An Interview with Mia Downing (@miadowning007)

How did you start writing erotica?

In my other life, I edit erotic romance for a small publishing company. After reading and fixing so many stories, I decided to finish one I’d started as a New Year’s Resolution for 2012. I finished it in three weeks and sold it the next week. My first book was Exceeding Boundaries. I didn’t look back after that.

What’s your favourite published work of yours and why?

I love them all for different reasons. I think Twisted Luck is my favorite at this point, because it’s a testament to my love of writing. The words finally came when I gave myself permission to give up writing. There are a lot of pieces of me in this book, along with a cameo from my deceased great aunt who used to read tea leaves. It’s definitely worthy of being a favorite!

What erotic authors do you enjoy reading?

I love a mix of different authors. I enjoy reading m/f, m/m and ménage, as well as historical and BDSM. Some of my favorite authors aren’t as well-known. I love to read Darah Lace, Emma Jay, Tymber Dalton, Cari Silverwood, KyAnn Waters, Emma Holly, Abigail Roux, Amy Lane, L.A. Witt, Tiffany Reisz.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Usually a song will spark a vision or a scene, and it gets my muse going. I like sex scenes to show character growth, so all of them have importance of some sort. I also like my scenes to be different and varied so the reader is engaged.

Do you have any unusual writing rituals?

I need to have a playlist of songs to draw out my muse. I wills scour YouTube for new musical artists to help write the words. I have an eclectic mix from classical to hard rock with a few country songs thrown in. I don’t even like country music! I also tend to write best at night, but as a busy mom with a small farm and a puppy, I write when I can.

Where’s your favourite place to write?

At my desk at this point. I have an old neck injury that makes the laptop hard to work from. I have French doors next to me that overlook my horse pasture, visible in winter when the leaves are gone. In summer, it’s a leafy, peaceful forest and stone wall to view.

Who is your favourite character from one of your stories and why?

I love Olivia from Twisted Luck. I love how strong and resourceful she is in the face of the crap going down in her life. She’s been through worse, though, which is sad when one considers that dealing with a demon is merely a drop in the bucket.

Do your nearest and dearest know what you do, and if so, what was their reaction when they found out?

They know, though I don’t tell everyone my pen name. My mother in law told a bunch of people at a picnic once including my husband’s uncle and aunt. This was about the same time as when Fifty Shades of Grey had first come out as a book, so they were quite…nosy. I told them that yes, I wrote smut, and my husband was a very lucky man (he really isn’t). They don’t even ask now.

What was your ideal career when you were a child?

I wanted to be many things…a vet, an Egyptologist, an astronomer. I had started writing in the 4^th grade when I didn’t like how a book ended, but I never thought of an author as a career. I ended up being a riding instructor for 25 years—I started young. I was also a chef, did catering, and I am an editor.

How do you get yourself in the mood to write?

Well, I wait for the muse to strike, which means if I’m in a drought, I may not get much done. Sometimes I can play music and edit something already written, and the story will come to me.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve ever been given?

I’ve been given so much advice over the years. Most of it has been great. I think the best tip was from a contest judge when I first started writing in 2000. She had said my writing was great, but I’d put in a lot of backstory. She had thought my story started at a later point. I hadn’t learned that yet, and it opened my eyes to presenting a story in a more compelling way. As a seasoned author and editor, I now see a lot of backstory that isn’t necessary and slows the story way down.

If you get writer’s block, how do you get around it?

I think one has to identify the problem behind writer’s block first, because there are a lot of reasons to be blocked. A lot of times, the story has taken a wrong turn and I’ve written myself into a corner. Re-reading the story will help sort this out, and I can make a new plan so I can move forward again. But sometimes, the problem is rooted a lot deeper than a wrong turn. I had suffered from severe depression in 2013 when my world fell apart after my father’s death and a job change. It took a long time to work through these changes and for the muse to return.

If you could bring one of your characters to life, which one would it be and why?

I love Olivia from Twisted Luck. She and I share a lot of views on life. She’s totally kick ass, and I love that she doesn’t let the good luck she gains from selling her soul turn her into someone fake and shallow.

Which author, erotic or otherwise, would you love to meet and why?

This is going to sound crazy, but I’d love to meet Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved her books growing up, and I bet she was a fascinating woman. I’d want the real scoop behind the stories!

What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?

I love a lot of different genres for erotic romance. I enjoy mm, mf, and ménage. I love finding great historical erotic romances, too.

