Please Welcome Author...Cathy Yardley

Thank you for taking the time to interview with us! Cathy Yardley's newest release is CRAVE: The Seduction of Snow White. Her full length romantic erotica novel became available in trade paperback on June 3, 2008.

• When/how did you know you wanted to write?

I’ve always wanted to write, but I never thought “real” people were authors… you had to be really special or really lucky. Fortunately, I found the Romance Writers of America, thinking that I could become a publicist for the books I enjoyed so much. They taught me that authors are not just real, they’re wonderful. And they helped me become a published author, as well.

• How long did it take you to become published?

I started writing seriously in 1996 or so, and sold my first book in 1999. But if you take into account all the scraps of novels I wrote (never getting further than chapter 7!) then I started writing in 1992. It took me seven years to get published.

• Who are some of your favorite authors?

Jennifer Cruise, Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward, Dean Koontz, Sarah Addison Allen, Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Laurell K. Hamilton.

• Who do you count as your literary influences?

All of the above favorites! I also love archetypal stories: fairy tales, folk stories, myths. Neil Gaiman does a marvelous job of mixing different mythologies. Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series does a good job of integrating classic Greek and Roman mythology with her own “Atalantean” pantheon.

• How long does it usually take for you to research a book?

It depends on the book, and how far outside my comfort zone I’m writing. I’ve noticed that it takes more and more research the more books I write.

• Many authors are doing strictly e-books, do you think this is just a trend, or does it spell the end of real books?

Well, I think that “real” books is a misnomer. The story’s the key, not the medium. So hardcopy or e-copy, the story will still be king. Personally, I love the feel of books, and I love the physical act of browsing through a bookstore – browsing through Amazon just isn’t as fun! But I think that the distribution model of e-books, like iTunes, will level the playing field for a lot of authors. As more people get comfortable with screen-reading, I think that physical books will probably start to disappear, but not for a while.

• How long does it take for you to write books?

Between three months to a year, depending on the book.

• Is there any character in your books that you can really relate to?

I relate to an aspect of all my characters. The funny thing is, I usually find that when I’m done writing a book, the main character’s “problem” usually reflects something I needed to figure out about my own life. How’s that for your subconscious speaking to you?

• Do you see yourself writing in the same genre in 10 years? If not then what?

I would like to shift into horror a bit, or more paranormal, but I really love romance and women’s fiction. Whatever I write will have elements of that, I think.

• What advice do you give to those who are just starting out or trying to become published?

Enjoy what you’re writing. The business can be soul-sucking, so don’t be hard on yourself now. And look for what makes you unique. You can’t be just a little different version of what’s out there. You’ve got to be original and yet understandable. (Yeah, easy to say, but tough to do, I know.)

• What do you do when preparing to write a story?

I do a lot of character background and figure out what they want and why they want it. Then I do a really intense plot outline… I usually change that a bunch of time as I write, but it gives me a sort of roadmap. I've got the whole method in my non-fiction book Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel. It works for any genre of fiction. It’s a little nuts, though, and really comprehensive!

• Where do your story ideas come from? Do you use people you know as characters sometimes or even sometimes a certain event from real life happenings?

I get a lot of ideas from songs on the radio, or from titles. I come up with the book title before I come up with the story idea sometimes! I've used composites of people I know for characters. Only once did I use a person I knew as a model: in my book Couch World, I used a good friend of mine who was a bouncer at San Francisco clubs. He’s “Sticky”, the main character’s best friend. And while the character was larger than life in the book, he doesn't even come close to doing justice to portraying the real Sticky. Sticky is a force of nature.

• What is your favorite part of writing?

Plotting and idea generation. I love it when a plan comes together!

• Do you have any projects you are currently working on?

I’ll have a second fairy tale erotica coming out in October ’08, called Ravish: The Awakening of Sleeping Beauty, and then in April ’09 I will have two books out… the third fairy tale, Enslave: The Taming of the Beast, and a women’s fiction novel called Turning Japanese, about a woman who quits her job and moves to Tokyo for a year to become an intern at a Japanese comic book company. Other than that, I’m also writing a trilogy for Harlequin’s Blaze line, a miniseries called The Players’ Club. I have no idea when that comes out. Busy year!

• Did it take a lot of rejections for you to finally get published or was it pretty easy for you?

