Interview with Author Wendi Zwaduk

I had the pleasure of interviewing wonderful author Wendi Zwaduk. This is what she had to say:


1. You write hot, passionate romance. Why did you choose the erotica genre?

I chose to write a bit darker than I would normally because I wanted to see how far I could stretch my work. I also followed what the characters wanted to do. You’d be surprised. Many characters want to be bad and if you give them the freedom to act on their baser instincts, the story that comes through can be a lot of fun to write.
2. Tell us about your first publication/contract. How did you celebrate?

First contract was for Right Where I Need to Be from the Wild Rose Press. I got the contract right before Mother’s Day, so we had steak dinner that night, and then I ran through the house screaming because I finally broke through and sold a story. I also went to my local Borders and bought a copy of Redneck Cinderella by LuAnn McLane because she is one of the authors I look up to. It was my little reward to myself.
3. Any stories of rejection you’d like to share? Or challenges?

A couple of years ago, I had this great NASCAR themed novel. I thought it was the best story ever written. Ha! I polished it and fiddled with it with the help of a good friend and sent it in for submission. Here comes the reality check. The story was all over the place and the point of view was almost as screwy. At the time, I thought it was ready. Looking back, I see it wasn’t. But I learned that sometimes the more you rush to get something done, and the more you narrow your focus, the more likely it is that the story just isn’t ready. I re-subbed the story and still had it turned down. I may get it back out one of these days, but not sure.
4. Tell us a secret on how you get your motivational juices flowing.

I watch CSI Miami and my favorite actor Jeremy Sisto (on Law and Order). I’ve also been known to thumb through my battered copies of old Lori Foster or Kresley Cole books.
5. Any tips you’d like to share for writers who wish to become published?

Write, write, write. Try for those little 1k stories that will push you to make something out of nothing. But don’t rush the story. If you rush to get done, the reader can tell. The story will seem rushed, forced, or even worse, flat. Let your heart do the writing, but be willing to take some criticism because even the best NY writers still have flops here and there.
6. Can you give us a sneak peek into your next WIP?

Cat shifters and vampires. I have a Dom/sub story I’m percolating that has to do with the above. I want to go where I haven’t before. Staying and playing it safe are good, but I want to stretch a tick.
7. Give us one descriptive word that could describe you.

Overactive