Sometimes unexpected good things may come out of a simple play or game. We don’t always have to sit down with the specific idea we’d write a big great novel. The lady I’ll introduce to you today is the living proof of that. Pandora Spocks is an author of sexy contemporary romance and light BDSM whose appetite for writing woke up while she was playing. Her characters are interesting, flawed and easy to love, her writing flows easily and draws you in. In honor of her recently released Rannigan’s Redemption boxed set I decided to invite Pandora for her Author Spotlight and let the readers get to know that new but talented writer, lover of ginger haired women as heroines, travel, cruises and fellow Game of Thrones fan.

Lilah: Hello Pandora and thank you for taking some of your time to spend with the readers of Author Spotlight. A bit of untypical question but do you find summer more or less inspiring for your sexy, smart tales? What is the best writing season for you?

Pandora: I don’t know that I’d say summer was more inspiring, but the reality is that I have more time for writing in the summer. In terms of inspiration, I have ideas swirling through my brain all the time. Which is why I always try to keep a notebook with me. In case of emergency, I have been known to text ideas to myself.

Lilah: It all started with Luke and Bella, two awesome and flawed characters who embarked on a journey. How did they get born? Was that your first attempt at writing?

Pandora: Originally, Luke & Bella started out as a private role-play on Twitter. That shortly fell by the wayside when my writing partner lost interest and the story sat dormant for a time. I picked it up again, rewriting what was there (really only about three or four chapters) as narrative, and I began posting it on Tumblr. Around Chapter 70, I stopped and once again, it sat for a while. When I returned to Luke & Bella, I began posting it chapter by chapter on WordPress, finally finishing the story. It received a lot of interest, both on Tumblr and on WordPress and it occurred to me that I might publish it as a book. Luke & Bella grew out of daydreaming about the coolest job in the world: traveling the world and being paid for it. And interestingly enough, they didn’t start out BDSM, they just sort of evolved that way. Characters are like that, I’ve found.

Lilah: Tell us more about your self-publishing experience. What was it like so far and if you could turn back time, what would you do in a different way?

Pandora: Self-publishing has been an education. The fact that I was so incredibly naïve when I first started actually worked in my favor—if I’d had any idea how much I didn’t know, I’d have been too intimidated to even try. I actually accidentally published Luke & Bella. When I uploaded it to Kindle Direct Press, I thought I’d have the opportunity to edit and format. Instead, boom, I had a book for sale. Hahaha! Truthfully, self-publishing has been a great experience. I’ve learned an incredible amount, and I’ve met many terrifically talented writers who have been extremely supportive. And if I could turn back time, I don’t know that I’d do anything differently. Except maybe do a little more editing on Luke & Bella. Haha!

Lilah: Who is your favorite of the characters of your stories?

Pandora: Gosh, that’s so hard. They’re all like my babies. And my friends. When I saw the end of Luke & Bella looming, I panicked and started writing Rannigan simultaneously.

In terms of favorites, though… I’d probably have to say Michael Rannigan. He was a big risk, a leading man who is deeply flawed and not especially likable. I felt my challenge was to show his bents and faults and to somehow make him sympathetic, to help everyone see in him what Maggie sees.
Although if we’re talking book boyfriends, you really can’t do better than Bobby Beaulieu. I’d totally go out with him! Haha! I also really like many of my supporting characters, like Ben Kauffman from Rannigan, and Charlie and Tre from Luke & Bella.

Lilah: Michael, Maggie and Beau out of the Rannigan series are some of your best characters in my humble opinion, and they are clearly favorites of a lot of readers. What was it like saying goodbye to them at the end?

Pandora: Wow, thanks so much! I love Michael, Maggie, and Beau. It was hard saying goodbye to them. I tried to leave them in a place that feels satisfactory for me and for readers.

Lilah: What can we expect of Pandora Spocks in the future? What is your current work in progress?

Pandora: I’m working on a new novel called Lost and Found. It’s a return to a light BDSM theme, like Luke & Bella. Shasta Pyke is a spoiled Hollywood starlet. When she crosses paths with sexy mountain man Blake Walker, he recognizes the bratty ‘little’ in need of guidance and discipline. The story is set in the wilderness of northern Ontario, a place I recall fondly from childhood visits there.

Lilah: And in the end, share some fun fact about yourself most people would be totally surprised with.

Pandora: I’m a rabid Game of Thrones fan. A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to attend Tampa Bay Comic-Con and I had a press pass. It afforded me the chance to sit mere feet away from Pedro Pascal (aka Oberon Martell) and Richard Madden (aka Robb Stark) during a fan Q&A. I also dressed as Ashara Dayne (a very minor character, merely mentioned in the books) for Halloween. That’s the kind of dork I am, hahahaha!

Thanks so much for having me, Lilah! I’ve enjoyed our chat.

I trust that you also enjoyed your time with Pandora. Now it’s time to see what she has to offer you in her growing bibliography.

Pandora’s Novels

Luke & Bella: Two Streets Over

Blurb: Strong-willed ginger Bella Grant is a take-charge television journalist with an appetite for adventure. Handsome and sexy Luke McGillicutty is a world-weary photographer coaxed out of premature retirement with the promise of traveling the world with a smart, spunky redhead. They’ve been paired up to create a new brand of television travel program.

Traveling to romantic destinations, staying in first-class hotels, finding adventure at every turn, it’s not surprising that the two fall in love. Luke is stunned to realize that Bella is the woman he’s looked for his whole life. She’s beautiful, smart, funny, and courageous.

The only thing is, Luke hasn’t been completely up front with her. He hasn’t told her that he’s into BDSM. He could play it safe, keep the relationship going exactly the way it is. But Luke wants more. As a Dominant, he craves the intimacy that a Dom/sub relationship provides. And he knows without a doubt that Bella is the perfect submissive. How will she react if he approaches her about submitting to him as a Dominant? Maybe she’d be intrigued by the idea. On the other hand, he could lose her forever.

Life on the road working with Bella is great. Nights spent in Bella’s arms are amazing. Should Luke just be satisfied with the way things are? Or should he risk everything on the chance that they could have it all?

Rannigan’s Redemption: Part 2: Running Rogue

Blurb: Michael Rannigan is running rogue. Since Maggie’s abrupt departure from the law firm of Murphy, Rannigan, & Metheny, he’s been in a tailspin. As he limps along in the new normal, he misses her more than he ever imagined.

Maggie misses Michael as well. But she makes the best of her new job at the District Attorney’s office. Occasionally they cross paths in court, each assessing the other. Like Michael, she finds herself making questionable personal choices.

When opportunity knocks for Michael he leaps at it, maybe as much to avoid Maggie’s absence as anything else. The fact that his decision impacts everyone else at the firm doesn’t slow him down at all.

Then comes news that shakes him to his core. Now that he’s burned all his bridges, who will be there to help him pick up the pieces?