How did you start writing erotica?
I write for a living, but up until recently, it hasn’t been creatively satisfying. About three years ago I started writing fan fiction in my spare time, as a way to find my joy in writing again, anonymously. I wanted to have fun with it, to create something without worrying if it would sell, or how it would be received. It was a blast.
What’s your favourite published work of yours and why?
My “day job” is ghostwriting, and though I’m proud of the books I write for my clients, my favorite published work is my debut novel, Forever Man because the love story is about having the courage to honor your truth and go after what you want in life, whether it’s a person you can’t live without, or a dream that just won’t die.
What erotic authors do you enjoy reading?
I’m lucky to be part of the Interlude Press family—they have some fantastic erotica writers. I’m a big fan of Lynn Charles—she has a book coming out this December for which I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy, Chef’s Table. Although it’s more of a romantic comedy with really great sex. Melissa Graves and Kate Paddington write amazing erotica, in my opinion, and they both have new novels out.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Pictures, especially old black and white postcards. Music. Classic films. My life.
Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
Nothing out of the ordinary, no. Although lately I’ve been trying to write faster. I want to work my way up to consistently writing 1,000 words an hour, so I set a timer to go off every ten minutes to remind myself that I need to pick up the pace. It takes practice, and preparation—you can’t write fast if you have research to look up, or if you’re disorganized.
Where’s your favourite place to write?
My library has beautiful views of the Hudson River, and I often write there. I like to move around—my kitchen table, a café, my bed, my office, a restaurant. I used to fantasize about having a little writing shed—there’s a new book out about writers and their little sheds, by the way—but I think I would get antsy.
Who is your favourite character from one of your stories and why?
I love Cole and Ren, my lovers in Forever Man, of course. But Antonio, Ren’s friend and colleague—he might be my favorite character in the book. I like him because he’s this big hulking guy who is a romantic; a softy in cowboy boots. He’s soulful, and interesting. I wish I knew him.
Do your nearest and dearest know what you do, and if so, what was their reaction when they found out?
Most of them know, yes. Most of them were surprised, because I’m such a modest person! But everyone has been supportive.
What was your ideal career when you were a child?
Writer.
How do you get yourself in the mood to write?
If I don’t write, we don’t eat, so I write whether I’m in the mood or not. It’s more about ensuring I don’t have distractions, carving out uninterrupted time to just write, rather than handling the business of writing.
If you get writer’s block, how do you get around it?
I get blocked when my to-do list overwhelms me, so I try to focus on doing the next thing, and then the next thing, until I’m less stressed. Then, I pull out one of the tricks that I know work for me: a walk around Rockland lake, reading over a rough draft, starting a scene in the middle, going to see another artist’s work (a museum, a concert, a play), dancing around my kitchen (the Jackson Five works great).
If you could bring one of your characters to life, which one would it be and why?
In keeping with my answer above, Antonio, because he would be a great friend to have.
Which author, erotic or otherwise would you love to meet and why?
I’d love to meet Armistead Maupin who wrote the Tales of the City series. I love popular fiction, and he is the master of it.
What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?
I’m a sucker for romantic comedies. Give me all of them.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m plotting a new series of novels with an ensemble cast, set in a quirky town in on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It features an ensemble cast, but centers around two childhood friendly rivals who both return to their hometown the summer after college and find themselves thrown together by matchmaking busybodies.
What’s the biggest writing challenge you’ve ever taken on? Did you succeed?
I was hired to ghostwrite a book before I ever wrote one. That was a big challenge! And yes, I did succeed.
What’s your biggest writing achievement? Why?
Finishing Forever Man, because I had grown accustomed to assuming the voice of other people—my clients—and forgot my own until I sat down to write this book.
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Excerpt:
Ren turns to see Cole standing not five feet away, a bit out of breath.
“Did you mean it?” Ren asks.
“Yes.”
“You’re in love with me?”
“Yes.”
Ren doubles over again, trying to catch his breath. Cole crosses to him, rubbing his back but saying nothing. After a moment, Ren straightens out and asks, “How long?”
“I want us to be together—”
“No. How long have you been in love with me?”
The answer to this one question is all Ren needs to know. Because this man, this friend, this lover of his has always given in to whims and drama and intensity, and Ren has to be sure that he is not that. He has to be sure that this is not new.
Cole steps into Ren’s space, tilts his chin up and kisses him. The kiss is firm, an answer, a promise.
“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t in love with you.”
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BLURB:
A bond forged in Catholic school, an unspoken attraction that outlasts years of separation and other relationships.
Ren and Cole never acted on that thing that always bubbled beneath the surface of their friendship, not until a chance encounter in a Santa Fe bar and a song that would tip the scales forced them to confront their feelings. Will the influence of a music superstar, a New York socialite and a mystical property manager finally bring them together, or will a history of missed opportunities, their own fears and an impending wedding keep them apart? Can they just have one night, and then walk away?
Forever Man is a story of the consequences of the choices we make, and how the courage to change can last a lifetime.
Buy Link: http://store.interludepress.com/products/forever-man-by-a-j-dewall
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
A professional writer for more than 20 years, A.J. DeWall began her career as a playwright. She is the ghostwriter behind dozens of nonfiction books, including several award-winning bestsellers. As a writer of fan fiction, her online titles have hundreds of thousands of reads. Forever Man is her first novel. She lives in New York with her wife and son.
Links:
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GIVEAWAY
Make sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/06/virtual-book-tour-forever-man-by-aj.html
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for the interview, it was nice.
Enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you so much for hosting! I was traveling the last few days, or would have popped on earlier. I enjoyed answer your questions. 🙂