’s why I decided to write about a married couple. Sure, I love those games just as much as the next guy or gal, but Travis and J are married. Fuck that! Travis and J are SOULMATES. They just get each other. I just wanted to write about a couple who have already played those games, who just want to enjoy each other. Travis does the thing he does for J because he wants to do them, he loves to see her smile when he surprises her, not because he’s trying to get in her pants, but because her smile is his prize. The sex is great and all, but for me, when I’m writing about them, the payoff is that moment when he does something that makes her smile, or makes her laugh.

Anna: I’d say most women wish they had a Travis in their life. Now, tell me, who are some of your favorite authors? Did they inspire you to write?

Ryan: I don’t really have a favorite author. I have a lot of Stephen King books, but that’s only because my older brother is the one who got me reading and he had a lot of them. Thing with me is, I see something and if it interests me, I do it. I never set out to be a writer. When I was twenty-one I figured I’d try to write a novel, because I thought it’d be a something cool to do, something that would fill up some time and something I could look back on in fifty years, something I could read and see what kind of a person I was back then, see my thoughts and feelings. Anything you do artistically, be it painting, writing, dancing, music, whatever, it’s all a window into your soul and a time capsule of how you felt at that time. I forgot what I was trying to say. Oh yeah. I can’t say I was ever inspired to write, I just see something I want to try and I try it. I wrote that first book and I enjoyed it, so I wrote another, then another and I lieked it, so here I am.

Anna: Hear that, ladies? Ryan has an older brother…there are two of them! Oh…my…Sorry, getting off track again. Get serious, Anna. What has been the most difficult aspect of your writing career?

Ryan: Discipline. Oh and editing. Wait. And promoting. It’s all tough. You know that. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. I guess for me, it’s the discipline part. I’ll never be the kind of writer who sits down every day and writes, I write when I feel like it. Maybe I could churn out more work, but I’ve always moved at my own pace, in every aspect of life. Editing is my Achilles heel though. I’ll be honest; I don’t have a god damn clue what an adjective is, or an adverb is. Hell, up until a few years ago, I really didn’t even understand the difference between “there”, “their” and “they’re”. For the most part, I’ve figured a lot of it out and luckily I’ve got great help when it comes to spotting an incorrectly used “than”.

Anna: Now for the good stuff. Give us a little dirt about yourself. What’s your favorite guilty indulgence?

Ryan: Everybody wants dirt on Ryan huh? I hate to disappoint, but I’m really kind of a bore. Not much of one for indulgence. Women are my indulgence I guess. I don’t mean sleeping with as many as I possibly can, but I’ve got very active eyes, I’m always checking them out, wherever I go.

Anna: What’s it like to write with Sable? I’ve never co-written with another author, so tell   us how that works. Also, how did that come about? How did the two of you meet?

Ryan: It’s awesome and terrifying. She’s beyond words when it comes to talent. She has more ideas in her head than most people will have in a lifetime, it really is kind of scary the stuff she comes up with and I mean, scary good. I was actually extremely nervous when we first talked about writing together. We met on Facebook over a year ago and she kept trying to get me to let her help promote me and teach me new things, but I just wasn’t ready to do it, so she waited patiently, because that’s the best way to describe the way her and I work together. She waits patiently for me. She works at this frenetic pace that I didn’t think was possible, but she knows that I have a different style, a lot less structured and disciplined, so she lets me go at my pace. I often feel like I’m holding her up, but she keeps busy with her own stuff and other things. She’s patient with me, I never feel rushed or pressured, which is a great feeling when you’re already intimidated by working with someone you admire so much. How it has worked so far, is that we flesh out an idea. And I won’t lie and say that it’s a 50/50 split as far as the creative is concerned, she really is the driving force behind anything we do together, and it’s usually her idea. Then we discuss it, either on Facebook or via email. She’ll send me notes with her ideas; her storylines. Usually I say, “I love it all!” But if there is something I don’t like, or something I want to add, or tweak, I say so. If we agree, then we change it. After that, Sable divides the scenes. Did I mention how amazing she is at all this stuff? Because she really is a special talent. With our new book, Thunderbird for instance, we started with an idea and it changed, then changed again, and when we finally got down to writing it, she sent me a scene to write. “Ryan, I’d like you to write this scene where such and such takes place.” I say yes of course. I’m sure you’ve heard her accent; how could I possibly say no to her? Then I procrastinate. When I’m done procrastinating, I procrastinate a bit more, then get down to writing my scene. I send it back. We discuss any changes that may need to be made. Discuss any other changes, then she gives me another scene to write. Sable weaves her stuff in with mine. Make changes where and if needed. Bingo! Done. I thought it was going to be tougher to be honest, but it isn’t that hard if you’re familiar with the person you’re writing with. It’s a lot of fun once you get into a rhythm.

