My tea guest this week is the prolific author, Ms. IMOGENE NIX. I have had to lace my stays a little tighter because Ms. Nix is a writer who strays to the
Thank you, but I'm not really a tea drinker.
In fact it's rare to see me with one, usually when I'm feeling sick.
Then I'll stick to a fruity tea - blackcurrant or blackberry and even the occasional strawberry.
My parents are veteran tea
drinkers... used to be 10 cups a day... but after making pots of the stuff, I
just can't drink it. Besides which, I like my taste full-bodied... and tea just
is thinner than coffee for me.
So when all is said and done, I'll
have a nice espresso or even a mild roast coffee thanks. :)
Of course...a mild roast it is...shall we start?
Imogene, your books cover
a spectrum of genres from paranormal, sci fi, contemporary, suspense and a
little bit (or is that a lot?) naughty? You write short and you write long… why
the variety?
Yes my books are quite
naughty... but always lots and lots of fun. <g>
I like variety. The
old “spice of life” thing kicks in and I give in to any whim that passes my
way... Then again, that could be because I’m a Gemini too!
I really like being able to
delve into a range of genres because they each offer their own
challenges. Science Fiction has to have more than just a passing
knowledge of various aspects of travel (and it just happens to be something I
feel deeply invested in.)
With paranormals, unless
you completely change the rules, have a strong mythological background.
It’s fun to find ways to mix it up while sticking to the known rules... and
romantic suspense stories feed my blood thirsty tendencies... (Should I have
admitted to that? Lol!)
The variety in lengths is
probably more a result of knowing that some stories are complete at say 20 000
words while others need 80 000 to tell the whole story. I firmly believe
that the advent of ebooks has allowed us to tell shorter stories, without the
need to pad them out, or push them to one side.
Previously, so few
anthologies were released even though this was the only way a novella or short
story would be published. Publishers decided that they weren’t a viable
length of story... Unless you were an NYT Best Seller, then you had a better
than even chance that something might happen with your tale.
I let each one take their
distance...whatever length that might be.
Speaking as someone who seems to spend an inordinate amount of time on quill sharpening, I am intrigued…How do you manage your time to write so prolifically, do you have a regular daily routine?
I think sometimes I’m a little odd when it comes to my writing. I’ve come to the conclusion that an authors mind works quite differently (or again, maybe that’s just me...) in that you can’t force a story to appear.
You have to let it settle and boil before serving. So I have a range of typical days. If the story is coming at me, then I write. On those days, it’s not abnormal for me to start at 7.30 am and go as hard as I can until 3pm (only stopping for school run and lunch/bathroom breaks.) Then I will resume after whatever needs to be done in the afternoon, throw something on the table and keep going...
If I’m in a quiet period, I might be writing challenges, critiquing others work or completing edits that are due.
I've found that this way, it’s not uncommon for me to pump out five thousand words. In fact, that’s my average word count per day but a rocking day has been known to hit as high as thirteen thousand.
On the days my brain is saying ‘Don’t write’ I might be doing blogging stuff or sitting back with a book (letting the creative tank refill).
It’s a fairly laid back attitude but it works for me.
As a lady, I am intrigued, but haven’t dared ask anyone else…Firstly, how would you define erotic romance? Secondly, can you explain to me the run away success of erotic romance?
Ah... Erotic Romance is one where we don’t close the bedroom door, yet use those situations to enhance the character development of the stories.
Yes, you do get everything. Every touch and sigh. Every utterance. But what you also get to see is how the deep emotional connection the two characters are formed. A good erotic romance must use those intimate scenes to show the growth of the relationship without being gratuitous. It’s not sex for sex’s sake. (And that is why it’s not porn, as our work is regularly mislabeled.)
To my mind, what has happened in the last few years, is that people have started to come to terms with their sexuality. They are starting to realize that this is a part of life. There have been some high profile releases that have “mainstreamed” eroticism but it’s a double edged sword... and I think most readers are now aware of the love/hate relationship some authors have with those well known big sellers.
I believe that as humans evolve, so does our need to explore our sexuality through creative avenues, and I’d like to point out that in many countries, this has been considered a fairly mainstream theme for years. We have been seeing erotic content on the screen for over 40 years already. Remember Last Tango In Paris (1972) and Less Than Zero (1987) – they featured mainstream big names yet pushed the boundaries of what was considered either tasteful or appropriate, so there has been a need for it to be examined. Yet we have quibbled over what can be found in literature.
The thing that does continue to amaze me is that for many years, we’ve had a very strong underground movement of erotic writings... it is only now though, because of a couple of titles, that they are getting the ability to be publicly displayed. And that has to be a good thing.
We do share one thing in common…I LOVED “Firefly” (be still my fluttering heart - that nice Mr. Quillian...) -- as a writer in that genre, why do you think a second series was never commissioned? (It has been suggested it was because the character arcs weren’t strong enough?)
Oh the character arcs most certainly were. I could say it’s because the stations played it so late that it never got a foothold when first released. That such fol-de-rol was treated with a fair degree of contempt hence the timeslot.
But to be honest, I just want to see it come back. Though, I’m not sure what they could do with it now. I mean no Wash? No Preacher? And Kadie and Dr Tam a couple. It would require a significant amount of reworking.... but if anyone can, then the great master, Joss Whedon could manage it.
Browncoats Unite! Hoozah...
Thank you, Imogene...you've been a wonderful guest and I wish you every success with your latest book HESPARIA'S TEARS:
What will happen when the past catches up?
Galan is from Hesparia,
where the females are dying out on his pacific agrarian planet.
Jessa has a past, one she
hasn’t earned but cannot escape from.
What will happen when
opportunity knocks?
Galan travels to earth,
hoping to plead the case for Hesparia. He doesn’t expect Jessa or The
Quickening.
Can he make the case for
women to migrate to Hesparia and arrange a Diplomatic Alliance? Can they trust
one another with their hearts. And can Jessa really escape her past?
And finally a little bit about my delightful guest, IMOGENE NIX
A mother of two, compulsive
reader and bookstore owner I live in regional Queensland, Australia
with my husband, 2 daughters, dog, cats and prize winning chooks. I have a
particular fondness for Vampires, Star Ship Captains and things that go bump in
the night.
I'm a lover, not a fighter
so you'll
find me in the chocolate aisle or making wine downstairs or maybe even in the
kitchen making scones or other yummy treats. Apart from that I'm made keen on
tech geekery or snuggling up to my super pup, Teddy, with a good book!
NEXT WEEK ELIZABETH ROSE will be taking tea with Ms. Stuart.
MY CHAT WITH IMOGENE RANGED ACROSS A SPECTRUM BUT I AM INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR VIEWS ON EROTIC ROMANCE...WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT SO SUCCESSFUL IN THE E-WORLD? (Alternatively let's talk about Firefly...)
