Wednesday, December 14, 2011

INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - SYLVAIN REYNARD AUTHOR OF GABRIEL'S INFERNO

Everybody, please make sure to give a warm welcome to Sylvain Reynard. He is the author of the amazing novel Gabriel's Inferno. Because this is a fun interview and Gabriel's Inferno is so hot, what we will say about it is that it is a MUST READ!!! The characters are painted in such a way that you want to reach out and touch Gabriel's hair, kiss his lips.....ahem! I'll stop now. We think you get our meaning. Without more of our blathering about how wonderful this book is, let us introduce you to the author and how he has answered our questions.

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

Salty or Sweet (This of course means when you’re “playing” because this isn’t an adult Goddess site for nothin’)? Chocolate?

I suppose it depends upon the activity and the body part … one must pair flavours accordingly. Then there is the matter of what one’s partner wants … Can I incorporate all of them?

Vampires or Werewolves (Of course you can choose “other” but you have to elaborate *snickering*)? Zombies. I’ve already begun stockpiling tinned food (like bacon) in case of an invasion

Diet or Regular soda (Or....if you’re like me, Kimberly, you’re stuck on Powerade Zero)? Scotch

Fruit or Veggies (Or Chocolate)? Chocolate cake, but only if I have someone to share it with (See answer to “Playing” above)

Coffee or tea (Or Chocolate)? Coffee

The song that is most annoying when it sticks in your head -- sorry had to do it. The Hamster song. (It’s a form of psychological torture)

Apple or Microsoft? Apple, Damn it.

Drama or Comedy? Could it be a Dramatic Comedy? What would we call that – a Dramedy? Or a Coma?

Spring or Fall (Fall -- cuz I can beat him to the floor! *snickering*)? Fall

Sedan or Sports Car (Hey! I live in Texas! Where’s the truck suggestion???)? 1963 Citroën DS19M

Tattoos or no Tattoos? (winking) Come closer, my dear, and see for yourself

Favorite splurge food -- Tacos, Pizza, Cheeseburger (Or Chocolate peanut butter swirl FUDGE)???? Nonna’s lasagna

What dish do you make perfect? Lemon pasta

What dish have you messed up completely by burning or over cooking it? I can only name one?

Can you give us your favorite Christmas cookie recipe? If not the recipe, your favorite cookie, we’ll find the recipe. I like Lebkuchen from Germany

Now is the part where we let you do some shameless self promotion of your books, artwork or jewelry (this sentence will be centered directly towards you and your work when the interview comes up). Please tell the readers something about what you’re currently writing or what has just been released. We’re shameless when it comes to pimpin’ new stuff!

I recently completed my first novel “Gabriel’s Inferno,” which is a love story about a professor and a graduate student.
You can purchase Gabriel's Inferno at:


Here is a brief summary:
“Enigmatic and attractive, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a man tortured by his past. Though he takes great pride in his prestigious role as a Dante specialist, he knows he is a magnet for sin, especially lust.


When the virtuous Julia Mitchell joins his graduate seminar at the University of Toronto, she alters their lives irrevocably. Through their connection, Gabriel begins a journey that forces him to unravel the mysteries of their past entanglement, as well as face his many demons.

A sinful exploration of sex, love, and redemption, “Gabriel's Inferno” is a beguiling intelligent romance filled with intrigue, seduction and forgiveness.


Told through witty, dark humor, the narrator relates a captivating tale of Gabriel’s odyssey through the Inferno.”


You can find out more about me and my writing here: www.sylvainreynard.com


You can also find reviews and discussions of my book here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10140661-gabriel-s-inferno

*Can you please show the readers some of your most favorite work? Feel free to shamelessly promote your achievements here because we, as Goddesses, totally would!

I’m editing the sequel to “Gabriel’s Inferno,” which is slated to release in 2012. I can share the prologue with you:

"Florence 1290
The poet dropped the note to the floor with a shaking hand. He sat silently for several moments, motionless as a statue. Then with a great clenching of teeth he stood to his feet and swept agitatedly through his house, ignoring tables and fragile items, disdaining the other inhabitants of his home.


