Hi everyone. My special guest today is G.G. Royale who agreed to answer questions for all of us about her books, career so far, and inspirations. I think you’ll find this interview as fascinating as i did. Be sure to check out G.G.’s new releases from Loose Id, and the brand new novella, The New Game from Dreamspinner coming out on Dec. 29. Get your red hot sneak peek here!

Blurb: Over the years, Josef Ramirez and Connor Fahy have run many cons to make their way in the world, but cheating at cards is their forte. One day, though, their scam is outed, and the two take off with the gangster they’ve robbed hot on their heels. The stress of the run is too much for Joey, and feelings he’s been hiding from Connor for a long time bubble to the surface. Now he’ll find out if Connor will stick with him or go find a new game.

Reach GG here!

·        How long have you been writing fiction? How many books have you published? I have been writing fiction forever, really. For as long as I can remember. I graduated from my MFA program in May of 2009, and since then, I’ve been submitting fairly regularly. I have produced seven novellas, published with Loose Id, Carnal Desires, and Dreamspinner. I also have a lot of short stories out there, some with New Line Press, one at Dreamspinner, and a few in anthologies.
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 H   How long does it take you to write a book? Well, I tend to write on the shorter side, so if I set my mind to it — and taking into account my day job — I can do a novella in about six weeks. Less time when I’m not working. I’m going to try over the next few months to write something longer, with more nuance and detail, but I’m not quite sure what that will be. I have a few ideas bouncing around in my head, but most of them fit my regular pattern of 25 to 30 thousand words.
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          What inspired you to become a writer? Like I said earlier, I’ve always been a writer. Deciding to become a professional writer was something different, though. My first publication came in high school. After that, it sort of became like chasing a high for me. If I’m not turning out stuff and submitting and getting acceptances — and rejections — I don’t feel like I’m fulfilling the role in life I’m supposed to. I can’t wait for the day when I finally have enough royalties coming in so I can quit the day job.
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            You write about so many exotic places. Have you been to all of them? What is your favorite location? How do you research them? I did travel a lot when I was younger, though recently I’m so content in my neighborhood in New Orleans — plus there are chickens and dogs to take care of that — that I don’t travel so much anymore. I haven’t been everywhere I write about, but I try not to write places that are too foreign. I’ve never been to Thailand, for instance — the setting of Jake’s Alchemy — but I did visit Indonesia, so I feel confident writing about Southeast Asian beaches. I lived in London for a time, which was a fantastic experience. My favorite place ever was probably the Yucatan of Mexico. Amazing history, beautiful beaches, lovely people, and awesome food. Can’t go wrong.
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      You say your favorite subjects are historical and BDSM. I love this combination. Do you combine them? The Flapper and the Fellow was a combination of those two, set in the twenties. I have another planned, set during the time of the Louisiana Purchase, but that’s going to take a lot of work — and reading about the politics of the era — so it’s sort of on the back burner.
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      Many writers are interested in BDSM as a theme, but shy away because they don’t want to sound inauthentic. What would you recommend to help gain a true voice in this genre? I hope this isn’t too much information but… Hypothetically speaking, let’s say, I don’t think anyone should write BDSM unless he or she has at least experimented a little, even if it’s only in the bedroom. Buy some cuffs and a flogger. See what comes of it. Play with dominant and submissive roles. I would also recommend following blogs of real people in the lifestyle. I particularly love http://domesticservitude.blogspot.com/ because the contributors offer a lot of practical advice, though it is mostly for master/ slave relationships, not just domination. Even visiting clubs to watch, or burlesque shows, and demonstrations at munches… All this can help.
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      What do you like most about writing erotic fiction? What do you like least? I think I like the freedom the genre offers because you know people are going to be more open minded in that market. I don’t have to watch my language or graphic details as closely as I would writing mainstream. Honestly, what I think I like least … Well, not least but what can be the most frustrating, is keeping the sex fresh and new. When you write books with four to five sex scenes, and you’re turning out five or six of those books a year — plus short stories — it’s always a challenge to figure out some new kink or position or location that I haven’t already used.
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     Who is your favorite heroine? And my personal favorite question, who is your favorite hero? Out of my own stories… I love Dot from Flapper as far as my heroines go. I think she’s the most fierce and talented. Plus, she’s got all the great clothes from the era. My favorite hero is harder. It’s probably Levi in my upcoming Loose Id release Necessary Roughness, and I’m not just saying that because I modeled him after New Orleans Saints’ tight end Jeremy Shockey. I have no crush whatsoever on number eighty-eight. None whatsoever. Really. Seriously…
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     What do you think most sets you apart from other writers of erotic fiction? I’ve worked on both sides of the business, editing for four years before publishing my first book. I’m also formally trained, which I think a lot of writers of erotic fiction don’t need to do. I gained a lot from working through the MFA program. I think it’s part of the reason why I can turn something out so quickly. I’ve internalized so many of the rules and expectations of what finished fiction looks like that I don’t spend a lot of time putting down words that won’t make the final cut. That can get very frustrating, but I do have cleaner copy in the end.
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      Please tell us about your new releases from Loose Id and Dreamspinner.. The Adoration of Addana came out 14 December. This is a “Not Quite Christmas” tale set in the Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood of Holy Cross the first December after Hurricane Katrina. I’m donating twenty percent of my royalties on that title to Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, to charities still doing work down here. My latest release is actually The New Game with Dreamspinner, which comes out 29 December. This is a m/m contemporary with two con-artist antiheroes, Connor and Joey, battling against a crooked kingpin and their own feelings for each other.