Interviews

Upcoming Interviews:

Michelle M Pillows - December 2008

Past Interviews:

Dark Angel Reviews - October 2008

Reading Is So Much Fun - September 2008

Wild On Books - July '08

All Romance Ebooks - May '08

Romance Junkies - July '07

Fallen Angel Reviews - April '07

Romance At Heart - March '07

SASSY Newsletter - February '07 

GLBT Promo - June '06

Novelspot - April '05

Love Romances - December '04

Sizzling Romance - September '04

Just Erotic Romance Reviews - July '04

Fallen Angel Reviews - June '04

Interview with Kathi of 
Fallen Angel Reviews

June 2004

* NOTE:  The anthology "Ride 'em Cowboy" referred to in this interview fell through. The story Cowboy's Dungeon will be published fall 2006 in Slave To Love.*

Michelle Houston is the author of BEDTIME TALES, NAUGHTY WHISPERS: MORE BEDTIME TALES, and BI SEXUAL: TALES FROM THE WILD SIDE, she has received great reviews on her very erotic collections. She has also written stories for several other multi-author anthologies. The latest one is RIDE 'EM COWBOY, a print anthology now available for pre-order. It is a collection of short erotic stories with one thing in common, very sexy cowboys!

 Hi Michelle, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today.  You have two stories in the book, COWBOY'S DUNGEON, and THE SYMPHONY OF SPRING. Can you tell us a little about them? 

 The Symphony of Spring was actually written as a gift for a friend of mine.  She has a thing for cowboys, and when we were talking about my writings, she mentioned her "fantasy" which I tried to put to paper. She was VERY happy with the result, and I can't wait to hold the anthology in my hands, autograph it and give her a copy.  Although, since The Symphony of Spring is very tame compared to Cowboy's Dungeon, I will have to issue her a warning.

 Cowboy's Dungeon actually came about as a result of the Ride 'em Cowboy anthology.  When I read the Calls For Submissions on the ERWA website (www.erotica-readers.com), Natalie started talking to me, about all the naughty things her and Andrew did out in his dungeon.  With the help of a wonderful friend (and editor) Natalie tale of D/s pony play came to be.

 How long have you been writing?

 Um, I wrote my first 'poem' in the third grade.  <smiles>  But I really started to seriously pen my thoughts when I started high school.  Wrote my freshmen and sophomore years, generally the typical teenage angst ridden poems that most teenagers seem to gravitate towards.

 But I started writing erotica in 1998.

 Did you know right away that erotica would be a huge part of your writing, or did it just progress into this particular genre?

 About age 16, I was hooked on romance novels (still am) and I had a boyfriend who encouraged me to try my hand at writing, so I started writing my "fantasies", putting to paper the things I had read about that I wanted to try with him.  Luckily, it never progressed beyond putting it to paper.

 After breaking up with him, I pretty much stopped writing, until I moved in with my husband.  (we lived together before marrying).  Thanks to him, we got the Internet, and I started trying to find other bisexuals to talk to, and wound up meeting several erotica authors, who encouraged me to try my hand again at writing.

 And it just fit.  I enjoy writing short stories, and I love writing erotica.

 How much time are you able to devote to writing each day?

 It fluctuates.  Sometimes I write for four hours a day six days a week, for months, and other times I go a month or more without writing anything.

 Can you describe to us a typical day in your life?

 I get up to either my daughter asking for cereal or the pesky alarm going off.  I get my daughter feed (and either off to school or settled for a day at home), check my email and get ready for work.  After the standard day job is done, I come home, cook dinner, check my email again and then I open word.

 While hubby has the TV going, and is working, and my daughter is doing one of a dozen different things, I write.  If I have a story to tell that is.  If not, then I surf some, read a lot, spend time with my husband and daughter and generally veg.

 Any plans to write a full-length novel in the future?

 I've thought about it, and even have some ideas, but it's a whole different ball game than what I am used to.  I have the utmost respect for novel writers - I can't get past the second chapter.  There is SO MUCH more fleshing out required of a novel than a short story.  The whole back-story, evolving plot, and depth to the characters.

 Right now, I still have so much to learn, but here's hoping - one day.

 Who is the one person that has supported you the most in your career?

 Without a doubt, my husband.  He convinced me to submit to calls for submissions, he consoled me when I received rejection letters and cheered for me when I received acceptances.

 What is the best advice you have ever gotten, and did you take it?

 Best advice?  Ouch.  Um, one of the writers at ERWA said something to the effect of "Write a little each day.  Even if it sucks, just get something down.  Cause when it comes down to it, it's a whole lot easier to edit a crappy story than a blank document."

 Do you have a favorite author right now?

 Yep, lots of favorite authors. <smiles>  Suspense, murder mystery type novels I love Kay Hooper.  I am biting my nails wailing on her next book.  As for romance, I love the futuristic authors - Susan Grant, Angela Knight, Catherine Spangler, Linnea Sinclair, and C. J. Barry.  Erotica/Erotic Romance would have to be MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight and Alison Tyler.

 Had you ever had any doubts that you would become a successful writer? If so, how did you battle them?

 To be honest, I still don't see myself as "successful."  I know that some editors and readers enjoy my writings, and I have some stories that I am very proud of.  But successful?  Not just yet.  But I am getting there.

 I love the quotes on your website, especially Ernest Hemingway's. Do you have a favorite quote that stays with you?

 "It was a long time before I was able to say to myself: I am *not* going to be ashamed of my sexual thoughts and desires, they are me myself, they are a part of my life. I am going to accept myself sexually as I accept myself mentally and spiritually, and know that I am one time one thing, one time another, but I am always myself. My sex is me as my mind is me, and nobody will make me feel shame about it." ~ D. H. Lawrence ~

 Being bisexual has been hard at times, and this statement just sort of leapt out at me the first time I came across it online. 

 What is the one item in you life that you couldn't live without?

 Besides family members?  LOL My BOOKS!  I remember once, my grades slipped in school and my dad grounded me from my books.  Took them all away, boxed up and locked up, until my grades improved.  Let me tell you, I started doing my homework as soon as I got home.  Nine weeks later, my books were given back.

 If you could travel to anyplace in the world, where would you go and why?

 Egypt.  While I have always wanted to visit other countries like England and Scotland, if I had to choose just one  - Egypt, without a doubt.  While each country has it's attractions and wonders, there's just something about the idea of standing at the base of the sphinx, of looking up at the pyramids that intrigues me.

 What stories are you currently working on?

 I have about a dozen short stories I have been pecking away on the last few months.  My words in progress folder sometimes gets as full as two or three dozen, or every so often I get it whittled down to a few stories, before I start on new ones.

 Is there anything you would like to add before we go?

 Just that it's been great filling out this interview, a first for me.  And if anyone has any questions, my email is always open.

 Michelle, thank you once again for taking the talk to us at Fallen Angel Reviews. I wish you the best with all your future projects.

Michelle has a great website with lots of short stories, excerpts and more. Check out Renaissance Books to buy her collection of steamy bedtime stories!

Interview with Michelle of 
Just Erotic Romance Reviews

July 2004

A Tale of Two Michelle's
An Interview with Michelle Houston

Musings of a JERR Coordinator:
Right, let'' think of a way to totally confuse our readers. I know- I''ll get a Michelle to interview a Michelle. We have a reviewer called Michelle, now just to find an author.

So the search starts for an author called Michelle. After a few trips around the Internet and begging and pleading, the sacrificial lamb ... err willing victim ... errr author, Michelle Houston steps forward bravely. "Does she know what she's let herself in for?" the coordinator wonders.

So now, without further ado, the Michelle and Michelle show.

