Author Interview : Trust : A New Beginning by Cristiane Serruya

Hello,
I’m so happy to be hosted on your amazing blog. It's good to know you were curious about TRUST. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much I loved writing it. :)

Little Blurb about yourself:

I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with my husband and two teenage daughters. I majored in Fine Arts and Law, and have a Masters in Business Law. Among other things, I’m also specialized in cases of sexual abuse and violence against children and women. I worked as a full-time lawyer from 1991 to 2010.
I’m widely traveled, having lived and studied in Brazil, England, France, Italy and Switzerland.
After twenty-two years of practicing law, I decided to give writing a go. And - amazingly - it was just the piece that was missing in my life.
I can be found online via her website ‘cristianeserruya.com.br’.


1. Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

I have always written. Poems, short stories, kids’ stories for my daughters, those kind of things. Real life is what inspires me to write. Look around you, listen to your family’s stories, your neighbors’ daily lives, read the newspapers. There are so many stories waiting to be told and not enough time to write about them.
But… Believe me or not… My story started on a very silly way. In April 2009 I was bedridden with a terrible case of flu and such a bad headache that I had to have the curtains drawn all day. Since I couldn’t even read, I decided to tell myself a story. The seed was planted.
The story grew and took shape, but daily life kept me from writing it. I was very unsatisfied with the Brazilian justice system and that was affecting my own work as a lawyer.
On February 28th, 2011, a friend of mine said I had such good stories to tell that I should write a book and that I would make many more people aware of the still brutal violence that was practiced against women and children (one of the main issues that I work with, and the subject of my university thesis). The next day, I started the trilogy.

2. How long did it take you to write (title of book you're promoting)?

TRUST is a trilogy. So, the whole idea took about six months to be done. Then I reshaped it all over again. I split the book in 3 parts and rewrote and bettered many scenes and add a few more. In the whole, it took me eight months writing and editing TRUST: A NEW BEGINNING.

3. While writing how many times do you go back and rewrite a plot?

It depends a lot. *Grin* Sometimes, I write a scene that seems so perfect, so moving that it just needs typos’ and grammar’s corrections. There are others that I throw them all away, either because they are redundant or because - don’t tell anyone - they are so terrible that even I hate it.

4. You run into a bookstore, where do you go first?

Romances, Biographies, art books are my favorites. I usually leave a book store with 5 or 6 books.

5. How many books in a month do you tend to read?

Around seven. It dependents on the number of pages they have and how profound they are. If a book is very good, I tend to read it at least twice.

6. In all the books you've read. Who is your most favorite character and why?

Ah… Sophia Leibowitz from the Trust trilogy… LOL… I like all strong heroines and I hate all whining, clumsy, weak anti-heroines.

7. State 5 random facts about yourself.

I love sweet things so I’m always on a dieting or running on the beach to burn the extra-calories I’ve eaten;
I’m extremely exacting;
I cry a lot;
I love children, specially babies.

8. Your favorite Genre?

Intelligent romance, historical, contemporary, dystopian and paranormal and biographies.

9. What are you currently reading?

I’m re-reading The book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa and I have the seven books of Rick Riordan to read. My eldest daughter says Rick is the best there is… so as I trust her… I’ll read them all. I also have Gena Showalter’s and Kresley Cole’s last books on my TBR.

10. What is the best book you've read?

Ooooh… This is such an unfair question… Books… What would I be without books? I read at least two books each week.
Hmmm… Let’s see. The Trust trilogy is my favorite. *Grin* No, really, all the books from Kafka, Camus, Ionesco, George Orwell, and… I think I’m forgetting many, many ones.

11. Any new projects coming up?
At the moment, I’m dedicating myself to finishing the last book of the TRUST trilogy, TRUST: PANDORA'S BOX, and I’m working on the marketing of the first and the second installments, TRUST: A NEW BEGINNING and TRUST: BETRAYED.

For my next projects, I'm going to write the whole Santo family story, starting with Carolina’s, Sophia’s sister. Oh, yeah! Carolina Santo's story is going to rock Rio de Janeiro, Hollywood, New York and London! Lunches, dinners, gala balls and fashion weeks will vie for her presence. The books are going to be full of gossip, beautiful and rich people, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.


12. Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?

This is an intriguing story about people who need to forgive, forget and learn how to love again. They have it all, but love. And they have to take care of their deep scares before they invite a person to share their lives. It has angst, drama, jealousy, beautiful places, intelligent people and… hot sex.
I thing that, today, there are many successful books, songs or entertainment things that uses subjects like the BDSM as an excuse to transform the male leading character in an abuser. There is a very fine line between an Alpha male and an abusive partner. Abuse is a crime and it must be called as so.
I love romance, as many women, but I don’t like to see women humiliated. I love romantic, alpha, even a bit rough men, but aggressive and violent men. No. That is not on y menu.
My book treads on the same subject of my Law School thesis, which was about violence against women and children. I have always felt that children and women are still very much abused and too many cases still go unpunished.
So, I expect to bring love and romance to all women who love strong heroines and alpha males.

I'd like to thank you for this interview and for helping me promote my book. Hearing from readers is very important to a writer. It always helps us to do a better job. So, I want to invite everybody to leave a message on my website "http://cristianeserruya.com.br".




