Today, I’m pleased to welcome erotic romance author Erin O’Riordan to the Believing is Seeing blog today.
Sandra: What inspired you to write romance? What romantic genre do you write?
Erin: I started out writing erotica after I had so much fun writing the sex scenes in my first novel, The Smell of Gas. I wrote “Beltane” as a short story, and the book evolved from there. I write contemporary erotic romance with a dash of the paranormal. I’m editing Book 3 of a twelve-part series called Pagan Spirits.
Sandra: Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to prod her/him along when she/he refuses to inspire you?
Erin: My muse is my husband, Johnathan. He’s always encouraging me. Sometimes he’s just got lots of ideas to share with me, and at other times he’s like a drill sergeant, standing over me saying, “Drop and give me fifty pages!” He certainly makes me more productive.
Sandra: Aww, that’s so nice! Tell us a bit about your latest book, and what inspired you to write such a story.
Erin: My latest book is Midsummer Night from eXcessica Publishing. It’s the second book in the Pagan Spirits series. I wrote it because I had much more to tell about the Van Zandt sisters, Allie and Zen, than the first book could possibly contain. That was when I came up with the idea to do the 12-part series.
Sandra: Wow, a 12-part series! Nice! What was the most difficult or easy aspect of writing this piece?
Erin: The easiest aspect of writing this piece was that I’d already established the characters in the first book.
Sandra: Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?
Erin: I like to listen to non-vocal music while I’m writing. I like Classical (especially the soundtrack from the 1999 film A Midsummer Night’s Dream), jazz, New Age or bluegrass music.
Sandra: Where do you find ideas for stories?
Erin: Everywhere. I once based a story on the caterpillars I saw on my morning walks.
Sandra: How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?
Erin: My brother bought me a copy of Writer’s Market for Christmas once. I went through it and sent query letters to all the agents who handle romance. When that didn’t work, I tried all the publishers who publish romance. When that didn’t work, I discovered the e-book publishers. They helped me get my start. To anyone who wants to get a book published, I say, “Be persistent.”
Sandra: Do you have another book in the works? Please tell my readers about your current or future projects?
Erin: I’m currently editing Pagan Spirits Book 3, St. James’ Day. This one focuses on Zen Van Zandt’s good friend and fellow witch Gillian. Gillian had a disastrous romance in Midsummer Night. In St. James’ Day, Gillian is torn between a new love interest, a love from the past, and a friend she now sees in a whole new light.
Sandra: Nice! If you could meet one character from any literary work, who would it be and what one question would you ask them?
Erin: I’d like to meet Alice after she got back from Wonderland. I would ask her how she worked up the courage to stand up to that awful Red Queen
Sandra: Last question. Tell us five random things about yourself that readers would be surprised to know.
1. When I was a little girl, I read everything I could get my hands on about ancient Egypt.
2. The karaoke tune I do best is “Lover Please” as sung by Melissa Etheridge.
3. My all-time favorite movie is O Brother, Where Art Thou? (hilarious!) but another Coen Brothers movie, Miller’s Crossing, is a close second.
4. I always want to wear shamrock temporary tattoos for St. Patrick’s Day, but I can’t because of allergies.
5. If I wasn’t a writer, my creative expressions would be making collage artwork and making beaded jewelry.
Sandra: Thank you so much for being with us today.
Here’s the blurb for Midsummer Night: Priestess-in-training and part-time witch Zen Van Zandt loves biology grad student Ramesh Sudhra. Only two things stand in the way of their happiness: his traditional Indian-American family doesn’t welcome Zen, and Zen’s training requires a yearlong vow of celibacy. Between Ramesh’s stern mother-s disapproval, Zen’s vow of celibacy, and her assistant’s romantic troubles with a wild new witch, Zen wonders if she and Ramesh will ever see their wedding day.
To find out how to purchase this book and find out what else Erin has going on, please visit her website.
Very interesting and enjoyable — she’s eat.
Great interview!
Enjoyed your post.