1. How did you start
writing erotic romance?
I
read too many erotic romance novels that ended up disappointing me. It already
seems like romance and erotica aren't taken very seriously as literary
genres... and the authors of these novels weren't taking their work seriously
either. I wanted to write something that was not only
erotic and emotional, but had a strong story and solid plot as well. As I wrote Lotus
Petals, I discovered I really enjoyed the freedom and creative potential of
writing erotic stories. Since then, I've been able to write so many different
kinds of stories, with so many different kinds of characters and plots, and
still include some really terrific sexual heat...I love it!
2. Plotter or
pantster?
I
plot, mostly, though I don't like to use outlines or other more 'structured'
methods. Most of my scenes come to me in
little nuggets, and I sort of 'massage' them into a plot. The exception is during National Novel
Writing Month, when I turn on the timer for writing sprints and just try to
keep ahead of the word count.
3. What are three
things you have on your writing desk?
A
cat, a cat, and another cat. I’m not
kidding. Our great big tuxedo cat, Pants, has a life goal to invade as much of
my personal space as he possibly can, so he’ll literally come sit next to me
and start aggressively leaning on me until I let him have half of my lap. The
other three cats all share my footrest: my husband’s “princess”, Mika, likes to
curl up so I can’t stretch out my legs, and she has the perfect
“Just-What-Do-You-Think-You’re-Doing?” look if I try to move.
4. Favorite food?
I love Macaroni and Cheese,
especially if it's sharp cheese or white cheddar.
5. Tell us a little
about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?
As I wrote the book, I connected a
lot with Rhiannon, the lead vampire.
She's truly one of my most favorite characters to write about, though
she's also one of the most conflicted between the worlds of light and dark.
6. I write because I
have stories to share, and my biggest dream is to know others might enjoy
hearing them as much as I enjoy telling them.
7. What is your
favorite type of character to write about?
I like to vary my characters and
try out new things, though by this time I've got so many in my head there are,
of course, some very similar personalities. I have to admit I'm a fan of the
independent "warrior" woman, like Rhiannon (from Lotus Petals) and Reagan both are. That doesn't mean I don't write other characters,
though: Sarayana, my dragoness from Equinox,
is infinitely more feminine and Talaith, Reagan's paramour, is much more a
thinker and a schemer. I'm always
looking to stretch my boundaries, but I think the gals like Rhi and Reagan are
definitely my most comfortable types.
8. What is the
sexiest scene you ever wrote?
I'll
answer this question differently depending on my mood, and how I'm feeling like
defining sexy at any given moment. In
this case, though, I have to say that, at least from the writing standpoint, the final scene
in Goblin Fires really made an
impression on me. I don't want to give away too much, but for me, on an
emotional level, that scene really stands out.
Of
course if we're just talking straight-up, X-rated, no-holds-barred sexy, I'm
going to say the experimental "tentacle" story I wrote. But that's all we'll say about that one for now...
9. What advice would
you give new authors in the erotica/romance field?
Don't
limit yourself to stories reflecting your own fantasies or lifestyle. Be open
to possibility of writing a something new and different, something you haven't
experienced and maybe never even considered. Do some research, talk to people
'in the lifestyle' (whatever that lifestyle might be). For years, I wanted to write a
story about a polyamorous trio, a concept I thought of as 'a perfect love triangle'. I'm
not poly myself and have never really felt the desire to explore the lifestyle
in my own relationship, but I knew there could be a really wonderful story there, if I took
the time to learn, ask questions, and discover new things.
10. What is next on
your writerly horizon?
For the longest time I've
been wanting to get out a story about a deep Master/slave, BDSM relationship,
and that’s been my most pressing project lately. When my publisher Breathless
Press closed in May, though, a lot of my other works needed to find some new
homes, and that’s put a lot of the continuing series—like Blood and Fire—behind schedule. We’re finally getting back to a
place where my readers can expect some new releases, though, and hopefully Satin and Steel, the sequel to Lotus Petals, will be released soon.
Please include the
following with your interview:
Social and buy links
Brantwijn's
Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/qf2bzwk
Foreplay
and Fangs blog: http://brantwijn.blogspot.com/?zx=6ba3380c7201b326
Foreplay and Fangs on
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/q2cmnep
Find Brantwijn on Google+
And on Goodreads
Say hi to her on Twitter
Lotus Petals at Champagne Books
Lotus Petals on Amazon
Lotus Petals on Barnes and Noble
Bio:
When she isn't visiting the worlds of
immortals, demons, dragons and goblins, Brantwijn fills her time with artistic
endeavors: sketching, painting, customizing My Little Ponies and sewing
plushies for friends. She can't handle coffee unless there's enough cream and
sugar to make it a milkshake, but try and sweeten her tea and she will never
forgive you. She moonlights as a futon for four lazy cats, loves tabletop
role-play games, and can spend hours watching Futurama, Claymore or Buffy the Vampire Slayer while she
writes or draws.
