Of Unicorns & Centaurs: Guest Blog About the Role of Single Men in the Swinging Lifestyle

What is the role of single men in the swinging lifestyle? Recently, I explored that intriguing question in a guest blog at the Web site of writing couple & Twitter friends AdrianaKraft (@adrianakraft), who write erotic romance about swinging from a couple’s point of view. They have also included an hot excerpt of Chapter 17 of my book. It is the 17th interview or guest blog of my blog tour. Enjoy. Leave a comment. More interview to come

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Interview with Elaine Dyer, author of novels “Mindset” and “Forever Summer”

Meet Elaine Dyer, author of romance novels Mindset and Forever Summer. Her debut novels were released in December 2010 by Lazy Day Publishing as e-books. Her intriguing interview below is part of an ongoing series of featuring my fellow authors on my blog.  Enjoy.

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Tell us about your novels Mindset and Forever Summer.

Mindset is the first of a trilogy, so there are several characters introduced in this first installment that are built upon in the books that follow.  The setting is El Paso, Texas, there’s a ranch involved, and the characters are mostly in the same family, which is a big theme throughout.  The heroine, Callie Dubeck, has two brothers and a grandfather who all play key roles.  Callie’s brothers, Jake and Josh, are the heroes in the sequels and pair up with Callie’s girlfriends.  There’s an element of suspense and danger as well, which I think makes it interesting.

Forever Summer has multiple settings, since it’s about  Gabe Rodrigo, a Mexican singer and celebrity who’s touring all over Europe.  Summer Alvarez is the teacher he’s hired for his daughter to tutor her in English.  Family also is a major theme in this book, and I think Gabe’s parents and daughter add fun layers to the story.

How did your novels develop? Did you keep them hidden in your drawer or computer for a long time? Did they start out as other novels or short stories?

Forever Summer began years ago as a kernel of an idea.  I’ve always wanted to write, but I didn’t really put words on paper until about a year ago.  But I’ve always toyed with ideas that I stored in various compartments in my brain where they rattled around until I actually put them to use.  The idea for Forever Summer started with the idea of an international singer hiring a woman as an employee and them falling in love.  That’s all I had for years.  Then I took it and ran with it, and it developed into a complete story.

Mindset was a much newer idea that I toyed with for a couple of weeks before building it into a book.  It all centered around the heroine, Callie, who was feisty, sassy, and confident.  I started writing it and added her best friend, Eva, into the first chapter, who started out to be a minor character but developed into a key player.  I actually became impatient to finish Callie’s story, because I was dying to write Eva’s by the time I’d written a couple of chapters.  Knowing I would write Eva’s story next, I wrote in a third woman and two brothers for Callie, so I’d eventually have my trilogy.

Tell us a little something about yourself.

My first marriage resulted in two great kids and a divorce.  I’m now in my second marriage, and I’m happy.  I have a son, John, who’s studying mechanical engineering in College, and a daughter, JoAnne, who’s a sophomore in high school.  My husband is a retired teacher, and we actually met when I was teaching at the same school where he worked.  Friendship grew into romance, and here we are, living our own happily ever after in El Paso, Texas.

After working for fifteen years in public schools, I left to work at the University of Texas at El Paso helping to manage a federal educational grant and continue to oversee its implementation.  I also teach an occasional class in the university’s College of Education to pre-service teachers.  I have bachelor’s and master degrees in education, and I’ve taught at elementary and middle schools as well as serving as a Literacy Coach and training teachers in literacy techniques and strategies.

Before all that serious stuff, I modeled a little bit, taught classes in modeling, make-up, skin care, etc., sold make-up, and worked a few harrowing years in retail which still haunts me in my worst nightmares.
I’m a live and let live kind of person who tries very hard not to be judgmental of others.  I try to not only tolerate differences in people but to embrace them.  To each their own.

You were faced with a series of harrowing family crisis situations, including your father being diagnosed with terminal cancer, your mother having Alzheimer’s and your husband being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, all within about a year of each other. How did that impact your life and ultimately influence your writing?

