Interview with Karenna Colcroft

Please welcome Karenna Colcroft, a fellow Ellora’s Cave author, with a fabulous interview and dishing the dirt on her latest release, Whatever He Wants, part of the Boys Will Do Boys series.

Tell us about yourself. Both your writing self and your non-writing self. What are your interests and hobbies? Do you have a day job, etc?

My writing self is far more interesting than my non-writing self! As Karenna Colcroft, I’ve had over 40 romances published, including short stories, novellas, and full-length novels. My new Ellora’s Cave release Whatever He Wants is my 46^th romance release, though some of the early ones are now out of print. I started writing erotic romance in 2006 on a challenge from a friend, and my first e-book was published in March 2009. As Jo Ramsey, I write young adult fiction, and have had 21 titles published in that category since January 2010.

As for non-writing… Hmm. I don’t have any hobbies, and my only interests are reading and watching TV. I’m the mother of two teenagers, and am married to a man I call my “real-life romance hero” husband because he’s done so much for my children (who are from my first marriage) and me since he met us. Including telling me earlier this year to quit the day job to write full-time, which I’ve been doing since September.

Give us the background on your latest release.

When I started writing erotic romance, I focused on heterosexual romance because I didn’t know if I could write male/male accurately. But then I gave it a try in late 2010 for an anthology that honoured a writing friend of mine. (The Wishing on a Blue Star anthology from Dreamspinner Press.) And when I realized I actually was capable of writing male/male romance, I continued doing so. I became so comfortable with it that I considered giving up writing hetero stuff.

I’d already had several hetero romances published with Ellora’s Cave and wanted to continue writing for them, but wasn’t sure about publishing male/male with them. But then months ago, they issued a call for male/male stories for a collection called “Boys Will Do Boys,” and I decided to give it a go. Whatever He Wants is the result of that decision.

(For those who may be wondering, I chose not to completely give up writing hetero romance; I have a hetero contemporary novel under contract with Ellora’s Cave now.)

How did you get started with writing? And what was your route to publication like?

I’ve been making up stories since I was about three years old, and started writing them down when I was five. Even back then, I knew that someday, I wanted to see my stories in books like the ones I read. From then through university and into my first marriage, I mostly wrote stories for teens and pre-teens, but I never completely had the confidence to submit any.

In 2000, I was teaching special education at a very small school in a rural area, and my budget was not high enough to buy phonics-based reading materials for my students. So I wrote my own, and those 75 stories (1-2 pages apiece), along with the comprehension and phonics worksheets I developed to use with the stories, became my first publication in 2002, when a small educational press released them.

I continued writing fiction for teens, and in 2005 I met someone who became my first beta reader and my biggest cheerleader. He also became a close friend, and I confided in him about some issues from my past. In summer 2006, he challenged me, because of what I told him, to write something showing “sex in a positive light,” and since I almost always accept writing challenges, I did. I was impressed with my results, so I continued writing very short erotica stories, and a year later—by which time I’d divorced my first husband and was dating again—a man I was seeing suggested I submit my stories to the Literotica site. So I did that for about a year and a half, and through Literotica, I found my first publisher.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently catching up on some revisions. I mentioned liking writing challenges… At the beginning of November, after submitting a novel to one of my publishers, I gave myself the challenge of writing 15 short stories from November 11-30. I completed that challenge on November 28, with eight young adult short stories and seven romance/erotica shorts, and I’m currently revising a few of them to submit to publications.

Do you have a particular Muse for your writing? Do any of your characters bear startling resemblances to sexy celebrities or people you admire?

My muse’s name is Dominic, and he’s a bossy pain in the ass who leans over my shoulder and corrects my grammar and phrasing while I type. Okay, he’s a figment of my imagination, but sometimes he makes it hard to remember that! I don’t generally use real-life people, either folks I know or celebrities, as inspiration for my characters’ appearances.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Both writing-wise and non-writing-wise?

Writing-wise, in five years I hope to have an agent and/or contracts with at least one of the “big time” romance or young adult publishers. I’ll still be writing full-time, and will still be splitting my time between erotic romance and young adult. And I’ll be earning enough that all my credit cards and my car will have long since been paid off.

Non-writing, I honestly don’t know. I’ll still be married to hubby. Both of my kids will be out of the house, since they’re currently 18 and 15 years old. So I really have no answer to that.

And now for some silly questions…

Muscled or skinny? Muscled

Tall or short? Tall

Boxers or briefs? Boxer-briefs… the best of both worlds

Moustache or beard? Neither (though hubby has both)

Long hair or shaven head? Long hair

Tattoos or piercings? Tats

Intelligent or funny? Both!

Blond, brunette or red head? Brunette

Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)? I don’t know… Honestly, I can’t think of one.

Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) I don’t have any same-sex crushes.

Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) See my answer to #15

Favourite food Scallion pancake

Favourite book (tell us why, if you like) Oh, no… there are WAY too many books I love to choose just one as a favourite!

Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like) Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (Canada). It’s my mother’s home town, and as a child/teen, it was the safest place in my life.