Michelle, the interviewer, wonders what terrible crime she committed in a previous life. How on earth can she even utter anything coherent in the presence of an author who writes with such passion and expression? Michelle, the author, just looks on in amazement as the other one starts chanting under her breath "Breathe Michelle, breathe. Just relax. She won't bite (well probably not and only if you ask really, REALLY nicely.)"

Wonderful readers, I ask you to welcome Michelle Houston. She writes sizzling short stories, and a print anthology of these has just been released on Amazon. And don't worry; I'll be sure to get the relevant details. Michelle, welcome to JERR. Firstly I have some serious questions and then we'll get on to the fun ones! So without further ado, let the interrogation begin.


Could you describe yourself in 3 sentences for our readers?

I am a married, bisexual female, who thanks to my husband'' unfailing support simply loves to write erotica for my own enjoyment, and the peace of mind it brings. I am a loner, who more often than not, would prefer quiet evenings at home with just my family, my computer, or a couple of friends to going out to clubs and parties. And I am an avid reader, a bookaholic if you will, and (not joking) I am more often than not found with a book in hand.


Bookaholic? I can certainly relate to that and I'm sure most of our readers can as well. When did you start writing? And what attracted you to writing erotic romance?

I wrote my first 'poem' in the third grade. <smiles> But I really started to seriously pen my thoughts when I started high school. Wrote my freshmen and sophomore years, generally the typical teenage angst ridden poems that most teenagers seem to gravitate towards.

About age 16, I moved from the city I had lived in my whole life. None of the guys knew me there, and it was rough. I didn't quite fit. Too much of a loner I guess. So I started reading, a LOT.

I got hooked on romance novels and thanks to a friend/long-distance boyfriend from my home town who encouraged me to write, I started writing my "fantasies", putting to paper the things I had read about that I wanted to try. Luckily, for both of us, we never really got together and gave them a try. We really just weren't meant to be.

But at the time, the break-up hurt, and afterwards, I pretty much stopped writing, until I moved in with my husband (we were just engaged at the time). We got the Internet, and he encouraged me to try and find other bisexuals to talk to, and along the way, I wound up meeting several erotica authors, who encouraged me to try my hand again at writing.

And it just fit. I enjoy writing short erotic stories. I like knowing that my writings arouse others.

But to be honest, without the constant and unwavering support I get at home, I don't think I ever would have been able to write as much as I have. It has become my outlet, my stress relief, and I am thankful that my husband and daughter give me time to write.


Well, I for one am glad your friend encouraged you to start writing, and that your family allow you to continue. What stirs the creative juices?

It really can be a variety of different things. A picture, an offhand comment, tossing around 'what if'' ideas with friends. Anything and everything can become a story. But when I really am stuck, I open up my pictures file and skim through the hundreds of naughty pics I have saved, and if that doesn't work, I start in on hubby's collection.


Mmm, naughty pictures. I can so relate to those. I notice that you write a lot of short stories. Do you prefer writing short stories to longer ones?

I have the greatest admiration for authors who write longer stories. I haven't been able to yet. Every time I have had an idea for a longer story, I start to write it and it comes out almost forced to me. I know that writing shouldn't be easy, and that the longer a piece is, the more editing it might require, but I also tend to shy away from further time on a story if it sounds too flat.

But one day ... I will write either a novella or novel. I guess I just have a few more things to learn first, before I feel confident enough.


Congratulations on writing even short stories. I couldn't even manage that. Now, your stories cross all sexual orientations. What attracts you to each of these type stories and which is your favorite? Which is easier to write?

I started out writing heterosexual stories but found that I also wanted to explore the other half of my sexuality, so I started writing lesbian stories. From there, it evolved into two female, one male threesomes. After a while, a friend suggested I give gay male a try and I loved it. The idea of all that testosterone in the air. <Shudders.> After that, it wasn't long until I gave two male, female threesome stories a chance.

My favorite? It's a toss up on that one, and all depends on my mood. But by far, the heterosexual stories are the easiest for me to write. It quite simply what I have the most experience with.


I love experience! Can you tell us a bit about your current release? And any sneak previews at works-in-progress?

My current release in e-book is Naughty Whispers, the sequel to Bedtime Tales. Like Bedtime Tales, it's a collection of heterosexual stories, each with their own characters, situations and heat level. Some are hotter than others. Some kinky, while others are soft and loving and sensual.

As for sneak peeks I have just submitted my first lesbian anthology to Renaissance E Books and it should be coming out soon. Next up, I am working on an all paranormal stories e-book.


Thank you for answering all my serious questions. Now on to the fun ones and I'll start with what is your favorite sex toy and sexual position?

Wow. Um, don't hold back do you. <smiles> My favorite toy would have to be my nipple nooses as I call them. I don't know the exact name, but they''e like nipple clamps, except instead of clamping them on, you loop the nooses around the nipples and tighten them.

As for my favorite position ... I do have several I prefer, and others I won'' try. But I think I'll keep that between my husband and me. <smiles>


*Smiling* I can understand that perfectly. If you could spend a day with anyone (living or dead) and ask them one question, who would it be and what would the question be?

Hum. Probably Hugh Hefner. And just one question? LOL I haven't a clue what I'd say to him though.


 "Can I join your playmates? Any little blue pills going spare?" Either sounds good to me. Now, what sound do you love?

Bet you're thinking I'll says moans of pleasure. <smiles> I don'treally have a sound I love. I like soft, happy sounds. Be it a giggle or laugh at a funny movie, a sound of pleasure, or simply the almost purr of contentment a woman makes as she curls up against a lover.


What sound do you hate?

A baby or small child crying, for whatever reason. I hate it when people yell. Anything too loud I guess.


What is your favorite curse word?

Fuck. I love the way it rolls of the tongue, even if you can't say it in public. When you say Fuck people KNOW something is up. It isn't as soft as damn and shit. It can't be passed off as something else. And it's multipurpose. You can add it to practically any statement.


If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say when you arrive?

I'd rather pass on this question. I stay away from religion and politics online. Seen WAY too many flame wars start up from it.


Yes, I certainly agree wholeheartedly with you on that one. Thank you for your time, Michelle and for answering all my questions. I wish you every success with all your future endeavors.

Michelle Houston's books are available from www.renebooks.com and www.fictionwise.com in e-book format and www.amazon.com in print. She has also short stories in a number of published anthologies, which you can find listed on her website, www.eroticpen.net. Michelle also welcomes mail from readers. Her email address is thewriter@eroticpen.net. 


Michelle Naumann
Just Erotic Romance Reviews
http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/justeroticromancereviewsnewsletter/join

Interview with Sizzling Romances 

September 2004

MICHELLE HOUSTON

  Author Bio:

I've been writing erotica since 1995 and have been a presence online in the erotic community since 1998, including being a member of the Erotica Readers and Writers Association since early 2002. I live in the eastern US with my husband and daughter.

Welcome to Sizzling Romances. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Could you please tell us about your latest release.

MH: My third ebook release is NAUGHTY WHISPERS, a sequel to my first anthology BEDTIME TALES. It's 18 short erotic heterosexual stories ranging in themes from light bondage, role-playing, soft-sensual lovemaking, sexual awakenings, and kink, to contemporary, futuristic and paranormal settings.

And I am so THRILLED that two of my ebook anthologies have been combined into a trade paperback omnibus edition, called BEDTIME TALES & NAUGHTY WHISPERS which is available through Wildside Press.

SR: How did the idea for this anthology come about?

MH: I had so much fun picking and choosing which stories I wanted to put together when I was compiling BEDTIME TALES that I knew I'd have to compile several other anthologies, on a variety of themes. Between BEDTIME TALES and NAUGHTY WHISPERS, I completed BI SEXUAL, an anthology spanning the wide range of sexualities. Right now I'm working on several anthologies, including a third Bedtime Tales edition, another lesbian anthology and a follow up to BI SEXUAL.