I was insanely lucky: I got one rejection on a manuscript, and then my second book sold. It turned out there was a mini-series planned for Harlequin, and then one of the authors couldn't deliver a book, so they needed something in a hurry, and my premise exactly fit what they were looking for. So bam! I got a contract. Of course, then I got writers’ block and didn't come up with another book for a year and a half. But that’s another story.

• Do you write your stories out with pencil and paper first or do you work straight on the computer?

I work straight on the computer. My typing speed’s 110 words per minute… if I tried writing on paper, my wrist would go numb keeping up.

• Getting back to your books coming out soon. Tell us a little about what to expect from them.

The fairy tales are all modern-day versions of classic fairy tales. I tried to use the more grisly, “original” versions as jumping-off points, but I made them all new. For example, with Snow White, I made her a princess from a small country, the daughter of an actress-turned-royalty like Grace Kelly. Then, her stepmother was murderously jealous. So she ran away to a small agricultural cult in Pennsylvania, sort of like a Quaker commune, but with more ominous undertones, ruled over by seven “founders” instead of seven dwarves. I made sure to incorporate a lot of original elements: the apple, the mirror, etc. It was so much fun! I love that book.

• When and where can we purchase your books?

These books should be available in all major and independent bookstores.

• How do you feel about fans doing fan fiction and/or roleplaying on the web based on your or other author's works?

I’ve never had anybody do fan fic of my work. I think it would be strange: writing is so personal, it’s weird enough to know people are basically reading my “daydreams.” To have people reinterpreting my daydreams might feel a little wrong. But if they really enjoy it, or feel that my story didn’t address something (like a secondary character or something)… I don’t know. I’ll have to see.

• What are you reading right now?

I just finished reading The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, and it’s lovely. I’ve also just finished Odd Hours by Dean Koontz. Not bad… I mean, the guy’s great, and the character’s a winner, but the story felt like a set-up for the sequel. Not as good as Brother Odd or the original Odd Thomas.

• What was the book that most influenced your life — and why?

I couldn’t possibly narrow that down to one!

• What are your 10 favorite books —and why?

Eep. How about my 100 favorite books? J

• Favorite films?

That varies. I love animated movies. Pixar embodies the creative spirit I absolutely adore. I like comedies, romantic suspense, old movies, indie movies, big budget action movies… really depends on my mood.

• Favorite music?

I’m all over the place. I definitely have a soft spot for 80’s music – Oingo Boingo was my first concert! I love Sting for being creative and artistically brave. Sublime, for being inventive…Michael Buble, for that luscious voice…the Gorillaz, especially with DJ Dangermouse producing… the FloBots for being funny and socially conscious without being annoying… Amy Winehouse, for that totally modern yet utterly retro sound… Shakira’s La Tortura, and some other reggaeton by Daddy Yankee… Five for Fighting, for when I’m feeling emotional, or Rob Thomas/Matchbox Twenty… the Swedish Eagle mix of Depeche Mode’s “Drive” and “Route 66”… The Chemical Brothers, the Dust Brothers, some Beck, Cake… oy, I could go for hours.

• Give us three "Good to Know" facts about you. Be creative. Tell us about your first job, the inspiration for your writing, any fun details that would enliven your page.

My first real job was at an ad agency. I was an assistant, and they kicked my ass. I wound up writing about some of the horror stories in my first Chick Lit novel, L.A. Woman. I didn’t name names, but I did once work 32 hours straight (stayed overnight, kept on working.) Insane! Hmmm… I’m a foodie, and I’m pathologically obsessed with ice cream. Some of my fav’s: Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream from Haagendaaz, Breyer’s vanilla, Karamel Sutra by Ben & Jerry, and just about anything homemade. I’m experimenting more with homemade flavors. This summer, I’m trying honey flavored ice cream with Macadamia Nut brittle. Yum! Finally, for a third weird/fun thing, I would like to write a comic book or have one of my books turned into a comic book someday. I read some manga, especially when I was writing Turning Japanese, although my all-time favorite comic book series is Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Love me some Death! J

• What else do you want your readers to know? Consider here your likes and dislikes, your interests and hobbies, your favorite ways to unwind — whatever comes to mind.

I love dark chocolate. (Food. It’s all about food.) I love music, I love dancing. I love watching movies with my 2 year old son. I hate running after my son when he makes a laughing, screaming break for it at the playground. I love finding a new author and reading a book that will keep me up until two in the morning. I love sinking into a cozy favorite, too, especially if I haven’t read it in a while. I find computer social networks fascinating and could easily spend ten hours straight on StumbleUpon if no one else was around.

