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 thatwas not only erotic and emotional, but had a strong story and solid plot as well. When I wrote my first full-length erotic story,Lotus Petals, I discovered I loved 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 two more cats. 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 (in fact, he’s doing it right now). 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’
4. Favorite food?
I’ve recently discovered a local Lebanese place that makes an amazing chicken schwarma plate! Schwarma, rice, hummus and salad. It’s a new treat for me to come home from my day job and find my husband has picked up dinner from our new favorite place.
5. Tell us a little about your new release. What character in the book really spoke to you?
Satin and Steel is the sequel to Lotus Petals and the second in the Blood and Fire series. As with Lotus Petals, I think I connected most deeply with the lead, Rhiannon. Especially in this book, where Rhiannon is dealing with feelings of grief and brokenness, I could very easily relate to her. Her struggle with identity and purpose were easy to channel, as I’ve asked myself some of the same questions she does in the book.
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?
In Satin and Steel I get to explore a character type I don’t feature very often: I like to call her the “Hope” archetype. Most of the time I enjoy flirting with darkness and evil so much that hope, when it comes about, is still a bit of a gritty anti-hero, but in Satin and Steel, I got to write a character embodying some truly beautiful concepts. Purity, joy, kindness, and compassion greatly define her, and she was a very rewarding character to write.
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. I’ve been working on Elvyn Nights, the sequel to Goblin Fires, and that book features a polyamorous trio so almost every sex scene is a multi-partner one, and I love that. But what makes them most rewarding, to me, is not just the naughtiness of a threesome, but the fact that these three characters share a deep and abiding love—each one loving the other two in equal measure—and that takes the sexiness up a notch, for me. It’s not just naughty...it’s real lovemaking.
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 who know (assuming they are comfortable to talk about it with you). I recently tried my hand at writing a short story about a transgender character, and I really enjoyed it.
10. What is next on your writerly horizon?
National Novel Writing Month is on the way, so I’ve got a couple of things on the drawing board (I always do). I’m trying to finish Elvyn Nights before November, though the main character is dawdling and I’m honestly letting myself be distracted by too many video games. For this year’s NaNo, I’d originally planned to write Rhiannon’s next book, which will be titled Winter Hearts, but recently I’ve been feeling more called to keep working on my BDSM novel, Lady in Chains.
Social and buy links
Brantwijn's Facebook Page: http://tinyurl.com/qf2bzwk
Foreplay and Fangs blog: http://brantwijn.blogspot.com/
Foreplay and Fangs on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/q2cmnep
Find Brantwijn on Google+
And on Goodreads
Say hi to her on Twitter
Satin and Steel at Champagne Books
Satin and Steel on Amazon
Satin and Steel on Barnes and Noble
Author 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, American Horror Storyor Buffy the Vampire Slayer while she writes or draws.
In addition to her novels, Brantwijn has self-published erotic short stories available on Smashwords or Amazon. 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 hopes to have several more tales to tell as time goes on. She has author pages on GoodReads and Amazon, and loves to see reader comments on her work. Her short stories occasionally pop up at Foreplay and Fangs, her blog at http://brantwijn.blogspot.com.
Blurb
They say love ruined her. It's time to prove them wrong.
Half a century ago, Rhiannon lost the woman she loved. Since then, unlife has held little meaning for her, and she's fallen from grace among the vampire nation. She once swore to throw herself into the sun the day Aijyn died...but it turns out she's no good at keeping promises.
Sometimes the best cure for heartache is surrender. There's a demon in London with new promises: darkness to run in, pleasures to hunt, rules to break. Sent to track down a dangerous traitor, Rhiannon is caught up in a game of murder and treachery between three warring races...and the sinful, seductive shadow-walker who could be her redemption, or her ultimate undoing.
Book excerpt-
In a blink, the demon disappeared into the silhouette of the smoke stack. Then, Rhiannon felt slender fingers brushing along her shoulder, slow and coy. She spun to find Vivienne lounging happily on her stomach atop another chimney, slipped there through the shadows without a sound.
“What we have heard about you,” she said, “is far from rumor.”
