| To start, will you please tell us a little bit about | | | | that's how the light gets in." Music helps me find |
| your current release, Sins and Secrets? | | | | the crack that lets my light in. |
| Sins and Secrets is Victorian erotica. It is set in | | | | I also have a poster from the Neue Galerie of |
| 1880's London, and is a unique choose-your-own | | | | Egon Schiele's "The Lovers" hanging over my |
| sexual adventure novel. Peter Rennard is a | | | | desk, and copies of Za-Hazzanani's photographs of |
| London barrister. Pamela Kingston is the genteel | | | | men from my website under the clear blotter. |
| daughter of Sir George Kingston, also a barrister. | | | | Seeing these pictures really helps the mood! |
| When Sir George dies, he names Peter as his | | | | Za-Hazzanani's photos especially ring my chimes. |
| successor, and entrusts him with the guardianship | | | | Geez Louise, those men are to absolutely die for! |
| of his daughter, Pamela. | | | | Take a look for yourself - |
| The story begins when Pamela comes home | | | | Can you tell us about your book Passion and how |
| after finishing her schooling, bound by her father's | | | | long it took you to write it? |
| will to live with Peter until she marries. She is not | | | | PASSION began as an erotic dream I had while |
| inclined to marry, because by law, all rights to her | | | | on vacation several years ago. I wrote down the |
| inherited property pass to her husband. The story | | | | dream, originally calling it A Horse's Tale. Once I |
| follows the evolving relationship between Peter | | | | got home, the story continued to play in my head |
| and Pamela, and presents the reader with | | | | like a movie. Each time it did, the story became |
| alternatives to their sexual explorations. | | | | more detailed. I wrote what I saw and heard. The |
| From what do you derive the most inspiration for | | | | "He Said / She Said" narrative and dialogue |
| your writing? | | | | evolved over a period of time. Ivan's voice |
| Men and romance!!! I love men, the way they | | | | became as clear to me as Pash's, so I gave them |
| look, the way they smell, the way they do | | | | each a chance to speak. It took about a year to |
| (ahem!) what they do. I am also a hopeless | | | | write it and about two months to get it ready for |
| romantic. | | | | publication. |
| Most of all, I am a student of the sexual tension | | | | As for what the book is about, this is the |
| between men and women. This tension is the | | | | synopsis: |
| foundation of the rituals, the flirtations and finally | | | | When Pash decides to forsake her quiet and |
| the connection surrounding relationship. The layers | | | | bookish fixation with the romance of historical |
| of physical, emotional and psychological attraction | | | | England for the hobby of horseback riding, she |
| between men and women fascinate me. | | | | gets much more than she expected. Ivan, her |
| My inspiration comes from what I feel by both | | | | handsome and brooding riding instructor, |
| observing and experiencing this dynamic. It | | | | completely draws her into his world of seduction |
| creates a pleasurable burning in my body, and in | | | | and passion. |
| my spirit, that I express in my stories. | | | | And this is an excerpt from your own Fallen |
| What is the biggest misconception about being an | | | | Angel Reviews (Thank you Serena!): |
| author? | | | | Even though she discovers she fears horses; Pash |
| There are two that occur to me. The first is that | | | | cannot stay away from the enigmatic Dr. Ivan |
| you will get rich quick. Unless you are a name | | | | Kozak. She is drawn to his body and the care he |
| author, a writer can't quit their day job. The | | | | shows the horses, but is drawn in by his mind; |
| publishing industry moves slowly. It takes time to | | | | fascinated by the brain inside the brawn. When |
| build a name and a reputation which will translate | | | | she finds that they share more than a few |
| into dollars and cents. | | | | preferences she has a harder and harder time |
| The second is that it is so easy anyone can do it. | | | | thinking about the end of the summer. |
| Having writing talent and solid technique are only | | | | Can you tell us a little about your upcoming |
| parts of the job requirement. An author has to | | | | works? |
| passionately want to write to take on the | | | | The book I am working on now is an erotic ghost |
| required lifestyle. I work a full time job, and write | | | | story. A well traveled female journalist has a near |
| evenings and weekends. Many authors do this, as | | | | death experience. During her out-of-body journey, |
| well as raising a family. It takes dedication, | | | | she reconnects with a past life lover. What |
| stamina and tolerance for sleep deprivation to | | | | happens once she comes back from the other |
| write. It is also a lonely bit of business. Writing | | | | side is an erotic liaison of cosmic proportion! |
