Tess MacKall: Sex And Sass Author Interview by A.J. Llewellyn
Hi Tess, come on in…come closer, I won’t bite. No matter what Victor J. Banis tells you. That was just an accident. I swear! Ahem…now, where was I? Oh yes, I am interviewing the lovely Tess MacKall and I have some questions for you, missy. Now why are you holding that garlic? Was that a crucifix you just hid under your chair??
1. Okay, your Gabriel’s Gun series looks pretty hot and it’s doing well, so congratulations! Where did the inspiration for Gabriel come from and what would you do with a guy like that in real life?
Do with him? Oh, AJ, just lie back and enjoy! That man makes me sweat. Anytime I feel like I need a little help to—shall we say—relieve the tension, I pick up one of the Gabe stories and read. Before long, things are pulsing along just fine. So imagine my reaction to Gabe in the flesh! Just roll me over and dip me in chocolate, shove a spoon at him and let him eat! Is that answer enough for ya’ hon? And by the way, did I see you just pick up a clove of garlic. Don’t worry sweetheart, when I bite, it feels goooood. Now, my inspiration for Gabe. Hmmm…I loved the look of the older brother on the TV series, Prison Break—Dominic Purcell. He was sooo freaking hot. His close-shaven head, his permanent five o’clock shadow, ripped abs. God, I had to write that body and my mind conjured up the charisma, machismo, and personality to go along with it.
2. One of my favorite pieces of writing of yours was an IM conversation between two internet lovers. It was hot, heart-breaking and real. It captured the loneliness and isolation I feel so many people have today, coupled with the kind of outrageous sex many people have online and never in real life. I know what you told me privately inspired it, but can you tell me publicly? And can you give us a link so others may enjoy it?
Oh, God, toughie question. Yikes! Well, I promised not to hold back. You are wicked, AJ. LOL. The title of the story is: The Strangers Words. A woman has, of course, met a man over the internet and they engage in Cybersex. I tried my best to capture the feelings evoked by talking to a stranger. Someone you’ve never laid eyes on. The short story is basically an Instant Messenger conversation between two internet lovers. It was published on the Oysters and Chocolate site a while back, but I also have it on the Sensual Secrets Blog. Here is the link:
http://sensualnsecret.blogspot.com/2008/09/strangers-words-by-tess-mackall.html
My inspiration came from my own experience. While I made up the background of the female in the story and the fact the couple had no names other than their screen names, and no pictures of each other, the feelings are quite real. My best friend forever introduced me to her brother through Instant Messenger. I had never truly understood how powerful words could be. Sure, reading is powerful. I love books, of course, but engaging in passion and emotion through words only is absolutely mind blowing. Akin to days gone by when couples were separated and used letters to court each other—to convey love. But seriously, anytime you are on the internet you should be careful. I was lucky that I know this man’s family. Otherwise I don’t think I would have carried on a conversation with him.
3. I just ran your name through Who Would be your celebrity cell mate and this is who I got! Nick Nolte!
Gimme one paragraph about what you would do if Nick asked you for a blow job behind bars.
Well first I’d have to find Ol’ Nick the fountain of youth! Clean him up a bit. Damn, he looks rough. If he looked like that I’d tell him to go eff himself. Now when Nick was younger…mmmm. His voice was slow and sinful, gravelly. I love men’s voices. And in his younger days I would have blown him in the jail, behind the jail, in front of the jail, at the local 7-11, well you get the picture, but now it is questionable as to whether he can even get it up. What do you think? Yay or Nay?
4. In your hands? He might er…rise to to the occasion! I am intrigued by your comments here: What do I write? Some say porn. I say love. Then again, sometimes I just write sex. That’s the difference between erotica and erotic romance. And I write both. In Tess MacKall’s mind, what IS the difference?
