Welcome, Ms. Tabke, to Love Romances and to our interview.  The readers and I, look forward to this talk about your first full-length novel, and getting to know you on a more personal level. 

Let us start off by telling you a little about this fascinating and talented author, Karin Tabke, with a wonderful quote and a short blurb of her book, Good Girl Gone Bad. 

“GOOD GIRL GONE BAD is by Karin Tabke.  Ms. Tabke has penned the hottest must read erotic book of 2006!  It screams of freshness and flowing sexual scenes that are intense and sensually titillating. Add to the heated mix sharp wordsmithing, tantalizing characters, novel dialogues and the combinations are unbeatable!”

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Straight-laced, by-the-book police officer Philamina Zorn has always lived by the letter of the law—that is, until she is assigned to work with Lieutenant Ty Jamerson, a tough-as-nails, arrogantly handsome cop who knows exactly how to press her buttons. Staking out Klub Kashmir, Lansdowne's hottest gentleman’s club, Phil and Ty go undercover to bait the kidnapper of three young women—including two strippers from the club—while trying to keep their clashing personalities at bay. Baring more than just her inhibitions, Phil dons a barely-there ensemble, straps on stilettos, and reveals her feisty side as Kat, a seductively sexy cocktail waitress who lets her luscious curves do the talking. Not only is she determined to expose a criminal, but she has vowed to show her hot-headed lieutenant, a.k.a. floor manager of Klub Kashmir, that she’s no shrinking violet.

As Phil and Ty become deeper entrenched in the sordid underground world of exotic dancing, where money means everything and passions run wild, flaring tension becomes uncontrollable lust. It’s all they can do not to surrender to desire—a hunger that intensifies with each playful encounter. Meanwhile, a cold-blooded criminal is hiding in the shadows—and a devastating secret that if revealed, could shake Phil to her core.

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Ms. Tabke, if you would be so kind as to tell the readers a little about yourself, and what you do when you are not busy writing? 

Well, first of all, I would like to say thank you for having me, and wow!  What a great review of GOOD GIRL GONE BAD. You made my day, hell my week!

Okay, so about me. I’m afraid I haven’t lived the most interesting life, no I take that back, as a mother of four children current ages ranging from 16 to 26, my life has been more than interesting. My kids have given me a view of life I might otherwise not have experienced. My husband is a retired police officer, hence I write what I know, ‘hot cops.’  In my non writing time I love nothing more than to watch my 20 year old son play college football and my youngest son play football under the Friday night lights.  I read, a lot, and love to have a glass of wine with friends.   

Could you tell the readers how you came up with the premise for Good Girl Gone Bad? 

Hubby has always had an aversion to IA’s.  He was a cowboy when he worked the streets and well, he had his share of IA’s and quite frankly he may even have had one or two that resemble the opening scene in GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, sans the sexy IA officer. Writing erotic suspense, I had to come up with a plausible, workable, sexy plot. I didn’t have to stretch much. Having lived vicariously through my husband’s many years on the streets the characters came easy.  

Ms. Tabke, who has inspired you the most with your writing? 

Well, I fell in love with romance in the eighth grade.  I read Kathleen Woodiwiss’ FLAME AND THE FLOWER. I was lost to romance from then on.  But for my stories I have to say my husband has been my inspiration.  He is most definitely an alpha male, and he lends lots of inspiration to my heroes.  My two boys are heroes in the making. 
 

Do you have a favorite scene from Good Girl Gone Bad?  

I have so many! I love the scene where Phil is handed her ‘uniform’ for Klub Kashmir. I love the scene where she breaks down and cries as the realizations of what she has denied for so long gut punch her to her knees, and then Ty’s handling of the train wreck.  J I also love the epilogue.  That was hubby’s idea. 

What was the hardest scene to develop in Good Girl Gone Bad? 

My editor wanted a very graphic scene that brought Phil’s past to the present reworked. At the time, I had difficulty because I believed that scene galvanized Phil’s present, but I went too far. My editor was right.  Phil had moved forward with her life before that scene.  I was doing her a disservice by keeping it in.   

Do you have a special formulation or technique when you write? 

I just blogged about this. I’m an intuitive writer.  While I have studied the formulas, the do’s and don’ts, and everything in between, for me, once I know my characters I let them tell their story.    

