Showing posts with label writing process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing process. Show all posts

Monday, July 20, 2015

Romance Author, Elodie Parkes Talks About Writing

Elodie Parkes is a British author writing romance, erotic, contemporary, and often with a twist of mystery, paranormal, fantasy, or suspense. Her books are always steamy. 

Her tag is, Cool stories: Hot love scenes.

She works in an antique shop by day and writes at night, loving the cloak of silent darkness that descends on the rural countryside around her home.

Elodie is joining us all the way from Canterbury. Her two dogs are eyeing me and licking their lips. Ah-ha! They know I keep doggie treats handy.

Thank you so much, Elodie for joining us today. Let’s get started. You’ve got ten seconds to describe your writing style. Ready… set… go!
Romantic. Thoughtful. Emotional. Addictive. Erotic.

I love your books Rescuing Cade and A Fairy Tale Romance. I enjoy the twists in your storylines. Do you have any authors who have influenced you or do you have a favorite authors you enjoy?
I’ve purposely not allowed writers and books to influence me. For instance, I love William Gibson books. He can do no wrong in my eyes, but would never attempt to be influenced by his work. I write completely different works. My stories are love stories with twists of paranormal, or suspense, or mystery that are woven into what could happen in real life. I could never approach writing like another author, my story and my characters drive me. I guess that other writers whose books I read lots don’t write erotic romance. I’ve read all Christine Feehan’s Dark series, but when I write paranormal, I don’t feel I’m influenced by her work. I read Henning Mankell and there’s no way I could be influenced to write as he does, because his Swedish environment influences him even though he now lives in Africa. Same with Ruth Rendell, I’ve read nearly all her work. Its good stuff but I’ve felt no influence.
I’ve dot pointed what strikes me about the above author’s work.
  • Ruth Rendell, insight into the dark side of human behavior
  • Henning Mankell, the atmosphere he creates, often wide open, empty spaces, bleakness
  • William Gibson, intelligence, insight into society and the manipulation from powerful people, description, and scene setting.
  • Christine Feehan, the creation of some of the most loveable male characters around, those Carpathians are to die for.
Real life influences me. I get my story ideas as I’m moving through life, from meeting people, seeing buildings, scenery, sign posts, all kinds of things will make a story idea drop into my mind. Then the characters start to talk. I guess that’s a little obtuse, but that’s how it happens for me. One of my vampire romance stories came from driving past a building that had an old Inn sign in the front garden, but the building was clearly not an Inn. There was an air of mystery about the place, though and a story dropped into my head very quickly. I used the name on that sign for the title. Then a paddock full of lovely horses inspired one of my shifter stories. Stories just arrive in my head and have the characters already formed in some magical way. I always fall in love with my characters and miss them like crazy when I have to let them go .

It’s fascinating how story ideas pop up then follow you around. When did you begin writing?
I started writing when I was seventeen, but I quit early on writing fiction because I needed to write academic stuff. After life got in the way for a number of years, I suddenly found my mind was crowded with fiction story ideas again and I went back to writing them.

You are living proof what one can’t escape the writing muse! When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t really. That’s funny huh? I write but I think the definition of a writer has changed along with the radical changes in the publishing world.

When you think about it, writing is an art form. Writing, painting, creating music – whatever your title, you create something wonderful for others to enjoy. What is your writing process?
I don’t have a process per se. I write when I have time. It’s always there nagging me to get back to, but I have to fit it around my day job or starve. I suppose I stay up late writing because I feel peaceful then, but there are no habits attached.

Size counts… on average how loooooonnnnnggg do you like your (um, how do we put it delicately) manuscripts to be; (in words silly, not inches) and how steamy?
I write erotic romance. The love scenes are graphic. My stories must have happy endings and I enjoy that, giving happy endings to characters. I feel as if there are so few in real life. My stories are just told, the length varies from 15 K to 45 K whatever tells the story.

I usually drink tea or wine when I write. I also keep a jar of dark chocolate M&M’s handy. What snacks do you enjoy while you write?
None. I might drink a cup of tea or a glass of water, but I have lots of allergies and have to be careful what I eat.

Food allergies suck. But you stay healthy in the long run!

It’s time to get to the nitty-gritty in reference to writing:
 Are you most productive in the morning, afternoon or are you a night owl?
I am a night owl in all facets of life.

Are you a plotter or a pantster?
Both at different times and mixed together sometimes.

Which is more important: plot or characters?
For me they’re equally important. They drive each other.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?
Not so far. I never have enough hours in the day so there are loads of manuscripts on my desktop in various stages all clamoring to be finished.

