Good morning! Please welcome guest author Tiffany Bryan. Though I will be away for part of the day, please feel free to leave comments for Tiffany and I will post them as soon as I return. Thank you!
~Kate
What is one of your favorite things about writing?
One of the things I like best about writing is leaving the real world behind and immersing myself in a world where I get 100% manipulation rights. A bit of a control freak, I love it when I have total control of every little detail and outcome. Talk about a power rush – LOL
Can you write sex scenes at any time or do you have to be “in the mood?”
I can pretty much write them anytime. I’m a linear writer, so I write from page 1 to “The End.” I can’t skip around because I don’t think of it as just a sex scene. For me, it’s all about the emotion and every set of characters has something emotionally different going on in any given scene. I need to be in my characters’ heads as they progress through the book so I know how they’re feeling are developing and how the hero and heroine feel toward each other.
What do you like best about writing?
Being able to set my imagination and all those crazy voices in my head free. 🙂
What is one of your favorite ways to learn about your characters?
I’m a pantser, meaning I get to learn about my characters as I write them. They unfold right before my eyes and they are forever surprising me. I start out with a loose plot idea in my head and then the characters take over. Sometimes as I’m writing I get that *grrr* moment when the character refuses to do what I want, but I’ve learned if I give them free rein, they never steer me wrong.
Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
An easier question would be, “Where don’t I?” I keep a little notebook on my nightstand so if something pops into my head before I go to sleep, I jot it down. It could be something someone says, or something I see that start the creative juices flowing. Reading. Watching the news. Listening to the radio. Movies. Even the weather, or the way the moon hangs in the sky and what color it is on any given night. Inspiration is all around us.
What do you like best about writing menage?
Funny you should ask. My first attempt at a menage will be in the third book of the Sexual Boundaries series. Can’t wait to get my hands…uhhh I mean the heroes’ hands on the heroine.
Do you find it harder to write novels or short stories?
Anyone that knows me would probably be laughing their butts off at this question. Let’s just say my latest release, Restrained and Willing, was supposed to be a short story and ended up over 88,000 words. Like I said earlier, my characters usually have a mind of their own.
Would you tell us about your latest release?
Restrained and Willing is a coming back home story. Heather is all grown up now and moving back home. Pierce, the man who stars in all her erotic fantasies, stumbles across her diary on moving day. Far from being upset he now has access to all her deepest, darkest sexual desires, Heather hopes he’ll put the information to good use.
What are you working on now?
Currently I’m working on the second book in the “Sexual Boundaries” series. The first book was, Bejeweled and Bedeviled. It revolves around a magazine article that dares women to test their sexual boundaries to see whether or not they’re real or imagined. My heroine, Harley, who is Editor-N-Chief of the magazine has always fantasized about being dominated by a powerful vampire. Even knowing her fantasy is a bit hokey, she goes to a goth club where fake vampires abound to hook up with one she hopes can make her illusion seem as real as possible. After all, everyone knows vampires don’t exist. Eric, vampire and Dom extraordinaire, is about to prove her wrong.
Do you have an excerpt from your latest release you would like to share?
Heather thought she’d balk under his firm hand the way she’d done all her life with the three near-inflexible males who’d raised her. It had taken a good portion of her tender years to figure out how to maneuver her way around their chest-beating my-word-is-law crap. Something told her she’d need more than a single lifetime to figure out a way around Pierce’s dictates. With any luck, she’d engage in a long-term, very slow learning process that would be sexually gratifying for both of them. She felt a pleasing sensual buzz of excitement at the thought of his large, long-fingered hand making contact with her bare ass. A pleasant buzz she couldn’t blame on having had too much wine, since it hadn’t arrived yet. No, this reaction was pure, unadulterated Pierce.
A small whimper escaped her lips.
“You okay?”
She nodded numbly.
He touched his pinky finger to the corner of her lips.
Enthralled, she watched as he drew it to his mouth and licked the buttery residue off. “Missed a smidge.” The low pitch of his voice, the sensual gleam in his eyes, sent a shock wave of heat straight to her already moistening pussy.
Good grief. They hadn’t even made it past the warm, fragrant, lightly crusted bread and her sex drive had launched into the stratosphere. At this rate, she’d never make it past dinner without an embarrassing wet spot on the back of her dress.
“Here.” He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and held out a monogrammed handkerchief.
When she attempted to wipe her mouth, he placed a detaining hand on her wrist. Shook his head.
Oh God. She was so screwed. Was the man a psychic?
He leaned in, lightly kissed the shell of her ear and whispered, “Place it on the seat, lift your skirt up to your hips and spread your legs.”
She scanned the crowded restaurant.
He caught her chin in a light grip.
“Trust.” He looked deep into her eyes. “Trust in me. Trust in yourself. Without that, a relationship between us will never work. This is the real deal, sweetheart. Tonight determines what kind of tomorrow we’ll have. Tonight the choices are yours.”
“But how can they be mine when you—” A light kiss swept the rest of the words from her lips.
“I simply present the options. You choose which ones to accept.”
“What if what you propose is beyond my comfort level? I’ve read about safe words.”
His chuckle was low, his eyes glinting with amusement.
She canted her head. “What? You don’t believe in them?”
“On the contrary. Even in a relationship where trust is twofold, the use of a safe word is a good practice to adopt. Or some mutually agreed-upon way to stop a scene if it becomes necessary. Especially when restraints come into play. It’s just that in all the years I’ve been topping women, not a single one has used their safe word.”
