Tawny Taylor Interview!

I’d like to congratulate you on your newest release, The Dark Master. Can you tell us a little about this book?

Thanks so much for the congratulations!

Dark Master is the story of a trust fund baby who loses everything and finds herself unwillingly wed to a domineering vampire king. She wants a divorce so she can get on with her new life, but her seductive husband is determined to convince her to stay with him. And he’s going to use every weapon in his arsenal, the devious vamp. The story is heavy on sex, with elements of BDSM, but it’s also a romance.

For those that are new to your books…How long have you been writing and what was your first published book?

I’ve been writing with an eye toward publication since 2001. My first book, a contemporary romance, was published in 2002 by a small press (Raphaela’s Gift, Echelon Press). That book is out of print now.

Do you plot out your stories first or do you let the characters lead you?

I’m a hybrid plotter-pantser. I write a synopsis to give me some idea of the overall story structure, but I often discover exciting things as I write and will let the characters lead me, as long as I’m able to reach the HEA at the end. The only drawback–because of the surprise twists and turns my characters take me through, I usually have some pretty hefty revisions to make after I’ve completed the first draft of a story.

Of all your published books, do you have a favorite? If so, which one and why?

Honestly, no. Every single story I write is my favorite at the time I’m working on it. They are all special to me. The characters. Their journeys.

Of all your published books, do you have a least favorite? If so, which one and why?

Again, no. I love all my stories. I love the journey each story takes me on as I write it. And I love the characters. You know what? I’m beginning to see a pattern here—I can’t pick favorites or least favorites, LOL.

What are you currently working on?

At the moment, I’m working on a gay novella for Changeling Press. It’s the first book in a new series called Savage Garden. The book’s title is Flesh to Flesh and it’s very dark. Extremely erotic.

In a nutshell, it’s the story of a man who is cursed for making a bad decision that causes a woman’s death. Because of the curse, he must remain in a garden owned by a mage, magically imprisoned inside a stone statue, and totally isolated for three hundred sixty-two days a year. His body is like stone. He sees no light, hears no sound, etc. Yet his mind is alert and that terrible day plays over and over in his head throughout his imprisonment.

In summary, it’s the story of how such a terrible punishment impacts the people in his life, and, most importantly, how it leads to his redemption.

When you’re not writing, what genre do you enjoy reading and who are some of your favorite authors?

I read a lot of different kinds of books. I love action/adventure thriller types of stories (James Rollins rocks!), true crime, romance (contemporary and paranormal) and erotic romance/erotica.

I can’t begin to name all my favorite authors (besides Rollins)…in romance, there’s JR. Ward, Lora Leigh, Eden Bradley, Sasha White, Katie MacAlister, MaryJanice Davidson, Gena Showalter, Angela Knight…

Describe a day in the life of Tawny Taylor.

I wake up to my kids’ Sponge Bob alarm clock, chase them out of bed, get them ready for school, get the three year old breakfast and set him up with some toys and his favorite television shows. Then, I get comfy at my computer. Mornings are usually spent answering emails, promoting books on loops, hanging out on the Romance Divas (www.romancedivas.com) and blogging.

After lunch, I write until the kids come home from school. Then (if I’ve been able to get my writing done), it’s family time until bed. Homework. School projects. Dinner. Chauffeuring kids to dance classes. A couple nights a week, I try to get in a movie with the hubby or relax and enjoy my fave reality TV shows. Before bed, I read for a while. Right now, I’m devouring Gena Showalter’s The Darkest Night. Loving it!

Favorites…

Favorite Season?

This one’s easy–spring

Morning person or night owl?

Neither? I don’t like to stay up late, and I don’t function well early in the morning either. I guess that makes me a middle-of-the-day person 

Favorite movie?

Oh ack. I have to pick one? Like I said—I’m not good at picking favorites. LOL

Favorite song?

Can’t pick just one song, either. I’m a huge fan of 80’s music, though. Love Adam Ant, Prince, B52’s. Depeche Mode, U2, The Police, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Simple Minds…I could go on and on. (Cindy here: As a child of the 70’s / 80’s — I LOVE 80’s music!)

Favorite color?

To wear? Black. To look at, all colors. I love color.

Fun Questions…

If you had a shrinking device, what’s the one thing in your house you’d miniaturize first?

Um…the mess in my kids’ playroom.

If you were a superhero, what would your super power be?

Time travel. I would love to be able to go back in time (but only for a short visit) and see what it was really like in England during the reign of Elizabeth I, or the US in the late 1800’s, or…there are so many times and places I’d love to see firsthand.

If you could build your own robot, what would it do?

Keep my three year old clean, content and out of trouble 

Instead of leaves or money, what do you wish would grow on trees?

Winning lottery tickets? LOL

If you had to smell like one thing for the rest of your life, what scent would you pick?

Lilacs. When I was a kid, our back yard was surrounded by lilac bushes and in the summer the air smelled amazing.

Tawny, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me!

Thank you for having me!

To learn more about Tawny and her awesome books, check out her website!