SR: What did you enjoy writing about the stories and why?

MH: I just love writing erotica, knowing that my words tease and arouse my readers. I enjoy having my characters whispering their secrets, their naughty encounters, and their every kinky thought.

SR: Tell us about any upcoming releases.

MH: SAPPHIC VISIONS, my fourth ebook, an all-lesbian erotic anthology, is soon to be released. Like my other anthologies I try and spread things around with a bit of kink, some soft lovemaking, and a few other themes.

SR: What do you want readers to come away with after reading one of your books?

MH: I want them to be satisfied ... either with the stories, or in a more intimate way. I want them to feel that it was money well spent, and to want to re-read my stories again and again.

SR: What are you working on now?

MH: I am putting the finishing touches on my paranormal anthology, which I hope to have ready to submit soon. The anthology is something I have wanted to do for a while now. I LOVE futuristic, paranormal and such novels, and I want to share my own take on such themes as mermen, were-creatures, aliens, and Greco-Roman myths.

SR: Please tell us who your publishers are.

MH: With Renaissance E Books. I have three anthologies: BEDTIME TALES, BI SEXUAL, and NAUGHTY WHISPERS, with my fourth - SAPPHIC VISIONS - coming soon.

The print omnibus BEDTIME TALES & NAUGHTY WHISPERS is available from Wildside Press, who Renaissance E Books partnered with for the trade paperback versions.

I have also had short stories published in several different print anthologies.

'Pandora' in Erotic Fantasy edited by Justus Roux;
'Illusions' in Closet Desire IV edited by Stephen and Susan Van Scoyoc
'Staying Cool' in Heat Wave edited by Alison Tyler (Cleis Press) 
Nine Ball, Corner Pocket in Three-way edited by Alison Tyler (Cleis Press)

'Exposed' in Naughty Stories From A To Z edited by Alison Tyler (Pretty Things Press) 'Nice Kitty Kat' & 'Window of Opportunity' in Down & Dirty 2 edited by Alison Tyler (Pretty Things Press)

And coming soon: 'Cowboy's Dungeon' & 'The Symphony of Spring' edited by Valerie Crystal (Aphrodite Press) * Note: This project fell through.
'A Passion For Learning' in Naughty Spanking Stories edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Pretty Things Press)
'Lust Be A Lady' in Naughty Stories From A To Z edited by Alison Tyler (Pretty Things Press)

SR: Would you like to donate a prize? If so, please list it below.

MH: I'd be willing to donate a copy of BEDTIME TALES, BI SEXUAL, NAUGHTY WHISPERS or SAPPHIC VISIONS in pdf, rtf, or html format to up to 3 winners. Thanks for interviewing me.

SR: For entering Michelle's contest, just drop Robin a line at robint04@comcast.net, and put "Michelle Houston Contest" in the subject line. Three winners will be chosen, and those names will be forwarded to Michelle Houston.

Interview With Love Romances

December 2004

Michelle Houston is the best selling author of the Bedtime Tales and is back with another anthology called Celestial Bodies, a wonderful paranormal erotic anthology filled with vampires, gods and aliens among others.  Thank you Ms. Houston for answering our questions today.

Let's start off by asking a little more about you.  What do you do when you are not writing?  Any hobbies you like to do?

When I'm not writing, I'm generally either working, going to school, spending time with my family, watching some TV, or reading.  My husband jokes that whereas I'm a golf widow, he's a romance novel widower.

For fun I work on web pages, cross-stitch and do other crafts, and read A LOT.

What does your family think of your erotic anthologies?  How supportive have they been with your choice of career?

My husband knows and has been very supportive.  He's the one who pushed me to do something with my writings instead of just shuffling them away into a folder.  Thanks to him I submitted stories to various calls for submissions, which have resulted in my having stories in almost a dozen multi-author anthologies, as well as having five ebooks out that are all my own short stories.

The rest of my family however, doesn't know.  And at this time, I have no plans to tell them.  It's not that I am ashamed, just that there are enough issues right now between my folks and myself that I don't want to add anything into the mix.

How long have you been writing?  What made you decide to go into erotica?

I've been writing since the third grade.  But I really started to put pen to paper frequently in high school.  Thanks to my sister's old PC junior, I was able to type my ideas out instead of having to writing them by hand.  Made changing things a whole lot easier.

As for erotica, it just fits.  I tried writing poetry, your typical teenage angst ridden stuff, and moved on to short stories, which I sucked at.  With the influence of romance novels, which I started reading at about 14 or so, I moved on to putting my teenage hormonal fantasies to words, generally for my boyfriend at the time. 

I eventually grew out of that stage, but when my husband and I hooked up, and we moved in together and got the Internet, I found a whole world before me that I had never really explored. 

Everywhere I looked there were bisexual people, like me, seeking their own path.  Many explored through erotic prose, which led me to the Erotica Readers and Writers Association.  From there, I started trying to write erotic short stories, with some help from Internet friends along the way, and the rest as they say, is history.

What inspires your writing?  Does the same thing inspire all your stories?

I'm an equal opportunity inspired writer.  A song lyric, a line from a movie, something a friend says offhanded, something I have been curious about trying.  It all can, and generally does, lead to stories.

Celestial Bodies is a great anthology filled with many paranormal elements. What made you decide on this type of writing for this particular book over your other books themes?

I've compiled my straight (heterosexual) stories into two anthologies so far.  I've also done a lesbian themed anthology.  I've explored the facets of bisexuality in its own anthology.

I love reading paranormal stories, and I had collected a fair number of paranormal stories that I had written and I just wanted to do an all-paranormal anthology.  For the sake of my readers, I kept them to heterosexual stories only, although when I have enough lesbian themes stories, I may do an all-lesbian paranormal anthology.

What influenced you to get published?  How long did it take for someone to take a chance with your first book?

My husband nagging influenced me. <smiles>  Seriously though, he encouraged me the whole way.  In the end, it came down to either trying to get my stories published (and possibly failing) or cut back on my writing time.  So I took a chance, and I have found that getting even a short story accepted into an anthology generates such an emotional charge, it more than makes up for the rejections received in between.

For me, I got lucky.  Renaissance E Books accepted Bedtime Tales within 3 months of submission.  It was published not too long after.  Each of my ebooks after that has been accepted within a month.

Now with short stories that I have submitted to multi-author anthologies, it took about five rejections before I had one accepted, and I still generally receive five rejections per acceptance.. 

Often a writer's first book is the toughest to write. Was this true with you and if so, what helped you get through it?  If it wasn't what was the toughest one to write?

I never really had a problem with the book itself, given that it's an anthology.  Some of the individual stories however gave me more fits than others.  For example, Going Down took almost a month before I was happy with it, whereas On The Prowl practically wrote itself.

Do you usually outline your stories before you write them or do you "go with the flow."?

I go with the flow.  Some stories are easier to write than others, and if I were to attempt a longer piece such as a novelette or novel, I would definitely outline.  But with my short stories, I just sit down and start writing.

In Celestial Bodies, you give many different paranormal themes, from Gods and Goddess to vampires and shape shifters. Why the many different aspects of paranormal and what made you decide to choose just these aspects of it?

I can't pick which one is my favorite.  I love reading them all, and I enjoy writing them all, so I simply compiled them into an anthology.  I didn't want an all vampire anthology, or an all shape shifter or so on.  I wanted a wide spectrum, to match my personal tastes in the paranormal.

Most authors are avid readers. Is this true with you?  If so, who are some of your favorite authors? Have any influenced your writing?

