Thanks for being with us today.   Thank you so much for having me.

First, would you tell us a bit about yourself?  Though I’m not a shy person, I’m an introvert.  I love my privacy.  I enjoy exploring my creative nature and seem always to have a number of projects circling in the air as I juggle work, play, and interests.

What area of the country do you live in, do you have a family, pets, etc?  California is home in heart, mind and soul.

Are you a coffee fiend, or do you have another “addiction” you must have on your desk at all times?  I find when my muse is being stubborn, caffeine will, many times, picks up the slack.  A friend recently gave me a deluxe Keurig unit.  I don’t know how life existed before without it.

What’s your education, if it’s relevant to your writing, and how does that education help you/or do you find that you can write well even without the diploma others might think they must have?  I think of myself as self educated in many ways.  I find joy in persuing answers to questions and learning new things.  I don’t like being spoon fed, but rather prefer to find things out on my own.

Tell us about your most recent publication.  The Kalaydan Chronicles:  Book I ~ The Moon-Kissed Chi, is my first ever book.  Though I have a number of items in work now, it stands alone on the shelf as one of my completed works of erotic fiction.  I do have a collection of short stories under one of my mainstream noms de plume, however, it also served as a training tool.

 What inspired you to write this story? What interesting thing did you learn or research to write it that you didn’t know before?  I sat down one day, and tongue in cheek, decided to write a book because I could.  I attribute the attitude to my then recent introduction to the world if epublishing.  I suppose it was a bit of a euphoric stimulus with The Moon-Kissed Chi being the cumulation of my efforts.  It was driven by Ennui, as well, I suppose.

 How would you best describe your book?  The relationships between characters are sometimes quirky and funny, other times somber and affectionate, while altogether believable. It’s sensual and erotic, while unique in its storyline.

 What is your favorite genre to write? Sci-fi, fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction. To read?  Sci-fi, fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, mysteries and suspense, and erotica.

 What would you write if you could write anything you wanted to write?  Much as I have to date.

 What do you most like/love about writing?  The element of self challenge.  Least like?  There’s never enough time to take care of my day-to-day needs and write as I’d like.

When did you first know you wanted to be an author?  It has always figured at the back of my mind.  I’ve loved those opportunities which have presented themself to put pen to paper.  Indie publishing allows me to take the bull by the horns, so to speak.

Do you belong to any writing groups?  Yes.  Are there any writing websites you find particularly useful?  The blogs created by other writers wherein they discuss writing and their experiences with the craft.

 Is there any special music you like to listen to while writing?  Not really.  I like it quiet. How does it inspire you?  I prefer to be able to follow my thoughts as they present themselves in the tomes of my mind.

 Do you belong to a critique group? Yes.  What do you find most valuable about the experience?  The connections with other writers and the invaluable information, feedback, and criticism from these folks who are at differing stages in their writing careers.

 Tell us a little about your path to publication.   I prefer to publish independently.   With indie publishing, sales vary and can be immediate or not at all.  I publish on Smashwords and have found that to be the best choice I made.

 What’s your favorite thing about the book featured here today?  I was awed during the whole process during which The Moon-Kissed Chi evolved.  I finally resorted to keeping a separate file of ideas and things to do and information to research as the book unfolded.  I’ve this file over to book two and it continues to grow fat.   

Any special memories you have in the creation of it?  Yes.  One morning I woke in tears and blubbering like a baby.  The visit from my muse in my dreams had left me with the knowledge that I would have to kill off one of my characters.  I realized then, too, I’d grown to love and care for my characters and the desire to get to know them even better blossomed and bloomed and has turned them all into friends of a sort. 

What are you writing now?  I have a number of stories and books in the works.  Not all of them are erotica.  The one with the closest deadline is, A Ghostly Tale or Two.  I’m also working on book two of The Kalaydan Chronicles, The Training, with a tentative deadline of December of this year.  I have a new one, Johnny B. Goode, with a deadline of November.  The mainstream ones also have deadlines entwined with the erotic writing schedule. 

