Wildfire would like to welcome authors Saskia Walker and Missy Lyons.

Saskia Walker

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Saskia: I wanted to write since I was around twelve years old. Real life got in the way for a long while there, but when I turned thirty it was as if the story ideas that flitted through my head suddenly became more vivid and demanded to be written. They solidified in a way that left me with no option but to get them down on paper! It was a very exciting transition, and once I'd committed to it, it felt as if this is what I was meant to do.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

Saskia: I always outline. I write what I call my road map, or synopsis, very early on. In fact my one tip for writers who find synopsis writing hard is to get it done very early on when all your enthusiasm for the project is distilled into that first document. I refer back to the outline as I write, but I'm not rigid about it. I think that's important, so that the story can grow organically even though you're following a plan.

Julie: What influenced you to get published? How long did it take for your first book to get published?

Saskia: Being published was a challenge. At first I didn't think of it is a career. I wanted to see if other people would enjoy my stories as much as I did. Then as time progressed, I began to wonder if I could make it into a full-time job, and after a great deal of work and the support of a loving partner, I did. I now write full-time.

I had an unusual journey because I began as a short story writer. Once I had a few shorts published I pressed on and tried for a novella length. Then I seriously thought about novels. I saw it as a series of building blocks, and I was learning all the time. I was very lucky in that I sold my first erotic short story straight away, to Black Lace. That gave me the confidence to weather the ups and downs that came later on. My first novella was then signed by Red Sage. When I began in novel-length I was writing both fantasy romance and contemporary erotic romance. My reputation as an erotic romance author with Red Sage paved the way for me getting my first contracts with Berkley Heat in that genre, but I've now been published in fantasy romance with Juno Books, too.

Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?

Saskia: Music is enormously important to me, and even if I'm not deeply in the writing zone, I can recapture a mood by playing a certain soundtrack. By the end of a novel, I've usually got an album on repeat that has become forever associated with the book.

Julie: What's next for you?                                                                                             

Saskia: I've just finished a trio of novellas for Spice Briefs, and that was a lot of fun. Next up I'll be working on Rampant, an erotic paranormal novel set in Scotland. I usually work on more than one thing at a time: a novel, plus a couple of short stories. If I get into a difficult patch, I find that swapping over to short stories for a little while can jump-start my imagination, and that helps me with the main project is well.

Julie: Do you work with an agent? 

Saskia: Yes, I'm very lucky to have been signed by Roberta Brown, and she is an absolute dream to work with! It's changed my life radically having an agent to turn to. The publishing business is very complex, and it makes a huge difference to me having someone I can rely on and turn to when I'm concerned, someone who believes in my writing and helps me to move forward with getting it out there. I'm excited, too, because I'll be meeting Roberta properly this year when I attend the RWA conference in San Francisco.

Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?

Saskia: I trained as an art and cultural historian and that's still an important part of my life. I love to visit art galleries and museums. I'm also a big rock and alternative music fan.

Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?

Saskia: I guess that my heroines are always strong and sexually adventurous. It's not something I set out to do, but many people have commented that they like my heroines because they don't suffer embarrassment or guilt about their desires and their sexuality. I think that positive take on female sexuality is very important when writing erotic romance, and of course the hero has to recognize and admire that quality in his woman!

Julie: The editing process is so critical. In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of the editor/author relationship?

Saskia: I've worked with many different editors and I can confidently say the most important thing about it is that both sides work together as a team.

Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?

Saskia: I find a large glass of red wine helps! Seriously, though, it is hard. I love the actual writing, but the writing life often seems to swing between periods of waiting, worrying about what is going on when you've got work out there, and stressing over deadlines. I wouldn't change it for the world though!

Julie: If you weren't writing romance, what would you be writing?

Saskia:  That's a tough question! I write short stories without romantic elements, but I can't really envisage myself writing a novel that didn't have a major element of romance in it. I guess straight fantasy. I write erotic fantasy romance and I love the challenge of creating fantasy worlds. But really, could I even begin to imagine writing a whole novel that didn't revolve around the compelling draw between lovers? No, I don't think so...