Definitely, it's more of an addiction than a hobby anymore.  <smiles>  Suspense, murder mystery type novels I love Kay Hooper.  I am biting my nails wailing on her next book.  As for romance, I love the futuristic authors – Susan Grant, Angela Knight, Catherine Spangler, Linnea Sinclair, and C. J. Barry.  Erotica/Erotic Romance would have to be MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight and Alison Tyler.

Vampires are really big on TV and Movies.  Has anything influenced you from a movie or TV?

The vampire movies out haven't really influenced me, although I have enjoyed watching some of them.  But lines out of movies have given me ideas.

Have you ever suffered from Writers block?  If so, what did you do to get out of it?

All the time!  And I just wait it out most times.  I try and write, and keep trying, until it works itself out.  Generally it happens when I have other things I need to be doing, or if I have simply written a lot in the last few days, or I am burned out on everything and need to just veg for a while.  Generally it's a subconscious thing saying, wait a minute, get to doing other stuff, I need a break.

Bedtime Tales is a great anthology for anyone's erotic collection.  Have you ever wanted to do a full-length book on one story from there or from Celestial Bodies?

Not so much from the stories in any of my anthologies, but yes, there is one story that I have written that I would love to lengthen.  I have even written some of an outline, but my villain hasn't yet shown himself to me for me to put anything much to paper.  I have the vaguest of first chapter and that's about it.

Did you ever expect your books to become so popular?  Why do you think they are in such a demand?

LOL.  I don't know so much that they are in demand or that they are popular, but I do well with them.  It always surprises me when someone emails me and says that they enjoyed my story in such and such antho, or that they have one of my ebooks and loved it.  I love getting email like that.

Congratulations on Celestial Bodies.  Are you working on anything right now and can you give us a teaser of what it is?

Right now I am wrapping up my second bisexual anthology.  After that, I have plans for another Bedtime Tales anthology and maybe another lesbian one.

Between working on them, I am going to keep submitting to various calls for submissions and keep my fingers crossed.

Any advice to aspiring authors?

I would like to state that I write short stories, just in case I haven't been clear on that.  Novels are a whole different ball game.  I have no clue personally, although I do know of a lot of different novel writers who have gotten pubbed with their first book, and others who after ten years are still trying.  It depends on the book you have written (theme and such), the market at the time, and which publisher you have submitted to.  My best advice is look around first.  Check out in-depth what each publisher is looking for, maybe evening buying a few of their books.  Make sure it would fit their ideal before submitting to them.

For short story writers, you have two options.  Compile an antho of just your writing, find a publisher that accept anthologies, and submit to them.  Renaissance E Books (www.renebooks.com) is the one that I am with, and they publish a good deal of single author anthologies, as well as novels.  The other option is submit stories on a story-by-story basis.  Find calls for submissions, The Erotica Readers and Writings Association  (www.erotica-readers.com) being a good starting point for romantica and erotica authors. Find a calls for submission that interests you, write a story and submit it.  Again, it might be worth it to purchase a book or two that the editor you are submitting to has compiled, since many have their own style that they are looking for.

The most important thing with both types of writings is patience.  It may take a while before you hear back, and even then, it may not be an acceptance.  But keep trying, have faith in yourself, and most of all, keep writing.  Even if it's just for your own enjoyment - which is how I started out.

 Thank you, Ms. Houston for taking the time to answer our questions.  Have anything to add? 

Just that it's been fun.  

Celestial Bodies came out in October 2004 and it is a mixture of paranormal coupling, decadent escapades and futuristic possibilities that may happen.  A delightful ride through the many facets of erotica and the paranormal.

Interview With Novel Spot

April 2005

Meet Michelle Houston

Novelspot had the opportunity to catch up with the steamy, yet down to earth, Michelle Houston for a candid interview. We walked away feeling more connected to the frank author who entertained and enlightened us with her thoughts and insights.

NovelSpot: For someone who has never read a story you have written, what could best describe your genre and style?

Michelle Houston: Um, erotica, smut, light porn. I've heard my anthologies called all three. Personally, I feel that I write erotica: Light on the plot, and heavy on the emotional and physical aspects. I try to keep each story short enough that it doesn't drag, yet long enough so that the reader feels content when it ends.

NS: Describe for us your most recent title?

MH: Bi & Sensual. It's an anthology of straight, lesbian, gay and threesome erotica stories. Some are kinky, others soft and sweet, just a general mix of possibilities.

NS: What sets this work apart from other works in the same genre?

MH: My kick-ass covers! (laughs) Seriously though, I don't try to stand out from the other writers in my genre, because frankly, I admire the hell out of many of them. I simply try to write an entertaining, arousing story. If I bring something to the table that no one else has thought of yet, great! But if not, so long as I entertained my reader, as long as did that, then I have achieved my own goal.

NS: Please tell us about a favorite piece that you have written, maybe one that took all of your blood as you wrote it or maybe one that literally wrote itself, or maybe a work that just touched your heart a little more than the others?

MH: Pick just one? Ack! Exposed is the one that comes to mind the strongest. It was originally written for a "Call for Submissions" sent out by a wonderful writer and editor, Alison Tyler. She was looking for tales of flesh on flesh, sweaty, hot, sensual sex. And the idea of a threesome on the dance floor simply fit the bill in my mind.

Although it was rejected for that particular anthology, Alison did request it for her Naughty Stories From A To Z volume 3, and it found a happy home there.

NS: As a writer, there are things that indulge your senses. Could you describe the things that milk your creative flow?

MH: Enigma. Love their music. Reading other erotica, romantica and romance stories. Talking over ideas with my friends in a chat program while staring at a blank screen seems to work really well too. (smiling)

NS: So in your writing process from beginning of story to end, do you incorporate techniques that heighten your creativity? For example, maybe you seek out those things that you just described heighten your creative process?

MH: I've always just sat down and started writing, when the mood took me. I rarely try to bring about the mood, unless I simply need to express myself.

NS: What is your favorite quote and who said it?

MH: "It was a long time before I was able to say to myself: I am *not* going to be ashamed of my sexual thoughts and desires, they are me myself, they are a part of my life. I am going to accept myself sexually as I accept myself mentally and spiritually, and know that I am one time one thing, one time another, but I am always myself. My sex is me as my mind is me, and nobody will make me feel shame about it." ~ D. H. Lawrence

NS: Why that one?

MH: I'm bisexual. For a LONG time I tried to deny it, to ignore it, and a felt shame about it. Finally, I accepted it, and I have been happier for it.

I used to think that my wanting to write erotica was wrong, even though my husband encouraged me in it. But it makes me happy, and hurts no one, so I have accepted it, and even rejoice in it now.

Nobody will make me feel shame about anything that is a part of who, and what, I am.

NS: Thank you for sharing that. Are you at work on any new projects and would you share?

MH: I've got several stories in my "Works in Progress" folder. I am trying to finish up several for my third Bedtime Tales anthology.

But my main focus for now is my schoolwork. I graduated several years ago from high school, and just last fall started college; I have made that and my family my primary focus. So I write in what spare time I have left. I am hoping after this semester, when I'm no longer having to write so many English class papers that I will be more inclined to write.

You go girl! Be sure to send us an announcement for your graduation, and by all means, don't stop writing! Novelspot would like to thank Ms. Houston for her time and energy.

Interview with Jolie du Pre of 
GLBT Promo

June 2006

Michelle Houston has been an erotica writer since 1995. Her stories (straight, lesbian and bisexual erotica) appear on the Internet at Sensual Venus and other webzines, in multiple anthologies including Bosslady, and she has nine e-books with Renaissance E Books including the recently released Erotic Moments. Michelle is the webmistress for her website The Erotic Pen.

