Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle

Lani: Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with us. Can you tell us about your latest release?

Brenda & Steve: Hi Lani! Thank you for introducing us to your readers. We’re featuring a giveaway; details below! Our latest release is Rainie’s Lake; here’s the blurb:

Taking a long over due vacation, Art Instructor, Dylan Bishop is eager to start his trip to the cabin in the mountains. When he saw the photo online with the rental ad, he knew this was his destination. Being drawn to the lake nestled behind the cabin with a private dock, Dylan hopes to regain his inspiration to paint.

His vacation takes an erotic turn when he meets Rainie Marks on a foggy morning by the dock. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. However, there is sadness and a mystery about her. Finding his inspiration, he sketches her one evening and unable to resist the passion that has sparked between them, Rainie and Dylan share a sensual night together.

When Rainie tells him the truth about her past and the lake, the mystery she hides unfolds. The key to everything is the lake. Will Dylan be able to help her put the past to rest?

Review by Ray Sostre, After Dark Online:

One of the best romance and mystery stories I ever read. Both Woody & Tindle made an awesome story together, which was erotic, romantic and suspenseful. (Spoiler omitted here)
Great job! I LOVE IT!

Amazon, B&N, Smashwords and All Romance eBooks

Lani: How did the idea for your story emerge?

Brenda: A fellow author and friend, P. Q. Glisson (we went to HS with her husband), had some ideas for erotic stories but she stated she would never write them, and told us to use them. She strictly writes romance and YA. We took one of her ideas and wrote Rainie’s Lake. We still have her list and plan on using another one of her ideas to create an erotic read.

Lani:  Of course we have to know how you got started writing. So what prompted you to pick up the pen?

Steve: I’ve been writing songs since high school and thought about writing a book while in college. I never thought I could sell a book to anyone other than friends. When Brenda told me she always wanted to be published, I jumped on board and the publishing began.

Brenda:  I, too, had written poems, short stories when I was younger, and wrote a DIY newsletter for two years after I became a mom. In 2004, I wrote a few pages of the beginning of a romance story. When Steve and I connected through Myspace in 2008 (we went to the same high school), I emailed him the story. He suggested we write it as an erotic story. I was ecstatic to learn he had a dark side too!  LOL

Lani:  If you had to pick through your gems of works, which would you call your favorite(s) and why?

Steve: Best Lover in Town; not for the writing style, we’re still finding mistakes, but because it was the first book published and while writing it, Brenda and I got to know each other better. Writing BLT was a way to find out about each other's likes and dislikes, desires and fantasies. This opened our communication. We were actually living in different time zones and wrote it virtually by connecting our computers.

Brenda:  Our latest release, Rainie’s Lake, is my favorite. This is our first erotic paranormal. After reading Katie Salidas’s first book in her series, Immortalis, I’m hooked on paranormal now. As we wrote the last paragraph of Rainie’s Lake, I was at a lost for words. Wow was all I could think. We did good.

Lani:  Back to your current release, who is your favorite character?

Steve: In Rainie's Lake there are only two main characters (Rainie and Dylan). I would say Dylan would be my favorite. He's an artist who tries to help his newly found friend.

Brenda:  Dylan. I love both of the characters, but Dylan is a very sweet and caring man. BTW, Dylan will be back as well as a new character in Rainie’s Gift.

Lani: I’ve found writing to be both rewarding and frustrating. What do you find most rewarding about writing?

Steve: Meeting new readers who like our work.

Brenda: Completing the book and uploading to the online retailers. As we sit and watch the MS become an eBook online, it’s exciting.

Lani:  Now, what is your least favorite part?

Steve: I used to like marketing, but with these economic times, people don't have the extra funds to purchase books. Brenda tells me I'm to pushy by trying to get friends to purchase our books, but I feel I have to let people know we are published and where they can get their copy.

Brenda: Trying to figure out a good cover for the book since this is the first impression. Scrolling through the thousands of images to find the right one; it’s very time consuming.

Lani:  You know you have to give us your “How I got published” story. So, spill it.

Steve: Brenda and I started writing with the goal to be published. When Best Lover in Town was completed, we submitted it to several publishers, thinking it would take months to get someone to take us on board. To our happy surprise, we had a contract in hand after four weeks. After a couple of revision edits, we were in print and eBook a year later.

