Just Erotic Romance Reviews

Changeling Press© - Candy Hearts and Valentine's Day Suprises.

We have stepped away from our usual format in interviewing three great authors who are not only versatile, bring us sexy characters and grippingly erotic tales but also fast emerging as popular favorites with their reader base gaining a steady following, especially the ever-increasing popularity of m/m erotica by Willa Okati. Stephanie Burke remains a popular favorite amongst romantic erotic readers, her contribution to the genre first being recognized by her award winning story Lucavarious. Blayne Edwards is also fast becoming a reader favorite with her vampire and paranormal werewolf tales. Each author deserves to have her individual story told and we've decided to concentrate individually on each author rather than ask them a series of question. Their unbound humor and passion for writing shines through, in both the interview and the authors books. We hope you get an insight into their lives and what inspires them, what their influences are, what they're currently working on, and what we can expect in upcoming months from them… or rather from their keyboard. We hope you enjoy reading their story…and along with us anticipate their upcoming releases. Follow us as we step into the worlds of Stephanie Burke, Blayne Edwards and Willa Okati for a short visit…with the help of Pat Haley, otherwise known as MamaZ. Pat lends a hand for our reades to gain an insight into these wonderful authors.

Please visit Changeling Press at http://changelingpress.com/ to discover all their romantic, sexy and diverse tales of love, and take a vacation for your mind©.

Stephanie Burke:

Today I am interviewing author, Stephanie Burke about some of her experiences as a writer, what keeps her writing, and where she plans to be in the future. Welcome Stephanie.

Thank you for having me.

Let's get right to it! What happened to Stephanie Burke?

Well, for a year or two, I was pushing out a book every other week! There were anthologies and paranormal, and everything I wrote turned into a series. It was great, but after a time, it got to be overwhelming, I had to slow down. And if you add to that health problems and family, things got a little shaky there.

And how are you doing now?

Well, I am getting back on track! I have a lot of stories left to tell, so this purveyor of smut is still in business.

Can you tell me about what you have recently published?

Sure! That is an easy one! I have a few new series with Changeling Press, Shelby's Angels, and coming a soon Dark Vampire series.Wait till you see these bad boys. Keep watching Changeling Press for its release. I also publish with Loose-Id Press, Triskelion and Ellora's Cave. I've tried to branch out and try things I have never done before, like the homo-erotica content in the Shelby's Angels Series being offered by Changeling Press. I had a lot of fun writing this one. It has everything. Incredible characters, suspense, murder, mayhem and naturally, sex. All kinds of nice sex and sexes. I even had someone approach me about turning it into a TV sit-com for a contest Bravo held, but I can't write screen plays.

What is Shelby's Angels about?

Shelby's Angels is a spoof on just about everyone from Male Models, to people in the fashion industry to the hard boiled private eyes. It is based in a strip club where Seven of Shelby's Angels, eight if you include her boyfriend, Will, handle crimes that happen in the world of high-fashion. People say it's a spoof on Charlie's Angels Series, and in a way it is! But I'm having so much fun writing beautiful and not overly intelligent people bumbling their way through mysteries and show that they have intelligence, though it is uncommon. And this is in no way, shape or form reflected on all of the Male Models I know! I have to say that before I stop getting pictures for my Wall Models in my office! The intelligence of some of today's models makes me feel like I need to go back to school.

What else are you working on?

Triskelion has my book in the Peldius Series and Loose-Id my Liger

Anything else?

Yup. I am still working diligently on sequels for EC novels Lucavarious, (Omnubius), for The Slayer (The Slayer 2, Blood Redemption), Merlin's Kiss, Seascape, The Reaver of Souls (Torn keeps wracking up the awards), and quite a few new stories.

Wow that's a lot. What else are you doing now?

Well, I'll be in Baltimore for Celebrate Romance. Due to heath problems, I couldn't attend last year, but I will be there this year, wreaking havoc! I have also done a lot of Sci-fi conventions, like Balticon and Philcon. We even went to Tampa for the Necronomicon and won a costume contest! It is great! Signed autographs, sold quite a few books, and tried to come up with new ideas to push the envelope a bit more.

You seem to like controversy.

