The Quirky Ladies is a group of eclectic (and dare I say quirky?) ladies who are passionate about writing romantic fiction. All types of romantic fiction...paranormal, fantasy, historical, erotic and contemporary. Bring it on!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Interview with Dalton Diaz and Samantha Cayto



The Quirky Ladies are thrilled to announce the release of Dalton Diaz' second book with Ellora's Cave, Illegal Moves. She and co-author Samantha Cayto have written a sexy menage story that is sizzling hot! We are celebrating her new release with the following interview. Please check out the full book blurb and an excerpt on the Ellora's Cave site, and leave a comment for these two talented authors on our blog.

Here's a brief description of Illegal Moves...

Attorney Caroline Ellis and hunky businessman Jordan Fox have some old business to settle, and secretly bisexual Seth Foster is all for playing judge. Illegal Moves by Dalton Diaz and Samantha Cayto will be released on May 29.

***

The Quirky Ladies Welcome Dalton Diaz and Samantha Cayto!

The Quirky Ladies (TQL): Welcome Dalton and Samantha! Thank you so much for joining us today. First up, we want to know the background on this story. Can you tell us how you came to write it?

Dalton Diaz (DD): We still argue about that. We're friends from way back when we first joined RWA, and I went through a rough patch with my health. Samantha wanted to help me out, and to get me back into the writing game she offered me a chance to help rework one of her first manuscripts into an erotica.

Samantha Cayto (SC): Yeah, Dalton likes to remember it as my helping her, and I sure wanted to help her get back to writing, but I needed help, too. I'd been knocked around pretty good by the whole submission/rejection thing and she'd been there to help pick me back up. It was during dinner at Nationals one year when she turned to me and suggested we try writing erotica together. I sent her an old story and she ran with it!

DD: See, that's where we disagree. I don't remember being the one to ask. I thought you offered. Water under the bridge, really. I have something to add, too, that still makes me laugh. Samantha and I were already collaborating when the opportunity came up to work with Ashlyn Chase on Love Cuffs. I asked Sam if that would be cool since that would mean setting Illegal Moves aside for awhile, and her response said it all: "What are you, stupid?"

SC: LOL! I don't remember putting it quite that way, but yes that was the sentiment. I am very grateful to Ashlyn for giving us both a leg up. She is a very generous person who is happy to give advice and help to a new author.

TQL: How do you come up with your ideas?

DD: It starts with a germ, and evolves as I write. I'm what's known as a pantser/puzzler. I don't plot my books - I go where my characters take me, and I don't necessarily write in order. You'd think that would make it harder to write with someone else, but it doesn't, especially if they ARE plotters. It keeps me in line.

SC: I start with a germ, too, but I always begin at page one and keep going until the end. Writing with Dalton was my first taste of seeing more detail throughout the story from the start and back filling as we went. It gave me new perspective.

DD: And I learned a lot from Ash about moving forward instead of obsessing. OK, I still obsess, but not nearly as much. Not as much. Not so much. Huh.

SC: Sure, Dalton, not so much.

TQL: Do you have future plans for your characters in Illegal Moves? Will they show up again?

DD: I hope so! I believe there's room for a couple of replays. Samantha?

SC: Oh, absolutely. I always want to revisit my characters. Their story never ends and I like to see how they're doing.

TQL: What's your biggest writing challenge?

DD: For me, it's making the heroine strong but likable.

SC: I have trouble making my heroines likable, too, I think. Oddly for an erotica writer, I find writing the sex scenes are hard. I worry about making them realistic as well as hot. I remember one night in particular sitting on a hotel bed showing Dalton how something I was thinking was physically possible. So glad no one else was watching!

DD: Didn't I tell you? I was taking video. It's going to be our trailer on Youtube...

SC: Hey, I hope it goes viral! All publicity is good, right?

TQL: Something tells me EC isn't going to use that video for promotional purposes. Next question...What was the easiest part of Illegal Moves to write?