Saskia Walker is a British author who writes cross genres: erotica, erotic romance, and fantasy. Her fiction has been published in over fifty anthologies and her novel-length work spans from contemporary erotic romance to ancient fantasy. Saskia lives in the north of England on the windswept Yorkshire moors, where she happily spends her days spinning yarns. She has lots more stories to tell.

Backlist:
Double Dare, Berkley Heat
Sex, Lies and Bondage Tape, Kink, Berkley Heat
The Strangeling, Juno Books
Unveiling The Sorceress, Juno Books
Along For The Ride, Total-E-Bound
Winner Takes All, Total-E-Bound
Play For Today, Total-E-Bound
Against The Grain, EXtasy Books
Summer Lightning, Secrets Volume 12, Red Sage
Falling for Trouble, Secrets Volume 15, Red Sage
What You Wish For, Secrets Volume 19, Red Sage

Coming soon:
Reckless, Berkley Heat
Loving On The Edge, Spice Briefs

Links:
Website
My Space
Blog
Newsletter group
 

Missy Lyons

Julie: When a new book comes out, are you nervous about how readers will react to it?

Missy: For me, there is always excitement tinged with a little nervousness. Who doesn't want their books to be well received? I want to write compelling stories that make it impossible to stop turning the pages, but the fact is you can't please everyone, so I don't try. I write erotic romances which can be controversial to some people. Some people may never pick up my books because of the vivid love scenes, but that is not all I write, and I will never be able to please those people.

Julie: What do you feel is the most important thing first time authors should know?

Missy: Keep writing and if this is your dream, then don't give up. The publishing world is not easy to break into and it is a highly competitive industry. There are a lot of pitfalls and disappointments when you first begin. Writing and reading regularly will help to hone your craft and develop a backlist.

Julie: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain, that you have set for yourself?

Missy: I will be trying new ideas and going into new genres in the eBook industry. I still am finding that perfect love for a specific type of story. So you can expect to see westerns, paranormals, science fiction, contemporaries set on foreign soil, and even erotic versions of classic fairy tales. I may create a new pen name for the young adult story I have been working on so that I don's expose the younger readers to my more erotic work. I have a long list of goals, but one thing I plan to work on is to write longer, novel length books. I hope to find an agent who I can work well with and who has the same vision for me. Eventually I hope this will help me to expose my books to a larger market. 

Julie: What genre do you want to try your hand at but haven't?

Missy: Time travel, and science fiction, but I have a young adult I need to finish first. A few years ago, I started a fantasy young adult that I will be trying to finish this year, called A Dragon Among Us. Which is totally new for me.

Julie: What's next for you?

Missy: I have several novel length books planned for the future. I hope to finish the young adult this summer and begin work on an urban fantasy, titled Guns and Roses. Just to give you a brief overview, it is about an assassin and a singer who hires him as the head of security.

Julie: Do you remember the first romance book you ever read?

Missy: I am not sure everyone would consider it a romance, but I was told not to read Clan of the Cavebear, because of a scene that was too sexy for a thirteen year old. Of course I read it, but the love scene was tame by today's standards, and I practically grew up on Harlequin novels, and bodice rippers.

Julie: Do you prefer writing series nooks over non-series or does it matter?

Missy: I enjoy change, so nothing I have written so far is a series. Even though there are a few stories which I plan to make into a series. Series are great because it is like revisiting an old friend and sharing a new adventure. The books that I plan to write sequels to are: Blood Ties, Dragon Heat, Bound by Desire, and possibly A Warrior's Woman.

Julie: Describe the space where you write?

Missy: Currently my cherry desk is covered with taxes, since I am in the middle of doing them. I need to have a clean space to write so I am not distracted, so I won't be writing until that is done. I have several overflowing bookshelves lining the walls, and it is decorated in country, with a few wolves and bears in the artwork around the room. I keep a handwritten list of goals posted next to the computer and a few calls for submission that I try to work in if I have time or suddenly get inspired.

Julie: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Missy: Several travel guides to Paris, Texas, and Hawaii. I also have a pile of baby magazines, an RWR magazine, and an RT magazine. I read a ton of eBooks, but you can't snuggle up with a computer in bed. At least I can't.