All three events had and continue to have a huge impact on my life as well as my writing.  I lost my father to lymphoma on January 1, 2010 after a ten-year battle with the disease.  I watched the cancer rob him of his physical strength, health, and stamina.  His mind and will, however remained strong until the very end.  He had a bigger than life persona and had overcome many odds to become a man with great character and integrity, and he’s still my hero and strength at times.  I based the grandfather in Mindset on my dad, and dedicated the book to him.

As I write this, I’ve just returned from burial services for my mother, who died just over a year after my father.  They’d been married for nearly sixty years when my father died, and I am sure they’re together again now, so I’m happy in a way, although it’s always hard to say goodbye.  My mother’s Alzheimer’s disease took over very quickly after my father’s death, but I’m blessed in that she always knew me and recognized me, if not always by name.  It’s strange not having my parents with me, and the impact of that will continue to develop, I’m sure.

They say bad luck comes in threes, and that brings me to my husband’s Parkinson’s Disease, which will continue to be a challenge for both of us.  So far, we’re coping, and if anything, it’s brought us closer together, and we were already pretty close before.

In terms of how these things affected my writing, they are directly connected.  I’ve wanted to write for decades, but I never actually tried seriously until I was faced with all of this adversity.  In short, writing became my escape.  It was a real positive when I was surrounded by negatives.  It was and continues to be extremely therapeutic and helps me to cope with the stress.  No matter how hard my day is, I can sit down for a couple of hours and write, and I feel grounded again and have peace of mind.  I don’t know what I’d do without writing as an outlet.

Did you always want to be a writer? Did you ever imagine you would get published?

I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember.  When I was twenty, I started my first novel, writing longhand on yellow legal pad paper, and I realized I needed more skill.  I never finished that book, and I never started another one for twenty some years.  Did I imagine getting published?  All the time.  Did I do anything to make it happen?  Not until recently, other than to read a lot and buy a bunch of books on writing, most of which I never read.

Both of your books feature strong, independent women taking control of their lives. Was this intentional? Is that a key message of your novels?

All of my heroines are strong women, although some of them don’t realize it.  It’s absolutely intentional and definitely a key message for several reasons.  First of all, being a strong, independent woman myself, I write what I know.  I think reading about strong, independent women can be inspirational and encouraging. Women often have it rough these days.  Most are juggling careers, families, homes, and a dozen other things and often end up putting themselves last.  Life can be overwhelming and exhausting at times.  Although society widely acknowledges the changes and challenges in women’s lives, people don’t necessarily follow through.  For example, while two income families are the norm these days, taking care of the home front, including cleaning house and raising kids, etc. often continues to fall more on the woman than on her partner.  Thankfully, that’s changing, but I know so many women whose husbands haven’t made that transition in sharing all duties both inside and outside the home.  My heroines are all equals to their partners.  I think that’s the way it should be. (Not that all men are lazy sloths! Strong, independent women don’t put up with that.)

What do you think your book explores about the nature of romance? Would you consider them based on traditional romantic novels or did you have more modern influences? Were you a romance novel fan?

I think my books are traditional in the sense that the characters become completely devoted to each other and fall deeply in love.  I prefer contemporary romance, because I think it’s easier to relate to the story and characters.  I think my characters are people who would make good friends for anyone and are often based, at least in part, on people I know and love.  My books are definitely true to the genre and all end happily ever after, but my characters and plots often feature non-traditional roles, careers, etc.
I’m an avid reader and have read all manner of books from professional books in the field of education, to self-improvement, to spiritual, to suspense, comedy, classics, and yes, all kinds of romance.  I seem to go in spurts and read one genre for a while then switch to another.  The great thing about romance is it serves as an escape.  Everyone needs an escape sometimes.  Romance doesn’t overly tax your mind, and it always leaves you feeling at least as happy as you were before you read it, and often more so after you read the happy ending.  I’m a sucker for happy endings.

In terms of influences, some of my favorite romance authors are Julie Garwood, Elizabeth Lowell, and the queen herself, Nora Roberts.

How alike are your main characters Callie Dubeck (Mindset) and Summer Alvarez (Forever Summer)? How are they different from one another?