Jolie du Pre for GLBT Promo: Michelle, you've been writing erotica for eleven years and you've really made your mark. You're prolific, and you have become one of the most popular erotica writers of today. What brought you to the world of erotica?

Michelle Houston: Like many authors, it seems that I have always written. I can't remember when it truly began. My earliest memories are of a poem I wrote in the second grade (I think it was) and of an essay I won an award at my school for in the first grade.

I've tried my hands at many genres, but erotica just fits. Besides, I get to write about sex, do research about sex, and sometimes when I'm lucky get paid for the stories I create. What better hobby is there? Besides being a sex toy reviewer that is.

GP: You're a wife and a mother. What tips can you give other wives and mothers who may be struggling to juggle a writing life with the demands of a family?

MH: Let me begin by saying I write for fun. I have a standard (sucky) day job to pay the bills with. I have no clue how to balance a full time writing career with family life. All the authors who do it have my deepest admiration. Although, I guess they are the lucky ones. : )

Now for those who write as a hobby, like I do, don't even try juggling it all. Something important will probably get missed. Instead, focus on family and work your writings in around it. You have to be willing to be fluid about it all.

One writer I know gets up an hour before his family, so that he can get some writing time in before everyone is awake and making demands on his time. Several others stay up after their families go to bed in order to sneak in some writing time. Another I know takes a notebook to work and writes on lunch breaks and any other spare time throughout the day. It sometimes requires a drive to make it happen before you will find the time. But it's worth it.

I've been lucky. My husband supports my writings, and within reason, he works with me to take care of our daughter so that I can write when the mood takes me. It's hard, because my desk is in the middle of the "family area" of our house – just off of the living room -- but headphones and loud music help some.

When I've been inspired, I have been known to stay up late writing, to get up early, to write on lunch breaks, at my daughter's martial arts class, during my classes (I'm in college), and although it is embarrassing to admit, I have also been known to rush to my computer during commercial breaks of my favorite shows to jot down a scene before going back to watching my show.

GP: Let's talk about your work. You're published in a number of print anthologies, including Heat Wave, Down & Dirty Volume 2, Slave to Love, Bosslady, the upcoming Sex and Candy and more. What do you enjoy most about writing short stories and how exciting is it to see your stories in print?

MH: I like short stories because they are brief glimpses into a character's life. The reader gets to fill in all the blanks, from back-story to what happens next. I know some readers get frustrated, seemingly no sooner do they get into a short story then it is all over, but I love them. I can take the characters on whatever future journey I want to.

As for how exciting it is for me to see my stories in print, it's a RUSH! Without a doubt.

With the long wait, from the time a story is submitted to hearing back with an acceptance, to it finally coming out in print (completely nail biting the whole time) to finally have a copy in my hands is beyond words. I know, it's ironic given that I am a writer, but when it truly hits that another story of mine is out there for the world to see is utterly indescribable. I am nervous, and excited, and completely petrified while at the same time so very proud. It's like watching your child take its first step, or hearing "mama" for the first time. I want to take it all back, and make them pull my story from the book, while at the same time I want to scream to the world to buy the book. The mixture of emotions is dizzying and exhilarating.

GP: Of all of your stories that have appeared in print, which one is your favorite and why?

MH: My favorite in print so far would have to be EXPOSED (which is in Naughty Stories From A To Z vol. 3). The main character, Sabrina, is truly in touch with herself, her fantasies and her desires, as I wish I was daring enough to be. She's not afraid to go after something if it turns her on, even if it's making out with a couple on a crowded dance floor.

Here's a brief snippet to show you what I mean.

Exposed copyright Michelle Houston

Sabrina was shameless and she knew it. She went after what she wanted with a single-minded determination, and she delighted in pushing society's limits, in seeing what exactly she could get away with. Her ex-boyfriend, Julian, used to assist her in attaining her adrenalin-based orgasms. Now that Julian was out of the picture, she found herself feeling lost. She wasn't sure which way to go in order to recreate the highs she'd previously enjoyed. She was hesitant about starting all over.

The last date with her ex had ended with a blowjob during a movie, and she still had the gum stain on her old jeans to prove it. She grinned to herself, remembering the look on the faces of the couple seated in the row in front of them as the lights had come on. When they stood to leave, she was licking come from the corner of her mouth, and her shirt sported a telltale trail right down the center. Head held high, she had exited the theater, uncaring of the snide whispers behind her.

Julian hadn't been so uncaring. In the car and back at his apartment, they had fought over the way she flaunted their liaisons, instead of trying to be discreet. The goal, in his eyes, was to carefully tempt fate, but to always do their best not to get caught. Sabrina's opinion differed. She was out to have fun and enjoy the rush of playing in public. She loved to masturbate while being watched; it didn't matter if it was by a lover, or in front of a window with the possibility of a complete stranger watching. She wanted to walk the fine line between exhibitionism and indecent exposure.

GP: What stories do you have in anthologies that are "coming soon?" Tell us about the stories and about the anthologies they will appear in.

MH: I have a story coming out soon in the second volume of Naughty Spanking Stories From A To Z, called JANELLE'S SPANKOLOGY 101. Angela and Janelle share a dorm room at college, and both are very open with each other, to the point of Janelle being an exhibitionist to Angela's voyeur. Janelle is a Dom, who brings her boyfriend Terence home to play. Angela is trying to write about a paper for class while across the room Janelle is giving Terence a spanking. Needless to say, her concentration is shot. Then Janelle makes Angela an offer she simply can't refuse, a chance to join in on their play, and learn a little bit about the fine art of spanking. But the lesson doesn't turn out quite the way Angela thought that it would.

Here's a tease.

Janelle's Spankology 101 copyright Michelle Houston

I wish I could find a guy willing to take a spanking from me, but it just never worked out. Most of the guys I dated long enough to confess a desire to spank had simply humored me, expecting a few light spanks. For the others, they couldn't get past my diminutive height long enough to let me control anything.

Janelle landed a particularly hard blow and I couldn't help but wince as Terence moaned. Maybe there was something to be said for dating a jock. Janelle landed another hard blow, and this time it was me that moaned as his rich chocolate colored ass lifted, silently begging for more. Oh how I wanted to give it to him too.

I couldn't help the muffled groan that escaped at the idea of Terence's smooth dark ass raised in supplication while I smacked my bare hand against it. It was enough to send shivers down my spine.

GP: You've also published many ebook anthologies including Bedtime Tales, Sapphic Visions, Erotic Moments. What do you like about ebooks?

MH: E-books are great in that readers can be exposed to a plethora of authors they might never have heard of otherwise. I LOVE print books, don't get my wrong, but we all know that the big boys of print are cautious. They tend to be very conservative, waiting to see if there is a trend towards something before jumping on it.

E-books showed them how big of a demand there is for paranormal romances – and the big boys of print jumped on it. E-books have shown that some readers want hotter love stories than they are getting, and the big boys are starting up new lines to provide it.

Through publishing e-books, several authors have been discovered by print publishers and are embarking on BIG careers.

What I like the most however, isn't the part e-books play in determining the big boys of prints next step, but rather the freedom the authors are given. With many e-book companies authors are encouraged to try new things, instead of going by a set formula. They are allowed different sexualities and scenarios than traditional print lines allow for. The authors write what they want, how they want. Very rarely do the editors request whole novel/story rewrites to fit a "proven pattern." I like that.

GP: Any upcoming ebook collections?

MH: None that are near to being published yet. I am working on stories for another lesbian anthology and for a fourth Bedtime Tales volume, but they are still a good ways from being completed.

GP: Any plans for a novel?

MH: I've thought about it, but plotting has NEVER been a strength of mine. I still have yet to learn how to really develop a good, strong plot to the degree a novel would require. One of my e-books, Maidens & Myths, is the closest I have come, with all of the stories flowing from each other, revolving around a secondary character.

