Angel's Keeping

1. How did you start writing erotic romance?

I read too many romance novels that end up disappointing me. I feel romance and erotica aren't taken seriously as literary genres... and authors weren't taking their work in the genres seriously either. I wanted to write something that was not only erotic and emotional, but had a strong story and solid plot as well.  I’ve discovered I really enjoy the freedom and creative potential of writing erotic stories.

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.  This usually relates to music, playlists, and soundtracks I’m listening to. At the moment I’m favoring some Lady Gaga, Florence + The Machine, and Evanescence while I work on the next Blood and Fire novel.

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

Lately it’s been my Kindle, my new Galaxy Grand Prime, and a large ice tea. I’m an email addict and I need to have at least one device which will access my email at hand. And while I work I love to enjoy a good, crisp ice tea.

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?

Angel's Keeping is a short novella in the same series as my first book, Lotus Petals. The story features a different cast of characters, however: while Lotus Petals follows the story of a vampire warrior, Angel's Keeping brings readers into the present, and introduces them to the incubi and succubae families. Two of the characters—Raschael and Malael—have appeared in my short stories before, but this is the first significant story about their side of the demonic street in my Blood and Fire series. Oddly enough, it was a supporting character—the stripper, Noelle—who spoke to me most. She was very fun to write and I enjoyed her teasing and banter.

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'm usually a big fan of powerful women with a "weak spot", something making them vulnerable beneath their tough exterior. My vampire, Rhiannon; my fae Knight, Reagan; and my new leading lady, Sadira, all fall under this archetype, although in different ways. In Angel's Keeping, though, I got to write a little bit from a very opposite archetype: the succubus, Kyriel, is the absolute wrong kind of demon, in Blood and Fire: she is soft, tender, and sweet. Writing a character with such an open and fresh vulnerability was a really beautiful feeling.

8. What is the sexiest scene you ever wrote?

Recently an erotic author I admire suggested an erotic prompt to me, challenging me to write out a story where the lovers have the capability to alter one another’s bodies, but not their own. The result was a very edgy story, to me at least, and I loved the harsh tone of it and the transgressive experiment. There’s body mod and gender swapping involved, and while it’s not the most transgressive act I’ve ever written of, it certainly feels like the rawest, most graphic sexual scene I’ve written in a while.

9. What advice would you give new authors in the erotica/romance field?

Read with an attentive ear. Listen to how professionally published authors sound, listen for the voice of their narrative. There are some qualities of writing that can’t be learned so much as they are absorbed from a good habit of reading. The more you listen to the voice of other writers the more you will develop a stronger voice of your own.

10. What is next on your writerly horizon?

I’m still working on the next books in both my Blood and Fire and Four Courts series, as well as my fantasy BDSM. Meanwhile, I’m trying to clean up a fantasy western series that’s been gathering dust for several years, and trying to spruce it up for submittal.

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 Story or 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.

Social and buy links

Brantwijn's Facebook Page   :

Foreplay and Fangs blog     :

Foreplay and Fangs on Facebook     :

Find Brantwijn on Google+

And on Goodreads

Say hi to her on Twitter

Angel’s Keeping at Champagne Books

Blurb

Even fallen angels can wish for a miracle.

As a succubus, preying on humans is Raschael's business, and mortal feelings are nothing but a waste of time. So maybe her king meant to punish her when he sent her out to hunt on one of the most holy mortal holidays. Or maybe he just wanted her far, far away, so he could banish Raschael's one and only friend.

Now Raschael must track down a missing fallen angel, and she doesn't have a clue where to start. Bigger predators are closing in, and Rasche's only lead is a Christmas stripper named Noelle.

Book excerpt

The waitress ditched her tray of drinks and took Rasche by the hand, leading her into one of the back rooms. The Christmas theme survived even in the private show quarters, though with a more generous degree of triple-X action. The small space Raschael's escort chose had been decorated with garlands and wreaths, and a stocking hung by the door, but on top of the holiday trimmings there were also striking boudoir pictures. They all contained the same sweet, golden angel, but in much less "angelic" form.

Raschael spun to address the woman personally. "Who are you?"

By way of answer, the woman nodded her head at the bright red stocking. Noelle, it read in sapphire blue, glittery letters across the trim.

"Noelle?" Rasche asked. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Noelle replied with a brilliant smile. "It really is my God-given name. Honest."

"Alright, Noelle, then about Kyrie--"

"Oh, now, now."

Noelle took Rasche's hand again, stroking her fingers, and led her to the soft red leather seat stationed in the center of the room. She gestured for Raschael to sit and, before Raschael could stop her, climbed expertly up into the succubae's lap.

"First thing's first, gorgeous. How about we get a little more...intimate?"

She raised a hand and snapped her fingers. The faded strains of Blink 182 from the main room became inaudible, as Lady Gaga's "Speechless" flowed into the room's own speakers. Noelle lowered herself over Raschael's body, rocking in time with the sultry piano, wrapping arms around the fallen one's neck.

Forgetting herself for the briefest of moments, Raschael closed her eyes and let the first swell of carnal desire stir to life in her loins and chest. The dancer didn't stop her when she lifted up her hands and cupped them over warm, soft buttocks.

Noelle smelled of warm vanilla. She had a luscious body, petite with classic curves, Renaissance in a way...but with eyes closed, Raschael's mind made her Kyriel, little and lithe and naughty. Under her hands, Noelle's plump hindquarters might have been Kyrie's slim, boyish ass instead, and the sweet scent of heather rose up with the remembered sounds of Kyrie's intoxicated desire, from earlier in the evening. Rasche lowered her face to nuzzle against a plentiful swell of tender breasts, and she sighed before she could stop herself, moving her body against the other woman's with yearning.

"Why don't you tell me about your friend," Noelle whispered against her ear, gyrating ever-so-delightfully against Raschael's body. "Why are you out searching for her on Christmas Eve, hm?"

"She ran away," Raschael said. Her palms caressed the dancer's ass greedily. "And I'm responsible for bringing her back before she gets in trouble."

Noelle tsk'd her. "Now, now, Raschael. You make her out to be some sort of bad puppy."

The dancer extended a leg and swung herself neatly around, facing away now to grind her pert little rear down on the succubae's lap instead. Noelle's hands stole to hers and guided them up to stroke tits through gauzy white fabric. Raschael's fingertips found stiffened nipples, and she teased them through the thin material.

"Who told you my name?" she asked. "Kyrie?"

"Mm, could be..."

Noelle's hands closed, warm, over Rasche's own, as the dancer welcomed her to knead, stroke, and caress. Rasche inclined her head to breathe in deep, relishing the scent of beautiful blonde hair.

"Listen, honey," she whispered. "I'm sure as hell enjoying this, and if I had the time to spare I'd be all over you in ways you can't even conceive."

"Mm-hm," Noelle replied. Her hips rolled in languid, mesmerizing rhythm, and Rasche let out a little growl as she returned the the motion in kind.

"Oh, sweetness, I'd fuck you until you couldn't stand," she said. "But not now. You're going to tell me if you've seen my girl, and where she is, and then we'll see about making it up to you. Sound good?”