Welcome to Stevie Woods' guest blog

Welcome Stevie Woods to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Did you always want to become a writer?

Not consciously, though I have always tended to scribble stuff down for my own benefit. I didn’t seriously think about writing until about 2002 when I stumbled across fanfic on the Net – and yeah I know, that seems to be how quite a few of us started. My stories were pretty well received and I decided to try my hand at writing original characters and when I actually finished my first novel a friend pushed me to submit. Still, it was a tremendous rush when I got accepted.

What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?

I’m not sure they are facts as much as observations. The most interesting - how many times the author actually re-writes a story before it even gets to submission. The least interesting – how much time an author has to spend on promotion, what I think of as a necessary evil.

How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?

My first submission was actually an historical novel, Cane, but it didn’t become my first release. I got the acceptance at New Year of 2007 but the novel wasn’t going to be published until August and in the meantime I had two short stories accepted, both of which were published before the novel, one in June and the other in July. That was one hell of a summer, I must have spent the whole time on a high!
My first few releases were all eBooks and so they were only available on line – but still seeing my name on a book in a digital store was no less exciting. I have since had releases in Print but as I write in what is considered a niche market – gay romance – I have yet to see a book of mine in a brick and mortar store.
I don’t have a ritual as such. I just sit there and stare at my computer screen, still kinda in awe that it’s my book for sale!

How did your family react to fact that you also write M/M romance novels? Have your family read your books?

As my fanfic writing was always m/m based I kept my ‘hobby’ to myself at first. Eventually I told my (adult) son who is also into writing and later my husband. I think they were both a little bemused at my choice of genre but both were supportive, especially when I began to submit for publication, though neither of them has ever read any of my work. I did eventually inform my brother and sister who seemed more surprised that I had actually been published than by the fact I was writing m/m. Still not sure how to take that

Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?

Yes, reading has always been a love of mine, but I have had less time what with writing and promoting. Over the last couple of years my reading has mostly been gay romance but I tend to enjoy all genres, not unlike what I write myself. And those genres were the same as I used to read before I narrowed my choice to most gay romance. I have always enjoyed Historical, SF, Fantasy and mild horror. I rarely read contemporary romance until I got hooked on gay books and now I enjoy that very much too.
Favorites? Not counting my fellow m/m authors – the list would be way too long – an early favorite was Far Pavilions by M M Kaye. Authors: Georgette Heyer, Bernard Cornwell. Joanne Bertin, Robin Hobb, Terry Goodkind, Patrick O’Brien, Michael Crichton, among many others.
I guess if anyone had an influence it was probably Bernard Cornwell, if only because at about the time I began to write fanfic I was off work ill for a few months and had lots of time to read and I went through every one of the Sharpe novels. I learned an appreciation of character and plot, not that I understood that at the time.

Your release date is really full, which I love as a fan of your books, do you have a problem with deadlines and have you ever suffered a writers block?

Thanks, can’t have too many fans! I’ve rarely had deadlines as such because so far I have generally submitted when I had a work ready, except for something like a Halloween or Christmas short call from one of my publishers, but I have always ensured I had enough time before I decided to answer a call like that. Though I do wonder if that will change with the series submission I have recently had contracted.
I’m not sure I have ever had what I think of as writers block, but I have had a few times where I have stalled on a story, usually plot related I would say. I have tended to leave the story alone and either try to work on something else, or even have a short break for a few days and indulge in some reading. Usually that allows the ideas to percolate and then I can go back and carry on with the original project. I find that usually works.

Do you prefer stand-alone books or series?

If you’re talking about reading, I would say it depends. I have read many excellent stand-alone books, but I have also been drawn into many wonderful series. I am a fan of the Sharpe books of Bernard Cornwell. The problem I have with some series is that author (or maybe the publisher) doesn’t always know when to stop. For example I was a firm fan of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind but after the seventh book I found myself losing interest.
If you are talking about writing - when I began submitting I always wrote each story as a stand-alone but a few of them have developed into series – or perhaps sequels is more accurate – often because readers decided I had more to tell. My latest release – Drawing the Veil – is actually a prequel and came about because reviewers and readers alike wanted to know more about the protagonist in my Barbary Pirate novel, Beyond the Veil. My first novel Cane, eventually had a sequel, Conflict.
So far I have only actually written one set of books as a planned series and I have only recently sold the series to MLR Press. The series – The Tomcat Line – is a contemporary adventure but as yet I have no idea of release date/s.

Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?

Well, I certainly hope they do because that is my intention! I wouldn’t say they live with me as much as invade my consciousness and push to get their story on paper. They do take over my life in that all too often everything else has to take second place. And no, I don’t have living role models, my characters are pure invention.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?

That’s a hard one to answer for me. I’m not sure inspiration is the right word. I tend to know the kind of story I want to write next and it’s usually a lot of work to drag the story out of me. Hmm, perhaps knowing the kind of story is the inspiration because the choice comes from my mood at the time, and I have no idea what influences that!

Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?

Heck yeah! I try to write my love scenes with the emotion most prevalent but you still have to describe the mechanics and I always worry that a) it’s too much of tab A and slot B sorta thing, or b) I’m being too repetitive.

What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who is your favorite hero and why?

Another difficult one because I think each book I am writing those characters – and that is two heroes to my way of thinking, not one – are my favourites while I write. But if I have to pick just one I think it would be Pieter Van Leyden from Cane and Conflict. He was my first original character, my first true creation and I think I fell a little in love with him. I find myself totally understanding why Sebastian Cane couldn’t live without him.