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Missy: That would be a tossup between cleaning the toilet or the bunny rabbit's cage. I am a mom with lots of wild animals in the house. So my day is full of the usual mom stuff, wiping up runny noses, running the kids off to karate, and trying to train the dogs to not herd the cat or other small animals in the house. For those of you who don't know we have two very smart Border Collies, who just can't stay out of trouble. They like to open doors, and play with locks; they can open their kennel, and turn on the shower. The worst trick they want to do is to herd the 15 year old cat. Although I adore them and they have learned incredibly fast, I wouldn't recommend them to people who don't have the time to invest.

Missy currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her daughter and her husband and lives just outside the city limits in the country. She works in the real estate industry and has been pursuing her love of writing for the last five years, whenever she has time to spare.

Backlist:
39 And Holding Him, Phaze
Blood Ties, Phaze
Boyfriend for Hire, Whispers Publishing
Bound by Desire, Phaze
Closing the Deal, Phaze
Dragon Heat, Red Rose Publishing
Naughty or Nice, Whispers Publishing
Phaze in Verse, Phaze
A Warrior's Woman, Whispers Publishing

Coming Soon:
Gold Fever, Phaze

Links:
Website
Yahoo Group
Blog
Writing Wisdom Blog
Yahoo 360
MySpace

If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to info@allromanceebooks.com

Until next time!

Julie Cummings
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks

Friends With Benefits by Cat Johnson
This story is rated 4 flames. It contains explicit love scenes described using graphic and direct language. Read at your own discretion.

Part 3

"I want to fuck you in the ass while Bunny is in your pussy."

That proposition shot her concentration all to hell. Her eyes opened wide and she shoved him far enough away that she could look him in the face and evaluate if he was joking or just crazy. "What?"

"I want…"

She interrupted him. "I heard you the first time. Are you talking," she whispered the rest, "anal sex?"

He nodded, looking hopeful. They'd never discussed that before. Meg didn't know where the hell this suggestion had come from, but she had an idea, and she didn't like it at all. "Did you do that with her?"

His face fell and he pulled back further. "No."

"Then where did you suddenly come up with this idea after all the times we've been together and good old fashioned sex has been good enough?"

Okay, she could admit to herself the idea of a little anal play had crossed her mind a few times over her sexual lifetime. Jeff had even probed a fingertip there once or twice while performing oral sex on her, but that was it. When it came down to actually suggesting more, she'd always chickened out.

"One of the guys from work was talking about it at the bar. He says his girlfriend loves it. She told him the double penetration of the vibrator and his cock is amazing."

One of the guys at the bar. Where Jeff picked up the tramp. Before he fucked her. "So then why didn't you do this double penetration thing with your nurse that night? Why waste all this time waiting around for me to come home from my trip?" Maybe the barfly didn't own any toys, Meg thought nastily.

He got a hurt look in his eyes. "Because this is something you do with a person you know, Meg. I wanted the first time to be with someone I was comfortable with and cared about. Not a stranger. I wanted it to be with you. Okay?"

In spite of herself, her heart warmed at his sincerity. Maybe she was still special in his life, even after his romp with the tramp. "Okay."

Jeff's eyes opened wide. He looked like a kid who'd just seen the ice cream truck pull onto his block. "Really? We can try it?"

She couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "Yeah."

He leaned forward to give her a kiss until she stopped him. "Wait, have you ever done the regular anal sex thing with anybody before?"

"Yeah. Well, not really, but kind of. And before you ask, no, not with her. With my college girlfriend."

"Scary Mary?"

Jeff's lips twitched as he tried not to smile at Meg's longstanding nickname for his ex. "Yes."

"And?"

He shrugged. "She got scared and made me stop before I even got the head in."

"Oh." Meg lowered her eyes. Not that she would ever wish to have anything in common with Scary Mary but that was her exact fear, too. That she would freak out and make him stop. "How do you know it is going to work with me this time?"

He grinned. "Because my coworker gave me some pointers."

Pointers? She raised a brow, nervous but sparing a moment to wish she could have been a fly on the wall for that conversation. "Such as?"

Jeff looked mischievous. "It'll be more fun if I show you. Trust me."

Meg hesitated before finally agreeing. She trusted him. "Okay."

His grin widened. "Good! Now, roll over."

Uh, oh.

