Ok. First off, a quick thank you to Jonny Gibbings (or ‘my mate Jonny’ as I shall now be calling him) for tagging me in this embarrassing book cabal. The premise of the whole thing is that I’ll answer the ten questions below and then tag five other authors, who will do the same and so on until the world eventually runs out of authors to promote. Embarrassing? The embarrassing thing is I don’t know five other authors. Tough. I’m going to do it anyway. Whether you miserable lot like it or not, I shall be selflessly promoting your work, OK??
Here it is. It’s called THE NEXT BIG THING. Well, I’m big. Pretty much in the same way that The Stranglers were Big In America. In other words not at all (although they were very nice in Nice). Would I like to be big? Yes, certainly, who wouldn’t? Although being big is never any guarantee of acceptance as Lynda La Plante found out at a near deserted book signing when a Hilda Ogden crone thrust her chin at the renowned author and said, “Well, I’ve never ‘eard of ya.” So who knows, one day, I may never be heard of. One can only dream.
Right, here are the questions (and some answers too):
What is the working title of your next book?
It’s called ADVENTURES IN THE SIN TRADE and is a pun on the title of a Dylan Thomas collection of short stories called Adventures in the Skin Trade, although I found out recently that it’s also the title of an episode of Xena Warrior Princess. Naughty Xena, eh?
Where did the idea for your book come from?
It’s the second in a series of books about a Dominatrix called JJ Franklin who finds herself involved in various criminal underworld activities, murder and mayhem. It’s really a continuance of her first appearance in BLUE MUDER AT THE PINK PARROT.
What genre does your book fall under?
Difficult. It’s humorous; it’s a thriller; it’s erotica; it’s alternative, a bit dark and silly with some bikers and a lot of spanking. Cookery? No. I have no idea what you’d call it.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your main characters in a movie rendition?
Again, that’s difficult. JJ is a robust woman – tall and sculpted; not fat, just voluptuous and I can’t think of any actresses striking enough that aren’t stick thin. Maybe Nigella Lawson in a red wig. Her main foil, Max, maybe Edward Norton a la American History X or Chiklis if he grew a goatee and lost some weight..* I should mention that the novel I’m currently working on has a role written in especially for Johnny Depp – it’s part of a long term plan I have for when I’m ‘not heard of’ and I can pick who I want to perve at on a movie set.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
JJ tries to deal with her lover, Max, a drug dealing pimp, rival motorcycle gangs, the machinations of a rich sadist and his bully boy accomplice while she finds a killer, maintains her clients and her intake of claret, chocolate and cocaine.
Will your book be self published or represented by an agency?
Neither. The lovely folk at Cutting Edge Press will be publishing it, as they did BLUE MURDER AT THE PINK PARROT.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I tend to work quite quickly when the mood is on me and Sin Trade initially probably took about three months to finish. Then I went back and re-wrote it completely and then I went through and edited it some more. The whole of that process, bleh, maybe six, eight months. It’s still not finished, mind.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Gawd. Given that I haven’t been very genre specific, that’s hard. The Perils of Pauline? No. Humour? Well, there was something wonderfully rich and silly that Willie Rushton wrote called WG Grace’s Last Case, a murder mystery involving WG Grace, Dr. Watson, Oscar Wilde, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and on and on. I like to play with words and contexts in something of the same fashion as he did there and get as much good stuff in as possible. Well, that’s what I’m aiming at, anyway. Crime? I think my writing style is probably a bit too baroque for classic noir fiction, although I hope to grab something of the insouciance of the private dick (fnar) while keeping a bit of edge. But maybe because it’s unclassifiable, I’d say Robert Rankin’s The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse is closer to the mark, although mine has fewer toys and nursery rhyme characters, obviously.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Both Pink Parrot and Sin Trade are really based on my own experiences and a lot of extrapolation. I’d rather not say how much is autobiographical but I’ve been on the SM scene for decades now and some very strange things have happened to me and people I know. Sex is something you have to laugh about at times and when you add whips and chains and all that jazz into the mix the oddities taken without bat of an eyelash are legion. I could mention all sorts of weirdos – I’m one myself, so I’m not being weirdist but the specific thing that triggered me to write Pink Parrot was the perfectly serious offer of £20,000 from a man who wanted to come and live under my stairs as a pet. One of the few occasions (no, the only occasion) when I could truthfully say twenty grand’s not enough.
What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
OK. It has murder, torture, drug dealing, drug taking, sex, sinister types with evil laughter, smacked bottoms, perving on motorbikes, people getting naked, a couple of strip clubs, a gun fight and a lot of red wine.
Here are my five authors in no particular order:
Charlotte Rodgers: Charlotte is an amazing woman. An artist, writer and sculptor who’s magickal thinking should be more widely appreciated. Her book about ritual blood work and primal magick, The Bloody Sacrifice is about to be updated and I have the privilege of being involved with her astonishing memoir: P Is For Prostitution – A Modern Primer, a journey through chaos that few would survive to flourish as Charlotte has.
http://mandrake.uk.net/the-bloody-sacrifice-a-personal-experience-of-contemporary-blood-rites/
Mark Ramsden: Should declare an interest as Mark is my partner but anyone can see that his writing is witty, articulate and cutting, darkly humorous and full of ideas. His Serpents Tail trilogy The Dark Magus and the Sacred Whore, The Dungeon Master’s Apprentice and The Sacred Blood are still available on Amazon and he’s also written the young adult fiction novel War School. His tribute to Dickens, serial slaughter, lust and obsession, Eddie Drood, will be with us soon.
http://markramsden.moonfruit.co.uk/
Mogg Morgan: Mogg is marvellous. He’s boss man at Mandrake of Oxford and a talented author who’s ideas and insights into Egyptian, Greek, and Babylonian paganism have formed a wonderful and radical synthesis between Eastern and Western magical beliefs. Among his books: The Bull of Ombos: Seth and Egyptian Magick; Pan’s Road; Supernatural Assault in Ancient Egypt: Seth, Renpet and Moon Magick.. Mogg has humour and charm as well as serious academic chops and I can’t pretend I’m worthy.
Gavin Baddeley is probably one of the funniest men on the planet. He is witty and articulate, a scholar, if not a gentleman. Lucifer Rising: A Book of Sin, Devil Worship and Rock and Roll does all it says on the tin and more. Much, much MORE. If you’re going to get to know only one Satanist, make sure it’s Gavin.
Madeline Moore is actually HUGE anyway. Her novel, Sarah’s Education came 3rd in The Daily Mail’s poll of the most titillating takes of all time. Sharp and sexy, she’s one of the best erotica writers in the business. There are few authors as stylish in any genre, so check her out, without delay.
ruthramsden 