AAD Meet and Greet: Author Elise Hepner Interview

Elise Hepner has been writing erotica full time for three years now. She stumbled into the genre while doing a college research paper on pornography for her Woman’s Studies minor where she was asked to clarify the difference between erotica and porn. As a very sex positive person, she went at the task with gusto, and did lots of research--to her utter glee. Many Cleis books later, she knew she'd found her genre. Her career was sealed when she began writing for Alison Tyler's blog short-short contests and picked up an awesome mentor. Now she writes from her “woman cave” office in the basement with her cat, two ferrets, and her husband who has his roam of the kitchen on the upper floor when she's not busy making tea and taking “research breaks”.

About you:

Do you have any hobbies?

Mostly I just read and write a lot. I've tried a few other things like knitting, painting, etc and they don't seem to keep my brain occupied. But, I never really stop working either, so it's kinda bad in the workaholic department. I also watch a lot of reality, trash TV and I'm kinda addicted to Netflix On Demand. I just finished Spartacus Blood and Sand. Yum. Can you say inspiration?

What do you like to read?

I really like historical biographies, historical fiction, erotica, erotic romance, and HQN Blaze's. There are also a select few paranormal series and lots of YA and women's fiction. I'm very into psychological memoirs because there was a big stretch of time where I wanted to be a therapist—that and I'm nosey.

Can you tell us some of your favorite books you've read?

Violet and Claire by Francesca Lia Block, The Hollow's Series by Kim Harrison, Anything by Richelle Mead, Simply Shameless by Kate Pearce, Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot, Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kayson, Anything by Elizabeth Wurtzel and The Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Francesca Lia Block, Richelle Mead, Phillipa Gregory, Sommer Marsdon, Gail Carriger,

If you can meet any author in person dead or alive, who would it be and why him/her?

Oh wow, that's kind of a hard question. I'd have to say Violet Blue because she really kicked off my journey to sex goodness and erotica—plus, she just seems like such an amazing person and role model. Oh, and, I'm gonna be greedy and say two people because I'd also love to meet Louisa May Alcott. I'm cliché like that :)

AAD:

What part of AAD are you most looking forward to?

Getting out of my house! And meeting such kick ass fellow authors. I may just spend the whole time with my mouth open, squealing with girlish glee.

What do you hope to walk away with from AAD?

As a first time AAD author, I really have no clue, other than books.

Have you ever been to AAD before? If so what was your favorite part?

Nope, I'm an AAD newbie and I'm kinda nervous. I'm shy by nature.

Are you on any panels? if so can you tell us which ones to look for you on?

I'm on the Erotica panel

Your Writing:

How did you first get into writing? Has it always been your dream?

My father wrote all the time when I was younger but never subbed anything. At age six I promised him when I grew up I would be a writer that subbed my work and I would show him it's easy. I kept the promise. It's not so easy as I thought at six, but I wouldn't do anything else. Ever since I wrote my first story about a dirt bike that came alive at night in it's search for pizza, the ideas in my head refuse to be ignored.

What genre do you write?

Erotica and Erotic Romance

Do you have any must haves when you sit down to write?

Tea, silence if the writing is going well, Disney music if I want to slam my head into a wall, and some kind of snack within arms reach. I also have to-do lists scattered all over my desk and lots of half-filled yellow legal pads.

Can you tell us how a typical writing day for you is?

I generally wake up around 10-11 am, feed my cat, grab tea and a quick breakfast and head down into my cave/office. From there, I throw on some kind of peppy music, do a check of websites like Blogger, Twitter, Romance Diva's etc. Then I jump into whatever project is it for the day. I like to bounce from project to project during the day and give myself little rewards of the Netflix variety and I normally end work anywhere from 2-5 am when I go to bed.

What is one thing you think sets you apart from other authors?

Is my height an acceptable answer? Lol. I'm super short at 4'9. I also know, at 24, I'm a lot younger than most authors in my field because I'm lucky enough to have a husband that supports my full time writing habit and lets me build my career without having to juggle a full time office job.

Your Books:

Can you share with us anything you are currently working on?

Currently, I’m working on the edits for my first Ellora’s Cave Exotica release, Party Games. It’s a fun, 1940’s set M/M/F ménage that should be coming out in the near future.

Can you share with us your first book ever published?

My first book was Check Out, a spanking M/F/M ménage with Excessica Publishing. Here is the blurb:

Hardcore punk rocker Jennifer's been exiled from her safe, far away college back to her small town. The trouble started when she was caught having sex with her college adviser, Paul-by the Dean of Students. All she wants to do is damn the man and the trouble has just kept coming. She's forced by her socialite parents to work the night shift in her local grocery store while feigning off come-on's from customers and a circa 1950's boss.

But things get more complicated when Paul comes back into town for a little stop-and-shop. Jennifer is forced to confront their growing master/slave relationship and the mounting feelings she's been harboring all summer. Meanwhile, Paul the good ol' boy whose grown up playing football and exuding charm is ready to put Jennifer's smart little mouth to work. All she wants is for him to stay. But he won't take anything from her without a price.

Warnings: This title contains graphic m/f/m sexual situations, spanking, a high level of dominance, and submission play.

Can your share with us your most recent release, or a soon to be release?

My most recent release is The Little Plaid Skirt Saga 1 & 2 with Excessica Publishing. Here’s the blurb:

Naomi gets her high from crowd surfing in her little plaid skirt. She’s got voyeuristic tendencies and with a mosh pit full of people there are infinite sexual possibilities. She’s only got to look to the person next to her for a slamming good time in the sack and out of it.

Alissa is a cougar with a sex addiction and a penchant for stealing her daughter’s clothes. When she comes across a freebie catalogue full of her favorite kind of dress up, she just can’t help herself. Out comes the credit cards and in she goes to the nearest single’s bar. It’s time to see what today’s catch of the day is.

In this anthology all it takes is a little scrap of fabric to rule the world. When playing dress-up who doesn’t want to take over the world?

Warnings: This title contain m/f/f sex, voyeurism, f/f sex, roleplaying, random sexual partners, female masturbation, road head, and bad parenting.

What has been your favorite book you have written so far? why is this one your favorite?

Party Games is probably my favorite right now because it’s really pushing me to new heights with my writing and voice. The hero’s and heroine spoke to me much more forcefully in this piece than any of my other previous works. They refused to be ignored!

Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?

I’m on Twitter all the time, so stop by and chat! I love meeting new people on the interwebs especially new writers and readers.

Where can readers find you? twitter,facebook,etc
Twitter: www.twitter.com/EHepner
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=286610693495
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3412877.Elise_Hepner
Blogger: http://celise91writer.blogspot.com/

Do you have a newsletter?

No newsletter yet, though it’s in the works!

Would you like to stop by and chat with the commenter's in the comment

section?

Absolutely!