I was given the chance to chat with a very talented author this month, who took time out of her busy schedule to spend some time with us here at Joyfully Reviewed.  So, without further delay…let’s hear from

Cheryl Dragon

Was becoming a writer always a goal?
I was always telling stories and making things up. From a young age, I knew I wanted to write so I guess it was a goal without a clear intention. In my family, it wasn’t a career to consider. Not practical enough for the non-artistic group (I’m the misfit!) but I made it my second job.

Your day job is as an assistant controller.  What does that involve and do you eventually want to be able to write full time?
I’m part of a team that analyzes sales information and does the accounting for a large sales division. We have to deal with auditor invasions quarterly (at least it feels like they invade our company and torture us). We support our sales staff with info in addition to the routine closing the books. The day job isn’t very exciting.

I’d love to be able to write full time but the day job has those lovely benefits of health care and 401k match along with a regular paycheck. Someday I’d love to write full time but I’ve got a while before it’s a reality to consider. My creativity would suffer if I didn’t have some security.

Working for an international company, do you travel a lot and do you have a favorite travel location?
No, I don’t really travel much for work. My location is in the US where our corporate office is, so most of the time people travel to visit us.

For personal travel, there’s no place like Las Vegas! Anything you want to do twenty-four hours a day set in a beautiful desert landscape. I set many of my books there because I really love that area.

Tell us what makes Cheryl…Cheryl.
I’ll try almost anything in my writing (there are certain taboos that go without saying). If I have an idea I feel strongly about, I’ll write it and then find a place that’ll take a chance.

Market trends fluctuate so you never know what’ll be the next hot thing. I just write the stuff I’m drawn to. If I want to write a story about a psychic, I do. And suddenly Medium is a hit TV show and I found The Lotus Circle was looking for psychic fiction. I wrote a f/f erotic romance and sought out Loose Id who’d take the chance. I also write m/m, BDSM, as well as straight paranormal and contemporary erotic romance and erotica without romance.

I really hate to be bored and write in several genres to keep myself entertained as much as to entertain others. I love throwing in a twist or spin that readers don’t expect. In One Hot Experiment, my November EC release, the book is set in a Think Tank on the outskirts of Las Vegas near Area 51. The heroine in a genius who works there and wants revenge on the hero…her big IQ finds that the best way is revenge sex.

You belong to a writing group.  What do you consider the benefits of belonging to one?  Do you recommend a writing group for aspiring writers?
The main benefit is the support. Writing is a solitary profession and while I love being alone with my characters, it’s hard when no one in your family or group of non-writer friends gets it. A writing group gives you the platform to vent, share victories and learn as well as make writing friends who get it and give you the support when you need it. Online or in person, formal or informal-- networking and supporting with other writers is critical to my mental health.

For aspiring writers, the Romance Writers of America is a great place to start (if you write romance) because it’s organized and you don’t have to be published to be a member like many writing organizations.

What draws you to the paranormal genre?  Are there other genres that you would like to try?
I love paranormal because the options are endless. For my Lotus Circle series (I’m Okay, You’re Dead, I’m Okay, You’re A Fake, etc.) I can explore the metaphysical world of psychics, life after death, mediums, astral projection, past lives with a fun cast of characters in New Orleans and do it in a suspense plot where the clock is ticking to solve a crime.

In erotic romance the paranormal adds a twist of the unexpected. In An Extreme Haunting, my first Ellora’s Cave release, I used the ghosts haunting a castle to propel the sexual relationship between the hero and heroine faster than it normally would’ve developed. That book is classified as BDSM (and it is, you’ve been warned :) but it also has very strong paranormal elements.

Other genres. Well I write erotic romance that is contemporary, paranormal, BDSM, m/m, f/f and romantic suspense. I’m working on a couple futuristic ideas and some ménage stories. I also write erotica for Ellora’s Cave Exotika (the first one is due out in Feb 08). These stories don’t require romance or a happily ever after but are an intense sexual journey for the heroine.

Basically I’m open to trying most genres. The only genre I know I’m not going to dabble in (at least not any time soon) is historical. My style just doesn’t trend that way. Oh, and I’m a total chicken when it comes to really really graphic violence so you won’t see me trying anything with horror elements. Seriously, I’m hiding my eyes at the previews for Hostel and Saw.

How do your stories develop, slowly or all at once?
For shorter stories, I frequently get the idea all at once and I have to make notes so I don’t forget where I’m going with it. When it’s a longer book, I’ll have the main idea with the core plot laid out but subplots and secondary characters weave their way in as I go.

Usually when I have an idea, it’s fairly fast and demanding. I keep notes on ideas so I don’t loose anything but also can keep working on my current WIP. If only I could write full time!!

