Author Interview: Mima

Author Name: Mima
Year started writing for LI: 2008
Titles: In Service
Web Page: www.mimawithin.com

What genre do you write in, and why? : scifi, fantasy, paranormal: I read to escape, and I write for the same reason. Magic, more men than I could ever handle, and amazing adventure are what pleases my imagination.

How much time do you spend writing every week? : If I want to sleep (and sometimes the book is more important) about 10 hours. I’m a children’s librarian, so my wonderful day job takes precedence.

What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) : A girl who could transport herself from castle to castle through paintings. I was 10. It was beautifully written, but there was no conflict. My editors still occasionally tell me the same thing…

How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? : Is there emotion? Do they make me hot? Are they different from every other scene in the rest of the book?

Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? : Never.

Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? : Yes. In terms of sex, writing, and publishing. I find it very patronizing, but then I’m sure that was their intent.

What one word best describes your toy collection? : Varied. Also, just like with cat toys, sometimes it’s not the store bought ones that work best.

Favourite candy while writing? :Bottlecaps, Smarties, Spree

Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :I have no idea where some of these ideas come from. But I read and watch movies a lot. So inspiration can come from spinning someone else’s great idea into a unique twist. I don’t consider that stealing.

What inspires you to write? :The voices in my head won’t shut up. Plus, reading disappointing stories. Not the really bad ones, the ones that were almost good. “I could fix this story,” I think, and my fingers itch.

What music inspires your writing? :I must write in silence.

Plotter or a Pantser? :Pantster

Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :Rarely, my lap.

What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :Telling my mother.

Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :My computer with my husband walking back and forth behind me. Freaks me out.

When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :Days of contemplation and teeth-grinding.

The Personal stuff:

Any outrageous liaisons in your past? None.

Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :The library (as a student not a professional, thank you.)

What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? : The half-cooked stew in the woods of the Adirondacks after my husband had proposed on a mountaintop.

What kind of books do you read for fun? :Romance or romantic elements in absolutely any genre. Some hardcore BDSM squicks me out…

Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :The emotions of my stories sometimes come directly from real-life, down to the dialogue. My written fantasies are way more outrageous than my real fantasies I explore with my husband. I think for many women the fantasies that get them hot on the page aren’t things they really crave in life. And that’s healthy.

If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :I already have it. “Librarians do it better between the covers.”

Soulmates? Do you believe? :No.

Sex with anyone famous? :Whaaaa? Ewww. Oh, you mean, as a fantasy? Viggo, Vin Diesel, Hugh Jackman.

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :Cake, neither, green tea.