• When did you first realize that you were a writer?

I think the better term is “accept”. I didn’t accept that I was a writer until I won a prize in my local RWA chapter’s writing contest, which I only entered to ensure we had enough entries (I was president at the time.) But I’ve been writing stories since I was in kindergarten.

• Who was the most influential author you have read?

It depends. I think Jennifer Crusie has inspired me in writing romantic comedy, Nora Roberts for sheer dedication to the craft, Stephen King for being atmospheric yet personable in horror… so many others. There isn’t just one.

• How do you structure your day for writing?

It depends on whether or not I have one of the “Grandma Squad” watching my son. If they are, I write for a few hours straight. If they aren’t, I write after 7:30, when he goes to sleep.

• Do you prefer pen, typewriter or PC?

PC, hands down. I type about 110 words per minute, a lot faster than I could possibly hand-write, and I love being able to edit onscreen. Also makes backing-up easier and faster.

• What are your experiences with publishers and agents?

I’ve had a good experience with publishers and agents. I’ve had two agents in my career, both very lovely women who helped me get where I am now. I’ve also worked for Harlequin, NAL, Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s, and now Avon HarperCollins. I’ve been fortunate to work with some wonderful editors.

• What will the role of the Internet play in the future of publishing?

I think that the most important role the Internet is playing is the ability to explode word-of-mouth exponentially, thanks to social networking. As e-books like the Kindle become more acceptable, then you’ll also have an iTunes-styled ability to increase distribution and get out of the print publishing business model, but I think that’s still a few years off.

• What's your next project?

I’m writing a 3-book trilogy for Harlequin Blaze: a miniseries called “The Players’ Club.”

• Why and how did you get started writing?

I’ve always loved writing. I didn’t get started in a serious sense until I graduated from Berkeley and joined the Romance Writers of America (I thought I was going to be a publicist.)

• Why did you choose your genre?

When I went to college, romance novels were the one thing that helped calm me down from all the stress. I started writing them because I enjoyed them so much.

• What do you consider your best work and why?

In a weird way, I still think my very first book, The Cinderella Solution, is my best, because it’s so fresh and funny, and probably the strongest example of my voice. Also, I still enjoy reading it.

• How do you create your characters? What determines their characteristics and names?

It’s sort of different every time. I like to create a character description and a “chronology” that gives a summary of his/her life from birth to present.

• Have you ever gotten to a point where a story wouldn't come? If so, how did you get back on track?

That’s been happening a lot more lately. You just have to ride it out, keep showing up to the page, and hope for the best. Having a good critique group or supportive group of friends is important.

• What do you think is the most important characteristic of a prolific writer?

A business-like attitude. If you look at each book as a work of art, determined by the whims of muses, you’re going to be screwed at some point when the muse decides to take a vacation.

• Some authors start out with a plot in mind, others with characters whom they’ll follow to reveal the theme. What works best for you and why?

I start with the characters, come up with the story goal and conflict as a result of the characters, then write a plot outline before I go to draft. There are always changes, but that “other view” lets me keep the pacing tight. It works for me.

• Do you use a pseudonym? More than one? Why?

I’ve always used the same name: Cathy Yardley. It’s my maiden name.

• How did you research for this novel?

I did a ton of research on voodoo for RAVISH: The Awakening of Sleeping Beauty, because it’s an integral part of the plot. Fascinating stuff, too!

• Many writers have had success writing in different genres. Do you think it is difficult to switch over to another genre?

I’ve written in three different subgenres so far: romantic comedy, Chick Lit, and erotica. I think that the first two were fairly close so it wasn’t too far a stretch, but the third was like night and day. If I had that much trouble between subgenres, I think that the difference between genres like romance and horror or romance and mainstream could be brutal, especially once you factor in publishing’s desire to keep you in one recognizable category for branding’s sake.

• Do you belong to a critique group or have a critique partner? Which do you prefer?

I belong to a group, and have had several groups over the years.

• Would you recommend critique groups to other writers? If so, what elements, in your opinion, make a successful writer’s group?

