Cornelia Grey

1PlaceForRomance Interview:

What books have most influenced your life?

When I was a child, I read Pippi Longstocking over and over again. Her fear of growing up, her amazing adventures, her bravery and her kind heart… they were all things I wanted. I wanted to be like her, and for years I dove headfirst into my imagination, making up all sort of adventures for me and my friends, and faced tough situations wondering: what would Pippi do?

In my early teens, I read The Truce, by Primo Levi, and Italian author who survived Auschwitz. The Truce is the story of the crazy months immediately following the end of the war—Primo, during the tortuous road across Eastern Europe and Russia before going back to Italy, observes and records the madness of rebirth—the vertigo-inducing energy of life starting again, tumbling and rushing, like a fresh unstoppable stream, after so much despair and horror. It fills me with hope and excitement, and Primo’s courage, his relentless love for life, are always an inspiration.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I have way too many hobbies, I confess! When I’m in London, I love to go out with a friend and stroll around museums, talking their ear off blabbering on about art history. I also love just having a walk around Camden Town, looking at the crazy hairdos of random passersby and indulging in my beloved sweet ‘n sour chicken noodles. If I’m too tired to go out—I confess, Scrubs is my guilty pleasure when I need to just chill out and not think for a bit!

When I’m in Italy, instead, I usually go bother my cat while he tries to sleep, or I pull out the sewing machine and whip up a new handbag, or I go sit on the balcony with my grandma, painting our nails and just chatting. Spending time with her always makes me happy.

How did you start your writing career?

While I’d always been writing—I’d been writing M/M since I was, heck, 13!—I never really gave much thought to publication. Then, almost two years ago, I stumbled across a call for submissions for an anthology, completely by accident, as I was browsing a friend of a friend’s blog. It was almost a surprise—I’d never even wondered whether there might be a market for my beloved M/M stories. I scribbled down the story during the Christmas holidays, a light-hearted, sweet short about a clumsy angel and a blues-loving, world-weary cop. And on January 27th, my 22nd birthday, I got the best present ever: my first contract in my inbox! And what can I say, I just keep craving more.

Tell us about your next release.

My next release will be the short story Bounty Hunter in the gun-themed anthology by Storm Moon Press. It’s a scorching hot meeting in a cramped room above a saloon where a bounty hunter and his prey finally clash together after a years-long chase. Picture long, worn-out leather coats, suntanned skin, hard, fiery men, strong muscles, sizzling anger and desire, gunpowder and dust and scorching heat, and a gleaming, burnished vintage Colt gun… and brace yourself for some scorching heat when it all crashes inevitably together.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

Definitely! I usually have a couple of tracks that I play on a loop for each story. They really help me remain in the atmosphere, working on a story in different moments, taking pauses and maybe skipping a couple of days in between writing sessions, I’m always in different moods when I start typing. Plugging in the usual soundtrack helps me slip back into the headspace of the story, and keep my writing consistent, without any jarring jumps of tone or attitude.

As for the genre, it really depends on the mood I want the story to convey; I go from slow hypnotic tracks, to bouncy Irish tunes, to screaming Metallica songs. For example, for my latest short story, City of Foxes (published by Storm Moon Press), I was listening to When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin and Wrong by Depeche Mode.

Bio:

Cornelia Grey is a student of creative writing with a penchant for fine arts and the blues. Born and raised in the hills of Northern Italy, where she collected her share of poetry and narrative prizes, she is now based in London, and she is thoroughly enjoying the cultural melting pot that is the City.

Her interests vary from painting to photography, from sewing to acting; when writing, she favors curious, surreal poems and short stories involving handsome young men seducing each other. She loves collecting people’s stories and re-discovering lost tales that deserve to be told.

Blog: http://corneliagrey.livejournal.com

Blog: http://corneliagrey.blogspot.com

On 7^th November 1964 I was born into a very poor mining family in the South Wales Valleys. Until I was 16 the toilet was at the bottom of the garden and the bath hung on the wall. Our refrigerator was a stone slab in the pantry and there was a black lead fireplace in the kitchen. Trust me, they look lovely in a museum but are not so much fun to clean. However, although we didn’t have much there was one thing we had more than enough of – love.

My memories of childhood are coloured green with the mountains in summer, gold and red with the forest in the autumn, white with the mist that gathers in pockets in the valley and grey with the rain that falls unrelentingly for three quarters of the year.

