SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH LAURA TOLOMEI
Laura Tolomei’s super-hot specialty is writing unforgettable and edgy erotic romances. At this time, she primarily writes for eXtasy Publishing. As a worldwide traveler, she gets inspiration from people and place, which have added to her over twenty-seven books. And although her novels should come with an air conditioner, she says she writes not just for the steamy sex but the deep and interesting relationships that lead to each of her unique romances.
But what makes her books so special?
1) Hi, Laura! It is a pleasure to have you on our site. I have to ask, why become a writer and what about erotic romance specifically attracts you?
Laura Tolomei: Hi Steph and thanks so much for having me here! Now, the reason I became a writer is quite simple: to tell my own stories. After years of reading just about anything I could get my hands on, I had my head so filled with stories of my own invention that I just had to put them on paper. Mostly, I had to give voice to some very particular characters who kept bothering me LOL
Every time I closed my eyes, I could just picture them as they told their edgy tales full of fantasy, paranormal, horror and eros. Yes, lots of eros, too, ‘cause it’s one of the driving forces of human relationships. And since people are my main interest, and not just for writing purposes, I cannot ignore how sex affects them. Nothing like sex works better to reveal not just feelings, but how a person really is. Barriers fall quickly when sex is involved, which is and that’s what scares us the most. So we pile a whole lot of taboos, prejudices and discriminations on it, thinking that if we ban certain aspects, we can control sex. Which is pure absurd, ‘cause any form of sex is ok any as long as the people involved are free and equal partners.
This is why I chose to write erotic romances. To me, numbers and genders aren’t prejudicial to a deep fulfilling relationship. I believe you can love more than one person at a time, and it’s ok to play games in bed. Dom and subs, Masters and slaves, Tops and bottoms—everything is acceptable as long as it doesn’t get out of the bed and poison the balance between the partners, which is another terrible side-effect of these kind of games.
This is what you’ll find in my books: totally edgy, totally enjoyable sex games between characters that often love each other to death. But don’t expect anything traditional. However strong their love, they aren’t going to go all sweet when their birthdays roll round. No anniversary celebrations either. They aren’t going to say, “I love you,” a thousand times a day. But they will prove all they feel during their heated interplay on a bed, games that get so scorching hot you’ll need a high-powered air conditioner just to cool you down LOL
2) I understand your home base is in Rome, and you write in English and Italian. Since Italians are known for being more expressive, do you find that this has influenced your writing style?
Laura Tolomei: Mmmm…this is a tough question, Steph. Actually, I never really thought about it. What I can say, is that I’ve known English since I was five years old, so I feel it’s as much my language as Italian is. I also studied and read in English for much of my life, which is why the first things I wrote were in English. All in all, I can’t really say if and how Italian influences me when I write in English.
Funny, though, this difference between the languages affects the things I write. Genres are radically different when I write in one language or the other. In English, it’s easier for me to invent stories about fictional characters with unbelievable tales and scorching sex lacing every page. For some reason, I could never do this in Italian. The few things I did write in Italian (Piccolo Crocevia a Cinque, loosely translated Little Five Points, and L’Investigatto, loosely translated The Investicat) are much more personal. No fantasy there, just buts of my life that I wanted to take off my chest, so to speak. It’s curious, but it’s like Italian is my choice when I need to give voice to my emotions, while English is what I use to give voice to my imagination. And it makes quite a difference in my writing!
3) Do you have the same books translated between the two languages, or do you feel certain books are more appropriate for one ‘type’ of audience? Like the English books might be more conventional?
Laura Tolomei: Unfortunately, I don’t have any books translated, and it’s not a question of audience. It’s just a question of being famous enough to get translated LOL
I wish my books were available in Italian, too. Not an option, though, not until I find an editor wanting to take a chance on one of my English books. For sure, I don’t intend to do it myself. Not just because it would be very time-consuming. Mostly because these books were born in English, so I couldn’t think of them in Italian.
Still, reading some of these books—like those of the Virtus Saga, ReScue or Soulmate Series—would do Italians lots of good, seen how traditional and sometimes bigoted our culture is. Male chauvinist, too, which is another reason I hope I’ll become famous enough to have an editor ask to translate my books LOL
4) Are there some things you think are more taboo to mention from one country to the next and why?