I recommend crit groups, definitely. The kind of group depends on where you are as a writer. When I first started, my critique group was full of beginners as well, and we were all very gentle with each other because we were so afraid of sharing our work. As I developed a thicker skin, I joined a much rougher critique group, improving my skills and getting used to producing more. Now, I have a group that doesn’t critique a lot of my work, but they do provide a lot of emotional support and brainstorming. A successful writer’s group will be in a similar place in their career, and they’ll generally have similar goals.

• Can you tell me a little bit about your writing habits such as where you work, how many hours a day you spend writing and researching, how you tap into your creativity to produce a satisfying day’s work, writing rituals, etc?

I could’ve told you that a few years ago, but since my son’s birth every day is different!

• Have you ever experienced writer’s block and how did you handle it?

After I sold my first book I had block for a year and a half. I was depressed. It took a lot of reading to get out of it, and very supportive friends.

• What advice would you give writers looking to get published?

Join a professional writers’ group if you can – the RWA is one of the best. And keep your love of writing as long as you can.

• Do you ever look back and think, "I wish I had written this differently?"

Sometimes, but I try not to anymore. If you do that, you’ll make yourself nuts.

• What's the hardest aspect of writing?

Keeping perspective. I usually call my best friend about halfway through every single one of my novels, and she always says the same thing: “Don’t worry. All does not suck.”

• Is writing your full time job or do you have another job also?

I do some freelance editing and content writing, a lot of different weird things.

• When you are researching a book, what is your most valuable resource?

Google! The internet is a treasure.

• How do you cope with the inevitable stress of deadlines?

Chocolate, good friends, prayer.

• How long does it take you to complete a book, from the time the idea for the book is conceived, to when you submit it to your editor?

I think 3 months is my shortest.

• How many drafts does it take you before the book is just right?

Depends on each book. Thanks to the plot outline, my number of drafts goes down a lot.

• How important is it to attend writing conferences?

If you’re unpublished, it can be good to meet editors and learn at workshops, but I think you can get a lot of that from your local chapters or online. I get burned out at conferences, so if you don’t make it to one, I think that’s fine.

• Do you write more than one kind of book? Do you have a preference? Is one type of book easier to write than another?

Erotica is by far the hardest to do well, because the guidelines and expectations are so strict. I love writing romantic comedy, but alas, no one’s buying it right now.

• What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

I have too many authors to list one specific favorite.

• What do you do to unwind in your free time?

I’ll admit I play video games like Diner Dash or Cake Mania or JoJo’s Fashion Show to relax. Very fun!

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Disclaimer (because we don't have a choice): The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.

Is It Hot In Here?

Writing sex scenes for romance novels is pretty much required. Of course, you can write sweet romances, inspirational romance, or even young adult and avoid this area, but for the most part, sex is required.

At first, I was embarrassed to write those scenes. Now that I've gotten more involved in the business and made friends, I've learned just how popular the romance genre is. Romance is the highest selling of all the fiction genres. There are a lot of people reading them, so why should I be embarrassed to write the sex in them?

For one thing, it's a very personal subject. Some people can't even talk about sex without blushing. I'm not that embarrassed, but I do believe sex can be a touchy subject. Let's face it, it happens. Everyday, every hour, probably every minute, somewhere in the world, someone is having sex.

I got past my embarrassment well enough. Once you write your first scene, it gets a lot easier from there.

They are difficult to write though, because you have to convey the emotion of the moment. That's not an easy task. You can't just write about the mechanics because that doesn't get people emotionally involved. We want to know how she's feeling, what her thoughts are. And what about him? It's even harder to write from his point of view. As I've never been a man, I don't know what he feels like.

Someone gave me the good advice that to write a good sex scene, you should have a 50/50 balance. 50% should be mechanics and 50% should be emotion. That sounds like pretty good advice to me.

I'm still working on improving my writing. I probably will until the day I die. I believe that you never know everything there is to know about a subject. You can be the worlds leading expert on something, but I'm sure, there is more you can learn. There is always room for improvement and ways to better your craft. So, for now, I will keep learning and keep trying to write the best story I can.

Do you have trouble with writing sex scenes? As a reader, do you have difficulty reading them, especially if they are poorly written? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Please Welcome Author...Teresa D'Amario

Thank you for taking the time to interview with us. Teresa’s newest release is Tigress By the Tail: The Moon, which came out in eBook on 15 July, her full length Paranormal Romance novel!

