We’re so pleased to have author Avery Giles dropping in today on the tour for her brand new debut release, Too Hot!. She’s chatting a bit about the title of the book, as a matter of fact, and there’s also a giveaway, so be sure to check out those details too.

Welcome, Avery!

I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone that the title of this novel was inspired by Bruno Mars’s incredibly popular song “Uptown Funk.” I think I titled this novel before I even started writing it. That was, in my humble opinion, the perfect choice from the very beginning. I never considered changing it to something else.

I did, however, have some internal and external debate over the exclamation point. Including punctuation in a title is usually a risky move, since it makes it harder for people to search for your book. I wanted it for the stylized look, which fit with my cover idea and the general theme. My publishing company needed some convincing, however. In the end, I convinced them to let me choose aesthetic over practicality just this once.

For any of you who are familiar with the song, you may be wondering if I intend to write a sequel called “Hot Damn!” The answer is blessedly uncomplicated: maybe. If I get a good idea, I certainly will. If not, then sorry, but I can’t force it out like the last bit of toothpaste in an old tube. I promise to do my best, though!

Probably the most fun part of “designing” this book, however, was picking the models to go on my cover. I must’ve gone through dozens of stock photos before I settled on the right ones. I know shirtless men are notorious for appearing on romance covers, but it was important to me that Eli, the black firefighter, not be aggressively sexualized. I opted instead to have him looking like the upstanding young gentleman he is in his full gear, and I just love the model’s smile. He looks so open, romantic and friendly. I had a little more wiggle room with Charlie’s appearance, so he got to show off his sexy chest. I love how his eyes are focused on Eli, like he’s all Charlie can see. It’s a sweet, sexy cover that I adore. My artist, Natasha Snow, did a fantastic job!

About the Book

Sparks aren’t just flying . . . they’re catching.

Eli Johnson is not a hero. He’s just a guy who’s doing his best. His mother was a hero, though, and when she died, he dropped out of college to become a firefighter—a vocation she would have been proud of. He might not be able to save everyone, but he can do what she taught him: put more good out than bad.

Charlie Kinnear is definitely not a hero. When he ran into a burning building to save a trapped child, he was acting on instinct. He’s not expecting a medal, or for a handsome firefighter with a stunning smile to give him his oxygen mask. Charlie’s light-headed, and not from smoke inhalation.

Right as their romance begins, a serial arsonist terrorizes the city. As if that weren’t bad enough, Charlie appears at the scene of every fire. Eli hates to think it, but if someone wanted to get a firefighter’s attention—say, a certain sexy someone who coincidentally wandered into Eli’s life—what better way than by starting fires? Sparks are flying all right, and things may get too hot for Eli and Charlie to handle.

[zilla_button url=”https://riptidepublishing.com/products/too-hot” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Available from Riptide Publishing [/zilla_button]

About the Author

Avery Giles is a brown-eyed, fair-haired, moss-covered swamp witch who subsists on energy drinks and the hearts of her enemies. Her day-to-day routine involves waking up, writing three sentences, staring at those three sentences until her brain tells her why they’re wrong, watching eighteen hours of Netflix, and luring bandits away from the safety of the well-lit path. If asked about her favorite books, she’ll mention the Percy Jackson series, Good Omens, and the blackened scroll on which she detailed an encounter with a crooked librarian that led to two marriages and a beheading. She enjoys eating Italian, French, and German lovers after mating with them.

Connect with Avery: Email

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of TOO HOT! one lucky person will win a $10 Riptide Publishing gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on October 13, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!