A Taste for Killing; A Visit with H. K. Sterling

1. How did you start writing erotic romance?

I wouldn't really say that I write erotic romance. I write all kinds of genres and they generally have romance in them, at least as a subplot but I am mainly concerned with writing a good book in the overall genre, whether it be Young Adult/New Adult, Mystery/Suspense, Short stories in anthologies or Science Fiction.

2. Plotter or pantster?

Ha! Both!  I plot at the beginning in my head. Especially with series. I have to plot all the way through with series in order to maintain logical consistency. However, once I've plotted I give myself free reign when I'm writing so I am definitely a pantster then. Often it still stays within the plotting but occasionally the creativity takes you way off the main line and you have some dancing to do with your writing to stay coherent.

3. What are three things you have on your writing desk?

LOL I love this question.  I have a Doctor Who miniature Tardis that makes eight different noises when you fly it; I have a signed collector picture with words by Neil Gaiman, picture by David Mark that in general says that you will write in words of fire ( I loved that) and I have, among other things, THE book. THE book is a 2 foot long gigantic book of about 500 very thick (almost cardboard like) pages where I keep notes on all my books that I am writing. This book has everything in it that is key to remember that I would never remember on my own because it's just too much. It has things that are needed like birthdates and ages and when the character was married and when so and so was born ,and timelines of events, full names of minor characters etc.  I have to have this or I would never remember everything I need to, especially since I write multiple books under two pen names in multiple genres. It wouldn't do to have a character marry someone that was 15 because you forgot their birthdate.  It is also the place where I write my notes for plotlines and scenes that are definitely going in one of my books. Because believe me, if you don't write them down, they disappear in the forgetful writer's room in the sky and you never see them again. Then you are left crying over unspilt ink.  These are only the fully fledged ideas though. I have about 10 blank books around the house that I also write ideas and scraps of things in. I come back to those quite often also.

4. Favorite food? Any writer who doesn't say chocolate is lying. (so true!!!)

5. Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?

In "A Taste For Killing" the main character is Carolyn Woods a detective who works on her own. She also has to deal with men both in her job and in her love life. I liked her character who on one hand is trusty with a gun and fearless when it comes to tracking cases, and on the other hand is full of insecurities about herself and her own life. I think that sums up many of us who look all put together on the outside but are a simpering mess of insecurity if someone were to get inside our heads (which I do with Carolyn).

6. I write because ____... I love it; I have to; I am a creative fountain. Also because I was inspired by so many writers in my younger days that I wanted to be able to do that- to spark someone creatively.

7. What is your favorite type of character to write about? My favorite characters are anti-heroes. They may have many flaws and may not be the best person to date but they genuinely have good hearts and motives and those always come through in the end. The bad boy with a good heart.

8. What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote? There's a pretty sexy scene in this book but I can't tell you about it because giving the people away would be a spoiler!

 

 

9. What advice would you give new authors in the erotica/romance field? Create a wide foundation of social networking and if you can, find a publisher. There are many small presses where you are more likely to be able to find a home than always trying to publish in the big houses.

10. What is next on your writerly horizon? Well, my sequel to A Taste For Killing was just accepted by my publisher! So I am ecstatic about that! The sequel focuses on one of the characters from A Taste For Killing, but not the same character. The sequel is called A Taste For Danger and I am thrilled it will be published. I really had a good time writing that one.

Mystery and Romance blend together when competing detectives Carolyn Woods and Jack Heart are both hired to solve the murder of Pete Wallace, only to realize they are working the same case. To complicate things, Carolyn and Jack have an on again-off again relationship. Then there is Evan Jones, a handsome architect— but he's also a suspect. Can Carolyn manage to solve the case as more and more murders pile up? Will her relationship with Jack hinder their investigations? And what about Evan Jones? He seems like the perfect man, but could he actually be the murderer? One thing is for sure: someone close to both Carolyn and Jack has A Taste For Killing.

Excerpt:

H.K. Sterling

Excerpt

He had six-pack abs, and I wanted to feel the carbonation. This one dressed like the stereotype of a construction worker, down to the handkerchief he used to wipe sweat off his forehead. I don't know if he or the hot day brought it out, but sweat poured off of me too. He had no interest in me as a person, though. I was invading his territory. Still, I enjoyed the view. For my part, I knew my clothes looked crappy. I didn’t have to wear uniforms anymore, but my street clothes, well they were very—street. So there I stood, a turd in the sun in front of this Adonis. Oh well.