Trust : A New Beginning
Trust Trilogy Book One
Cristiane Serruya

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

ISBN 13: 978-1480236295

Number of pages: 464

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Book Excerpt

Chapter 6
London, The City, Victoria Embankment.
The City of London Bank Headquarters.
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010.
10.10 a.m.
Alistair Connor MacCraig entered the meeting room from the connecting door of his
office. The room was empty. He looked at his vintage Patek Philip Perpetual Calendar
Moonphase.
Wales is already ten minutes late. Alistair didn’t do late. He opened the door to the
reception room, looked around and noticed the back of two heads, one dark, one fair,
inclined close together, engaged in an intimate conversation. He motioned for his
personal assistant to come in. “MacKeenan, could you please let Mr. Wales know that
he is late while I start the meeting?”
Sophia looked at her watch and whispered to Edward, “I hate waiting.”
“Heavens, Sophia. It’s only been ten minutes.” He smiled at her. “How did you cope
with Gabriela’s pregnancy?”
Her hazel eyes sparkled and the corners of her lips twisted. “Perfectly fine. I was
already working then and if I was bored I just invented a new idea for her room or
bought something new for her.”
“Poor, poor Gabriel,” he chuckled.
“Poor Gabriel?” She giggled, remembering how protective and overwhelming her
husband had been. “Poor, poor me! He panicked when I told him I was pregnant. In the
last month, he almost locked me inside the apartment.” She repressed a laugh and
whispered to him. “When I told him it was time to go the hospital, I thought he was
going to faint.”
The secretary approached them. “Mr. MacCraig is ready to receive you. This way,
please.”
“Sophia, let me do the talking,” Edward whispered in her ear before entering the
meeting room.
She paused at the tall, wide door, raised one eyebrow, looked at him, and made a
face.
Men! “Trust me, Edward, I won’t put my foot in my mouth.” She put a hand on his
arm, squeezed and stepped into the room.
Alistair scowled at his watch again and turned to look out at the London skyline. A
well-known boredom took over his soul.
Another unvaried, insipid day. Yesterday, today, tomorrow. Every day is the same.
Will light ever come back to my wearisome life? He heard the room door open again.
Another dull meeting discussing this contract. Today, I’ll get this account. At least,
something to brighten my day. He pasted a smile on his face, turned on his heels and
steeped forward to greet the CEO of Leibowitz Oil. But he stopped dead in his tracks.
Suddenly, Alistair’s private sun shed a bright ray of light from behind the dark,
heavy clouds that had enclosed his life for more than five years.
Fuck! Davidoff is accompanied by a woman. A magnificent beauty. His world spun on
its axis, leaving him lightheaded. He watched, paralyzed, as she paused at the door,
made a teasing face at Davidoff, rested an elegant hand on his arm, spoke something,
and gave him a reassuring smile.
Are they lovers? The thought annoyed him. Why, he didn’t know. The woman
advanced a few steps and looked around the room, halting with parted lips when her
gaze locked with his. He felt unsettled. She has the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen.
Black as night and endless as the universe. Her flawless and honey-dipped skin. Her
light hazel eyes, fringed by long raven lashes. Her thin and straight nose and her
mouth… Christ! Her mouth is full and moist. Red. No lipstick, no gloss, just a natural,
lush, fucking mouth.
His gaze surveyed her as she looked at Edward. Her long and slender neck. And
she’s biting her full bottom lip and I… I’m getting an erection from this simple action. Ah.
Fuck. The way she just licked her lips. His cock applauded and he gave himself a brisk
mental shake. For Christ’s sake, Alistair Connor. You’re not a horny teenager anymore.
His eyes remained glued to her as she moved in his direction, taking in the
movements of her long elegant hands flattening her dress onto her body. Desire shot
hotter through him. Lean, voluptuous body. Her legs… Is she a model? He cocked his
head to the side. No, not tall enough. What is she doing here? Alistair shook himself
inward. Stop this. Stop! It’s just another woman. And much too young. Most likely a
trainee or Davidoff’s assistant. In all probability, she’s sharing his bed.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
She has an angelic aura around her, but… He knew women. They fell at his feet
everyday offering their bodies for money and status. This one won’t be any different.
Christ, I really am a cynic. Come now, Alistair Connor, this is work. He smiled and
extended his hand.

Book Description:

They are beautiful. They are rich. They are strong willed and successful. They have everything, but love. And each one of them has a dark secret looming in their past.

Sophia is a 25 year old Brazilian widow. Intelligent and ravishing, she flees from her own country after a tragic incident. Hiding from everyone and everything, she remains alone, torn between the love for a dead man, the torment of living without part of her memory and the fear of moving on.

Ethan is one of the most important tycoons in the steel industry. As the memory of an awful evening in his adolescence haunts him night and day, he keeps looking for an elusive woman whom he could love - and who would love him - as he never has in all his 35 years... Until he finds Sophia.

Alistair is a 34 year old powerful banker, searching for one–night stands with women who will warm his bed. And that he can punish physically to abate his anger for his late wife's black deeds and his own guilt for being such a debauched man for so many years. Any woman will do, and he has many to choose from, as they all fall instantly for his manly, devilish charming ways.

In Europe, in the months after October 2009, their paths will cross and clash. Who will win the prize of love?


About the Author:

I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with my husband and two daughters. I'm a lawyer, who specializes in cases of sexual abuse and violence against children and women. I also have a Masters in Business Law and a BA in Fine Arts.

I've always loved to read, write and listen to music. I lived and studied in England, France, Italy and Switzerland. Traveling is one of my passions - as is keeping fit and healthy.

After twenty-two years of practicing law, I decided to give writing a go. And - amazingly - it was just the piece that was missing in my life.

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