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Joyfully Interviewed would
like to welcome Louisa Trent, author of an impressive body
of work that explores the darker realms of love and
sexuality.
October 28th is the release
date for your latest book, Bleeding Love from Loose
Id. Can you tell us a little bit about the new book?
Thank you
for asking! BLEEDING LOVE is a late 19th century
historical with a Bar Harbor, Maine setting. Here’s the
blurb:
John does
more than stargaze through the lens of his telescope -- he
voyeuristically watches Lily, his sister by marriage, his
brother's wife, the woman he’s always coveted. She's his
addiction, an obsession he tries to mask with a habit of
another kind. Until Molly, the woman he sleeps with but
swears he can never love, issues him an ultimatum.
Molly does
more than pose nude for artists -- she watches out for John,
an absinthe addict hell-bent on killing himself. He's her
touchstone, a test of her willingness to open herself up to
pain. To save John’s life, Molly will do anything. Submit to
everything. Allow all. No degradation is too much to demand.
For John’s soul, she’ll face a sexual crucible. For John’s
heart, she’ll explore the dark depths of BLEEDING LOVE.
How did you feel about
writing a sequel for Tainted Love?
Relieved.
I wrote
TAINTED LOVE for Ellora’s Cave about 7 years ago and then
revised the book for Loose Id. When LI subsequently asked me
to revisit characters for a Christmas-themed short story, I
chose John Donovan, the hero’s brother in TAINTED LOVE. But
I left John’s HEA hanging in A CHRISTMAS COMING. So, I
featured him again in another holiday themed story, THREE ON
THE FOURTH…and left him hanging again. I know, I know, shame
on me! After receiving -- ahem -- nudging reader emails, I
wrote BLEEDING LOVE to give John his HEA -- after putting
him through hell. What can I say? Putting characters through
hell is a special gift of mine. I plan to torture -- I mean
feature -- the third and youngest Donovan brother, Theo,
next.
What was the hardest part
about writing your new book?
Staying
within the timeline and character arc delineated in TAINTED
LOVE. Fortunately, my editor, Crystal, is both patient and
detail-oriented.
How will you promote this
book?
Does this
interview count? And, by the way, thank you again for having
me!
For
BLEEDING LOVE, I’ll do the same promo as always: just about
nothing. Fortunately, Loose Id is very understanding of my
quirks. Life is short and so I only do what interests me.
Promo doesn’t interest me. If asked, I will do
an interview -- if I like
the format and the questions aren’t personal. But I don’t
seek out opportunities. Boundaries are good. And above all
else, I value my privacy.
I noticed
that both books have the same titles as two popular songs.
How did you come up with the title?
I liked
both songs, they coincidently worked with the books’ themes,
and I was trying for continuity in what has inadvertently
turned out to be a series through absolutely no advance
planning on my part.
Is there a message in your
novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes. But I
prefer readers to draw their own conclusions.
Do your stories have their
own soundtrack?
TAINTED
LOVE and BLEEDING LOVE do. The rest, no.
When did you first decide
that you wanted to write erotic romance with a BDSM focus?
I never
consciously made that decision. There are guidelines to
consider, naturally, which I always balk at, then rail
against, and ultimately try my hardest to resist. (See above
reference to “my quirks”.) I was told years and years ago,
and by more than one NY editor, that I have an erotic voice
and I don’t write romances. No argument. I write hybrids:
erotic love stories with both mainstream and romantic
elements. Looking for a hero and heroine in the most narrow
sense? Steer clear of my books. They are not formula driven.
Fitting in is something neither I, nor my books, do very
well.
Who is the target audience
for your books?
I have
none. No target group. No brand. No author identity. I just
tell a story. A DIFFERENT story every time I write, peopled
with DIFFERENT kinds of characters every time I write, all
of them imperfect, even non-heroic, every time I write. The
books garner wildly divergent opinions from readers and
reviewers. All the stories, however, elicit strong emotions.
I don’t write middle-of-the road, safe books. I take risks.