Naked, ass in the air, Meg had to wonder what the hell she had agreed to. She didn't have time to argue though as she felt Jeff's hands run over her tenderly before spreading her cheeks wide. When she became aware of the warm, wet feel of his tongue teasing her hole, she released a low moan, echoed by Jeff behind her. The unexpected sensation felt good. Weird, but really, really good.

His tantalizing probing continued until the pressure of one tentative finger pushing gradually into her suddenly replaced his tongue. She tensed, muscles clenching in fear with this new invasion.

"Relax. We'll go very slowly. I promise." Jeff's voice soothed her nerves, but not as much as his other hand, snaking around in front of her to circle her clit, did. She closed her eyes and released another moan as he pressed the finger in her ass deeper while increasing the pressure on the sensitive bud of nerves between her thighs. Every feeling seemed intensified threefold by the combination of both sensations.

"Ready for more?" he asked huskily. She nodded and he slid a second finger inside her ass, slick with his saliva. She shuddered out a breath.

"How's it feel, Meg? Tell me." By his voice, she could tell he was breathing nearly as fast as she was at the moment.

"Fine. Good," she managed to choke out between pants.

He moved behind her until his mouth was against her hair, his breath tickling her ear and sending a shiver through her. His voice sounded gruff as he told her, "I'm gonna fuck you the normal way for a bit, while my fingers are in your ass so you get used to it. Okay?"

Meg nodded and swallowed hard in anticipation as a tingle ran up her spine. Both of his hands left her briefly as he put on the condom and then moved back into position behind her.

She released a low moan as his cock slid deep inside her. Jeff set a rhythm while what felt like three fingers this time squeezed inside the entrance of her ass. All the while, his other hand tantalized her clit, pushing her closer to orgasm.

His cock slid easily in and out of her. "God, Meg. Your pussy is so wet." 

She couldn't comment on that. Being totally filled was sending her over the edge fast. "Jeff, I'm gonna come," she breathed, face down in the pillow, arms quivering so badly she was unable to support herself any longer.

"Hold on, Meg. I want to be in your ass when you come."

She nodded, hoping he'd be quick before she remembered to be afraid.

He was faster than she could have imagined. Too soon, the pressure of the head of his cock, wet with her own juices, replaced his fingers. In mere seconds he was pressing slowly inside, firm but gentle, stretching her, until he pushed past the tight muscles at her entrance and slid the rest of the way.

Meg heard his groan as he slipped inside her deeply and held there, perfectly still. "Oh my god. You feel amazing," he gasped. "Where's the vibe?"

Feeling blindly around the bed, she located and grasped Bunny, holding him up in one hand for him to see.

"Put it in your pussy and turn it on."

Meg took a deep breath and did what he asked, sliding Bunny in to the hilt, meeting only slight resistance along the way. She felt for and hit the "on" button and had to brace her head against the pillow as she was thrown almost immediately into one of the most intense orgasms of her life.

She couldn't hear much past her own cries, which soon turned to screams of what could only be referred to as ecstasy, but on the edge of her consciousness she was aware of Jeff behind her. He gripped her hips and was making some pretty uncharacteristically loud noises of his own as he thrust into her. Finally, plunging deeply inside of her one final time, he shuddered briefly and then let his head fall limply against her back.

On the edge of her consciousness, Meg guessed she could have kept going…or actually coming…until Bunny's batteries ran out but since he was done, and judging from the weight of him crushing her and his heavy breathing, exhausted and spent for now, she turned her little electronic friend off and slid him out.

Breathless, weak and still shaky from the orgasm, she was still bubbling with excitement. "Oh my god. That was the most intense thing I have ever felt in my life. Could you feel it? Did you feel Bunny? Could you feel me coming?" She twisted and tried to see Jeff's face over her shoulder but couldn't.

She felt him laugh against her back. "Oh, yeah. I felt it all. Bunny, you, everything."

He slid his now softened cock slowly from her and rolled off the bed, padding barefoot to the bathroom, she assumed to dispose of the condom—see, another reason those things were annoying. Now she was alone in her afterglow and she still wanted to discuss the amazing sex they'd just had.

Finally, after a quick flush of the toilet and the sound of the water running in the sink, he returned, saying, "That is something I would definitely like to repeat soon and often."

She scowled. Yeah, now that she had broken his anal sex cherry, he would probably be doing it all over the place with everyone.

