The Phoenix series evolved out of my Plume series. The Plume was a private BDSM club and I wrote 9 stories set there, following a group of characters on their erotic and amorous adventures. We started by meeting Joanna (in Submission) when she entered the club for the first time, and ended with Joanna getting her HEA with Mike (in Celebration). Joanna's journey framed the story, but along the way, there were other characters with their own stories - the owners of the club, Rex and Athena, for example - along with the rise and fall of the club itself. At the end of Celebration (spoiler alert!), the Plume was no more.

BUT Athena and Rex were still only happy-for-now, and I wasn't done with the games people played at the Plume. Athena suggested in Celebration that she and Rex should establish a new club called the Phoenix. The Phoenix would continue the business of fulfilling client fantasies, but do so at multiple locations around the globe. The party in Celebration occurs when the new plans are unveiled to all the Plume clients. The Phoenix begins with Revealed, then continues with the current release, Harnessed. Next up is Hunted, and then Haunted. I'm enjoying the challenge of building a new organization and network of characters, as well as exploring different fantasies. The books all are erotic, but include romantic elements. Some of them are romances.

I write daily. I begin by editing what I wrote the day before. That refreshes the story in my mind. Then I write more new scenes, as many as I can. Repeat, repeat, repeat, until the story is done. Once in a while, I'll write the ending before getting to it, but usually I write from beginning to end, one scene at a time.

I choose books by their covers. A strong image, good type, usually some red, and I'm in.

I have strong opinions about cover design. Generally, I prefer graphic images, so will cruise stock photos until I find some good candidates. Once my designer has a good idea of my vision, she'll often suggest alternatives (usually images that have been used less often). She sees a lot more of what's popular than I do! We work together to make the cover be distinct, but still carry the branding of that series and of all my books. It's funny but it either comes together quickly and easily, or is a long painful process.

I read everything. Fiction, non-fiction, every genre. I think it's important for authors to read within their genre of choice to understand the market, and also outside their genre to learn more skills and cultivate new ideas.

I really think that publishing is currently a business that works best for prolific authors. Frequent publication is the key - if I could publish a new book every week, that would be awesome!

It's a mess. Seriously. You could get hurt. I stack everyone on it - only my laptop gets a solid perch - and avalanches are common. I can find anything in five seconds though.

I believe it's important for an author's work to be published well, and right now, I think the publisher most inclined to publish my work well is me. I like the control of indie publishing and the flexibility. It's more work for me to be publisher as well as writer, but it's good work.

I love hearing from readers. It's so exciting when I publish a new book and a reader leaves a review (or a message on my blog or Facebook) saying how much he or she liked it. It feels like a seal of approval and always makes me smile.

Yes. I like how Smashwords has made the various portals available to authors, and how easy it is to make my work available in multiple places for readers.