Anna: I agree with you. Sable is one awesome lady. So, now I want you to tell us about your newest project.

Ryan: I’m actually working on a few different things at the moment. Sable and I are discussing the next installment of our “It’s Just Sex” serial, but haven’t actually started it yet. I also got going on the prequel I guess you could say, to the J’s Closet short stories. I’m writing the book about how they got together, but that is on hold at the moment. What I’m actually devoting my efforts to (aside from soccer) is the first book in a series that Sable and I are writing, called The Equalizers. The first book is titled, Thunderbird and it’s the story of Hannah and Kyle. Thunderbird will be the first in a series called The Equalizers. This series will center around a group of six men who have bonded over their past and their vision for the future. Kyle Chancellor is one of those men. He is Thunderbird, a title he was given on the football field and perfected in the skies as a fighter pilot. He is a Heisman trophy winner, a war hero, and the heir to a Texas dynasty, yet he never hesitates to lend a helping hand to those in need. His group, The Equalizers, specialize in locating missing children and fighting battles for those unable to go it alone. When he returns to the States, he learns that his former girlfriend has died from liver disease. She had broken up with him, never telling him she was sick. He is devastated and drowns his sorrows at a bar – where he meets a beautiful young girl who is trying to spread her wings and learn how to fly.

Hannah Montenegro has led a life of sacrifice. After losing her mother to a dreaded disease, her family discovers the son has Lou Gehrig’s also. Hannah is made to feel worthless because her father wishes she was sick instead of her brother. They move to the United States from Mexico, with only fake papers. They live undiscovered in the Austin area, the picture of good citizens, but with no legal standing. Hannah devotes her life to taking care of her little brother Andre. One night, she has the opportunity to go to a bar with a friend and she grabs it. There she meets a man who sweeps her off her feet and into the back seat of his car.

They both had too much to drink, the memory of their time together is hazy, but their connection haunts them both. Neither knows how to get in touch with the other, which is disastrous, because the result of their one night stand is a little boy. Hannah adores Paulo, but her father takes him away from her. She is almost insane with grief.

As you can see, the story will be intense. Hannah will look for their child. And when she meets Kyle again, she is so tempted to unburden herself and throw her arms around him and beg for his help. But she is not of his world – she cleans his office, and she’s shocked to find that he has been recruited by the powers that be to run for the office of Governor. His stance on stem cell research, internet security and immigration has pushed him to the forefront of Texas politics. The chasm between them seems insurmountable – to Hannah. Not to Kyle. Kyle wants her. Kyle goes after her and the circumstances which throws them together could have been ripped from the front pages of today’s newspapers. Sex Tapes. Scandals. Political Intrigue. But woven through it all is the undeniable attraction of two people who are destined to be together. When love is the guiding force, there is no foe it cannot conquer.

So, I’m doing all of that and trying my best to be utterly fabulous on Facebook, but there’s always time to stop by and have a little chat with you, Anna.

Anna: Oh, you know you’re welcome here anytime. And as far as being utterly fabulous on Facebook, you’re certainly doing a good job of that! Thanks so much for stopping by. Can I reveal our little surprise for your fans now???

Ryan: I wish you would already, so we could get that glass of wine.

Anna: **smiles**

And don’t forget about the key chains that will be available soon on Amazon for $2

But first, here’s where you can connect with Ryan.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryan.oleary.75098?fref=ts

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/WriterRyanOLeary?fref=ts

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ryan-OLeary/e/B00BEJ2NUQ/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1371252077&sr=1-2-ent

Blog: http://teamoleary.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6074123.Ryan_O_Leary

Now…a little gift for the girls 🙂