Your Complete Publisher Specializing in Unabridged Works

Lillian gave me a warning when she told me I should contact this young woman. “She’s shy,” Lillian told me. Shy is not an appropriate word for Lavender’s condition. Introverted is much better. 

Lavender did not respond to me at first. It took Lillian sending her blessings (twice) before Lavender would exchange any emails with me. Then they were brief and not quite to the point. Bless her heart, it took me months before I could get anywhere with her. It was only when I mentioned the fact I had several book ideas I needed writers to either take over from me, or collaborate with, that Lavender took any real interest.

Since this rough beginning, Lavender and I have become good friends. A good thing considering I am also her editor. Editors and authors often have turbulent relationships. Let me give you some more details about this young woman.

Lavender is even more detail oriented than I am. Before she ever put a single word down on paper for Gigolo, Lavender developed in-depth character sheets, considered my plot line then reworked it into a workable series, and added many great twists. Her shyness aside, when Lavender writes, she expresses herself eloquently and awesomely. 

Without further ado, here is my interview with Lavender Mills, my collaborator on Gigolo – The Beginning and the author of her new book Millie: 

Q. Hi Lavender. Ready?

A. I guess.

Q. (Laughing) Try not to sound so upbeat on me will ya?

A. Please don’t make fun of me. I don’t want to do this, but Lillian and Yvonne convinced me if I was going to be a writer, I would need to tell some of my own story. 

Q. Great! I know I am glad to hear some of your own journey. I’m also quite sure our readers want to know more. I will try to keep any personal questions out of this interview.

A. Thank you.

Q. Let’s start with Gigolo. I offered you several projects. You passed on all until you read my rendition of Gigolo. Considering your shyness about such subjects as sex, I found it intriguing you chose to write from a man’s point of view for Gigolo. A man who seeks payment for having sex with women.

A. I find this one of those personal questions I’m uncomfortable answering.

Q. I figured. However, it is interesting. You often stated to me you wanted nothing to do with writing erotica or sexual situations and yet you chose Gigolo? Why?

A. (cough) I found the idea of Gigolo interesting. The more I considered his story, the more ideas popped into my head. Besides, the story is more of a dark comedy than a sex story. Don’t you think?

Q. I am biased since I worked with you on the book. However, that being said, I love the many situations Gigolo finds himself in. Situations you created. You have an intriguing mind when it comes to placing your characters in scenarios which grab a reader’s attention.

A. (Laughing) More like warped.

Q. (Laughing) That is one way to describe such scenarios. How did you come up with the scenarios and what made you create such in-depth sexual scenes?

A. (Pause) The book is not about sex. Let’s get that straight. He’s a gigolo, so there is sex involved, but the book is about the situations this man finds himself as he pursues his newfound career.

Q. Again, how did your warped mind come up with these scenarios?

A. I had to imagine what it would be like to be a man. Then I had to decide what would propel him to decide to be a sex worker. Then, when I had this crafted in my notes, I had to decide how I wanted him to act and react. What drove him, what would he do? What wouldn’t he do? Why? I wrote tons of notes on this character. Then I had to imagine the kinds of people he would run across. As I imagined the various original characters provided within the plot, I rebuilt them. I wanted this man to be a man’s man but to find himself in all kinds of trouble over his past, his present and his future. As for the sex you mentioned earlier, I imagined what he would have to do for his clients and let the words flow. I may not like discussing sex with you or anyone else, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two or don’t enjoy writing about it.

Q. Does your boyfriend agree?

A. Way too personal. 

Q. What did he think about Gigolo?

A. Can we get off the subject of my boyfriend please.

Q. (Laughing) So, you do have a boyfriend. Good to know.

A. Shut up. Can we continue about my writing or do I need to hang up?

Q. (Laughing harder) Okay. When Gigolo was first developed, I collaborated with you. However, in your new book Millie, I asked you to go it alone. Did you enjoy writing this new book by yourself? And will you write the next in the Gigolo series by yourself?

A. Yes. Yes, I did enjoy writing Millie alone. I enjoyed our first collaboration, but I prefer writing alone.

Q. Don’t lie to me or our readers. You hated working with me. Didn’t you?

A. I wouldn’t say I hated it.

Q. (Laughing once again) That’s it? No explanation? Very well. Tell me, what drew you to the Millie story.

A. I liked the flawed characters. Millie has dark undertones. I prefer to write about the darker aspects of life. And about happy endings.

Q. Is there a happy ending? It is a romance after all.

A. Could be. I won’t tell though. You know I would rather lead up to a happy ending then squash it.

Q. Why be so mean?

A. Meanness is a standard in life. Now that I think about it, so is rudeness and bullying and violence. I see the darkness in people. I feel it. When I look at someone, I don’t think they have a great smile. Nor do I want to get to know them. I see the underlying tones of cruelty, harshness and selfishness. It’s what I know. 

Q. Care to elaborate?

A. No.

Q. (laughing) There it is again. Finality. Yet, when you write characters and scenes and plots you allow for leniency. There is no finality to your writing. There is always another way, or idea, or problem coming along.

A. Isn’t that life though. Life can suck. I mean like a vacuum cleaner. Sure, there can be great times, happy times, but you have to search for them and when you find them, you have to hold onto them for as long as you can. 

Q. A dark view of the world. However, it let you write Millie into a character I loved. She is flawed. She has endured hardships and hasn’t come out of the other end. Is Millie biographical in nature?

A. None of your business. My personal life is my own. Millie is a product of my imagination. Can we talk about writing and leave my life out of this?

Q. No promises but I will try. What’s next for you?

A. I have several Gigolo stories developed. I have begun the next in the series. I have a couple of short stories I want to write though I might keep them to myself. I have also begun to work, thanks to Willy Folsom, on another series. A supernatural series. I think Willy and I will work together on this series.

Q. Wow! Collaborating again. Isn’t this outside your need to write alone.

A. Stop teasing. 

Q. Okay, what’s the series about?

A. A physic detective.

Q. That’s it? Elaborate for our readers.

A. No.

Q. (Pause then laughing) Well, I guess that’s it then. We look forward to reading Millie, due out in May, and I personally can’t wait to see what you do with the Gigolo character. However, you dropped a bombshell on me right now. I had no idea you and Willy were working together to formulate a new series. A physic detective. Incredible. Tell me more.

A. (White noise on the phone line. No answer.) 

Q. Okay, then let’s get back to your boyfriend. What does he think about…?

A. (Phone clicks off.)

I must apologize for the abrupt end of the interview. I enjoy teasing Lavender. She is so easy to get riled up. You should listen to her when I question a detail on a character’s interaction in a scene. All I have to do to stop her in her tracks is to ask if the character would really do what she described or would they do something else. 

This question alone had led to many late nights on the phone or email attacks explaining it all in great detail. I do enjoy baiting Lavender, but the reality is she is a talented writer who places herself in the scenarios she writes and always asks what if. What if this happened or that or something new? 

This question alone is driving this young woman to develop skills in writing many will envy in the years to come. I believe I will lose her someday to a bigger publishing house but by then, she will be mainstream enough to make the change. We will miss her, but until then, I will keep teasing her. 

I’m Ross, The Editor-in-chief at The Pyrateheart Press and I’m out.