Virtual Book Tour: Strip Tease Tour

This post is part of a Virtual Book Tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. You can see the other stops on the tour by clicking the banner above. Wendi will be giving away a $10 GC to Total-e-Bound to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances.

1) Who is your favourite author and why?

My favorite author would be a couple of authors, actually. KA Mitchell is my favorite MM author. The scenes are so normal, yet I feel like I am right there in them. I voraciously snatch up any/all Lora Leigh books. She writes the heat. And it’s emotional heat. I love to read Stephanie Burke. Stephanie Burke’s work makes me laugh. The characters are being put through the grinder, but it’s all in a good time. I’m eclectic in my tastes.

2) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I don’t know that I consider myself a professional writer, but I do consider myself a writer. The characters beg me to keep telling their stories. There isn’t a day that I can’t NOT write. So to the question, when did I first consider myself a writer? About seven years ago when I wrote the first novella. Once I started putting the words to paper, I couldn’t stop. I had to keep telling what happened next. Now I know the difference between telling and showing, but that’s the moment I realized I was a writer.

3) Describe your writing space?

The whole house is my writing space. At one time, I had an office, kind of. There was a room in the house where I would sit and write. It was turned into a craft room. The computer moved downstairs, but I got a laptop (and thank you, God, for that). I love the flexibility of being able to go wherever I want and write when the mood strikes. I’ve written in the RV, in the living room, on the balcony, the front porch, my bedroom...wherever the characters start talking.

4) What are you reading now?

Love and the Farmer by Sean Michael. I love Michael’s writing and his fluidity.

5) How many books have your written? Which is your favorite?

As Wendi Zwaduk, I’ve got 17 stories. My favorite would be Savin’ Me. I love that one because the characters are so complex and the love so strong. I liked writing a ménage.

As Megan Slayer, I’ve got 10 novellas and my favorite one of those is Permanent. Again the characters are complex. River is very emotional and the things he’s been through are tough for anyone to understand. This one also explored the highs and lows of bdsm. While there can be great highs, the lows, especially in the wrong hands are really low.

6) What comes first, plot or characters?

Characters. They usually show up and say, hello, this is my story. Then I find out what the plot will be. Sometimes it takes a while to figure out who the other character will be, but the journey is always worth it.

7) Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Yes. It’s a pain, but oddly enough it’s worth it. I like to write point A to B to C. In a perfect world, that works out. The world isn’t perfect so it doesn’t work that way. I’ll be chugging along on points A to B and realize that there are parts in B that don’t want to work. When I get stuck, then I take a step back and either write a new scene or a new book. I’ve always got at least three books going at one time. I take turns on which one I work on so I don’t get confused, but I’ve got places to fall back on when I get stuck. I’ve also just walked away from stories. I go back and finish them, but I will give myself time to think on the sticking points. The characters usually get irritated that I ignore them and finish talking.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to attend stock car races. Love the smells, the sights, the sounds and the excitement of the races. I’ve also gotten some great inspiration from them. I’m a mom, a wife, and a parent to four fur babies. I have a degree in fine art and I still love to draw and paint when I have time.

9) Tell us about your latest book?

When You’re With Me is an old story, but a new release. I started this book back in 2008. Jude and Drew told me their initial story back then, but it took me quite a bit of time to get the kinks worked in and out of the book. I liked the study in contrasts – a stripper and a cop, a man of the law immersed in the seedier side of the law, and a woman trying to pull herself up and out of a lifestyle she doesn’t totally want. Over My Head actually came after WYWM and was born out of a request. My publisher asked me to write them a story. Simple as that. I panicked. I wrote them lots of stories, but to just say, I want you to do this? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized WYWM needed an introduction. I wanted to tell the story of the characters from WYWM that don’t have a voice. Astra and Randy were named, but it took me asking them exactly how they got their HEA to get Over My Head written. I’m glad I did.

10) What’s next for you?

More writing. More races. More time with family. I recently had accepted a recent historical entitled, Sunshine of Your Love, about a Vietnam vet whose returned to the states. His coming back is anything but normal and joyous. His world is turned upside down and it takes a friendship forged with the girl he never expected to love to show him life doesn’t have to be normal to be great.

Thanks for having me here at the blog. I love getting to see the new sites and be new places. Now I have a question for the readers. What do you want to see next from Wendi Zwaduk? What stories do you feel need that follow up or what do you think is the next step? Let me know.

About the Author:

I always dreamed of writing the stories in my head. Tall, dark, and handsome heroes are my favorites, as long as he has an independent woman keeping him in line. I tend to write books with titles taken from songs because music is one of my many muses.

I earned a BA in education at Kent State university and as well as a Masters in Education from Nova Southeastern University. I've tried my hand at teaching, waitressing, and retail sales, but writing holds my heart.

I love NASCAR, romance, books in general, Ohio farmland, dirt racing, and my menagerie of animals. I have more stories than my brain can handle percolating. I can't wait to share them with you!

Find the author online at:

www.WendiZwaduk.com
http://www.wendizwaduk.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/wendi.zwaduk
http://twitter.com/#!/WendiZwaduk
http://www.manicreaders.com/WendiZwaduk/