Darrell King is responsible for the covers of many of our favorite books.  From erotic romance to financial information the work of Mr. King is diverse and compelling.  Just look at the covers of Jaid Black, Cheyenne McCray and Sherri L. King (I think she has an in with the artist).  Many of today’s most established authors as well as some of the hottest new authors are clamoring for a cover by Darrell King.  The cover for the paperback version of Lora Leigh’s Tempting the Beast is as riveting as the book itself.  It draws the reader’s attention immediately.   The art work illustrations for the new serial Chrome and Velvet, he is co-authoring with his wife, best selling author, Sherri L. King are fascinating and attract the eye instantly.  Mr. King was kind enough to grant JERR a little time from his busy schedule to sit down with us and answer some questions.  Without further ado, Darrell King…

How about telling us a bit about yourself?

Well, my life was pretty normal for a Georgia raised city-boy , that is until I got bit by that radioactive chipmunk.  Aside from the crime fighting and obsessive nut gathering I'd consider myself pretty normal. I have a beautiful and talented wife (Sherri L. King) who shares the same interests as I <vbg> and no kids to speak of yet. Did I mention the nut gathering?

How did you start doing cover art?

As with all of my greatest accomplishments, I stumbled blindly into it. My wife had become a fan of Ellora's Cave, next thing I know I'm being volunteered to do a cover. So as with most things positive,  I owe it all to my wife  :)  

What was the first cover art that you ever did

That would be The Possession by Jaid Black

How do your wife and family respond to your stories? Do your children know what dad writes? What about your mom?

Uhhhhhhhh, kids don't know. I can picture my daughter going on a date and telling me she tried something she read in one of my books. The wife usually sees me writing, looks over my shoulder, shakes her head and goes to bed.

My mom passed away a few years ago but did read the first Strange Lust book before it was published. It made her look at my wife in a different way because I told my mom that the wife corrupted me. She read my humor stuff and liked the MEN GET PREGNANT, TOO book a lot. My sense of humor is from my mom. She was and always will be the funniest person I ever met.

How did your writing career begin? What type of stories did you start with?

In college, I wrote some stories for the college paper. Not many guys would interview the sex ed teacher in a school paper. I did.
I mostly wrote humorous books. Before the Internet I sent books out and would get the standard, "We love it but it's not for us" letters. Very discouraging. I wrote "The Honey-Do Handbook", "101 Things to do with a Diaper" and "Men Get Pregnant, Too". I did have a weekly comic strip in the local papers. That was really fun. Most of my stuff was family related. I was a dad so I wrote what I knew.
How did you make the switch to erotica? At what point did you decide this is the direction you wanted to go?

My wife. I have always been able to make her laugh. I read a book one night of short stories. I laughed and realized that most things I see, read about, think about, deal with sex. Too much testosterone I think.
So I'd sit down, think up something and just go with it. I saw a story on TV about a dildo factory in China. Then they showed how they make fake vaginas. I thought, "Wouldn't it be funny if some guy got a hard-on and got stuck in one of those things?" Thus the story "The Pill" was born.

I've just always loved women. Not just the sex thing. I love art of the female nude but not porn. I mean porn is cool for what it is; it's just not a big deal to me. I love the look, the feel, the scent, fragrances, perfumes, I admire the female form for what it is, true beauty. So why not write about it.

I think I blew this question didn't I?

When did you start writing poetry, do you write it actively or is it something you do in the moment? Do you have more than what is posted at your website and will we ever see a book of Scott Carpenters poems?

I always liked writing poems. Most are like song lyrics but the newer stuff has a little more depth to it. Most are spur of the moment. When I sat in the hospital when my Mom was passing away I wrote her poem and eulogy. Don't know why, I think it was because I
needed to remember her how she was, not how she ended up. I am actually going to try to put together something with the people that joined my newsletter. I have a dozen or so more that I have written but would like to put together something from a bunch of people. Just for fun and just because I think it would be nice to have for people to give to friends and family for free.

Tell us a little bit about your new book Men Get Pregnant Too? What made this such a special project for you?

