WATCH OUT: Lux Zakari Interview

I want to welcome you all to another edition of Watch Out. This week I’m excited to bring you a great author by the name of Lux Zakari.

Welcome Lux, it is so great to have you here this week.

Thanks for the opportunity to be here, Savannah!

For the readers out there who might not know about you or your work, can you please tell them a little about yourself.

I’m a right-handed Libra living in northeast PA, getting my master’s in library science and writing dirty stories in the meantime. My short stories, poetry and reviews have appeared in anthologies, such as Best Women’s Erotica 2009, Racy Pages’ Surprise and Best Bondage Erotica 2011, and the websites Clean Sheets, Oysters & Chocolate,

Can you tell us a little about your current release?

My first erotic novel, Coercion, was released in August 2010 by Lyrical Press, Inc., and is classic in theme: a good girl choosing the wrong boy to love. Here’s the blurb:

Introverted and insecure Valerie Mercer was promised that during her senior year of college she would finally attract attention from boys…but never dreamed that would include Michael Vartanian.

Good looking, troubled and every parent’s nightmare, Michael is adamant on introducing Valerie to a world of both pleasure and, inadvertently, heartbreak. His interest in Valerie is dependent upon the mood and fidelity of his on-and-off-again girlfriend, Breeze.

Nevertheless, Valerie lets her hope and desire override common sense and soon finds she can’t deny Michael anything…no matter what’ s at stake.

The book trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wVXW6xBdH0.

What is the one thing readers might be surprised to know about you?

I used to be incredibly shy about writing erotica. I actually haven’t been writing it for very long—only about three years or so. However, my writing has always had a heavy focus on relationships involving love and sex, and I would flirt with the idea of getting more explicit but would get too nervous. It took a friend roping me into collaborating on an erotic story to break that shyness, so I owe her much thanks!

Is there anything you are currently working on that you can give us a taste of?

I’ve just finished revising a new novel—a racy, unconventional love story about a self-absorbed, hedonistic ex-celebrity who, upon the death of her former lover, learns she’ s been inexplicably named the guardian of his three children. Being herded into the parental role forces the protagonist to finally face the truth about the cruel decisions of her wild past, her now uncertain future and her secret, turbulent relationship with a man who, even in death, continues to upend her world. Here’s hoping the story has a successful future!

What are you currently reading?

I’ve had JT LeRoy’s The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things on my bedside table for weeks; I read the first chapter a month ago and, thanks to the content, found it both riveting and painful to read, so I’ve been putting that off. I just finished Rob Sheffield’s Love is a Mix Tape and am about to start Charlaine Harris’s Dead Until Dark to see what all the hoopla’s about.

Do you think that after an author becomes published they should continue to work on their craft by continuing to learn more?

I don’t think someone should assume he or she knows everything there is to know about writing—or anything. Doing so means one stops growing. Accepting that there’s always room for improvement then putting in the effort to better one’s self is the wisest thing to do, and it can only guarantee continued success.

Is there a genre you have not written in but would love to try?

I actually have a post-apocalyptic science-fiction story rolling around in my brain, partly inspired by a Daft Punk song. I have zero experience writing in this genre and have read little sci fi, a fact that intimidates me and so I’ve been procrastinating writing it, but I’m confident the story will be told eventually.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?

I move onto a different project that seems more appealing so I’m still being productive. If I have no motivation whatsoever, I do a few quirky things concerning the project to generate motivation. I’ll create a soundtrack for the story, think of who I’d cast as the characters if the story became a movie or reread my notebook, which I keep filled with interesting snippets I gather just by living life in hopes of incorporating them into a story someday.

One book you wish you had written?

I adore High Fidelity by Nick Hornby; it’s funny, smart and wise, and I love that it’s rife with pop culture references—one of my weaknesses!

What advice do you have for new writers out there?

Authors need to keep in mind how crucial it is to market one’s self. This can seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but it’s necessary if one wants his or her book to be read. Fortunately, the Internet has made it incredibly easy to reach other authors and readers, so it can be effortless to clear a few hours a week and devote that time to marketing/networking/etc. And, on another note, it’s always a good idea to be gracious and professional.

Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

I regularly update my site, www.luxzakari.com, and readers can also find me on several social networking sites, including Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/people/Lux-Zakari/100000178801255), Twitter (http://twitter.com/luxzakari), Myspace (www.myspace.com/luxzakari) and GoodReads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4155613.Lux_Zakari).

Buy Link: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_12&products_id=315

Website Link: www.luxzakari.com

Share this: