Interview with Alexis Fleming

I realised today on top of everything else that I can't count. I thought tomorrow was the 6th but it turns out I was just wishful thinking that I had another day up my sleeve somewhere. So without further ado... (and I apologise for all the font changes, unavoidable...)

As promised I have an exciting author interview today coinciding with her newest release.

Now comes the hard part. I’m relatively new at this kind of stuff so if there’s something I’ve missed or you want to know something else, please leave a comment and one of us will get back to you.

I would like to introduce you to Alexis Fleming (here’s where you clap), a mum and granny, a wife, business woman and writer of Erotic Romance. Alexis has very kindly agreed to be my first interviewee, something of a trial and error guinea pig or crash test dummy depending on which way the wind blows. Hi Alexis and welcome to my rants page.

Alexis –Hi, Bronwyn. Thanks for having me and I’m more than happy to be a test dummy. Hey, those crash test dummies are all skinny and gorgeous, right? Oh, and young!

Hmm, but sexless! Not a great way to be...

Tell me first about your new release 'Honey Trap' debuting today at Ellora's Cave.

Alexis – Honey Trap was a title I’d had in my brain for ages. No story to go with it, just the title. Whenever I come up with a title I think would look great on a book, I jot it down. Eventually the story line to match the title comes to me. This is what happened with Honey Trap.

Honey Trap is part of the Going Down Under series Ellora’s Cave is publishing, all written by Australian writers. Here’s the blurb.

Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing

ISBN: 9781419925269

Release Date: 6th November 09

Link to book:

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-7771-50-honey-trap.aspx

 

BLURB:

Going Down Under

Seductive scents…torrid suspense…

For Australian scientist Kyla Harris, danger is not her middle name, but when she invents a cologne that acts as an aphrodisiac, she becomes embroiled in a CIA case. Sexy American agent Logan Matthews is assigned as her bodyguard when someone tries to steal her sensual formula. Kyla finally has the edge in the war of the sexes and Logan Matthews is her target. A little fun in bed…on the desk…in the Aussie bush—what better way to test her cologne?

It’s just a shame Logan’s only reacting because of the formula…or is he?

Link to Excerpt:http://www.jasminejade.com/productspecs/9781419925269.htm


That sounds really exciting! What a great premise and I love the Down Under factor! How many does this make it for you?

Alexis – Um, hang on, counting… lol

I’m relatively new to Ellora’s Cave so Honey Trap is only my fourth over there. One of those is also in print in an anthology. With Samhain Publishing, I have five books out, all in both digital as well as print. I have five with Changeling Press, one of which is also in a print anthology. I’m also with Total-e-bound Publishing with four digital books, three of which are in print. And last but not least, I am part of Heart & Craft which is in print with Allen & Unwin. I’m also a contributor to an anthology coming out in print with them on 1st December.

Considering I didn’t get my first contract until August 2004, it has been a busy few years.

Sounds like it! I understand you haven't always written Erotic stories. What did you used to write and what made you decide to make the switch?

Alexis – I started out writing fantasy and contemporary romance, but even then, my stories were highly sensual. I’ve always seen the act of making love as part of the whole falling in love package, so why deprive my readers of that? When a friend suggested I try erotic romance it really wasn’t a big stretch for me. I just opened the bedroom door a little wider and let my imagination (and libido) have at it. I think whatever I write it will always be hot. That’s just the way I see the stories in my head. Hmm, does that make me a dirty old woman?

Never! What does your husband and family think about what you write? I know my partner would think it's Christmas every day but I don't think I would ever be able to tell my dad.

Alexis – My husband doesn’t have a problem with it, although he does sometimes want to know where I get my ideas. In fact, my hubby often does my final proof reading before I send my work to the editor.

With my daughter, it’s easy. Not only is she a published writer in her own right, she’s also my sounding board and one of my critique partners. My son doesn’t have a problem with his mother writing hot books, but he’d prefer if his fiancée didn’t read them. For one reason only. The first time she read one of my books, she raced my boy off to the bedroom afterwards. Yes, he enjoyed the benefits, but he said it felt like having mum in the bedroom with him. lol

As for my mother-in-law, she keeps asking when I’m going to send her a copy of one of my books. Um, never? My father-in-law was a minister of religion and I’m not certain my mother-in-law would approve. In fact, I know she wouldn’t. lol

Many, many years ago my mother-in-law nearly fainted when she realised the lingerie party I hosted included sex toys so I totally understand! How do you fit it all in? Writing and life? Have you found a balance or do you wing it day to day?

Alexis -- Hubby and I run a busy motel which is pretty much a 24/7 job. That means my writing has to fit around the motel. It’s not always easy. I hit the floor running at 5.30am, answer email, do my promo, and then it’s into the shower to be ready to start work in the motel by 7.30am. Most of the mornings I’m tied up with doing the laundry for the motel and running the cleaning team who do the rooms. Afternoons I manage to find some time on the computer, but most of my writing takes place after 5.30pm. I’m spoilt because hubby cooks dinner and just calls me when it’s ready, so I can go on writing. After dinner, it’s back to the computer. During the high season, I really don’t get a lot of writing done. I tend to arrange all my contracts so nothing is due from the end of December to the end of April. After that, things slow down a bit and I can get in more writing time. 

And finally, what would you like to rant about? It wouldn't be a rant page if you didn't have something you want to get off your chest!

Alexis – Hmm, a rant. Have to think a bit.

Okay, in my everyday life, one of my pet peeves is rudeness. In running a motel, I guess I’ve seen every character trait come through our reception door. Most people are terrific, but then you get the ones who are so rude, either to hubby or myself, or, and this really gets up my nose, to my staff. That’s like a red rag to me because there is no excuse for rudeness.

In my writing life, I think the thing that annoys me the most is seeing some authors pulling down other authors. There’s no excuse. If you have a grievance with someone, deal with it in private. Don’t take it to blog land and make it fodder for gossip. It puts us all in a bad light.

I work in a supermarket so rudeness is high on my list of intolerable-s and having been a bystander in one too many Facebook bitch fights and insulting blogs, I see where you’re coming from. I’m not a fan of bashing anyone in public forums unless it’s Centrelink (run by the Aussie government) or Telstra (the largest of the Aussie telco’s). But to individually single someone out and give them hell without the right of reply is a cowardly act. God, listen to me, I’ve taken over your rant =)

Thank you so much for your time, Alexis! I wish you every success for Honey Trap! I'll be going to buy a copy right now (just don’t tell Doug!)

Alexis – Thanks for having me, Bronwyn. It’s been fun.


If you want to visit Alexis' website just click on her name anywhere in the interview and I'll deliver you there =) If you want to purchase a copy of Honey Trap, click on one of the links shown either side of the blurb.
 

Now make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win an electronic copy of Honey Trap (if you aren't into erotic romance I'll give away a big box of Cadbury Favourites or a book and a little goody if you're over the ocean) The winner will have to answer the question...

How hot do you like your romance and why?

Tell us what kind of heat you like and the best answer will win, you have till Friday the 13th November!! Ooh, scary!



Now, I won't be doing this every week. I'm think the first Saturday of every month will be interview an author day so come back next week for more rants or news of my progress in today's tough market.

Have a spectacular weekend!