Unless you want, or perhaps you need me to use my, CRACK! whip, don’t forget to purchase a copy of the Swing Anthology, which has been released for publication today!
If you’ve been following the Swing Blog Tour, you’ll know that Jolie Du Pre, Swing Editor, asked each contributing author the following set of interview questions:
Why do you write erotica and what do you love best about it?
NB: I like the genre of eroticism because it celebrates sexuality, rather than stifling it. Maybe that’s important to me because of my strict religious upbringing, where sex wasn’t talked about. Eroticism gives me lots of freedom as a writer to strip away pretense and expose a character’s, raw emotions and vulnerability. Hmmm…and I think that’s where all the good stuff lives.
Tell us about your story in Swing! Adventures in Swinging by Today’s Top Erotica Writers and please feel free to give us an excerpt.
NB: When I sit down to write a story, I usually have a cause and effect approach to why the character chooses a particular path. In my story, The Party, my character’s desire to Swing was a taste she acquired trying to please her now, ex-husband:
“…In the beginning years of our marriage, my ex-husband used to call me babe, and I remember how much I loved the way he would say it, “Baaaabe.” He’d draw out the letter a, and his voice was incredibly tantalizing–sexy; deep and raspy. He would smile at me from across the kitchen table; his half-lidded bedroom eyes peering over his coffee mug and implore to me, “Baaaabe, would you do something for me?”
I realized later he would call me babe when he wanted me to do something for him, which he knew I wouldn’t necessarily be open to. Sometimes, he would ask me to do things that he knew made me feel uncomfortable; disguising his requests with his good intentions, pushing me up against my boundaries. As I sat next to him by the pool that day, he looked over to me, raised his left eyebrow; grinning sheepishly as he sipped on his pina colada, and softly coaxed, “Baaaabe, having sex with strangers will help to make our marriage stronger.”
Later, I came to detest it when he called me baaaabe. It’s funny how the one thing you love about someone can be the single thing you come to despise.
I was stunned and my immediate response was outrage as I gathered my things and stormed back to our room. He followed me; pleading that he loved me, but he wanted to try new things sexually.
“Why didn’t you talk to me about this before booking this trip to hedonistic island?” I asked crying, betrayed.
“Because I knew you’d react like this. I thought if we came down here in a peaceful setting and experienced non-monogamous sex together; it would help ease us into trying something new; something hotter and sexier.” He said still pleading.
“So, what you’re saying is you want to cheat on me?” I asked still crying.
“No. I want both of us to have the opportunity to experience heightened sexual encounters outside of our marriage bed. I love you Baaabe…won’t you do this for me; for us?” He finished solicitously as he stood in our room, hands on his hips.
As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to please my husband and what I came to realize later, was that somewhere buried inside me was the desire to experience sexual relations outside my marriage also. Maybe it was because I’d only ever known one man sexually, my husband, or maybe there was something that had always burned inside me, but I didn’t realize it until my husband gave me permission to act on those lurid feelings….”
Name some other books where we can find your work.
NB: Well, first of all, I’m thrilled and truly honored to be a part of this amazing anthology. If Jolie du Pre lived closer, I’d probably get down on knees and kiss her pretty feet. I’m relatively new to writing within the genre of erotica, but I did write and publish my first novel this year, Sex through the Zodiac. My short stories can be read in the on-line magazine Oysters and Chocolate, and these listed anthologies: Erotica of Every Flavor, Sex and Shoes, Ambrosia, and Men in Shorts.
What are you working on now?
NB: My big project is researching and writing a screenplay. And yes, the topic is definitely sexual. I’m also continuing to juggle and write short stories for various erotic submission calls.
If you could offer one piece of advice to a new author, what would it be?
NB: Don’t take rejections personally, because every writer gets rejected now and again. Whatever you do, don’t ever give up on your dream to write.
The next Swing Tour blog stop is Claudia Moss, next Monday, April 27th. Be sure to swing over and check her interview out.
Also, please join the Swing party at Yahoo today from morning until midnight. Chat with Jolie and other contributing Swing authors. There will be Swing prizes too! See you there.
Thank you,
Neve Black
Wow, I really look forward to reading the rest of your story. Not long to wait now!
“Don’t take rejections personally”
What a lovely offering (and/or reminder).
I’m delighted to be in Swing! with you, Neve, and thanks for this interview!
Xoxo,
Emerald
Hi Emerald beauty!
I am looking forward to the book too. So many interesting perspectives on the subject of Swing!
Thank you for stopping and thanks for the friendship.
Lovely interview, Neve. I totally agree that the good stuff lies beneath the stifling surfaces! It’s so perfect that your interview comes on Swing! Day itself. You are one of the bright rising stars of our genre. As for rejections “now and then,” I stopped counting at three hundred, but a stubborn writer is a published writer :-). It’s great advice not to take it personally. Writing is a weird thing, so personal in a way, and just a business in another.
