Interview with Gwen Masters

 

Hello Gwen and welcome to Manic Readers. Grab a smoothie and let the readers get to know more about Gwen Masters.

Thank you so much for having me here!

 

I was checking out your website and noticed you have quite a backlist. Your interest is vast. From books to music and collecting antiques. How did you first get starting erotica and erotic romance?

I started writing when I was a teenager, and my first erotic piece was published in college. It was on a dare – believe it or not, there was a time when I was really quite shy. –grin- It worked, I kept getting published, so I kept doing it. I always wanted to be a writer, and I wrote in all sorts of genres, but I kept coming back to erotica and erotic romance. I still do, over a decade later.

Why did you choose erotica?

You know, it wasn’t really a choice. It just happened. I’ve always been a very sensual person, and when I began writing, the stories naturally turned to the sensual. It actually took effort to remove that aspect from my writing – it took real concentration to write something else. But the erotica, it just flowed out of me. Over time I’ve found a good balance, but even when I’m writing something other than erotica, I can feel the sensuality creeping in.

Is there one story you wrote the means more to you than the others? One that hits home or you related more to the characters?

I’ve written an erotic memoir, Sex & Guitars. I read it again the other day and it hit home harder now than it did back then. Time adds perspective, and makes those memories mellow a bit, I suppose. But it still had the power to make me laugh and cry at the same time.

Out of the fictional stories I’ve written, the one that means the most to me has to be “Indiana Jones, with Camera.” The whole time I was writing it, I was crying. It feels very personal to me.

Can you tell us a little known fact about Gwen?

I’m the oldest of nine children. There’s me, two brothers, and then three sets of twins. The youngest set of twins are the same age as my daughter. Does any of that make any sense? It gets confusing, and sometimes I still can’t tell two of my little brothers apart. For the life of me, I swear, I can’t. But we’re all really close, and it’s always been a thrill to have so many diverse personalities in one family.

While writing, how does the story develop for you? title and characters first, or do you use some other method?

It usually begins with a picture in my head, or something I’ve seen when out and about, or a scenario that occurs to me at the oddest moments. I once wrote a novel that was based entirely on a house, just a charming old farmhouse I drove past one day. I saw it once, but it stuck with me long enough to create a whole little world. A story or a novel is usually sparked by the simplest thing, and it takes on a life of its own from there.

Is it difficult to write hot love scenes that are unique and imaginative each time?

It’s not difficult because the characters are unique. The physical basics of the sexual act might be the same, but the emotion and the people behind it are always different. So it can be the same position, the same naughty little tricks, but in a different story with different characters, the nuances emerge, and become huge.

Besides writing, what is your favorite thing to do every day?

I love to cook. I like to browse cookbooks, find something that looks challenging, and have it ready by dinnertime. It’s like creating art for the body.

Tell us a little bit about your journey. Was it a long uphill climb or an overnight kind of thing?

The first publication I had was overnight, it seemed – it took me by surprise. But it always takes time to build up momentum, and I think I just hit my stride a few years ago. Now the writing journey is rolling right along, and I’m happy with that.

Is there any other genre that you’d like to try your hand at, like horror?

I’ve written a few crime books under my other pseudonym, and I write contemporary romance under my real name. I’ve tried my hand at science fiction, but I have yet to finish a novel-length work in the genre. Same with horror. A writing block seems to appear at about 20,000 words!

Who has been the greatest support for you throughout your writing career?

I’ve had so many good people behind me over the last dozen years, such a blessing of support. But my mother has always been my biggest fan, and that will never change. Her belief in me just takes my breath away.

Which room in your home would you say is your favorite? 

My kitchen. Oh, I could go on and on and on about my kitchen! When we bought our home, the kitchen was what tipped us over the edge and made us say, “We must have this house!” It’s huge, with all kinds of counter space, lots of light, very high ceilings, dramatic windows. It’s the kind of place that makes cooking dinner an event rather than a chore. I spend all kinds of time in there.

Do you have a website other than http://www.gwenmasters.net/ that you would like to share with your readers? 

I also have a blog: www.gwenmasters.blogspot.com. It’s where I have the most recent updates. Please stop in for a visit, and tell me what you think!

And now for the silly question! You’re invited on a cruise that takes you away from all your troubles. What six items (can be people and pets) would you absolutely have to have with you?

My husband would have to be with me – I can’t imagine spending a cruise anywhere without him. A good pen and a thick journal, because even on vacation, I’m probably going to write. Our travel CD case filled with good music. My favorite perfume. That leaves me with one more thing, right? My camera. If I’m going to have that much fun and be that relaxed, I’m definitely going to capture the moment for later!

 

 

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Gwen. Please check out Gwen’s website to read more about her releases. While there, be sure to check out her articles page, they make for some interesting reads!  

Interviewed by: Manic Readers.