Tell the Smexy Readers about yourself. Give us the dirty low down.
I’m 34 years old and I live in Scotland, where I was born. No husband or kids or pets and my time is pretty much my own. I’ve always been a writer, although everything I wrote pre-2008 was, in no uncertain terms, rubbish. I flitted from genre to genre and broke all the rules against which writers are counselled – show don’t tell, avoid dialogue tags, minimise adverb use and the like – but I had enthusiasm. I finished what I started, even if it was all rubbish.
Then in November 2008 I did NaNoWriMo and on a dare, ventured into erotica. The dare was, “Ah, just make up a bunch of characters, get them drunk and have them fuck a lot.” I wrote 50k words in a month, ‘won’ NaNo, and a few months later completed my 148k first draft of Long Time Coming. I later cut it way down to 85k words and sold it to the first publisher I sent it to (Carnal Passions).
It may sound a little wanky, but coming to the erotic romance genre felt like coming home. This is definitely what I was born to write. Sex is glorious, life-affirming, sweaty, dirty, funny and pleasurable, and writing about it is the safest way for sex to make you money!
The tagline on your blog reads "Guyliner, Winkies and Stubble." Three of my favorite things ;) What is it about that combination that makes a girl swoon?
Guyliner shows a man’s not afraid to venture into so-called feminine territory. I mean, Shannon and Jared Leto wear guyliner and who doesn’t think they’re the hottest pair of brothers on the planet? Stubble? It just oozes testosterone.
And winkies speak for themselves. ;)
Speaking of guyliner, winkies and stubble, Daniel Cross one of the stars of By The Book has all three of those things. He enjoys using his winkie quite a bit actually. Did you know exactly how his character would turn out when you started the book? Did he surprise you in any way?
I actually started writing By the Book from Georgia’s point of view in November 2009 but it didn’t feel right. Something was missing. Then I realised – my POV character should be a man. Reece was the one who needed to question his sexuality. After all, if Georgia had fallen for another man she would have looked like a cheat, but if her boyfriend was the one in such a position, well, his dilemma would be much more sympathetic. So, I began the book again writing from Reece’s point of view.
Daniel’s chapters were so much fun to write. I didn’t really have a plan for him – I just told him, “Okay, let yourself go. Be sexy.” Daniel replied, “I can do that,” and had the time of his life. (Yes I do speak about my characters as if they’re real; got a problem with that)?!
I wanted him to be brazen and shameless and have an ‘anything with a pulse’ policy when it came to who he’d sleep with, but as the book progressed he became more vulnerable and I think that’s what readers enjoy. He’s cocky (boy, is he ever) and seems confident, but Reece Hutton is his kryptonite. Reece is uncertain of his own sexuality whereas Daniel Fucking Cross definitely isn’t, but we both know who’s the more vulnerable of the two, emotionally.
He did surprise me at one point. I wrote the book out of order, concentrating on whichever scene grabbed me on any given day, and I remember working on what became chapter fifteen. Without wanting to give away the storyline, Daniel says something that made me sit back and say, “Whoa. I didn’t see that coming…”
I actually sat back and stopped typing for a few minutes because that was when Daniel became real to me. I thought, “Fuck. Daniel, you’re in trouble now.”
And oh yeahhh, he loves using his winky!
By the Book is primarily a M/M book with some F/MF, and M/F thrown in – hell, there is even some F/F action. Is m/f or m/m easier to write? I often hear authors say sex scenes are the hardest part of books to write. Do you agree?
I don’t actually – trust me to be awkward, eh? For me, the trick is to be emotionally involved with your characters. After all, if the author isn’t, how can he or she expect the reader to be? Each scene must have a reason to exist, whether sexual or not, but when it comes to characters doing the nasty, there must be a reason for them doing this, there must be emotion involved, whether it be love, hate, lust, anger, desperation…and that makes the surrounding other scenes so important. I always say, “You don’t have to agree with what my characters do, but you have to understand why they do it.” If that’s not the case, I’ve failed as a writer.
I enjoy writing sex scenes and try to concentrate on the details – for instance, beads of perspiration on someone’s brow, their breath on your neck, muscles rippling, and yes, Mandi, hair on the backs of their arms!
Appeal to all the senses. Sex feels good, sure, but what does it smell like? Sound like? How does this person taste? And when you’re looking at them, focus on the details that make the character unique.
As for which is more difficult…well, I’m a woman, and I like cock. So heterosexual stories are my default. By the Book was my first M/M novel and my main worry was making Reece too female in his outlook. In the end I settled for simply writing him as a human being who happened to have a penis, and like taking it up he arse from Daniel Fucking Cross.
The technicalities? Let’s just say I asked some gay/bi male friends some pretty intimate questions.
Best piece of advice? “Lots of lube, and go slowly.”
Hairy arms are very sexy ;) I enjoy lusting after fictional men, and Daniel Cross is definitely on the list. What fictional heroes have caught your eye over the years?