Pornography has no feeling. There is no emotional connection. Sex without emotion isn’t worth it. Period. I write erotic romance, have one coming out soon with Freya’s Bower. It’s highly romantic and the sex is HAWT! I have another highly romantic story coming out with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid in January. The sex smokes! I also write erotica. Gabriel is erotica. And I must say, Erotica At Its Best. Erotic romance and erotica differ in that the story line in erotic romance shifts toward the romance and a happily ever after or happily for now. Again, lots of feeling is conveyed throughout the story. Plenty of emotion. In erotica, the story is driven by sex, but still, you should get all the emotion, internal thoughts, and a storyline that justifies the sex. You don’t really need a happily ever after or for now with erotic either. It can leave you hanging. I love those endings best of all too. Pornography does none of this. It simply is a scene, picture, painting that is nothing more than a way to make a woman wet and a man get hard. Period. While erotica and erotic romance can be and are raw in some instances, pornography only deals with one issue and one issue alone—sexual gratification. It never satisfies any emotion and has no connection with the reader other than stimulation.
5. I’m not sure I agree with you there. You need to sit down and watch some of my gay porn with me one day Tess. You might be pleasantly surprised. Are you game??
If you can show me any porn movie that engages the watcher emotionally—connects with them in any way other than on a sexual level—then it’s not porn, it’s erotica. And I’m game. Let me at ‘em! LOL
6. You are raising your sister’s children, plus you’ve had some serious health issues. Can you tell me anything about what you are dealing with in this area? How have you coped with these personal problems, plus kept up your work as an erotic romance author?
Actually, I’m raising my brother’s children. I never wanted children. So I suppose it is indeed correct when you hear the words, “God works in mysterious ways. “ These three children needed someone and I needed them. It’s been difficult. No one is ever a perfect parent. And there are no perfect children. But the joys far outweigh the strife. My oldest will graduate high school this year and is going to major in Simulation and Game Development. She’s a whiz on the computer. My middle baby, well, I don’t know what is happening with her. Her mother took her from me about a year ago. Aunts and Uncles have no legal rights in this country. I have no idea where she is any longer or how she is doing. There is no contact. Her birthday was last week and I spent most of the day in bed. How’s that for honesty?
AJ says: I am sorry to hear that Tess. I know how devoted you are and it really hurts my heart to hear that. I’d hoped those dark times were behind you with your niece. I think you are simply wonderful to be the mothering aunt that you are.
Well, thank you, AJ. Motherhood is not something I ever asked for or expected, but I have loved every second of it. Times have definitely been dark. It’s like she died, yet she is still out there somewhere. It’s been hard, very hard, and I am just now coming to terms with losing her. Basically, it all came about as a result of a mother who is unbalanced and a teenager who was anxious to be a grown up. I pray someday I’ll see her again. In the meantime, I have a wonderful little twelve year old boy, their baby brother. He is a mess! He is the one who challenges me. He questions. And he expects answers. Good for him. As far as writing is concerned, well, they know how important it is to me and encourage me. They don’t quite understand the whole “sex” angle. Smile. But they believe in me. At least the two who are still here. My health is a constant issue with me. I have a heart condition and I have to watch what I eat and the amount of rest I get. I sometimes feel like I am in a race for time. But God gives us what we need.
7. I know you have a new love…(smiling) how has he influenced your writing?
New love. LOL No, he’s not new. He’s the same one. He’s my Mark and he is the man I met on the internet through his sister. And it is going well. He’s strong willed, stubborn, impatient, and I adore every inch of him. Literally. He has the brightest blue eyes and silver hair. Well built, and has a cute tummy. I love tummies. LOL He loves my writing and helps me with sex scenes sometimes. I have on occasion asked him for help with the male POV. As far as how he influences my writing, well, I’d say my involvement with him has made me more able to tap into emotions. Yes, definitely. I feel more able to describe feeling.
8. Honey, I am so happy for you!! I had no idea it was ‘him’ – go Tess! Now, lemme ask what’s your fave sex position on the page and off?
On the page and off? What the hell does that mean? Good Lord, AJ. Fave sex position would have to be me lying flat on my back enjoying oral sex being performed on me. LOL Sorry, it doesn’t get any better than that, although I do like “doggie style” too. Your readers are going to go running in the middle of this interview, AJ. Maybe we should put an adult disclaimer at the top in Big Red Letters!!!
