First off, I would like to thank Eden Bradley for taking the time for this interview!
I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I have.
All I can say is I want to be her friend!
She is the most interesting author I have had the pleasure of interviewing to date!
Be sure to connect with Eden and let her know you read the review and FOLLOW her on her social media!
As someone who has been involved in BDSM practice for much of her adult life, she relates in particular to her kink stories, infusing them with her own truth about kink practice from her life experiences. Eden speaks regularly on BDSM psychology and practice, as well as sex positive culture for women. She offers her enormously popular Empower Your Sexual Self course for women, as well as writing courses through her website.
Eden lives in Northern California, and loves art, shoes, tattoos, her Boston Terrier, cupcakes (because who doesn’t love cupcakes?), and reading and writing smutty books, of course, not necessarily in that order.
When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I come from a family of readers and learned to read at age 3. By the time I was five I realized there were never enough books to read and decided I would write my own. I was writing stories all through childhood, my teen years and into adulthood, but didn’t consider getting published until I was 40. It took four years, but once I decided to go for it, I found several online writer’s organizations and met some wonderful authors who mentored me early on. People in the romance genre are incredibly generous with their time and in sharing information, and it’s really because of them that I am where I am today.
Did you have any influencing writers growing up?
I loved Louisa May Alcott as a little girl, then my dad introduced me to Shakespeare pretty early. As a pre-teen/teenager I was huge sci-fi fan, and was reading a lot of Robert Heinlein and I loved the Anne McCaffrey dragon series. But the authors who really influenced my writing voice were Anne Rice and Tanith Lee.
Are any of your characters based on people in real life?
Quite a few! Some of my secondary characters are based on friends and loyal readers, and there are definitely pieces of me in many of my heroines. A few of my heroes are based on real people, too, but I’m not saying who!
Where do you draw your book inspirations from?
A lot of my inspiration comes from music. It can be the lyrics, or the mood of the song. I often put together and post the playlists for each of my books. Music is huge for me!
Art can also be a source of inspiration (I studied Art History in college and am a huge art geek). My first full-length novel The Dark Garden was inspired by a painting called The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. The painting itself is a dark piece, but it was the theory behind it that resonated with me and brought about an important piece of conversation between the characters.
Do you use have a basic outline when starting a new story or do you let the characters lead the way?
My stories are always almost entirely character-driven, so it always starts with creating my characters and getting to know them on a very deep level. I have to know where they live, what kind of car they drive, their relationship and family history, how they dress, what they do for a living, who their best friends are, what they fear the most, how they see themselves—every tiny detail before I can start writing the story. They really do tell me what to do!
Then it’s about figuring out how and why these people are drawn to each other, how they can be each other’s fondest dreams and worst fears simultaneously, and how they get through that lovely and difficult growth process together.
When you are picturing the characters in your book, do you have a cheater photo for inspiration?
Sometimes. I did when I was writing my most recent story Daddy, At Your Service (part of the Dirty Daddies Pride Anthology), but it’s actually fairly rare for me to do that.
Many people read as a form of escape and relaxation. What is your favorite way to sit back and relax?
Honestly, I watch the most reprehensible reality TV, especially dating shows! It allows me to really escape my daily life for a while. It’s the best way for me to wind down.
Who are your favorite current authors to read?
I adore Ali Williams, a UK author-her writing is so gorgeous! Also, my friend Khloe Wren’s books are such an emotional journey, which I love!
Do the locations in the stories have any meaning to you?
I write a lot about my home cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and my favorite city, New Orleans. My home towns just have that familiarity, and I feel like New Orleans has so much depth and history and beauty, so many moods to it, it’s almost like another character.
Do you write in single or multiple POV?
Both! I also write in both third and first person (like my Training House Series). I really love writing in first person and I’m thrilled it’s become more popular with readers. I feel like some stories need to bring the reader right into the main character’s head, and there’s no better way to do that.
What do you find to be your best research tool?
Personal experience, which is probably why I write so many kinky romances. I’m a kink educator and have been involved in kink for most of my adult life. Nothing will immerse you in the psychology of something like that more than doing it yourself.
Other than that, if it’s something I haven’t experienced or am unable to, I find people to talk to who know their subject. I’ve learned to be bold in approaching people with questions, and have found that most people are happy to talk about whatever they’re well-versed in. And I’ve made some friends that way, too!
Do you write under a pen name? Also, do you write under more than one name?
Yes, Eden is a pen name. I’ve also written as Eve Berlin due to complicated multiple publishing contracts, but those books are now only under “Eve” in the foreign editions.
What genre do you write and why is this your preference?
I write erotic romance because I feel that we are all at our most vulnerable during moments of intense physical and emotional intimacy. That’s when our fondest desires and deepest fears come to the surface, especially when we’re falling in love. We reveal so much about who we are, we often have to struggle to overcome our pasts, and all of that creates so much story on the page.
Tell me something about yourself outside of writing. Jobs, accomplishments, family, quirky traits....what led to you being you?