“Really? Not a single female ever felt uncomfortable—”
“Safe words are not used for merely being uncomfortable. They’re used for being pushed far beyond endurance or instances of intolerable pain far removed from pleasure. Anything less is a copout few Doms will tolerate. An immediate deal breaker for most. So, sweets, make damn sure if you use yours, it’s for the right reason.”
A not so subtle warning she intended to take to heart. “But what about extreme discomfort?”
“Some things we’ll discuss beforehand. For those we don’t you’ll choose a secondary word. One that will pause a scene. Allow time to discuss and determine if your concerns are genuine or something to be worked through.”
That seemed fair. Apparently, there was much more to the intricacies of being a submissive than she’d imagined. But there was one thing she was very sure of. She wanted to please Pierce. In every possible way. She smiled in relief.
“So what will be your safe word? Pick one to stop and one to halt a scene for discussion.”
She thought a moment. “Demolition to stop. Construction to discuss.”
“Cute. And not words that can be misconstrued in any sexual setting. Just know I may choose to ignore either if I feel you’ve used them prematurely.”
Her smile faded. Wait. What? He’d decide? Well, hell! She opened her mouth to point out the lack of fairness.
“Nonnegotiable. Which brings us back to the trust issue.”
The breath she’d drawn seeped past her lax lips as if it were a leaky birthday balloon. Since she trusted him implicitly with every cell in her body, she knew there was only one reply. “Okay.”
“Good.” He sat back, seemingly satisfied.
She felt his approval all the way to her polished red toes. God, he had the most amazing, full-lipped mouth. She suppressed a shiver at the thought of the ways he was capable of using it. She’d only gotten a sampling before they’d left her apartment. But she remembered every detail of how his talented mouth had brought pleasure to the women in the movie she’d stumbled across. That she wasn’t the one on the receiving end of his expertise didn’t matter, she’d been totally turned-on. Which brought her thinking around to another topic. Threesomes. Could she share him? Would he want to share her? A nagging, titillating subject better left for another time.
“Heather.”
She pulled her gaze from his captivating mouth to his slightly narrowed eyes. It took a moment to realize he was patiently waiting for her to comply with his earlier request. This time, she ignored her surroundings, looked directly into his warm eyes and unfolded the square of fine linen he’d given her. She rose up just enough to slip the cloth over the chair seat and on the way back down, raised her dress and let her thighs fall open.
What makes the hero of Restrained and Willing hot?
Pierce is a sexy, buff Alpha, with soft spots in all the right places. Namely, his heart.
Do you prefer writing your heroes, your heroines or do you like writing both equally?
Both. I love pairing Alpha-Alpha males with super-strong and confident heroines. The more sparks that fly, the happier it makes me.
What are your favorite genres to read and write?
I actually love them all. As long as their smoking hot. But if I had to choose, I’d say my two long-time favorites are Historical and Time Travel. I love the aspect of world building.
Where can we visit you online?
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
Anything that speaks to my creative side. To name a couple, I used to do cake decorating and custom floral work. Now, I’m trying my hand at stained glass.
Where would you go on your dream vacation?
My dream vacation is to someday visit England, Ireland and Scotland.
If you could be any kind of shapeshifter, what kind would you be?
Definitely a Dragon. Since I was young, I’ve always had an affinity with dragons. Perhaps because according to the Chinese calendar, I was born in the Year of the Dragon. Here’s a little insight from the Chinese horoscope that fits me to a tee. “The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Conformation is a Dragon’s curse. Rules and regulations are made for other people. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited.” Needless to say, I was a bit of a wild child growing up. The stereotypical “baby” of the family.
Social
Good morning. It’s been pretty dreary here in Ohio the last few days. Rain, rain, rain. Sigh. I wonder if it will ever stop. The upside is it’s been awesome for my garden. Other than writing erotic romance, one of my other passions is cooking from scratch, especially when all my herbs come in. Are there any other cooking divas out there?
Also, I was wondering what everyone thinks makes a good hero? Other than a six pack, tight buns and blessed in the family jewels department 🙂 since those are all givens.
What are some of your favorite erotic plots?
Looking forward to chatting throughout the day.
Sounds like a great read! A vampire named Eric. I like the next book already. 🙂
I love that you can write from beginning to end. Pre-plotting is great and all, but sometimes where the character wants to take you is different than where you originally planned to go…kind of like finding out about that special little restaurant when you’re on vacation when you had the whole trip planned out. You either learn to go with inspiration (obviously that’s you, Tiffany) or you lock it down and stay with the plan.
Both have their place, but I prefer to explore the newly discovered.
Thanks for sharing.
Tiffany–I love the way you gain inspiration from the world around you. You so eloquently talk about divining ideas from the color of the moon. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Tiffany, wonderful, sexy excerpt! Can’t wait to read it!! Congrats on your success and look forward to Harley and Eric’s book!
Tiffany Bryan is my favorite up and coming author. I’ve read her books and can’t wait for her vampire book to come out.
Whew! Hot excerpt! I need a fan to cool me off! I look forward to reading the entire book. 🙂
I love dragons too! Sounds like a great book Tiffany!
Love your excerpt!! I’m looking forward to Eric the vampire, too. 🙂 Congrats on your new release!
Hey, Tiff, just stopping by to say hello! Enjoyed the interview!
Tiffany, so good to see you putting out another book. Can’t wait to see what wild and wicked things you do to your heroine this time.
Very nice post, Ms. Bryan. I read Restrained and Willing and loved watching the heroine live out her fantasies! Super hot read. Well done!
Thanks for the behind-the-scenes writing insights. I loved Restrained and Willing – very hot read!
Great post and great books! I’m looking forward to the next Tiffany Bryan book. I love your Alpha males!
Great interview! Loved the Qs&As! This book is currently on my TBR list!