Please welcome Adriana Kraft to the blog, author of LGBT Erotic Romance.  Thank you for agreeing to answer my nosy questions and share them with everyone visiting today.

Q: To begin, please share which genre(s) you write in…

A: Erotic Romance - usually with bisexual heroines, often with ménage, polyamory, f/f, f/f/m, m/m, in addition to m/f. Characters that make you care about them, lots of hot steamy sex, and happy endings!

Q: How long did you write before you received your first contract for publication?

A: My husband and I write together under the pen name Adriana Kraft. We’d been writing (and revising and editing and going to workshops and pitching to publishing houses and agents) for about five years before we received our first contract.

Q: Out of all the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite?

A: Oh my! I’ve fallen in love with so many of our characters and their stories, it’s hard to choose! Colors of the Night (Extasy) is close to the top. The Love Goddess Aria - who we thought was our invention, but now I’m not so sure - rescues a contemporary couple from the brink of divorce by teaching them the ancient secrets of sacred sex. I’d love a coach like that in my life! I think the other one is Writing Skin (also at Extasy). Our bisexual heroine Luci is romanced by a married couple. I was amazed at the themes and tensions that emerged in that three way relationship, very complex and very tender.

Q: What’s the strangest source of inspiration you’ve found for a story?

A: Anything can spark a story. A few years ago our son was in the hospital unexpectedly for several weeks in a southwestern state so we took turns being there with him and were inspired to set a story there (he’s fine now btw). We’ve both had some Shamanic training, so sometimes the paranormal seeps into a story through those practices. Once on a road trip we saw a trucker drop a woman off at a rest area and watched her walk to a parked car and take off - believe me, we had several scenarios developing instantly, and have turned one of them into a finished manuscript.

Q: If you could offer one tidbit of information for new writers, what would it be?

A: The most important one: If this is what you truly want to do, never give up. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Devote yourself to it - learn the craft, hone your skill, send your work out for feedback, keep writing and revising and editing and submitting. Some of the world’s greatest authors went years before anything they wrote was accepted. The writing journey is not a lark for your amusement - it’s very hard work, but your dream is worth it.

Q: Name one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you.

A: We’ve been to the Kentucky Derby twice and the Belmont once - and we used to own race horses (though not at that level lol!!)

Q: What’s your favorite dirty word?

A: Different for each of us! Hubby says “son of a bitch” more than anything. I’m more likely to cop to the “F” word. Oh, did you mean as in talking dirty? We put those words in all our books, we invite you to find them there!

Q: Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

A: Funny you should ask - three years ago we wrote a heroine (The Merry Widow, at WCPT, another favorite) who gets her first tattoo at midlife to celebrate her new awakening. Not long after we finished the book it dawned on me that we wrote what I wanted - so that year for Mother’s Day I got a butterfly tattoo. Not gonna say where! No piercings, though, except my ears. Hubby wants to add he has neither tattoos nor piercings and no plans for any.

Q: If you could be intimate with three people (not necessarily all at one time *g*) without getting in trouble with your significant other, who would they be?

A: Hmm, we’re talking fantasies, right? And since there are two of us, we’ll leave it to readers to guess who’s with whom in how many combinations. Here are three names the two of us agree on: Drew Barrymore, Johnny Depp, and Halle Berry.

Q: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend the money on?

A: Quitting the day job and devoting full time to our writing! We’d probably get a larger motorhome and travel full time for a while - travelling has inspired a lot of our stories.

Q: What’s your favorite comfort food?

A: His: dark chocolate. Mine: a steaming latte.

Q: If you don’t mind sharing, would you tell us about your latest work in progress?

A: We thought our Swinging Games series at Extasy was finished with book five, The Adventure Continues - but it turns out our midlife hero and heroine Jennifer and Brett Andrews have much more in store for us, including some hot m/m action. We just subbed book six, Who’s the Coach, and have completed a draft of book seven. The swing lifestyle is so rich with story themes there’s no telling how many more to come!

Q: In closing, tell us a bit about your latest release (& share a yummy excerpt for those who aren’t yet familiar with your work)

A: Actually we’ll share a forthcoming release. Book five in our Meghan’s Playhouse series will be released at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid on August 15:

BLURB Meghan’s Playhouse: Meg’s Folly

When Meghan Keenan’s old flame Josh Hendricks unexpectedly shows up at the Summer Shakespeare Festival where she has a leading role, Meg has a brilliant inspiration: he’ll be perfect for Camila, the hot Latina who currently shares Meg’s bed. If Meg’s scheme works, she can continue to enjoy sexy escapades with both of them.

Josh has a different idea. He’s come to the Festival with one goal in mind: to marry Meg. Will Camila buy into the plan and help him spark Meg’s jealousy? Can Josh escape this tempting triangle unscathed? And if he does, can he claim his would-be bride before she flees in panic?

The first four books are available in e-book and print - here are covers of the print releases, each containing two stories:

  

Here’s an excerpt:

Refreshed, Josh stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel.

“Who the hell are you?”

The high pitched screech froze him in place. He was staring at a buxom brown-skinned vision. The towel wrapped around her midsection failed to conceal dark aureolas. His mouth watered. Towel! “Christ,” he groaned, glancing down at his hardening cock and grabbing a nearby towel.

By the time he had the towel secured the intruder had found her bearings. She was smiling with a mixture of curiosity and challenge.

“I’m Josh Hendricks,” he said evenly. “Sorry about that.”

Her sparkling eyes suggested she didn’t need an apology.

“I wasn’t expecting company,” he continued. “I’m Meg’s friend from New York.”

“The playwright? I’m Camila Vasquez. And I’m pleased to meet you. Meg thought you might be joining us.” Camila clasped her hands demurely at her waist. “Your play is a comedic delight. I’ve been given a small role in it-Isadora.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Josh replied, grabbing another towel to dry his hair. If she could be cool, he could be cool. “That may be a small role, but Isadora is pivotal to the outcome. I understand you’re at UCLA.”

“That’s right.”

“Great program.”

“I think it is.”

“I’ll be out of here in a minute,” he said, hoping she’d take the hint to leave.

“Take your time. I’m okay.” She chuckled. “Meg is up to her tricks again. She told me to meet her in the shower.”

Josh grimaced. “She must be running late.”

“Oh, I expect she had perfect timing.”

Q: Is there any other upcoming news you’d like to share with us?

A: I was just interviewed by Sascha Illyvich for Radio Dentata! The interview will air on The UnNAMED Romance Show Monday June 7 at 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm Eastern, and again Thursday June10 at 6:00 pm Eastern. I can’t remember half of what we covered but we had a great time talking about everything from LGBT erotic romance to equal marriage rights, activism, e-book publishers, the writing process, swingers, erotic romance research and more!

Q: And where can readers find you on the internet?

A: Website: http://www.adrianakraft.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft

Glee: http://www.glee.com/AdrianaKraft/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/adrianakraft

Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adrianakraftnewsletter/