INTERVIEWING VIXEN BRIGHT AND ZACHARY ZANE
We welcome two of our dearest friends. We are such close pals, we could actually...well...errrr...be them. Hope y'all enjoy the interview.
How long have you been writing?
V: I believe it all started when I began drawing stick-figure stories on cave walls. Yes, I am that old, at least I believe my soul has roamed this universe since forever. However, seriously, it began when word processing came with just a spell check and cut and paste was awesome.
Z: It dates back to when I first started dating and recognized that sharing written thoughts—enhanced opportunity
What, or who, inspired you to write?
V: Rosemary Rogers…ah yes, the original Bodice Ripper queen. The heat! The tension! The muscles! Oh yeah, no more sweet kisses, there was tongue! That was what I wanted to write. Also, William Shakespeare. I mean, he was cutting edge in his time, full of drama. I adore drama.
Z: Dyslexia, the hundreds of books read via candlelight, and high testosterone.
Do you find a difference in writing erotic books than just regular romance or romantic suspense books?
V: You have to think a whole lot more. Always asking ourselves, is that even possible? Sooo, where are the Barbie and G. I. Joe dolls? Get them in the assumed position, I’ll tell Zane. He’ll come back with, but they’re too stiff. And we go on in that vein for awhile, and then comes the, what are they thinking? I tell Zane, Barbie is considering what outfit to wear at her Malibu beach house. At that point, Zane starts banging his head against the wall.
Z: The serious answer would be we respect readers of every genre and owe them a responsibility to create the best product. But the irreverent response would be that writing erotic literature is one hootenanny of a good time. We are less encumbered by language, imagery and can allow ourselves the freedom to imagine every naughty what-if. And what is so bewitching is the endless numbers of what-ifs.
With a busy life, how do you stay focused or grounded?
V: Chocolate. Put a box a chocolate next to the computer and it keeps me right on top of our project. Yup, carrot and stick always works for me.
Z: The question answers itself. Since retired, the busy is oft the by-product of being focused and grounded on our literary projects. We just adore the dynamic of creating, sharing, editing and finalizing. Discipline is not always a naughty word.
Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?
V and Z: As a guy, our physiology is a serial deadline, the man is always under some kind of pressure. Guys always want to knock off a piece -- I would provide an abstract wink icon but -- Vixen and I have discovered that storytelling was inoculated upon our soul, and it is so easy. Neither one of us have ever experienced writer’s block and we type fast.
Do you do your own ‘personal’ research for the various sexual positions/interludes, etc. that are in your books?
V: See Barbie and G.I. Joe reference.
Z: Are you questioning the number of video tapes I own? I man who is as old as dirt has a dirthy mind, a dirthy list of experiences, and is just dirthy and old.
Does your family encourage you to write?
V and Z: Absolutely!! My original editor is family, and there you go.
Do you plot or are you a pantser?
V and Z: We absolutely plot being a pantser. One of us outlines, plans, details, foreshadows as the other totally ignores. It is that synergy that provides the unexpected twists and turns.
What is the strangest source of writing inspiration you have ever had?
Z: Watching two snakes mate.
V: The irreverence of Johnny Carson when he told Arnold Palmer’s wife when she said to him I kiss my husband’s balls for luck, and Johnny responded I bet that made his putter stand up, I discovered the irreverence could be intriguing and funny.
What is your creative process like?
V and Z: We have coffee, we have tea, we have donuts, we have five dogs, reams and reams of paper, broken pencils, random musings and in between all of that, we laugh and whine and moan and cry and at the end of all that, we think we found a tale to share.
Do you share rough drafts of your writings with someone whose opinion you trust?
V and Z: Obviously, with each other but there are others that have seen many first drafts, including family members, long time college friends, confidantes and our hair stylist of which we hold her opinion the highest.
Are their subgenres of romance you don’t read?
V and Z: Let us respond, there is nothing we won’t read including cereal boxes.
Do you think that there is a “too far” that authors can go in erotic fiction? (Besides the obvious such as bestiality and pedophile)
Z and V: We consider ourselves very open-minded as well as the sum of all of our experiences because of that by definition there are limitations with us. As partners, we balance between those limitations so that the product is credible considering our knowledge and passion to share. We certainly understand that within this genre there are so many more knowledgeable sages and if we wish to appear viable we can’t be posers. Now, has the genre pushed boundaries? It has. But has it pushed too far? If the literary product is crafty it can take a marginally uncomfortable subject and handle it with respect. Every society shifts its values over time. What was too far when a boy were erotic playing cards. As a man if is so different.
What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
V: Eat and read. Ummm--if forced take long walks.
Z: Man stuff.
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Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS ~ SNAKE DANCE ~ CHASING YESTERDAY ~
CHRISTMAS EVE...VIL coming soon
www.champagnebooks.com
Vixen Bright and Zachary Zane
STEEL EMBRACE http://www.carnalpassions.com/
THE FABLE OF SIN-SIN CINDERELLA Series
angelicahartandzi.com
TheWritersVineyard.com (monthly piece)
www.champagnebooks.blogspot.com(monthly piece)
Dawn's Reading Nook (Thursday's piece)
lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/
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