Author’s Roundtable: Eden Baylee

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a teen, so that’s a few decades ago.

Has writing always been something you wanted to do?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but it wasn’t something I took seriously as a profession until early 2010. That’s when I left my job as a banker to write full-time.

What books or stories have you written?

I have many shorts on my blog and have written two books, along with contributing to a couple of collaborative works.

Published?

I’ve published two on my own. “Fall into Winter” was launched in February 2011, and “Spring into Summer” is my latest. It came out July 9.

Can you tell us a little about your books?

Both my books are of the literary erotica/erotic romance genre. Each contains four novellas, two for each season.

What are they about?

I’ll speak to the current release, “Spring into Summer,” as it’s the companion piece to my first book, “Fall into Winter.” It’s comprised of four distinct erotic novellas; two take place in the spring and two in the summer.

My love of poetry inspired this book, and the first story called “A Season For Everything” is heavily influenced by my affection for poets.

In “Unlocking the Mystery,” I pay respect to the serendipity of life. Though my writing is steeped in reality, this story acknowledges we can’t always explain the magical quality of love.

“Summer Solstice” kicks off the hot season. Everything about this story is hot—the men, the women, the toys. It’s a party with pagans, and they know how to have fun.

The final novella is “The Lottery,” a story that touches on many themes, but at its core, is about the choices we have, the sacrifices we make and the relationships we keep.

Sex, of course, is the common thread, in varying amounts as needed to serve each story.

How did you get inspiration for the characters?

They represent people I know or have known in one capacity or another. The majority of my characters have some basis in reality. 
 
Are the books based on personal experiences?

Yes, some stories are more personal than others. As a writer of fiction however, it’s my job to take that initial spark of reality and weave a good story around it using my imagination. Where reality ends and fiction begins should be seamless.

Is there any advice you have been given that you could give to a young up-and-coming writer?

My mantra to myself: Keep writing. Be persistent. Believe in yourself.

Can you talk a little about the benefits of getting your work professionally edited?

I’m a firm believer if you want to be taken seriously as a writer, you must use the tools of the trade. Getting a professional edit is mandatory as it’s impossible for me to see my own mistakes. 

It’s one thing to be able to tell a good story, but the mechanics of doing it properly must be firmly rooted. I know how frustrating it can be to read a book that is poorly edited, so I usually don’t. Once I abandon the book, the likelihood of me ever picking up another one from the same author is nil.

If an author doesn’t care enough to package his/her words in as flawless a manner as possible, then I’m not wasting my time reading it. It’s as simple as that.

What are some of the hardest things you’ve had to overcome as a writer, in order to be published?

I’m an indie author, so I do it on my own. If I can’t, then I hire professionals. This model suits my anal personality, but it can be exhausting. That’s the price I pay for wanting it done my way, and I’m fine with it. 
 
How do you find enough time in the day to write?

It’s my job and what I’ve chosen to do with my life, so I make the time. 
 
Do you think writing has any benefits, and if so what would they be?

As I said earlier, writing is not a hobby for me since I left a long career to do it. Given that, the benefits need to manifest as sales of my books. If that doesn’t happen, then I have to consider some other way to support myself, so I can continue writing.

The true benefit of writing is, of course, it makes me happy. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it.

Several of my guests have often said writing is therapeutic and relaxes them. Can you talk a little about how writing relaxes you?

Writing doesn’t relax me because I’m focused on it like anyone would be doing a job. It’s work but something I enjoy immensely. If I want to relax, I meet a friend for dinner and talk about things other than writing. 
 
Has writing made you a better person?

Only in the sense that it keeps me busy and out of trouble.

Do you like to read?

Yes, of course.

If so, what are your favorite genres and why?

I read everything from literary fiction to thrillers to autobiographies to poetry. I don’t have favorites, and it’s important I read different types of books because I get bored easily. Aside from keeping me engaged, reading different genres allows me to experience various writing styles.

I’m open to reading almost anything as long as the writing is good.

Can you talk about how important reviews are to writers?

Reviews are important, but they won’t make or break a book. At the end of the day, most readers who are not authors read for enjoyment and not with the aim to review the book when they’re done. They finish one book and move on to the next. If they are good enough to provide a review, that’s fantastic, but I suspect many don’t have the time to do it, and some may just not know how to.

I’m always happy to get reviews because it’s feedback about my work.

Have you ever received a bad review? If so how did it make you feel?

Not yet, and I’ll be sure to let you know how I feel once that happens 😉

About Eden Baylee

Eden Baylee writes literary erotica. Her stories are both sensual and sexual, incorporating some of her favorite things such as travel, culture and a deep curiosity for what turns people on. “Spring into Summer” is her second collection of erotic novellas.

Check out Eden’s website, blog, follow her on Twitter, be her friend on Facebook, watch her videos on Youtube and see what kinds of things she likes on Pinterest.

Buy Eden’s books

• Amazon.com             
• Amazon.UK

Thanks so much for inviting me on your blog, Jason. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve created such a lovely forum for writers to connect.