What is one of your favorite things about writing?
Losing myself in the world of my heroines and heroes, and ‘living’ their erotic-romance journey toward the happily-ever-after. I’ve always been fascinated about love relationship between a woman and a man, and have spent countless hours listening to couples talk about why and how they fell in love. ~smiles~
When you’re brainstorming for a new story, what usually comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
The characters are always front and center in the movie scenes that play before my mind’s eye. However, the plot idea usually happens at the same time.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Mostly a pantser. Although, I often write epic and complex plotlines for my romance stories, so that does take plotting out certain scenes in advance. There has to be a logical flow to the story that will make sense to anyone who reads the book.
When you’re writing, who is more in control, you or your characters?
Definitely my characters. When I get stuck I always go to them for ‘what’s next’, or for what they’re feeling.
Can you write sex scenes at any time or do you have to be “in the mood?”
Mood is important. I have to *feel* what’s happening for my heroines and heroes. For me, this takes a lot of brain energy. Often to write the sex scenes I have to make certain I’m clear-headed, and have enough energy to describe the extreme passions of my heroines and heroes.
What do you like best about writing?
I like the love, passion, the erotic scenes between my characters — and their emotional intimacy with each other. I also like penning the action-adventure scenes. All my books have bigtime action scenes of some kind.
What is the most difficult thing about writing?
Right now, it’s just getting enough time. And energy, because of my current workload, and health issues. That said, I’ll sometimes struggle over finding just the right word, or I’ll spend a lot of time over just how best to describe a scene, the feelings within the scene — and/or a crucial event in the story.
What do you feel are some of the pros and cons of epublishing?
Epublishing offers the opportunity to write the romance you want, and find a home for the story. I’ve been fortunate to work with one epublisher who has been good for me, and for my paranormal erotic romances. However, one of the epublishers I went with in 2008, turned out to be a disaster for us authors. I have yet to revise and republish the book I had with them — this time, as an Indie — simply due to time constraints. It’s highly frustrating.
What do you like best about writing menage?
Oh gosh, what’s not to like? Although, choreographing the sex-passion scenes is much more challenging, as is developing the relationships between the heroine and her heroes.
What do you like best about writing erotic romance?
Best? Hmmm…the passionate heat, the art of eroticism, the pleasures that are unique to my characters in their love story. I like wrting about how their insatiable passion for each other creates that special intimate bond leading to their HEA.
Would you tell us about your latest release?
HER MIDNIGHT STARDUST COWBOYS is a paranormal, shapeshifter, erotic-romance menage. While the novel is ‘not’ my latest release, it is my first ShapeShifter Seductions release. A group of us authors at the SHAPESHIFTER SEDUCTIONS blog have created the fictional shifter/supernatural town of Talbot’s Peak, Montana. The town and the surrounding territory are werewolf-run. It all began with a flash fiction scene written by author, Serena Shay, during November 2010. Currently, we authors write flash scenes that take place in The Peak territory. We pen a constantly evolving story with shifters of every type and stripe, and with paranormal characters galore.
HER MIDNIGHT STARDUST COWBOYS ~ Blurb:
A woman desperate to save herself and her prize horses.
Two shapeshifter cowboys who want her as their woman.
When Zance, a timber wolf shifter,
and Dontoya, a black cougar shifter,
find Sherilyn dying due to a reckless driver,
there is only one way to bring her back to life.
But, that’s only the beginning…
EXCERPTS/BUY LINKS: ~http://savannakougar.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html~
If the main characters were invited to a masquerade party, what costumes would they wear?
This is such a cool question because I wrote a couple of flash scenes in a follow up to Sherilyn, Dontoya, and Zance’s love story. The three of them attend the *Unmasked Beast Ball* at the Pleasure Club, which was built by alpha werewolf, Dante. This subterranean complex is on the forest outskirts of Talbot’s Peak, and is where erotic desires are fulfilled. There are also a variety of night clubs, restaurants, and other complimenatary businesses that are ever expanding within the inderground complex.
Anyway, the *Unmasked Beast Ball* is a takeoff on that magnificent ballroom scene in the 1973 movie, “The Three Musketeers”. Here’s a snippet from my flash scene, tittled: “The UnMasked Beast Ball at the Pleasure Club”
Zance bent at the waist as much as he could without dislodging the magnificent wolf headdress he wore, depicting his animal shifter side. Obviously, he’d been practicing, given the smooth motion of his bow. Sherilyn loved him all the more for it.
Unlike the costume ball in “The Three Musketeers”, a 1973 movie, the life-size wolf head looked close to real. In honor of his wolf’s coat colors, Zance’s satin finery had been done in shades of gray, silvery white, and tan.
“As you say, pardner.” Dontoya answered, playing his part. He took command of Sherilyn’s elbow, his touch gentlemanly seductive in the extreme. “Our agreement, darlin’. Zance gets to dance with you first,” he intimately whispered close to her ear.
“So, that was the outcome of your cat and dog fight last week. You two were covered in leaves…gave me an excuse to brush your coats. And pet you for as long as I wanted.”
“Felt mighty good.” Dontoya’s smoky tone slid over her skin.
If you could step into one of your books, which one would it be?