Do you write thing at a time or more than one? How do you balance them?
I often write more than one thing at a time, but in general one will take over and I’ll finish it then go on to the next as the other sleeps before I go back for the first creative edit before it goes to the editor and then is submitted.

What is your least favorite part of the writing or publishing process?
Oh hell, marketing, promoting. It’s so time consuming, such a stressful experience and so hard to know what to do for the best. I’d like to reach readers more, and in a more intimate way, but time forbids that for me.

What is your best marketing tip?
I have nothing for you. Try anything and everything to reach your audience.

What advice would you give other writers?
If you love writing, keep at it even in the face of the saturated market, the capricious industry, the negativity and competition, because when a reader tells you they loved your story it makes up for all those things.

WHEW! That was awesome! Thank you so much for joining us today. Girl, you gotta tell me where you got those adorable boots!

She has also released titles as an individual indie author.


Check out her new release from Evernight
An erotic romance, with Dom/sub and spanking elements—a contemporary, magical love story.



Monday, June 2, 2014

My Writing Process Blog Tour

Thank you Libby Waterford for involving me in this awesome blog tour.  

Libby writes California-set steamy contemporary romances. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and works off her weekly pilgrimage to in–N-Out by swimming and climbing the city’s hidden staircases. She’s currently working on a trio of novellas that take place during the reunion/commencement weekend at a New England liberal arts college. Passionate History will be released soon by Decadent Publishing. I love reunion stories so I’ll be first in line top pick this one up!

Find Libby Waterford at
Her Website     Email      Facebook      Twitter 

***************************************************

What am I currently working on?
 I write novellas for the 1 Night Stand series from Decadent Publishing. Right now, I am editing a steamy Native American eagle shifter romance, Eagle Dance. It’s the second book in the “Legend of the Spirit” series. (Crow Magic was the first book.) In between edits I’m working on three more Native American shifter stories for 1NS.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I write contemporary erotic romance and I'm currently playing with Native American shifters (crow, eagle, hawk and falcon). I use sensuality and eroticism to emphasize the spiritualism of sex and how it creates a unique bond between lovers.

Why do I write what I do?
I was told by my mentor to “write what you know”. Growing up in Michigan and spending time near a Chippewa Reservation I became enthralled with the legends and stories of the people. The tales of animal spirits and shifters show how man/nature/woman work together to create balance in life. I center my novellas on these ideas and collect my research on Tribes of the Great Lakes Region. I give special thanks to two friends, Marion Roth & Ann Orr, for my Chippewa education.

How does my writing process work?
I get an idea in my head and it wormholes me! I have to write it down! My over active imagination often creates more than one story at a time so I often work on multiple stories. Once each story is like a movie in my head and I feel like I’m simply recording it. After a story is complete, I print a hard copy and read over it making corrections with a red pen. Once all changes/corrections are complete, I submit to my publisher and prepare for edits.



Lucy Richards is tired of being timid around men. Hoping to overcome her fears and feel like a real woman, she turns to Madame Eve to find a man who will fulfill that goal. Eve arranges a one-night stand with a handsome Shawnee shaman who will teach Lucy to use her womanly power and take her to unimaginable heights.

Shape shifter Seth Crowe is a Keeper of the Spiritual Law who carries souls from darkness to light, and enjoys using his body to accomplish his magic.

Tucked away in the Castillo Poconos Resort, Seth helps Lucy find spiritual and sexual freedom, never dreaming he might find his own mate in the bargain.



 BUY CROW MAGIC      Amazon      Barnes & Noble     Decadent Publishing

What Readers are saying.
Crow Magic is a story filled with spirituality and self-awareness. The author uses Native American culture and beliefs to spin her own tale of romance centered around inner peace and freedom.

About the Author
Romance author and Artist Mary Quast lives in a log home affectionately named "Camp Run-A-Muk" located in the woods of Michigan with her husband, three sons, and a collection of animal family members.

As a professional artist, Mary Quast answered the call to express herself creatively. With her descriptive writing style she has developed a knack for creating passionate characters and realistic settings. These features are prominent in her published novels of the "Soul Series".

When this Michigan author is not busy writing contemporary erotic romance for Decadent Publishing, Mary doles out sensual tips and yummy eye candy on her blog “Romantic Interludes”. She also can be found lecturing college classes on the importance of Journal writing.

Where to find me
Twitter: @MaryQuast
 Facebook

Thank you to all who checked out my writing process.