I wrote this book for my wife when she was pregnant with our third child. My son. I had read a lot of the women's books, which are fantastic for women that need answers to the gazillion questions that they think up. I just didn't see too many things for guys. The one's I did see were informative and if they were made to be funny they didn't make me laugh. So I wrote one for my friends and me. It got involved and it just got bigger and longer and needed cartoons. So I just made a book out of it. It's my wife's favorite book I have written.

Do you think if dads really got pregnant that the population of the earth would continue?

Nope. We like the "MATING" part of babies. Seeing what women go through and imagining something that size popping out of that orifice. NO WAY.

Most men shy away from the romantic aspect of sex and erotica. Usually preferring the impersonal over the emotional stories. You have chosen to embrace it by writing stories that not only capture the romantic side but stir feelings in the reader. One of my favorite scenes from Learning to Live Again in the Twisted Destiny anthology is told from the point of view of a woman. It’s a very sexually charged scene. I have to say I was amazed at the feelings you were able to stir in me, not just arousal but emotional teary eyed sentimental feelings throughout that entire story. Then knowing this was written by a man made it all the better.What place do you go to inside yourself to write this? What do you think the inspiration for this is? Where does it come from and how do you seem to be so in touch with our feelings?

Well, I am flattered and a little unsure what to say. All I know is that my respect and admiration for women help me understand some things. I know anatomy and pride myself on being respectful to women. I try to put myself in the mind of someone that is feeling the emotional and physical aspects of romance/sex. If done right, it is beautiful. If done wrong, it becomes porn. I don't cross the line to make the scenes cheap. An aggressive woman wanting a man for just sex isn't a bad thing. It is empowering. But if I make her act like a slut, it becomes cheap and meaningless.

Do you consider yourself a romantic person? Have you done that thing from Slippery When Wet with the wine?? Do you do what you write? Do you "research" what you write?

I am a hopeless romantic. Without romance, flirting, relationships between men and women get boring. Wine, ummmmmmm, I'll take the 5th on that question. Research is the fun part. I have given my wife a lot of physical exams and made sure everything was in perfect working order. If I ever whipped out a rubber chicken she'd probably kick me in the nuts though.

What would be your idea of a romantic treat for you and your wife to share?

With three kids, work, stress, cheerleading, soccer, karate, baseball, softball, my idea of a romantic treat is going to bed after some lovemaking, sleeping in, waking up to more lovemaking and room service at a nice hotel. I work too much and she works and is a cab service to the kids. We need to get away.

Are you the guy in "The Pill?"

LOL! Could you imagine getting in that situation? That was fun to write but I don't need viagra . . .yet.

When did you start doing covers for books? What was the first one?

When I submitted the first STRANGE LUST book. I asked to do my own. They said fine. I would totally redo it now because I was worried when I first started. Wanted to look like other covers.

Your covers are becoming just as important to the book as the text itself and you seem to really be able to capture the feel of the book can you tell us some of the process for their creation?

I talk to the author. Simple. I ask what they see. Ask what the book is like. Lora Leigh gives me almost total freedom. She tells me what her book is about. What she envisions and lets me go. Surrender was totally different than what she wanted. I thought it was beautiful. She trusted me and that is one of her most complimented covers.

I can't help but notice much of what you write has a reference to a rubber chicken in it somewhere. How did this fascination begin and will you continue to do this? Where is said chicken right now?? I had heard he was kidnapped.

Ahhh, trying to get the secret out huh? It is more then a reference dear. It is a source of great power, it is a muse for me, and it has a mystic power to give pleasure to women. I actually can't talk about it. The powers that give me strength will be angered. Sorry.

Does Scott Carpenter have an alter ego? I have been lurking on the Lora Leigh forum and have heard rumors about him. As self proclaimed “Cover Bitch” to Lora Leigh you are a lurker and sometimes poster to her forum, I believe this is where we first heard of him. I couldn’t help but notice a bit of tension between you and some of the ladies of Ms. Leigh’s Royal Court.

You must mean the DARK LORD of LUST. He's pretty scary sometimes. I can't summon him, he just takes over my mind and body. The Ladies of the Royal Court got him riled up and he cursed them with a late night visit. Taking control of their minds during a fantasy.

A few months ago you were involved in a grizzly torture incident of Lora’s husband who was being retaliated against for his teasing of some of the Ladies of the Court. It is our understanding that they have now turned their wrath on you as it is believed that you aided the Royal Consort. Can you comment on this?