What are you working on at the moment?

I have two books I’ve started. One is the sequel for Twisted Luck featuring her friend, Annie. So far, it’s a lot of fun! The other book is a romantic suspense that’s a reunion story of sorts. Neither book has a working title. I tend to give them a title when the book is done.

What’s the biggest writing challenge you’ve ever taken on? Did you succeed?

I think the biggest writing challenge was writing Twisted Luck. You see, I had allowed myself to throw in the towel and stop writing. I had forced the words for about two years after a string of really bad things happened in the span of three weeks—my dad died, I lost a job that was like losing a family when the business sold, and I lost another job when my elderly client had died. The depression didn’t hit immediately, though, and the muse avoided me like the plague about six months after all that happened. I struggled and struggled for years, finishing revisions on a few books and writing a few shorter novellas until I couldn’t deal anymore. So, I gave up.

A funny thing happened—the muse returned, and Twisted Luck was born. I wrote through a new job, a lupus flare (I have heart/lung involvement) and a massive amount of stress. I wrote this book for me. I’m really happy with the results!

What’s your biggest writing achievement? Why?

I think the biggest writing achievement thus far is still being an author given the change in the market. I’ve made some Amazon top ten best seller lists in the past, but the hard part was done. The book had been written, edited, promoted, released. During 2012 when I started publishing my work, authors were faced with a business boom. Fifty Shades of Grey hit it big, and that meant great things for erotic romance. Our books were no longer taboo but something “in” to read.

But the market has changed drastically since then, and sales have declined, sparking several publishers to close and a lot of authors to hang up their hats. Not that I’ve ever been a huge seller, but I’ve noticed the impact. I think continuing to write during a very quiet market is an achievement for any author. It’s an ode to the voices in our heads that spark us to put fingers to keyboard. It’s testament to loyal readers as well.

*****

BLURB:

When I told him to go to hell, I never realized it would be a trip for two.

All I wanted was luck—the good kind. I’d lost my job, a jerk hacked my bank account, and I caught my best friend screwing my fiancé. When stood up by my Internet date in a bar, I met the perfect man—tall, dark, and handsome in the most expensive suit. He was out of my league, but I didn’t want forever.

I barely remember the words he whispered under the veil of sin and seduction. I didn’t believe in Satan, God, Heaven or Hell. I thought he was kidding. A figment. A dream.

I was wrong. With one, breathless yes, my fate was sealed.

Businessman by day, demon by night, Leo Weston now owns my soul in exchange for good luck. Time is ticking as he works to secure my mother’s soul, too. Somehow, I have to take him down despite him being so damned gorgeous, glib, and devious. Will my gift of twisted luck be enough to save her and protect my heart?

Buy links: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33974541-twisted-luck

*****

Excerpt:

“I don’t want soda.” His concerned, gorgeous face blurred a moment before my eyes and then cleared. Ah, finally, the liquor had kicked in. “I am batting a zero at everything except getting drunk. Let me have some semblance of victory.”

“I think you’ve already won. How about another conquest?”

Conquest. I snorted. “My intent tonight was to get laid. My exes are getting laid. It’s their wedding night.” Shot glass empty, I sipped from the soda placed in front of me and found it lacking. “I can’t even accomplish that.”

He cocked his head. “It’s not too late.”

I looked around the nearly empty bar. “I have Rudy the homeless guy and Nate to choose from. And Nate’s gay.”

“What about me?”

“You?” I laughed. “You’re as sexy as Satan. Way out of my league.”

I assure you I don’t come close to Lucifer’s beauty or skill in bed.” His hand brushed my hair aside again, and when he cupped my cheek this time, I leaned into it. “But I’m not out of your league.”

*****

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Mia Downing started creating heroes at age four, but her heroes back then rode ponies to the rescue and only kissed her on the cheek. Today, Mia’s heroes still rescue those in need, but the price of their toys and the expertise of their seduction leads to a whole lot more. When Mia isn’t busy creating new stories for her readers she fills in as an underwear model for a prestigious lingerie company. She also lives in New England with her family, and enjoys horses and knitting.

Fun facts: Mia can juggle (poorly,) create balloon animals and face paint. She was the hit entertainment of two family parties. No clown suits were involved.

Find Mia on the Web!

http://www.MiaDowning.com

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Mia-Downing/e/B0093T9208

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mia-Downing-Author/124693507716461

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754711.Mia_Downing

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/miadowning007

Pinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/miadowning007/boards/

*****

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