PLEASE LIST ALL WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN BE FOUND, WHERE YOUR BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED, ETC.

http://allromanceebooks.com/product-themoontigressbythetail-9887-140.html

http://teresadamario.com
http://myspace.com/teresadamario
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teresa-DAmario/56021380226?ref=share
http://teresadamario.myplaxo.com/

1. When/how did you know you wanted to write?

TERESA: That’s a really difficult question. I have written bits and pieces since I can remember, and created stories in my head I never shared with a soul for years and years. I even once wrote a short story about an ancestor of mine, who’d suffered quite a bit before finding his place in Virginia. I’ve always wanted to write novels, but never thought I could hold an audience. It wasn’t until I read Christine Feehan’s Dark Series that my mind began to whirl, changing the hobby into something more serious. I knew immediately I’d found my niche. Feehan’s books were the first paranormal romanced I’d read. Something about them clicked on a switch, powering those stories into my head into other directions.

2. How long did it take you to become published?

TERESA: I wrote my first “Story” which was fan fiction, in February of 2006. I then moved into my own series, which has yet to see the light of day, but around August 2007, I decided to push my stories in a new direction. My first “couple” came to me late one evening, and three months later I had my first release.

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?

TERESA: Wow, there are so many to choose from. My current, absolute favorite is Larissa Ione. Her new demon series is awesome! I call her the JR Ward of Demondom. So if you haven’t checked it out yet, get to the book store, fast! Of course there’s also JR Ward, Feehan, Kenyon, almost all the greats of paranormal romance.

4. Who do you count as your literary influences?

TERESA: That’s difficult. At first, I believe I sounded like a mini Christine Feehan when I began writing. Probably because I used her work to teach myself craft in the early days. I didn’t know what I was teaching myself, but what I learned was good stuff. It’s my foundation. I now study any book I consider great, to figure out what makes them so great. I could never write in the style of many I review – my style is my own, but it’s still awesome to understand how they do things.

5. How long does it usually take for you to research a book?

TERESA: That really depends. SheWolf took about two hours of research, as I’ve been familiar with wolf behavior for more than 20 years. As a Canine obedience instructor, I often review the wolf for instinctual behaviors to understand the variety of breeds out there. Mostly I researched some of their mating habits. Tigress took about three days of intense study – Again, I’ve been fascinated with tigers for many years, so I simply reinforced what I knew. I have other works that have taken much more, as they are set in Egypt, and those books have taken constant research through the development of the series. There’s no set “I researched this many hours.” It’s more of a “I had a question about this, so I sat at the computer till I learned all I needed to know.” Having been to Egypt, I’m fascinated with their current and historical culture, so again, I’m leaning toward what I know.

One day I’m going to take the huge leap and start writing a story where I know NOTHING about the main topic, location or history and have to delve deep. But the odd thing about me is I love information. So there’s very little I can think of that I would write about that I haven’t at least reviewed to some extent. Animals and history are two of my biggest hobbies. Merging the two is awesome. J

6. Many authors are doing strictly e-books, do you think this is just a trend, or does it spell the end of real books?

TERESA: I think it’s not exactly a trend, and I don’t think it’s the end of print either. I think eBooks have their place, just as print does. For me, eBooks are typically shorter than print, (though Tigress is the size of a Harlequin). Print pushes the 100K word length regularly. My opinion is it will be a very long time before paper gives way completely to eBooks. Perhaps in twenty or thirty years, but not any time soon. Again this is just my opinion, based off the people I know, and their preferences. Remember, there are a lot of romance readers out there who still don’t even own a computer, hard to believe, I know.

7. How long does it take for you to write books?

TERESA: Usually 3-6 months.

8. Is there any character in your books that you can really relate to?

TERESA: Anna from SheWolf. I remember one reviewer said she could be the girl next door. It’s funny because when I wrote her, I felt this huge kinship with her. She’s not me, by any means, but her love of animals and her strength are things I hope are inside of me.

9. Do you see yourself writing in the same genre in 10 years? If not then what?

TERESA: That’s hard to say, but right now, I’d say probably. I do have an idea or two for a contemporary, but mostly I love paranormal. It’s possible I may float into space and try my hand at Science Fiction as well.

10. What advice do you give to those who are just starting out or trying to become published?

TERESA: Keep learning, keep writing, and don’t give up. Surround yourself with people who are willing to help you learn and give you honest advice about your work. And remember, Rules are made to be broken, so long as you know the rule exists.

