Who Exactly is Adriana Kraft?
To start with, “I” am actually “we” – my husband and I co-write erotic romance under our pen name, Adriana Kraft. So when you see me out and about on the web using what looks like the “Royal We,” I’m not being regal, I’m just owning our combined reality!
We see ourselves as niche authors, so today I thought I’d share with you how we define our own special corner of the erotic romance world. Here are the SEO tags we most identify with:
Erotic Needs no introduction, defines everything we write. Explicit sex scenes created to evoke arousal and enjoyment.
Romance Happy endings, always. Satisfying, never tragic, always upbeat at the end. The erotic scenes are not gratuitous but always part of a story that leads somewhere. It may be happy-for-now, but the reader will be pleased the characters got it together.
Boomers Many of our characters are Baby Boomers. We don’t limit ourselves to this age range, but since we claim it as our own, we write stories that celebrate sex and vibrant living across the age spectrum.
Couples We are a married couple, and we write for couples (married or otherwise, straight or LGBT). We craft scenes that appeal to both genders, scenes that invite fantasizing, scenes that can be part of foreplay, scenes that lead to one of our favorite lines from a reviewer of Colors of the Night, our very first published book: “the reader will no doubt want either a partner or a bucket of toys close at hand.”
Bisexual Heroines for lots of reasons. Because both of us enjoy reading and writing scenes involving two (or more) women together. Because there’s evidence that as we age, we become more sexually fluid. Because for some couples, if she wants him to read erotic romance together in bed, reading about two women may help entice him into the story. Because it’s fun.
Swingers Because the fantasy of ménage is so tantalizing. Because swinging offers so many opportunities for decadent lovemaking, for taking turns being the sole focus of two, three or more other people, for sharing pleasure, enjoying voyeurism, giving one’s partner a special gift. Check out our Swinging Games series at Extasy for a peek at how one Baby Boomer couple heats up their sex life!
Polyamory Sometimes, as in swinging, ménage is about recreational sex, but sometimes it’s about three or more persons falling in love, sorting out the intricacies of the relationship combinations, and making long term commitments. We write a world where such dreams can come true. You can check out our Christmas Story, Santa’s Boss, for a three-way happy ending!
Sexual Freedom We’re not fond of the term “promiscuous” and prefer to champion consensual freedom of sexual expression as a healthy approach to sexuality. We know this requires deep trust and open, honest communication, especially when sexual freedom takes place within the context of committed relationships.
Our most recent release at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, Ripening Passion, fits most of these tags. Here’s the blurb and a SFW excerpt. If you’d like a little more spice, another excerpt is available HERE.
BLURB: RIPENING PASSION
Claire Johnson’s dedication to sex—the cornerstone of her career—led her to found the Center for Sexuality and Sex Practices. Now in her fifties, she knows the Center must keep pace with the rapidly growing Baby Boomer market, so she agrees to go back on camera for a series on sex and aging. But work with her nemesis?
Former English Professor Max Wilson has championed the cause of the Center ever since his deceased wife sought the Center’s help to rekindle the nearly extinguished sexual flames of their relationship. He loves working on camera and welcomes the challenge to perform with the svelte but feisty temptress.
Sparks fly immediately on and off camera. Can either Claire or Max transform those sparks into a fire of sexual desire for their viewers? And if they succeed, what will happen when the movie’s over?
EXCERPT: Let’s drop in on Max and Claire near the beginning. They’ve been sent to a conference on sex and aging in Monterey. It’s evening, and there’s a sunset on the beach…
“Can we walk a little?” Claire grabbed Max’s hand as if it was the most natural thing to do.
They carried their shoes and strolled across the wet, firm sand. Only the sounds of gulls calling and the light slapping of the waves filled their ears.
Her fingers strangely warmed his. Did his warm hers?
BUY LINKS FOR RIPENING PASSION
Whiskey Creek Amazon Fictionwise
Thanks for stopping by ~ and please leave a comment. We’d love to know if your niche fits our niche!
Where to find Adriana Kraft
Website: http://www.adrianakraft.com/
Blog: http://www.adrianakraft.com/blog
FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/people/Adriana-Kraft/100001944980679
Twitter http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft
Newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adrianakraftnewsletter/
Adriana’s Author Pages at Amazon.com and All Romance Ebooks
BECK AND CALL by Nicole Morgan
How did you get started writing?
