Sizzling Sunday
with Elysa Hendricks 

1.       How did you make the decision to become a writer?

I don't think I actually "decided" to become a writer. I've always been a "storyteller." My very earliest memories are of imaginary people, places and animals. My best friend and I used to act out stories, which I kindly created. We spent our day in stables full of beautiful horses and magic castles. Because I hated jumping rope and other physical activities, in grade school I convinced my classmates I was an alien from Venus and spent my recess time spinning tales of distant worlds for my eager audience. I do remember the exact moment I decided to try and write a book. Christmas Eve 1989. (Yes, I began writing when I was only two.)

2.       Who is your favorite author? Favorite book?

 I can't say I have one favorite author or one favorite book, but if I had to pick just one book to have on a desert island it would be either Kathleen Woodiwiss's THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER or Karen Robards TO LOVE A MAN. To decide I'd have to flip a coin. I've read both of these books numerous times.

3.       Where do you get the inspiration for your stories?

I have an inspiration bush growing in my backyard and every day I go out and pick a couple of ideas. Actually, everything in life gives me inspiration. The bluebird who insists on attacking my bathroom window. People in the grocery store yelling at their kids. Newspaper  articles and TV news casts.  TV shows. Movies. Books. The list is endless. I'm always looking at the world and wondering "what if?"

My latest release THE SWORD AND THE PEN was inspired by a combination of the TV show Xenia The Warrior Princess, the movie Stranger Than Fiction, the book Inkheart, and the Twilight Zone episode A World Of His Own with Keenan Wynn. STAR CRASH came about because of my love of Star Trek, the Planet of the Apes movies, and the Roddy McDowall Twilight Zone episode People Are Alike All Over. Inspiration is everywhere. I barely have to look.

4.       Do your characters come first or the does the plot come first?’

Sometimes the characters come first, but usually it's more that I see a situation in my mind then I have to figure out the who, what, why, when, where, how and what if of the story. In STAR CRASH I wondered what it would be like to be treated like an animal in a zoo. In THE SWORD AND THE PEN I wondered what I'd do if one of my fictional characters appeared in my living room.

5.       Have you ever fallen in lust… I mean love with one of your characters?

 Since every character I create, heroes, heroines, and villains all represent parts of me, I love all my characters. But unlike the hero in THE SWORD AND THE PEN I have a good handle on reality.  If one of my fictional characters showed up in my "real" life I pretty sure I'd freak out. That's way too much adventure for this gal. My motto for real life is: Boring is good. Excitement is vastly overrated. I like to keep all my excitement contained between the pages of a book.

6.       When it comes to your sultry sex scenes – where do your ideas come from?

I live with my own personal romance hero. He's my inspiration and though he'll deny it - my research partner.

7.       Have you ever been turned on by something you’ve written?

Of course.  I know if it doesn't turn me on, it's not going to turn on my readers. Writing love scenes is tough. There's only so many ways Tab A goes into Tab B or C, so for me writing love scenes is about the emotion rather than just the motion. And writing emotion is both exhilarating and exhausting, but just like the real thing the results are worth the effort.

8.       If you had the opportunity for a one night stand with one of your characters who would it be and why?

I'd love to spend time (after I finished freaking out) with any of my characters, but since I'm a one-man woman I won't be having a one night stand with any of them. Besides, since I created them all in a way they're my children, so having sex with them would feel icky. On top of that if I did get it on with one of the heroes, his heroine would get really pissed at me.

9.       Tell us about your current novel.

THE SWORD AND THE PEN is my latest release.

If your fantasy became your reality, what would you do? That's the question Brandon Davis has to answer when his fictional creation, warrior woman Serilda appears in his living room.

1   Is it a stand alone story or part of a series? If it’s a series what can we expect in the next chapter?

At the moment THE SWORD AND THE PEN is a stand alone contemporary fantasy, but at some point in the future I might write another book based on the Wizards of Word.
STAR CRASH, my sexy sci-fi adventure romance is the first in my STAR CHRONICLE series. STAR RAIDERS will be released shortly.  And I'm working on STAR BORN, which will feature secondary characters from STAR RAIDERS.

   What can we expect from you in the future? Any new books in the works?

My current WIP is a contemporary jungle romance TANGO IN PARADISE, which features an idealistic, naïve school teacher and a cynical mercenary on the run in a South American country during a revolution. I'm hoping to release it before the end of the year.

In addition, a friend and I have written a humorous mainstream book. GRANNIES AND TRANNIES: VEGAS OR BUST is The Golden Girls meets The Bird Cage on a wild, wacky and heartfelt road trip to Las Vegas to rescue a friend from the Mob. We're shopping it around to agents and editors. Wish us luck!

THE SWORD AND THE PEN

Blurb:
It was time. After penning ten popular sword-and-sorcery novels, Brandon Alexander Davis was ready to move on. Ready to stop hiding in his fictional world. Ready to start living a real life. There was just one problem: as he plotted the noble death of Serilda D'Lar, his fictional creation, complete with mile-long sword, skimpy leather outfit and badass attitude, appeared in his study.

Was she nothing more than a crazy fan, or had Brandon finally cracked?

This warrior woman whom he knew so well, so strong yet vulnerable, was both fantasy and reality. She was an invitation to rediscover all he once knew--that life is an incredible, magical journey and, for love, any man can be a hero.

Links:
THE SWORD AND THE PEN
Available from Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/sword-pen

STAR CRASH
Available from Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/starcrash-

starchronicles

Web site:
http://www.elysahendricks.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/
pages/Elysa-Hendricks-Author/137316289643103