In the Hot Seat Over the Holidays





While out and about recently, a shopper approached me carrying two blouses. One was a stunning leopard-print, the other a plainer, tailored style in petal pink. My first impression was that she was going to ask me which suited her better. Instead, she started chatting with me about various topics--including the shopping frenzy over the holidays. Eventually she mentioned the next place on her must-visit list—her favorite brick-and-mortar bookstore. She enjoys reading romance fiction and named several of her favorite authors. At this point I mentioned I write romance fiction—including erotic romances and erotica. We were standing in an area of the store where no one else browsed at the time, and she hung the blouses at the front of a nearby rack. After giving me an abbreviated history of her liberal days during the 1960s and 1970s, she posed a question: “Do you authors actually practice what you put in those books?” She glanced past me, then around the immediate vicinity. “Do you all personally research what the characters do?”

After a brief pause, I responded – “As with the stories I write, I’ll leave the answer to your imagination.” She laughed, smiled and said something to the effect her imagination worked overtime when reading sexually-explicit fiction. We chatted for a bit longer about reading romance novels, wished each other happy holidays, I gave her my business card and we parted company.

What about you? Have you ever been put on the spot? Care to share the “hot” topic and how you responded?

Season’s greetings and steamy readings,

Shawna Moore http://www.grant-moore.com
ROUGHRIDER – Ellora’s Cave
HELLE IN HEELS – Ellora’s Cave
Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/shawnamooreauthor
Helle’s Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/hellehawthorn

10 comments:

Nicole North said...

Wow that's interesting, Shawna! You gave her a great answer. I've never been in that situation yet. I would just think of it like this, do those who write murder mysteries or suspense thrillers actually kill people for practice before they write about it in their books? The same can apply to sex (regular or kinky), skydiving, flying to another planet, or any action. You don't have to experience it to write about it. LOL! Okay that's going to be my answer when someone asks me a crazy question like that. ;-)

Elen Grey said...

No, Shawna. I haven't been put on the spot...yet! Nicole makes a good point about mystery and thriller writers. I loved your answer.

ShawnaMoore said...

Hi, Nicole!

We're definitely on the same page when it comes to answering pointed questions like the one recently asked of me :) These days, one never knows which direction a conversation will trend. Keeps life interesting, doesn't it :)

Happy Christmas, my friend!

Shawna

ShawnaMoore said...

Hi, Elen!

I'm sure you'll field those questions fine when they come your way. And we have to maintain some degree of mystery about our approach to writing and research.

Happy Christmas, my friend!

Shawna

Mia Varano said...

I agree about maintaining a degree of mystery about our writing. When my husband's co-workers find out that I write erotic romance, they just assume he's the luckiest guy on the planet because we must be researching those scenes together. LOL

ShawnaMoore said...

Hi, Mia!

We must keep those guys guessing :) That's part of the fun of being an author--making them wonder if what goes on in our mind goes on elsewhere :)

Happy holidays!

Shawna

Terry Spear/Terry Lee Wilde said...

Hmmm, I can see having to find a werewolf to do my research....are they as hot as they appear??? Hmmm-hmmm....

Terry

www.terryspear.com
Heart of the Wolf

ShawnaMoore said...

Hi, Terry!

Let us know if you find a werehunk. Love reading them as heroes :) Inquiring minds really want to know how many sexy ways they contribute to research!

Happy holidays!

Shawna

Lila Duprés said...

I've never forgotten a romance author I saw interviewed once. She said if people ask her, "How do you research your love scenes?" she replied, "Enthusiastically."

Works for me!

Lila

ShawnaMoore said...

Hi, Lila!

Love this author's answer! Very true :) We embrace our writing and our lives with passion :)

Wishing you the happiest of holidays!

Shawna