| requires solitude, and a willingness to reveal your | | | | Also on the boards are two novellas to be |
| own internal world. Exploring your personal | | | | included in separate anthologies and a full length |
| shadow is not for the weak of heart. | | | | novel about Sailors. I will be cuddling with my |
| What is your most favorite part of being a | | | | computer for some time to come. |
| writer? The least favorite? | | | | What's one thing you would like your readers to |
| Going into a bookstore and seeing my book on | | | | know about you? |
| the shelf is an unbelievable rush, but the most | | | | There is a quote from my book "Sins and |
| pleasure I get is having the capacity to express | | | | Secrets" that I have on the home page of my |
| myself in writing. The creative process of writing | | | | website: |
| is a shamanic journey of self exploration. I am | | | | "It is a hard lesson to learn, that the fire never |
| addicted to it. | | | | goes away. It smolders and it flares, and it |
| Following the characters through their lives is like | | | | always, always burns." |
| an Aboriginal walkabout to my own dreamtime. | | | | My original "mission" as a writer of erotic literature |
| They become extensions of myself, and I bond | | | | was simply to vent this burning. Most people take |
| to them as close family. The couples in my | | | | a holiday in the tropical climate of passion. I live |
| books, Pash and Ivan in Passion, and Peter and | | | | there! With my active imagination and potent |
| Pamela in Sins and Secrets, became three | | | | libido, I needed a safe and creative way to |
| dimensional, living people to me. I care about | | | | express these parts of myself. |
| them, and miss being part of their lives when the | | | | Now that my work is published, I write erotica for |
| story ends. Having that close relationship with my | | | | women. Through my writing, I extend my |
| characters is the most satisfying part of my | | | | method of coping to any woman who smolders |
| writing. | | | | with it as I do, and hopefully, my work will make |
| As for the least favorite part, a deadline is a | | | | it easier for her to acknowledge and enjoy her |
| deadline is a deadline! So, you've got the flu, | | | | own fire inside. |
| you're feeling lazy, you've planned a vacation or | | | | If you were a dessert, which one would best |
| the laundry and dishes are waiting. You still have | | | | describe you? |
| to write. The discipline necessary to keep on | | | | Crème Brûlée. It is a sensual, |
| keeping on is not always easily found. My | | | | exotic dessert that caramelizes under the flame |
| characters have to get it on even if I have a | | | | of a blowtorch, yet still retains its sweet and |
| headache. It is certainly easier to write it when I | | | | creamy textural contrast inside. |
| feel it, but I have to make it happen even when I | | | | You have 3 wishes, what are they? |
| don't. | | | | To be: |
| Also, public criticism is also a difficult pill to swallow. | | | | 1. Healthy |
| The Internet has made it all too easy for anyone | | | | 2. Wealthy |
| who wants to take a swipe to do so, sometimes | | | | 3. Wise |
| anonymously and maliciously. Not everyone will like | | | | Is there anything else you would like to share |
| everything an author does, that is to be | | | | with your readers? |
| expected. An author learns to not take it | | | | Looking back on everything that has brought me |
| personally. However, it is a rude awakening to | | | | to this point, I can honestly say that in retrospect, |
| discover how vicious it can get, and how hurtful | | | | all roads led to the same destination. I have a |
| and potentially destructive Internet attacks can | | | | degree in writing, but life experience made me a |
| be. | | | | writer. It is amazing what being knocked upside |
| Do you have any special rituals to help you get in | | | | the head a few times can teach you! I understand |
| the mood to write? | | | | that no dream realized comes without a price. |
| Music is my preferred ritual, a way to naturally | | | | Everything in life is a compromise, to get one |
| alter my state of consciousness. I have my Bose | | | | thing, something else will no doubt be sacrificed. I |
| wave music system with wireless headphones | | | | am very fortunate to be one of the lucky few |
| beside computer. The blues and soul music in | | | | that can say "I actually did it! I am an Honest to |
| particular get the juices flowing. I love Etta James, | | | | God published author!!!" |
| Queen Latifah, Nat King Cole, Barry White, | | | | Thank you so much for spending time with us |
| Whitney Houston and many other artists, including | | | | today! |
| Leonard Cohen. In his song Anthem, Leonard | | | | Thank you for inviting me to do an interview for |
| Cohen observes, "There is a crack in everything, | | | | Fallen Angel Reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed it. |