What would you like to tell readers?  When you come across a writer you enjoy, connect with them.  Take advantage of any media they offer by which to discuss their works further and tell them what worked and didn’t work for you.  As a writer, I can’t see the reactions of the readers to my resulting stories, but I do read and consider their responses to it.  Since I do provide a caveat at the beginning of my work and at the point of purchase as to it’s sexually graphic nature and any gore or sensitive topics which may be found within, I’m less inclined to consider commentary which point to a difference in taste with regard to the genre itself.

 Blurb:

 In the City of Kalaydan, Arrinay and Bezhyanya, the senior members of the ruling family, are faced with the early maturation of their daughter, Gayadnae.  She must start the training.  It’s Kalaydan law.  Their daughter has other ideas.  After concocting a plan to avoid responsibility and almost succeeding in carrying it out, Gayadnae’s life takes an unexpected turn.

Grayt, the ever-present serving woman to Arrinay, fills many roles and has her fingers in a number of pies.  There’s definitely more to her than is apparent on the surface.  Besides coordinating activities in the Main House, keeping the young mistress in line, and talking to horses, Grayt seems to have a more secret mission along with a few more grave responsibilities.

A hint of trouble on the horizon and other darker activities weave their way through the backdrop of this delightful tale of the city of Kalaydan. 

Bear in mind, this is a work of erotic fiction and thus contains explicit sexual content and adult themes.

 Excerpt:

 They walked in silence with arms entwined.  When they reached the paddock, Hawne spoke again.

 “I’m sorry I missed the conception rite.  I touched my niece and nephew in our embrace back there.  They will make mother and father proud; I’m sure of it.”

 “I meant to tell you before you found out but no harm done.  It was his wish when he first took me.  I kept his seed from that first bedding.  It germinated with mine tonight at the rite.”

“You will need me.  I will live with you if you ask me.”

 “I will think on it.  You must leave me here, Hawne.”

 “Yes.  In the fire of light, sis.”

 “In the fire of light, my-only-blood.”

 She watched as Hawne took to her heels, heading off into the forest.  When she could no longer see the bright, white aura which was her sister, she turned and walked over to the open gate of the paddock.  Both Thronde and Schmelt were standing close together.  They trotted over to Grayt.

 “Okay, Schmelt.  Time to go home.”

 She opened the gate and allowed her to pass through.

 “Thronde, you did good today.”

 The Big Black stomped a massive hoof and reared up on his hind legs.  When he settled down, he nuzzled Grayt’s face before turning and walking across the paddock.  The walk back to the stables was short and she had no trouble getting Schmelt into her stall without notice.  She took a direct route through the forest to the back entrance of the household and stopped at the back door.  The heady fragrance of the night-blooming flowers beckoned to her to enjoy a night roaming in the forest but she resisted.  She’d been out all of the night’s morning and wanted to sleep before the daily needs of the household required her involvement.   She placed her hand on the door, palm down, then stepped through the opening which presented itself.

 She walked down the stairs slowly to the common level and turned left, walking past the kitchen to the end of the hall.  When she stopped, she was at her own quarters.  She stepped through the curtained entryway and walked over to an alcove set in the wall.  She sank to her knees on the stone floor and reached for her stone.  Her shoulders heaved and shuddered with pent up emotion.  As the energy radiated out it was met by the advancing radiance of two crystals which hung in the alcove.

 “Mother.  Father.  It is so hard.  Am I really able to finish this task you have given me?”

 Two figures stepped forward from the light and merged with Grayt as she sat on the floor.  Their combined energies at once and disparately were of fire red, royal blue, and magenta.  They roiled in the place in which Grayt had been sitting only moments ago.  The energy radiated a soft light.  All was quiet.

 Giveaway: I will give away one copy of The Moon-Kissed Chi (Amazon.com version) by random drawing.  Please comment in a reply to this post with your email address to enter.

Links:
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EMail: grinelda.markowitz@gmail.com