Stacey Kennedy in the Spotlight!

by Stacey Kennedy

How did you start your writing career?    The journey as a writer all began when I was a teen and wrote poetry, which still to this day I pull out to have a good laugh. Later on, I tried a couple of times to put a book together with no such luck. Couldn’t ever get past the first few chapters. But once I was exposed to the paranormal world, ideas came quickly.

At first, it was a way to keep my brain alive since being a stay at home mom can be a little let’s say―numbing. It was an escape from screaming kids, dirty diapers and plain old mom duty. It started as a hobby, but as the stories progressed it became a passion. Now, I indulge at naptime, especially the juicy bits! Every mom needs a good thrill!

Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with it?    Nope, Stacey Kennedy is actually my real name.  When it came down to it, I just had no idea what to call myself.  And truthfully, I thought it was so strange that my readers would be calling me by a name that wasn’t mine.  It just never felt right to me.   

How do you describe your writing style?   My novels are lighthearted fantasy, heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?   It’s really quite simple.  I make a coffee, I make sure there is no noise around me, I curl up on the couch and then write.  That’s it…that’s all!  In a good day, I can get out about three thousand words in one sitting.  But like I said, mornings are not the best time for me…so it usually takes me a good hour, a few gulps of coffee to get my butt in gear.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?    I’m a panster all the way. I have no schedule, no plan, no plotting. I just sit down with my laptop and write, open to wherever the story wants to take me. Sometimes this creates difficult edits afterwards as I try and weave it all together to make sure everything makes sense, but I just can’t work any other way. 

What is the hardest part of writing your books?   Without a doubt, the hardest part for me is the first three chapters. I LOATHE the beginning of a story. It’s by far my biggest struggle, but luckily it’s gotten easier. Doesn’t mean I don’t still hate writing them. We don’t play nice.

What makes a good love scene?   For me, I think what makes a good love scene is passion.  It’s the element of connecting two characters who want nothing but each other in a hot embrace.  Hot and heavy sex is fantastic…but I think heat comes from being in the person’s mind.  Reading the emotions they are feeling, experiencing the way they see the other person and what the sexual experience is doing for them is what I find sexy.  I love, love, love, when a man adores a woman and marvels at her womanly gifts.

Where do your ideas come from?  Anything and everything.  Sometimes, it’s from my own stories.  While I’m in the middle of writing one I’ll leave it to write another.  Other times it can be from a single event―one moment where the characters show themselves―little ideas that are the pivotal part in a story or even sometimes the opening scene.  I can only say I’m grateful that I haven’t run out of ideas and hope it stays that way.

Tell us about your current release.  On April 22^nd, my first Decadent release will be coming out, Forever Bound – 1NightStand. SQUEE!!  It’s also my first attempt at BDSM, and may I just say it was wickedly fun to write. Here is about it:

Josie Harper had boyfriends, lovers, and even friends with benefits. None of them could satisfy her. Something had always been missing—something she was now desperate to find.
Gavin Scott longed for the perfect submissive. A woman worthy of the gift he could give to her as a Dom. Most failed to meet his expectations and he’d all but given up hope.
A high class match-maker in Las Vegas brings Josie and Gavin together. Tonight, Gavin will introduce Josie to the world of BDSM. As he skillfully guides her through the experience, Josie isn’t the only one captivated. Gavin is in awe of her control, someone this new to the lifestyle shouldn’t possess this great of a talent.
During their journey, Josie will find the missing piece of her soul and Gavin will meet the woman who was born to submit to him.

Tell us about your next release.  In the coming months, Takedown will be released. It’s also part of the 1NightStand line, but is a yummy m/m. I wrote this book as a challenge to myself since I’ve never written anything but m/f. May I just say, I enjoyed every darn minute of writing this story. Here’s a peek at this sinfully sexy erotic romance.

U.S. Marshal Wyatt Tanning has been on the hunt for a killer on the run in Turks and Caicos. A week into the investigation, he has absolutely nothing to show for his efforts. Feeling defeated he returns to Castillo Resort to drown his frustrations. There he meets UFC fighter, Rye Daniels. Now the resort’s bartender, Rye recognizes a man that has been beaten down, but he also senses a shared attraction that is hard to ignore. Wyatt might not be ready to step out from behind the shadow of lies, but Rye will stop at nothing to unleash the beast within.

Stacey Kennedy is an avid lover of the paranormal romance, urban fantasy and erotic romance genres. If she isn’t plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she’s got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.