Author Interview with Claire Ashgrove

I suppose author interview isn't entirely accurate, my friends. Today, instead of having Claire answer a few questions about herself, we will be visited by Farran de Clare, our hunky hero from Claire Ashgrove's most recent release, IMMORTAL SURRENDER (Curse of the Templars #2).

So without further ado, Farran here is going to grace us with his delicious six pack wonderful personality.

Hi Farran! How old are you, exactly?
I am over nine hundred years old.

Is that so? And what, exactly, do you do? 
I serve the archangel Mikhail, under the steady sword of Merrick du Loire, in the Holy Order of the Knights Templar.

What is your favorite saying? 
(Farren chuckles.) At present, I find myself oft beginning my sentences with damsel.  As in, Damsel, mind your tongue.  'Tis hard not to when I'm bound to one so willful.

Who is your worst enemy, and what did he/she do? 
My worst enemy is the dark lord, Azazel.  I am sworn to fight against his vile creations, to protect the mortal realm you know.  He covets the highest throne, and 'tis mine and my brothers' duty to stop his ascent.

What is one thing you wouldn't be caught dead doing? 
Once I would have said watching television, but I find myself in greater luxury of late, and cannot claim such now.  'Twould have to be dancing at one of these so-called clubs Noelle has spoken of. 
 

Any love interests? 
(A wicked smirk drifts across his mouth.)  Aye.  
  

Well... are you going to tell us who? 
'Twould be the lady de Clare, Dr. Noelle Keane.  Though 'twas not an easy journey to reach this contentment of my heart. I wanted naught to do with her.  She, however, possesses a... way... about her, shall we say, that made it impossible to do anything but adore her.  
 

When did you know you were falling for her? 
(He laughs again.)  When the urge to feel her lips on mine became as fierce as the urge to throttle her.  (Farran pauses for a moment, then his expression sobers.)  In truth, 'twas a moment we shared in the belly of the temple, when I glimpsed the woman she was, not the seraph forced upon me.  
  

What is one favorite childhood memory? 
Saints' toes -- a millenia has passed since I have been asked about childhood.  I do not oft think about those I have left behind.  Though I recall a special fondness for riding through the de Clare lands as a young boy beside my sire, grateful for the time he shared with me.  He was truly a lord to be admired, and I deeply respected him.  
  

When this war is over, if the Templar are the victors, where would you like to go to get away? 
I have seen much sand in my life.  Fought in the dispicable dunes against Saladin.  But I have never set foot on tropical sands.  I should take Noelle to an island, I do believe.  One that is not marked with a gate to Azazel's realm.  (His grin returns, devilish as ever.)  And there, I shall focus on naught but my duty to Noelle.


Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction's Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed romances, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars debuted with Tor in January 2012. For those who prefer the more erotic side of romance, she also writes for Berkley Heat as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire.

To learn more about Claire, visit her on the web at www.claireashgrove.com, or www.toristclaire.com. You can also connect with her via Facebook, and Twitter. 


Giveaway

What you can win:

• One digital copy of any of Claire's backlist books, excepting those in the Templar series
  
• Commenters’ names will be added into the tour-end drawing of a 25.00 Amazon gift card.

What you need to do:

• Leave a comment on this interview; be sure to include your email address in the comments section, otherwise you will not be entered to win either prize.
  
• Follow the tour – the more you comment on participating blogs, the better your chances of winning. Complete tour dates can be found at Claire's website, here.