I like them both, obviously.  They are alike in that they are strong, independent, and self-reliant.  They’re both self-confident and go after what they want, even if it’s scary.  Callie is a former model, so she has a somewhat glamorous background, whereas Summer is an educator and has a more practical background.  The major difference between them is their family ties.  Callie’s family has very strong ties, although her parents both died when she was young.  Summer is estranged from most of her family which happened as a result of her mother’s death when she was young.  So both women lost parents at a young age, and both were greatly shaped by that.  Callie is very open and friendly because of the love she’s always received from her family, while Summer is very reserved and reluctant to form emotional ties due to the trauma and neglect of hers.  Family is a key theme in both stories.

Would you say there is a lot of yourself, your own personality in Callie and Summer?

I would say there’s some of me in all of my heroines, whether it’s a personality trait, a physical trait, a way a talking or thinking, or the way they tackle challenges.  Likewise, there’s a bit of my husband in all of my heroes.  In fact, I would say that nearly all of my characters are inspired at least in part by people I know or have known.  Callie has a little Texas twang, like I do, and she’s strong willed, like I am.  Summer is an educator, like I am, she likes kids, like I do, and she thinks she’s everyone’s equal, whether the person is a co-worker, stranger, or the celebrity she works for, which is also like me.

Do you think the locations depicted in your novels have an impact on the characters and your book’s overall themes? Is El Paso another character in your books?

Setting absolutely has an effect on my characters and the entire tone of the stories.  El Paso has always been my home, and I love it.  It’s a big city with a small town feeling to it, and that comes through clearly in the characters of Mindset.  They’re all pretty easy-going and down to earth.  In Forever Summer, the pace is much faster which is depicted in the multiple settings from Mexico City to several countries in Europe.  The characters in this story lead lives that move much faster and are much more hectic.  Of the two stories, I’d have to say that Mindset’s El Paso setting is more of a key ingredient to the story line, but both settings definitely add to the plots.

How do you come up with your characters? Were and are they composites of people you know or knew?

More often than not, my characters are at least inspired by people I either know personally or know of, with the exception of the villains.  I don’t know many villains, so I create them!  All the good guys, however, are usually derived from real people in part or in whole.  I think it makes the writing easier and more believable.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing your book?

Honestly – and this is going to sound funny – the titles are the hardest thing for me to come up with.  I don’t know if it’s because I thought about writing for so long before I actually wrote, or if I’ve just tapped into a creativity well in my brain, but the plots and characters have come fairly easily.  I never think of a title until the first draft is complete, and even then, inspiration is slow and difficult.  Weird, huh?

Do you have any writing rituals? Have you ever had writer’s block?

Since I started writing about a year ago, it’s been pretty steady.  Actually, all of my novels, including these two, start with kernels of ideas that tumble around in my busy brain until I have a bare bones skeleton in my head that centers around the two main characters, usually.  This could take days, weeks, and occasionally longer, until I have enough pieces to play with.  Then, I brainstorm on paper.  I play with names, places, a beginning, and personality traits until I have enough to at least begin with an opening scene.  From there it just kind of develops on its own.  I get to know my characters as they come to life, and I begin to understand them and like them.

Sometimes, when I get stuck, or I’m trying to begin a new project, I’ll play the ‘what if’ game.  Example:  What if two women trade seats on an airplane, and one of them was killed, because of mistaken identity?  Why would the bad guys want to kill her?  How would they go about it?  When would the original target put it together and realize it should have been her that was killed?  Who would help her, etc.  The longest I’ve gone between projects is probably a couple of weeks at the most.  Once I start on a project, it’s hard for me to put it away.  Everything else other than the essential responsibilities is put on the back burner, including my sleep, until I get the first draft finished.

What did you learn from the writing and publishing of your book?

Lots.  I didn’t know the jargon or much about the process.  My niece submitted her work before I did, and her first novel was picked up right before mine was, and she’s been very generous with information and guidance.  Staci Helling (co-owner) at Lazy Day Publishing has been phenomenal in terms of explaining and answering my questions and extremely helpful.  Some of the other founding authors have also helped me along the way, including you, George.  Thanks.