You have paid attention. Actually the Royal Consort was being tortured and I saved him. Then I got a little headstrong and vowed revenge for my friend the Royal Consort. Well before I could unleash my vengeance the Ladies retaliated and tried to violate me and stole my rubber chicken and did awful things so horrifying I can't repeat it.

Is it true that you have begun a sort of retaliation of your own on the ladies of the court and has the chicken in fact been kidnapped? What of the rumors of the Staff of Power presumed missing?

The DARK LORD took over my body and mind because I was powerless without my rubber chicken. When he first was summoned the Ladies stole the Staff of Power and threw the rubber chicken back. So after a time he hit them where it hurts. He cursed their dreams and invaded their minds with pleasurable thoughts.I just hope they don't try to use it as a vibrator because the power of the Staff can be quite overwhelming and cause excessive orgasms and blank spots in memory from the intense pleasure it harnesses.

Give us some information on what projects you are currently working on. What is planned for the near and distant future?

I just finished the first draft of "THE MATING PLACE" with Sahara Kelly. It will be an ongoing series we have started. Very hot and fun to do because it was written as a man and woman and we got to play the characters. I always wanted to be a big, strong, handsome, stud with a very big coc . . . . . nevermind.

I also am working on a book called "TOYS 4 US". It's about a woman that organizes pleasure parties. I was told it is one of the most intense things I have written.

" BETTY AND THE BEAST" is my take on the Beauty and the Beast story. I got to have some real fun here. Must be the bestiality buried within me. We're all BEASTS at heart.

Do you really listen to Tool? What other types of music do you listen too?

I love TOOL. It's my anger management music, LOL. I listen to all types of music. EVANESCENCE is my favorite CD right now. It is excellent. When writing I usually stick with R&B like Toni Braxton, Sade, or some jazz. I can't write a romantic scene while listening to AC/DC. But my heart is that of a rocker. Always like a good upbeat jam, TOOL, some Metallica, Rage, Linkin Park and old school rock. QUEEN was my favorite for a long time.

Is there any chance of seeing a picture of the real Scott? No Jokes!!

Sure. I am a humble guy but I might reveal myself. For a price.

And the price???

The real me. Hmmm, not into pictures. Unless a lovely woman wants to send me boudoir photos. Always an admirer of beauty. For my real picture go to www.hotstud.com. I'm the guy with a thong on backwards.

(I tried ladies)

Boxers or Briefs?

Briefs, Hanes

What is your favorite food?

Chinese.

What is your favorite drink?

Beverage, Dr Pepper. Alcohol, Rum and Coke

What sound or noise do you love?

A woman moaning from pleasure. Mmmmmm, love it.

What sound or noise do you hate?

Hmmm, hate . . . Styrofoam cups rubbing your teeth. A wet, sticky fart is bad too.

What is your favorite cuss word?

Now this is a favorite because of its reaction. CUNT. I don't say it much. But you can say a lot of things to get someone mad. Calling a woman a BITCH gets her angry. Call her a CUNT, and you'll be lucky to live through the night.

If heaven exists and God meets you at the gate what is the first thing he will say to you?

So, you're the one that has my rubber chicken.

A final thought, a snippet of one of his poems…..

All I have, is what I feel in my heart
It aches with sadness, every time we must part
It is wrong to show my weakness, feeling naked and bare
But the purest form of love, is beautiful as it is rare
For inside this man, burns an eternal fire
Unbridled and freed, by the wings of desire

© S.L. Carpenter 2000

If you would like to learn more about Scott or read some of his books here are some links to help you get started…..

MEN GET PREGNANT, TOO
Just released at http://www.creekpress.com/

SLIPPERY WHEN WET, TWISTED DESTINY, STRANGE LUST 1, STRANGELUST 2 From Ellora's Cave http://www.ellorascave.com/

Visit Scott at his website http://www.slcarpenter.net/

Join Scotts newsletter
SLCarpenter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

© Amber Taylor - July 6, 2003 Issue of the Just Erotic Romance Review Newsletter

Back to Interviews 2003




© Just Erotic Romance Reviews/JERR except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
If you have problems with this site please contact the webmaster.