BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Waking to Black: Uninhibited [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author V.H. Luis to talk about Waking to Black (1 April 2018, 323 pages), an Erotic Romance, book one in the Uninhibited trilogy.

"One word Amazing.
A very well written and emotionally charged book. This book dealt with what some might consider a very difficult subject matter, many a times pushed under the rug but VHLuis wrote this story with a touch of class and give dignity to Evelyn." ~ Amazon Verified Purchase.

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to V.H. Luis; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Waking to Black , or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"I ADORE music. My father was a musician so I can’t imagine a time in my life when I didn’t spend at least a few minutes a day listening to music. I actually have a playlist created on my website for Waking to Black, specifically noting the reasons why each song is special to me in regards to the story. I also have sample audio."

What was the inspiration for Waking to Black ?

"Without revealing too much of the plot, the female lead in Waking to Black, Evelyn Snowe, has had a difficult past. Some of what she goes through, specifically her relationship with her father, is reminiscent of my own relationship with my father. All this may seem cryptic but it will make perfect-sense when you read the book. Writing this novel has been cathartic and invigorating. I feel I was able to turn a dark moment in my life into something positive. I’ve loved every minute of the process."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Very much of myself is infused between the pages of this book. I think any good storyteller writes about what they know and that’s certainly what I did. For example, Evelyn’s love of painting is a reflection of my own love of painting—if I’m not writing, I’m painting.

Unlike Evelyn, I’m a bit more “in your face.” I’m Cuban-American, loud and proud. Though to be fair, Evelyn does become more “in your face,” as the book progresses… Also, because of my love of writing and the influence of my wonderful friends and family, I’ve been able to make better life-choices than Evelyn.

***These are some of my own flower paintings… Evelyn, the heroine of the Uninhibited Series, is an artist and she is way better than me."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Waking to Black - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I LOVE my cover! I actually found a really awesome cover-artist and when I contacted her she gave me a link to a stock-image website. I spent a few days looking for the perfect couple—a pair that reminded me of Evelyn and Adam—and I was fortunate to find a great photo set. Afterwards I sent the artist a very detailed e-mail (quite possibly too detailed), about what I wanted to do. I wanted something specific but I also didn’t want to hinder the cover-artists creativity.

The main thing I needed the cover to have was the red flowers outlining the couple. Evelyn is an artist and if you read the novel, you will totally understand the reason for the flowers. Fortunately, the artist was able to convey exactly what I wanted and all three of my covers for the series were created by the same photo-set.

The artist is Victoria Cooper. I recommend her. She was great. "

Why should we read Waking to Black and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I think many of the books produced in my genre (Contemporary/Erotic Romance), focus on the tortured, damaged hero. I’m certainly not knocking it, because I LOVE those books. However, the main difference between my series and perhaps many of those already in the market, is that while Adam Black, the male lead, has his own hardships to overcome, Waking to Black (Uninhibited #1), is much more about Evelyn and the challenges she must face because of her past mistakes. Adam’s backstory gets explored in the second book of the series.

Also, Evelyn’s backstory is one we haven’t seen often in contemporary/erotic romances. Ultimately, I think it’s a worthwhile read people will enjoy."

Can you tell us something quirky about Waking to Black , its story and characters?

"Tough question! Like Evelyn, for part of my life I went to parochial school. So I ended up naming my main characters after Adam and Eve (a biblical reference). Their last names (Black and Snowe), are supposed to reflect their often-opposing viewpoints, because let’s be honest, opposites attract!"

Who would you recommend Waking to Black to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Wow, another hard question. I should probably give a disclaimer/trigger warning, though to be honest I’m hesitant because it can hinder/spoil the way the narrative in general has been weaved.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves trilogy romances with assertive-alpha males. Basically, anyone who really enjoyed Sylvia Day’s Crossfire series. However, Evelyn can be destructive at times and this is reflected in her past. The book has nothing taboo. It is very much a romance between two people who have to overcome the hang-ups established by their past mistakes/history."

If you could / wished to turn Waking to Black and the Uninhibited series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"I absolutely love this question. Well, I’m a native Miami-girl, and the book is set in Miami, so the location is easy. As for actors/models who I believe represent my characters, I’ve actually thought of this before.

Adam Black: Eric Belanger, without a doubt. Those beautiful blue eyes of his and that ruggedness he exudes, makes me swoon!

Evelyn Snowe: Emilia Clarke, but with auburn hair and hazel eyes. Her features are so gentle she seems fragile and yet there is an underlining strength to her expressions which reminds me of Evelyn."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"When it comes to writing, romance all the way! Although, I wouldn’t be opposed to the paranormal, historical and fantasy romance subgenres. In fact, I have ideas for stories in all of those categories. It’s definitely on my to-do list.

As for what I like to read. Honestly all genres have a certain appeal to me. Though I tend to prefer romance, especially in the last few years. However, my first love will always be high-fantasy—David Eddings and Jacqueline Carey are definitely on my keeper-shelf. Come to think of it, they often infused their stories with a touch of romance, especially Jacqueline Carey."

What is your writing process?

"Without-a-doubt, I’m listening to music if I’m writing. It helps me channel a specific mood and because my father—who I adored—was a musician, it just seems natural to me to do something creative with music blasting in my ear."

What is in store next?

"Waking to Black, is the first book in the Uninhibited Series. Fading to Black (Uninhibited #2), will be released July 9, 2018 or August 14, 2018. It really comes down to how quickly me and my editor can work through Fading to Black, (which is already written), and polish the story. Fortunately, she got back to me recently and didn’t have much critical feedback—she really likes the story and the direction. So it seems like I’ll be able to release the second book in the series sooner rather than later.

As for the plot of Fading to Black… Suffice to say the story will be as gritty, sexy and real as Waking to Black, though more of Adam’s past will be explored."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"Only one quirky thing… I have so many to choose from…

I collect unique boxes and tin cans. My husband travels a lot for work and he is my enabler! He always returns with a uniquely-wonderful box I can use to store absolutely nothing and absolutely everything to me. The picture below only showcases a small fraction of my collection."

Wow! Love boxes. You will have to share something else next time ;-)

"I'm fond of Marina Abramovic's work because she shows us what we often hide. Yes, there's a perverse motivation behind my preference for this type of art, but it has nothing to do with pedestrian sexual desires. I like the honesty exhibited, the disregard for inhibitions." - Adam Black