Are you excited to be a part of this new publishing revolution of e-books?  How is it working with a new digital publisher Lazy Day Publishing?

I’m extremely excited to be part of Lazy Day and the whole e-book revolution.  I think I’m getting in at a perfect time.  It’s so exciting to be part of this new way to publish and read.  I love my electronic reader, and I love that people can download my books on their devices.  I think because this sector is growing so quickly, there’s abundant room for growth as an author, and I’m tickled to death to be part of it.

Lazy Day has been great to work with, and it feels like a real partnership.  They ask for my input in every aspect and offer assistance and feedback that’s both valuable and appreciated.  I feel like I have a voice with them, and they listen.  Being a founding author with Lazy Day is the biggest kick!  I hope that someday, I can meet everyone face to face.  In the meantime, I’m enjoying the email correspondence and the ride.

You were initially rejected twice by other publishers. When your books were finally published what were your thoughts? Was it the culmination of a life-long dream?

It’s a funny thing.  I didn’t set out to get published, although it was always a hope in the back of my mind.  My first goal was to just finish a book.  Once I did that, my next goal was to submit.  I didn’t want to die wondering what might have or could have been.  I thought, even if I’m never published, at least I will have given it my best shot.  If nothing ever comes from it, so be it, but I want to have at least tried.  So when I submitted and got rejected, I was really okay with it.  I even smiled and thought, oh well, maybe next time.  I continued to submit.  My niece told me about Lazy Day, and I submitted to them next with the same attitude.  I remember getting the email from Staci and as I read, I kept looking for the ‘However’ line.  I read it at least twice before I believed that there was no ‘However’ line included.  Then I did my happy dance and called all the key people in my life to share the news.
Getting published is a life long dream, but I initially thought of it as icing on the cake.  I gotta tell you, though, it’s really tasty icing.

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

I’m not one to get caught up in regrets, but obviously, I would’ve started writing sooner.  I’m not a kid anymore, and I sometimes wonder where I’d be now if I’d followed this dream sooner, although I probably wouldn’t have been as good a writer without all the experience that life has taught me up to this point.

I also would’ve applied myself to improving my craft before I ever submitted.  I’m now taking classes and reading material that continues to improve my writing.  By the time I was working on final proofs for Mindset and Forever Summer, I was wishing I had time to write both of them all over again and apply what I’ve learned since writing them.

Mindset is the first book of your planned Texas Trilogy. Are you working on your next book or books? What can you tell us about it?

The two other books of the trilogy, Finding the Missing Pieces and A Matter of Trust, have already been accepted by Lazy Day and will be available in March and April, respectfully.  The second installment tells Eva’s and Josh’s story, and the third tells Trish’s and Jake’s story, all of the characters having been introduced in Mindset.  Of the three, I think I like the second book the best, because Eva is a woman who has survived the horrors of an abusive marriage and doesn’t realize her strength for a long time.  Josh helps her find herself and her strength again.  The third is about Trish, who’s a single mother struggling to juggle the job, the kids, and everything else and eventually realizes that it’s okay to depend on others sometimes when you need some help instead of killing yourself trying to prove that you’re an island.  I’ve always liked revisiting earlier characters in sequels, and I think my readers will, too.

In your bio on the Lazy Day Publishing Web site, you said before your recent publication of your first two books, you wrote a dozen novels in a year. Will those ever see the light of day?