Some of the stories are dark. Edgy. They have unpretty
scenes. I hit hard with my stories. No apologies. And no
whining over my battle scars.
What was the publishers'
reaction when you first started submitting your books?
Well,
Ellora’s Cave published my earlier ones so I assume they
liked them well enough.
How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve
written 19 books. No favorites.
Have you written any books
that are strictly M/M or F/F? If not, why?
THE PICKUP
LINE portrays a (pseudo) cross-dressing heroine’s
heartbreaking passion for a gay man. I wrote the book over 5
years ago and that het love story is as close as I’ve come
to writing a gay romance. I’ve never written a strictly M/M
or F/F book. Nor have I ever written a were or a vamp story.
You will not find me jumping on any bandwagons. Far too
crowded for my tastes. (shudder) As soon as the latest trend
in anything appears, my resistant personality takes me
running in the opposite direction. (See above reference to:
“Fitting in is not something I do very well.”)
Where do you get your
information or ideas for your books?
This is
where I always bring up my warped psyche -- as good an
answer as any.
What is most important to
you when it comes down to character development?
Moral
ambiguity/ambivalence/complexity. Redemption. Meaningful and
gritty eroticism.
Which genre do you prefer:
Historical, Contemporary, or Futuristic settings?
I find
contemporary romances easiest to write. Naturally, I resist
writing them for that very same reason.
How important is HEA to
you?
HEA is the
only mandatory romance obligation I happily uphold. I don’t
want to pay for my tears, and I don’t want my readers to pay
for their tears either.
What book(s) most
influenced your life?
WUTHERING
HEIGHTS.
What are your favorite
things to do when you're not writing?
Gardening.
Travel. Went to Ireland this past summer. We take an annual
pilgrimage to the Berkshires every year for Shakespeare And
Company. We also attend Jabob’s Pillow for dance while we’re
there. Trey McIntrye Project is my favorite dance company.
Movies and theatre throughout the year. Duffy in concert is
on the docket for this coming weekend. Hiking. We go on LOTS
of nature walks. And I’m always touring historical homes.
I’d like to start biking again. I miss it. And quilting. I
miss that too. I also miss streaking naked across the field
at football games. (Just seeing if you were paying
attention.)
What would you put in a
Louisa Trent time capsule?
Nothing. I
would not choose to participate. (See? What I tell ya?
Resistant all the way. That’s me.)
Who would you choose to
play you in a movie about your life?
Okay. This
one, even *I* can’t resist. Hugh Laurie. That’s right, Dr.
Gregory House of TV’s HOUSE fame. He’d need to shave of
course…
Are there any new authors
that have sparked your interest and why?
I support
ALL the many talented writers at Loose Id, new and old
alike. My books wouldn’t be there if I didn’t fully endorse
the publisher. The cross-genre concept is a good match for
me, as is the high sensuality level. Here’s a link to the
new authors:
http://www.loose-id.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=337
Read the blurbs and the excerpts. That’s what I do.
What are some of the best
tools available today for writers, especially those just
starting out?
Tools, eh?
Here goes. Hold self-discipline in one hand, a “Jesus, take
the wheel” philosophy in the other. A strong ego is a
must-have tool. Independent wealth and a large inheritance
are two more. Put those on your wish list. A paying day job
is the best tool of all. Keep that one in your pocket. Never
lose it. The portrayal of a “starving artist” is a cliché
for a reason.
Now for the
use of your tools: Respect the process of writing. Strive
for excellence. Work at originality. Ignore the atmosphere
of cynicism and create a masterpiece that some reader
somewhere will love. Never forget, words are your power
tools. Keep them charged!
Where can readers find you
and your work?
Primarily,
at Loose Id. I also have two books at Samhain.
Is there anything you'd
like to say or share with your readers before you go?
I’d like to
thank my readers for following me through the years. It’s
been a bumpy road. I commend you for your patience and
fortitude. You can reach me through my email at
www.louisatrent.com
Joyfully Interviewed would
like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
The
pleasure was all mine. I’ve enjoyed your thought-provoking
questions. |
