The Blerdrotica Anthology

Featuring works by:

Cranston Burney

Penelope Flynn

William Hayashi

R.A.S.

Quinton Veal

CRANSTON BURNEY Editor/Contributing Author

When you are in your artistic zone do you listen to music, eat a particular food or drink a specific drink?

When I’m “in the zone,” it’s just me, the screen and the keyboard. Save for the occasional bathroom break, there are no interruptions—phone, door, email and texts. I usually have some sort of music playing all the time anyway, jazz or New Age, usually.

How did your talent as writer first manifest itself? What were your first projects?

My first commissioned work was a school assignment that I had to do for myself then a classmate I had a crush on. I had to make the stories “different” and I think we both got A’s. This was the beginning of the guiding principal behind my art: sex.

If writing is not your primary vocation, what do you do to keep yourself, fed, clothed and living indoors; and how do you fit writing into your schedule?

I think writing is my calling; to pay for food, cable and such, I have worked for the city here for (way too many) years. Because a lot of my writing and editing take place in the head, I “do it” just about everywhere, all the time. Because sounding out dialog looks a lot like talking to yourself, people tend to not disturb you while you’re doing it.

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

George R.R. Martin said some writers are architects—carefully planned-out stuff, and others are gardeners, you just see what comes along. I tend to be a gardener, you plant the seeds and see what grows. I feel if I don’t know what’s going to happen next, hopefully the reader won’t either.

Are you an avid reader, if so (especially as a writer with limited time) whose works justify departing from your own works, to nosh on?

Actually, I’ve become an avid browser, especially when doing research. If I’m actively working on fiction, I can’t read other people—it seeps into whatever I’m working on. I tend to enjoy fiction and nonfiction pretty much equally.

What are your favorite things to write about and why?

Lately I’ve become fascinated by time travel stories—the idea of blending what did happen with what didn’t, the ultimate do-over. I also enjoy writing about “negative” characters, people who you’re not exactly sorry to see something “bad” happen to, just not as bad as what you do to them. People you cheer for even if you r-e-a-l-l-y don’t want to.

Have you made any major changes in your life as a result of your decision to write?

Not really, except maybe a change in perception. At first writing was something I’d do “on the side,” but then, as it became the major constant in my life, everything else had to make room for it.

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

This is one I’m actually gonna go: drive from Jacksonville to Los Angeles along I-10, having sex every time we get to a new state or time zone. (I think you should always have sex when you visit a new city, state or time zone. (Note: resetting your clocks for Daylight Saving Time does not count, nor does crossing the city limits/county line, generally.) I would tour all the “geek sites,” SF museums, Los Alamos, that sort of thing.

In creating a character, how much are you influenced by people you know or have met?

I have based characters on historical figures but in my experience, everyday people don’t recognize themselves in print—or, at least not our interpretations of them…

Do you enjoy cooking? If so, what is your signature dish?

I do enjoy cooking (from scratch!) but being single and hating leftovers, I don’t generally cook with enough frequency to have a “go-to” dish. But I can pretty much follow a recipe to completion (and emergency services are not required).

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone’s work you admire or try to emulate?

There are a lot of people whose work I enjoy and not all of them do stories: there are poets (A. Van Jordan for one), songwriters (Terry Callier, Sting, Marilyn and Alan Bergman), screenwriters (William Goldman, Darin Morgan…), people who write non-fiction (Malcolm Gladwell, Mary Roach). In fiction, there’s Arthur C. Clark. Toni Morrison, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury… I think writers go through a maturing process: First, you try to emulate your heroes (producing bad pastiches/parodies of their work), then you can see “mistakes” in their stuff (and you can “do better”) then finally, once you find your own voice, you can be as discerning about your own work.

What genres (sub-genres) of writing do you feel most comfortable with? Is erotica a departure for you or right in your wheelhouse?

I am most comfortable with “traditional” science fiction, with the occasional foray into horror and suspense. I am generally not interested in times when there was no indoor plumbing so I kind of avoid a lot of fantasy. I would like to become more proficient with erotica, but all that research…

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. What climates do you believe make for the most erotic tales and why?

