Friday 11 May 2012

Playing 20 Questions with Verity Ant!

Today I am joined by the lovely Verity Ant!


EM: Welcome to My World, Verity. Thank you so much for stopping by to play twenty questions with me :-)

Before we begin, could you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Verity and I'm a sucker for BDSM romance. I write under the name Verity Ant and as part of the D. V. Ant writing team (with my Dom, Derek Ant). I like to explore Sado-Masochism in an organic way, taking it to new levels of both intimacy and pain. My goal is to bring to life a fantasy of control, will, redemption and acceptance in interesting, idealized characters. There has to be a strong romantic element as an envelope for the edgy, action-oriented plot.

I live in a full-time, D/s relationship as the submissive partner and have been active in the BDSM community for about 20 years. When I write about BDSM, it's from a basis of experience and real-world application.

EM: Are you ready to play 20 questions? *Rubs hands together*

VA: Only if you're ready for my honest answers.


EM: I am indeed. :-) 

Which do you find harder to write?

1. First person POV or Third?

First person is definitely harder for me to write. Although I tend to be an open book about my BDSM experiences in real life (as you can plainly tell from my tell-all blog, Painful Ecstasy), for some reason writing a first person story is too intimate for me. I wrote a short story with elements of first person as diary entries and, while I enjoyed the results, I found it difficult to do. That story is "His Good Girl," serialized on Painful Ecstasy.

2. As a male or female?

As a male. I don't pretend I know exactly how men think. My books tend to be balanced, however, between male and female POV, and I owe male POV accuracy to my partner, Derek.

3. Beginning, middle or end of the story?

Middle. I work very hard to avoid a "mushy middle."

4. Fight scenes or smex scenes?

Fight scenes are hard for me, as I'm more a lover than a fighter. Once again, I rely on my co-writer for choreography of those kinds of scenes. I write 'em and he corrects them when I make the characters do impossible things. I have the vision for them, but Derek has a more practical turn of mind.

5. Synopsis or blurb?

The synopsis for my books tends to go on and on. I have to write it and then edit a lot out.


As a writer, do you prefer:

6. Writing in the morning, afternoon or evening?

I write in the afternoons. The mornings are spent doing promotions and blogging (which is also a form of promotion). My evenings are spent watching sports on TV and doing routine writing-related emailing.

7. Writing with music, or in peace?

Total silence. Not long ago, there was an air conditioner malfunction in the building next door to my apartment and I thought I'd go nuts with the noise. It got fixed within a few days of my complaining, but those were very tough days spent with headphones on. Oddly enough, however, every one of my characters has a favorite song, band or composer. Music is important to me as part of the overall sensual experience I try to evoke in my books. I was totally thrilled when I found a producer who included an original score in the Master'sHunt trailer. 

8. Planning, or Improvising?

I'm a plotter, though not a thorough one. I write the A to B to C plot out in chapters without the nitty-gritty details. I leave those details for the draft since that's what makes it fun for me to write. My characters do not run off with the plot, however. I crack the whip (so to speak) to keep them in line.

9. Juggling a few projects, or concentrating on one at a time?

Well, I prefer focusing on one project at a time, but because of the nature of having two professional pen names, I am often juggling two sets of priorities.

10. Sticking to one genre, or exploring many?

I used to write in several genres under my alternate name, but these days I'm focused on two--one as Verity and one as…the mysterious "other."


As a reader, do you prefer:

11. Story being told from female view or male?

I like a mix of both male and female POV. I want to understand how men think, even though it might not be particularly accurate in many books. And, of course, I want to relate to the female characters as well because that makes them more sympathetic.

12. Good guys or bad boys?

Definitely bad boys. My recent release, Master's Hunt, is about a bad boy and when I read, I love to hate a bad boy's arrogance or sexism. If it's written with some contrasting humor or playfulness in his naughty character, that makes it even better.

13. Feisty females or fragile damsels?

Finding a fragile damsel character in a romance or BDSM novel these days is like finding a dragon's egg. They don't come around much anymore. As a reader, I enjoy well-rounded characters that are relatively realistic. Kick-butt women who beat up men twice their size consistently make me shudder.
           
14. Stand alone stories or series?

I prefer series. Knowing that a truly talented writer has more books on offer is a delight.

15. Quick reads or long stories?

I'm not a fan of quick reads, though, if I'm really into a novel of any length, I make quick work of it.

