Author spotlight: Denise Rossetti

Denise Rossetti is the author of about a dozen erotic romances, rich fantasies set on sword and sorcery worlds. Reviewers praise her world-building and her ability to write ‘erotic scenes that exude sensuality without sounding at all cliché’. A two-time winner of the Romance Writers of America’s Passionate Plume and proud recipient of the ARRA award for Best Erotic Romance 2011, Denise is published with Berkley, Ellora’s Cave and Avon Red. She lives in Brisbane.

Welcome Denise to our spotlight …

Have you attended one of ARRA’s events before?

I sure have! In fact, I was there in Melbourne for the very first ARRC. I had the best time ever–so good, in fact, that I lost my voice. If you know me, that gives you some idea of the amount of fun I had! I was a bit more circumspect in Sydney. *snort*

What are you most looking forward to at ARRC2013?

I always enjoy catching up with my writing mates, but it’s the readers who really make ARRA conventions for me. It’s beautiful to be with such supportive, genuine people. Makes me feel appreciated and does my neurotic writerly soul a whole heap of good!

Tell us about your latest book…

The Dark Rose is the fourth and final book in my Four-Sided Pentacle series and I’m delighted to tell you it’s now available for download worldwide. I had fun tying up a whole messy tangle of loose ends–not to mention organising an HEA for two incredibly strong-minded people, catching up with all our old friends (including a scruffy dog) and saving the universe as we know it. You can read the entire first chapter on my website here. Here’s the blurb:

Even beautiful things cast dark shadows… Rosarina of the Garden is the most famed — and desired — courtesan of her time. She is also a spy, the heir-apparent of Caracole’s Spymaster, sent on a deadly mission to Green IV. She cannot afford to trust anyone, least of all a man with his own agenda — and the ability to crack her cool composure. Technomage Quintus is on Green IV to repair the great Machine that keeps that planet habitable. He doesn’t expect to encounter the Dark Rose again, but he’s a determined man. She’ll be a most pleasing lover… once he convinces her to accept his offer. But there is more in play on Green IV than either know. The Necromancer is waiting for the perfect moment to exact his revenge. If Rose and Quin cannot learn to trust each other then the Necromancer will rule — and not even love will be enough to save them.

What do you have coming up next?

Next up (5 February), Berkley will be releasing my novella, ‘Rubies and Black Velvet’, as a stand-alone ebook. It was previously published in the Unlaced anthology. Think of ‘Rubies and Black Velvet’ as #1.5 in the Four-Sided Pentacle series (#2.5, ‘Rhio’s Dancer’, will follow in May). As you can imagine, I don’t often do virgins–*grin*–but Meggie and John were delightful, a perfect fit for each other. Read a nice long excerpt here. Here’s the blurb:

A positively combustible novella of magic and erotic adventure — as dangerous as it’s desirable. It was a deceptively beautiful corset trimmed with heartsblood rubies, but fashioned by the vengeful spirit of a dark sorceress, a vixen of the dark forever. Once the black laces tighten around the vulnerable Meggie, so does the grip of a terrible curse. Now trapped in an erotic dance of domination and submission, as both cruel mistress and helpless slave, Meggie must do everything in her power to resist the corset’s hypnotic pull, or she could destroy the only man she ever loved.

Keep an eye out for Denise’s books:

If you are an ARRA member or registered for ARRC2013, check out the member’s loop or ARRC Lounge loop for details of our Author Spotlight competition.