Yahrah St. John is the author
of thirty books. When she’s not at home crafting one of her spicy romances with
compelling heroes and feisty heroines with a dash of family drama, she is
gourmet cooking or traveling the globe seeking out her next adventure. St. John
is a member of Romanceu Writers of America. Visit for more info: www.yahrahstjohn.com.
How can readers get in contact with you?
Email:
Yahrah@yahrahstjohn.com
At The Ceo’s Pleasure Ayden
Stewart is a cunningly astute businessman in Austin, but he doesn’t believe in
love. He saw love’s harmful effects with his father’s abandonment and his
stepfather’s abuse. Ayden is focused on being the best and proving to his
father that he bet on the wrong son. Maya Richardson is the best friend and
assistant Ayden has ever had. He always had her respect and loyalty until they
spent one night together years ago. Afterward, he was ready for business as
usual, but Maya couldn’t go backward and left town. When his assistant position
becomes available again, Ayden knows only Maya can fill it. He convinces Maya
to come back, but isn’t prepared for the attraction between them to reignite.
And when a sports injury puts him and Maya in close quarters, their explosive
chemistry can’t be denied. Maya, however, wants more than a roll in the hay.
She wants her fairy tale ending, but Ayden isn’t willing to offer more because
he doesn’t believe in love. Can Maya help Ayden make peace with the past and
let love in?
What inspired your book?
I
came up with At the Ceo’s Pleasure
when I was thinking about the old school Dynasty with Blake Carrington, Crystal
and of course Alexis. And no, not that silly reboot they have on the CW. In my
mind, I wanted to create this wealthy family with these larger than life
characters who were all circling around the father in this case Henry Stewart.
Much like Dynasty, I created the Stewart Heir’s trilogy that will feature three
siblings, Ayden, Dane and Fallon (and yes, I riffed the name).
What would you like readers to take away
from your book?
All
of my books, At the Ceo’s Pleasure included,
have a high level of romance, sensuality and a heavy dose of family drama.
Which character did you have the most
fun writing about?
I
really loved writing about the hero Ayden Stewart oldest son of Henry Stewart
and the Black Sheep of the family. He was abandoned by his father once he
re-married, so he’s got beef with him. I could answer it because sometimes I
had a similar abandonment issue, so I could relate.
What advice would you offer to someone
whose book is about to be released?
A
first book release is very difficult. You’ve worked so hard and long at a
project that you think instantly it’s going to be a NY Times best seller. I’d
advise them to have realistic expectations. There can be longevity in this
industry, I’ve been at it for fifteen years from a part-time basis.
Promote.
Promote. Promote. Depending on if you’re self-pub or traditional published,
determine your budget and research the best ways you can promote that will fit
your lifestyle. Not every social media platform is right for everyone. If you
excel at a couple, follow that path, but do it well.
What
does literary success look like to you?
I
used to think it was when I could quit my day job and write full-time. That’s
still a dream of mine, but I’m a bit more realistic now. My new goal: continued
high sales that helps me earn royalties consistently every month and eventually
hitting a best seller list. Which of course, would allow me to write full time.
What has surprised you most about being
a published author?
The
best part of being an author are my readers. They look up to me, not just as a
mentor which is humbling, but they also see me as a celebrity which is a total
ego stroke. They can be very loyal, attending conferences or coming to book
signings to meet you. I have one reader who was the first person to ever write
me and she has followed me for fifteen years. Thank you, Louise Brown
What are three things you wish you’d
known before you reached where you are now?
I
wish I’d understood the publishing industry better and the roles of editor,
agent and publishers. I wish I’d known that it was up to the author to
market/promote their own book. I was clueless when I was first published in
2004. I wish I would have tried self-publishing a bit earlier. It took about a
year and half to really catch on and I enjoyed some good years, but have seen a
decline. I’m thankful that I’m a hybrid author and have retained my traditional
publishing which suits my lifestyle as a part-time author with a full-time job while
occasionally self-publishing.
What do you do to interact with your
readers?
I’m
only good on about two social media platforms since I work full-time: Facebook
and Twitter, so I work those angles. I’m also very good at responding to emails
and anyone who writes me typically will have a response within twenty-four
hours. My mailing list is also important, I send out a newsletter ever so
often, depending on my release dates. Readers can sign up for my newsletter on
my website: www.yahrahstjohn.com
What are your three favorite social
media platforms and how are you using them for promotion?
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
and LinkedIn – I’m very sporadic
What are you reading now?
Becoming – Michelle Obama
Robin
Roberts – Everybody’s Got Something –
this book is research for a current book I’m working on about bone marrow
donation.
When you're not writing, what do you
like to do in your spare time?
Reading.
Cooking. Going to Broadway shows. Dining out. But most of all, traveling. Next
up for me is a cruise to Cuba in April 2019. I’m also considering Dubai. A
fellow author Farrah Rochon went last year and now it’s on my hit list.
Oprah always asks, what do you know for
sure?
I
know for sure that I love husband and my family and that writing will always be
a part of my life in some shape or form.
Can you give us a sneak peek of your
next book?
His Marriage Demand is the second book in The Stewart Heirs series with my new line Harlequin Desire. Fallon
Stewart is in need of a bail out for her family’s company Stewart Technologies.
Former housekeeper’s son Gage Campbell has become a wealthy financier despite
Fallon’s past lies which caused his mother to lose her job with the Stewart’s.
Gage demands marriage in exchange for his help, but has a secret agenda. I love
that both Fallon and Gage are flawed. Hope you cheer them on as I did as they
let go of the past to find happiness.
Anything you'd like to say to the
readers of SORMAG?
Thank
you for supporting me for the last fifteen years. You’re the best!
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