I’ve written more than a dozen now, although most are first drafts that need polishing.  If I have my way, they’ll all eventually be published, at least I hope so.  I continue to learn and improve my skills as an author, and so far, I’m loving it.  It’s still fun, and it’s still therapeutic, and my biggest problem is wanting to spend all my time writing but still having to work full-time, take care of my family, etc.  My immediate goals are to continue to improve my writing and to continue to submit for publication.  It’s such a kick to be able to look up my books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other sites.  I love the whole e-book publishing scene, but I also hope to eventually publish traditional printed books as well.  I’d like to have a whole bookcase filled with Elaine Dyer books some day.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

It sounds so cliché, but if you really want to write, then do it.  Write something, write anything, just write!  You can’t ever be published if you don’t.  If you want to take the next step and try to be published, you have to submit.  Do your homework.  Read a ton of books in the genre in which you want to write.  Find out what markets and publishers fit your work, find out their requirements, and submit.  It’s scary, but do it anyway.  If you’re rejected, that’s okay.  At least you will have tried, and chances are, what’s rejected by one publisher could be accepted by another.  And for my last cliché, enjoy yourself.  Life is stressful enough.  Anything you spend your own time working on should be enjoyable.  It should make you feel good.  If it stresses you every time you do it, maybe you should try doing something else.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

You can currently find me on Twitter (@exxelainedyerxx) and Facebook, and I’m working on a blog and a website. My books are also available on the Lazy Day Publishing Web site. My work has been reviewed by One Hundred Romances Project. You can also do what I do daily.  I pull my books up on Amazon and Barnes and Noble just to see them there and to remind myself that, yes, I’m now a published author!  Woo hoo!

 

Blog tour continues for Novel Monogamy Sucks on blog of author LM Stull

Today my blog tour for my novel Monogamy Sucks continued on the blog of Twitter friend and fellow author L.M. Stull. I met Lisa (@lmstull) on Twitter where I have found all of the bloggers and fellow writers who have comprised my blog tour. Lisa has enjoyed my book and wanted to find out more about it. This is the 15th interview on my blog tour. More to come.

Blog Tour for Monogamy Sucks Continues at Unbridled Editor

After a short break, my blog tour for my novel “Monogamy Sucks” resumed tonight at Toni Rakestraw’s blog Unbridled Editor. I had connected with Toni via Twitter — she is @tonirakestraw — as she had also interviewed several of my fellow Lazy Day Publishing authors. Toni, who also read my novel, asked some interesting questions, specifically about my novel’s exploration of the male point of view when it comes to sexual matters. Enjoy.This is my 14th interview on my blog tour so far.

My blog tour continues next week at the blog of writer and Twitter friend LM Stull. Look for more details soon.

GP

Interview with Alta Hensley, author of Traditional Love

Meet Alta Hensley, author of erotic romance novel Traditional Love. Her debut novel was released in December by Lazy Day Publishing as an e-book. The  interview below is past of an ongoing series of featuring my fellow Lazy Day Publishing authors on my blog.  Enjoy.

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Tell us about your erotic romance novel “Traditional Love.”

The story is about two long time friends who fall in love.  The story explores some “traditional” and some “untraditional” beliefs in love.  The book is full of love, sex and some steamy taboo subjects like Domestic Discipline, spanking and anal sex.

How did your novel develop? Were you working on this book for a long time? Did it have any previous incarnations as other novels or short stories?

The book actually took a year to write.  I had to do a lot of research on the subject matter of Domestic Discipline.  I wanted it to be genuine and real, and the only way for that to happen was to really understand what I was writing about.

Tell us a little something about yourself.

*blush* I am actually quite shy and not good at talking about myself. I am a mom, a business owner and now an author.  I am still getting use to this self promotion thing…not that good at it to be honest.

What about writing erotic scenes intrigues you? Is this your first time writing in this genre?

Yes, this is my first erotica novel that I have completed.  I really enjoy writing about something so intimate. I like to push the envelope and do something unexpected. The truth of the matter is it is really a lot of fun! It’s fun to write about sex and describe a sensual act so someone can actually see it and feel it.

What do you think your book explores about the nature of romantic love?

It was really important for my book to have love. I didn’t want it to just be an erotica novel. I wanted to tell the story of two friends who finally find what they had always been searching for. True love, traditional values and the common goal to have a relationship that works.

You told your story from the first person narrative. Why did you choose that? Did you think was the best way to tell Neely’s story?

I actually started the book in third person.  But as I did more research on the topic of Domestic Discipline, I realized that the only way to really describe such an emotional subject was telling it from Neely’s point of view. The reader really needs to get into her mind to fully understand the emotions tied to such a ‘taboo’ subject.

