Pronunciation: 'vam-"pI(-&r

Function: noun
Etymology: French, from German Vampir, from Serbian vampir
1 : the reanimated body of a dead person believed to come from the grave at night and suck the blood of persons asleep
2 a : one who lives by preying on others b : a woman who exploits and ruins her lover

I’m fascinated by the changes that vampires have gone through due to fiction. When I think of vampires, I think of them most often as men. But the definition above specifically mentions women. I also find it interesting that vamps originally “rose from the grave.” The vamps in my current release certainly don’t live in a grave. And they don’t prey on people while they sleep either. Today’s vampire’s seem to have a lot more control over their impulses and their fangs. Not to mention, options and sometimes the ability to shed the myths of vampires all together.

MC: Hi Sherrill! Thanks for agreeing to an interview. Let’s dive right in. You’ve always loved romance. And you’ve been dabbling with writing since 1997. Who are some of your favorite authors that have inspired you to create stories of your own?

SQ: Wow. I have so many! Jayne Anne Krentz/Amanda Quick, Dara Joy, Madeline Baker/Amanda Ashley, Mary Janice Davidson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Michelle Pillow, Mandy Roth. I think I’ll stop there. LOL

MC: You gave up a full time job, sold your house and concentrated on writing. That’s incredibly admirable. Were you nervous about the change? Would you do it again?

SQ: I was incredibly nervous, but it felt RIGHT. I had done something similar back in 2000, when I quit my job in Ohio and moved to Arizona without another job lined up. I was working within 3 weeks. When I decided to quit a job again and focus on my writing, I had a year to completely focus on learning and writing and, while I don’t make enough yet in royalties to support myself and so have had to go back to work part-time, I have, I think, made great strides toward my goal. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. (Of course, I’d feel better about it if I had a sugar daddy in the wings but, alas, there is no such creature in my life at the moment.)

MC: Anyone who’s visited you online has seen your trademark red lips. It’s a very strong and recognizable brand. How does it relate to you and your work?

SQ: When I first started writing erotic romance, two of my new author friends and I were kicking around ideas for branding. Initially I came up with “Romance with an edge” because, as my friends pointed out, my writing can be edgy. But the tag/slogan/brand was flat. After taking an online class with Lisa Renee Jones, with her help I finally settled on “Follow your passion to the edge…and beyond.” And the image of shiny red lips, to me, shouts passion.

MC: Tell us about your books. How many have you published so far?

SQ: I’m up to eleven. Five stand alone novellas, and six novellas and short stories as part of duets and/or anthologies.

MC: What’s coming up from you?

SQ: I have two short stories coming in December from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid–Tall, Dark & Naked in Torrid Teasers Volume 18, and Sweet Treats in the Christmas Candy Anthology. Plus my short story, Careful Wishes, which was first published as part of the Torrid Teasers Volume 3 duet, has been selected to be part of the Best of Torrid Teasers Anthology that’s coming out in print in January. I also just had a short novella accepted by Ellora’s Cave. Choosing Madison will be in one of their 2007 Cavemen anthologies. Plus I have a novella scheduled to come out early next year as part of the Edge of Night Anthology at Liquid Silver, and I’m putting the finishing touches on a dragon-shifter novella for Amber Heat that will also be out early next year.

MC: Who are you published with?

SQ: Amber Heat (the erotic romance imprint of Amber Quill Publishing), Liquid Silver Books, New Concepts Publishing, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid and, soon, Ellora’s Cave.

MC: What advice do you have for new authors & writers?

SQ: Read everything you can get your hands on, but especially in the type of fiction you want to write. Take classes–there are online classes out there as inexpensive as $15. Learn. Accept criticism gracefully and grow as a writer from it. Keep going, even when you don’t feel like it. You’re the only one who can realize your goal. No one’s going to beat down your door and beg you to write a book. You have to go after it. Many people say they want to write a book, fewer do it, and fewer still find the road to publication.

MC: If you were to compare your work to other authors, who would you say that your work most resembles in plot, tone, or voice?

SQ: Hmm. My heroes are very alpha, dominant. My heroines are sassy and smart, although not always making the right decisions. I don’t want any of my characters to be perfect, because no one is, right? And I can’t seem to write without some splotches of humor, only because I tend to see the ridiculous in things.

I’m not saying I’m anywhere near the level of these authors, but I think my work is a mix of Mary Janice Davidson, Lora Leigh and Sherrilyn Kenyon. A little dark, a little humor, and hot, alpha males.

MC: Give us five words that describe you.

SQ: Determined. Funny (or maybe silly?). Risk-Taker. Lazy (in the physical sense). Curious.

MC: Is the glass half full or half empty?

SQ: Half full. Who wants a half-empty glass? Well, unless it’s the last of the margaritas…

MC: What’s something that your readers may not know about you?

SQ: I am essentially an introvert. While I like talking to people, meeting people, it exhausts me. I’m happiest when I’m sitting behind my computer by myself. My mother worries about my hermit tendencies, and is very glad I’m working outside of the house again. LOL

MC: How can readers get in touch with you?

SQ: They can join my readers group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sherrillquinn or my monthly newsletter at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sherrillquinn_news (or both!), and can email me at sherrillquinn@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for this opportunity, Madison!