I think it’s warmer weather; you’re already taking off clothing to get cooler anyway…

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context.

Proof that deities have a sense of humor, I am a diabetic with a long-long sweet tooth. So I like sweets anyway but I never got that whole whipped-cream-and-cherries-condiments-as-sex-aids thing.

PENELOPE FLYNN EDITOR/CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context?

I am a chocolate lover. Chocolate with nuts is the best. Add a bit of caramel or exotic spices, then we've got a party. The thing I enjoy most about chocolates (good ones) is that they stand on their own. They don't need side dishes or libations. You take a bite – not wolf it down, but savor it and depending upon the chocolates you experience the sweet, the salty, sometimes savory, the smooth texture of the chocolate contraposed against the additive textures that maintain their integrity but are enhanced by the confluence of flavors. Starting with the mouth our awareness is heightened, we digest slowly setting the tempo for physical engagement.

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

If I had an obscene budget, my significant other and I would head to Brazil. I have never been but the beaches and terrain look breathtaking. But what is vacation without interacting with the people? I would also like to head to the museums, interview people and research the enduring effects of the historical culture of forced labor and how they differ from or are the same as those in the United States.

When you are in your artistic zone do you listen to music, eat a particular food or drink a specific beverage that you think helps with your inspiration? If so are you willing to share your food and playlists?

I sometimes write to music and other times I write in silence. It depends upon what I'm writing. But when I do listen, I generally lean toward songs as opposed to instrumentals . I love old school Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Isaac Hayes, Sly Stone, Bobby Brown, ThunderCat, Seal, to name a few. But I also love Kpop. Give me the Shinee Odd Eye album any day of the week and the Golden Gods of Kpop BTS are always on the playlist. To drink there is water, Vanilla chai (with stevia and cream), coffee (preferably Godiva with stevia and cream), sometimes cocoa when I'm in the mood and smoked almonds and cookies... when I'm in that kind of mood.

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. What climates do you believe make for the most erotic tales and why?

For me, cold climates are more erotic. The mental image of “unwrapping” your playmate down to their bare skin is tantalizing, and when you're cold you want to get under the covers, get close, warm up with that skin-on-skin contact. Who knows where that might lead?

If you write other than erotica, where can we find those tales and what inspired you to write them?

I enjoy horror and science fiction. I have always loved horror so when I wrote the story “The Hunt” for the Genesis II anthology for the Black Science Fiction Society I was absolutely in my wheelhouse. My Chronicles of Renfields are all horror-based though they are speculative fiction with erotic elements. All of my published works can be found on the Books and Media listing on my website https://PenelopeFlynn.com

If writing is not your primary vocation, what do you do to keep yourself, fed, clothed and living indoors; and how do you fit writing into your schedule?

My alter-ego practices law and has also entered into publishing.

Do you interact on social media? If so, where can we find you?

I can be found on facebook, twitter, instagram and you can follow me on all of those via linktree – https://linktr.ee/PenelopeFlynn

How did your talent as writer first manifest itself? What were your first projects?

I started writing early. I used to write poetry and short stories when I was young, In addition my siblings and I wrote our own magazines and recorded our own news shows, so the writing/publishing thing was always in my blood. I wrote and edited my high school satire magazine and wrote stories in college that suited my tastes and those of my circle of friends but it really wasn't what was sold in mass market. One of my friends introduced me to gothic romance which I enjoyed but found completely bereft of people of my persuasion, and if they were there, they were slaves or servants or noble or ignoble savages. These did not reflect my sense of self. I don't know what kicked it off but my friend and I started to write our own novel, with our own cultural sensibility. We never completed it but it definitely got me started down the road to creating worlds that included specifically black women in positions of power and magic. Renfields is the culmination of that idea.

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

I have to put myself on deadlines. It is an offshoot of what I do in my “day job.” I set a deadline. Then come hell or high water something finished better come out on the appointed date. It is the only way anything gets done.

