Lessons on Seduction follows a college student who becomes entangled with a professor with a secret life of affairs and lustful encounters. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration behind Lessons on Seduction was my readers in a writing/reading community. When I started writing the first draft, it was originally meant to be a sweet college romance. However, my readers wanted a steamy story with a brave heroine. I reshaped my writing into an erotic romance with a thrilling plot, a protagonist with a strong voice, and a love interest who is swoon-worthy, intelligent, and relatable. Without my readers, I wouldn’t have written the story the way it is today.

Sapphire and Julian are intriguing characters. What were some driving ideals behind their character’s relationship?

Fresh from a breakup, Sapphire turns away from her family’s expectations, and she chooses to pursue her own goals. She meets her best friend’s brother, Julian, who gives her the freedom she needs to be herself, and he encourages her to let go of her inhibitions in their relationship. I was inspired by the concepts of freedom, equality, and empowerment to bring Sapphire and Julian together. Their relationship—though far from perfect—is based on trust, faith, and love.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Some of the themes that were important for me when I wrote the book include:

• Love and faith. From a romance standpoint, it was love at first sight for Sapphire and Julian. They had the instant connection both physically and intellectually, but their journey had just begun. A deeper and more protective love developed throughout the story.
• Forgiveness and redemption. Julian made some big mistakes. After facing his dark secrets, which had become exposed, he went through a period of atonement, while Sapphire’s character developed to reach a higher maturity level. When the timing was right, both characters were reunited at an event. This is where forgiveness and redemption came into play.
• Love triangle. From a romance perspective, Julian and Sapphire were trapped in a love triangle involving his former flame, a wealthy woman who had no scruples about breaking up the two characters.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I recently re-edited the sequel to Lessons on Seduction and have submitted the manuscript to my publisher. I hope it will be available this year.

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