Lani:  Tell us a bit about yourself. Do you have a day job?

Steve: I’m an Excel/VBA programmer. I work from home for different companies. I enjoy ‘Wowing’ my managers with Excel features. I often get the statement: "I didn't know Excel could do that. Can we make it do…" This line of communication has them calling me back for future updates and new projects.

Brenda:  Steve and I have a blended family of seven grown children and four grandchildren.  After working in the corporate world for so many years in commercial insurance, claims and even with a bank in Foreclosure (I won’t name the bank; LOL but this job was stressful!), I’m living my dream of working from home during the prime of my life. *smiles*

Lani:  Some of us have things we do to get into the writing frame of mind like music, or drinks. Do you have anything special you do to get into the writing mood?

Steve: Music, coffee, and Brenda. We enjoy getting into the spa to discuss characters and plots. We keep a pen and notepad every where, even by the spa.

Brenda: Coffee! and Steve. Sometimes music distracts me. We stream music on our TV through Pandora; I will play a certain genre of music when I’m adding the fluff.

Lani:  Are you ever at a loss for ideas? What do you do to get past those times? I don’t have them often but being out in my yard and gardens help me get creative.

Steve: No loss for ideas since Brenda and I work as a team. We normally have too many ideas. Because of this, we have several working projects. The spa is our muse and our ‘get away’ from the computer, blogs, interviews, and our busy life. It brings out our creative side and gives us time to really communicate.

Brenda:  Ideas hit me all the time. I can sit in one setting and write, by hand, four pages. Then the notes are typed into Word to be used on either the current manuscript or a future project. We organize our books and ideas in one folder with several directories.

Lani:  Tell us about a day in your life as a writer.

Steve: Brenda has her laptop and I have mine. We pretty much sit on the sofa for 18 hours a day, getting up now and then for a break, and to eat. We write on stories, work on blogs, answer interview questions, schedule guest spots and email interview questions to other writers, and host several websites.

Brenda:  I reluctantly get out of bed mid-morning (We are night owls!). Brew coffee, boot up the laptop, feed Lucy; our cat, load the dishwasher and then I settle in to check emails, our blogs and web sites. We co-own two other sites; An Avid Reader’s Haven with Deanna Jewel, Romance Author (we’re aka Louise James, Author of Suspense/Mystery) and A Naughty Reader’s Boudoir with Tonya Kinzer, Erotic Author. I also have a book review blog: Bren’s Book Reviews.

Lani:  Are you a daytime writer, night time writer, and do you have to be alone to write?

Steve: We write when we can. We are normally up until 3AM and never get everything on our To Do list completed.

Brenda: Well since we’re not morning people, we do most of our writing late afternoon on into the evening. Around 11 PM, we close the laptops and watch a movie. Steve and I have tried to write a story without the other; it just doesn’t work. Our creative sides are connected.

Lani:  Do you have critique partners or ever been in a critique group? What was the best thing you learned from a critique?

Steve: We have author Tonya Kinzer proof read our erotic manuscripts and we critique her work also. Tonya has helped us to become better writers. She pointed out point of view problems and helped us make the dialogue tighter between the characters.

Brenda: Tonya and Deanna Jewel are our critique partners. I’ve also critiqued for several other authors and recently landed my first paid editing job for Dimitri Sarantis, Romance Author. Editing helps to make our writing better. Something I learned from critiquing – a comma goes before the word ‘too’ if used at the end of a sentence. LOL I didn’t know this! Ex....I love to read Patricia Cornwell’s books, too.

Lani: What should the readers expect when they pick up a copy of your book?

Steve: Any one who reads our books will walk away with new ideas about sex and fun things to use as playful toys. We like to incorporate items so the reader will remember our books when they see something during the day: BLTs, ice, fruit, vegetables and etc.

Brenda: We hope our readers will be able to open up to their partner and share their desires and fantasies. Our books can be read alone but reading them together is way more fun and sexy. Read your favorite scene to your partner; get em hot and bothered. *wink*

Lani:  Do you always include HEA and is that type of ending important to you?

Steve: We have a mix of happy ever after and tragic endings. You never know until the last chapter if the girl gets the guy or vice versa.

Brenda: Life isn’t always HEA but the sexual fulfillment is completed so it’s not that important. The important ingredient in a story is to draw the readers in and they fall in love with the characters.

