The author hot seat specials are designed to help readers get to know some of today's popular and up and coming authors a little better. The questions are broken into sections - getting started, about your writing, about you, fun stuff and finally. Some of the questions are easy, other may need a little more thought and some may cause our author friends to hesitate before answering—still, they all answer.
Today we welcome Erika Almond to the blog, doing the interview and highlighting her Steamy Love Series. Let's see what Erika has to say.
Getting Started:
Tell
us about your latest book. What was your inspiration for writing it, is it part
of an ongoing series, the characters, the genre etc?
The Steamy Love Scenes series started off
with a short story, “Enjoy the Show.” Ellora’s Cave liked it so much they
offered me a three-title contract! “Intermission” and “Double Feature” continue
the adventures of Josie, a hotheaded artist; Miles, the actor she meets and,
um, has a good time with in the balcony of the local movie palace; and Riley,
Josie’s good-hearted bad boy best friend and ex. It’s such a fun series that
really fits the EC “romantica” feeling. There are a lot of emotions in the
books – growing romance, friendship, daring to be what you want – along with
lots of hot sexy times J
About your writing:
How many books
have you written during your career so far and which is your favorite?
I’ve been writing
for years, but the Steamy Love Scenes
series launched my erotic romance writing career. Ellora’s Cave is publishing
another story, Soulgasm, soon. Of these four, picking a favorite…is impossible!
Okay, I’ll say “Double Feature,” because it’s told in part from Riley’s point
of view. He’s one of my favorite characters ever. His heart’s in the right
place, but another part of his body is in a lot of other places. One of the
best descriptions I ever heard about Riley was when a reviewer called him
“charmingly immoral.”
Have any of
your books received negative reviews and how did you handle the situation?
No, thank goodness,
and I’m knocking on wood as I say it.
Do you believe
in writer’s block and if so, how do you overcome it?
I’ve never
experienced it, and I’m knocking furiously on wood again. I believe there are
things that may keep us from writing, but that’s why Julia Cameron gave us THE
ARTIST’S WAY. That book is a writer’s block bulldozer.
What is the
one genre you would never write and
why?
I don’t usually
choose my stories – they choose me, so “never” is tough to say. I’ll contradict
myself here and say probably not historical romance, chiefly because they
require a ton of detailed research, from big events down to small shoe buttons,
and that’s not my thing. Nor are men wearing hose and wigs. Not that there’s
anything wrong with that…
Have you ever
written a book that you’ve regretted publishing and why?
The only books I
regret are the ones I don’t write. Doubt is the greatest enemy of any writer.
Suckerpunch doubt and get to the keyboard.
If a reader
said they wanted to write a book, what advice would you give them?
See above,
“Suckerpunch doubt and get to the keyboard.” It’s a variation on Nora Roberts’s
timeless explanation of how she’s written hundreds of books: “Ass in chair.”
About you:
Tell us what a
typical day in your life is like?
I used to think
being a successful author required sitting at the computer and typing thousands
of words like a madwoman. Then a friend said, “Life doesn’t happen behind a
computer screen.” You have to get out and see things, talk to people, have experiences.
Ideas never come to me when I’m at the computer. I make sure I go outside, get
together with friends, hear new things. Then I come home with inspiration and
write. On writing days I work anywhere from four to six hours, typing like a
madwoman.
What sort of
things put you in a bad mood?
Thinking too much
about the future. It’s great to plan what can be planned, but there’s a lot
that’s out of my control, like how a book is going to do. Hanging out in the
present moment keeps me in a great mood!
Do you have a
bucket list and what’s one thing you still want to do that you haven’t done?
No bucket list –
a lot of time can go by just compiling that! When there’s something I want to
do I jump in. I’m very impulsive – that’s how all my books have been written.
Thank goodness my husband is practical or I’d likely be writing to you from Las
Vegas, broke but with a ton of great stories.
What makes you
laugh?
The HBO series Girls.
The bromance between Kirk and Spock in Star
Trek: Into Darkness. Sherlock. Cat videos. The amount of time I spend
worrying.
What is the
most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
I wonder which is more
embarrassing, the margarita-soaked episodes or the fact that I can’t remember
them.
Do you like to read and what are you reading at the moment?
If you couldn’t
write anymore, what would you do instead?
It took a full five
minutes to answer this question because the thought scared the censored out of
me. I’d find a way to write. I don’t have a Plan B.
Fun Stuff:
If you could go out with one famous person who
would it be and why?
Ooh!! I’d really fancy a lunch date with Norman
Reedus from The Walking Dead to talk about his photography.
Do you have a habit that drives your
partner/friends/family nuts and what is it?
I asked my husband this question. He said, “If you
had a bad habit that drove me nuts I’d tell you immediately so you could stop
it.” He also tells me when I look fat in a dress, but he always blames the
dress. He’s a dream, adorable and so supportive J
In your opinion, what makes a person attractive?
Kindness and wit that doesn’t depend on sarcasm.
Also dark-haired pretty boys with full lips a la Tom Welling, formerly of
Smallville, and Cillian Murphy. But I’ve recently developed more than a casual
interest in blonds thanks to Chris Hemsworth and Charlie Hunnam.
What is the strangest food you’ve ever eaten?
I don’t know if this is
considered strange, but I don’t understand cuisine that needs to be artfully
plated and is so tiny that the description of it on the menu is larger than the
actual portion. That tends to inspire depression and a raging food bummer.
Would you rather have a classic 1969 convertible Mustang or have the
use of a beach side condo any time you want?
I would rather drive the Mustang to the
beachside condo. I live with an “and” mindset, rather than “either/or.”
And finally:
Would
you rather survive an apocalyptic event (yes, even a zombie apocalypse) or die
instantly without knowing what happened to your family and friends?
I’m a
big fan of The Walking Dead, so I
know the company you keep has a lot to do with this choice. If I could be with
Daryl Dixon, I’ll pick survival.
Steamy Love Scenes 1: Enjoy the Show
After finding out her boyfriend’s
been unfaithful, Josie heads to her town’s movie theater to cool off from the
summer’s heat and her blazing temper. She has no idea how steamy things are
about to get. When hot and handsome actor Miles sits next to her in the empty
balcony, he and Josie make their own X-rated film. But more than clothing is
shed during their risqué matinee, and Josie may find her drama being
re-scripted as a love story—if she’ll let Miles be her new leading man.
Steamy Love Scenes 2: Intermission
Josie’s
still rocked by her risqué matinee with hot movie star Miles but her no-account
ex Riley is causing her grief. Once she squares him away, Josie arranges for a
special midnight show with Miles before he leaves for Hollywood
Steamy Love Scenes 3: Double Feature
Josie’s
sexy ex Riley is back, this time with his heart (and other parts of his body)
set on winning the only woman who can match his skill and desires in the
bedroom. But hot movie star Miles wants to convince Josie to be his leading
lady with an elaborate claiming ritual guaranteed to get a triple-X rating.
Secrets playing out behind the scenes could have Josie strutting a red carpet
to true love—or falling back into the arms of the man who first rocked her
world.
Buy Links:
Steamy Love Scenes 1: Enjoy the Show
Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/enjoy-the-show.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Steamy Love Scenes 2: Intermission
Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/intermission.html
Barnes and Noble: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/intermission-6
Steamy Love Scenes 3: Double Feature
Ellora’s Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/double-feature.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com
Erika Almond is a nice lady who writes naughty stories. In her past
lives she was a bartender and a rock journalist, sometimes simultaneously. Her
life as an author of erotic romance is definitely more fun now.
Twitter: @ErikaAlmond
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