Author Interview: Amanda Young

Author Name: Amanda Young

Year started writing for LI: My first contract was signed in 2006

Titles: Candy Man, Eye Candy, GWM Wanted, Man Candy, Pyromancer, Secrets & Lies, Something More, and the upcoming Reckless Seduction.

Web Page: www.AmandaYoung.org

What genre do you write in, and why? : I write mostly M/M romance these days, but I also have a ménage title out and two paranormal romances. When it comes right down to it, I write whatever strikes my whimsy. It just so happens that I’m more interesting in men, than women lately. ;)

How much time do you spend writing every week? :
I work a lot. I really couldn't break it down into hours. I think my husband gets tired of seeing the laptop glued to my thighs.

What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) :
The first story I wrote, when I was about fourteen or fifteen, was a very warped drama about a girl who was kidnapped and tortured by her stepbrother. What can I say? I was reading a lot of VC Andrews at the time.


How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? :
Well… If it makes me squirm, then it’s a keeper.


Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? :
Some of them. I don’t have the right anatomy for a lot of what I write, but thankfully I’m married to someone who does.


Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? :
Actually, no. I have a very vivid dirty imagination, and what I can’t imagine can usually be found online.


What one word best describes your toy collection? :
Phallic.


Favourite candy while writing? :
None. I’d be the size of a house if I snacked all day while puttering around on the computer. I usually stick to coffee or diet soda.

Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :
A Nickelback song.

What inspires you to write? :
I’ve been inspired by movies, music, television, random things people say or do… the list goes on and on.

What music inspires your writing? :
Pretty much anything I listen to. The more emotion behind the song, the more it makes my mind spin. I’ve been listening to a lot of grunge lately, so I’ve been tempted into writing darker, more angst-ridden stories. Who knows what it’ll be next month.

Plotter or a Pantser? :
Pantser. I write an outline for each manuscript, but I very rarely stick to it. Half the fun is seeing how things will end.

What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :
Oh, man, it was definitely when my mother-in-law asked to read a copy of my first book. She’s in her late sixties, and a real product of her generation. I was really worried about her reading my stuff.


When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :
Research, research, research. I love my job. ;)


The Personal stuff:

Any outrageous liaisons in your past?
Of course I have, but I’ll never tell.

Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :
Hmm, I think I’ll keep this one to myself too. I’d hate to see the looks I’d get otherwise. I did some wild things when I was a teenager.

What kind of books do you read for fun? :
M/M romance, what else? Actually, I also read a lot of horror novels. I always say that if a book doesn’t have blood, guts, or sex, (or one of the three) I’m not interested. That pretty much goes for movies too.

Is your real life anything like your stories? :
Not at all. My life if horrendously boring compared to my stories. I like it that way.

If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :
Real women do it like men. *laughing*

Soulmates? Do you believe? :
Definitely. I felt drawn to my husband from the moment I saw him. Of course, that could have because he's so cute.

Sex with anyone famous? :
Nope.

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :
Cake, Diet Coke, & Coffee.