I have always been a storyteller. As a child I would make up stories for my nieces and nephews (my sister is twenty years older than me and her children are almost the same age as I am) and cousin and we would explore the imaginary worlds I created in play.

Later in life I became the storyteller for a re enactment group who travelled the country, and sometimes abroad in Europe, showing the public a taste of the life of Iron Age Celts. As well as having the opportunity of running around hitting people with a sword I had the opportunity of telling stories of all kinds, sometimes of my own making, to people of all kinds. The criticism was sometimes harsh, especially from the children, but the reward enormous.

It was here that I really began to appreciate the power of stories and the primal need to hear them. Back in the dark ages and before the wandering bard was the only source of news and the storyteller was the heart of the village, keeping the lore and the magic alive and, although much of the magic has been lost the stories still provide a link to the part of ourselves that still wants to believe that it is still there somewhere.

This brings us to the present and future and a passion that I have developed over the last few years. I have come to realise that there is corner of the market that has been woefully neglected; the gay teenagers who have been presented with a stark choice, if they want to find gay characters: read erotica or nothing at all. I have therefore striven to write good quality gay fiction with little or no explicit sex with the concentration being on the stories and not the sexuality of the characters.

INTERESTING FACTS

1. In the late 1990’s I was at a re enactment show at the National Folk Museum of Wales. We were sitting around the campfire, telling stories and drinking… mead, cider, beer… and, unfortunately single malt whisky, which is my favourite drink. I got very drunk and when I went to the field in which we used to pee, there were two men who had beaten me to it. I was damned if I was going to crouch in a field in front of two men – I wasn’t THAT drunk – and so went in search of an alternative. I found a dark, dark, lane down which a dark, dark, house, provided dark, dark, shade, for a dark, dark, secret… which was, unfortunately a 10ft drop down which I fell and broke my back in 2 places.
2. I was trained as a druid and have now spent almost 25 years celebrating the festivals, immersing myself in its philosophy and studying its principles. I have attended at one funeral, two naming rituals, numerous initiations and, so far, five weddings. I read tarot cards, do spells and have a beautiful Austrain crystal, crystal ball that I have never been able to get the hang of. I scry better in the surface of a cup of black coffee.
3. I am a trained herbalist, with a diploma in the subject and treat all our family’s basic health needs myself. I always have a bottle of tea tree (antiseptic and anti head lice) and a bottle of lavender (burns, stress, sleeplessness) in my first aid box, as well as witch hazel (bruises and sprains), marshmallow (sore throats) aniseed (chesty coughs) and marigold (skin disorders).
4. I have been a family lawyer for 20 years, practicing solely in that field. I am also a qualified mediator and was once shortlisted to become a judge. I consider the law to be my secondary profession, although BY FAR the most lucrative, I am, first and foremost a writer and artist, even though I don’t actually make any money from them.
5. I find it very difficult not to put smiley faces into my writing J It comes naturally to me and occasionally they have slipped into my stories or even my legal documents. Fortunately I realise what I am doing as I am doing it otherwise the court staff might get a nice surprise… although I’m not sure they would appreciate it.
6. I have two children, two cats and two ex husbands. I consider my age to have no correlation with the number of years my body has been around for this time. I have turquoise and black hair, black nails and I wear t-shirts with vampires on them.
7. My daughter is gay. She came out when she was 13 and I am very proud of her for her bravery. Over the years I have been heartbroken on numerous occasions when her friends have come to me crying and said that they wished I was their mother. It makes me sad and it makes me angry that people would turn on their own children for something that is really none of their business in the first place. Part of the reason I write fiction with characters who are gay is, in one way, to support them – to show that there is love and acceptance out there for them.

GET ENIGMA HERE!

About ‘The Direction of Greatest Courage’:  

For over 250 years, the use of the tarot for divination has been a mainstay of mystical and occult practices. The themes and forces represented by the cards are said to govern our lives and our destinies. Whether you believe that or not, the story of the cards is nevertheless the story of our lives — the accomplishments and the pitfalls, the path from soaring joy to crushing defeat and back again.

Jason is a young man whose bisexuality has made him feel like a Hermit. Beth is a woman with an unconventional lifestyle. When her confidence confronts his insecurities, Jason is swept along in a frenzy. When she presents Jason with an opportunity seemingly too good to be true, he must crawl out of his cave if he wants a chance at lasting happiness.

1PlaceForRomance Interview:

If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?

I’d love to write a series of alternate history novels. Something akin to the TV show “Sliders”, with a main character moving between alternate versions of Earth, each with their own unique histories. I like the idea of exploring the ‘what if’s―the possible repercussions that could have resulted had particular events in history gone another way.