I have always been an avid reader and I loved to write when I was younger, (NO… I am not that old and if you ask my age I will tell you I am perpetually 29 ) but it wasn’t until I started reading more and more than I found stories playing themselves out in my head, just begging to be told. So, one day I decided to give it a shot. That book was my first book in my Navy SEALs series, Sweet Redemption.
What are some of your literary inspirations or influences?
I have a few favorites I always go back to when I feel the need to pick up a good book. If I was going to give props to anyone though, it would have to be Maya Banks. She’s the one who introduced me to erotic romance as I was fans of Joann Ross and Nora Roberts for so long. I am so thankful I picked up that first Maya Banks’ book it introduced me to a new world of romance that I didn’t know was out there.
What character that you have created do you find the most fascinating? Why?
Oh wow, that is a tough question. Of course I love all of my characters. Although if I had to pick one, I guess I would have to ask that you let me pick two. The hero and heroine of Sweet Salvation (Navy SEALs Book 2 in the Sweet Awakenings Series) are Rex and Shelby. They both had a lot of inner demons to contend with, as well as obstacles in their way. The whole book is filled with struggles that the two must find a way to overcome. I just fell in love with those two and enjoyed writing their story so much.
What is your writing process like?
I have probably the most untraditional form of writing a story. I pick a premise to start with and sit down and start typing. The story evolves as each chapter is completed. I’ve never been the type of writer that could stick to a plan, so I stopped trying. Instead I just let the words flow and see what will happen next. Often times I am as surprised as the reader at where my characters decide to take things.
Besides writer, what other jobs have you had in your life?
I’ve done a variety of things, but almost all of my jobs were in the administrative and/or management field. Writing is my passion though and I am so glad I’ve found it.
How do you deal with criticism or bad reviews?
If it is actual constructive criticism than I am fine with it. Bad reviews happen, you have to take the bad with the good. Not everyone is going to have the same tastes or likes, that’s why there are so many authors out there for readers to choose from. The only problem I have with ‘bad reviews’ are when they aren’t reviewing. I’ve actually seen reviews which just seem to be little rants, but aren’t actually critiquing the book. One in particular stands out where the reviewer said erotic romance wasn’t her type of book. Yet the book she was reviewing was an erotic romance book. Because the book was “too erotic” for her she gave it one star. Those are the only types of reviews that I tend to shake my head at.
What do you do for fun?
I love to go on adventure walks, or visiting historic mountain towns. Getting fresh air is always a plus with me. I am also an avid troop supporter and while for some this may not seem like something fun to do, I get a great deal of personal happiness out of supporting our men and women of our Armed Forces.
What are you reading right now?
I just finished Maya Banks, Hidden Away and I’m getting ready to crack open Joann Ross’, Breakpoint which I bought a couple years ago and found it buried on my bookshelf and realized I’d never read it so I’m really excited to get started on it!
What are some upcoming projects that you are working on?
I’m in the process of writing my 4th book in my Navy SEALs series, Sweet Awakenings. After that I would like to get started on my 3rd book in my Intimate Temptations series. I also have been considering dabbling in the paranormal but am a bit apprehensive since it’s not something I’ve ever done. I guess only time will tell if I get the courage up to give it a shot.
What is one unforgettable memory you have from your youth?
I would pick one of my earliest memories. I was just telling someone else about this as well. I can remember a time, being very little and building a snowman with my dad in front my Grandfather’s house. I’m not sure why this memory has always stood out to me, but it’s definitely one of my fondest memories.
Jenny Somers is the GeneralManager at a resort hotel in the beautiful Caribbean. She loves her job, butshe hates her boss. Constantly cutting corners to meet budget constraints shefinds herself doing handyman work just to keep the hotel running.
Beck is a drifter who comes toJenny’s rescue during a plumbing emergency at the hotel. He is arrogant, cockyand absolutely everything that Jenny despises in a man of his type.
Together Jenny and Beck find outjust how real the term “opposites attract” is, and along the way find somethingthey weren’t quite expecting along the way.
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