Anyway, I’m thrilled to be in Swing! with you.
Donna,
Good Morning sunshine! Thank you for stopping here today. Like I’ve mentioned, I am also looking forward to reading each Swing authors story front to back, side-to-side, up and down, oh, oops, we’re talking about READING here, correct? haha.
Thank you for weighing in on the rejection side too. I think it’s always nice to be accepted, but not every writer is a perfect fit with every publisher, or editor - I think it must be tougher on the editor; sending out the rejection - cut them some slack and just keep writing. Tenacity pays off.
Thank you for that wonderful compliment. I appreciate that - you’re a good friend.
Hello sexy Neve,
Love the new look of your blog! Beautiful job! The new Logical-Lust website and BUY links will be up soon. I’m also looking forward to the release party that will occur in just a couple of hours.
Loved your interview. I try not to take rejection personally, but sometimes I still get mad. LOL I don’t know why, since I’m in a position where I have to reject a lot of stories for my books.(I should know by now that a rejection is not personal.)
It doesn’t always mean that the writing is horrible.(Sometimes, but not always. LOL) More often than not, it just means that the story is one that won’t work for the book.
I’ve had to reject some really good stories. Sometimes it’s because the story doesn’t match with the theme of the book. It’s important for authors to read the guidelines. If you send in a story that doesn’t match with the theme of the book - it’s going to get rejected. Most editors will reject a story that doesn’t follow the guidelines.
I can only accept 20 to 25 stories for my next anthology The Cougar Book. (http://www.cougaranthology.com/) So, once again, I’m going to have to reject a lot more than I can accept. Not a fun job.
Jolie du Pre
Great window into your story, with the “baaaabe” device and the protagonist’s changing perspective on it.
See you in the book!!
Hi Jolie,
Thank you for stopping and once again, thank you for choosing my story for this very intelligent and sexy as hell anthology. I’m very happy to be involved and working with you.
I do think it’s important for authors to realize not every story wins a seat - so many variables besides just beiing well written come into play. Oh, sure it’s fabulous when your story is accepted and I extend congratulaory messages to other writers when I learn that their stories are being published. It’s gleeful. It also promotes and supports this great genre of eroticism that we’ve found places to hang our writing hats. The reality is we all have to take the highs of acceptance right along with the lows of rejection. It’s okay though. It happens to everyone.
See you at the party later, Jolie!
Hi Jeremy!
Thank you for stopping and baaaabe’ing me. I appreciate it. Yes, I will see you between the pages soon, baaaaabe. haha.
“It’s funny how the one thing you love about someone can be the single thing you come to despise.”
My …my …my…. ain’t that the truth?
Love your story, Neve. It sure does resonate with me.
and………..Kudos on being included, baaaaaaaaabe.
Gigi, thank you! Can you just hear some guy calling you, baaaaaabe? I can. Yuck.
Hi Neve,
Lovely interview. Some very sage advice and a very tempting excerpt. See you at the party!
Ashley
Thank you, Ashley!
um I’d rather have him call me “Oh God”.
ooooooooo cheeeeeeeeeeeky!
xxx
Haha, Gigi. I love the word cheeky too, I don’t hear it too often.
Hey Neve,
I’m afraid you had me in a quandary. I wasn’t sure whether to read your interview or just relaxingly take in the classy look of your blog! Are these photos all of you?
Great interview once again! Hot excerpt from a HOT story too. By now you’ll probably be reading all the others. You’ll now see what delightful TORTURE I’ve had to endure proofreading SWING!. I’m sure I lost weight LOL.
Join us at the party, if you’re not already there!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/logical-lust
Best
Jim Brown
http://www.logical-lust.com
Hi Jim!
Thanks for stopping by. I think we passed one another, because I just came from the Swing Party!
Many thanks to both you and Jolie for putting together this really amazing book. I feel very fortunate to be involved.
p.s. Thank you for your kind words about my site too. I’m very proud of this website, it was a lot of work getting here. The pictures are of me, but I know a great photographer!
Yay, Neve!! Looking forward to reading the rest of the story and the rest of the antho! Congrats!
Hi Marina!
Thank you! It’s cool when you get to write stories that find their way between the pages with some of your friends. I can’t wait for that to happen with us.
Neve,
The cougar story looks like a possibility for my first project.
Are you going to write a story for submission?
xx gigi
Hey Gigi!
Cool. Go for it! I love the idea of the Cougar concept.
I’m writing a few short stories for antho’s this year, but most of my writing time is going into a larger project large for me anyway) right now.
Keep me posted and good luck!! Yah very exciting.
Great interview, Neve. Can’t wait to read the rest of that story! One of my favorite topics…
Haven,
I’ve missed you. How was your trip to the Isle of Green Dolphins? I mean, Isle of the Green…wait. Green Island. How was your beach vacation?
p.s., P.S., Thank you for your nice comment.