Honestly, I don’t write a romance novel unless I want to step inside the story. I live the fantasy — what my heroine lives.
What are you working on now?
My latest WIP is titled: Waiting For a Filly Girl. I am at about 40,000 words, and the story is about three-fourths finished. This is also a ShapeShifter Seductions erotic romance, and stars Keina, my heroine, and Drev, my hero.
Here’s the tagline: Ex super-soldier boy meets winged filly girl. Will they live happily ever after? In Talbot’s Peak territory anything is possible.
Would you give us a sneak peek at one of your upcoming releases?
Waiting For a Filly Girl ~ Snippet from Chapter Two
Keina winged above the immense, splendidly wild Montana valley. In her air horse form, she remained invisible to most beings.
As she sailed high above the majestic, Autumn-colorful landscape, she hoped to lift her spirits. A terrible ache consumed her heart, as if an evil dragon clawed it from her chest.
She’d been banished for the fourth time from her home kingdom, the penalty six months of Earth time. Keina shuddered from her horse muzzle to the tip of her long flowing tail.
How long would she be tormented by the King’s austere, scowling countenance? By how he’d pointed his scepter and pronounced judgment upon her.
After a glare that could have turned a barrel of apples rotten, he’d turned with a snap of his richly decorated official robes, departing the throne room. Then, his travel portal had opened.
As she remembered, sadness and vibrational chaos owned Keina. She plummeted for moments despite her airy frequency.
Flapping her wings, Keina stabilized herself, and focused on the beauty below. Wise, sky-soaring pine trees, yellow-gold aspens, and the mountain’s stone floor, glistened breathtakingly in the early afternoon sun.
Flubergastov! Keina cussed. Was it her doing that the slime-disgusting, lascivious Prince Tretorff had stealthily followed her after the Fall Equinox ball? He’d attempted to force his unwanted, stinky-sour-breath attentions on her — once she’d reached her chamber suite in the castle.
They’d practically wrestled, with Keina twisting furiously to fight off the Prince’s grasping, tentacle like arms. When his hands grabbed at her like angry snapping turtles, she’d spun out of reach.
But the sleazeoid Prince snorted and charged, rabid to mount her. Repulsed beyond belief, desperate, Keina morphed her lower half instantly.
The lovely silk gown she’d handsewn for the festive enchanting occasion ripped, a searing sound that tore at her. Enraged, her blood boiling, Keina aimed her back hoof. She launched a kick at the Prince’s bulging crotch.
How long have you been writing?
I began writing little love stories when I was thirteen, and just never stopped. In college I took fictional writing and poetry classes, but majored in history. I have always been a voracious reader, especially of romance novels and non-fiction paranormal type books. Ultimately, when I couldn’t find enough romance novels in the genre of romance I’d become captivated by — after reading “Sweet Starfire” , a futuristic by Jayne Ann Krentz, released in 1986 — I began penning these ‘otherworld’ love stories for my own entertainment — also, with the idea of being published someday. Eventually paranormal romance took on a huge life of its own, and I realized there was a market for my type of romance books, what I love writing. At that time, I was also writing what has become ‘erotic romance’. I’d become frustrated by the lack of open-the-door love scenes.
To you what makes a great romance hero?
Strong, powerful men — real leaders and heroes who have caring hearts. Men who truly love women. Or, what some would call a ‘real man’. I adore writing men who truly love, lust for, and cherish their women — alpha men who will do anything and everything to keep and protect their woman.
To you what makes a great romance heroine?
A woman who is true to herself, and true to her heart. One reason I enjoy writing in the various subgenres of paranormal romance is that I am able to free the heroine so she can truly be herself, outside the boundaries of contemporary society. Part of my vision as a writer, is to show the true, wide-spectrum potential of women.
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
These days I enjoy a bit of gardening. I live out in the country surrounded by nature, and just watching the butterflies, the birds, the wildlife is wonderful. Most of all, though, I like playing with my pets, giving them lots of hugs and kisses.
If you could be any kind of shapeshifter, what kind would you be?
I would be a goddess shapeshifter so I could shift to any animal form, or to any form at all. Btw, that’s one of the joys of writing shapeshifter romance, I get to live vicariously through all my shapeshifter heroines and heroes.
Where would you go on your dream vacation?
I wish I could travel the world, experience different cultures, see the beauties, the ancient sites of every country. I’ve done some traveling, and loved it. One of my dream vacations would be to sail between the Virgin islands again, on what’s called a bare boat.
What is your favorite comfort food?
Gotta have the organic chocolate! I often live on hot cocoa that I add herbs and spices too. Nutrition is vital to health.
Where can we visit you online?
You can find me and my books at ~savannakougar.com~
I blog regularly at:
SHAPESHIFTER SEDUCTIONS ~shapeshifterseductions.blogspot.com~
TITLE MAGIC ~titlemagic.blogspot.com~
Bio: Savanna Kougar is a best-selling author with Siren Publishing. She has authored thirteen ebooks, with seven books in print. She pens love stories because that’s her deepest heart. She writes in the futuristic/fantasy/paranormal subgenres because that’s her fiercest passion. And, she writes erotic romance because she ferociously enjoys ripping the damn doors off.
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