He pointed to a small trailer up a muddy hill. The supervisor I asked to see apparently stayed in there. Stayed, as in never left. Great. Mud. Now I'd be a dried turd in the sun. Adonis went back to digging and I started the trek up the hill. At least I came with boots. Steel toed.

Once I made it to the trailer, I heard an argument going on inside.

"Look, I don't care who you are. The plans are publically filed. Go get them yourself!" yelled someone.

Then I heard a voice I knew. Calm, cool, subversive. "Is there any reason you're being so difficult? A man did die on your watch."

An encounter I hadn’t planned on. Well, at least not until later tonight. I knocked loudly on the door and with my sweetest voice said, "Hello, boys. Am I interrupting something?"

"Great," groused the supervisor. "A party." He appeared to me like another stereotype, puffing on a cigar over a fat jowl line and rotund stomach that threatened to overturn the small desk he was behind. I guess there's a reason for stereotypes. He looked about four hamburgers away from a heart attack.

On a wooden chair in front of the supervisor sat Jack. A fellow independent detective, an ally at times, a competitor...and my on and off lover.

"Well, well, well," he said smiling, but I could tell he wasn’t happy to see me. Not here. It meant we were both working the same case. "Hello, Carolyn. Who hired you?"

"Parents."

"Girlfriend," he answered back.

We stared at each other. Complications.

The supervisor didn’t give a damn and said to me, "Well, missy, I'll tell you the same thing I told this guy." He jerked his thumb around to Jack. "The plans are publically filed and that’s all I have to say about it."

I tried a different tactic. "That’s fine with me. I have no problem going downtown for a copy." I wore my practiced, saccharine smile. "But I wonder, could you tell me the name of the architect? Please?" I smiled again. God, this job sucks at times.

The supervisor sighed. "Jones, Evan Jones."

"Thank you so much," I said, smiling my best smile again. "I'll get out of the way and leave you two boys to...whatever you were doing."

I opened the door to go and started to shut it only to find Jack following me out.

"Sure, flash your tits and get what you want." Boy was he in a bad mood.

"There was no tit flashing in there. Face it, testosterone was not a good choice in that situation."

Jack's response: a grunt.

"Besides," I tried to placate him, "I didn’t get the plans either."

"No, you did one better."

"That's assuming the architect will have anything to do with me and cooperate." A thought occurred to me. "So are you going there too?"

"No, I might as well wait and see what you turn up. Besides, I have my own leads."

"Are you planning to share?" Just call me hopeful. As in full of shit, because that’s where hope always seemed to lead.

"No," he said, still grumpy.

"I see. So it's gonna be like that."

"I guess so."

 I felt like such a female. Damn. But I had to ask.

"Are we still on for tonight?"

"Yeah."

I wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it. God, sometimes I hated myself. But we were good together—when it was good—when his competitive edge didn’t get the better of him. Though I was one to talk. I did the same thing at times. Hence our on and off status. But currently we were supposed to be on. So, I kept it light in the spirit of things to come.

"Okay, master detective, I'll leave you to your leads. See ya."

"See ya," he replied, already preoccupied, pondering a piece of paper he'd taken from his pocket.

I made my way down the hill in my muddy boots.

H.K. Sterling

BIOGRAPHY

H.K. Sterling is an author with Breathless Press known for stories with a kick and twist endings. H.K. likes to focus her writing on suspense, science-fiction, shorts, and anything that is spicy and unexpected. H.K. lives in Virginia with her husband who graciously puts up with her passion for writing. H.K. currently has a Mystery/Thriller out: A Taste For Killing; and two short stories in the Breathless Press Anthology: My Bloody Valentine. Her new book A Taste For Danger has just been accepted for publication. H.K is currently also working on a a Science Fiction book of short twists. You can contact H.K. on the following social media:

Catch up with H.K. Sterling on the following media:

Twitter: @HKSterling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/HK-Sterling/426989014069244?ref=hl

Email: HK.Sterling@aol.com

HK Sterling "Undercover Blog": http://hksterling1.blogspot.com/