He crawled across the bed and kissed her on the tip of her nose. "If you are willing, that is."

Unwillingly, she felt herself smile. He wanted to do it again with her, not sleazy nurse chick. But still, he'd been with that other woman… Meg could not seem to get over that. She shrugged. "I guess."

Jeff raised a brow. "You guess? Sweetie, I haven't heard sounds like that come out of you ever. Don't even try to pretend you didn't like it."

She pouted, but couldn't maintain the pout when she realized this was the first time he'd ever called her "sweetie". Her heart beat a little faster as she admitted, "I liked it."

He smirked with satisfaction and plopped back against the headboard next to her. "Damn, just thinking about it has me hard again." He turned his head toward her and waggled his eyebrows. "You up for another go? Your choice of positions this time."

"I don't know. Do you have another condom?" She imbued the last word with as much venom as she could muster.

Jeff rolled his eyes, clearly accepting her nastiness if it meant he could get laid again tonight. "Yes."

"Alright." She let go of a bit of the anger, tucking it away to chew on later. Instead she began to consider which position she wanted to partake in since this time it was her choice. "Up against the wall. You holding me up. I want you to have to work for it."

He smiled, shaking his head, but to her surprise, agreed. "Fine, get up. And might I add, you can be an evil witch?"

She smiled. Yes, she could be. One of her more lovable traits.

Hours later, Meg was still unable to sleep. The memory of Jeff's well-defined arm and chest muscles bunching as he supported her not inconsiderable weight, while her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him as he fucked her for an impressively long time, had her up for the remainder of the night.

And when the sun rose to the sound of his soft familiar snores beside her, she had only one thought left. That being, fuck! 

She liked him. Really liked him and not as just a friend. She wouldn't let herself think that other word that started with "l".

Meg reviewed the facts one more time in hopes of getting a different outcome this time. She felt jealous for the first time in their friendship ever. That night she had lain awake for hours and couldn't get him out of her mind. And she had spent considerable time during her insomnia planning on how and when to get him back in her bed again, as well as what she had in her lingerie drawer to wear for that next event.

How could she possibly be falling for him now?

This complicated everything.

To be continued… 

It all started in first grade when Cat Johnson won the essay contest at Hawthorne Elementary School and got to ride in the Chief of Police's car in the Memorial Day Parade…and the rest, as they say, is history. As an adult, Cat generally tries to stay out of police cars and is thrilled to be writing for a living. She has been published under a different name in the Young Adult genre, but released her first romance in 2006. Today, she is a multi-nominated, award-winning author of a dozen published romances. Her military erotic romance novel A Few Good Men was recently awarded the 2007 Reviewers Choice Award by Ecataromance.

On a personal note, Cat has horses, far too many cats, a dog, assorted fish and fowl, and one husband, and is not sure which of those gives her the most grief. Needless to say, she is very busy on her 18th century little farm in New York State. She plays the harp professionally and stresses this does not mean she plays well, only that she is paid for it. A past tour guide, bartender, marketing manager, and Junior League president, Cat's life is quite the dichotomy and on any given day she is equally as likely to be in formal eveningwear as in mucking clothes covered in manure. She wore the letters off the keys of her computer in less than a year and is found most often still in pajamas working on her laptop. Cat looks forward to hearing from you all.

Backlist:
Trilogy No. 102: Opposites Attract, Linden Bay Romance
Trilogy No. 103: Red Hot & Blue, Linden Bay Romance
Trilogy No. 105: Smalltown, USA, Linden Bay Romance
Trilogy No. 106: Nice & Naughty, Linden Bay Romance
Trilogy No. 107: True Blue, Linden Bay Romance
Trilogy No. 108: Just Desserts, Linden Bay Romance
A Few Good Men, Linden Bay Romance
Witches Night Anthology, Linden Bay Romance
Heroes Unwrapped Anthology, Linden Bay Romance
He Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Phaze
Fantasies IV Anthology, Phaze

Coming Soon:
Model Soldier, Linden Bay Romance

Links:
Website
MySpace   

Submissions to The Weekly Sizzle should be sent to Sizzle@allromanceebooks.com. We are looking for original short stories, 1-5 flames, 200-2000 words.

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