11. What do you do when preparing to write a story?

TERESA: Oh now this is embarrassing. When I sit to write, if I can’t “Get into it”, I go take a bath. I’m one of those people who love to relax in the tub, and when I’m there, my mind goes constantly – on the events of the day, or whatever. But when I’m struggling with writing, I go sit in the tub, and imagine the scene I’m working on. About 75% of the time I come out of the tub and write a SUPER scene.

12. Where do your story ideas come from? Do you use people you know as characters sometimes or even sometimes a certain event from real life happenings?

TERESA: I have this joke that one day I’m going to use one of my old bosses as the villain in a story and kill him off. But no, my characters are totally invented. The stories are as well. Sometimes I’ll see something on TV or in a movie that will send me off on a tangent – my mind says “Well what if they did this?” and before I know it, my mind is creating a scene instead of paying attention to what I’m watching. As an example, say you’re watching the new movie Hancock, and the next thing I know, I’ve created this race of beings with special abilities with DIFFERENT weaknesses and DIFFERENT rules to their world. All because of Hancock, who’s different from humans. My scene resembles nothing like Hancock, but could be initiated entirely from one phrase or one word I saw. I once read an author says she gets ideas from everything in her life. That’s what I do.

13. What is your favorite part of writing?

TERESA: The creation process. I so love to sit and daydream, and create these images in my head of these people. Their lives become something special to me. My husband just shakes his head when I forget to do something because my head is trying to grapple with a new scene. He calls me space cadet lately.

14. Do you have any projects you are currently working on?

TERESA: I’m currently working on the sequel to SheWolf. I don’t want to give any secrets away yet, but I think everyone will love it at least as much as SheWolf, if not better! The hero is truly in pain, and the heroine isn’t much better. Together they have to come together to save lives, save a pack, and make peace with their hearts.

15. Did it take a lot of rejections for you to finally get published or was it pretty easy for you?

TERESA: No, nothing about submitting is easy for an author. For me, I kept submitting over and over again this story I have that was my first book. As a first book, any author will tell you it’s not a good idea to get too attached. I did. And still am, for that matter. But SheWolf, my first published work, I submitted to four places, and it was actually accepted by two, with great comments by the other two. It was very exciting to realize that I really can write, and I just need to redo that old book. And I will. One day you guys will be picking up the Petiri Series off your book shelves and saying “I heard about that!”

16. Do you write your stories out with pencil and paper first or do you work straight on the computer?

TERESA: On computer. Always on computer. However, I’ve recently taken to keeping a small notebook with me, in case I’m out and dialogue pops in my head, or a troublesome scene works itself out. It’s been very helpful.

17. You just recently were published. How does it make you feel?

TERESA: Excited, happy, thrilled. All those awesome words you use to describe joy. I cried when SheWolf was accepted. I cried again when I got the book cover, and I cried again the night it was released (I stayed up till 2 am, waiting). Tigress is equally exciting. I hope I never get blasé about a book release!

18. Getting back to your books coming out soon. Tell us a little about what to expect from them.

TERESA: Contrary to my first two books, I do not intend to stick with the female of the species. The follow on to SheWolf is more about the hero than the heroine. I intend to push the envelope of shifters, not just on their animalistic behavior, but also on how they deal with the world around them.

19. When and where can we purchase your books?

TERESA: SheWolf is available at Freya’s Bower, and Tigress by The Tail is available on Fictionwise. (I’ll give you the buy link for Tigress later, if it comes out in time).

http://www.freyasbower.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=105&zenid=24c2962a16ece4ef63ca45c50fe9d92e

20. How do you feel about fans doing fan fiction and/or roleplaying on the web based on your or other author's works?

TERESA: Since I started out that way it’s not nice of me to say I don’t like it, now is it? LOL. Seriously, I don’t mind it. It’s flattery. So long as they give credit to the original author and never attempt to publish the works, I think it’s just fine. Somewhere on my hard drive I think I still have that one fan fiction piece I wrote. I’m proud of it, since I had no clue what I was doing. For me, it wasn’t enough, though, because it wasn’t my world, but another’s. If that’s what makes them happy to write, I say go for it. Just be careful to give credit to the Author who created the world you’re using.

Thanks again, Teresa, for joining us today.

Be sure to pick up your copy of Tigress by the Tail: The Moon.

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Disclaimer (because we don't have a choice): The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.