Author Interview + Giveaway: The Inside Out Trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones

Hey!! I've missed blogging SO MUCH. I've been reading, but I couldn't write reviews or post them because of my exams. Ugh. More exams are coming up though (double triple friple ugh), but I've managed to snag some down time to interview the amazing Lisa Renee Jones about her up and rising Inside Out trilogy.



The Author

About Lisa

Bestselling author Lisa Renée Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT TRILOGY which will debut internationally across many countries in 2013. Booklist says that Jones’ suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann. Alpha, military, and paranormal romance readers will want Jones’ entire series. (About the Zodius Series — Storm that is Sterling)

In 2003, award winning author Lisa Renée Jones sold her Austin, Texas based multi-state staffing agency and has since published over thirty novels and novellas across several genres. Her staffing agency LRJ Staffing was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

  Her debuts with Blaze and Nocturne hit Bookscan’s Top 100 list and her Blaze Hot Zone trilogy made a showing on the list in 2011 also. --Cited from Lisa's Official Website

Connect with the author: Author's Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

And her highly acclaimed Inside Out trilogy...

If I Were You

Book 1 in series

The Blurb

The steamy first installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy by Lisa Renee Jones, in the bestselling tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry.

Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Being Me
Book 2 in series

The Blurb

The sexy second installment in the Inside Out erotic romance trilogy, following If I Were You—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Fascinated by the dark fantasies in the journals she’s discovered, and the two men who have now found a place in her life, Sara McMillan finds herself torn between her new life and her past. Now, more than ever, Sara identifies with the lost journal writer, Rebecca, and is certain that something sinister has happened.

In the arms of the sexy, tormented artist Chris Merit, Sara seeks answers about Rebecca and ends up discovering things about herself she never knew existed. Chris forces Sara to reconsider who she is and what she truly wants from life, but not before his dark desires threaten to tear them apart. Her boss, Mark Compton, offers her the shelter to understand just what those needs mean to her, and what they might have meant to Rebecca, but can she trust him to lead her to a final conclusion to Rebecca’s story?

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Revealing Us
Book 3 in series

The Blurb

The third and final installment in the sexy Inside Out erotic romance trilogy—in the seductive tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey.

You’ve discovered Rebecca’s secrets. You’ve discovered Sara’s secrets. Now Sara will discover “his” deepest, darkest secrets…but will those secrets bind them together—or tear them apart?

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Inside Out trilogy BREAKING NEWS! I quote from Lisa's amazing publicist, Brandy:

“Back in September it was announced that Lisa Renee Jones sold her indie series THE INSIDE OUT TRILOGY in a major deal to by Simon and Schuster. Since then the highly acclaimed series has sold to ten foreign countries, with more under negotiation, and now it’s been optioned by STARZ for television and it’s moving fast. They hope to be in production within 90 days.”

Read more about it HERE.

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Now, let us welcome, Lisa!

An Interview with Lisa Renee Jones

Hey Lisa, thank you so much for coming to the blog today!

To get started, tell us something about yourself, something that's uniquely you maybe?

I owned a multi-state staffing agency for 11 years and left to write romance. People find it strange that I was in the corporate world for years but really I did a lot acting and even some independent films so creativity was always my real love.

Wow, I'm hardly coping with my studies and reading all the books I love, it's amazing how you managed to work in the corporate world, act and write.

What got you started on writing? And why erotica of all genres!

I craved putting the creativity to use and needed an outlet when I was in business that allowed me to do both. To me romance is always sexy. There is something wonderful about how consuming new love can be physically and emotionally. It's very intoxicating and our sexuality as human beings is very much a part of who we are.

I've never really thought about it that way before. We're more conservative here in Singapore, but that's also why I love reading romance novels.

What was the inspiration behind the INSIDE OUT trilogy?

Years ago my fiancé was buying and selling storage auction units and he found a journal. The idea took root then and I had a lot of deadlines so it had a lot of time to simmer and take shape. By the time I started writing I really knew the characters which I think makes it more special to me and I hope readers.

Haha, that's SO cool! What if that was another Tom Riddles' diary? ;) Haha, kidding!

Do you think INSIDE OUT was your best publication so far?

Oh yes. I love this series and the characters and it's attached to a personal experience. I think it shows.

For all budding authors out there, can you share how you got your movie deal with STARZ? Which, by the way, is so amazing! Congrats!! :D

It's actually TV and my agent made it all happen but timing is everything. They were looking for something that fit this series. The dark erotic suspense and mystery really were a big part of the appeal for the producers and the network.

I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit though! The Inside Out trilogy is definitely a very unique series, the idea about the journal and all. It's still really cool though!

Have you casts your own characters yet? Imagined where they would film the entire thing and how in the world their going to film all those ahem, kinky, ahem scenes?? I've been wondering for so long how they're going to film FIFTY SHADES ever since James announced that the movie rights' been optioned.. Haha

I can't say much yet but the project is moving quickly. The hope is that it will be in production very very soon. I have ideas on casting but that is up to the experts. I trust they know what will work and who will be amazing. I'm excited to see who becomes the characters.

True true. Talking about FIFTY SHADES, do you have a favorite genre to read or write? Is it erotica??

I don't have a favorite genre. I read a lot and all over the board. I love Hunger Games and I love Karen Monings Fever and I love Linda Howard. I have lots of fav authors and genres.

I did like The Hunger Games, and I LOVED Shadowfever by Karen! I think that'll be true for most bookies out there. ;)

Which do you think is the best book you've written so far? Which character did you have the most fun writing about?

BEING ME is my best book ever. I love how dark, gritty and real it is. I love this series and the characters and letting them go at some point will be very, very hard.

Haha, sometimes I just want to indulge in some dark and gritty too, though I'm still not yet brave enough to bring erotica books out with me and read on the train! Aw, yeah, I've heard how authors get very attached to characters. :/ Are you planning/working on any other books/series now?

I just finished REVEALING US and there is a spinoff series I plan to start on in the next month.

I love spin-offs! Though sometimes I get overly attached to the characters in the previous books that I refuse to pick the spin off up. :P (Like The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Sigh...) I'm sure fans all over the world will be thrilled by this announcement!

Just a little side question, do you feel awkward or self-conscious whenever a family member/relative/friend read a romance scene in your novels?

No. I'm proud of what I write and they all know what I write. Sometimes people blush talking to me about books they have read I wrote but I figure that means I did a good job with the sexy scenes:)

Random rapid fire questions!

1) Paper and pen or Microsoft?  Mac all the way

2) Hot chocolate or champagne?   Love them both

3) Night owl or early bird?   Night owl. I spent my corp days as an early bird and hated it

4) Macho man or lean athlete?  Macho man. My men are always alpha. I love a sexy alpha man. (Me and half the women out there too! Hehe)

Thanks for coming over to the blog!

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~~Giveaway~~

Lisa's publisher, Simon and Schuster, is offering up a copy of If I Were You and a goodie bag FILLED with AMAZING swag.

This giveaway is international, and it ends a week from now (4/5)! Just fill in the Rafflecopter form below to enter! Good luck, and happy Good Friday everyone! :) a Rafflecopter giveaway