Author Interview: Marie A. Roy

Author Name: Marie A. Roy
Year started writing for LI: 2007
Titles: Canterville: Book One – The Dead Speak
Web Page: www.freewebs.com/mariearoy


What genre do you write in, and why? :

Erotic fiction, erotic romance fiction, contemporary romance, mysteries and forensic thrillers.

I like putting on many hats! I write the contemporaries, mysteries and forensic thrillers under my name Marie A. Roy . I also write erotic fiction under the names of Collette Thomas and Zara Dominique. I feel I acquire a slightly different persona when I write under various names. Each one has its own website. http://www.freewebs.com/mariearoy for Marie A. Roy; http://www.freewebs.com/collettethomas for Collette Thomas and http://www.freewebs.com/zaradominique for Zara Dominique.


How much time do you spend writing every week? :

I am able to stay home at this stage in my life after working in corporate for many years. Consequently, I spend every day 24/7 and even night writing. I have several projects in the works now and devote time to all of them each and every day.


What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) :

Actually the first story I wrote I’m sure was in elementary school. My parents had this shiny black Royal typewriter. One summer we actually lugged that thing along with the beach towels, beach blankets and other paraphernalia families bring with them when the rent a cottage by the shore. In the evenings after a day on the beach I would type out my stories that usually involved dogs and horses.

How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? :

If you’re not squirming in your seat, and thinking about that significant other in your life, or simply feeling certain feelings, then the scene needs to be worked on, tweaked some more until it does. And then it has to flow while producing those sparks that tell you it’s working!

Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? :

Let’s say I fantasize about them and from that point I can pretty much tell if it’s working!


Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? :

Not yet!


What one word best describes your toy collection? :

I have a large box in the back of my closet. Let’s say one word to describe it ….or two….”very interesting!”


Favourite candy while writing? :

Right now beside my computer I have a box of Dark Chocolate Hershey’s Truffles. I bought this for myself. What made me choose this box? This line on the back:

“To best enjoy these exquisite morsels, bite down gently and allow the center to liquefy in your mouth. Use your tongue to swirl the melting chocolate across all surfaces of your mouth, noticing the early flavors, smoothness, mouthfeel, finish and lingering notes”

I thought I was reading the back blurb of an erotic romance novel. .


Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :

Let’s say while sitting across from a funeral director while my sister and I dealt with getting funeral arrangements completed for both of my parents--not a good time for us. Yet, weeks later I decided to develop a character whose profession involved assisting families with their deceased loved ones. This produced an endless array of possibilities for this characters who I feel is three dimensional in that both good and evil resides in him. He’s one who has gotten in touch with that dark side of himself that many may deny exists. And then the entire plot has revolved around that premise, in fact an entire town where both good and evil reside, and the underlying battle that continues. This of course starts with Book One – The Dead Speak of my CANTERVILLE Series. Book One is like driving into a town, meeting the inhabitants, and then discovering things aren’t quite what they appear.


What inspires you to write? :

Ideas are always coming to me no matter where I am. There are so many stories out there waiting to be told. My most recent one evolved into a sequel where my characters are now involved in the adult movie making business…and two of the characters (both males) are starting to realize there is a strong attraction to each other.

What music inspires your writing? :

Everything from anything of Celine Dion’s, or Josh Groben’s songs to the PussyCat Dolls’ Don’t Cha, to Charles Barkley’s Crazy, or Gwen Stefani’s Sweet Escape, to Frank Sinatra’s Summer Wind and Lisa Minelli’s New York, New York, and a bit of classical thrown in-- Beethoven’s Sonatas, which in my former life I used to play on the piano.

Plotter or a Panster? :

I will plot out the story for a time, then I become a panster in that I let it flow from my brain, and then I revert back to being a plotter so that in the end the story comes together naturally and seamlessly.

Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :

In memory of Sammie who joined Misty, Tabitha and Spunky at the Rainbow Bridge this past October 19, 2007, I would have to say I miss him terribly. He would sit here by my side. Periodically, I would pick him up, and he would look at me, and gently touch my cheek with his paw. He and I battled his diabetes for one year before it took its toll. I had him for fifteen years, and he was my best friend. I have his ashes on my shelf along with his photo.

What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :

Forgetting to remove my signature line when emailing to certain people I don’t particularly want to know about my “other” life. For instance two very nice people who are quite involved in the church, retired from teaching, etc. To my horror I sent them an email and realized the signature line read: Hot Sex with a Stranger: A Case of Mistaken Identity and Appetite for Lust.

Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :

Just recently …and it was inside a stalled elevator….


When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :

I leave my office and go work out! I find while on a treadmill or an elliptical bike thought flow increases in that I’m getting the blood and oxygen to my brain, not to mention a shot of endorphins. I truly believe that helps! Suddenly, all sorts of scenarios start to rise and I can’t wait to get back to the computer to rework the scene that had me fleeing from it in the first place.

The Personal stuff:

Any outrageous liaisons in your past?

Someday I will tell all…but when I do it will be under the name of Anonymous! And yes there have been a few!


Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :

I think for now I’ll keep that to myself.


What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? :

Pizza! It was my first date with my late husband. He was so good looking, and he had just started teaching. It was back in the late 60’s and all the girls thought he looked like Dustin Hoffman in the Graduate. Since that first date we never went out with anyone else, married and stayed together until his passing in 2002 for 33 years. Next month we would have celebrated out 39th wedding anniversary.

What kind of books do you read for fun? :

I enjoy reading erotic romance, contemporaries and of course forensic thrillers. Also, being the health nut that I am I enjoy books on healthy living, physical fitness, and healthy cooking. I’m always trying new recipes that will add to my overall health which in turns keeps those brain cells alive and well. Creating erotic fantasies can take a lot of energy!

Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :

Don’t I wish! I have fantasies galore and my characters get to live them out!

If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :

Love and Sex makes the world go around and around and around!”

Soulmates? Do you believe? :

Yes! I am fortunate that I had a soul mate for all those years. I’m not sure at this point I’ll find it again. I’m kind of like Kendra Bettencourt, the M.E. in my Canterville Series who dates but is not ready to get “emotionally” involved with anyone.

Sex with anyone famous? :

A girl can only wish and fantasize!!!!

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :

Blueberry pie! I don’t drink soda so have no preference for either. I love tea especially Chamomile and Blueberry!