"Anything You Can Do"

My interview this morning is with my sister-scribe and multi-published author Marianne Stephens, who is also well known to Ellora’s Cave readers as April Ash.

KL: Marianne, your new book “Anything You Can Do” is a sensual contemporary story, but there is also a flirty old-fashioned sweetness underlying the story. What was your inspiration for this book?

MS: I’d listened to an old song, “Anything You Can Do” from the musical “Annie Get You Gun”. I wanted to come up with a story involving a challenge. Knowing how clueless most men are about daycare, I wove a story. I’d taught computers to preschoolers in a daycare facility, had my kids in daycare, and now have grandkids in daycare, so I thought I’d get inspiration from daycare events.

KL: Tell me a little about Breathless Press. How did you find each other?

MS: I’d read how BP was looking to interview authors for their blog. I was interviewed and asked if they’d be interested in a sensual romance story that also had children in it. My book fit their word count and requirements.

BP began in 2009 and is flourishing. Justyn Perry, the Publisher, has plans for future development. BP caught my attention as being an up-and-coming publishing house. You can read BP’s “About Us” statement at: http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/about-us

KL: What is your Heroine’s biggest challenge toward trust?

MS: Allison’s had a bad experience with her ex-boyfriend. She believed him when they both agreed not to apply for an out-of-state promotion so they could stay together. When he got the promotion and broke her heart, she decided not to trust men again…until Jeff broke down her defenses and she fell in love.

KL: What book of any genre, do you most wish you wrote? (This is a great answer and you can answer me privately, I’ll remove all comments in parenthesis but I literally wanted to know the name of the book you wish you had written! Lol I’m nosy…)

MS: I need to write paranormal, shapeshifter romances since they seem to be well-received by readers. I’d love to write regencies, but I don’t think I know all the proper terminology for that time period. (I most wish I wrote…..? because…)

KL: What did you enjoy most about writing this story?

MS: Visualizing events as I wrote them. The episode about the child entering the daycare room, sitting by the trashcan, and heaving, came from my experience as a kindergarten teacher. Every morning, Leander would come into the room, I’d sit him by the trashcan, and he’d heave. Then, he’d go to breakfast and play. I enjoyed putting Jeff through Diaper Day, field trips, etc.

KL: Can you share a little more with us about “Anything You Can Do.” What was the trickiest part of writing this story?

MS: The flirting and heated scenes of Allison and Jeff acting on their mutual attraction had to be somewhat subdued and carefully done while in the daycare setting. Once I got them to the hotel, they could release pent-up desires and act out their sexual fantasies.

KL: “Anything You Can Do…” is written under the pen name Marianne Stephens, but you’re also April Ash. You’re both busy ladies. lol Can you share any pre-views of coming attractions?

MS: I’m actually working on a ghostwritten, nonfiction memoir for a woman who lived in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War (1992-1995). In the romance genre, I’ve got a paranormal story ¾ of the way done. Still have to finish and edit it. It involves a woman who “sees” song titles in her head that pertain to her life and what goes on around her.

KL: What would you recommend I do if I find myself trapped in an elevator with a very attractive man? (I think Allison did the right thing! Lol)

MS: Pushing those buttons to stall the elevator sounds exactly like the thing to do…but check to see if he’s wearing a wedding ring first!

KL: Fair enough! Lol

Here’s a little taste of “Anything You Can Do…”

Daycare director, Allison Minetti, runs “Ryan’s Rugrats” for children of employees of Ryan Industries and needs financial aid for the center. CEO Jeffrey Ryan doesn’t take her request seriously. She challenges him to spend a week in daycare. If he loses, he’ll consider donating funds. If she loses, she’ll spend a friendly weekend with him and end her donation requests.

Allison makes sure he experiences daycare routines including Diaper Day, Kitchen Day, field trips, and swimming lessons, all which threaten Jeff’s orderly realm of sanity. Decreased numbers of kids at the center make his days easier and cause her to become suspicious of attendance disappearances.

Instant mutual attraction leads to a week of seductive teasing and brief steamy encounters. Both welcome the weekend and a chance to satisfy their lustful passion. Hurtful lessons of betrayal from past loves haunt each of them so trust is vital in their relationship. Will someone else’s interference in their challenge lead to mistaken conclusions and pull them apart?

This sounds like a very romantic read!

XXOO Kat