Brantwijn has published three full-length
erotic novels: Lotus Petals, Goblin Fires, and His Cemetery Doll. In addition to these, Brantwijn has had several other stories published by Breathless
Press, including contributions to the 2013
Crimson Anthology and 2014 Ravaged
Anthology. She's also had a short
story published in the Cleiss Press Big
Book of Orgasm and the anthology Coming
Together Through The Storm. She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon, and loves to see reader comments on her
work. Her short stories and audio readings occasionally pop up at Foreplay and Fangs, her blog at http://brantwijn.blogspot.com.
Short
Blurb:
Aijyn, human slave to a ruthless vampire Lord,
would never dare do anything to incur his wrath. Then, she fell in love... with
his bride.
Longer
Blurb:
Rhiannon Donovan, daughter to the vampire Queen, would rather die
than be made a bride to a demon Lord. Aijyn, courtesan to the undead Daimyo of
Kansai, can think of nothing more horrifying than his promise of eternal life. In the halls of the Blood Lotus Temple, the
two women struggle against the chains of their fate, and find a solace in each
other that could mean freedom for them
both... or might cost each of them their lives.
Social and buy links
Brantwijn's
Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/qf2bzwk
Foreplay
and Fangs blog: http://brantwijn.blogspot.com/?zx=6ba3380c7201b326
Foreplay and Fangs on
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/q2cmnep
Find Brantwijn on Google+
And on Goodreads
Say hi to her on Twitter
Lotus Petals at Champagne Books
Lotus Petals on Amazon
Lotus Petals on Barnes and Noble
Excerpt
"Rhiannon-sama," she began again, well
aware she might be broaching a subject Rhiannon would easily wish to avoid,
even to the point of sending her attendant violently away.
"Hm?" the vampire murmured.
"Your bodyguard...she likes to see you in
pain."
Rhiannon waited a long time before she answered.
"Perhaps I like
pain, mortal."
Aijyn did not argue...but she had seen the
expression on Rhiannon’s face when Sölva had tormented her.
"You must hide the scars from the
daimyo," she chided gently. "And you cannot allow her to leave any
more marks on you, if you do not wish to anger him."
"And if I do
wish to anger him?"
"Do not be petulant," Aijyn scolded.
"Does he believe his bride will be untouched?
That his kin-born bastard bride will
not have experienced acts of the flesh? I am over half a century a living
birth-child. Does he realize how most kin-born are meant to earn their keep in
demon houses?"
"He expects you will be untouched for
him," Aijyn said. "Whatever has gone before, now you are his. And
Gohachiro is not a man to share his treasures."
"Doesn’t he like to use pain?" Rhiannon
asked. She rolled over under Aijyn’s hands, lying on her side and reaching out
to touch the scar she herself had left on the courtesan’s wrist. At the light
caress of her finger, a delicious tingle of pleasure ignited under the skin,
making Aijyn shiver as the vampire had a moment ago.
Rhiannon pulled Aijyn closer, and lowered herself
over the wound to kiss it a second time. The warm arousal intensified, and Aijyn
caught her breath as her body awoke to the sensation, nipples stiffening under
the soft silk of her kimono.
"Here," Rhiannon whispered, reaching up
to brush the dark strands of hair from Aijyn’s shoulder, revealing the tiny,
neat scars of bites past. Scars that would never heal the way the vampire’s
did, white little lines and half-moons, memories of Gohachiro’s affections.
"Doesn’t he give you pain…" Rhiannon
said, following their contours with light but deliberate pressure.
"…so he may turn it into pleasure?"
"Rhiannon-sama…" Aijyn murmured vaguely.
One hand had dropped into her lap; the other rested on the vampire’s warm, lean
arm. Strange awareness filled her: the touch stirred up the first bloom of
eagerness in her loins and the pit of her belly.
"Pain is what we are, courtesan. Pain, hunger,
pleasure, death. We are the undead. I am just over half a century old, more
than twice your age, and I have been Sölva’s for longer than you have been
alive. There are scars you will never see, all over my body: the marks of her
fangs, of her whip, the cut of her blade, the pierce of steel needles. And
every one of them sings when she
touches me, screams when she hurts
me...and it is ecstasy."
"Rhiannon-sama…"
Aijyn realized with some dread she had made a
mistake. The vampire’s touch brushed against her, terribly light, terribly
fleeting, but her voice...soft, beautiful, rich, like strong liquor.
Rhiannon’s hand came to rest on the back of Aijyn’s
neck. She gently pulled the courtesan closer, resting forehead-to-forehead and
searching deep into Aijyn’s wide, dark eyes.
"You do this for him, too?" she
whispered. "You...perform anma for him? You touch his body with such
delicate affection?"
"Yes," Aijyn whispered.
"And does it make him want to fuck?"
Before she could think better of it, Aijyn lifted
up a hand and slapped her.
The strike was not a hard one. At least, to
Rhiannon it would not have been hard. Aijyn’s palm stung as though she had
struck it against solid rock, and she quickly pressed it in her other hand, hissing
with pain.
Rhiannon did not strike back. She remained
perfectly still, her expression unchanging. After a moment, once Aijyn had
collected herself, the vampire leaned closer and pressed her mouth against
Aijyn’s own.
"It makes me
want to fuck," she said. Then she stood, one smooth, languid motion,
and retreated to her coffin to at last submit to her daytime sleep.
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