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Susan D. Taylor
Thank you DiDi and Guilty Pleasures for hosting me and your question about the inspiration for Secret Desire.
Everyone has secret desires and mine concerned writing. Not so outlandish except that my writing delved into stories that weren’t exactly what I was accustomed to sharing. Out loud or online. No one knew I wrote let alone stories involving hot sex.
These manuscripts at first were the typical romance stories involving a heroine and hero, conflict, and a happy ending. Somewhere along this journey, my writing began to evolve incorporating more and more tension and conflict. Typical learning curve for a writer. However, with romance the deepening of a relationship, portrayal of various emotions, and the connection between two people in love (for me) became an expression of seduction and the physical components of S-E-X.
That was all well and good, except I began winning a few query contests for stories and had to begin thinking about the aspect of sharing my writing. As a parent and past educator, it was difficult. That’s just me, I know. Truly, I existed in a closet as much as Claire Robertson, the heroine in Secret Desire. This angst inspired Secret Desire to take form. The story was born and written in a weekend. The original manuscript consisted of three installments. I accepted a contract for publication back in September. Opps.
Again, the value of writing and sharing an erotic story hit home and fantasy began to inform reality in my life. Funny, the first version of Secret Desire was a contemporary romance with the theme of an erotic story getting loose. My editor at Etopia Press, Nancy Cassidy prompted me into writing hotter scenes within the story of Claire and Dustin. (I felt like it was the scene from SNL with Christopher Walken asking for more cowbell! http://youtu.be/fZOHY7Z5eaQ) I went from one tepid scene into several scorchers. I think what makes it different is that I was torn as to whether I should use a pen name or not. I didn’t but I did lay down more cowbell aka sexy scenes. I was freed in my writing. Thanks to Nancy and friends who said it was totally okay. Truly, I was torn. I laugh now.
Secret Desire is a type of writing known as metafiction which uses a story within a story to illustrate a concept or central theme. I explored the post Fifty Shades of Grey explosion of erotic romance around me and in me.
It was so much fun to write and think about given the elasticity of the theme and premise, and then to shape it into something that became its own little cubby. A story. Yep, I’m over-the-moon that Secret Desire was my debut novel. Fictional yet the undercurrent was so real.
Again, thank you DiDi and if any readers have questions or want information about the steps toward publication, catch me here or back at my website. If you’ve got a crazy idea—one that won’t let you be—you might just have your next story. Happy writing and reading trails.
Blurb:
The problem with twins is that they look so much alike…
By day, Claire Robertson is a staff writer for a small publication in Seattle. But when the lights go down, she writes sizzling and oh-so-naughty erotica. She keeps these stories safely tucked away, hiding her secret fantasies of her hero, Dustin Murray. The man who stole her heart six years ago. And then jumped into bed with her twin sister.
Dustin never forgot Claire, or her twin sister’s lies that tricked him into sleeping with her. Nor has he forgotten that her sister’s threats have kept him silent for six years and cost him the woman he loved. Now that Claire’s returned home, Dustin isn’t about to lose her again. But it’ll be another thing to convince Claire he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to win her back.
When Claire accidentally sends the wrong story to her editor, things really heat up. With hot the new black in publishing, her editor thinks he’s struck gold and queues the story for publication. The last thing Claire needs is for everyone to learn that she’s got secrets of her own.
For more interviews and chances to win the Grand Prize $20 gift card, stop by all the tour stops. Contest ends at 11:59 PM on 3/19/12.
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16 comments
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Katharina
March 19, 2013 at 7:49 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The story sounds really interesting. I´m going to put it on my to-read-list. Thank you Susan for writing the book.
Heather
March 19, 2013 at 12:45 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Secret Desire sounds good. The cover is sexy.
Jess1
March 19, 2013 at 12:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Clare’s twin sister sounds like someone who is trouble with a capital T.
laura
March 19, 2013 at 1:22 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Sounds like a great book. Love the excerpt. Adding it to mybuy list.
lauratroxelatyahoodotcom
Timitra
March 19, 2013 at 3:25 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This book sounds good!
Jennifer Grimm
March 19, 2013 at 3:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Very hot and steamy cover!
Marlene Breakfield
March 19, 2013 at 3:39 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This sounds like a good read. I enjoyed the excerpt.
BrooklynShoeBabe
March 19, 2013 at 4:14 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I like the sound of this book. I have to giggle a little bit because about 30 years ago, I had a middle school English Teacher whose name was Susan Taylor and I wonder if it was you.
laura
March 19, 2013 at 6:39 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Sounds great! Loved hearing the story behind it
Lori Meehan
March 19, 2013 at 7:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I think this book sounds really good. I’ve got o read it.
Great trailer.
Veronica De Luna
March 19, 2013 at 7:42 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Wow! Sounds like a great book! Definitely have to put this on my to-read list.
Natasha
March 19, 2013 at 8:43 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Sounds like a really good read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Jen
March 19, 2013 at 9:04 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Sounds delightful, can’t wait to read it.
Trix
March 19, 2013 at 10:08 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Love the premise, sounds fun!
Susan Taylor
March 19, 2013 at 10:10 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Didi, Thank you so much for everything. This was really fun. And it’s funny. I was a middle school teacher, not 30 years ago, more like 15 in physical science. Those were some of my favorite times. Again, I appreciate you all for stopping by. Happy reading and take it easy!
Vickie Milizia
March 19, 2013 at 10:23 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Looks like a great book! Thanks for all your hard work!