ESCAPING EXILE (Escape Trilogy #1) by Sara Dobie Bauer-Review, Interview & Giveaway

ESCAPING EXILE
Escape Trilogy #1
by Sara Dobie Bauer
Release Date: August 13, 2018
Genre: adult, paranormal, M/M, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 13, 2018

Andrew is a vampire from New Orleans, exiled to a tropical island in the 1800s as punishment for his human bloodlust. During a storm, a ship crashes off shore. After rescuing a sailor from the cannibals native to the land, Andrew becomes fascinated with his brilliant, beautiful new companion, Edmund.

Edmund is a British naturalist who has sailed the world seeking new species. Intrigued by creatures that might kill him, immortal Andrew is this scientist’s dream—but so is making his way back home. Edmund will fight to survive, even while wrapped in the arms of a monster.

As light touches and laughter turn to something much more passionate, the cannibals creep ever closer to Edmund. Can the ancient vampire keep his human alive long enough to escape exile and explore their newfound love, or will Andrew’s bloodlust seal his own doom?

••••••••••

REVIEW: ESCAPING EXILE is the first instalment in Sara Dobie Bauer’s adult, historical ESCAPE paranormal, M/M, erotic romance trilogy focusing on exiled vampire Andrew, and British naturalist Edmund.

NOTE: ESCAPING EXILE contains M/M sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from first person point of view (Andrew) ESCAPING EXILE follows exiled vampire Andrew as he finds himself drawn to the lone survivor of a shipwreck following a deadly storm. Stranded on an island inhabited by cannibals Andrew and British naturalist Edmund struggle to survive against the odds including Andrew’s desire to feed from the man with whom he will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Andrew and Edmund, as our couple must battle the elements, starvation, and attacks by a group of flesh-eating humans.

ESCAPING EXILE is a quick and easy, erotic read that focuses on the growing attraction and building love between a vampire and human thrown together by circumstance and fate. We learn a little bit about Andrew’s past-his history, his ‘turning’, and the events leading to his exile on a not-so deserted island, as well as Edmund’s need to find and challenge that which, could do him harm. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. The premise is entertaining and engaging. ESCAPING EXILE does not end on a cliff-hanger but with a promise of more to come.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

TRC: Hi Sara and welcome to The Reading Cafe.

We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

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Sara: I’m a full time writer who wears pajamas all day and only showers because my husband is on his way home from work. Not kidding. I’ve been writing full time for almost a decade now, and I tend to always write romance, usually with a twist, whether that be romantic comedy, paranormal romance, or romantic horror (yes, that’s a thing).

TRC: Who or what influenced your career in writing?

Sara: Probably reading so many books as a kid. Anne Rice had a lot to do with it since I read her Vampire Chronicles when I was still in elementary school. Maybe a bit young for that …

TRC: What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first novel?

Sara: Finding the right publisher. I ended up with World Weaver Press for the Bite Somebody series based on a referral, thank God. What a blessing back in 2015!

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the premise of your new paranormal, M/M romance ESCAPING EXILE and the ESCAPE trilogy?

Sara: Bloodthirsty vampire meets sexy, shipwrecked sailor. Add a dash of cannibals and lots of sex. The trilogy follows them from new love to established love to … well, that would be a spoiler, wouldn’t it?

TRC: From where did you get the idea for ESCAPING EXILE?

Sara: Oh, gosh, I wish I knew. I have no idea. As a writer, I get ideas all the time, but very few of them actually make it on the page. This one probably showed up as some weird fantasy of mine and just grew into a full-fledged storyline.

TRC: What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning ESCAPING EXILE?

Sara: Very little plotting. I’m not a plotter. I follow characters and see what they do. Escaping Exile is the first of the trilogy, so most of the research came into play in books two and three as the boys travel to Victorian New Orleans and London.

TRC: Has your work with the mental health community and as a LGBTQ advocate helped with your writing and story line premises?

Sara: So much! Thanks to working in the mental health community, I’ve been able to create more complex characters that often share my own psychological traits. My LGBTQ advocacy has given me a clear look at difficulties faced, and although I don’t often get too political in my work, you can see glimpses if you look close enough.

TRC: There is a fine line between romance, erotic and erotica fiction. What do you believe are the differences? And where should the author draw the line?

Sara: Romance versus erotica just depends on the sex, not the plot. Romance, to me, is closed-door sex and fade out, whereas erotica shows the sex and can be mature to explicit. I fear people write off erotica as crappy writing, just smut, but I’ve read some fantastic literary erotica. For me, include as much sex as you want; just keep the characters true to themselves whether you fade out or give a doggy style play-by-play.

TRC: Most, if not all, of your books and series focus on the paranormal. Have you ever considered writing another romance genre?

Sara: I have written a romance novel without any paranormal elements! But it hasn’t been published yet … I’m shopping it with agents right now, and we’ll see what happens. I do love paranormal, though. As a huge horror movie fan, I love a good monster.

TRC: What was the most challenging scene to write?

Sara: The first sexual encounter between Andrew and Edmund. By then, I was so hyped for them to just do it already; I had to be careful not to rush it!

TRC: Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

Sara: Yes, for sure. If your cover doesn’t capture the eye, a reader might not even consider your blurb. They might just pass you by. It’s also important for your cover to fit your genre and the tone of your book.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Sara: The characters direct everything, those bastards. Sometimes, they go completely mad—like in The Escape Trilogy. As the series moves on, Edmund takes over. He does things I never saw coming.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Sara: Know your characters. Write huge character bios before you even start writing so you know everything about them—even their favorite ice cream. If the character feels real, readers will relate. Writers fail when they put plot before character.

TRC: Do you listen to music while writing? If so, does the style of music influence the storyline direction? Characters?

Sara: Nope. I write in total silence. I listen to music throughout the day when I’m not writing, though, and yes, I’ll hear certain songs and think, “This is perfect for Andrew and Edmund.” In the case of Escaping Exile, Hozier’s “Better Love” is their theme song.

TRC: What do you believe is the biggest misconception people have about authors?

Sara: hat we’re snobby intellectuals. Most of us are just huge, introverted nerds. We really do sit around sipping whiskey, though.

TRC: How should authors measure a book’s success?

Sara: Certainly not by money. That can be a setup for disaster. Measure success by fan response, fan enthusiasm. We don’t do this for the big bucks; we do it because we love telling stories and sharing them with people.

TRC: What is something that few, if anybody, knows about you?

Sara: I’m obsessed with horror movies, but I can’t watch zombie flicks. Zombies are just one step too far.

TRC: Who is your favorite author (living or dead)?

Sara: Impossible. Changes by the day. Today? I’m awfully fond of M/M author Dessa Lux.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Sara: A new adult LGBTQ romantic horror comedy about a monster in Florida. The leading male, Emory, is arguably based on me.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Cheese pizza with black olives

Favorite Dessert: Nah, gimme salt!

Favorite TV Show: Rick and Morty

Last Movie You Saw: Hot Summer Nights

Dark or Milk Chocolate: DARK

Secret Celebrity Crush: Timothee Chalamet (It’s totally not a secret.)

Last Vacation Destination: Milwaukee for SummerFest

Do you have any pets? Two big dogs. Ripley is named after the Aliens heroine. Raylan is named after Elmore Leonard’s Raylan Givens.

Last book you read: Snakes Among Sweet Flowers by Jason Huffman-Black

TRC: Thank you Sara for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the new release. We wish you all the best.

Sara Dobie Bauer is graciously offering an e-copy of ESCAPING EXILE to ONE (1) lucky commentator at The Reading Cafe

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