Have you attended a high school reunion? What did you learn?

I wasn’t able to attend my 10-year high school reunion, but I did manage to go to the 10-year reunion of the school most of my elementary school friends went to. I was surprised by how friendly some of the people who had snubbed me throughout school suddenly were. What it taught me was that while your childhood might have shaped you, it doesn’t mean that it defines you. The person you were then doesn’t have to be the person you are now.

Is there a writer you idolize? If so who?

Idolize is a very strong word, but there are a few for whom I have enormous respect. If I had to pick just one, though, I would say Terry Prachett. His Discworld series has had a profound effect on my writing: the subtlety with which he weaves allegory into the story; the strength and breadth of his worldbuilding; and perhaps most importantly, the skill with which he examines, subverts, and deconstructs story tropes to create something new and original from the same old building blocks of narrative.

Does your significant other read your stuff?

Both of them, in fact. They’re my biggest fans, always there to support me when my confidence in my work starts to flag. Of course, they’re also the first to tell me when I’m writing crap, but then follow it up with suggestions for improvement. It was them who really encouraged me to start writing in the first place, to commit some of my many ideas to paper and screen.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?

How hard it is! Even if you have the idea, even if you’ve built the world and created the characters, even if you’ve planned out every scene from beginning to end, to take those pieces and construct a compelling and interesting story that someone other than your wife and boyfriend would want to read… that’s the challenge. I never anticipated the number of hours I would spend staring at the blank computer screen, willing the story to write itself. Or the number of times I would wear out the delete key, destroying up to an entire page of text because I’d written myself into a corner. But at the same time, I never expected how rewarding it would be to get through the entire process and actually see your work in print, to hold it in your hand.

Blog: http://erikrmoore.wordpress.com/

Biography:  Erik Moore was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. From a young age, he was an avid reader, and recalls that the first book he read on his own was Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. He was teased at school for being a geek and frequently dealt with it by retreating into the fantasy worlds of stories, other people’s at first, and then those of his own creation. Though a writing enthusiast, his first love and vocation will always be computer programming and website development. He currently resides in Florida with his wife and their menagerie of dogs and cats, and wears his geek label proudly.

Bio:

Elizabeth Hyder has been a reader and writer of all types of erotica for over ten years. She is chiefly interested in male/male fiction, but has been known to write female/female and male/female when inspiration strikes. No matter if it’s fantasy, contemporary, sci-fi, mystery, paranormal—all genres appeal to her senses, and she’s been known to dabble in a little bit of everything. (Although she does have a soft spot for anything involving thieves or assassins…)

Georgia is Elizabeth’s current residence but she’s a traveller at heart and probably won’t live there much longer. Her dog is the love of her life, and is the best company and support she could hope for as she works toward her dream of the life as a professional writer.

1PlaceForRomance Interview:

What book are you reading now?

Throne of Jade, the second book in Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. It has to be my fourth time through these novels, I swear. But I love them so fiercely that I can’t help myself; Novik is an excellent writer, and I’ve always loved dragons. Despite the fact that I am always waiting for the next book to be released, the first three will always be my favorites. These and Lynn Flewelling’s novels are the only books I read again and again. Most of the time after I know what happens I lose interest in re-reading a book. I might be adding Martha Wells’s The Cloud Roads to this list; I really loved that book! (Surprise: it involves a dragon-like species.)

What hobbies do you actively pursue?

Reading and writing are now and have always been my biggest hobbies, but I also play video games (PC, DS, and PSP—mostly Pokémon and strategy games like Disgaea, Holy Invasion Badman, and MMOs), take photos, and am a recovering Asian ball-jointed doll collector. I sew as well, mostly clothes for my dolls, but sometimes I sew quilts. And I crochet blankets! I’m working on a baby blanket for my brother’s second child right now, a simple ripple pattern.

What would we find under your bed?

The torn and withered bodies of stuffed animals sacrificed to my dog’s chewing habit, along with the stuffing that used to be in them. Some of my cat’s toys, too. She’ll knock them under there and give them up for lost. And dust bunnies. Always with the dust bunnies, as I live with the perils and pleasures of hardwood floors.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books? Read More »

The Russian Boy is of a nude Russian noble, Alexei Dubernin, the painter’s young lover. Their affair takes place in the Russian enclave on the Cote d’Azur in 1912.
Poor student Dmitri Baranov steals the painting is stolen, involving his boyfriend and art theft consultant Rowan McNair. Each must risk his life to return the art and earn the love he deserves.