Rhett Butler, hands down. Gone with the Wind is one of my favourite books. I’ve read it multiple times and Rhett is commanding, argumentative, cocksure, selfish, mercenary…and vulnerable. And he loves a woman called Scarlett.
And strangely enough, Mr. Stevens from Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day. He’s so terribly, terribly British in his emotional constipation, restraint and lifetime of regret. I feel so sorry for him, but Ishiguro’s prose is exquisite and I always turn the last page achingfor what might have been.
Incidentally, Daniel’s just called to tell me he’s more than happy for you to lust over him. (Mandi says – I want his phone number!)
The other book I have read by you, Plus One has one of my favourite lines in it. “This is the last second,” he whispered, “that I will ever not have been inside you." Spencer is one sexy math professor! How did this story come about?
Up until I wrote Plus One, I was a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. I’d sit down, type ‘Chapter One’ and begin. It’s how I wrote Long Time Coming and that turned out pretty well! But this time, I thought, “I’m gonna try something different.” So I outlined it by jotting down some scenes, arranging them into some semblance of reading order, and wrote non-sequentially, slotting each chapter as I finished it, into the master copy, in the correct place.
I expected it to be disjointed but when it came time to edit it, there was surprisingly little to do to ‘cover over the joins’.
As to the characters and where they came from? I thought, “Right. We need a couple who shouldn’t be together. Why not? Age difference? Okay, older man. How do they meet? At work? Where do they work? Why on Earth would a stuffy maths boffin come into contact with a—ah! Job interview. Okay, right. Now we need a crisis or black moment. What now?” This is where Spencer’s secret came into play.
I scribbled each idea down as it came to me and it seemed to work. I said to myself, “Okay, you have an outline. Now let’s see if you can write out of order.”
So I did, and Spencer was the result. He actually turned out dirtier than I’d planned. Such a potty mouth, that man. And he appreciates a good blow job.
Readers of this blog know that I lust after Brandon Flowers like nothing else. I believe you have a similar lust for James Purefoy. When did this obsession start?
Lust is not a strong enough word. I ache for him. My heart pounds whenever I utter his name. I worship The Smirking God that is James Purefoy. I would bend over forwards for him. A chair, a table, you name it.
As I recall, I first witnessed his unholy smexiness in a TV series around 8 or 9 years ago. The Mayor of Casterbridge, adapted from the Thomas Hardy book. I can even forgive his shitty Scottish accent, because oh. My. God. That man must have sold his soul for a face and body like that.
And when he starred in Rome and displayed his manbitz for the world to see? I nearly had heart failure.
My life’s purpose is to write smut, and lust after James Purefoy. There is absolutely nothing I would not do to or with him. I am completely, shamelessly, unrepently in soul-burning lust with him, and ever more shall be so.
My heart belongs to him, as do some other more private parts of me.
Your doorbell rings, you open the door – James Purefoy is standing there. What is the first thing you say to him?
My gran always told me not to speak with my mouth full.
Glad gran taught you some manners ;)
Today Scarlett is offering an E-Book from her backlist. The winner can choose: Long Time Coming, Plus One, or By The Book.
To enter, just leave a comment. Contest open through February 12th to everyone.
well since I just bought By the Book, I would love to win a copy of Plus One! What a great interview!
Amy J
djsfoxylady @ gmail.com
http://www.myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Wonderful interview! I would love to win a copy of By the Book. It sounds delicious.
Angela
adhaley04@yahoo.com
Great interview! It's always fun to find a new-to-me author and I can't wait to check her out. :)
I just wandered by to stare at those photos of James Purefoy again…
I found out about James Purefoy from HBO's Rome, which ended too early *pout*
He is one sexy looking man.
I also love 30 Second to Mars. Jared has a geat singing voice and is still one fine looking man. *lick*
My gran always told me not to speak with my mouth full.
ROFLMFAO!!!! I love you Scarlett.
Hello ladies. Hilarious interview!
I too love James Purefoy. My husband & I loved Rome. We even watched his short lived NBC show The Philanthropist.
I have read so many great reviews of By the Book. I would love to win that one!
GeishasMom73 on twitter
Great interview!!!
Beth
My gran always told me not to speak with my mouth full.
Brilliant! :) Like all the best british actors, James Purefoy has also been in Sharpe. Love a man in uniform!
My TBR pile is already threatening to avalanche down and kill me, but still – I'm thinking it might not be such a bad way to go… :D
Putting an entry in for Fit_Cat because she can't comment at my site for some reason. ;p
"Sex is glorious, life-affirming, sweaty, dirty, funny and pleasurable, and writing about it is the safest way for sex to make you money!"
