An Interview with Tabitha Rayne (@tabithaerotica)
I’m delighted to welcome another of the Brit Babes to my site. The lovely Tabitha Rayne is here to dish the dirt on herself, her writing and her obsession with Tom Hardy. Enjoy…
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?
Well Lucy-Loo I live midway between a town and the countryside – I’m an outdoorsy gal so get very claustrophobic if I have to be hemmed in between buildings for too long. I go running to clear my head and sort out any plot tangles. I love burlesque and have a huge collection of corsets, boas and pasties! 😉
I do indeed have a day job to fund my writing habit! I didn’t used to – when I started to get published, I assumed that my career would be writing. But alas, it wasn’t so… one day perhaps. It’s the dream of many a writer, I guess, that writing be their sustenance both physically and spiritually. I wouldn’t ever stop writing though – my sanity depends on it.
Give us the background on your latest release.
My latest release is Taking Flight – the 2nd book in The Meeting Point trilogy. I guess my inspiration is linked to my love of the wild – I think it combines my 3 obsessions – sex (mais bien sur!), the apocalypse and spirituality (our own inner selves). I like to think of it as an action adventure trilogy – saving the world one bonk at a time! There’s a bit more to it than that, of course – it’s quite a spiritual book – delving into how sex unites us on more than the physical level and how we can transcend our worries, fears and guilt by letting go and feeling the love… 😀
How did you get started with writing? And what was your route to publication like?
I have always written stories but my real first love was painting. I always thought (and possibly still do) of myself as an artist. Though I realised the pictures I was creating just didn’t match the images I had in my mind. It was extremely frustrating and disappointing. It was when I started to think of words as an artistic medium that I began to ‘paint’ the pictures accurately. Does that make sense? Probably sounds totally pretentious but it’s the best way I can describe how I work!
I’ve had things published in different genres under different names but it was only when I started writing erotica that I really felt in my element. It has been the most successful genre for me in terms of publication and satisfaction. I was worried that my work would be too filthy to publish and kept it hidden for a few years until I started reading some books by my fellow Brit Babes especially Kd Grace at the time and some others – Justine Elyot, Lisabet Sarai – that I realised that my particular brand of naughty was indeed not too filthy! 😉 In fact, I really ought to ramp it up! Isn’t that right Lucy 😉
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working through edits for the final book in my Meeting Point trilogy, Finding Unity. I am also determined to finish a novel I started writing last year called The Baker’s Wife – it’s completely different from the trilogy as it is set in the real world on a cruise liner in the 50s. Even so, I guess the same internal battles will be fought in the mind’s of my characters and let’s be honest – it will all be worked out by some sex and a spanking or two…
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 is my A – my partner of like, a million years! A constant source of inspiration. My Sailor Riply. I watched Wild at Heart when I was about 14 or something and watched it again recently… still my fave – I think my writing is inspired a lot by emotional intensity like in that film. There’s loads of celebs I drool over… wanna list? Christian Bale, Sam Rockwell, Lady Ga Ga, Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal – (are they related?) Tom Hardy, Jack White, Peaches, Lana Del rey… the list goes on and on!
Where do you see yourself in five years? Both writing-wise and non-writing-wise?
Well, I hope to be sipping margaritas at the beach hut with the Brit Babes being gently fanned with palm fronds by some of the people mentioned above…
Seriously though… I don’t have a five year plan – I’m a complete fly by the seat of my pants kinda gal. I do love learning new skills though – last year I tried surfing and high(ish) diving and I’m determined to learn how to backflip on a trampoline.
As for writing – I will have to see where the muse takes me. Though one of my biggest achievements this year was hosting a book launch and actually reading my filthy words out loud! I might like to try that again as I do love facing my fears and having an excuse to party. But I really ought to get more of these books sold – that would be a plan indeed.
And now for some silly questions…
Muscled or skinny? Muscled
Tall or short? Tall
Boxers or briefs? Neither
Moustache or beard? Moustache – with a sprinkling of beard too – and that’s just the ladies…
Long hair or shaven head? Long hair
Tattoos or piercings? Nah
Intelligent or funny? Don’t they go hand in hand?
Blond, brunette or red head? Brunette
Hottest celebrity (tell us why, if you like)? I’m into Tom Hardy right now and Lana Del Rey
Top same-sex crush (or opposite sex if you already like same-sex!) See above!
Most disliked celebrity (tell us why, if you like) – I’m not saying
Favourite food – chilis, dates and liquorice all mixed together
Favourite book (tell us why, if you like) – Oh Lucy – you’re torturing me with these questions! I couldn’t choose a book! Good grief… The Arrival by Shaun Tan perhaps? I’m desperate to read The Lost Girls by Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbe. And choosing a favourite erotica book is like choosing a favourite sister or best friend… come on now…!