Laura Tolomei: Yes, I think there are, and they all depend on culture. Some view all sex as taboo, to the point you’re embarrassed simply to be naked with another person, even if it’s your husband or wife. Others are more open and tolerate all sorts of extreme practices that it almost feels like no taboos exist. Others still are kind of in between, where taboos exist but aren’t that many.
As for me, I do have a few taboos of my own, which I steer clear from in my books. Like bestialities, for instance, which are a total turn-off for me. So my characters are pretty free and expressive in their sex, kind of wild at times, hence the hot and edgy romance, ‘cause they always playing it like sex is a game that, however extreme, has to be pleasurable for all involved.
5) Living in so many interesting cultures, do you feel you are multinational? Did you try to show that in your fantasy series Virtus Saga? Did you enjoy the world building in this series?
Laura Tolomei: More than multinational, I feel at home wherever I go. Ironically, the Virtus Saga starts with Prince Duncan Caldwell feeling lost and unable to find his home. Then it ends with Lord Christopher Templeton feeling finally at home. And that’s no coincidence!
Now, after all the traveling I’ve done, I believe I can understand different cultures, some of which quite distant from the one I grew up with, which is a definite advantage when I approached writing a series like the Virtus Saga LOL
Not just because it helped with my world building. Mostly because it gave me a variety of places in which to set the story. Like the volcano Stromboli, a place that deeply affected me, and that I used when Virtus first kidnaps Ylianor Meyer and plunges their world into chaos. Like the Wadirum Desert or the entrance to the Nephis Valley, both of which are in Jordan. The desert is the one where Lawrence of Arabia spent most of his time. The other is the entrance to Petra, one of the archaeological finds of the twentieth century (just think you can see it in the movie Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade). And just to make clear how deeply the place affected me, you should know that Nephis in Arab means soul, so not a coincidence it should be Sendar’s sacred valley.
Another place I modeled after a real one is the Hall itself. The seat of the High Council and the residence of my three protagonists, this is sort of a European medieval castle.
Not just places, many aspects of my world traveling have ended up in Virtus’s eight books. Like the underlying vegetarian culture, which is something that stems from my love for India, as are parts of the philosophy behind the concept of non-violence and reincarnation.
This last is in particular is another big theme of my writing, especially in the ReScue Series. For other books, I also use elements of Greek philosophy, like in my Soulmate Series, where the idea that soul mates could exist is from Plato’s books.
All in all, I think that traveling in general broadens your mind, and it’s been one of the main inspirations of my stories, whether fantasy or contemporary.
6) Speaking of the Virtus Saga, you have written your last book in the series. Will you ever write a spin off? Do you feel a bit bittersweet?
Laura Tolomei: Oh, I definitely feel bittersweet about having to let go of my three favorite characters of all after the release of The Lord, Virtus Saga Book 8, which ends their story. But guess what? My editor is giving me the opportunity to release the saga in PRINT, and I still can’t believe it! In fact, I’m hard at work to re-edit The Sex, Book 1 of the Virtus Saga. Once I’m done, it’ll be even better than before, considering that five years have passed since its first release. And it’ll be the appropriate start for Prince Duncan Caldwell, for his soul mate and lover Lord Christopher Templeton, and for the slave who’ll conquer both their hearts, Ylianor Meyer.
These characters are so intriguing and their story is so complicated, I had to write eight books just to give readers a measure of their world and of their search for a balanced way of life. Because this isn’t just another dark fantasy series. This is the making of a trio. Of three remarkable characters that have to overcome their jealousies and passions in order to be as one. Not an easy task at all, their tale starts with The Sex, then progresses with The Game, The Festival, The Leader, The Pledge, The Heat, The Princess and finally The Lord. Each book starts exactly where the one before left off, so they aren’t stand-alone. Only reading them in sequence will provide the whole story.
As for a spin-off, I did think about it, even if it wasn’t my intention. But on writing the last book, The Lord, the new characters that emerged gave me such an itch to write their stories that I’m not sure I can resist. So who knows? Maybe one day I will.
