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| Bridget, Laci, & Yvette |
The event was filled with candy (lots of candy), laughter, BDSM, corsets, and demos. It was a good day all around. In the swag bags Bridget and Yvette provided paperback books from their Decadent Treat anthology. I started on them a week later, and when I was finished I had questions for the two ladies about how these stories came about, and what was it like to work together on their project. Here's what we chatted about:
Laci: Thank you ladies for agreeing to this interview so soon after your new releases; Red Hots & Licorice Whips. I know how busy life can be, so I appreciate the time you both took to chat with me.
So tell me, how did this whole Decadent Series come about? Because the whole idea of brothers who co-own a candy shop by day, and are sexy Dom’s by night is intriguing.
So tell me, how did this whole Decadent Series come about? Because the whole idea of brothers who co-own a candy shop by day, and are sexy Dom’s by night is intriguing.
Bridget: First of all, thank you so much,
Laci, for coming to our event, reading our books (so quick!), and for this
interview. I’m thrilled you want to interview us!
The series actually came about from
our previous publisher, Whispers Publishing. We had done three three-author
anthologies with them, Reignited, Taken, and Wonderland. Aliyah Burke, the third author in our
threesome, had way too many publishing obligations to commit to another
anthology. Since we write contemporary interracial BDSM anyway, we decided to
continue with the project but just make it a two-author anthology. We loved our stories so we decided
to expand them to full-length novels, and then release them during an in-person
author event.
Yvette: We first have to thank Dawn from Whispers Publishing. She came up and asked if we would do a
candy shop story. She always wanted to see a book, series about a candy shop. Bridget and
I who write BDSM messaged Dawn and told her we had an idea about two brothers
that owned the shop and they were Doms. Dawn thought it was a great idea. We
submitted our proposal and the Publisher closed shortly after. So, Bridget and I revamped
the story and commenced
to writing. Co-writing a series is an experience everyone should try at least
once.
Throughout the two books you both do an excellent job, in my
opinion, in keeping the brothers true to their own personalities. Did you use
each other as a sounding board? Was there ever a point where one of you said,
“My guy wouldn’t say/or do that.”
Bridget: Thank you, Laci. We worked hard at
developing our characters’ voices and keeping them consistent in both novels.
There were only a few minor items that we had to iron out in our initial
drafts. For example, in Licorice Whips,
Masaun’s house had been described as having a large detached garage where the
Halloween play party happened. Masaun’s house looked different in Red Hots so a compromise was made to
keep the house consistent. Sweet in Licorice
Whips does not smile. Any references to him smiling in Red Hots, since that is the first book in the series, had to be
changed. Those are very minor. What helped us with the consistency was talking
before we started writing where we detailed everything, from the characters’
looks to their internal and external conflicts, to the resolutions. What also
helped is that we both read each other’s first drafts. We got the characters’
voices down and mannerisms. Definitely communication was the key.
Yvette: Of course, because we are two separate writers who have our
own Muses telling us the story. I think naturally as a writer you feel you own
all your characters in a story. So, when someone else is writing a story with
your characters, especially your hero and heroine, you want to tweak here and
there. And in somethings you just have to step away and let go, because it is
the other author’s story too. You have to give them space to be creative.
How difficult was it to coordinate the brothers, and their
duties in the candy shop and/or as Dom’s? Were you ever worried that you’d both
have a similar idea?
Bridget: Because our writing styles and
voices are so different, it really wasn’t that difficult to coordinate the
brothers and their duties in the candy shop or in their BDSM world. Masaun in Red Hots had been set up as the
business-minded brother who used to be an attorney, so it was a no-brainer to
make him the, seemingly, more responsible one, a natural teacher. Since Sweet
from Licorice Whips is the younger
brother, it seemed natural to make him a little more carefree and impulsive.
There is an instance where the two
brothers do the same joke in each book. Come on. They are brothers. They’re
bound to have the same sense of humor, right?
Yvette: It is funny, Laci… the whole book was a similar idea. We did
talk extensively on the phone about the make-up of the book and who our heroes
and heroines were, who worked in the candy shop, what we sold and
delivered…etc. However, not all the storyline stuff or how we were going to
write it. So, when we both finished and exchanged books to read for continuity,
we were like. “Oh, gracious, I saw him like this and I was thinking the same
thing.” That was a little scary. LOL.
