Post and Interview by Susan Taylor
"Creating a character is like solving a mystery for me."
Tiffany Reisz, author of the Original Sinners, shares her thoughts on writing.
The Prince, Ms. Reisz's newest release is out.
Prolific author,Tiffany Reisz shares her view on writing.
The making of Tiffany's gutsy and sensuous
style of writing is explored.
Thank you Tiffany.
The making of Tiffany's gutsy and sensuous
style of writing is explored.
Thank you Tiffany.
THE PRINCE GIVEWAY IS RIGHT OVER THERE--------------->
-Tiffany Reisz, The Prince
December 1, 2012 Author Interview: TIFFANY REISZ
1. What
part of your background has helped your writing career and what part has
hindered?
Going to a great
liberal arts college definitely helped me read the right books. Going to
seminary helped me find a theme for my books. The student loans have made it
hard to quit my day job which interferes with the writing.
2. How
has your life changed since the release of The Siren?
Everything has
changed and nothing has changed. I’m a real published writer now with books on
bookshelves in multiple countries. That’s fabulous. But I still have a day job.
I still live in the same condo. I still have to feed my damn cats. Oh no! The
cats! ::runs to feed cats::
3. Do
readers’ expectation and assumptions alter you or your writing? Perhaps prompt
a direction to take in future projects?
I interact with my
fans on a daily basis. It really helps me see my books through a reader’s eyes.
They ask me questions that I never thought of so when I go back to writing I
think about how I can answer their question or clarify their confusion. My readers
inspire lots of great stuff!
4.
What type of research do you do for your
characters? Language, culture, background beyond the sexual kink.
The world is flat
now apparently and luckily that means it’s very easy for me to reach out to
someone to help me with my research. I have a character who is half-Danish.
Easy! I have a Danish friend on Twitter who answers all my questions for me
about Denmark. Most everything is in my imagination, and then I dig until I
find the reality to match my fantasy.
5. How
do you approach writing the manuscript from the conception of an idea?
I just start writing.
I usually have a beginning, end, and vague idea of a middle before I start
writing. Then I just glue my ass to the chair every night and pound out the
words.
6. What
avenues need to be opened in writing and publishing erotica? Beyond the hype of
Fifty Shades.
I think erotica is
doing fine. My books have a lot of controversial content in them and I haven’t
gotten any pushback from my agent or editor. Readers have been welcoming as
well. If the book is well-written, you can get away with anything. I’d love to
see more writers take on the taboo. Only by bringing these things out into to
the open do we dispel the unnecessary shame we all feel for our totally healthy
sexual fantasies and desires.
7.
You have a tremendous amount of
information to share concerning writing in general and a specialty in erotica.
You’ve opened doors for other authors to follow. Are you considering teaching?
I’d love to
teach if I had the time. Writing takes talent, yes, but mostly it’s a craft and
you can learn how to be a better writer by studying your craft. I’d teach in a
heartbeat if I had the time.
8.
What experiences do you draw upon to
access and to write such full-bodied complex characters? Especially someone
like Søren.
Søren’s a combination
of one of my former Dominants (a six foot four blond sadist), plus college
professors, and God. I gave him my love of theology and my sadistic streak.
Creating a character is like solving a mystery for me. I investigate my
character. I take what I know about them and then dig into their pasts. I know
everything about my characters from birth. It helps me enrich them by giving
them religious feelings, philosophies of life, personal preferences, pet
peeves, bad habits, sexual fantasies, and childhood memories.
9. How
do you stoke your creative muse? OR What do you do to clear your mind and
recharge?
I don’t bother with
muses. They are fickle lovers. I show up to my book at the same time every
night. Then the magic happens. I don’t wait for the magic to happen first. The
magic never happens until I start writing.
10. What
are your currently reading?
Literati Literature Post Inspired by Tiffany Reisz’s The Siren. Enjoy!
Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her
boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She
graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and
is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica
under her real name. She has five piercings, one tattoo, and has been arrested
twice.
When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).
If she couldn’t write, she would die.
When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).
If she couldn’t write, she would die.
TIFFANY REISZ -
Twitter: @tiffanyreisz
Other interviews links for your readers:
RT Book Reviews Tiffany Reisz Talks Kink, BDSM And The Siren
Books à la Mode! A blog for modish books.
Literati Literature Lovers (Part 1 of Interview Sept. 20, 2012)
Literati Literature Lovers (Part 2 of Interview Sept. 20, 2012)
THE GIFT by Tiffany Reisz (Kindle Edition)
is free for a limited time on Amazon.