7) Is there a favorite character you created in your series? Can you tell us who and why?!
Laura Tolomei: Lord Christopher Templeton is my favorite character of all. Why?
‘Cause he’s so unpredictable and unique. ‘Cause he’s an angel and a demon all rolled up in one. Good and bad, white and black—that’s the essence of Christopher Templeton or The Lord. Playful like a little boy, yet loving like a man, Lord Christopher Templeton is capable of the most shattering feelings. He’s all fire after all, inside and out, which explains that extremely inflammable temper of his. His uncontrollable core, too, which is the secret that will most fascinate readers through all eight of the Virtus Saga books.
Small wonder the last book of the saga is entitled to him, The Lord. His towering blaze of pure fire can lash out in rage or lust quicker than the bat of an eye. ‘Cause pain or pleasure, he can go either way without any qualms, without caring either, except when it comes to his adored prince. But what he does with her is where everything hinges on, particularly that balance of the three becoming as one.
Just so you get an idea of how incredibly intriguing this character is, I’m adding the blurb to The Lord:
Lord Christopher Templeton: Angel or Demon? Angel and Demon! Two faces. One fucking gorgeous man! And only two people to switch him either way. Now Lord Christopher Templeton is going to prove himself to the entire universe. The past in his power. The present in his lust. The future in his temper. Because he is The Lord. Because us is sex!
Plus, he’s as gorgeous as a god, which never hurts no matter what world you’re in LOL.
8) You are known for pushing the edge in your books. Has there been a scene or book that was difficult or shocking for you to write, but you felt you had to do it anyway? Can you tell us about it?
Laura Tolomei: Strange as this may sound, nothing I write is too extreme, at least in my imagination. Even if I don’t particularly relish certain BDSM practices for real, I can totally relate as to how and why some people love them, to the point they couldn’t have sex without them. Which makes it all the more strange for me to have written a book like Bondage Slave for Hire, which is all about Lilly, a BDSM slave for hire, and you can just imagine what they put her through. So nothing shocks me. Not even the scenes of bloody horror I described in my horror books. Like Sacrificial Sex, where a real human sacrifice Aztec style could be a bit over the edge for a reader. Or Bloody Passion, Visionquest and Hunted, where shape-shifting is just an excuse for some very truculent scenes. In The Demon Waiter and Bondage Slave for Hire, horror reaches vertiginous heights, with demons taking over normal reality during Halloween. And if that wasn’t enough, my most extreme and edgy scenes of all are in Re-Scue and in the Virtus Saga, where heavy knife play becomes the link that ties and strengthens the relationship between the main characters. And you can’t get any kinkier than that LOL
9) Your Soulmate and Trespassing series feature male heroes. Were they difficult to write? Why did you decide you wanted to write them?
Laura Tolomei: Practically all of my books feature male heroes, so it’s no hardship at all. In fact, I love them, and some of my favorites are Martin and Drake. Not just because they are fantastic male characters. Mostly because of all the obstacles standing in the way of their coming together. For Martin, there is no doubt Drake is his soul mate. Not so for Drake, which is why To Seduce a Soul Mate, Book 1 of the Soulmate Series, is so unexpected. Because everyone believes that, once you find your soul mate, you’ve got it made, right?
Wrong.
Sometimes, you also gotta seduce him into accepting the inevitable. This is exactly what happens between Martin and Drake, given how little Drake cares for an MM entanglement. Not a matter of sex, since it’s so hot and passionate it cannot but shake Drake’s convictions. Mostly about the relationship itself, which is what Martin wants more than the sex itself.
This seduction spills into Book 2 of the Soulmate Series, The Pirate’s Surrender. Not just because the sex becomes scorching. Because Drake puts up a hell of a lot of resistances, until Martin doubts he’ll ever manage to convince him. And that’s all I’m prepared to admit to avoid spoiling the ending!