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?

I think the hardest was Drawing the Veil, because it is the darkest story I have written. I had to approach it from the point of view of creating an awful backstory and turn a kind, happy young man into a villainous pirate. Writing the original novel I only had an outline idea and then I had to fill in the blanks of a fifteen year period.
The easiest I think was probably Death’s Desire, a ghost story covering two time periods that is due to be released later this year from MLR Press as part of their historical ghost anthology. That story just seemed to flow and I had a great time writing it.

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?

Probably Sebastian Cane, then I could snuggle up with Pieter.

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

Gosh there are so many time periods I would love to visit, but I think if I were to pick one person it would be Gutenberg in the 1440-50s when he changed the world with his printing press. I believe he opened the door on so much information that people’s thinking would never be the same again.

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?

I do, though not always. I don’t tend to like silence when I write so I usually have either music or the TV on with news or a documentary. It’s not so much that I listen but I like the awareness of the sound. If its music I tend to like soundtracks, or light classical, or (showing my age) 60s, 70s or 80s music.

If you could choose of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you as the cast?

Do I have to choose just one? I would love to see Cane/Conflict made into a movie (or two!), I think there is a wealth of story there. But then I think about Beyond the Veil, which has actually been my most successful novel to date and who doesn’t love pirates? Or, in line with present taste my vampire novel, On Reflection! Oh damn! I don’t know!
However, I am hopeless at choosing actors to play my characters. I know what they look like, I see them in my mind’s eye and the idea of having them appear differently… If ever such a miracle happened I would most likely have to leave the casting to the Director.

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?
Yes, more than one. I am still working on the planned last story in The Tomcat Line series (it is planned as a five story series). I am also working on another contemporary story, mix of mystery and thriller, which is a bit different for me and I am not quite sure yet if I can pull it off.

Big congrats to your latest releases, can you please tell us something about them

Thanks I have had a good year and I have other books due to come out, but am still waiting for release dates. My latest release, published on 24th August, was Drawing the Veil, the prequel to Beyond the Veil. Here is the Blurb and a tasty Excerpt from early in the novel before Malik is captured.

BLURB

The exciting prequel to Beyond the Veil! Read how the young Malik was torn from his lover, Robert, and how he was forced into a life of pain, fear and violence following his capture by the Corsairs until he became the pirate captain who attacked the Windjammer!

EXCERPT
“Oh God. I don’t even know what I’m saying,” Malik blurted, desperately trying to cover his blunder. “It’s the drink talking. I…I…”

Robert’s gentle laughter stopped him cold. Malik must have looked like a beached fish as Robert took hold of his hands. “Malik, you fool. Don’t you know you are everything I have ever wanted?” Stepping closer, Robert added, “Would you stop being a bloody idiot and kiss me. Please?”

That first kiss was still seared into Malik’s memory. He had lusted after Robert for so long that it was a shock when his vague fantasies were suddenly stark reality. Malik stared at Robert unable to move. Even though Robert asked for the kiss, he still managed to look stunned. It suddenly hit Malik that the odds were he was the one with experience and he was pretty certain that he was Robert’s first -- and goodness, did that thought not surge through Malik, making him hard.

Malik was glad Robert was holding his hands. The contact warmed him and steadied him at the same time. “Have you ever kissed a man before?” Malik asked softly.

“No, but I have wanted to kiss you for such a long time,” Robert murmured.

“God,” Malik breathed, slowly leaning towards him, unable to take his eyes from Robert’s mouth. He gently pressed his lips against Robert’s and even that innocent touch had his heart racing. Malik licked his lower lip, his eyes holding Robert’s now, wanting to see everything. Malik ran his tongue over Robert’s closed lips until they opened and he slipped his tongue inside. Malik saw Robert’s eyes widen and his grip on Malik’s hands tightened. Malik pulled their joined hands up between their bodies, drawing him closer.

The heat of the kiss and the press of their bodies made Malik want more, and the moan Robert released into his mouth convinced him that Robert felt the same. He released Malik’s hands and immediately Robert’s arms wrapped around him. Malik’s hands slipped onto his buttocks pulling Robert tight against him. Robert gasped as their groins ground into each other and Malik took advantage, pressing his tongue deeper inside even as he circled his hips.

Robert broke the kiss, gasping, “Oh God, oh God, Malik!”

His eyes were wide, the pupils almost black with desire, his cheeks were flushed and his mouth still wet from Malik’s kisses. He looked so beautiful; Malik wanted to possess him, own him and never let him go.

Malik whispered, “I adore you.” Malik pressed the flat of his hand against Robert’s groin, feeling the heat through his trousers and Robert gasped at the pressure. “Can I?” Malik asked.

Robert seemed incapable of speech and he just nodded. Unfastening his trousers, Malik slipped his hand inside and that first feel of his smooth skin over hard flesh and it was Malik’s turn to gasp, sliding his hand up and down the hardening column, made easier by the pre-come spilling out of the slit. Malik looked into Robert’s eyes and saw they were half-closed. Malik squeezed and pulled his cock and Robert’s eyes flew wide and Malik smiled as Robert moaned his name.


http://steviewoods.com
http://www.torquerepress.com
http://www.phaze.com
http://www.mlrpress.com