What projects do you have lined up in the future and when (and/or where) can we find them?

Soon and very soon before summer, I will be publishing a modern erotic M/F/M romance. I am also in the process of completing The First Book of Ramona which will be published by Mother's Day. I have the first part of a Dark Universe sci-fi trilogy scheduled for early Fall publication and a series of Renfields holiday shorts. Also be on the lookout for Blerdrotica II: Couples Therapy in early 2021. Sign up at https://PenelopeFlynn.com for updates!

Are you an avid reader, if so (especially as a writer with limited time) whose works justify departing from your own works, to nosh on?

I am a catch as catch can reader. If something sparks my interest I read it, but my time is limited.

If you were given the opportunity to time-travel, purely for the music and fashion, where would we find you and what would you be wearing?

I am of two minds. The roaring 20's would be fabulous. I'd be in Philadelphia or New York at a speakeasy. But even more than that I think I would feel at home in either the 60's or seventies. I have always had a love for the Jackie Kennedy couture... the pink suit with the pill box hat or anything worn by Princess Margaret. But then there are the 70's. The music was fantastic from the Beatles to KC and the Sunshine Band to Earth Wind and Fire, and the Ohio Players. And my Look Book would be an homage to Soul Train. I'd have the platform shoes, hip huggers, halter tops and anything worn by Chaka Khan. But, the other me from that period would have a wardrobe that was straight-up Stepford wives. I'd have the sun hats, maxi and halter dresses and wedge sandals. I'd still listen to the same music, though.

ANDRA DILL CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context.

Chocolate, fruit, and honey—the possibilities are endless. 😊 Yes, I believe sweets enhance the romantic/erotic atmosphere. Feeding each other, teasing each other, making a glorious mess, and then cleaning it up (using imaginative methods) are playful ways to spice up your sex life.

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

A private tropical island (if only the Eden resort, located in the Bermuda Triangle, were real, that’s where I’d love to go…read the “Invitation to Eden” series and I’ll bet you’ll agree with me) with luxurious amenities, of course.

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone’s work you admire or try to emulate?

There are so many wonderful writers, choosing is difficult. But, if you insist, here is a thimbleful of authors I adore: Lexi Blake, Joey W. Hill, Tiffany Reisz, Anne Calhoun, Alison Tyler.

What genres (sub-genres) of writing do you feel most comfortable with? Is erotica a departure for you or right in your wheelhouse?

My bio says including but not limited to—urban fantasy, steamy romance, paranormal romance, and horror. Erotica is right in the mix. Give me a shapeshifter, witch, or pixy and I’ll find some kind of trouble for them to get into. I enjoy putting “real people” into intriguing situations just as much.

If you write other than erotica, where can we find those tales and what inspired you to write them?

Fantasy appeals to me on many levels and I incorporate it into pretty much all of my writing. Because, as a reader, I’m looking for that little bit of magic to pull me out of reality and dive into a fantastical story, whether it’s erotica, a shapeshifter tale, mystery, or adventure story. Every story I read sparks my imagination. I hope that the stories I tell do the same for others.

Currently, all my works are short stories found in various anthologies. Having a theme helps kick start my imagination, and having a deadline keeps me on task. I call myself the Queen of Procrastination but 95% of my writing friends claim the same thing (with their personal twists—King of…Goddess of… God of… Loki of…, you get the idea).

My goal for 2020 is to complete a novella I’ve been working on for a while. (And yes, I believe the threats of my friends will work just as well as a deadline.)

Where can you find my stories? (Shameless plug) Check out my Amazon Author page, of course. (And read “A Sweet Save” in Blerdrotica.)

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

My process has evolved over time. I used to sit down and just write. Usually, halfway through I’d realize that I’d started at the wrong spot or that I needed to go back and add in scenes. Eventually, I found if I made a rough outline of the story, things went much smoother. Now, my version of an outline is… not as precise as most authors. But it works for me. The story’s outcome may not be exactly what I’d planned out but I’ve saved myself time and aspirin by hashing things out ahead of time.

