Discover May's Best New Reads: Stories to Ignite Your Spring Days.

Elizabeth Amber

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15 comments posted.

Re: Bastian (3:48pm May 2, 2011):

Hi Jessica,
I think the Bastian-Silvia romance is one of my strongest and most believable for this very reason. I used a lot of sexual tension to keep things interesting between them from the start. I love sexual tension in a romance novel.
~ EA

Hi Lindsey,
I like friendship to lovers stories, too! I do need that build-up of sexual tension I mentioned to begin very early on. In Bastian, Silvia sees Bastian in bed with another woman in chapter one, and is immediately attracted. They meet briefly, but he doesn’t know the “real” her for some time. But all the while, that attraction is building and winding tight.
~ EA

Hi Birgit,
I have had this happen twice. It’s hard to go back to friends when you feel more. I hope your heart has healed. xox
~ EA

Hi Audra,
Wonderful! So good to hear the happiness in your comment.
~ EA

Re: Bastian (3:41pm May 2, 2011):

Hi Sigrun,

The punishment was harsh, you’re so right. Amid great ceremony and public clamor, a convicted Virgin was tied to a litter and led to a small underground room, where she was deposited with only enough water, food, and oil to last a short time. This is the stuff of my nightmares! The Virgins aren’t a huge part of BASTIAN, but they are part of Silvia’s backstory and explain her motivation for trying to steal the relics from the Bastian. The scenes about the VVs also inform the friendship between Michaela and Silvia.

What a sad love story! Thanks for sharing it. I’m glad your parents told you this story. I don’t know much about how my parents met. I’ll definitely have to ask them.

Yes, I took this Roman Forum photo in 2007.

~ EA

Re: Bastian (3:39pm May 2, 2011):

Sheila, I hope you enjoy Bastian!
~ EA

Hi Lisette,
This reminds me of my dating years. Sometimes I remember them as exciting and fun, which they were. But there was so much angst, too. Balancing girlfriends and boyfriends isn’t easy, as your story demonstrates. I can’t help thinking that social networking must make dating that much harder these days. And it was hard enough when I was dating!
Thanks for sharing this. xox
~ EA

Re: Bastian (8:46pm May 1, 2011):

Leni, I'm glad your triangle worked out okay in the end. It speaks well for all involved.
~ EA

Mary and Brenda, I hope you enjoy Bastian if you get a chance. Maybe peek inside in your local bookstore. xox
~ EA

Diane (Sallans),
You're so right. It is the fun part! That thrill of the ride.
~ EA

Re: Bastian (8:43pm May 1, 2011):

Susan (Shapley),
Awesome!
~ EA

Renee, I'm so glad you think the Bastian cover rocks. I do, too! It's my 2nd fave cover, after Nicholas. Although I do kind of prefer Bastian's muscles.
~ EA

Re: Bastian (8:41pm May 1, 2011):

LOL, Mary! You're referencing one of my favorite scenes of all time in a film. I hope you do think it's amazing if you get a chance to read the book.
~ EA

Wonderful, Susan! Fresh Fiction is so good about helping to get the word out about new books to try. I hope you enjoy the Lords of Satyr novels. FYI, the two separate clans, which do not intermingle are:
Tuscany 1820s: Nicholas, Raine, Lyon, Dominic
Rome 1880s: Dane, Bastian (May 2011), Sevin (2012)
~ EA

Re: Bastian (8:33pm May 1, 2011):

Hi Vanetta,
I saw your note over on FB that you were headed here earlier. Thank you so much for dropping by to support Bastian!
xox
Elizabeth

Hi May,
That's wonderful! Congratulations.
~ EA

Well said, Alyson. That's more or less what happened with me. Love at first sight, then get to know each other, and then comes HEA.
~ EA

Jennifer, you rock! Thank you so much. I love that you are enjoying the satyr books. I hope you like Bastian, too. I fell in love with him myself, but since he and Silvia seem so perfect together, I let her have him! *grins*
~ EA

Re: Bastian (5:28pm May 1, 2011):

Hi Larena,
Good to see you! So many lasting relationships here seem to have begun as friendships.
~ EA

Question to all:
In romance novels, relationships often begin with wild passion, and afterward a friendship develops. Do you think that statement is true? If so, why is that what we like to read?
~ EA

Re: Bastian (5:22pm May 1, 2011):

Hi Kym,
Thank you! I hope you like it.
~ EA

Re: Bastian (5:21pm May 1, 2011):