Favourite place in the world (tell us why, if you like) – my bed – wherever that may be. I do love Poland and Italy and everywhere I’ve ever been. You may realise I cannot pin something as my favourite anything! There’s just too much stuff to love!
Anything else you’d like to add? Love is everything.
Now give us the blurb, an extract and buy links for your latest release.
Yes ma’am! I liked that bossy tone right there 😉
Taking Flight Book 2 in The Meeting Point trilogy by Tabitha Rayne
“Find me at the meeting point. We are more than the physical.”
Four generations from now, toxins are ravaging the land and the future of mankind is in peril. The surviving men are being rounded up and taken to holding facilities. Research scientist, Dr Deborah Regan is hoping to stabilise the decreasing male population before her lover, Marcus becomes one of those taken away.
When the authorities come looking for Marcus, Deborah abandons her research to go on the run with her lover. They flee to the forests where they stumble across a couple who are intent on finding an ultimate sexual union where at the point of climax their spirits break free from their bodies and unite. Plunged into a life of lust and survival, Deborah soon realises she can easily slip into this trancelike state and she and Marcus set out to create a transcendent bond of their own. Can they achieve the ultimate unity before fate separates them for good?
An erotic dystopian fantasy following a young couple trying to elude capture and separation.
The prequel to A Clockwork Butterfly.
In a dying world – is love the only means of true survival?
Excerpt -This is from a part of the story where my leading lady has voiced her desire to be tied up in the forest…
Anyone could find her here, bandits, guards … She tried to rationalise her fear but her physiology took over, flooding her senses with fight or flight cortisones. The sensation started in her chest and swelled and radiated to every cell, making her soar above herself and stare down at the sight of a naked, dishevelled forest nymph, bound and hanging. The imagined sight made her part her legs and bear down, catching her arousal in her abdomen and forcing it into her pussy, where she tried to focus all the energy that was threatening to send her out of control. It took all her concentration to keep everything centred there – all her fear, desire, lust, euphoria – but she knew it was essential, somehow.
A sharp crack snapped her back to the reality of her situation again; someone was close. She tensed every sinew. Alert and staring, Deborah scoured her surroundings. Something moved in the shrubbery. It darted like an animal, low and erratic, as if cornered, but it didn’t add up. She strained her senses in its direction and tried to catch the scent on the barely breathing breeze. Human. Shuddering, she could feel her body expand to a vast canvass of nakedness. The nasal breathing of someone staring hard at the object of their intent filled her ears. Deborah gripped the strapping on each wrist tight and tensed her muscles in a way that she hoped would alert the watcher to her strength in this situation, not her vulnerability. Her skin flushed with warmth under the scrutiny of the shadowy, hidden figure. They stared at each other; she completely exposed and he – she could smell it was a he – completely obscured. There was a strange control conundrum going on in Deborah’s head: as long as he kept himself hidden and meek, she felt like she was holding the power. She let this thought roll around in her psyche and was amazed to feel her body relax and melt into this newfound confidence. Letting the ropes take her weight, she hung a little, shifting her feet apart and opening her legs to share her wet treasure with the voyeur.
Taking Flight is book 2 in The Meeting Point trilogy – but don’t worry if you haven’t read book one yet (A Clockwork Butterfly) because it doesn’t matter which order you read the first two.
Buy Links for Taking Flight
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Buy links for A Clockwork Butterfly
Tiny snippet
“If we part ways,” he started but Deborah pressed a finger to his lips, she didn’t want to hear it, speaking it might make it true. He pushed her hand from his face and held it at his chest, his woozy gaze fixed on hers. “Deborah, if we part ways, I’ll find you. I’ll find you at the meeting point. Do everything you can to come. We are more than the physical.”
Now give us your author bio and website/social media links.
Tabitha Rayne has been told she is quirky, lovely and kinky – not necessarily in that order or by the same person. She writes erotic romance and as long as there’s a love scene – she’ll explore any genre.
Her short stories are included in anthologies from Xcite, Oysters & Chocolate, Cleis, Ravenous Romance, Mischief, and House of Erotica. She has novels with Beachwalk Press and Xcite Books.
TabithaRayne.co.uk
Facebook
Twitter
Brit Babes Blog
Spicy Author Blog
Amazon Author Page UK
Amazon Author Page US – provides an up to date book list
Goodreads
Thanks again for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this interview and wish you the best of luck with your latest release. Many sales!
And with you Lucy-Loo! Thank you for having me x x x
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