How did your talent as a writer first manifest itself? What were your first projects?

I had an amazing seventh-grade Language Arts teacher who let me write short stories for extra credit. He was my first beta reader, and extremely generous with his praise. My eighth-grade teacher continued the tradition. My first official published works can be found in LHS’s “Unabashed Thoughts.” Flash forward several decades, because, you know, life. I signed up for a writing class with Rachel Kramer Bussel. She encouraged everyone to submit our final story to a call and I did! It was declined. 😊 Then I submitted a different story to the fabulous Rob Rosen and viola! my first published erotic story (more a vignette, and bless Rob for his patience editing my story). Now I have over 25 stories (various genres) published in anthologies, a Reading App, and one magazine. (Shameless plug) You should totally read my story “A Sweet Save” in Blerdrotica.

Are you an avid reader, if so (especially as a writer with limited time) whose works justify departing from your own works, to nosh on?

Yes! I am a voracious reader. I travel for work and usually have an audiobook going during the day as well as a book in the evening. Audiobooks, I easily get through one, and sometimes two, a week. Depending on the author and length of the e-book or paperback I go through one to two books a week when I’m not writing. In addition to the authors I mentioned above, I will read anything that Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, John Sandford, Michael Connelly, and Neil Gaiman publish. (There are more authors, so many more.)

If writing is not your primary vocation, what do you do to keep yourself, fed, clothed and living indoors; and how do you fit writing into your schedule?

In addition to working in Health Care, I also teach yoga one night a week.

I keep a notepad with me during the day so that I can jot down ideas as they pop up. I’m part of a writer’s accountability group and my goal is to write four days a week. When I write during the week it’s primarily evenings. On weekends I enjoy writing in the morning. If a deadline is looming…I write whenever I have free time.

Do you interact on social media? If so, where can we find you?

I enjoy interacting with friends and readers on social media. Twitter @aedill, Instagram andradillauthor, and my FB Author page www.facebook.com/andradillauthor

JAMES GOODRIDGE CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context.

I feel fancy cup cakes and wine sets the mood.

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

I guess a cabin in the woods on a Autumn day. Love the scent of pine trees.

While I don't normally use stimulants to write, sometimes I listen to music.

play list : Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, Moondog, Jimi Hendrix, Science Fiction movie theme music, Charles Ives , Earth Wind & Fire , Funkadelic and whatever music was popular for the time period I'm writing about. When I finish a story a beer or scotch to celebrate.

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. What climates do you believe make for the most erotic tales and why?

Autumn days I feel after being outside with your love one. Once inside you can warm each other up.

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone’s work you admire or try to emulate?

William Hope Hodgeson, James Baldwin, Rod Serling, N.K. Jemison, Celeste Rita Baker, Walter Mosley, Valjeanne Jeffers, Raymond Chandler, Yukio Mishma, Gen. U.S. Grant (his memoir pushed writing away from flowery 19th century prose) I don't try to emulate but in style I'm close to Chandler in I have a habit of describing clothes on characters.

What genres (sub-genres) of writing do you feel most comfortable with? Is erotica a departure for you or right in your wheelhouse?

I love science fiction but I think I'm best at writing in the occult detective genre. Erotica I kind of stumbled into but I LOVE what I have stumbled into.

If you write other than erotica, where can we find those tales and what inspired you to write them?

I'm in an anthology Halloween Party 2019 “ The Stumpville Affair” (it came in 2nd place) published by devilspartypresss.com , “ The E.E. Just Affair” (soon to be taking off sale) amazon.com, Black Celebration: Amazing Articles on African American Horror on sale at amazon.com

If erotica is your bailiwick, where can we find your works and what was your inspiration for your favorites?

Not my bailiwick but you can find me in the erotica anthologies SCIEROGENOUS 1 (red book) “ The Artwork II” and SCIEROGENOUS 2 (blue book) “ The Artwork III” and “The Harlem Meers Affair” on amazon.com

If writing is not your primary vocation, what do you do to keep yourself, fed, clothed and living indoors; and how do you fit writing into your schedule?

