Name Cara Bristol
Age North of 40!
Where are you from:
The United States. I grew up on the west coast in California and currently live in Missouri, which is in the middle of the country. I’m married with two grown stepkids and one cat. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and I’ve been newspaper reporter and public relations director, but I love being an author more than anything. I write contemporary and science fiction romance. Erotic romance.
A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
Two things. I recently made the USA Today Bestseller list! Bound, Spanked, and Loved, an anthology I co-authored with 13 writer friends ranked 126 out of the top 150 bestselling books reported to USA Today.
Second, Captured by the Cyborg, a science fiction romance, will be published on March 15, 2016. It will be my 25th published book. I’m calling it my Silver Book Birthday, and I’m holding a drawing for a sterling silver heart pendant. Readers and fans can enter by subscribing to my newsletter before March 14. They can get all the details on a blog post I wrote.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
In high school. The kids complained about having to write term papers, but I secretly enjoyed it. When I had to pick a college major, I chose journalism because it involved writing. I started writing fiction about 25 years ago. I sold some short stories, and won some awards, but didn’t get a book published until 2009.
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
The first book (“first” defined as the first one published) I wrote originally as a lark. I was writing mainstream women’s fiction working toward producing a collection of short stories when I got an idea for a kinky little erotic romance. I was just playing. I wrote it to amuse myself. But when I finished, I thought it was good enough to submit. It got accepted by a small ebook publisher. Since then, I’ve sold every erotic romance to the first publisher I submitted to. Before I switched to erotic romance, I’d had hundreds of rejections. Sex sells!
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
I think I do. My style is crisp, clean, often amusing. I say a lot in a few words. My sex scenes are hot.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
All the books in the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series have Cyborg in the title because the heroes are…cyborgs, humans who have been scientifically enhanced. So there’s Stranded with the Cyborg (book 1), Mated with the Cyborg (book 2) and Captured by the Cyborg (book 3). The verbs in the titles (stranded, captured, etc.) refer to the conflict in the story. As to the series, Cy-Ops stands for Cyber Operations, the clandestine paramilitary organization the heroes belong to.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
We need to take a hardline approach against terrorism. That’s the message. The stories center around a clandestine paramilitary force of cyborgs who are fighting against terrorism in the galaxy. The overall Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series was inspired by present day threats around the world. The second book, Mated with the Cyborg addresses the issue head on, when a cyber operative goes undercover on the enemy’s space station and discovers the innocent daughter of the general has been marked for death.
The Cy-Ops books are romances, so in each one the hero is fighting for the heroine. I want to bring back genuine heroes to romance, men who are flawed, but noble, who fight for what is right and risk all for the women they love.
The series tagline is “Saving the girl and the galaxy one mission at time.”
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic ?
Captured by the Cyborg is science fiction romance, so I make up a lot of stuff! Lol. But, that said, I do a lot of Googling to check my facts and assumptions. I strive to make my stories “better than real.” My characters should seem like real people, but be memorable, and the story should keep readers turning pages. I write to entertain. I want readers to have fun reading my books.
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?
Erotic romance authors Lora Leigh and Shayla Black were both early influencers. And believe it not, so was horror writer Stephen King. He’s a panster! But he plots so well. I read his book On Writing, and I was amazed at how similar our writing processes are.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
I have three going: When an Alpha Purrs by Eve Langlais, Crash and Burn by Cynthia Sax, and The Astronaut’s Princess by Lisa Medley. The first one is a paranormal romance. The other two are sci-fi romances.
Fiona: What are your current projects?
I’m getting Captured by the Cyborg ready for ebook release and the second book Mated with the Cyborg ready for audiobook release, and I’m preparing for the release of Educating His Bride a 1950s historical spanking romance. Then I’ll start writing Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance 4.
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
My author friends. The writing community is SO incredibly supportive of one another. They’ve responded when I’ve asked for advice, they’ve helped to promote my books, they’ve bought my books. Many members of my Street Team are fellow authors. Bound, Spanked & Loved is a great example of how authors working together can achieve great things. Fourteen authors, combining energy and talent, were able to hit a major US bestseller list.
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Yes. It’s my career and a full-time job. I’m pretty much at the computer seven days a week. But I love it. It’s my dream job.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Yes, thank you. Here’s the description from Captured by the Cyborg (Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance 3), to be released March 15, 2016.
Sometimes the biggest risk is to one’s heart….
A science fiction romance by USA Today Bestselling Author Cara Bristol
An ex-Cyber Operations field agent, Dale Homme has kissed danger and betrayal more times than he cares to count. Now he runs a clandestine factory beneath the surface of the moon Deceptio, where confidentiality and security matter more than anything. When a beautiful young woman arrives seeking a job, Dale knows within minutes she’s lying. Everything about her is false: her past, the people she claims to know, her reason for being on Deceptio. Illumina Smith? Even her name is an alias.
Logic says send her packing. His gut says she’s in trouble. She needs him. So he’ll do anything to keep her safe….even if it means keeping her captive.
Captured by the Cyborg is third in the Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series but is written to be read as a stand-alone novella.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
Sweet ‘n Spicy Designs. She does an awesome job.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you! Thank you so much for supporting me. I’d love to hear from you. Please visit my website or friend me on Facebook.
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
Of course, I read books in school, but the first book I read for entertainment was about barnyard animals. I was nine, and my friend who was two years older had raved about it. So I read it. I thought it was the most boring book I’d ever read in my life. All nine years of it. Lol. But reading it got us into a competition to see who could finish a book first, and I started reading a lot of different stuff. I got hooked on Nancy Drew mysteries, Trixie Beldon. The first book I checked out of the library was Island of the Blue Dolphins, which I LOVED. I’ll bet I’ve read it eight times.
Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
My husband and I love to travel and have been all over the world. I also read a lot. I have a habit of turning my hobbies into jobs. Writing used to be a hobby. Lol.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
I like the comedies and reality TV shows. I’m a big Survivor fan, and I love the Real Housewives of Orange County, Beverly Hills, and New York.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
I would have majored in business administration and gone into management at a corporation. But, writing is what I love to do, and if I can’t do that, anything else will be picking something just to pick something.
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
By the way, every Friday, I have a special feature called “Friday Faves” in which highlight my favorite things. Readers can expect personal anecdotes and lots of photos. It’s a promo-free zone in which people can learn a little more about me.
Here are my other links:
Thank you so much for the interview!
authorsinterviews 
Thank you so much for the interview. I enjoyed reading about the other authors on your blog, too!