Interview: A.S. Fenichel

Here’s an author interview with A. S. Fenichel. Take it away, A. S…

Hi and thanks for having me on Erotica For All. I’m thrilled to be here.

• How did you start writing erotica?

I always wrote romance of one type or another. I’m a big believer that if you are going to tell a reader every intimate detail of the lives of two characters, then you can’t close the bedroom door. Really, it was just taking it up a small notch to have my books called “erotic”. I write “sweet” traditional romance also and even in them, if the couple is going to have sex, the reader is going to see it.

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

This is such a hard question, like asking which child do you love more. I guess I am most proud of Kane’s Bounty because I wrote it based on a call from the publisher, it turned out great and now I’m writing an entire series based on the idea of psychic law enforcement.

• What erotic authors do you enjoy reading?

Karla Doyle, Sidney Bristol, Cris Anson, Lacy Alexander, Cara Bristol. I could go on and on.

• Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Inspiration can strike at any moment. I get a lot of first scenes from dreams, so I guess my subconscious plays a big part. However, the inspiration for Alaskan Exposure was a real live, flesh and blood, man. He was the first officer on a cruise to Alaska I took with my husband last year. YUMMY!

• Do you have any unusual writing rituals?

Not really. I sit and write every day. That’s it.

• Where’s your favourite place to write?

I love to write in our sunroom, which overlooks a big lake. The view is stunning and serene. The cat curls up with me on my chaise lounge and we get to work. I edit in the office but I write in the sunroom. I guess that’s kind of quirky.

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

Another totally unfair question! Oh boy. For the most part, I’m fickle and I love the one I’m with. But since I’m three books removed from Alaskan Exposure and I still can’t get Kyle out of my head, I’d say he’s the winner. He is just so sweet. He’s a playboy, right… He has the perfect life for it, merchant marine, life on a ship. There is no reason for him to change his ways, yet one look at Charley and he’s going out of his way to prove to her that he wants more. *sigh* He will make you want to take a cruise, that much I can promise.

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

Yes they do. It was never a secret. Most of them read my books. Not the nieces and nephews, mind you, but everyone else. 😉

• What was your ideal career when you were a child?

I wanted to be a Broadway star. I even attended college with a major in acting. Isn’t life funny?

• How do you get yourself in the mood to write?

It’s a job. I sit down every day and write. Sometimes it’s easy and other times it’s torture.

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

Never give up! No matter how bleak it seems. Ask yourself, if you knew right now, you would never have a book published, would you keep writing? If the answer is yes, because what would you do with all the stories in your head, then you should continue and never give up.

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

I do struggle sometimes, but I just push through even if it’s one bad word at a time. I text or tweet with a writer friend to try to work through things. I go for a walk and clear my head. Eventually the block will break and all those bad words can be fixed or tweaked.

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

Again, Kyle! I’m totally in love with him. Don’t tell my husband. J

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

Living or dead? Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Dead, I’d love to meet Jane Austin. She was ahead of her time, brilliant and the mother of all good romance. (In my opinion). Living, Stephen King. It’d be cool to sit down with a glass of wine or a beer and pick his brain. Listen to his stories and just get to know him.

• What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?

I really love to write paranormal erotica. I enjoy the idea of setting new boundaries and creating a world within our world. In Kane’s Bounty I created a psychic bounty hunter organization and in the rest of the series it will morph into an FBI like organization made up of people with all different psi skills.

• What are you working on at the moment?

I just finished Joshua’s Mistake and I’m working on Training Rain the third book in my psychic series. I hope to have more information about when the books will be available soon. Kane’s bounty is already at your favourite ebook store.

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

I’m working on crossing a new genre line. It’s a series of Historical Paranormal books. It’s been very challenging. I’m still working on the success part. 😉

• What’s your biggest writing achievement? Why?

Getting published was and is a huge achievement. It took me seventeen years to push my writing to the point where it was good enough to interest a publisher. I guess the next thing will be getting on the NYT bestseller list. 🙂

*****

Excerpt:

Charley headed to the designated area in front of the forward elevator bank on deck eight. In case a good shot availed itself, she kept her camera bag with her. She reached inside the specially made backpack and felt her way to the camera sling. Her Canon EOS 5D Mark III was at the top and she dug for the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens and its EW-83F hood. Her hand wrapped around it and pulled it from its snug memory foam compartment. She walked up the one deck from their cabin while attaching the lens best suited for close, low-light shots.