Hi June,
I’m awed that you had the willpower to keep from taking things beyond friendship. I was boy-crazy when I was young. No way I would have been able to resist.
I chose the name Bastian because “bastion” is a strong support in a fortification or building, which made sense for an archaeologist, and also because it also refers to a person who is a strong defender. I’m glad you like it, and I hope you get a chance to try the book! Thanks for stopping in.
~ EA

Hi Joan,
Yay! I’m so glad to hear this. I really hope you enjoy it.
~ EA

Thanks for weighing in, Deb, and thanks for your kind words about my new release. I’m so happy with this one. My bff was asking me at Panera earlier why that is, and I think it’s because it’s possibly the most romantic of my novels to date and because that romance grew in a believable way from friendship, although there was attraction on Silvia’s part right away. And there was banter and snark between them even before Bastian knows who and what she is.
~ EA

Lisa, you are a sweetheart! Thank you. I really hope you get a chance to try Bastian. Let me know what you think if you do and have time to. xox ~ EA

Re: Bastian (5:11pm May 1, 2011):

Hi Vicki,
I’m so glad Bastian sounds awesome. Yay! I’ve never been able to remain friends after a break-up, but I have renewed friendships with former beaus after years have passed. And then things have stayed friendships, possibly because we’re all happily married by now.
~ EA

Hi Diane,
So true about Will and Kate. I wish them well. They seem so much in love and I hope that continues (without much paparazzi interference.) Congratulations on 40 years! That does speak well for being friends first. I’ve never had Yorkshire pudding. Enjoy!
~ EA

Me too, Tammy R,
Those flashfire romances that begin as romance are something though! Mine have not lasted, but I would go back and skip them either.
~ EA

Hi Jolene,

I’m so sorry. Best friends aren’t easy to find, and it must’ve been hard to lose yours. My bff married my boyfriend one summer while I was away at university. It was a painful love triangle. My bff and I are friends again, but that took years to happen.

I’m with you on HEAs. I always write them in my novels. As a reader, I check the back of romance novels to be sure there’s an HEA before I read them.

The love triangle in Bastian, develops because of the fact that Silvia must take a series of hosts in order to survive over the centuries. However, this allows her to test Bastian’s staying power as a friend and life-partner. Does he love the real her--the one inside these different hosts? She first meets him in the guise of a twelve-year-old boy, so that she can gain employment at the Roman Forum digs. Respect and friendship grow between them. Michaela sees them grow closer and realizes what it means. If Bastian ever learns that Silvia is a woman, things will change between the three of them.

~ EA

Re: Bastian (4:51pm May 1, 2011):

Hi Pamela,
I think this inability to remain friends was the theme of When Harry Met Sally, wasn’t it? That’s too bad about friendships not working out when one side is interested in more than friendship. I’ve been on both sides of that equation. Neither is fun if things sour!
~ EA

Colleen, hi,
You’re welcome. Thank you for dropping in too. I hope the satyr novels pique your interest if you get a chance to take a look!
~ EA

Hi Tammy,
That’s wonderful. It’s nice to have time to be friends first. I fell for my husband at first sight, but we took a long time to get to know each other before we married.
~ EA

Heather, thanks for coming by,
It is great when that happens. I have to admit I don’t know any hetero men/women friendships that have lasted without some period of there being something romantic between them. Is it possible? Hmm.
~ EA

Re: Bastian (1:04pm May 1, 2011):

Hi d,
My husband and I were a "love at first sight" couple. But I have had relationships that grew from friendship. I love that your sister's story has turned out well. That's so wonderful to hear! xox
~ EA

Lisa, hi,
So true. Once you cross that line, you can't go back. Maybe after many years have passed, but not right away. Bastian is part of the new trilogy within the series; 2nd after Dane. I hope you enjoy it!
~ EA

Thanks for popping in, Amanda!
~ EA

Re: Bastian (1:00pm May 1, 2011):

Hi Renee, I used all the ups and downs of my own friendships and of a particular love triangle (in which I was the Michaela) to fuel the emotions of this frienship. I hope you relate to it and enjoy it. xox ~ EA

Hi Kris, I hope you like it! I really loved writing the romance and sexual tension between Bastian and Silvia. Enjoy! ~ EA

Thanks, Cynde! ~ EA

Thanks, G. I just replied to your email a few minutes ago. I appreciate the kind words and thank you for the congrats. Much appreciated. ~ EA

Re: Bastian (12:56pm May 1, 2011):

Hi all, and thanks again to Fresh Fiction for having me as a guest today. And thanks to you all for helping me celebrate. Today is officially BASTIAN RELEASE DAY!!