I grew up with my dad working in film and television in LA, so my brothers and I spent a lot of time on the Universal Studios backlots. My older brother was a rock musician, and I worked in the music industry for a while, which made for some very interesting experiences! I’ve done some unusual things, like competition body building in my early twenties. I took custody of my God daughter when she was eight years old, which is one of the most important experiences of my life. I’ve lost a lot of people I loved, which taught me so much, especially about what’s truly important.
I’ve worked as a wedding and event planner, have owned a gift store, was a Pilates instructor, worked as a stylist for rock bands and in women’s fashion, and I managed chiropractic offices for a number of years and was an insurance billing expert, which makes for the dullest party conversation ever!
As far as quirky traits, you asked-lol!
-My toes have been painted every day of my life since I was 18.
-I love going to the beach and being by the ocean, but have a horrible fear of sharks and can’t go in the water.
-I have 7 tattoos and plan to get more-most of my back is inked.
-I’m a terrible drinker and get totally tipsy on half a beer. No one ever believes me until they see it!
How do you deal and process negative book reviews?
Honestly, I feel that readers are entitled to their opinions and not everyone will like my books, so I just let it be. I don’t ever visit Goodreads because that space is for readers, not authors.
That said, recently a reader wrote in their review of my story Daddy, At Your Service in the Dirty Daddies Pride anthology (available on KU or in print now! https://tinyurl.com/eztekuf4) that my portrayal of kink and the butch/femme lesbian dynamic was “unrealistic”, which is pretty absurd, given that I’m a kink educator who’s been involved in kink since about 1983, and I’m queer, and in a butch/femme relationship (not for the first time), so…I admit I complained about that one, although I never responded directly to the reader.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
At this point in my career, with over 40 books under my belt, some days it’s just sitting down to write. Also, if anyone makes me write a blurb, I may cry-lol!
What do you need in your writer’s space to keep you focused?
My water bottle, lip balm, the right music (I have a playlist for every story), and a quiet house.
Oh-and I have to be sitting at my desk at home. I used to be able to write with fellow writers at a café on a laptop, but in recent years it’s just too distracting.
Also, snacks help! My current favorites are pretzels, but for years it was a LOT of chocolate!
What is your naughty indulgence as you are writing?
Again, it used to be chocolate, but I’ve kind of weaned myself off sugar, for the most part. Hmm…just realized I don’t have a current vice! Must correct that…
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose? And why?
Right now it’d be one of my best besties, Khloe Wren! She’s an Aussie and due to the pandemic we haven’t seen each other in far too long, and have no idea when she’ll get back to the US. She used to come 4 or 5 times a year and we’d always manage to get together. I miss her!
What is your schedule like when you are writing?
I tend to edit in the late mornings (nothing happens early morning-I’m a total zombie until at least 10am!). My best writing time is between 4 and 9PM. But during the day I do my social media, newsletters, handle planning for FB parties, work on covers and promo images, and all the really awful business-y stuff, like entering receipts for my taxes.
Do you listen to music when you write – what kind of music is your favorite?
SO much music! What kind depends on the story, or even the moment in the story. Current faves are:
Can’t Buy Happiness by Tasha Sultan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85rY9IT9rXM
If I Get High by Nothing But Thieves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS67vfcp-S4
Inside my Love by Delilah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvkgnm8jcyY
The Way I Do by Bishop Briggs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyWNnY3GSDU
So…I guess moody, ambient stuff or vocals with a lot of angst. But sometimes it’s NIN, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains - I love old school grunge!
Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?
All the time! My dog Voodoo is SO demanding! He hates it when my focus is elsewhere, so of course the moment I sit down to write he wants to go outside, or wants me to tuck him into his bed. He’s such a little prima donna!
What is your kryptonite as a writer? What totally puts you off your game?
My post-menopausal brain is so easily distracted! Anyone trying to talk to me while I’m writing kills my mojo-even one sentence.
One of my exes used to just stand in the doorway of my office watching me write-they’d always argue that they were “being quiet”, but sheesh!!!
Have you ever killed off a character that your readers loved?
Nope! I’m not clever enough to write murder and intrigue-lol!
How do you celebrate after typing THE END?
I used to buy a new pair of shoes, but now I’m sort of drowning in shoes!
I also used to get tattooed, but haven’t been able to afford it the last 5 or 6 years. I’m definitely due for some new ink!
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Be open to learning, and find a more experienced author to mentor you, if you can. Learn about the industry. Take classes. Never let your ego get in the way of learning, even once you’ve published twenty books. And a writing career involves a lot of tears and chocolate. Totally not kidding!
Facebook Group:
Amazon:
GoodReads:
Twitter:
Newsletter Signup:
Check out my review of the following books!
SURRENDER (San Francisco Doms - Book One)
Start reading now!
SAN FRANCISCO DOMS Series
Available in Kindle Unlimited!
KITTEN
No comments:
Post a Comment