Lani: What can you tell us about other projects you have in the works?

Brenda: We have several works in progress. Scarlett’s Cowboy, a contemporary erotic western due to be released this year. We’re writing our second installment for Triangle of Secrets - Book Two: featuring Morgan, Vivian and Kirk. For those of you that read Book One, you've met Morgan and Kirk is Scott's dad. Vivian is an old flame of Kirk's. Ummm, makes for an interesting triangle; wouldn't you say?

We also have an erotic time travel in notes. No title yet but we’ll leave you with a teaser!

Assistant Curator Layla Massri is ecstatic when she is asked to display and maintain the Hellenistic Egyptian exhibit; her first event to oversee at the Dallas Museum. The most appealing ancient artifact is Cleopatra’s beautiful chaise lounge. Layla, being half-Egyptain herself, is drawn to lie upon the chaise one night after the museum closes.

Lani:  Where can the readers find you and your books?

Brenda & Steve: We hang out everyday on the following sites:

Pinterest

Facebook Fan page

Blogger

Twitter

Web site

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

fReado

Lani:  Is there anything else you want to tell our readers?

Brenda & Steve: Lani, thanks again for having us here and Readers, we hope you enjoyed our interview. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, our blog and Facebook for updates on our projects.

Giveaway!

One lucky commenter will receive a free eBook (winner’s choice of book and format; a coupon from Smashwords) along with a pdf copy of Black & White Affair. Drawing will be held August 25^th so leave please leave your email address so we can easily contact the winner.

Now something fun:

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Steve: Vanilla; you can add a topping and have a completely different flavor.

Brenda:  Chocolate with Coffee!  LOL

Pepperoni/Cheese/Supreme pizza?

Steve: Supreme; healthier for me. It's a way to get my veggies in.

Brenda:  Meatlovers – loaded.

Favorite Movie?

Steve: So many; but Big Chill and Eddie and the Cruisers are my most favorites.

Brenda:  Twister and Willow.

Favorite Actor & why?

Steve: David Tennant, Dr Who

Brenda: Johnny Depp, he can portray so many characters and well, he’s hot.

Favorite Actress & why?

Steve: Catherine Bell (JAG, Army Wives), Holly Hunter (Saving Grace). I like strong female roles.

Brenda:  Well, she’s not an actress, but I love Rachel Ray. She is funny and man can she cook.

Favorite Book & why?

Steve: No Turning Back by Deanna Jewel; I like time travel stories.

Brenda:  Books – Patricia Cornwell’s Kate Scarpetta Series; Patricia really knows how to write suspense. Once I start reading, it’s hard to put the book down.

Favorite Writer & why?

Steve: Tonya Kinzer; when Brenda’s reads the sex scenes out loud, well......

Brenda:  Stephen King; hands down.

Werewolf or Vampire?

Steve: Vampire; they have more finesse in the killing.

Brenda: Vampire. OMG, I’ve become addicted to Vampire Diaries!

Urban Fantasy or Paranormal?

Steve: Urban Fantasy; seems to be based on historical facts rather than just pulled out of the air.

Brenda:  Paranormal; because an author can think out of the box.

Where would you travel to & why?

Steve: Paris; I’d like to return to see where I was born.

Brenda:  Ireland; to see where my ancestry came from.

Erotic or Vanilla Romance?

Steve: Erotic of course; otherwise we would write romance.

Brenda:  Erotic; I used to read the ‘bodice rippers’, too mushy for me now.

Any Fetishes?

Steve: We love our mirrors.

Brenda: Ditto!

Favorite color?

Steve: Pink *wink*

Brenda:  Blue

Favorite food?

Steve: Seafood

Brenda:  Chinese

What makes you laugh?

Steve: Brenda; she teases me and is very playful.

Brenda: Steve; he loves to tickle me.

Bio:

Brenda Woody & Steve Tindle is a couple writing Erotica and Erotic Romance. Their stories give readers the perspective of both male and female point of view. Not all of their stories have a happy ever after ending, but the sex scenes are hot! Brenda & Steve love to explore different writing styles in the Erotic genre. With dark fantasies, menage relationships, deep sexual desires and a bit of paranormal, they write erotic that is passionate and spellbinding.