My guest today is Eden Bradley

Eden, Thanks for agreeing to be a guest on my blog.

Can you tell everyone a little bit about yourself?

I was born in California, have always lived here, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I have a great love for good food, tattoos, and sexy shoes. My shameful secret is watching the trashiest reality TV shows I can find. Almost anything else I will talk about publicly and shamelessly.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a kid, really, but it only occurred to me to write with publication in mind about eight years ago.

What is your writing process like?

Very undisciplined and a bit manic, unfortunately. Ideas come to me pretty randomly- while I’m in the shower, driving, falling asleep at night, waking up in the morning, talking with a friend. I make notes as the ideas come. It can be character details, setting, premise, bits of dialogue, scenarios.  Next I sit down and really hash out an outline, which consists mostly of a very intense exploration of my characters, as my books are always character-driven, rather than plot-driven.

When it comes time to actually write, I have to have my music, and I tend to fuel up on chocolate. Currently, I’m on peanut butter M&M’s-the food of the gods!

Can you tell us about your new release A 21^st Century Courtesan?

I think this is my best writing to date, and my editor allowed me to explore some challenging material in this book and to write it in first person, which I love. I feel it really allows the reader to get right inside the heroine’s head.

A 21^ST CENTURY COURTESAN is about Valentine Day, a high-class call girl. She’s been doing it for years, and has been happy with her life, until she meets a man who makes her re-evaluate her life choices, and who she wants to be. The hero, Joshua Spencer, is smart and sexy-he’s actually modeled after someone I know. And despite the fact that Valentine is a prostitute, there is probably more of me in her than any of my other heroines. It’s a story about tough choices, about re-creating oneself, finding love, and it’s definitely a sexy story.

Do you have any other books coming out this year?

Yes! On April 7^th TEMPT ME TWICE, an erotic ménage novella, my first release from Samhain, will be out. And in October my next erotic novel from Bantam/Delta, THE BEAUTY OF SURRENDER, will be out. This is a two-part book about Shibari, a beautiful and sensual form of Japanese rope bondage. And my first Harlequin Spice Briefs story, SOUL STRANGERS, is part of the recently released print anthology, NAUGHTY BITS. It’s on the shelves now. You can find more information about all of my books on my website: http://www.edenbradley.com/

What are you currently working on?

Right now I’m polishing the end of THE BEAUTY OF SURRENDER. Next up is my first full-length erotic novel for Harlequin Spice, currently called DESIDERATA: THE LOVERS-but the title may change. I can’t wait to really get into this book! It’s an unusual story with a sort of ensemble cast of characters, about a writer who goes on a summer writing retreat and meets some people who make her question herself as a sexual being, and ultimately change her life. I’m also working on outlining a new BDSM-themed novella for Samhain. This one should have a few nice twists. Okay, wicked twists…

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Everywhere! From music fairly often, but it’s more a mood or a tone than the actual premise. Some stories are taken from my real life experiences. Some pop into my head out of the blue. It’s always a mystery to me-that’s part of the magic.

Many of your books deal with D/s theme, is there any particular reason why?

I’ve talked very openly about my experiences in the BDSM lifestyle. One thing I’ve discovered is the complex psychology behind why people seek extreme forms of sexuality, and as someone who once pursued a psychology degree, this is endlessly fascinating to me. Why do we do the things we do, crave those things which are considered to be outside the realm of the usual human experience? Exploring these issues in my books makes for deeper, more complex characters. The power play involved makes for some really interesting relationship dynamics. And the sex is just a lot more varied and exciting-fun!

As an author, you must be an avid reader. What books do you enjoy reading? Who are your auto-buy authors?

So many! I love chick lit and romantic comedy. I love Gemma Halliday, Sophie Kinsella, Megan Crane, and Lilli Feisty has done some awesome comedic erotic fiction. On the darker side, almost anything by Tanith Lee, I love to read Anne Rice’s erotica, and I think Megan Hart and Donna George Storey write really smart erotic fiction. But I’m leaving out dozens of authors!

I’m also a long-time fan of science fiction, so Robert Heinlein, Robert Silverberg, and I love Elizabeth Bear.

What books are on your keeper shelf?

Tanith Lee’s Silver Metal Lover, Megan Hart’s Dirty, Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty series, Exit to Eden, and Belinda, William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, Elizabeth Bear’s Hammered, Erica Jong’s Fanny, Gemma Halliday’s entire High Heels mystery series. And for classic romance, Nora Roberts’ Three Sisters Island trilogy.

What was the first romance book you read?

Something borrowed from my grandmother’s bookshelf around age ten or eleven. Probably a historical. Is it terrible that I can’t remember that far back?

If one of your books was made into a movie, which book would you like it to be and which actors would like to see as the lead characters?

I’d love to see my latest release, A 21^ST CENTURY COURTESAN, made into a movie, but I’ve never thought to cast it. Off the top of my head, Valentine could be played by Kate Beckinsale, maybe. And Joshua…that’s a bit harder for me. He’s more rugged than your average pretty boy. Hmm…Gerard Butler could fill the role nicely.

If you could switch lives with one of your characters who would if be & why?

I wouldn’t mind switching lives with Rowan, the heroine in my first novel, THE DARK GARDEN.  She’s been through a lot, but she’s a strong person who knows what she wants and ultimately finds a really beautiful and precious love.

When you are not writing or reading, what do you enjoying doing in your spare time?

I love to shop, especially for shoes, but I’m happy shopping for anything, even if I don’t buy, although my favorite quickie retail fix is new underwear-anything cute (cotton, with Hello Kitty, hearts or stars) or lacy stuff. I love the process, looking at pretty things, and I’m a very tactile shopper; I have to touch everything. Lounging at the beach is a favorite past time, and one which I’ve done far too little of the last couple of years. But my favorite thing is probably just spending time with friends, eating, sitting around and talking. And I love to watch movies.

If you could ask readers anyone question, what would it be?

I’d love to know what they’re looking for in erotic fiction so I know what to give them. There’s enormous satisfaction in knowing I’ve entertained my readers, or touched them in some way.

Thanks so much for letting me visit your blog! If anyone would like to see more about me or my books, they can visit my website: www.EdenBradley.com, my MySpace page: www.MySpace.com/edenbradley, or my group blog: www.Smutketeers.com.

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A 21st Century Courtesan***