So at this time, no, I don't have plans for a novel. But I do have some ideas for pieces that a short story just won't do justice. So it is something I am working towards.

GP: You've published straight, lesbian and bisexual themes. Tell us about some of your lesbian and bisexual work.

GP: Sapphic Visions is very much like its heterosexual counter part, Bedtime Tales. It's simply a collection of my lesbian tales, from vanilla to kinky and all the shades in between. There is no real rhyme of rhythm to them, other than they are all erotic.

Both Bi anthologies, - Bi Sexual and Bi & Sensual - have lesbian, straight, gay, MMF and MFF threesome stories. Some of the stories have been in Sapphic Visions or one of the three Bedtime Tales volumes, but the rest (the gay and threesome pieces) are unique to the anthologies.

GP: You have a beautiful website. What can you tell us about the art work and the design?

MH: T E Burden, my cover artist, is the one who did the image I use on my website. It was originally supposed to be the image used for erotic moments, but the woman's breasts were a bit too blatant for some of the places that carried Renaissance E Books' titles, so the publisher asked that I cover them. So with a great put-upon sigh, T E Burden did so, grumbling though the whole process.

While I like the image with her breasts covered, I wanted to also use the image without them covered, so when I started itching to redesign the look to my website, I decided to use the uncovered image as the main graphic. Adding backgrounds, divider and ding images from Outlaw By Design's tube membership site, I created a look and feel to my website that is distinctly mine.

GP: Besides your website The Erotic Pen, do you have a Yahoo group, a newsletter or anything else we should know about?

MH: I do have a Yahoo group. It's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellehouston. I also run a newsletter off of my website, but it is temporarily unavailable at this time. Hopefully soon it will be back up and running.

GP: What would you like to say to aspiring writers of erotica?

MH: Talk about putting a girl on the spot. Sheesh. Um …

Get your basic anatomy down. You don't have to know the names of all of the bones in the hand and stuff like that, but know the basics. You all know the things I am talking about. : )

Don't stick to just what you've tried, write what makes you curious (those tend to be the best stories I've written because of the complete curiosity and interest that come through to the reader) but make sure to do your research.

Read. A lot. Doesn't matter what genre, just read. Pay attention to how the writer crafts the scene, what character traits work for what types of characters, and how scenes flow into each other. Most writers already have a love of the written word, but take it to the next level. You'd be surprised what you pick up unconsciously about writing.

Join The Erotica Readers and Writers Association. Writing erotica is a lonely business, as most times even life partners don't understand or support what we do. Having a MASSIVE worldwide support group of novice as well as master writers helps.

Find a critique partner. Someone who can and will be HONEST about your strengths and weaknesses. Spouses and friends do not often fit this bill. They try too hard to be sunny and not hurt your feelings. You NEED brutal honesty, but with helpful suggestions of what to do to fix the problems they point out.

Above all DON'T GIVE UP! If you decide that publication is something you want, keep writing and submitting. If you get rejected, make note of any offered suggestions or reasons why, then try again. Not all stories will find a home. The trick is to find which story fits which publisher. The best way to do this is to do research. Read some of what a publishing house/editor (depending on if you are writing novels or short stories) has put out.

Writing is something that comes from a part of you that no one can ever touch. You have to choose to open up and share the things inside with others. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough, if you truly feel something there. The mechanics of writing can be learned, but that something, that spark which some call a writer's soul, can't be taught or learned. It's either there or its not. If you have that special spark, learn whatever else you need to so that YOU are happy with your writings. Before anyone or anything else, write to make yourself happy. I don't write to be published, I write to fulfill a craving within me to write. I submit my writings because I want to share them with others. Feed the craving first, worry about publication after the story is written.

And that's the best advice I can give. If it helps, then I am truly glad. If it doesn't, then read what someone else has said on the topic and find what feels right to YOU.

Interview with Jamie of Sexy Authors With Attitude for the SASSY newsletter

February 2007

Spotlight Author Interview:

Each month one of the Sexy Authors has interviewed our Spotlight Author of the Month. This month Jamie Hill interviews Sexy Author Michelle Houston.

  JH:  Tell us a little about yourself.

 MH:  Let's see . . . I am married to a wonderfully supportive man; mother to a curious 9 year old who is determined to be an archeologist, a scientist/researcher, and a biology teacher; a college student; an erotica/erotic romance writer; and I am bisexual.  Basically I am an average woman who loves to write, when she can find time.

 JH:  Who were some of your favorite authors as a child, and now?

 MH:  Growing up, I used to read anything I was allowed to, but sadly I remember characters better than authors.  Some of the books I liked to read were The Sword of Shannara series, the Black Stallion books, the White Fang and the like books. 

 I also devoured the Sweet Valley High books (and I am hesitant to mention that LOL), loved the Bunnicula books (which I have gotten my daughter in to reading), and then I managed to get a hold of one of my sister's romance novels.  Whoohoo!  It was hot reading for a 14 year old.  I even remember the title – and tracked down a copy a few years back, just for giggles.

 Since that first exposure to romance novels, my tastes have changes quite a bit.  I used to love historical novels, specifically knights and the like, but now I am into futuristic and paranormal tales.  I also have a thing for dark paranormal murder mysteries, ever since reading Dark Visions at about age 16.

 Some of my auto buy authors include: Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson (Betsy the Vamp Queen and related stories), Kay Hooper (the Bishop series), Linnea Sinclair, Catherine Spangler, Michele Bardsley (a newcomer with a lot of potential), Rebecca York, Katie MacAlister (the dragons and the vamps), C J Barry, Suzanne Brockmann (the Troubleshooter series), Christine Feehan (Dark, Game, and the witch sisters series), Tess Gerritson, Susan Grant, Patti O'Shea, Robin D Owens (the Heart series), Joanne Rock, Lynsay Sands (Argeneau vampires), and Nalini Singh (another hot newcomer).

 JH:  When did you first start writing?

 MH:  I remember writing as early as third grade, but I didn't get really serious about it until about age 18, when my husband (we were engaged at the time) convinced me to start putting my ideas to paper.  He writes too, and understands the creative drive and how it feels to have character pound at your skull demanding to have their story told.

 JH:  When did you first get serious about being published, and how long did it take before you saw any results?

 MH:  I started to get serious about getting published when I was spending all of my free time writing, and other then having stories on paper, had nothing to show for it.  With a family . . . it just came down to either actually getting off my ass and doing something with my writings, or cutting back on how much time I was spending with the computer.

 JH:  Which is your favorite among the books/stories you've written?

 MH:  Given that I write shorter works than most authors I know, that question is very hard to answer.  LOL  My top three, in no particular order, would have to be:

 Diggin Up Bones, which I am working on expanding and getting ready to submit for possible publication.  It is the story of Alisa, a young woman recovering from being raped, and Zach, one man she has always loved, finally finding each other.

 Exposed, which was published in Naughty Stories From A To Z volume 3.  Sabrina is a shameless woman who knows what she wants sexually, and isn't afraid to go after it.

 Chasing Her Dream, which was published in print in The Happy Birthday Book of Erotica, and will soon be coming out in the e-book Kinky Girls Do, from Love Struck Books.  Lydia knows that she wants to be sexually dominated, and her best friend Sean is more than willing to fulfill her fantasy.

 JH:  Do you have a favorite hero/heroine in your own work?

MH:  Alisa, from Diggin Up Bones, would have to be my favorite.  She has to work through something that completely devastates the victim.  In the end, she doesn't let what was taken from her destroy her--she fights back, and reclaims her sensuality.

 JH:  What are your upcoming releases?