I work in fire safety and security under contract to NYCHA before that I did a few years as a paralegal which helped my writing.

Do you interact on social media? If so, where can we find you?

I have a writer's page on Face book : who gives you the Write and a blog of the same name on Wordpress.com

How did your talent as writer first manifest itself? What were your first projects?

I always wanted to write what they call the great American short story. I guess you can say I had my first taste at writing horror by the really hideous regular fiction I submitted to Writer's Digest short story contests. I then stepped back and taught myself more of the craft. I then joined the Black Science Fiction Society. After joining I submitted “The Artwork” a twilight zone inspired short story which was published in their Winter 2015 issue and for that I have eternal gratitude to the publisher Jarvis Sheffield M Ed.

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

I have different processes. Write the ending first then go to the beginning is good. Build a story around the protagonist or Mc Guffin. If I'm in hack mode write like the project is a half to half hour television or old school radio show that has to be turned in.

What projects do you have lined up in the future and when (and/or where) can we find them?

This year I have two occult detective stories “The Urraca Affair” which is to be in Weird books Zombie Annual and “The Smith Affair” which is to be in Weird books #45 published by Wild side Press.

Are you an avid reader, if so (especially as a writer with limited time) whose works justify departing from your own works, to nosh on?

Time is limited for me so I have a lot of half read books about the apartment but right now I'm trying to finish Richard Matheson's Hell House, DC comics Doomsday Clock (a Watchmen vs. DC) series, Morbius #1 Marvel reboot and Occult Detective Magazine #6

In creating a character, how much are you influenced by people you know or have met?

In “The Beckwith Affair” the protagonist is a composite of two women I knew or know one I grew up with. She was a free spirit sexually and the other was a Shaman. While different both women had a sensual way about them.

Are you involved in a relationship? If so, as a writer of erotica or a writer whose works have erotica elements, how does your significant other view your work? How do your dates view your work? Do you have any groupies? Alas no I'm not in a relationship. Its been five years since the last one. I guess the more I trek on this writing journey the more I look for a women with the same interests as I have. She doesn't have to be a writer but just the same interests.

What are your favorite things to write about and why?

I've had an interest in the paranormal since I was 8 years old. Forgotten history. Black historical figures we have forgotten about like : Lt Samuel Battle, Prof. E.E. Just, Anita Coleman, Paul Robeson and Philippa Schuyler.

Do you enjoy cooking? If so, what is your signature dish. If not, what put you off of “the joys of cooking”?

I roast a good chicken.

If you were given the opportunity to time-travel, purely for the music and fashion, where would we find you and what would you be wearing?

would like to be wearing a nice tweed suit and a fedora enjoying a Giants vs Dodgers game a the Polo grounds in New York late 40's. I was born in 1960 so I had a taste of the 60's and lived the 70's and 80's

Do you have a family life or situation that you would like to discuss?

I have three fantastic adult children Montel, Baron and Adasia. Have a grand son MJ. Another grand son Baron Jr. was born recently premature but didn't make it.

Have you made any major changes in your life as a result of your decision to write?

Cut loose a lot of negative people.

WILLIAM HAYASHI CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context.

I’m not big on sweets except for a decadent, after-dinner chocolate.

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

I would choose an exotic, tropical island with no other inhabitants. I like the whole clothing-optional environment.

As a great connoisseur of music I have a number of playlists I listen to. My favorite is about 44 hours long and is populated with classics in R&R and R&B from the ‘50s and ‘70s.

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. What climates do you believe make for the most erotic tales and why?

For me, the climate is irrelevant, it’s the people and their immediate emotional context that tell the tale.

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone’s work you admire or try to emulate?

I grew up on the science fiction writers from the Golden Age of Science Fiction, and though I try to write in the style of the period, I don’t try to emulate any particular writer.