Do you believe in happily ever after and have you found yours?
Life will always bring on new challenges. Happily ever after as far as finding the partner that’ll help you get through life is something I think all romance writers believe in. When we close the book on our characters, we have to believe they’ll be together and happy.

As for me, not yet.  I’m still looking…Might help if I got out of the home office once in a whileJ

Tell us some of your favorites…foods, hobbies, movies, music, books, authors, holidays, color, and any others.
Favorites…

Food: Mexican and Chinese are always on the top of my list!

Hobbies: I’m a TV and movie addict! The TV is always on in my house for background noise if nothing else. Current favs are Ugly Betty and Nip/Tuck. 

Movies: Too many to count…from Sense & Sensibility to Ocean’s 11. My latest odd find is Bride and Prejudice the Indian version of Pride and Prejudice with an American Darcy.

Music: Pop and Rock generally. A little alternative. I don’t follow music so much as hear a song I like and buy it on iTunes so I have it.

Books & Authors: There isn’t enough time or room. I read a variety but never seem to have enough time to read so I’m way behind on the current stuff.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
My best advice is to find out what you write well. We writers spend a lot of time trying to find out what we’re doing wrong but you need to know what you do well if you’re going to get anywhere.

Be careful, it’s not always what you love to read. I love reading regencies but I suck at writing that very proper tone. So I don’t write them because that’s not my strength. Knowing what you’re good at is critical.

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you?
I love hearing from readers! My website is www.cheryldragon.com and you can email through the contact feature. There you can also sign up for my mailing list (I just announce new releases and appearances…one email a month at most).

And you can always email me directly at cheryldragon@hotmail.com.

How do you promote your work?
There are several ways I try to promote my work.

~Every month Ellora’s Cave has a chat at writerspace and I attend those regularly, post blurbs and giveaway a free download for every new release.

~I put up book cover ads at a variety of review and promotion sites so the newest releases are easy for the readers to find.

~I do chats on loops when I can fit them in, usually as a part of a larger chat about a genre but occasionally I’ll take a whole chat for myself.

~I belong to many loops for review sites where I post excerpts/blurbs and announce releases (I just have to remember and check the calendar and rules so I don’t post something on the wrong day!)

~I have a website www.cheryldragon.com that has the latest info on both my Erotic Romance releases (from Ellora’s Cave or Loose Id) and my Psychic Suspense series for The Lotus Circle in separate sections.

~I send out promo items like bookmarks and pens to writing conferences and review sites for distribution to readers.

~I attend writing conferences as much as possible and do my best to be out there and available. My next conference is Romantic Times Convention in April 2008 in Pittsburgh.

~Find me at the Saturday book fair signing I’m Okay, You’re Dead.

~Also I’ll be signing cover flaps for my erotic romances at the eBook fair Wednesday. Find me with the other EC authors.

~You can catch me at Club RT Friday afternoon around 2pm giving away promo stuff and chatting with readers and anyone else who wants to stop by. I’ll be giving away a gift bag at club RT.

~I’m on two panels at the RT convention. Psychic Cravings Thursday morning and The Lotus Circle Thursday afternoon.

~And of course I’ll be at the EC party Wednesday night!

What would a perfect day for you involve?
I’m a morning person so I do my best writing then. A perfect day would be a nice quiet morning at home with good movies on the TV and a great story coming out of my brain and into the computer. Then I’d go out to dinner with friends at my favorite Mexican restaurant.

What is your greatest strength and what do you consider your weaknesses to be?
My greatest strength? I’d say determination. I was writing for more than a few years before I sold. It took me a while to find the best genres for me. I never gave up and I found where I fit and what worked for me. I’m still determined to make that next sale and to write that next book.

My weakness. I’m so impatient! Mostly it’s with myself to get the next project done. I’m always working up ideas for the next books so I can keep going. But I anxiously await the next cover, the next release date, and the next review.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Thanks so much for opportunity to share!!  I invite everyone to visit my website for info on all my books. There’s a variety so something will catch your eye!

And with the New Year coming, I’m encouraging readers to resolve to try something new and different! December is my alterative month. I have two releases out with Loose Id that might shock and surprise you.

Bad Brad is a Hanukah themed m/m bdsm erotic romance for the Festival of Lights Holiday series available December 4th.  What these guys do with Hanukah candles definitely puts them on the naughty list!

Sorority Girl Pledge Time is a f/f erotic romance available December 25th about the pressures of pledging a sorority and the pleasures of college experimentation at its hottest!

If erotic romance isn’t your thing, remember my psychic suspense series is basically PG13. I’m Okay, You’re Dead is available in print. See how wacky and dangerous the life of a psychic detective can be in the wild world of New Orleans!