How much are you like your character Neely?

In many ways Neely is me. Not in all ways, but many. I put my heart and soul into creating her, so I think it is only natural that I became part of her.

Do you think the locations depicted in your novel have an impact on the characters and your book’s overall themes?

Well the story takes place in Neely’s home town.  I think there is a level of comfort and safety about being “home”. The book definitely is about Neely desperately looking for a haven and security.

How do you come up with your characters? Were and are they composites of people you know or knew?

Well the book is fiction, but of course each character represents people I have come across in real life. I think as a writer, we are constantly looking for inspiration from everyone and everything.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing your book? Were there times you felt uncomfortable exploring the erotica scenes? Do you get a lot comments from people wondering if your erotic depictions are from your real life?

The most difficult aspect of writing the book was staying focused and actually making it to the end.  I tend to give up on my writing before I get to type the words “the end”.  I absolutely got uncomfortable, and still do a bit, about exploring erotica scenes. I blush while I write them…which is always a good sign. If I don’t blush, then it isn’t good.  And yes! I get asked all the time if the erotic depictions are from my real life.  Some are…some aren’t. ☺

You said in a recent blog post on the Lazy Day Publishing Web site that you have difficulty expressing emotions in your real life, but don’t have such problems expressing yourself in fiction. How has writing fiction helped you open up?

I have a really hard time being open. I’m a closed person and rarely trust or open up to anyone.  When I write, I get to be free for the first time.  Writing hasn’t really opened me up, but the whole process of becoming an author has. I have had to put myself out there and share my passion and my love.  I have met some great people along the way, and I am slowly letting down my wall.

Your blog features very racy and sexy erotic writing? What has been the response to your blog writing and do you use it as a way to explore specific scenes for future novels?

I use my blog as a way to get in the mood. It is a way to brainstorm in a way, for my future writing.  I have gotten really good feedback from it, which makes me blush, but really happy too.
What I put on my blog is the real me…the open me. What you see on my blog is my love and my passion. It is a peek into who I really am.

You are also working on an erotica anthology with fellow Lazy Day Publishing authors Amy LeBlanc and Melissa Ecker.  How did that come about and when will it come out? Also how is it trying to merge your styles with two other writers?

We were all three talking on Twitter one day and thought it would be fun to do. It’s scheduled to be released on February 14, 2011, and I am so excited!  It has been a lot of fun talking with Amy and Melissa and making sure our facts and all of the logistics match up. This is really challenging though, because I don’t want to let them down. So it challenges me to bring my very best writing forward.

Do you have any writing rituals? Have you ever had writer’s block?

I need to have a glass of white wine and my laptop.  Yes! Writer’s block is my curse! I have a really hard time staying focused for a long period of time.

What did you learn from the writing and publishing of your book?

That the work truly begins once your book is for sale. And that you have to keep writing to build your career.

Are you excited to be a part of this new publishing revolution of e-books?  How is it working with a new digital publisher?

I love being part of something new! I love being part of the beginning. Working with a new publisher means working with other like-minded authors which have been great! We have a very supportive and wonderful team. Unlike anything I have ever seen.

When your book was finally published what were some of the thoughts that ran through your head? Was it the culmination of a life-long dream?

Yes, it was a dream come true. I cried. I still do sometimes. I go on Amazon sometimes just to look at it. Silly I’m sure, but just seeing it for sale is pretty amazing!

If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?

I wouldn’t change a thing!

Are you working on your next book or books? What can you tell us about it?

The next book is the anthology, In The Heat of Texas. I then will be working on the sequel to Traditional Love. I also have another book I would like to begin soon as well. So yes, I have a lot of writing in my future.

What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?

Don’t let the negativity of a pretty harsh industry change who you are. A lot of writers become bitter and jaded. I think it would show in the writing. I guess to just remember it is about the love and the passion.

Where can readers learn more about you and your book?

My book is on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, allromanceebooks.com.
You can find me on lazydaypub.com
My blog is altahensley.blogspot.com
And you can follow me on Twitter @AltaHensley