Rhiannon jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”
The corner of Vivienne’s smile twitched, for a moment becoming hard, an irritated scowl.
“Yourkind is only the Fourth Blood of the Drogh Lord’s kingdom,” she hissed. “The werewolves and shadiil came long before vampires. We are older than even the oldest of your race, gravespawn, something you and your mother would do well to keep in mind.”
Rhiannon bristled at the insult. “Older than vampires, but still the spawn of beasts,” she spat. “Rife with a touch of madness because of it, I’d say.”
Vivienne fell silent, searching Rhiannon carefully. “They say you have been mad once.”
Rhiannon’s spine straightened. A wary prickle traveled through her shoulders and a low growl started deep in her throat.
“Drank the blood of another vampire, didn’t you?” the shadiil purred. “Drained a rival warrior to death, just as a rabid thrall does, and lost your pretty little mind.”
Rhiannon’s hand returned to the hilt of her blade.
“You haven’t exactly been the same since then, have you, Rhiannon Donovan?”
“It’s a lie,” she muttered. “I am not a thrall. I know my own mind and I am notrabid!”
Vivienne’s smirk returned, as if renewed by the anger she’d provoked. She slid her knees out from under her and dropped to the rooftop, backing Rhiannon down.
“You were expected to become the first Archon in the history of the Blood Circle Council to bear four fangs,” she said. “A vampire colder and crueler than any ever squirted out from between her dam’s thighs. Colder and crueler than most who were sired with a bite, perhaps. What happened to you, Rhiannon Donovan? Where did your strict, disciplined focus and cold-blooded dedication go? Where is the tigreméchant et sanguinaire, the malicious and bloodthirsty tiger?”
“Back away, shadiil,” the vampire spat. “I am still a Weapons master.”
Vivienne stopped, tilting her head, scanning Rhiannon up and down with giddy cruelty.
“They were wrong about you,” she said. “You are no Archon.”
“It no longer matters to me if I am.”
Green eyes glittered. “Myrace knows better, little Rhiannon. My queen knows better. You will throw off every expectation the bloodsuckers have of you. You will throw off every expectation everyone has of you. You are no Archon at heart.”
She stood close enough that her pretty, elfin nose almost touched Rhiannon’s. The vampire realized she’d stopped growling, caught off guard by those glowing, hypnotic eyes.
“Non,non, Rhiannon. At heart, you are nothing less than a Councilwoman herself.”
Rhiannon snorted.
“You are the one who is mad, shadiil,” she muttered, turning to slip down the way she had come. “Run off. Let me hunt in peace.”
“I am not teasing you, ma chérie,” Vivienne said with a smile. “This is what the seers have told us: you will become the greatest vampire among allvampires.”
“Your seers are blind.”
With a cold rush of shadows, the other demon appeared out of the darkness before her, materialized in the silhouette of the window casement.
“Enough of grand talk then, since it bothers you so,” she murmured. “Reconsider hunting with me. We will find this beast and put it in the ground. You can go back to your race a hero and get back on the path you pursued so hungrily before you lost your mind.”
“I didn’tlose my mind!” Rhiannon insisted, pushing past her.
“The shadiil prides of London and our werewolf allies will be far more helpful to you than your own kind. We are not so busy prattling about the blame and covering up our blunders. You will find us to be far more pleasant company.”
“I don’t want company.”
“Arrêtez, ma cher...wait.”
Rhiannon paused, another growl escaping her.
Vivienne strolled up to her side. “May I see your teeth, ma beau chérie?”
Rhiannon sneered. “What?”
Vivienne lunged, putting her soft hands to Rhiannon’s face and nudging her lips away from her teeth. As the curious beast inspected the bracketed fangs in eyeteeth and canines, her smile quirked up at the corners even more. She started to purr, her tongue peeking out to run over her dark lips.
“Oh...they are most lovely, bastard child,” she murmured, stroking one hand along Rhiannon’s cheek. “So lovely, I could almost bite you myself, and send you home to your mother with my naughty teeth marks all over your tight little body.”
Thank you so much, Erzabet, for hosting us! It's always a pleasure to visit your blog.
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