What genres (sub-genres) of writing do you feel most comfortable with? Is erotica a departure for you or right in your wheelhouse?

Currently, my wheelhouse is tackling social justice themes because I can explore cause and effect from a realistic and speculative perspective, and often blend the two perspectives together.

If you write other than erotica, where can we find those tales and what inspired you to write them?

Most of my published works are on my author’s page on Amazon. As for what inspired them, it would probably take a mental health professional’s perspective to divine where the inspiration for those tales originated.

If writing is not your primary vocation, what do you do to keep yourself, fed, clothed and living indoors; and how do you fit writing into your schedule?

2020 marks the fiftieth years I have been in the IT industry. I am currently in the process of transitioning to writing full time and living off the work.

Do you interact on social media? If so, where can we find you?

I have a limited profile on several social media platforms, however I don not use them for much more than posting things that tickle my fancy, or music that strikes my mood.

How did your talent as writer first manifest itself? What were your first projects?

My first creative project was the first installment of The Darkside Trilogy, Discovery.

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

When I begin a project, I first determine what the ending will be, then I write the story that brings the reader to that same ending.

What projects do you have lined up in the future and when (and/or where) can we find them?

A: I have a second trilogy, The Archangel-X Trilogy coming out the first half of this year. It is a sequel to Darkside. I might finish the concluding volume of the entire Darkside saga by the end of the year, but that’s uncertain.

Are you an avid reader, if so (especially as a writer with limited time) whose works justify departing from your own works, to nosh on?

In my role as the host of the Genesis Science Fiction Radio Show, I get the opportunity to interview creatives of all kinds in Black science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Occasionally I am intrigued by their written works enough to read them. However, as a nearly full-time writer, I have little time for recreational reading.

In creating a character, how much are you influenced by people you know or have met?

Not much at all. I create characters that suit the story.

I’m currently in a relationship, however I do have groupies.

What are your favorite things to write about and why?

I enjoy writing about big-issue sagas. The best part is imagining how life would change if this or that changed.

Do you enjoy cooking? If so, what is your signature dish. If not, what put you off of “the joys of cooking”?

I cook a lot, it’s something I’ve done most of my life. One of my favorite things to cook is the Thanksgiving Turkey. I stuff it with wild rice with shallots, the cooked organ meat, and some light spices that give the turkey’s meat a real savory taste.

If you were given the opportunity to time-travel, purely for the music and fashion, where would we find you and what would you be wearing?

Bell bottoms back in the ‘60s!

Have you made any major changes in your life as a result of your decision to write?

A: I’ve gotten in better shape physically to compensate for the long hours sitting before the keyboard.

VALJEANNE JEFFERS CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

I love New Orleans! If I had a big budget, I would love for me and my guy to take a trip there, hang out at some jazz clubs, eat some delicious New Orleans cuisine, and relax in a hotel room. We could also visit some of the haunted historical spots – just visit, not stay the night!

Usually when I’m in the mood to write, I drink coffee – lots of it – and I listen to different types of music, jazz, rock, or R&B. My musical taste depend on whether I’m writing an action, a romance scene, etc. Some of my favorite tracks are “Keep Your Head to The Sky” (Earth, Wind and Fire), “Rollin’ Crumblin’” (Tom Rothrock), “Magic Carpet Ride” (SteppenWolf) and “Equinox” (John Coltrane). Classic Rock songs, for me, are the best when writing action scenes.

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone’s work you admire or try to emulate?

There are so many writers I admire! All of them have influenced my writing in some way. I can’t possibly list them all, but Octavia Butler started me on my writing journey. Before I read her work, I didn’t even know black women wrote SF/Fantasy. I consider Ms. Butler to be my literary mentor, even though I never got a chance to meet her.

What genres (sub-genres) of writing do you feel most comfortable with? Is erotica a departure for you or right in your wheelhouse?

I’m most comfortable writing horror and fantasy. My novels and stories often have erotic elements because I look at sex as a part of life (both necessary and pleasurable). So, it really isn’t hard for me to pen an erotic tale.