Anything else you’d like to add? If any readers would like to suggest a hobby they think I would enjoy (other than cross-stitch embroidery; I used to love doing that, but my vision is too poor now, I just tried it last month and couldn’t see the holes to get the needle through!), I would love to hear suggestions… and I’ll draw one name from the commenters to receive a PDF copy of Whatever He Wants.

Now give us the blurb, an extract and buy links for your latest release.

BLURB: Grad student Randall has a reputation to uphold. He’s too busy to fall in love, and is known among his friends as the king of one-night stands. He prefers it that way until he meets Isaiah at a party.

Against all of Randall’s expectations, Isaiah turns out to be exactly what he’s looking for, and for the first time Randall’s heart gets involved. Randall doesn’t know whether Isaiah is truly interested in him or just playing the player, but to find out, Randall will do whatever Isaiah wants.

Inside Scoop: This book contains some Dominance/submission action between a guy who lives for one-night stands and the guy who wants to tame him.

EXTRACT (UNEDITED):

The table was covered with platters of sandwich meats and rolls, vegetables and chips, along with bottles of vodka, rum, juice and soda. Randall slapped together a couple of sandwiches on a paper plate and added a handful of chips. He reached for a red plastic cup from the stack at the other end of the table. A smooth hand with slightly hairy knuckles blocked him.

Glaring, Randall looked up at the owner of the hand. It was not a wise move to come between him and his food and drink when he was this hungry and pissy. He readied a few scathing words but found himself speechless when he saw pale-blond, almost white shaggy hair and brilliant blue eyes set in a slightly tanned face.

The guy could have stepped out of a painting. He was gorgeous.

Randall’s cock started to stiffen and he gulped. He refused to get besotted by some random stranger. At least not until he’d had something to eat.

“Sorry.” The guy grinned. “I’m so thirsty I wasn’t even paying attention. After you.”

“Thanks.” Flustered, Randall took a cup and half filled it with rum then topped it off with cola.

“Pour me one of those, would you?” The guy set an empty cup in front of Randall. “I’m Isaiah.”

“Randall.” He poured the drink and held the cup up for Isaiah to take. He tried to avoid the guy’s eyes. He’d never seen eyes so intensely bright and it wouldn’t take much for them to pull him in.

He wasn’t like Brad. He had no interest in relationships. He didn’t have the time or energy for them. Even a fuck-buddy arrangement was too much effort. He just wanted to get off and go home. But if he let himself hook up with Isaiah, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stick to his usual standards.

“Haven’t seen you around.” Isaiah took a sip of his drink and grimaced. “Damn, that’s strong.”

“It isn’t that strong.” Randall sipped his own. Exactly the way he usually had it. “You aren’t used to alcohol, huh?”

“As a matter of fact, no. I’m usually the designated driver.” Isaiah took another sip. “But it’s my birthday so I’m partying tonight. My buddies thought this would be a good way to celebrate.”

“Hanging around a bunch of loud drunks who won’t even be able to stay on their feet to dance within a couple hours?” Randall rolled his eyes at himself. Nothing like insulting the entire guest list, including Isaiah’s friends. “Sorry. Grouchy grad student here. I’m a bit cynical tonight. Happy birthday.”

“No issue and thanks.” Isaiah’s smile was as brilliant as his eyes. “Grouchy because you work too hard or because you don’t have enough fun?”

“Aren’t those the same thing?”

“Not necessarily.” Isaiah leaned against the table and immediately jumped up. “Shit. Fucking thing is not stable. Working too hard doesn’t mean you don’t leave time for fun. Some people manage to do both.”

“I don’t have enough fun.” Randall took a deep breath and faced Isaiah full on. His cock stiffened a bit more. Apparently he was in the mood for a guy. At least for this one.

He hesitated to proposition Isaiah. The guy might take it wrong. Hell, he didn’t even know if Isaiah gay, bi or one hundred percent straight. Not that he’d ever met anyone in the latter category. He’d fucked a few guys who’d claimed to be straight but hadn’t had any objection to shoving their cocks into a guy’s mouth or a nice, tight ass.

If he’d been faced with any other guy, Randall would already have started with the pick-up lines. Isaiah was different. Randall couldn’t have said how. He just knew he didn’t want to push the guy.

Available from Ellora’s Cave | Amazon UK | Amazon US

Author bio and links

Karenna Colcroft is the alter ego of a shy, sedate wife and mother who is not a werewolf. (And who was dared to put that last line in her bio…) She started writing stories at age five, and wrote her first erotic romance in 2006 on a challenge from a friend. Her first book was published in March 2009, and since then she has had numerous short stories, novellas, and novels published. Karenna lives in the northeastern United States with her two teens, her real-life romance hero husband, two cats, and a pet mouse who is plotting to take over the world.

Find out more about Karenna and her books (and her blog!) on her website, http://www.karennacolcroft.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenna.colcroft

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarennaColcroft

Tumblr: http://karennacolcroft.tumblr.com

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karennacolcroft/boards/

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Karenna-Colcroft/e/B0031HAOUK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3088615.Karenna_Colcroft

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this interview and wish you the best of luck with your latest release. Many sales!

Thanks, and likewise with your upcoming release! I’m looking forward to you visiting my blog on December 18!