Something completely different from me this month - I'm participating in Patricia Guthrie's blog tour. Patricia is the author of 'In the Arms of the Enemy' - a tale of romance, murder, and horse racing. It's a story laden with sexual tension, and a few very hot scenes. I asked Patricia a few questions about her book - the answers are below.

1) This setting seems like one you know well. How much have you drawn on your own experience for this story.

I've drawn a lot from my experiences in In the Arms of the Enemy. My first setting takes place at Kalian Downs a racetrack. I picked up my mental imagery from Arlington Park Racetrack in Illinois. The barn where the majority of the book takes place is the barn where I've boarded my horses for years. That's CJ Ranch in Crown Point, Indiana. I did some research and searched for the perfect inn by Lake Michigan for Lawrence's Steak House, and New Buffalo, Michigan for the yacht scene. That was combined with fact and fiction. It was fun to draw the place in my mind and place it on paper.

2) There is a great deal of sexual tension in your book - was that fun or frustrating to write?

In the beginning, it was fun. I love to put obstacles in their way. But, when I started getting inside their heads and putting words into their mouths, it did get frustrating. These two are so attracted to each other and each thinks there's something wrong with the other. Suspicion flies and with good reason. That heightens the sexual tension, for me. It's like a build-up to a grand cadence in a symphony. Many composers do the same thing. Build build build--back off. Then they might raise the stakes (or transpose to a higher key) and build-back off, build and back off. Fascinating. Eventually, you know it will turn out all right. You know this because of the genre. However, if I can make it seem that it might not turn out okay. I don't mind my readers guessing who "dun it." But, I like the mystery to lie in why they did it. What is their psychological factors that lead them to this point.
That contains physical tension there.

3) What do you find erotic in fiction?

Personally, I find the senses to be the most erotic elements in fiction. the touch of a someone's finger on the skin, the scent of Gardenia behind the ear, the glow of the sun setting over the lake, a gentle whisper in the ear, the sudden passion of a kiss and what that kiss might taste like. So here's what's erotic to me: sight, sound/vocal tones and music, smell (ah musk) taste (again, that kiss) and anticipation as well. when a young woman undresses before the man she adores for the first time. Slowly, sensually. I'm rambling a bit here.

4) I felt that your characters where at their most honest in moments of passion. Is that something you had consciously worked into the plot?

No, actually I didn't. In specific scenes, even though I've plotted them, I let my characters character (gee, I didn't anticipate that) come through and let them create their own dialogue. Maggie and Adam are both basically good and honest characters. When Adam is deceptive, he's doing it for a good cause, but he's not good at it. When he makes love to Maggie all that other stuff is shoved into the background and he truly makes love to her.

5) Have you written any other books? Details please!

Other books! Groan. Yes.
Matt's Murder is a mystery with strong romantic elements. It was my first book and really isn't ready for anything. Maybe someday--

Legacy of Danger is finally being resurrected after ten years. It's gone through three complete re-writes and I'm working on a fourth. It started out as romantic suspense, then has changed into paranormal/romantic suspense. (If there is such a thing LOL) I love my characters and they won't let their story stay in the background. The title will change, but I haven't a clue as to what to call it, so there you are.

Guardian Angel is a romantic suspense novel set in Paris. The problem with it was its inconsistency and it's logistical problems. I took the names Annie and Mark and reset them into different characters in another novel.

Waterlillies Over My Grave is expected to come out in the Fall (it was spring but has been pushed back) this is a romantic suspense. A divorced psychologist leaves New York City and a buddy career to get away from her obsessive psychiatrist ex-husband, only to find he's followed her with deadly intentions. What fascinated me about this is the villain's sinking into madness and obsession, trying to get into his head, giving him a lot of direct thought lines. He's not the main character, but he still fascinates me.

There have been several other half-finished novels that I may pull out some day. I wrote one called Romeo vs Juliet and then discovered some other brilliant writer has a new release with the same title. No relationship to the story line. I guess that's what happens when you wait too long.

When I think about it, I don't feel like I've accomplished much at all, but when I see it in print, it doesn't look too bad. LOL I have several short stories that I've put up on my blogspot and website. Something I've noticed. Several are fantasy and horror, a few are psychological drama. I have one mystery, but it doesn't know what genre it is or where it wants to go. LOL

Thank you for having me on your blog spot. If anyone wants to ask any questions you can reach me at: patguth@aol.com or visit my website at:
www.patriciaanneguthrie.com, www.paguthrie.blogspot.com or www.myspace.com/paguthrie.

In the Arms of the Enemy can be purchased at all the major online bookstores and can be bought or ordered at most major physical book stores.

Originally posted at http://romeroticawriters.blogspot.com/2008/03/patricia-guthries-blog-tou...

For much more information about Patricia Guthrie and In the Arms of the Enemy http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Patricia+Guthrie