In this edition of 10Q’s we welcome author Natalie Bennett.
If you had a choice to live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
I would have to say Hawaii, I think it’s gorgeous there and has a more community type atmosphere. I’m from Ohio and just recently moved to Florida, so the change wouldn’t bother me.
What is your writing process?
I’m a night-owl. I write much better at night than I do during the day. My stories usually aren’t plotted out on paper, occasionally I’ll do a rough outline but mostly, they stay in my head.
Describe your journey as an author so far.
When I first began writing I had no idea what I was going to do with my book. I’m a shy person by nature so publishing something I wrote wasn’t even fathomable at first. But, I have a great family and I decided to go for it. I have met some great writers and discovered new books because of this. Darling Dark is my debut so I haven’t been at this very long, but I only hope to learn more along the way.
How do you stay motivated?
Often I tell myself, the book isn’t going to write itself and set a daily goal for myself. 2k words a day is always my minimum. I read a lot to; I believe reading and writing go hand and hand and it often motivates me to keep writing.
What has been your biggest obstacle while writing and how have you overcome it?
I would get halfway done with a story and self-doubt would set in. Like what if people hate this? Now I’ve come to the firm conclusion that not everyone likes every book and mine is no exception.
Why did you write this book?
The characters in Darling Dark were created years before this book was. I knew what they looked like and all of their flaws. Writing has always been something I wanted to do. One day I looked at my husband and told him, I’m going to write a book. So, that’s what I did.
How long did it take you to write this book?
The first time I wrote the book it took me five months. Then I said I hated it, deleted the entire thing, and started over. The second time took me two months.
What’s next for you?
I have the second book in the Infernal Regions Series releasing 1.26.17. The third book will be out by the spring, and I have a work in progress, not related to it, I’ve been writing.
What genres do you read?
I read anything dark: erotica, sci-fi, paranormal, and romance.
About Natalie Bennett 
Natalie was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. She grew up with 3 brothers, a love for animals, and an even bigger love for books. She now lives in Florida, with her husband, their boys and a pit-bull named Lulu who thinks she’s a lapdog.
Sarcastic- sometimes a tad vulgar, wife, mother, and always willing to be a friend. She knew she wanted to be a writer ever since taking the writing portion of the OAT test in elementary school. Steven Pressfield’s War of Art, and Teresa Deny’s The Silver Devil, played a big role in her start to writing. Natalie loves all dark reads. Everything from romantic suspense, to erotic horror.
Her own stories tend to push the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable. She writes things not everyone will find appealing or care for, and that’s okay with her because not everyone likes the same things. Her debut book is Darling Dark, it is the first book in her Infernal Regions series.
When she’s not writing or procrastinating, she spends her time with her family
Connect with Natalie: Amazon Author Page | Facebook Author Page | Goodreads | Twitter | Website
Title: Darling Dark Infernal Regions Book 1 by Natalie Bennett
Genre: Dark Fantasy Paranormal
Release Date: Nov 25 2016
Edition/Formats: 1st Edition ~ eBook & Print
Synopsis:
It started with a cruel twist of fate.
Trapped in a dark world inhabited by savages and ruled by the corrupted––Duvessa finds herself bound to a tyrant. Day in and day out she bears witness to just how cold and vicious her husband-to-be truly is His iron fist rule strikes fear in the masses.
Reyes is ruthless and volatile –he incites both fear and inexplicable passion among those in his wake. Just as her feelings for the seductively cruel Reyes begin to grow, she learns nothing is as it appears to be. With already so much to fear, could there be something darker, more sinister lying in wait? Will Reyes dark secrets tear them apart?
****CONTENT WARNING****
A raw, dark, suspenseful story. Full of sex, lies, possessive males, and strong heroines. Contains explicit content that may not be suitable for all readers, if dark undertones and material bother you, please do not purchase.
Purchase Darling Dark Infernal Regions Book 1 on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Excerpt
Like lambs going to slaughter, they were forced to push onwards. The architecture from the building’s exterior continued inside, dark tiled marble floors shined, iron banisters gleamed, and the dramatic chandeliers that hung from the vaulted groined ceilings had a sparkle to them.
There were plenty of lights in the palace, but they were all off. Tall candles on pedestals and dimmed wall sconces barely brightened their surroundings. She found the whole vibe to be damn creepy. The only reprieve was that the air inside was cooled and not roasting as outside had been.
What she found impossible to ignore, were nearly nude women of nobility walking around as if fully clothed. Even more unnerving were the sexual acts taking place right in the open, a vampire was getting a blowjob against a pillar, while two women had their fingers inside each other on a higher level.
Moans were slipping through the air on breathless gasps; the strong scent of powerful depires hung around them. The aggressive synthetic supes seemed to be everywhere, some allotted, as guards but majority simply part of the king’s loyal followers. Multiple heads swiveled around to watch the small procession of scared timid demis in the grand hall.