There was only one person whom he wished to see.


He strode quickly through the city streets almost breaking into a run on his way to the river. He stood at the end of the bridge, their bridge, his moist eyes eagerly scanning the adjacent riverbank for the barest glimpse of his beloved.


She was nowhere to be found.


She would never return.


His beloved Beatrice was gone."


What is one of your most favorite art pieces that you have? If its something personal and you don’t want to show it, can you tell us about it?


I collect reproductions of museum pieces. One of my favourites is the Venus de Milo: http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/Aphrodite.htm


I also have a reproduction of Botticelli’s Primavera: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Primavera_01.jpg


I have a question for you Ladies. I know you enjoy fine food. What food or foods would you pair with “Gabriel’s Inferno”?


We thought long and hard about this question and we think we came up with a pretty good recipe for you.  Its from the book "The Seduction Cookbook -- Culinary Creations For Lovers" By Diane Brown

Lavendar Creme Brûlée
Dreamy, Creamy Love Bites
1-1/2 cups heavy cream 
1/8 cup granulated white sugar                         
1 tablespoon dried lavender flower,  or 2 tablespoons fresh       
2 teaspoons granulated white sugar (to caramelize the creme brûlée tops)
2 egg yolks

1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring the cream and lavender to a gentle boil.  Remove from heat and allow the lavender to infuse with the cream for about 3 minutes. 

2.  Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until light and creamy.  Remove lavender from cream.  Slowly pour the cream into the egg and sugar mixture, blending well.

3.  Divide mixture between 2 ramekins or custard cups.  Place them in a pan and carefully fill the pan with warm water, until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins.  Bake custards until set around the edges, but still loose in the center, about 40 to 50 minutes.  Remove from oven and leave in the water bath until cooled.  Remove cups from water bath and chill for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days. 

4.  When ready to serve, sprinkle one teaspoon of sugar over each custard.  Melt the sugar with a small hand-held torch or place under broiler.  Re-chill custards for a few minutes before serving.

We chose this dessert because of the delicate nature of the lavender, how you would have to close your eyes to taste it in the Creme Brûlée.  It seems like something Gabriel would have shared with Julia in one of those rare special moments with each other.

Psssst: We also have an awesome recipe for Scotch Bonnet Chile Blini With Lobster to be fed to each other with your fingers, a little spicy and a whole lot sexy!  We will post that recipe at the end of the giveaway so that it will go into the recipe section.  It was also found in the same cookbook we found the Lavender Creme Brûlée.

Sylvain Reynard has VERY GRACIOUSLY offered to give the following to you wonderful readers.  There will be 3 prizes awarded as follows.... YES!!! THREE!!!
1st prize -- Gabriel's Inferno E-book, Coffee mug, a bookmark and card,
2nd prize -- Gabriel's Inferno E-book, a bookmark, card & amp
3rd prize -- Gabriel's Inferno E-book.
The first number drawn will be 1st prize, second number drawn will be 2nd prize and 3rd number drawn will be third prize.  These numbers, of course, will be drawn by the Random.org Goddess. 

Please make sure and give Sylvain Reynard a warm welcome!






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28 comments:

DeeLuLu said...

I would LOVE to win this book!!! I can't wait to read this story...my mailing address can be given to you if I win. I do not post that personal information on public forums. Thank you for the opportunity to win!!!!

JDERS612@comcast.net

A.K. said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DirtyBit ECLuvr3 said...

This is an amazing story, and Sylvain is absolutely brilliant... a must read!!!

Jennifer Lane said...

Liked the tattoo answer, ha ha. This is a wonderful read.

Kiwi said...

A great read it was. Awesome interview.

kiwi723 at nycap.rr.com

Forgot to mention...If I come up for prize #3 please pick someone else...I am looking to win the other good stuff!!

IHP said...

