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Look for these on our podcast (insert links here). Like so many things in our journey in the publishing world, interviews are new to me. Yvonne performed the interviews for C.S. Patra, author of Heirs of the Blood Queen, and Sophia Grey, author of Finding Her Voice.

I enjoyed both interviews. I would since I had nothing to do with the process. My wifesty Yvonne wrote the questions, got the authors to consent to be interviewed, performed the interviews, and completed the editorial process. In essence, all I did was sit back and listen once all the work was complete. Gave my expert opinion on whether or not I thought the interviews were good. 

When the idea to write a series of blog posts based on each of our authors came up, I naturally tried to slush the process off on my wife. She gave me a sly smile, a wink, and shook her head no. She informed me the authors with pseudonyms were mine. In all aspects including interviews.

I tried to get several of these authors to let me interview them, as in actually record their voices, and insert them into the blog posts. I met with quite a great deal of resistance. Most informed me the idea of a pen name is to stay anonymous. Period. 

I understood. I started out my original writing career with the pen name Miranda Cummings. I had a great idea about writing a series of supernaturally based erotica stories. Once I finished the first story, I needed to shop it around to someone who would read it and give me an unadulterated opinion on my work.

Enter the woman who would take over the pseudonym. I met Miranda in a Facebook group where I was shopping my book. This was sometime in 2015. I had several takers on reading my work. Of them all, the only one who floated to the top of the pack was the woman who would become Miranda Cummings.

To say Miranda possesses a sharp tongue is too kind. She emasculated me. Tore my work to shreds. Held no care or concern for my feelings. Once she was done tearing my work to itty bitty little pieces of worthlessness, she offered me several pointers since I was a man writing erotic fiction for a female audience. When I balked, she offered to take over the pen name and my idea and do something she considered worthwhile.

Since then, we have exchanged a million emails, took to talking on the phone and finally I convinced her to do a Zoom meeting with me. She hesitated of course. Miranda loves anonymity. Loves being able to speak her mind freely without worry of any backlash. This is where I chose to begin my interview. (The questions are me of course and the answer are the uncensored words of Miranda Cummings.)

Q. What is it about using a pen name you find fascinating?

A. Who wouldn’t? I can hide behind the screen of my computer and say whatever I damn well feel like. I have no care or concern about my neighbors, my coworkers, my husband even. I am completely free to say or do whatever I want without a care in the world.

Q. Is this why you write hardcore erotica?

A. What do you mean hardcore? Why do you label my writing as such? One of those reasons we get along so well is you yourself hate censorship as do I. I write erotica. There needs to be no other labels placed upon my work.

Q. You write explicit sexual scenes in your work. Is this not hard core?

A. Are you complaining? (Scoffs) You like my writing, admit it. You like the way I don’t try and hide the sexuality of normal women and men. Sex is a natural part of our lives. Why should we hide the beauty of sex? Only hypocrites try to hide the sexuality in the world. I embrace it.

Q. Only if you can stay anonymous, right?

A. (Scoffs) My husband has never complained.

Q. (Laughs) I’m sure. However, you didn’t answer the question.

A. Yes, I express myself openly as an anonymous writer and critic. I don’t want this part of myself to bleed into my normal life.

Q. Isn’t this a bit hypocritical?

A. Says the man who attempted to pass himself off as a woman writing erotica.

Q. (Laughs) Same old Miranda. Attacking me when it suits your needs.

 A. Old? I am not old. I take offense to you calling me Old Miranda. 

Q. You’re in your fifties. You are getting there.

A. Why would you say such a thing. A gentleman never mentions a ladies’ age. You are the hypocrite. Saying you were raised with southern manners and yet you tell everyone my age. Stop being an ass.

Q. (Laughs) We seem to have gotten off subject as usual. Let’s begin again. Why do you write erotica?

A. They say write about what you know. Or in my case – love. I adore sex. I have since I first discovered it. I love everything about sex. When a girlfriend passed me what she called a “naughty” book to read, I found myself excited, aroused, and addicted. My collection of erotica is over a thousand titles now.

Q. What was this naughty book?

A. The classic Anais Nin Delta of Venus. I fell in love with her writing and later as a person. I so wished I had the bravery to live my life as freely as Anais did.

Q. Do you regret your life?

A. In many ways, yes, of course I do. We all do. Don’t say you don’t have regrets Ross. I know you better than that. We all have regrets. However, I don’t regret my marriage or having my boys.

 Q. Does your husband understand your need for writing as an outlet?

A. My husband’s understanding is not necessary. We have reached a point in our marriage where we understand we have changed. He accepts this as do I. We are not the same people we were thirty years ago. My husband prefers his cars these days. I prefer long hot baths with champagne and candles and my erotica.

Q. Is this all you take with you into the tub? 

A. I will not answer such a question. Instead, you will have to read about it. My baths often produce the best inspiration for my writing. 

Q. Let’s change the subject before this becomes something our readers will need a stiff drink in order to continue. I asked you to write a portion of the book The After Effects of a Good Time. This was not a book of erotica. Why did you accept the commission?

A. (Laughs) I got to be the bitch in the story.

Q. Was this important?

A. I always wanted to be the bitch. I live in a world which doesn’t allow such behavior. I know you want me to tell everyone a little about myself so here goes. I am a schoolteacher. I attend church regularly. I sponsor a book club. I am by all appearances nothing more than a “good” girl. Not a woman who would do the things Adele’s character in After Effects does. Though I spent a great deal of my life fantasizing about what being such a bitch would be like. Bitches get to live the way they want. What woman doesn’t want that?

Q. Are your stories in Pan’s Naughty Flute your fantasies?

A. (Scoffs) Of course. Such a silly question. Ask me something with some grit to it please.

Q. How would you behave if you weren’t married? If you didn’t have your son’s judgements to worry about?

A. (Laughs) I would be the biggest slut out there.

 

Q. Well, that’s direct.

A. Why lie? I would. I would wear out men by the score. Older women are the best in bed. Young women haven’t got a clue, but those of us labeled Cougars and MILFs, we know what’s going on. Besides the way young women look, I have no idea why men chase after them when they could have women like me. 

Q. We are once again getting off subject. Let’s end this interview with a question about your long-awaited sequel to Penelope’s Melody. Did you find it hard to write from a man’s perspective for Quincy’s Seductive Tune? 

A. (Laughs – hard) You’re kidding, right? Men are no mystery. Any woman can write about what a man thinks or feels or desires. Men are simple creatures. Especially when it comes to sex. Men only get complicated when it comes to love. And then only when they are older. Young men confuse lust and love so badly they end up marrying women they hate just so they can have sex with them.

Q. Is it not the same for women?

A. (Snorts) This is why you couldn’t write erotica Ross. Nor do you write women well. Leave the women to the professionals. 

Q. I think this is a good place to finish up. We will continue this interview another time. Thanks for sitting with me Miranda.

A. Another time? You wish. I will not consent to another interview.

Q. Of course you will. You get to say whatever you want. Isn’t that why you consented in the first place?

A. (Laughs) Yes, I do enjoy spouting off. Goodbye Ross. My love to Yvonne. She is a saint to be married to you. You’re an….

I decided not to continue this part of the interview. Miranda gets personal in her insults at this point. I can take it of course, but I find no need to repeat it. Miranda is a creative insulter. Is insulter even a word? Wouldn’t insultor be a better term? 

Until next time when we speak with Lavender Mills.

I’m Ross, The Editor-in-Chief of the Pyrateheart Press and I’m out.