9. On the page – in your books?
Oh! Cute aren’t you?…LOL…Well, my answer is the same. Although, I do enjoy finding locations other than bed. I think sometimes it’s not the sex act itself that creates sexual tension—on the page and off—but finding different places, adding spice that way.
10.Favorite authors (erotic), fave authors non erotic?
Erotic—AJ Llewellyn and I’m not just saying that either. You’re very good and I predict great things for you. [AJ *blushing*] Who else? Alison Tyler, Jodi Lynn Copeland, Lauren Dane, LA Day, oh God, there are so many. I love erotic poetry too. R. Paul Sardanas does it so well, makes my toes tingle. I’m working on a poem with him, if I ever finish that is. I’ve kept him waiting too long. Non-erotic—I love Greg Iles, John Grisham, Dan Brown, Linda Lael Miller, David Baldacci, Dean Koontz. So many I do love.
11. How about music? Does it have any influence on your work?
I think everyone should pick out a piece of music that sets the tone of their story and listen to it while they write. It’s amazing how it keeps you in the zone. My “song” while writing the Gabriel books was George Thorogood’s “Bad to the Bone”. I love Southern Rock.
12. Tell me about your writing routine. Do you write every day? Is there a genre you haven’t tried yet but want to? Is there a genre you would NEVER touch?
I write something every day. Some days are more productive than others due to promotions and other distractions. Life does tend to get in the way of what you love. Reality intervenes. Other than a short story entitled: Eternal Kiss, I’ve never written a paranormal and I think I’d like to try that someday. Although, my upcoming release from Freya’s Bower entitled His Only Treasure does have some paranormal elements. Reincarnation as a matter of fact. Spirits who play a part in the here and now. What I’d never touch? M/M, sci fi, and horror.
I tried to write a flasher for your Seven Wicked Writers blog that is horror and I’m not sure I could do that well at all. As for m/m, that’s something else I could never do well. I’m pretty grounded in the present and I don’t think Sci Fi would work for me either. I admire those who can write these genres and do read them, but if I don’t think I can do it well, I won’t touch it. I might like to try fantasy someday though.
13. What are no-no’s in erotic romance fiction for you?
I don’t think there really are any no nos. We of course have boundaries set by our publishers and they keep up with what is hot and what isn’t. Hopefully. Trends come and go. I don’t think we’ve reached a limit in how far erotic romance can go or in what we write. There is an audience out there for every story. It’s a matter of finding your niche and sticking to it. I have personal no nos. And those include pain that goes beyond the level of a little spanking and silk scarves and handcuffs. I’m not into heavy BDSM. I don’t think I would like to write an orgy either. Ménage, yes. And I think my stories will probably remain, for the most part, m/f. I know there are books out there that involve borderline incest if not outright incest. And I’d never touch it. I find nothing romantic or erotic about it.
14. What was your favorite TV show growing up?
Ok, you just asked me to date myself. Since when does a gentleman ask a lady her age? How about some of my all time fave TV shows? Will that do? Lol I always loved Dallas and Falcon Crest. LA Law was great too. I hate reality TV. And recently I got quite involved with The Unit and I love Army Wives.
On behalf of Dark Diva Reviews, I would like to thank Tess MacKall for stopping by today. I just LOVE this woman! To learn more about Tess, please check out her links:
http://www.freyasbower.com: The Gabriel’s Ride Series: Gabriel’s Gun including the prequel Gabriel’s Horn Coming Soon: His Only Treasure
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid Coming Soon: His Sweet Obsession
Visit Tess’s Website http://www.tessmackall.literalseduction.com
Visit Tess’s MySpace http://www.myspace.com/tessmackall
Join Tess’s Newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TessMackall
Tess on the Nice n’ Naughty Blog http://nicennaughtyauthors.blogspot.com
Tess on the Sensual Secrets Blog http://sensualnsecret.blogspot.com
Tess on the Authors Studio Blog http://authorsstudio.blogspot.com
Join Midnight Seductions http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidnightSeductions
