An Interview with Leigh Ellwood (@LeighEllwood)

I’m delighted to welcome Leigh Ellwood to the site, where she’s dishing the dirt on her life and her new and upcoming releases. Welcome, Leigh!

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?

Thanks for having me today! I am happily married, mother of one. I work full-time in book publishing and sales, and write romance and mystery. I have been published for about ten years now under different pen names, and I enjoy writing a variety of romantic and erotic sub-genres. I practice yoga daily for exercise, and drink a lot of caffeine!

Give us the background on your latest release.

My latest short is a lesbian erotic story called A TASTE OF VANILLA. It’s an interracial romance, about a woman experimenting with her sexuality and going outside the box, testing her comfort zones, to find the perfect mate. This story appeared in a shorter version in an anthology I edited for Coming Together (COMING TOGETHER: GIRL ON GIRL). I revised and lengthened the story for solo release, and plan to write more in a series.

I also have stories coming out later this year with Ellora’s Cave and Decadent Publishing.

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

I have been writing in some form or another for most of my life, but I published my first story for a Colorado magazine when I was 19. After several rejections, I published my first novel ten years later. I have written articles for magazines, greeting cards, book reviews, blogs…you name it. It seems I was born with a pen in my hand.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on follow-up stories for my Ellora’s Cave and Decadent releases. The EC story is a lesbian romance, and the Decadent is M/M.

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

Not really. Many authors picture a film star, but the faces of my characters don’t take on those physical qualities. I try to keep original images when I create people in my stories. As for muses, I find the world is my muse. I’ll hear a song, see something on the news, then I get an idea.

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

I hope to have more books, more readers, and a bit more money in five years! I guess we all want that as authors, but as long as I can move around without feeling pain I’m good.

And now for some silly questions…

Muscled or skinny? Always liked the skinny boys, don’t know why.

Tall or short? Tall – my husband is tall.

Boxers or briefs? Boxers – they’re colourful.

Moustache or beard? Actually neither – I like them clean shaven.

Long hair or shaven head? Long hair, good for pulling. J

Tattoos or piercings? Again, neither. They don’t do anything for me.

Intelligent or funny? How about intelligently funny?

Blond, brunette or red head? Brunettes – we do have fun, too.

Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)? This varies, but currently it’s Tom Hiddleston. Just saw his Henry V and it was stunning.

Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) I’ve always liked Kate Winslet, ever since Sense and Sensibility.

Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) I could live without all the real housewives and reality “stars”. I don’t see the appeal in shows where people shout at each other for thirty minutes.

Favourite food Eggs Benedict for brunch. I only have it once a year or so, it’s so rich.

Favourite book (tell us why, if you like) Too many to list here. I love Dick Francis mysteries, the Harry Potter books, the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey.

Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like) New York City, just because.

Anything else you’d like to add? Go, Braves!

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

A TASTE OF VANILLA by Leigh Ellwood

Beautiful Cecile Robbins smells like spice and vanilla, and Hailie can’t resist a taste. Curiosity turns into sensual exploration in this sexy F/F romance.

Excerpt

Hailie watched the onscreen couple embrace and kiss, and swallowed back a catch in her throat. She’d seen her share of love scenes in her favorite soaps and movies, but never two women together, and this looked damn near pornographic by comparison. When Veronique—Hailie assumed she was the blond-haired one—sat back on her heels and slid a hand up the other woman’s thigh, Hailie felt the touch in her heart, then down to her pussy. She knew they were actors, but the emotion appeared genuine, and it certainly moved Hailie.

Veronique edged closer to her lover, pushing out her shadowed pussy to connect with the other woman’s thigh. The camera zeroed in just as their mounds pressed together and began a slow grind. Light moaning and breathing accompanied their rhythmic lovemaking, drawing Hailie deeper into this world of grainy black and white sin.

Something pressed against her knee. Hailie looked down at Cecile’s fingers tracing a circle on Hailie’s slacks.

She turned to Cecile, whispering despite their seclusion. “You planned this, didn’t you?”

“I wouldn’t call it a plan,” Cecile said. “More of a spontaneous action,” she lifted her hand, “but if you’re uncomfortable I’ll stop—”

“I meant the movie.”

Cecile laughed. “I don’t pick the schedule here.”

“You picked the meeting place,” Hailie pointed out, “and how convenient it was to hook up in time to catch this particular show—”

Cecile silenced her with a kiss, with soft lips and a gentle thrust of her tongue across the seam of Hailie’s closed mouth. She felt warm and the aroma of vanilla strengthened with their closeness. Blood pounded in Hailie’s head, muffling the background noise of Sapphic ecstasy. Hailie couldn’t move—unsure of what to do in return. Open her mouth? Reach over and pull Cecile to her?

Buy A Taste of Vanilla!
All Romance eBooks
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Barnes & Noble

Now give us your author bio and website/social media links.

Leigh Ellwood – Variety and Spice!

Leigh Ellwood is an award-winning author of erotica and erotic romance fiction. Following the release of her first novel, Truth or Dare, in 2004, Leigh has since written several novels, novella, and short stories. She is an EPIC Award winner and has been nominated for many reviewers awards for her works. Leigh welcomes reader mail at kspatwriter (at) yahoo (dot) com.

http://www.leighellwood.com
http://leighwantsfood.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/leighellwoodauthor
@LeighEllwood

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