What books have most influenced your life?

That’s an easy one. The book that made me into a writer is “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles. I was assigned to read that book in 10^th grade English, and then write my own version (in short form!) The experience was so powerful I knew right then that I wanted to be a writer.

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?

In graduate school I learned to analyze books as if they were screenplays. When I start writing a book I usually know how it begins, and I have an idea of the first plot point—the place, about a third of the way through the book, where something happens that changes the way things are developing. In a mystery it could be a new clue that sends the investigation in a different direction. In a romance it might be the first time the characters recognize or acknowledge their love for one another. Then I hope that by the time I get to that point I know the story well enough to know the second plot point—and by the time I get 2/3 of the way through, I certainly hope I know the ending!

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?

I think there are two ways to improve as a writer: to read, and to write. I was an English major in college, and read way too much classic literature, but once I graduated I was able to spend time reading the kind of books I enjoy—primarily romance and crime fiction. I think by reading the best authors in the genre you begin to get an intuitive feel for language, pacing and structure. But there’s no substitute for sitting down every day at your computer, as I do, and just writing. Even if you write a crummy first draft, you can always go back and improve it. Writing is like building muscles—the more you work at it, the better you become.

Do you have a milestone birthday coming up? If so, how are you approaching it?

I’m coming up on 55 in 2012—so that means I can start getting discounts on movies, restaurants and who knows what else. I live in Florida so I am already taking advantage of early bird dinners!

Does travel play in the writing of your books?

Absolutely. I love writing about exotic locations, whether it’s South Florida, where I live and can easily go out and observe, or Hawaii and Tunisia, the locations of my mystery and romance series. Setting is character—and living in a tropical location, where it’s always hot, and there’s an incredible mix of cultures, languages and people, I get a lot of experiences that I can write about. My newest romance, The Russian Boy, takes place in large part on the French Riviera. I visited there for the first time when I was fourteen years old, on a study abroad program, and I just fell in love. Ever since then I’ve wanted to set a book there, especially as I was fascinated with the subculture of wealthy Russians who wintered there in the waning days of the Romanov empire.
What was your first sale as an author?

My first published story was called “The Cop Who Caught Me,” and it was a piece of gay erotica I sold to Mandate magazine back in the 1980s. I’ve been writing about cops and sex ever since!

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?
I stop at Starbucks on my way to work every morning (and on the weekends as well) and write for at least an hour. The raspberry mocha is my reward for sitting my butt in the chair, opening the laptop, and getting to work.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
I’m fortunate to work with a terrific critique group. All of us are members of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and we’re all working on novels. We bring a variety of experience to the table—three college professors, a retired bookstore owner, and an accountant. Though we’re writing in different areas, we all work very well together and I’ve gotten great insights from them.

Troy Khoury is serving a life sentence in Westgate prison for a robbery gone wrong. He just wants to keep his head down and do his time, but he runs afoul of an old-timer named Franchetti. Franchetti offers Troy a simple choice: kill fellow inmate Daniel Amato by Christmas in exchange for protection, or be tortured and raped to death by Franchetti’s heavy, Pliers. Troy’s no killer, though, and Daniel is as gentle and calm as can be. But a prison is a small place, and time is running out. Troy must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice before the choice is taken from him.

1PlaceForRomance Interview:

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

Plotter, all the way. I’m terrified of starting a story, running out of steam halfway through, then having to abandon it, or even worse, skimping on quality just to get it done and over with. The very thought sends chills down my spine. So I use outlines, diagrams, spreadsheets, sexual tension bar charts, hologram projections… just kidding about the last one, actually. But I do tend to get a bit obsessive about plotting. Heidi is a great balance in that respect, because she’s also focused on plot and suspense, but in a more informal way. We plot like crazy, but we always remember to leave room for flashes of unexpected inspiration at any point in the story.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Yes, we have a small group of people we can rely on for different kinds of beta-ing. The most intense was a full beta of our 120k novel, both for line and content, at an incredibly professional level and entirely for free.  We really value people who give honest, constructive opinions of our work because we’re always looking to improve. And I have a pretty thick skin, even when it comes to jokes. I once wrote a story where I used “climbing” and a certain male anatomy word in the same sentence of a sex scene; it earned me a note in the margins asking why on earth I wanted to make readers think about rock climbing instead of sex. I just laughed and resolved to be more careful with athletic verbs from that day forward. Read More »