Margie Church
Interview with Margie Church
Melody Prater’s Interview with: Margie Church - “Razor”
Why did you and K.B. decide to co-author a book together? It just happened. We were goofing around, exchanging a few paragraphs on the BDSM theme. I think we were trying to out-write each other, you know, see who could write the most compelling next few paragraphs. Eventually, we sat back and realized we'd created something that actually had potential. I had the task of choosing which of those original words would stay and which would go. What a nasty task that was. We sure learned to check our egos at the door during that phase. The result is the opening few chapters of the book.
Are the two of you close friends? Sadly, yes. LOL It's kind of crazy to say this, but for the first six or so months that I knew K.B., he never divulged his gender and I thought he was a lesbian. He can really tap his feminine side! I was pretty darn shocked when he told me the truth. Anyway, that was two years ago, and since then, we have become best friends. We have some amazing similarities in our childhood and family lives. Sometimes we finish each other's sentences, which really weirds me out. We aren't married to writers, so it's nice to talk to somebody in the business who understands it. We talk almost every day, and I've gotten to know his wife, too.
Did your writing change while co-writing this book? Somewhat. We have different, very distinct, authorial voices. We didn't want the reader to know when one of us stopped and the other started writing a scene. As I wrote, it was really important to keep the characters' speech patterns and personalities in mind and stick to those. I had the job of making sure our voices meshed, so sometimes I used a phrase or word K.B. would usually choose, and other times he accommodated me.
What 3 words would you use to describe your writing? Tight. Vibrant. Engaging.
What do you like most/least about writing? I love the creative process – watching the story unfold and thinking, "Wow, cool." And it's even better if the reader thinks so, too. My least favorite thing is hunting for readers. It's extremely difficult and time consuming to punch a hole in the industry with your name on it. Promotions take more time than writing sometimes.
Do you have a favorite scene in this book? Tough call. I'd have to say toward the end of the book when Raine visits alone Lucien. I won't go into great detail because I don't want to spoil the story, but we see a tremendous amount of Raine's emotional pain in those scenes. We also see how being in the lifestyle helps center her emotionally and mentally. Lucien has been a big part of her life, so it's natural for her to seek his guidance. What she asks him to do and how he complies, I think, is really important to truly understanding how Raine's mind and heart work.
Would you like/or plan to do more co-writing? We are planning to start the second book in September, and we think there'll be a third book in the series started sometime next winter. I've also previously written with J. Andrew Lockhart. It's important to find someone who has the right personality to do this. Both authors have ideas, strengths, and weaknesses. How those get balanced so both of feel good about the end result is tricky. And also, recognize the books tie us to each other indefinitely. You have to like and respect each other. The book could be a wild success or a dud. You still own it together.
Who is your favorite Author? What would you like to ask that author? John Sanford. I'd like him to read one of my suspense novels and give me an honest review. Oh, and an autograph. Since he lives in St. Paul, if someone can arrange that for me, you'd have my undying gratitude…unless the review is terrible…then all bets are off. LOL
What is something that people might be surprised to know about you? I was on the synchronized swimming team in high school.
All right, if you could go anywhere in the world, where would that be? Would it be for a vacation or to live? I'd love to go to Holland in the spring to see all the tulips in bloom. Then, I'd take a train to southern Germany to visit my family who live in Heidelberg. I haven't seen them in such a long time, and they don't like to fly.
I want to thank Margie Church for taking some time out to answer a few questions. For more about Margie, here's where you can find her around the web:
Margie's website: Romance with SASS
Margie's blog: http://blog.RomanceWithSASS.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MargaretRChurch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MargieChurch
Author of The 18th Floor
Melody: Please tell us about yourself.
Margie: Unpredictable is a good word to describe me. In person, you'll find me quite ordinary: wife, mom, boring copywriter and editor in the evil day job. You wouldn't find me openly discussing this book's erotic details just for fun, either. I'm kind of bashful that way in person. I read an excerpt from this book at a conference last fall and I had to practice - a lot - until I didn't blush and stammer. LOL! My days and evenings are filled with writing and have been for almost 30 years. I've been writing fiction for four years. I'm a workaholic and speak snark as a second language. I have a great sense of humor and I'm known for being straightforward.
Melody: Give us a little insight to The 18th Floor in your own words.
Margie: If there's any element this story portrays strongly, it's trust. It builds as Sebastian and Alexa's relationship grows and deepens. I don't believe a D/s relationship can be successful and healthy if there isn't a solid base of trust. There are many, many aspects to the BDSM lifestyle and, by some standards, this book is pedestrian. But, for those of us who are curious and adventurous, I think it's pretty satisfying. The 18th Floor gives you a glimpse into a variety of situations that are enticing. I hope it'll lead you to read more and perhaps try some of these things. It can be very exciting . . . so I've heard.
Melody: How did you come up with this book?
Margie: This is my first complete BDSM novel - I'd written two characters in Dangerous Love who were into it to test my metal. I spent about a year learning about the lifestyle and took a couple of classes. I went to a conference and made some friends with people who live it to help me build a believable story. As for the plot and setting - I couldn't tell you. These things just pop into my head. When I finished the book and created the list of content alerts, I have to admit I thought about publishing it under a pen name. The 18th Floor is a wild canvas of kink and emotion. Some of the scenes are personal fantasies of mine; others evolved as the characters told their stories.
Melody: Do you plan to make this a series? If so, can you give us a hint into it?
Margie: The publisher and my editor (thank you, Jean Marie Stine and Sascha Illyvich) have asked for a sequel, but I haven't even begun to think about it. I have two pieces coming out that fall into the BDSM category. First is Executive Decision from Decadent, coming in late June. This is an m/m D/s short story for their "One Night Stand" series. Very hot, and not what you're expecting, emotionally, from two men.
After that, is a full novel entitled RAZOR that I'm literally just finishing with K.B. Cutter, for Sizzler Editions. "Being mentored by a Domme has its benefits, but will Raine destroy Bryce and Amy's marriage?" This book challenges the conventional definitions of marital love. We're hoping for a July release on this highly anticipated book.
I'm also putting the final touches on a piece called Night Music. It's an m/m/f short story for the "Edge" series at Decadent. "Brielle's vacation to the Blue Ridge Mountains was meant to recharge her for the fall concert season. However, Zeke and Tyler are better at recharging her than mountain scenery ever could be."
Melody: What was it like writing your characters? Did they flow well or did any of them give you a hard time?
Margie: I didn't have trouble writing these characters because I map out my characters pretty well before I start writing. They always have some surprises for me, but usually not total do-overs. I had to keep a close eye on Alexa as the plot unfolded. The scene on the boat is extremely intense. How do I portray her as highly sexual without being wanton? She had several secrets that affected how she reacted to Sebastian. I needed to make sure he took good care of her and readers liked her.
Melody: Ok, this is the one we all have been waiting for! Is Sebastian a man that you would want to date?
Margie: If I were single, I would. He's a great guy - both professionally and personally. I liked the way he became Alexa's hero. He's patient, thoughtful, and generous. The fact that he's gorgeous and talented in bed would be a bonus. I don't know how compatible we'd be however. I tend to be that dominant personality. Bwhahahahahah!
Melody: Thank you so much for sharing this insight with us.
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Purchase Razor at the AdC Bookstore
Read AdC's review of The 18th Floor
Purchase The 18th Floor at the AdC Bookstore