This is the best author interview I have read! I would love to read any of these!
helyce at sbcglobal dot net
Great smutty little interview! I love the "gran always told me not to speak with my mouth full" bit. LOL LOL LOL
Count me in as a card-carrying member of the Cross Bones! Would love to check out Plus One now. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
clairekimball at hotmail dot com
Great interview(and review). I have patiently been waiting for By the Book on Amazon so I would absolutely love to win it ahead of time!
Chrissy
ssalvc126@rogers.com
Good manners are important. Besides, it's hard to get a sentence around around a mouthful of cock. Just sayin'… :)
Um, By the Book sounds completely awesome! Sign me up.
allstarme79@gmail.com
Ms. Parrish, never heard of you before today. But after today, dayum, Woman….Yep, must read what you're writing. Most especially BY THE BOOK! RAWR!
This is a new author for me, but all of the books look great.
smccar1 at hotmail dot com
I want By The Book too! It sounds awesome!
vicky.vak8(at)gmail.com
Love Scarlett's blog tagline – totally awesome!!
James Purefoy…sigh. Loved him nekkid and with guyliner (when he's in Egypt) in Rome. Loved him in his cravat in Vanity Fair. He's just so yummy. ;)
By the Book is at the top of my to-buy pile. Ever since I heard about Daniel Fucking Cross, I knew I had to read it :)
Wow! These books sound awesome.
I would love to win a copy of By The book.
kissinoak at frontier dot com
You know which one *I* want.
Hey girls, awesome interview!
I looooved Plus One. Ooh, the hot, hot, smexiness ::shudder::
I would love to read By The Book
brk.nllsn@gmail.com
Thanks for the interview and giveaway! Please count me in!
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win your contest since your characters sound very intriguing. I don't think a bad boy can ever be too bad, so I find myself drooling over Spencer. Sounds like a character I could become obsessed with.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Totally agree about your review for By The Book, I loved it too, and can't wait to read her other stories.
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
"I would bend over forwards for him. A chair, a table, you name it." <– Love it! I'm looking forward to reading you books based on this interview. Thanks!
Great interview. Scarlett is a new author to me..By The Book is definitely my kind of book :)
Thanks for the chance to win an ebook
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
by the book for me pleeeaaasseee!!!! :D
I'd love to win Plus One!
kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com
I really enjoyed your interview. If I won I would love to have a copy of By The Book.
sstrode@scrtc.com
I've never heard of Scarlett before, but that line from Plus One definitely caught my interest and I'd love to read it.
jen at delux dot com
Would love to win a copy of By the Book, Scarlett! Really want to learn what it was that Daniel did to surprise you!
Just PM me on AW if my luck actually shows up (unlikely. Heh.)
Best wishes!
I just love stopping by for a visit and finding new to me authors. I would love to check out Long Time Coming.
It would appear that I have been missing out! After reading this interview and that line from Spencer in Plus One…well, now I have another author to add to my ever increasing shopping list. And does that cover model have pink hair? Love it!!
I haven't read anything by this author. I think I've been missing out too! I'd love to win any of these!
meredithfl at gmail dot com
Scarlett, you always make me laugh in your interviews. Such great fun.
It's always nice to discover a new author. I'd love to win By The Book.
I'd love to win By the book.
Thanks.
I love your interview. Would love to win a copy of By the Book.
thank you.
LOL!
Great interview! I've never read any of her books, but now I can't wait to. I would love to win a copy of Plus One. Thanks!
Great post! That last bit especially had me laughing :-) I agree, James Purefoy is one sexy man!
smaccall @ comcast.net
Great interview! I love trying new authors so I'd like to win By the Book. :-)
-Nikyta
mercedes791@live.com
Oh yeah, I have to read about Daniel now.
I'd love to win a copy of By the Book, too. :)
Great interview I'd love to win Plus One
Thanks for the giveaway!
ourbookblog at gmail dot com
Fucking loved By The Book. Will read it again. Scarlett, you beautiful whore. I adore you.
Tiffany Reisz!
http://www.tiffanyreisz.com
This is the best and truest blog article I've read in a while!
Great interview!
Well hell, I'll leave a comment. I like a chance to win at almost everything. Great post by the way.
babyfro97 at gmail dot com
Great interview Scarlett! Of course, we wouldn't expect any less of you.
I'd love to win By The Book. Otherwise, I'll have to wait until end of the month when our 'book allowance' is replenished. My turn to choose the filth next time, so it'll be one of yours, either way, lol.
DL
brownddk at yahoo dot com
Oh I loved this interview! :-) Funny, open, truthful, sexy! It was just great. :-) I would love Plus One, I love the pink hair…I'm so glad I'm not the only person who gets wrapped around a famous persons finger, rawr!
deanna.lynn.c@gmail.com
These books are going on my TBR list regardless of if I win the giveaway or not! Thanks for the wonderful opportunity.
Great interview.
To win something, anything, involving guyliner, winkies and stubble would definitely shine a new light on 2011.
Just typing the words all in a row was nice, in fact. :D
I was so off in winkie-land I forgot!
shelleyo @ gtec.com
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