Thank you Bakin Goddesses and SR for this insightful *cough. tattoo* interview! It is blogs like yours that allows us fans the opportunity to connect with our favorite writers. Thank you for bringing all of us together : )

Anonymous said...

What a joyous interview as per norm. Remember curiosity killed the cat. Love the car. So SR?

June M. said...

I have been wanting to read this book for a while now. And I love the soda answer and tattoo answer. Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Jaime Minter said...

My favorite book of 2011! jl_minter@hotmail.com

BeatriceP said...

Loved this book! Favorite book of 2011. It should have won Romance novel of the year at goodreads.com

betty69p@hotmail.com

Eclipse said...

Mmmm..Dr GE....I'd love to TAKE one of his classes..mmmm

Taryn @MySecretRomance said...

Is it just me or did anyone else find this interview to be very sensual? That's never happened before!

Welcome Sylvain! Thanks so much for this interview...definitely the most interesting one to date, for me at least. I couldn't wait to see your answer for each question. Loved your answer to favorite splurge food. I'm Italian and Sicilian and hardly eat lasagna, because, well, it's a splurge food for me too. I have to fight to stay away from ricotta cheese....oh, how I love it, especially in cannoli's. I'm actually reading your book right now and I am enjoying it very much.

Had no idea there was a coffee mug and bookmark that I could buy. Since I have this weird obsession with both (that started this year), I'm going to have to find them.

Also, many thanks to Bakin Goddesses for hosting this interview!

twicrazreader said...

Wow what an interview. I couldn't tell if it was the author or Prof. Emerson. very Hot answers. Love them both. Thank for the interview and a big hug and thank you to Sylvain for writing. He is so wonderful.

Cindy said...

I would love to have the hard copy of Gabrie;'s Inferno. I have the e-book and LOVE it! The coffee mug would be awesome too.
Should I win,here is my address as I failed to put it in the address option. (oops!)

PO Box 575
Cullowhee, NC 28723

*yadkny* said...

Can't wait to get a copy of Gabriel's Inferno! Congrats on your first novel!

yadkny@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I can't answer each one of your wonderful comments but let me just say that Sylvain has been wonderful to work with! His book is ALL that! If you don't win a copy, head to your closest retailer/hit your favorite e-book retailer and get yourself a copy.

He is a master at turning the most innocent of comments into the most erotic! (As you can tell by the interview).

Ya'll are wonderful and we enjoy each and every one of your comments! I will let Sylvain know (I'm sure he's watching *winks*) what wonderful comments you all are posting!

Keep reading Goddesses!

Krafty Max Originals said...

oh my, this is a 'steamy' one!! max@kraftymax.com

Licoricee said...

I absolutely love this book! I've read it a couple of times already and am so glad he got published!

Licoricee said...

eileenhong2@gmail.com :)

SR said...

Hello Ladies,
Thank you kindly for including me on your website and congratulations on the redesign. I'm honoured to be included.

Best of luck to all the entrants in the giveaway. There will be a number of them forthcoming - you can enter all of them.

All the best for 2012 and beyond,
SR

cassandra said...

Wow, it would be so great to win this!

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday and a fabulous new year!!!

X said...

Would love this.

Flibertyff@gmail.com

Robyn said...

I would love to win!! Thanks!

Robyn
rcbrodrick88@yahoo.com

wineandroasts said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mari S said...

That was a great interview! SR is so funny and witty ;)
And I love this book! Not just a romantic reading, it's very dear to me...

marijee said...

Great interview! I chuckled at the questions and SR's responses. Gabriel's inferno is a great read. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. I have the book...would love the mug and e-book!

Happy Holidays...and happy baking!

marijee4@gmail.com

Jill Miller said...

Great Interview! SR is so awesome and down to earth. This book is on my to be read list and would love a ebook copy! Congratulations on your first novel. I read the story when it was on FFn and I can't wait to read the book version. Best of Luck!

Kellie said...

I just stumbled upon your blog and I must say it was a wonderful thing! Love your interview with SR! Extremely intimate, funny, and your dessert was perfect! I am anxiously awaiting the sequel.

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