 MH:  In the next twelve months, I have a lot of new stories coming out.

 February saw the release of the print anthology 'C Is For Co-Eds', which contains my story Janelle's Spankology 101, and the print anthology 'D Is For Dress-Up', which contains my story A Long-Held Fantasy.  Both of which are hot, short, threesome stories.

 In April, my story Tempted By Leather, will be coming out in the print anthology 'Second Skin: Erotic Stories About Leather and Latex'.  It's a short and kinky lesbian tale.

 Kinky Girls Do will also be coming out in ebook from LoveStruck Books.  Kinky Girls Do is a collection of three mild kink stories, ranging from exhibitionism to spanking and light bondage.

 May will see the release of the ebook Fated To Be, a duet of stories about Greco-Roman deities set in modern times.

 In June, The Window of the Soul, a voyeur lesbian piece, will be coming out in the print anthology 'Iridescence: Lovely Shades of Lesbian Erotica', and Unnatural Bonds will be in the ebook/print book 'Summer Solstice Scorchers' from Whiskey Creek Press – Torrid.

 July will see the release of the ebook Parallel Attraction, from Love Struck Books.  Parallel Attraction is about a young woman sent to another reality, and the love that she finds there.

 In August, 'The Diary of 413 Remembrance Lane' (tentative title) will be coming out in ebook from Phaze.  This collaboration with Jamie Hill, Emma Wildes, Jude Mason, D Musgrave, Cheri Valmont, and Skyler Grey, was a blast to work on.  My story, The Life Not Lived, wraps the book up.

 I also have two stories accepted for print anthology with unknown (at this time) pub dates.  Cup of Josie will be coming out in 'Sex and Coffee', and Peppermint Delight will be in 'Sex and Candy'.

 Last by not least, in January of 2008, my stories Sands of Time and Turning Back Time, which make up 'Celtic Love Knots volume 8', will be coming out from Whiskey Creek Press – Torrid.

 Whew . . . it's exhausting just looking at the list, but I admit, I am proud too.

 JH:  What projects are you working on now?

 MH:  With pulling my story Diggin' Up Bones from Venus press, I decided to expand it just a little bit.  When I started it was 7,200 words, and now that I have gotten it over 12,000 words I hope to get it edited soon and ready to submit.  

 I am also working to expand two stories that collectively I am calling Blood Slave.  The stories are set in the near future, where vampires are protected and even catered to, due to a virus that has made them all go blind.  To compensate, they use blood slaves as their eyes, food source, and sexual submissives.  Right now I have about 11,000 words between the two stories, and I would like to reach at least 12,000 (because of where I wish to submit them to).

 I also have a lesbian futuristic, which features a cyborg female who finds herself the unlikely (and unwilling) owner of a slave.  She has to figure out what to do with the woman, and fight her attraction to her at the same time.  It sits at 5,000 words and has been sent out on submission.  I am currently working on a sequel featuring a secondary character and her own delving into D/s, and hope to have it read to send out soon.

 Then there is the sequel to my story in the Masquerade volume 2 anthology that I have been working on.  Nike made an appearance in Worshipped and wants now to explain that she is NOT an air-head, but was playing a part for Alicia.  Oh ... and she wants her own story too.  Infernal Goddesses.

 In the beginning stages is a duet of stories featuring dragons, and a half dozen vague ideas floating in the vastness of my creative mind.

 JH:  Is there a genre you haven't tried that you'd like to?

 MH:  Honestly, not really.  Being very open minded, and having the support of my husband and writing partners, I have pretty must written whatever intrigued me.  I like writing erotica and erotic romances, and at this time I really don't have any craving to try my hand at another genre.  But I do reserve the right to change my mind at a later date.

 JH:  Is any of your work based on real life, people you've met or events that have happened to you?

 MH:  Well, there have been a few short stories that I have written and published in my three Bedtime Tales collections that have been based in experiences, but it's up to the reader to guess which ones.  LOL

 Spotlight Author Excerpt: Diggin' Up Bones

Warning - VERY explicit

Copyright Michelle Houston, all rights reserved

 As the water washed away the dried tears from earlier and beat at her tight muscles, she leaned back against the wall and allowed her hands free reign.  Of their own violation, they cupped her breasts, holding the slight weight in their palms as her fingers rolled the tight nipples.  Closing her eyes, she lost herself in fantasy.  Zach was under the spray with her, his work calloused hands holding he breasts, teasing her nipples with his thumbs as his lips pressed soft kisses along her throat.

 Slipping one hand down her stomach, she paused at her belly button, then continued on, slipping a finger past her pouting lips and dipping it into her moist pussy.  She had been wet ever since she'd watched Zach walk across her lawn earlier this morning, the sun hitting his hair just enough to bring out the deep chestnut, natural highlights. 

Long-legged, his strides had eaten up the earth as he moved with purpose, mingling with the crew, often gesturing with his hands to make his point.  Whenever someone got too close to the house, he has directed them somewhere else, trying to keep everyone together and as quiet as possible.  She had to give him credit for that.  He knew she needed quiet time to write.  He'd always understood about her writing time and about so many other things, especially her virginity and her fears about losing it.  He had been so patient, waiting for the right time.  But it had never arrived for them.

 Not wanting to disturb her mood, she quickly brandished the thoughts away, knowing what would soon follow--the emptiness of not having his arms to hold her as she cried--the hollow feeling that never quite left her as she pulled away from anyone's touch--the horrible, terrifying memory of another man holding her down, violating her trust and her body.

 Thrusting her finger deep, she rubbed her thumb over her clit, desperately trying to take the edge off of what she was feeling.  Zach's presence just outside her house had her emotions in turmoil, and it was only getting worse.  She had almost leaned forward and kissed him at the door, she wanted his touch so badly.  Just watching each of his words form on his lips had been arousing.  It didn't help, that despite not knowing why she'd pushed him away, he still wanted her.  She saw it in his blue eyes every time he looked at her.  It seemed time hadn't lessened what they felt for each other, as she had hoped.  The rate it was going, a decade could go by and she would still feel like melting into a puddle when he walked into the room.

 Alternating her hand from one breast to the other, she teased and pinched her nipples while she slowly manipulated her clit and pussy with the other.  Her legs grew weak as her pussy tightened, trying to milk a cock that wasn't there.

 Locking her legs tight, she arched her back against the shower wall as tremors raced through her.  Her insides were on fire, and in her minds eye it was Zach's fingers driving her wild, his fingers slowly thrusting in and out of her pussy while his mouth plundered hers.

 With a soft cry, she climaxed, a shudder wracking her body.  Her essence leaked down her hand to be washed away by the jets of water from the shower head.  Gasping softly, she dropped to her knees, her legs too weak to hold her.  Tipping her head into the spray, she flipped her hair over her shoulder, and let the water wash away her tears, as they slowly streaked from her eyes.  

Interview with Rose of 
Romance At Heart

March 2007
(Updated April 2007)

Interview with Michelle Houston:

Hi Michelle. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

Coming up next is a short story called Nice Kitty Kat in the Erotic Tales 2 anthology and will be coming out from Erotic Tales Publications..
Katrina gets talked into attending a D/s part as her friend's date, only to wind up a submissive to a complete stranger, while others watch. It's just a quick, quirky lesbian piece, that I wrote in a "what if" mood. Erotic Tales 2 comes out in May.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

In the next few months, I have about a dozen stories coming out in print anthologies, in e-book anthologies, or in solo e-books. A full list can be found on my website, at www.eroticpen.net

The next ones in line are:
'Unnatural Bonds' in the Summer Solstice Scorchers anthology which is coming out from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid in June. Unnatural Bonds is the story of a woman who goes to great lengths to free a vampire from the clutches of a scientist bent on dissecting him, only to find out that now that she has freed him she has no clue what to do with him.