How did I come up with such intriguing characters? Thanks to a very dear friend, Cinzia. She used to tell me a whole lot about her boss, Martin, and his MF love affairs that never seemed to work out. So I imagined he was looking for a man rather than a woman, and then my imagination went a step further. What if Martin found his special one, but the guy was too scared to jump at the offer?
Things in the Trespassing Series worked a bit differently. In Trespassing All Hallows Eve, Book 2 of the series, which is my very first release, the protagonist was Brighit. But while writing it, two characters emerged that required more space of their own: Attilio and Aurelius. They are Roman centurions of 1st century Rome, and there’s no stopping the fire erupting whenever they’re together. In spite of the rigid Roman law, Attilio and Aurelius start a fiery relationship in Book 1 of the Trespassing Series, Roman Seduction. Meeting in Alexandria, Egypt, they decide to stick together and travel the world with the Roman army. And that was quite a life for those times!
I’m not sure what inspired me to write about them. Like I said, they were just marginal characters in Trespassing All Hallows Eve, but something about them struck me deep inside. True, I’ve always loved writing about ancient cultures like I did in my most historical book of all, Divinitas. Still, their bond was so strong I had to find out how it had started. That power of attraction between them is what blew my mind away, and that’s how Attilio and Aurelius came to be.
So whether you read the Soulmate Series or the Trespassing one, you’ll find it’s quite an adventure for my MM protagonists LOL
10) As such a prolific author, what books are you most excited about? Can you tell us about them before they come out?!
Laura Tolomei: The ReScue Series is definitely worth my excitement LOL
Not just because it’s the only series of mine that has an audio version of the first book in the series, Re-Scue the Audio Book. Mostly because it’s my most original and borderline stories of all.
The theme is all about reincarnation and resolving your issues, even if it’ll take you several lifetimes to do it. Because some conflicts never end, not even if death occurs. Patterns keep repeating themselves until you become aware of them and realize you has to change them. And this is so true in mind, there’s no going around it.
This is what happens to the two protagonists of Re-Scue, Book 1 of the series. Starting out as Didri and Tylean, they begin a vicious BDSM game of sadistic knife play and sex. No feelings, just the brutality of a game where blood and sex go hand in hand. Or so Tylean wants to play it. For Didri, things get complicated when she falls in love with him. And since he’s made it abundantly clear he feels nothing for her besides the excitement of the game, tragedy strikes.
Their story continues when they are born again as a gazelle and a panther. Kind of impossible they can have a future together. Still, they recognize one another. They know they have a past and a possible future together however limited their present. So things end like they should—with the predator snapping his prey’s neck, which is not an end, merely another beginning.
Born again as Aural and Rhodri, their fatal attraction pulls them together once more, and their game begins anew. Somehow, they remember their past lives, only this deal about not allowing feelings into this extreme game of theirs drives them apart again. Drives Rhodri to kill Aural…or almost. If Aural survives, it’s only thanks to a witch’s intervention and to Rhodri’s promise that things will change in the next lifetime.
Which is the turning point for the protagonists born again as Leon and Sean. Being two men, their game turns hotter and more extreme. Also more complicated and this is where things will get really interesting, to the point I had to continue their particular story in Book 2, Tasting Leon’s Mark, and in a third book that I’m still working on. Working title is Awere-Ness, and I hope to get it released by the end of the year.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the audio version of Re-Sche, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I appreciate having an author that isn’t, ‘too’ shy! Thank you so much for sharing your time with us!
Laura Tolomei: Thank you so much Steph for having me. It’s been loads of fun for me, and I hope for your readers, too!
Interviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
For Additional Information Check Out The Author’s Website at:
http://www.lallagatta.com/eng/index.html
Also check out her LallaGatta Blog:
http://www.lallagatta.com/eng/blog/index.php#.UmvePiKsDJU.twitter
And my complete backlist:
http://www.lallagatta.com/eng/files/LauraPDFbacklist.pdf
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Upcoming and Recent Book Releases by Laura Tolomei
The Sex
Virtus Saga Book 1
BLURB
When Prince Duncan Caldwell loses his way home and knocks to get shelter, he doesn’t know his life is about to change forever. Not because he can’t tear his gaze away from the beautiful woman who opens that door. More because she’s a stranger, yet he can’t shake the feeling she belongs to him. And that’s just the beginning of the Virtus Saga, where nothing is as it seems, not since soul mates Prince Duncan Caldwell and Lord Christopher Templeton share a love that is unrivaled until that fateful knock on Ylianor Meyer’s dilapidated shack. This book starts it all—the love, the passion, the fiery sex and the intricate three-way relationship, but mostly the unique connection laced with a jealousy and violence that are unknown to their world. Because this isn’t just another erotic dark fantasy series. This is the making of a trio. Of three remarkable characters that have to overcome their uncontrollable lust to face the truth about themselves and their planet, in order to defeat the darkness about to devour them. To be as one whilst three! That’s their real challenge. Because, if they can’t learn to share power and love in equal measures, how will they be able to ensure their world’s survival?
Erotic fiction novel — GLBT, ménage, M/M gay, dark fantasy, paranormal, romance, series
eXtasy Books
Awere-Ness
ReScue Series Book 3
BLURB
Atlanta-San Francisco: on the road, trying to understand something about the soul-mates. Can it be only one? Can it be only of love? Can it have another purpose? Sex, relations, slaves and questions, in Awere-Ness all the answers.
Erotic fiction novel — GLBT M/M gay, M/M/F, ménage, romance, contemporary, paranormal
The Lord -Oct. 1st, 2014
Virtus Saga Book 8
BLURB
Lord Christopher Templeton: Angel or Demon? Angel and Demon! Two faces. One fucking gorgeous man! And only two people to switch him either way. Now Lord Christopher Templeton is going to prove himself to the entire universe. The past in his power. The present in his lust. The future in his temper. Because he is The Lord. Because us is sex!
Erotic fiction novel — BDSM; GLBT, ménage, M/M gay, MULTIPLE PARTNERS, dark fantasy, paranormal, romance, series
eXtasy Books
The Princess - Sept 15th, 2014
Virtus Saga Book 7
BLURB
Alone. The future of his world on his shoulders, Prince Duncan Caldwell has to connect the dots. To pick up the pieces of broken love. Before the new edition of the Game. Before the terrible loss awaiting him at Black Rose. But not alone. Not without his angel. Certainly not without his princess. For only her power will save him.
Erotic fiction novel — BDSM, GLBT, ménage, M/M gay, dark fantasy, paranormal, romance, series
eXtasy Books
Slave For Sex -Oct. 21st, 2013
BLURB
Alone, having lost the love of his life, Rydan has visions of a mysterious creature in the forest. Who is she? And what will happen when he finally meets her in the flesh to learn about the secrets of sex and passion? But that’s not all she’ll reveal, and the truth about his world will blow his mind away. Will he trust her enough to believe her or will he surrender to the sensual attraction of burning desire neglecting his duties?
Erotic fiction novella — M/M gay, fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal
eXtasy Books
Bondage Slave For Hire - Oct, 15th 2013
BLURB
Nothing satisfies Lilly. Not even working at The Dungeon BDSM Club as a bondage slave for hire. A slave looking for her true master. None have fit the bill so far. Until Terry. He spins her craving to fever pitch. And she might just fall in love with him, if she could only be his slave. Not just his. Julien and André’s, too. His gorgeous Creole lovers. Because they are the perfect Masters. But also keepers of the Black Room. On Halloween, she’ll discover just how bad and dangerous their pain-lust game can really be. Will she be able to fulfill their true needs? Or will she perish in the attempt?
Erotic fiction novel — BDSM, GLBT, M/M gay, dark fantasy, paranormal, horror, Halloween
eXtasy Books
Hunted -July 1st, 2013
BLURB
Why is this vicious predator terrorizing the village? Who is Therry, and why does he live deep inside the forest, away from mankind? But mostly, why can’t Kendryck get him out of his mind? As the hunt progresses, so does his fascination with the most intriguing young man the hunter has ever met, until things don’t add up, and Therry’s dark secrets will have to be revealed…eventually.
Erotic fiction novella — GLBT, M/M gay, dark fantasy, paranormal, horror, shapeshifting
eXtasy Books