Laci: And I think that's why you guys were able to pull it off so well!
Laci: And I think that's why you guys were able to pull it off so well!
The use of candy in some scenes was, um…let’s say,
unconventional. Did you experiment hands-on with these ideas, or was it purely
imagination that fueled your muse?
Bridget: The candy playing scene in Licorice Whips came about by pure
imagination, especially the Pop Rocks and the candy rings. Okay, there was one
experimentation with the candy rings, but that’s it.
Yvette: Ah, this is Bridget’s department. She got the ‘fun’ brother. He was the candy maker, so I think she did right in using Sweet’s imagination and dominant personality in such a way.
Yvette: Ah, this is Bridget’s department. She got the ‘fun’ brother. He was the candy maker, so I think she did right in using Sweet’s imagination and dominant personality in such a way.
Are there more Decadent books in the works? If so, how many?
If not, do you plan to collaborate on something else in the future?
Bridget: There are only two brothers so this
series may be over with these two books. However, we are planning another
project. We can’t say a lot about it now. You’ll just have to stay tuned.
Yvette: There aren’t any more Decadent books in the works. However,
Bridget and my goal and desire to provide great BDSM books and other hot
contemporary romances to our readers will always lead the door open for one of
us to say… “Hey, what about…” Next summer we do have something in mind we are
planning to do for the readers together, but it is top secret squirrel coded.
Laci: LOL Top secret squirrel coded! That made me laugh, for more reasons than one. My daughter was bit by a squirrel last week, and since then it seems I'm being hit with squirrel references left and right.
Share three things about yourself that not many people know:
Bridget:
1. I’m the youngest of five children.
1. I’m the youngest of five children.
2. I’ve met the governor
of Virginia. I have a picture to prove it!
3. Although I write BDSM
erotic romances, I’m not in the Lifestyle. I just learn from a local group.
Yvette:
Yvette:
1.I’m a control freak.
2. I love to laugh, deep belly laughs until I am crying.
However, I can’t write romantic comedy worth and damn.
3. I give until it hurts way to often.
One word answers:
Bridget:
Bridget:
Tea or coffee? Coffee (I
don’t drink either. I like the way coffee smells.)
Red or black? Black (It
hides a multitude of sins.)
Cats or dogs? Cats (But
love both.)
Winter or summer? Summer
Vanilla or chocolate? Vanilla
Yvette:
Tea or coffee? Tea
Yvette:
Tea or coffee? Tea
Red or black? Both
Cats or dogs? Cats
Winter or summer? Summer
Vanilla or chocolate? Vanilla
Bridget: Laci, thank you, again, for
interviewing us! This was a blast!
Laci: Not a problem, anytime! Loved having you guys.
Laci: Not a problem, anytime! Loved having you guys.
Bridget Midway is a Best-selling author of interracial BDSM erotic romance. She has been published since 2005 with more than over four different small press and electronic publishers including Phaze Books, Parker Publishing, Loose Id, and Liquid Silver Books. The multi-award winning and award-nominated author has found her niche with readers with her scintillating interracial BDSM erotic romance including the EPPIE Award finalist, Love My Way, and Romance Slam Jam Steamy Novel of the Year finalist, Corporate Needs. With more than 24 published short stories, novellas, and novels under her belt, she shows no signs of stopping. For more information on Bridget Midway, go to her website at HERE
Licorice Whips is
available at:
And other fine online book
retailers.
Yvette is an erotica author that loves pleasurable hours between the
sheets. Whether it is a blended tale of interracial lovers, the
clandestine bite and wicked passion of a paranormal mates or the sting
of a commanding whip against tender flesh. Even better, make her day and
toss in two gorgeously, decadent men who only want to pleasure their
woman. She writes Short and Sexy, Sensual Erotica (SASSE). Occasionally,
you may get a full length novel from her. She's been penning erotic tales since
2006, on the hedonistic side of the romance genre.She's married to her best friend. A guy that makes her laugh 'til she can't breathe and one who steals her breath every time he walks into a room. She believes in happily ever after like the rising of the sun depended on it.
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