If you write other than erotica, where can we find those tales and what inspired you to write them?

I’ve written nine speculative fiction books; my most popular series are my Immortal (fantasy/horror) and Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective (horror/steamfunk) series. I also co-edited, with Quinton Veal, two erotic anthologies: Scierogenous: An Anthology of Erotic Science Fiction and Fantasy (Volumes I & II). Simpy put, I write because I love it and my inspiration is life, day-to-day living, and the magic I’m able to find there. You can find my work at: www.vjeffersandqveal.com

Do you interact on social media? If so, where can we find you?

Yes I do. You can find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valjeanne.jeffers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Valjeanne

Or any one of my websites: www.vjeffersandqveal.com

(main site), http://tehotep.wixsite.com/scierogenous (Scierogenous)

(Immortal III audio book) http://tehotep.wixsite.com/immortaliiiaudiobook

How did your talent as writer first manifest itself? What were your first projects?

I wrote stories and poetry as a child, right through my adolescence. But life and obligations got in the way. I stopped writing and didn’t return to it until my forties. I started writing poetry again, and with the help of my writing group, the Carolina African American Writers’ Collective (CAAWC) I had several poems published. CAAWC helped me hone my writing skills and, in 2007, I published my first novel, Immortal.

What projects do you have lined up in the future and when (and/or where) can we find them?

I’m releasing the 3rd novel of my Mona Livelong series later this year: Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective III: The Case of the Vanishing Child. My poetry has also been published in, All The Songs We Sing: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Carolina African American Writers’ Collective, which should be released in 2020.

In creating a character, how much are you influenced by people you know or have met?

I’m a people watcher. I also pay particular attention to unusual names that I can use. When creating a character, I draw from folks I’ve met, memories, and of course my imagination.

Are you involved in a relationship? If so, as a writer of erotica or a writer whose works have erotica elements, how does your significant other view your work? Do you have any groupies?

I’m in a relationship with a wonderful guy, Quinton Veal, who is also a writer of erotica, and my co-editor. He loves my work, and I love his. We inspire each other. I definitely have devoted readers who get really excited whenever I release a new book.

Is there anything about you or your life as a writer that you care to share with our readers which we might not have asked?

I love my readers. My mantra is always: Give them all you got. Leave them wanting more.

R.A.S. CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context.

I very much like sweets, particularly chocolate. I do believe sweets can enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere because eroticism and romance are all about stimulating the senses or pleasuring the brain. Chocolate has some fine chemicals when it comes to being able to do that.

If you had a choice, and an obscene budget, where would you take your most romantic/erotic vacation and why?

I'd take my vacation in Ghana because, in 2001, Ghana's parliament passed the Right to Abode law welcoming the African American cousins home, so a welcoming homeland.

Listening to music tends to be my creation zone. As I am listening to music, I can get ideas for art projects, performance art, or possibly an incredible fight or sex scene to write later. Some of my favorite genres are R & B, show tunes like Hamilton, Beetlejuice, The Wiz. I also like hip hop, and more specifically, love a nerdcore group called Heroes 4 Hire. Nerdcore is a segment of hip hop that references anime, cartoons, comics, and the like.

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. What climates do you believe make for the most erotic tales and why?

I honestly believe either will do for a good time. With a cold climate, the cool sensations around the bodies play a tug-of-war with the need to get warm. In a hot environment, you are already warmed-up, so becoming sensualized, may not be a far-fetched goal, or you can use erotic activities focused on cooling down while heating things up sexually.

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone's work you admire or try to emulate?

My list of beloved writers is long. I admire many. However, I don't think I'm trying to emulate some else's work so much as use it as a positive influence. For erotica that has been part of a fantasy or horror genre, I would definitely say that I was a student of Laurell Hamilton's work for a very long time, with the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series and the Meredith Gentry series. I also really enjoy the mighty Zane. Zane really gives beautiful representation to multiple groups of people of color, and I much appreciate that.