DD: Any part with Seth in it. Yeah, he's pretty much demanding his own story. You game for that, Samantha?

SC: Need you ask? MM has been my passion for years. I love writing it.

TQL: Which character did you most fall in love with and why?

DD: Seth. We had to constantly beat him back with a stick, and we're not really into that kind of thing...

SC: Ah, speak for yourself, Dalton! Yeah, Seth won my heart.

TQL: What's it like to co-author a book?

DD: I've done it twice, and I love it. There's always someone there to bounce ideas when you're stuck, and that input is coming from someone who has just as much invested in the characters and the storyline.

SC: Agreeing to write with Dalton was easy because I'd seen her work before and I knew that not only was she a good writer, but our styles are so similar. I really have trouble knowing which words are mine and which are hers. The other important thing is that neither of us is so wedded to our words that we can't agree to change them if the other has a better way.

DD: That's actually a great point. It's really important to remember that there's always a third option.

TQL: What's your favorite genre and how does it affect your own writing?

DD: I don't have a favorite, as long as it's romance. I do prefer the HEA.

SC: I like different ones, too, and I definitely need the HEA. I do tend to favor stories with a kick-ass heroine, though.

DD: That's because you kick ass. I'm a wimp.

SC: You're not a wimp, just quietly assertive.

DD: If you're calling me passive aggressive, I'm going to have to kick your ass. Is there a third option?

TQL: All right ladies! No ass-kicking on The Quirky Ladies blog! Thanks Dalton and Samantha for a very informative and humorous look at the glamorous life of erotica co-authors. I can't wait to re-read your fabulous book. And something tells me that a review of Illegal Moves just might show up on Penelope's Romance Reviews. Look for it!

8 comments:

Michelle Polaris said...

Great interview Dalton and Samantha. I'm excited to buy my copy. And you're right, Seth is so scrumptious. I can't wait to meet him again on your pages. It's fascinating to me the process of collaborating. Thank you so much for visiting.

Penny Watson said...

I still don't know how you guys wrote a book together. I think if I tried to co-author, I would end up killing someone. You two have a great partnership, and Illegal Moves is a terrific book. In fact, I'm going to order it from EC and read it again. I am feeling the need for a little Friday morning spice. Thanks Dalton and Samantha for a great interview!

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

Thanks for the plug, ladies! But before you get going on another collaboration, Dalton and I have a blurb and synopsis to write.

Sin-opsis, I should call it. The story, Artistic Strokes, is short but HOT!


Ash

Unknown said...

If I wasn't already sold on buying the book, this interview would have sealed the deal. I'm still laughing. Can't wait to read my copy.

Dalton Diaz said...

Ooh, a public flogging from Ash! Thank you, ma'am, may I have some more? LOL! A synopsis is my version of a root canal, a blurb is one without anesthesia. (I can see Paulo drumming his fingers. He may want to put some clothes on if he wants me to move faster.)

Hi, Amber! Amber Skyze is a fellow EC author, and her book - Splashing Good Time - is getting great reviews. Check it out at www.JasmineJade.com when you stop in to see Illegal Moves. We'd have the entire IM cover here, but it's quite naughty...

A huge shout out to all of the Quirky Ladies, each of whom had a huge part in getting the job done.

Victoria Morgan said...

Great job guys! This book has it all -- great characters, witty dialogue with all those sharp double entendres, and of course, hot, hot sex!!! Congratulations! I'm looking forward to your not needing to bat Seth down and unleashing him in your next book!

Anonymous said...

Just a quetion: "why would you want to constantly bat Seth down with a stick" He was an integral part of the story from start to finish. I read a lot of writers say the characters shape their story. If you had let Seth have his say, he could have had a HEA with Jordan and Caroline.

Dalton Diaz said...

Thanks for the great question, Anonymous. The thing is, what happened WAS Seth's choice. He got everything he wanted, too, don't you think?
Don't worry. I would bet that Jordan, Caroline, and Seth aren't done with each other...