Interview with Kris Eton

Jen: Readers, help me welcome erotica author, Kris Eton to the blog this weekend. Kris, will you please share a short bio with us?
Kris: I’m a former technical writer who lives in the middle of nowhere and writes fiction to keep from going nuts. I like baking and American Idol, reading historical romance and watching Asian horror films. In other words, I’m a bit of a kook.

Jen: Tell us about ICE RED and where it's available.
Kris: On May 15th the second in my Arctic Heat series, ICE RED, will be released with Cobblestone Press. This is a series of three books for their ultra-hot Wicked line. Currently, the first book, ICE BLACK is available for purchase at the Cobblestone site. In June the 3rd book, ICE WHITE, will be released. All three stories are shapeshifter erotic romances that take place at a secret facility in Antarctica

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Kris: As a child I was always very gifted with writing and words. My favorite assignments were always ones that included writing prompts of one kind or another. The first erotic romance I ever had published was called GOING DOWN. I’d had an earlier story published 2 weeks before the publisher went bankrupt, so I never saw a dime of sales for that book. But Cobblestone was kind enough to offer me a contract on GOING DOWN just weeks after that happened. It’s been my best-selling book so far!

Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Kris: No other writers. In fact, my immediate family isn’t really all that creatively-minded. I do have one person in my extended family who has his own artistic talents.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Kris: Originally, I was very much an organic kind of writer. I wouldn’t really plot much or think through the story. I’d just start writing and let it come. Which means some of my earliest attempts at publication were pretty awful. I am the type of person who must learn by doing and making her own mistakes. I am terrible at listening to advice or getting help from books or conferences. Over the years, I have learned to combine my love of discovering the story with some plotting and character ideas. If it’s a shorter story, I can do a bit of an outline, but for longer stuff that doesn’t work so well.

Jen: Do you have a specific time or place that you write?
Kris: I have my trusty Apple desktop in my makeshift office and that is where I do my writing. I wish I had more of a view, b/c staring at a wall when I’m stuck is not the best for inspiration. I write whenever I can find the time or the inclination. Late at night, on the weekends, middle of the day.

Jen: How many hours a day do you write?
Kris: Right now, not a whole lot. November, I was writing like CRAZY. I go through bursts. I’m not someone who can write intensely every single day of the week. But when I do decide to write, I can crank those words out pretty quickly. I’m a fast typer.

Jen: What did you do to celebrate the sale of your first book?
Kris: Nothing much. Told the spouse and said, ‘Yay me!’ I’m sort of an introverted type.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? / Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Kris: Although I LOVE to read historical romance, I just could never write one. Something about all the details...sort of scares me. I like writing both contemporary and paranormal romances. I seem pretty content staying right in there.

Jen: What five authors or people, from the past or present, have been important to you as an author? What question or comment have you always wanted to say to them?
Kris: Hm, that is a hard question! I’m a big lover of 19th century literature. So I will have to choose Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, the Bronte sisters, and one more modern writer....Daphne DuMaurier. I don’t really have any questions or comments for these people, but I respect how each of these writers had the capability of drawing very real characters and detailed worlds for me. I love a good tragic romance, and several of these authors hit something in me...an emotional connection that I wish I could give to my readers someday.

Jen: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Kris: Although I’m creative, I’m pretty down-to-earth. Somewhat practical. So, no, this does not happen to me. I am able to focus on writing when I am supposed to be writing, and my ‘real’ life when I’m supposed to be in my real life. No strange dreams or anything going on with me.

Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Kris: I love watching TV and movies. I also enjoy spending time with my family and baking! Spontaneity is big for me. If I feel I want to go on an adventure, let’s go! Right now. No real planning...I love that. Just taking to the road and finding surprises along the way.

Jen: What's next for you?
Kris: I would really like to start writing a sequel for a book called BEEF CAKE that will be coming out with Siren Publishing in June—it’s about a magical cookbook. Also, I’ve been considering expanding on my Arctic Heat series...perhaps writing a longer story based in the same world.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Kris: I have a website with a blog, all my books, and excerpts, plus a free story! http://www.kriseton.com

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Kris: What makes you pick up a book and read it? What kinds of romances do you most like to read? If you find an author you like, do you buy everything she’s written? Or only a specific title?

Jen: Thank you Kris for being our guest this weekend. Readers, Kris is giving away a download of ICE BLACK, a shapeshifter menage romance and the ofirst book in her Arctic Heat series. Because of the content of the book, the winner must be 18 years of ager older. To enter the contest, leave a comment or question for Kris. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, May 10 around 5 pm PST.