I thrive on it. There are so many things I have to say, and I do touch on them in a few of my books. I don't even realize I'm including a social commentary into them! For instance, in Shelby's Angels, not only do we touch on the way gay and lesbian people are treated in this and other countries, we get into the Third Sexed people of India, the Hijra, the way people in the erotic industry are treated. We also get into our own perceptions of our own sexuality, and the heroine who is not the body beautiful types that Hollywood praises. I like doing regular people with regular problems. I can't relate to perfection. To me, perfection is boring, that's why I could never get into Superman. But I refuse to get preachy. My writing is never preachy.

What are your plans for the future?

I'm moving to Florida, so I want to sit on a beach during spring break with all the college guys and... Oh! You mean writing! I have a new vampire for Changeling Press, a whole slew of them. They all have unusual twists, are quite dark and can be very violent. I have more cat people for Loose-Id press, A Yeep Bird, (Author Jennifer Dunn plays the bird) for Ellora's, and Triskelion is getting a few snowy treats and possibly a new series! I've also had a few nibbles from print companies, and so I'm thinking about taking the bait, so long as they afford me the freedom that E Books allows.

Why E books?

E books give us artistic freedom to let our minds wonder through terrific flights of fancy that most traditional print companies wouldn't touch. Now I notice a lot of Print companies have E book sections and developing their own line. Sounds like the big companies are now paying attention.

How do you describe yourself?

That's a tough one. I guess I'm just an average person. I have two kids I adore, a husband who loves me, and a career that I love. I love having excitement and exciting things around me. I love to see people having fun and enjoying themselves. I also love to shock people! I try to be moral, but morality is a personal thing. I try to express myself, not as a Black writer, or an Erotic author, but just as a human being who has some fascinating stories to tell.

You build wonderful words. How do you come up with your concepts?

Well, I draw inspiration from a lot of different places. I take a look at our world, decide what I like or don't like, and incorporate them into my universes. It is the same for the characters I create.

Stephanie, you have been paid to give lectures and speeches on World Building and Characterization. What can you tell us about that?

It seems people like my characters. It goes back to not being perfect. I infuse as many human qualities in them that I can. For instance, the Alpha male Lucavarious sucks his thumb when he is asleep and unconsciously vulnerable. Omnubuis has a leather fetish, and all of my Angels are obsessed with sex, like some men I know! My heroines are not simpering creatures. They will argue and get up into their hero's face to prove their point. When they are wrong, they hate to admit it. When they are right, they have to remind themselves not to gloat. They have self-doubts, like She from Liger, and often have inner dialogues that are totally different from what they are saying to their counterparts. They are like real people to me, with all the strengths and insecurities, and I enjoy them that way. I take them shopping with me sometimes. Sure, people look at you funny for talking to an imaginary warlord while buying stiletto heels or picking out the next outfit for a convention, but I'm interested in how that characterization will respond in a certain situation. I make them real and believable to me, therefore they will be real to the reader. Suspension of disbelief can make or break a story, that's why Flame, the pregnant elemental from Keeper of the Flame gets fan mail. One of the best times I ever had creating a character was with The Threshold series, Take Me with You with Shelby Morgan. We pretended to be our different characters while working on certain parts. It was like role play and it improved it tremendously. I believe in the old adage, the best way to create an Alpha is to break him. Gives different perspectives into your heroes and the environment they exist in.

Readers can visit Stephanie at http://www.simegen.com/romance/1006/index.html and write to her at flashycat2004@aol.com. She loves to hear from her readers.

Click here to read Blayne Edwards' interview

Click here to read Willa Okati's interview

I would like to thank Stephanie Burke, Blayne Edwards and Willa Okati for taking the time to visit with us here at Just Erotic Romance Reviews. I appreciate that these lovely ladies took the time from their busy schedules to contribute to our newsletter. I would also like to sincerely thank MamaZ for her contribution to the articles. She most graciously took the time from her other commitments to interview and pen these articles for our February 13 Newsletter.

The Coordinators and Reviewers at Just Erotic Romance Reviews wish to congratulate Stephanie, Blayne, and Willa on their achievements. We wish them all the best and future success in their writing endeavors.

Back to Interviews 2005