Ms. Tabke, what is the nicest thing another author has said about you?

well to me would be, “Thank you for helping me out.” But about me? “I’m so glad you aren’t a bitch.” J

Ms. Tabke, how long did it take you to write Good Girl Gone Bad? 

When I sold GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, I had 50 pages written. Those I knocked out in a couple of days.  I think it took me about 3 months to complete revise and send off.

Could you describe to the readers what it felt like when Good Girl Gone Bad was accepted for publication? 

Euphoric. I had two publishers who wanted this story.   

They say everyone has a dream, what is yours? 

I just watched Miss Congeniality the other night for the second time, and without sounding like Sandra Bullock’s character, my dream is world peace.  But I’m guessing you want something a bit more realistic? In the publishing world, my dream is for each of my stories to be better than the one before it.  I do not want to disappoint anyone who spends their hard earned cash on me.  

How much background research went into Good Girl Gone Bad? 

Hey, I sleep with a cop.  

Ms. Tabke, do you have any special interests or causes you would like to share with the readers? 

I love animals and donate to ‘no kill’ shelters.  I also scholarship boys who can’t afford football equipment or summer camp. I’ll also be offering a full scholarship (registration fee) to RWA National next year. I feel an incredible responsibility to pay forward in this world. I had a few helping hands along the road to publication, and I’d like to return the favor.

I would love to be the catalyst to someone’s ultimate goal of publication. It’s what my First Line Contest is all about. You can check it out on my website.  www.karintabke.com then click the blog link.

Ms. Tabke, what are your views in regards to sex in the romance field today? 

I think if the sex works go for it.  We are all adults, and if readers want hot then give them hot.  I have always written sexy, passionate love stories, so erotic romance fits right into my writing style.

For most people sex is a natural progression in a romance.  It must come naturally, not forced. Now as far as gratuitous sex goes? Doesn’t work for me. What I really I love to write, is the tension. Lot’s of tension. <eg>

And, I will always write a HEA. 

You give the characters in Good Girl Gone Bad a realistic and personal feel to them.  Did you model anyone from the book after someone you know personally? 

Again, hubby is my yardstick for my heroes.  The man can banter and has the quickest, wittiest lines of anyone I know. Both of my sons and one of my daughters has the same gene.  Sunday dinners are quite entertaining at my house.  I write what I know.  I guess I had better stop talking about him before he starts demanding consultation fees. 

Ms. Tabke, will you try your hand at other genres? 

I have.  I’m currently working on a very sexy romantic medieval. My agent loves it and will be searching for a home for it very soon. I also have a similarly sexy western set historical, with of course, a US Marshal who comes to town and shakes it up, not least of all the heroine.
 

Would you like to tell the readers about any new or upcoming releases, Ms. Tabke? 

In GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, Ty has two ‘hot cop’ buddies. The dark and reticent Reese, and the philandering charismatic Jase. SKIN is Reese’s story.  He meets up with a hard-headed mafia princess while undercover at her magazine as a male model, a naked male model.  J After Reese’s’ story comes Jase’s story, which I am currently working on and is tentatively titled JADED.

I am also in a paranormal anthology with bestselling authors Roxanne St. Claire and Allison Brennan, tentatively slated for release January ’08.  

I noticed you had an acknowledgement at the back of your book. Can you share with the readers a special moment that you and your critiquing partners had while you were writing Good Girl Gone Bad? 

Gosh it seems so long ago.  The book kind of flew from my fingertips; it wasn’t one of those stories where they had to beat me up.  I guess for me, the most special moment was acknowledging them in the book.  I got all teary eyed.  They are a great bunch of ladies. 

How can your fans reach you, Ms. Tabke?  

Karin@KarinTabke.com. 

Ms. Tabke, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?  

–Never—ever, give up!  Ever.
 

I would like to thank you Ms. Tabke, for sharing your talent and time with the readers of Love Romances.  I truly enjoyed reading Good Girl Gone Bad and hope to read more from you soon!

Thank you for having me, Janalee. The site is wonderful and I really enjoy reading the reviews and interviews. I couldn’t be happier that you enjoyed reading GOOD GIRL GONE BAD so much.  I loved writing it.

And for the record, this is my very first real live solo author interview. Thanks for being the first.  You made it fun and painless. J