16. Romance as a side dish or the main course?

Romance has to be the over-arching theme in a book for me, with notable exceptions: Dean Koontz, Lincoln & Child, Jim Butcher, and Barry Eisler come to mind. The action of the plot is important (too much navel-gazing is boring for me), but I consider romance to be the foundation for the majority of what I read.

17. Erotica or soft romance or something in-between?

Erotica holds my interest more, if it's done well. Bad sex scenes are too comical for me to take the rest of the book seriously. When I write my erotica, I try to keep this experience as a reader in mind. I don't like books that are all sex and no character development or non-sexual plot. They have their place, no mistake, but they're not for me as a reader.

18. More action or humour?

There should be a mix of action and humor, though as I think about it, I prefer to read action-oriented plot lines over humor. If either is missing, however, it's not a good book for me.


Just for fun:

19. Vampires or Angels?

I'm not a vampire lover, but I really love, love, love dark angels. Good angels leave me flat.

20. Werewolves or Demons?

Demons are far more interesting. I think it relates back to that love of bad boys I spoke of earlier.


What are you currently working on?

I'm in the early stages of the next Master of Two book, tentatively titled Master of Inspiration. It takes a historical event and puts a modern-day twist on it. (It's not time travel. It's a contemporary, erotic, BDSM romance like Master's Hunt.)

Do you have any current release?

The most recent release is Master's Hunt which was published by No Boundaries Press in April.

Blurb: 

Kevin, Renee, and Amiko love each other. Like the triangle—the strongest geometric configuration—their love is both simple and complex, made more complex, perhaps, by the BDSM nature of their sexuality. Kevin is the apex of their union, a sexual sadist and dominant personality. His women, both intelligent and attractive, are submissive, but only to him. He would never harm them, but Kevin, driven by the narrow focus of his sexuality, finds pleasure in inflicting sexual pain in a controlled manner, rewarding good behavior with pleasure.

When Amiko is stolen from their triad, kidnapped by a crazy woman who fancies herself in love with the Asian beauty, both Kevin and Renee are beside themselves with concern for her welfare. They need to find Amiko before something ugly happens to her. From captivity, Amiko tries to help them, but her trail of “breadcrumbs” might just get her into more trouble than she is already in.

Kevin’s forceful nature demands that he take charge of the search and rescue operation. Renee’s love for her sister-in-spirit compels her to accept danger. Amiko must be saved. Any other outcome, the ruin of their carefully nurtured triad, simply cannot be borne.

Purchase link:


Excerpt:

The artificial waterfall was sweetly serenading, the water in the pool gently lapping the charcoal marble-tiled sides, as Renee and Kevin rocked in the shallow end. Their breaths mingled as they kissed, tongues testing for resistance and finding only welcome. She felt his hips between her legs, there in the softly illuminated water, and stars twinkled at her as she broke from his lips and tilted her head back. He stroked in and out of her firmly, rocking Renee’s body with each thrust as his hands worked the turgid points of her breasts with increasing intensity. The combination of senses was heady. She moaned, and, as she turned her head, her delicate lover, Amiko, leaned in and took her liberated lips with her own, sharing the lingering taste of the man’s bourbon-flavored tongue. Deceptively filigreed, tight gold nipple clamps on Amiko’s small, perfect breasts rubbed against Renee’s shoulder as the women pressed together to kiss. Amiko squirmed on the deck, so close to Renee; close, but not quite close enough for the redhead’s growing ardor. She longed to touch as well as kiss.

Kevin’s strokes within her increased in force and his fingers tortured her nipples mercilessly. Renee knew he was in his zone, that glorious place she could see in his eyes at these moments. She heard her own small moans punctuating her pants and gasps and cringed as the pain in her nipples shot through her body and settled deep in her womb. She had no control over the responses he wrested from her. Each time Renee moaned, Amiko made an answering sound, her own fingers intent on their masturbatory goal there between her pale legs.

When Renee cried out sharply at the pain in her breasts, incoherently begging for more, Kevin moved his hands to her ass and, gripping those cheeks with hard, hard fingers, he pistoned as deeply and violently as he could between her splayed legs.

The pain between her legs from the force of his rough entry was considerable, but Renee would have nothing less. She wanted every sensation, from the pain there, through the lingering ache of her nipples, to the warm Santa Ana winds in her hair, and the sweet scent of Amiko’s wet center not far from Renee’s face.