"The Life Not Lived" in the 413 Remembrance lane anthology from Phaze. This story was especially fun to write, since the other authors and I worked together to craft the premise of the anthology, to create the stories while making sure each contained a unique paranormal elements, and stayed true to the few common guidelines. We had no idea when we started if it would find a home, but we knew we wanted to write it regardless. The sexualities of the stories vary, running the gambit of lesbian/gay to heterosexual and threesomes, and branching from vanilla to D/s. The common thread is a diary in the house at 413 Remembrance Lane, which tells of the wonderful and strange occurrences in the owner's lives.

After that is my pride and joy, "Diggin' Up Bones", which is also coming out from Phaze. I laughed and cried as I wrote this story, trying to do it justice. And for once, I think that I did.

- How do we find out about you and your books?

My website! Most definitely, without a doubt, check out my website. I try and update frequently, mostly because I like playing around with webpages, but also because I am an avid reader and I like it when authors update their websites. Bugs me when I visit sites to see "coming soon ______ book in _____ month" and the book has been out a month or more.

So definitely check out my website, I keep it updated with all the latest information. The url is www.eroticpen.net

- How may readers contact you?

I can be reached at theeroticpen@yahoo.com I also have a snail mail address available on my website, in case anyone prefers writing letters to emails.

- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

I can't remember the first time I started thinking about writing. It has always been a part of my life. I do remember a poem in the third grade that I was SO proud of.

I started writing erotica/erotic romances (as opposed to the typical angst ridden poetry of my teenage years) seriously around 1998, and started trying to get published a little bit after that. The exact time frame is fuzzy.

I do know my husband is what promoted me to submit my first piece, a little flash fiction story of 100 words to Amoret, a website that has since closed down. (Which was NOT my fault I might add LOL). I was paid the grand sum of $2.00 for the piece.

I submitted a few more pieces, some were accepted, others rejected. All told, I think I made like $14.00, but I found that more important than the money was the emotional charge I got from it all. Not the rejections – those are a necessary evil though – no, it was the acceptance high. Someone LIKED my writings enough to want to pay me to publish it.

From there I compiled a collection of my short stories and sent it off to Renaissance E Books, and since then I have bit my nails while waiting on maybe a hundred submission, and have gotten several published in print anthologies and by e-book publishers.

- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

My husband is very supportive of me. There have been some nights, I will be laying in bed KNOWING I need to get to sleep, because of the next days tasks (work, college, and so on), and my brain just won't quite wandering. He will tell me simply "go write". Sometimes I do, other times I ride it out until I can sleep. But that simple acceptance of it, the way he will leave the house for a while so I can have some quiet time, and dozens of other little things he does keeps me writing.

My daughter also knows I write, but she is too young to know just what it is that I write. But she'll tell anyone she is proud of me and that when she gets older she wants to write too.

- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

I wish I knew how. I am one of those wound up, constantly tense people. Writing is about the only thing that truly soothes me. I will put on my headphone, play some Genesis and just let the words flow as they will.

- Where do your ideas come from?

I like to call myself an equal opportunity idea moocher. Anything and everything has sparked ideas. I'm not a people watcher, but sometimes I will catch a movement out of the corner of my eye, I will happen to see a glance between two people, or I will hear a comment and I will just feel this 'ah-ha' moment.

- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

Having gotten my start in erotica and then moved to erotic romance, I find them actually the easiest parts to write. It's the character interaction outside of the bedroom, hallway, kitchen, living room, backyard etc that is the hardest for me to write.

I've sometimes found my characters eating meals in silence so that I can hurry up and get to the good parts.

- What kind of research do you do?

Well last week there was the swingers' party, the month before we visited an S&M club … LOL

Seriously, I research about like anyone else does. I visit the library and pull information from books. I do some searches online. And when all else fails, I use the wonderful thing called 'writer's initiative' and I make stuff up.

- What does your husband think of your writing?

My husband has a great sense of humor about it all. We even joked about getting T-shirts made up that say "Buy my wife's books – I want to be a kept man" after I mentioned another author's hubby thinking the same way.

And like I mentioned before, he is definitely very supportive of me. Even when I am moody, and cranky, and irritated that my characters have the nerve to want to do their own thing instead of what I want them to do.

- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?

I have so many favorite authors, it's like I working on beginning a small library.

There is one book that stands out in my mind though whenever anyone asks my favorite book, although there many that I have read since with more charismatic heroes and heroines. One of the first romances I read, when I was still in my historical phase, was Desert Rogue by Suzanne Simmons. What is especially wonderful for me now that I have moved on to loving paranormal romances, is that Suzanne Simmons has recently announced on Amazon that she is "reinventing" herself, and taking the pen name of the heroine from Desert Rogue to write paranormal romances under. So I am looking forward to what Elizabeth Guest has in store for me in the coming years.

In the mean time, I still have the treasured copy of Desert Rogue on my bookshelf.

- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

Some of my auto buy authors, in no particular order, include: Angela Knight, MaryJanice Davidson (Betsy the Vamp Queen and related stories), Kay Hooper (the Bishop series), Linnea Sinclair, Catherine Spangler, Michele Bardsley (a newcomer with a lot of potential), Rebecca York, Katie MacAlister (the dragons and the vamps), C J Barry, Suzanne Brockmann (the Troubleshooter series), Christine Feehan (Dark, Game, and the witch sisters series), Tess Gerritson, Susan Grant, Patti O'Shea, Robin D Owens (the Heart series), Joanne Rock, Lynsay Sands (Argeneau vampires), and Nalini Singh (another hot newcomer).

- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

I'm a member of ERWA – the Erotica Readers and Writers Association.

Without a doubt, if one is considering writing erotica, they need to check out ERWA. The staff is incredible and hardworking, and does it completely out of love of the genre.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

In general, I believe in them and support them. If a writer can find a group they mesh well with, whose dynamics fit their personality, it works wonders.

However, if they jump in headfirst, with people they might not know that well, they can find personalities clashing, writing styles differing, and more of a headache than a help.

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully, I will be out of college. As a non-traditional student, it has been touch to go back to school after almost a decade out of the swing of things, but also exhilarating. I am learning new things, pushing myself mentally, and working towards a degree that I have always wanted.

On the writing front, I plan to still be doing what I am doing – telling the stories that are demanding I write them.

- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

It kind of depends. Some character let me have my way, with only minor fits, and others are demanding from word one and I can't do anything except let them have their way.

- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?

I have definitely been blocked while writing. Sometimes it's simply a matter of not being able to switch from my 'academic' mind set to my 'creative' mind set, and I have to wait it out until things ease up at school and I can get back into the swing of writing. Other times, life just demands more than is possible to give, and writing has to take a back seat.

- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Knowing, thanks to the lovely royalties statements, that people are willing to give their hard-earned money to read the world I have crafted, to loose themselves in the tale that I slaved to write.

I don't do it for the money (because let's face it, I'm not a New York times bestseller, and even then, I know a few who are that are STILL struggling to pay the bills) so I am never going to get rich off of writing.

I write because I have to. I publish because it isn't fair to myself, my family, or those that read my tales to keep them all to myself. Just think, what if no writer shared their writings?

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Write because you love it, not to be published. Submit your writings because you want to share them, not to become rich. Don't let it become a job, having to meet deadlines and getting stressed over it. Do it for the love of writing, and let things fall as they may.

I have been published several times, but I still refuse to commit to a deadline. If I want to write a story for a Calls For Submissions, and it comes to me, great. If not, then there will be another one to write for.

Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

Interview with Tammy of 
Fallen Angel Reviews

April 2007

Michelle Houston Interview</