What genres (sub-genres) of writing do you feel most comfortable with? Is erotica a departure for you or right in your wheelhouse?

I feel most comfortable with science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Erotica is definitely not a departure for me, because I love writing about good sex and erotic activities in general, and I feel it just blends in with the other genres I enjoy writing, including poetry. One time, I wrote about an eight-person sex scene in haiku form. I loved that challenge!

If you write other than erotica, where can we find those tales and what inspired you to write them?

Although erotica is not a departure for me, this will be the first time that my erotica has been published.

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

First, I will daydream about a story, then I will either micro write, writing a little bit of the story at a time, or outline it. However, sometimes, I will go directly into writing the story from beginning to end. However, I usually take a break in-between.

What are your favorite things to write about and why?

I like writing about body horror because it excites me. I feel it can be a form of BDSM, who has control over a body or not.

If you were given the opportunity to time-travel, purely for the music and fashion, where would we find you, and what would you be wearing?

I'd be in the seventies with a giant fro, bell bottoms, and a halter top with a blush red flower pattern and some giant yellow, round glasses.

Have you made any significant changes in your life as a result of your decision to write?

Yes, I realized it was my purpose, plus creation in general, and I have made it my main focus of what I do with my life. This has included moving to another state.

QUINTON VEAL CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR

Do you like sweets? Do you believe they enhance a romantic/erotic atmosphere? If so tell us why they appeal to you in that context.

Yes, I do like sweets; I believe they do enhance a romance/erotic atmosphere. They have an ingredient inside chocolate that puts people in the mood when they eat it.

When I’m in the zone I’m pretty much in my own world. I like to drink coffee or tea and eat grapes, my favorite snack, and listen to my favorite music: anything by WAR, Curtis Mayfield (especially the Superfly sountrack) or a Motown playlist.

Do you have any favorite writers? Or is there anyone’s work you admire or try to emulate?

Yeah, Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes. Maya Angelou, original name Marguerite Annie Johnson, (born April 4, 1928, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.—died May 28, 2014, Winston-Salem, North Carolina), American poet, memoirist, and actress whose several volumes of autobiography explore the themes of economic, racial, and sexual oppression. Langston Hughes, in full James Mercer Langston Hughes, (born February 1, 1902?, Joplin, Missouri, U.S.—died May 22, 1967, New York, New York), an American writer who was an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance and made the African American experience the subject of his writings, which ranged from poetry and plays to novels and newspaper columns.

Do you interact on social media? If so, where can we find you?

I’m on Social media often.

My main site is: www.vjeffersandqveal.com
I’m on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quinton.veal

and twitter: https://twitter.com/brothererotik

Do you enjoy cooking? If so, what is your signature dish. If not, what put you off of “the joys of cooking”?

I like barbecuing on the grill and frying fish.

What are your favorite things to write about and why?

Poetry mainly, but since I have some writing experience, short stories. Erotic poetry is my favorite because I started with it.

What projects do you have lined up in the future and when (and/or where) can we find them?

I’m releasing my sixth book of erotic poetry in 2020, Cosmic Storm. It will be available on my site: www.vjeffersandqveal.com at Barnes & Noble and www.smashwords.com. I’m also working on producing a short SF/Fantasy film.

How did your talent as writer first manifest itself?

What were your first projects? I started writing in my mid-thirties. My first published project was Her Black Body I Treasure, a collection of my erotic poetry and artwork.

What process do you go through when deciding what to write, then getting it onto the page?

I listen to music on my headphones; if a title sounds good to me, then maybe I’ll consider using it.

If you were given the opportunity to time-travel, purely for the music and fashion, where would we find you and what would you be wearing?

I think I would go back to 70’s. I’d be wearing an Afro and a Dashiki. I'd have a pick, with a fist, stuck in my Afro.

Avenir

penelope flynn

The Blerdrotica Anthology

Featuring works by:

Cranston Burney

Andra Dill

Penelope Flynn

James Goodridge

William Hayashi

Valjeanne Jeffers

R.A.S.

Quinton Veal