Onyx Moon Rising, August 2007, , e-Book
Total-e-bound
Horsemen of Apocalypse Island Series
Sin, November 2007, e-Book
Club Immortality Series
Lay Me Down, October 2007, , e-Book
Burning Touch, May 2008, e-Book
An Interview with Taige Crenshaw
By Holly Hewson for The Romance StudioHH: Taige, thanks for talking with us at TRS. Please tell us about your featured work, Rarities Incorporated.
TC: My novel Rarities Incorporated features a company called Rarities Incorporated which is the premier research agency to approach if you need to retrieve a lost item- from anyplace in the human or supernatural worlds. The book includes Golden Seduction, Shadow Dance, and Veils Rising - the first three novels of my Rarities Incorporated series.
Each book takes you on an adventure with beings that work for Rarities Incorporated.
HH: What can you tell us about each individual story and what inspired them?
TC: Golden Seduction, is part of the Torrid Tarot theme stories from Ellora's Cave and features the King of Cups tarot card. It is also the first book in my series Rarities Incorporated. When I decided to write the story I wanted to portray was reverence, duty, desire and love. Aleneic, my hero is a man who has been tested and all he holds dear has been taken from him. For this story I knew I didn't want a typical heroine. Laila Brooks is a geek at heart. She was more comfortable with her computer and books. From the first words I knew that this story would be a roller coaster of adventure, discovery and hope. It would have many surprises for both Aleneic and Laila. In Golden Seduction I explored all the senses and emotions. It has lots of surprises that even shocked me. There is a sense of hope and sensuality that embodies the story. The hope of my hero and heroine. The sensuality of their love story will touch on many emotions. They will have an adventure and ultimately find love.
Shadow Dance, is the second book in series and features a heroine Yadira a Zuri Maji used to playing by her own rules and making tough decisions. My hero Dimitri Zarek is a loner who trusts no one else at his back or with his life. They are forced to work together to find a priceless artifact. From their first meeting they are attracted but unsure. This story I wrote with a lot of what if's. What if a woman who plays by her own rules meets a man who lives by the rules? What id they could get past the rules to each other? What if his secrets pushes her away? And so on. What came about is a sensual story of two strong characters who find each other, uncover some myths and their beliefs are shaken.
Veils Rising is the second book in series and features a heroine Dilana a Zuri Maji who can't wait for Christmas to be over. All the holiday cheer is bringing back painful memories. My hero Magni is looking for someone to help him find a lost family heirloom. When he meets Dilana he is taken off guard by the chemistry they feel. For this story I wanted to bring people into some of my traditions of Christmas I had when I was a child. I'm originally from the beautiful island of St. Thomas and have fond memories of my Christmas' there. Most of my book is set in St. Thomas around Christmas. In addition I wanted to explore some myths and then change them to make them my own.
HH: What gave you the idea for a series set around a premier research agency?
TC: A dream. I was in a deep sleep minding my own business when all of a sudden I found myself sitting at this table with a bunch of women. Each proceeded to introduce themselves. I was confused but let them have there way. When they were done the first one to introduce herself Zarya Burke lifted her hand and I was floating in the air. I rolled my eyes and told her to get to the point. The women looked at each other and laughed with me. They lowered me back to my chair and told me of a race called Zuri Maji. They told me of what they were and all they could do. That they had many stories to be told and would tell me more as needed.
I jerked awake and I had goose bumps. I ran to my desk and took pen and paper and wrote all I had been told. The women I had met in my dream are the women who were the owner of Rarities Incorporated which appears in my series. Each woman was distinct and I wanted to get what I had gotten from them down clearly. Once I was done writing I had books of information waiting for the first story to come to me.
HH: Which story is your favorite?
TC: LOL. That's like asking a mother who is her favorite child. All my stories are my favorites.
HH: How is it to see these works released in a print anthology?
TC: It was a weird, exhilarating and a great sense of accomplishment. I've been very lucky to see my series go into print so soon after the e-book were released. When I got my author copies for the book I held it and cried a little. Shh… don't tell anyone. LOL. Seriously I was humbled by it and thankful to all the readers who have embraced the series and keep asking me for the next book.
HH: What can readers look forward to next from you?
TC: I always have so many things I am working on but at the moment I recently signed a book called Body Cravings, the first book of a new contemporary series with Liquid Silver Books. Yep a contemporary series. So far I've had paranormals or fantasies published but I do write a variety of genres. Seductive Pursuits is the name of the new contemporary series. No release date yet but look for the book soon.
HH: You write for three different publishers and have an impressive list of stories to your name. How do you balance the writing, promotion, deadlines -- all of it?
TC: It takes a lot of ingenuity and organization to write for various pubs, promo and meet deadlines. The way I do it is spreadsheets. I love spreadsheets Weird huh. LOL. I have a list of everything I need to get done. It is all on my spreadsheets. I just take what needs to be done and work at it until it is.
HH: What's the best thing about being an author in your opinion?
TC: Getting to create worlds. Imagine getting to make up things and creating people. It is an awesome feeling. Also the readers. When I get notes from a reader weather they enjoyed my story or not it made them feel enough to want to write me.
HH: What do you do when you get stuck in a story?
TC: Go do something else. LOL. I walk away and go take a walk, nap or do something else not writing related. While I am in the middle of doing something else I am going over whatever I am working on in my head. And before long I have what I need to do to get over it.
HH: What's the best way for readers to reach you?
TC: Here are some places you can find me on the web.
My Website: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com
My Blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog
Chat Group ~ Crenshaw Café: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crenshawcafe
To sign up for my Newsletter: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/newsletterandgroups.shtml
To email me: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/contact.shtml
Group Blog: Simply Irresistible Authors: http://simplyirresistibleauthors.com/blog (Fridays)
Satin Notes:
Earlier this year I along with two other authors launched a free read site. This is a site that is my way of thanking all of you, my readers. If you enjoy great reads check out Satin Notes - http://www.satinnotes.com. Every Friday there is a new chapter in a story. The stories are based in the fictional towns of Trescott Cove and Savoy Valley. Go on by and check it out.
HH: Thank you!
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