But you’re likely wondering what she does to conjure such magic at her keyboard and maintain a “normal” life. She shares time with her husband and cats, Chelsea and Biscuit. For fun, Elizabeth figure skates, an activity that also works off her favorite food—chocolate. Because she loves animals, Elizabeth volunteers at a local no-kill shelter, where she wishes she could adopt all the cats, dogs and the occasional bunnies that come through the door.
So how did she go from all this to penning an erotic series that sells like hotcakes? She is a self-proclaimed museum junkie, who loves history and archeology. As an art student many years ago, she fell in love with Greco Roman art. In the present day, she turned that love and her passion for writing into a career that’s shining like gold.
I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Amber during what I believe was her first meeting with HCRW. Coincidentally, the group was having an agent/editor panel, which meant the place was packed! Yet, I bumped into this slender, wonderfully dressed woman and we instantly connected…over art.
The minute I saw her bookmark for NICHOLAS and commented on them, she realized I also knew my art. (Thanks to my own art training in college.) We’ve run across each other’s paths several times at meetings and booksignings, and each chat has been a delight. In fact, Elizabeth is decidedly witty and, like myself, even blushes over her bookcovers at times.
Nevertheless she holds nothing back when she’s writing her romances, and for that I know her fans (and I) applaud her! Elizabeth is a stunning example of an author who works hard and loves what she does. That tenacity shows through in every word. Eventhough her first book rocketed her to stardom (and a list of awards), I hope one day she’ll get to cap off an RWA National Conference by carrying out her very own golden lady.
Can you tell us where the kernel of an idea to write Satyr erotic paranormals came from?
I’m a museum junkie with a preference for Greco-Roman art history. Satyrs are the carnal followers of the Roman wine god Bacchus, so I thought it would be fun to write about three brothers who own a vineyard in 1800s Tuscany, where they guard ancient secrets and indulge in carnal rituals. I also like Egyptian art history, so that may lay the groundwork for another series someday.
How did you feel as a new writer forging ahead into the RWA National scene looking for a publisher. What caught your attention about Kensington?
I didn’t know anyone when I went to my first RWA, so I did a lot of listening. I remember sitting at a table with some published authors and hearing them discuss Ellora’s Cave, a publisher I hadn’t heard of at the time. They also mentioned that Kensington was looking for erotic romance, so I gave them a try. After a six-month wait, my editor got a go-ahead to expand the line. That’s when I got The Call.
The marketing aspect of being a romance author took me by surprise. I didn’t really know how to go about it. Luckily, I met author Susan Lyons at the Emerald City Writers Conference and she was generous enough to tell me about a yahoo loop for Kensington writers. I learned a lot (and still do) from others in the group, which includes Kate Douglas, Sharon Page, and dozens of other wonderful writers. PASIC is another organization I highly recommend to newly published authors.
When The Lords of Satyr became so popular, did you take any more trips for inspiration?
I haven’t been back to Europe since the first novel (NICHOLAS) in The Lords of Satyr series was published. From previous visits to Italy and France, I have notebooks full of location descriptions, little sketches, and offhand observations. When I wrote about Villa d’Este and the avenue of the 100 fountains in NICHOLAS, and when I described Lyon’s hotel in Paris in LYON, I was working from sketches and notes I’d made of actual places I visited.
Out of all the brothers, has one become your favorite? If you had to pick a favorite heroine among the brothers diverse mates, who would she be?
As for the heroine, I might choose to be Jordan (from RAINE), but only for a night or two. She’s a hermaphrodite, which makes her life difficult. I empathized with her more than any other character I’ve written. Still, she knows what it is to engage in sex as both a man and a woman, which makes her fascinating to me. Just imagine!
The 4th, DOMINIC just released in March. He’s the first character we’ve met who’s full-blood satyr and he’s ElseWorld’s greatest weapon—a demonhand. Once a generation someone is chosen to capture evil and hold it within a mirrored palm. Dominic was selected as a boy of ten. Grown now, he devotes his nights to keeping those in ElseWorld safe, yet they fear and scorn him in return. He’s a loner, but when he’s called to bed another man’s woman in a satyr ritual, it’s a night of passion neither can forget.
I’ve signed on with Kensington to write a fifth and a sixth novel in The Lords of Satyr series. Since I had wrapped up the stories of the brothers, I decided to take the series in a fresh direction that’s still true to the original series.
And the question on everyone's mind, I'm sure, is how do you write so hot? Is it all imagination or do your characters whisper the way?
So, in answer to your question, it’s all imagination. But sometimes I lead the way and other times I get outta the way and let the characters take over!
How can readers find out more about you and The Lords of Satyr?
Erotic excerpts from all four novels are at www.elizabethamber.com Readers are welcome to join my newsletter to find out about my contests, appearances, and upcoming books at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ElizabethAmber/
Remeber if you comment or ask a question for Elizabeth you will be entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of her latest Lords of Satyr novel, DOMINIC!!
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