Even only having seen that small percentage of the ship, she had to admit it was not at all cramped or claustrophobic. When she saw an officer talking to a group of passengers, she immediately clicked off a few pictures. He was tall. His chest and shoulders filled out the white uniform and he smiled easily at the three women who peppered him with questions while batting their eyelashes shamelessly. The youngest of the three looked to be at least ten years older than the sailor.

Charley zoomed in on his bright blue eyes and neatly cropped dark, curly hair. He seemed genuinely interested in what the women were saying. If she had to guess, the handsome officer must have known the passengers. She clicked several more pictures.

His eyes turned toward her. There was a moment of surprise, followed by a slow, private smile. Inside her lens he was so close he penetrated her comfort zone. Charley felt her cheeks flush and she took the camera away from her face.

He’d caught her with her hand in the cookie jar. She’d invaded his privacy and he smiled warmly across the expanse of blue carpet. But he didn’t look the least bit offended. Normally she asked people if she could photograph them, though spontaneous pictures always turned out better. Making a conscious effort to slow her heart and ignore her embarrassment, she felt her cheeks cool slightly.

The officer said his polite goodbyes to the ladies and walked over to Charley. “Miss Ballantine?”

“Yes.” Immediately her cheeks flushed again. He smelled of a musky cologne, soap and man. What the hell was wrong with her? She shook herself out of her mesmerized state. “I’m Charlene Ballantine, sorry I’m late.”

He frowned for an instant. “I was told Charley.”

Her cheeks were on fire and her heart beat so hard that it was a wonder he didn’t comment on the infernal noise. “Charley is fine.”

He held out his hand. “I’m Kyle Macintyre, the ship’s first officer. I’m assigned the task of showing you the bridge. The captain asked that I tell you what you may and may not do while aboard.”

“They sent me a list of dos and don’ts.” Her voice was a bit steadier.

There was that smile again. “Yes, I’m sure the line sent you a laundry list, but since you’re not part of the crew and you have had no shipboard training, Captain Cristou likes to make certain they’ll be no trouble.”

She nodded dumbly, intoxicated by the deep, warm sound of his voice. “Who were those women?”

If the question surprised him he didn’t show it. “Mrs. Jones and her two daughters. They’re taking a family vacation.”

“Do you know them?”

He cocked his head to one side. “I just met them. Why do you ask?”

She shrugged, wishing she could keep her mouth shut. She supposed the question was out of context, but she was curious. “It looked as if you knew them.”

Turning the digital display on her camera around, she showed him the pictures she’d taken. He stood very close as she scrolled through the dozen shots she snapped while he was unaware. Her shoulder brushed against his arm.

The warmth of his body spread through her as if she were standing too close to a furnace. She’d lost her mind. That was the only explanation. Since her divorce, men had been the last thing she wanted. She’d spent a year in therapy trying not to think of them as the enemy and she’d made progress. She’d even gone on a couple of dates that hadn’t ended in disaster. But this sailor had an effect on her that none of the men she’d come in contact with had. Her pulse was tripping wildly and she thought running away would be a great idea. In fact, better to get as far away from Kyle Macintyre as possible. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.

He smiled brightly. “It does. You know, I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve just learned that on a short cruise you don’t have much time to get to know people. I make friends quickly.”

She took a step away from his arousing scent and warm body.

“I’ll bet you do.” Sarcasm dripped from her words. She thought of looking around to see if her mother was behind her. No, it had been her. Shit.

He frowned, but was still so gorgeous she could barely look at him. “I think I should be insulted by the way you said that, Miss Ballantine, but I’m going to reserve my reaction until I know you better.”

*****

Finally recovering from a devastating divorce, Charley is given the opportunity of a lifetime when she’s offered a job shooting photographs for an Alaskan cruise catalogue.

Kyle loves his life. The ship’s playboy first officer has his future all worked out and it doesn’t involve falling for the beautiful new photographer.

The two find passion and comfort on the high seas and Charley learns the joys of being completely uninhibited when the partner is just right. But in eight short days she’s going to walk off the ship and Kyle’s going to start his next voyage without her. Can Kyle prove to Charley that they’re more than just hot sex? Sacrifice is the only way to stay together, but the price might just be too high.

Available from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
All Romance eBooks
Barnes & Noble
Ellora’s Cave

*****

About the Author:

A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back.

A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.

Multi-published in both erotic and historical romance, A.S. has 5 books currently available and three more under contract with Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.

http://www.asfenichel.net/
http://asfenichel.net/blog/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5154640.A_S_Fenichel
https://twitter.com/asfenichel
https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel
https://plus.google.com/113195747154467378107/posts
http://pinterest.com/asfenichel/boards/

*****

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