Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Jude Mason

Interview with Jude Mason:

Hi Jude. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- What can we expect from you in the future?

April 30.07 Scorpio Tattoo will be re-released by Phaze and I'm truly excited. Mystery, paranormal, ménage, a love story, great sex, it's got a lot going for it. And, Rose did a fantastic review for it which is listed on the pages here.

May 21.07, Stage Fright will be released also through Phaze. A long time married couple explore their kinkier side when he finds the courage to ask for a spanking. She's more than willing to oblige and when that's not quite enough, they take it a step further. But, they stick together. This is very much a couple story.

July 30.07, Jesse's Homecoming comes out. A fem/fem western that's filled with passion and love, plus some revenge.

Aug. 6.07, I along with six other authors have the anthology, 413 Remembrance Lane, Diary of a House, coming out. This one is really exciting and took us nearly a year to put together. A diary links the inhabitants of this particular house, in a very unusual way. You'll find a variety of genre as well as lifestyles from historical vanilla to gay BDSM. This one really has something for everyone.

Also in Aug., I have Amber's Toy coming out—a hot little thing that's all femdom, revenge and tease.

Sept., I have a short story coming out with a new publisher I'm really thrilled to be with. loveyoudivine, reminds me more of an artists colony than a publisher and the variety of talent is amazing. They're opening up a new line called, Bedside Manor, which will be tales of the tales of doctors, patients, and all things medical. I was really happy when my story, A Matter of Patience was accepted and will hopefully be sending more to them soon.

Oct. 8.207, Cat's Claw, the joining of two books I had with a previous publisher, plus a lot more added to it. My changelings. I adore them and hope to write more of this genre and more about them. Morgan, the lovely white cougar, and her lover Joshua, the black brute who helps her discover and free her beast within.

Dec. 31.07, Phaze Fantasies VI, a BDSM anthology that I talked myself into. I've got a lovely gay character who's been after me for months. I finally found his story and he, and his lover, will have their lives laid bare. The tentative title for that is 'Sam, the Man'

- What do I have planned for the future?

More of the same. Story ideas come all the time, and I have a novel I just got my rights back on and want to re-write that from one end to the other before sending it out again. A pony boy story that might push the boundaries a little but it's really a love story. The couple are devoted to each other and would do anything for each other. I've also got three or four sitting on my desk top waiting, impatiently, for me to get to them.

- How do we find out about you and your books?

Chuckling, easily I hope. I have a website, http://www.my-haven2001.com which I've had for years, and update it as soon as anything new or interesting comes about. Plus I have a newsletter through yahoo groups that I send out once a month to anyone who signs up for it. The url for it is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jude_Masons_Newsletter/ . Also, if you type my name into Google, you'll bump into me all over the internet.

- How may readers contact you?

Through the newsletter group, if they want to chat with me and others who've found me. See about. Or, if they prefer, they can email me at jude_mason@my-haven2001.com I always love to hear from fans.

- How many readers/fans contact you?

I don't have numbers, but I'm always available to my readers/fans through my newsletter group. On my website I also have a guestbook and contact links on most of the pages. I adore hearing from readers/fans.

- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?

Most definitely. I love it when a fan or reader emails me and lets me know what they liked or disliked about a book. I always listen and try to use that information when I'm working on the next one.

- How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing??

The genre I fall into if left on my own is femdom, contemporary erotica. My females are always strong, the males are too, but they have a kink that needs exploring. Somehow, they always seem to find each other and then their stories get pretty interesting.

- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

This is a question I've tried to answer before. I never consciously thought about writing, I just have always created stories and/or written. It's always been part of me and hopefully always will be. I never dreamed I'd be published though, not until I came online. I remember finding websites with free stories available and thought I could do that. Heck, I could do better than that. I somehow attracted the attention of the publisher of a small e-pub house by the name of Amatory Ink. He encouraged me, which didn't take much. LOL His encouragement consisted of something like, it was all right to have that dream and to try to make it come true.

- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

Now that depends on the book. If it's a genre I enjoy writing and I've got an idea of what I want to write, it can take between three months and a year. Length of book, other commitments, family things, it all enters the picture.

- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

This also depends on the book. If it's going to be anything over about 15K, I'll do a chapter by chapter breakdown. Then, I'll write it, rough and as fast as I can. When I've got the piece done, and providing I'm not under some deadline, I'll let it sit for awhile. When I go back, I'll fill it out, add bits and clarify where it needs it. Then I'll read it through and do edits. Finally, I'll send it to a writing partner and have him tear it apart. When he's done, I'll do my re-writes and hopefully that'll be it.

- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

I'm very lucky now, there's just my husband and myself at home now, so it's been relatively easy to train him. LOL! He's learned that when I'm in that 'zone' he'd best leave me alone or I'm liable to snap at him. He still occasionally asks me silly questions while I'm working and I try not to draw blood, but he knows I'm working and don't want to be interrupted unless it's something important. Also, I write during the day, so I do try to keep my evenings, or as much of them as I can, free.

- Where do your ideas come from?

Anywhere and everywhere. I can be sitting at a stop light and I'll see someone in the car beside me or driving by and I'll create their life story. A song or picture, a dream, a piece in the news, stories really can come from anywhere at all.

- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

Sometimes they’re incredibly difficult to get right. Other times they flow with such ease it's as if the characters were simply living through my fingers. There are people who have said to me, why don't I write something serious—this romance stuff is fluff and anyone could do it? I challenge them to try it. I truly think it takes a special gift to be able to show the love scenes well.

- What kind of research do you do?

I do whatever needs doing. I don't write historicals, well other than a short story or two, but I have taken stories to places I've never been and had to research the areas. I've also explored different sexualities, and had to research them to make sure I got it right. A lot of it though, I just seem to be able to empathize, or use my own experiences somehow and morph them into whatever sexuality I'm writing.

- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?

I'm curious about writing horror, or noir. I've written a couple of shorter pieces and they were received very well, and I'd like to explore that in the future. I'm also thinking of trying mainstream, but that's just a wish right now.

- What does your husband think of your writing?

He's incredibly supportive, but I also think he figures I'm a little nuts sometimes too. LOL! He doesn't read my stuff, but when I tell him I've just signed a new contract or had a new piece accepted, he's thrilled for me.

- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

I'm a member of several authors groups: Erotica Readers and Writers Association, Authors Who Dare, Erotic Authors Association and Wicked Writers to name a few.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

I think a critique partner or group can be invaluable. I've been extremely lucky. I belong to the Erotica Readers and Writers Association and although I haven't used their critiquing group for awhile, I did for years and learned an amazing amount from the writers there. Now, I have a couple of writing partners, D. Musgrave and Jamie Hill, who shares editing/critiquing chores with me. I tear into their new stuff and one or both do mine. We work well together and have both learned a great deal from each other.

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

I'll be writing, of course, but I'd like to see more of my work in print. I have been very lucky online and been published all over, so my next hurdle is print. I can't see myself pulling out of e-publishing though, I love where I am.

- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

I've never bought one of my own books, but I have read one or two of them again. I re-wrote one when a publishing house went under, and subbed it to another publisher.

- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

At the moment, I'd have to say Scorpio Tattoo is my favorite. The story line seemed to flow and weave itself with very little effort from me. Favorite hero or heroine, that's much tougher. Each of them is special, unique and I love them all, so I'm going to whimp out of trying to answer this.

- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

The story comes first, usually. But when I get that flash of inspiration, the characters as well as the setting may very well be there too. I get the stories in whole bundles, if I'm lucky.

- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

I'm not sure there is a control question. A collaboration sounds closer to what I have with my characters. Yes, I create them, but they're pretty much 'people' right away and if I try to get them to do something that's out of character, they let me know about it. I've woken up sure I messed up, I've had them refuse to say things and sat wondering if I was insane. If I push it, the story still gets told, but it's always better, and an easier write, if I at least try things their way first.

- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?

Yes, I have, several times. Before I was seriously writing and trying to get published, it was bad enough. But, when I had deadlines and it struck, it was horrible. I was terrified I'd never be able to write again and I felt empty. Working through it was difficult, painful and I learned a lot from it. Now, if I can't work on one piece, I go to another, write short scenes, create characters, anything to keep the words flowing. I know now that no matter how difficult it is, the block won't last.

- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

All of it. The feeling of a story flashing into my mind, the straining frustration to get it written down, the editing, I love it all. Maybe when it's finished, polished and shiny for the publisher, yeah, that's pretty good. It could be when a fan comments too. That's always a huge rush.

- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

Ouch! Not writing? I picture a rubber room and me wearing one of those fancy hug-me jackets. I would be involved somehow, editing, proofing, something.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

If you have that dream to be published, work hard and learn all you can from those who have been. Join a group where you can talk to published authors and find out the steps. That was my biggest hurdle, simply finding out how to go about submitting, and what to submit to where. Fitting the book to the publisher is huge. Following the guidelines is huge. Learn the craft, read all you can and just write. Read and write.

Jude, I want to thank you again very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination! I hope we will see reviews for them here at Romance at Heart Magazine.

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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