Kevin’s exertions shone on his strongly hewn features as a light sheen of moisture and a burning heat from his body, even in the cool water, but it was the focus in his eyes that compelled Renee to greater heights. His gray eyes were gun barrel dark, moving from Renee to Amiko, then back again. He was drinking in the moment and Renee reveled in it.

  
Where can readers find you on the Internet?

I'm readily available and encourage readers to contact me.
Email: verity (at) verityant (dot) com
Twitter: @VerityAnt

EM: Thank you so much for joining me, Verity! :-)

VA: Thank you for inviting me over, Elizabeth. It's an pleasure and honor to be here with you and your readers.

21 comments:

  1. Great set of questions, really get into the nitty gritty.

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    1. Elizabeth wrote some fun questions. I'm glad you could come by and take a look, Yazmin. Thanks!

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  2. Great interview! Verity was on The Author's Corner on trianglevarietyradio.com with me last nite...and I'm slogging thru tons of emails/phone calls...everyone loved her honesty..I love her writing, too!

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    1. Aww, Elaine, thank you very much. It's nice to know I didn't make an ass of myself. LOL Your show was a lot of fun. Between all the questions from Elizabeth and you, I might get a swollen head. Nah...Derek will make sure I don't. :)

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  3. Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for inviting me over. Those questions reminded me of a history exam, except I was the historical figure. I wonder if a statue to me is next. LOL

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    1. Hey, never say never. A statue of you would be epic, not to mention pretty damn awesome.

      It was lovely having you. My virtual door is always open and you are welcome over any time :-D

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  4. Verity, That was such a good interview! :)

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    1. Thank you, Crystal. I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was fun putting it together. Elizabeth wrote great questions.

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  5. Intriguing interview! I love to visit new authors!

    I'm interested in the BDSM lifestyle,from a research standpoint. I recently co-authored a book,with Margie Church, which examines a triangular relationship containing BDSM elements.

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    1. Feel free to contact me or Derek if you have questions. Either of us would be happy to help. You can find all our contact info on our blog: http://painful-ecstasy.blogspot.com. It sounds like your book may have much in common with Master's Hunt. Thank you for commenting.

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  6. Very generous of you! Thanks much! Our book, Razor, has similarities to Master's Hunt. I'm hoping it resonates with those in the lifestyle and outside of it as well!

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    1. You're welcome. I looked for "Razor" using either and both of the author names you gave, but couldn't find it on Amazon. Care to share a link? Or is it still a WIP?

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  7. I'm sorry. :-( Razor-the short story is available from Sizzler Editions and Kindle

    Kindle link: http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Love-Tales-Ties-ebook/dp/B007ATOFPA/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3

    Razor-the full length Novel is due from Sizzler Editions early July 2012.

    Here is a link to my website with a sexy snippet.

    http://www.kbcutter.com/17/post/2012/05/sexy-snippet-from-razor.html

    Hope you enjoy.

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  8. I have works through Sizzler! Cool! Switching isn't my kink (you probably know that from my own blog and the material here), but it sure works for a lot of people! Good luck with your story and the expanded novel. Sizzler is an excellent imprint. My books there are Breaking Toys and Pucker. Breaking Toys is a Platinum Edition because it was a bestseller.

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  9. Thank you all so much for dropping by. It was a pleasure interviewing, Verity.

    I'm glad you enjoyed her awesome interview just as much as I did! :-D

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  10. I really meant to comment earlier today but the day just got away from me.

    Interesting and intriguing interview as was the radio show last night! When I'm not reading some kind of romance, Dean Koontz is my go to guy! Lightning is my absolute of his books. I've read it so many times that I've lost count. Son #2 has been trying to get me to read Butcher's Codex Alera books for months and Hubby's been on my act to read Game of Thrones. Too many books and not enough time. The story of my life.

    Lori

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    1. I have a Kindle full o' books, Lori. I feel your pain. :) Thanks for commenting even with your busy day.

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  11. Really good interview. I loved the 20 questions interview. I can understand trying to keep your 2 writing genres separate, but can you tell us just what the genre you write in? Is there any genre that you have not written that you would like to try?
    June

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, June. Elizabeth gave me good questions and made me look good. :) As for other genres... I wish I could write thrillers. I'm getting closer. Master's Hunt definitely had a thriller thing going, but I would like to perfect that a little more. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

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  12. Love the interview! I really want to read Master's Hunt! It's at the top of my wish list right now.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. I hope you get your wish soon! :)

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