A knight and a former princess, Kayla now spends her time writing m/m romance. A true Renaissance woman, she has done everything from cross stitch like a proper lady to welding with the best of them. An eclectic life has left her with a unique understanding of the world inhabited by men and an appreciation for the difficulties faced by men in m/m relationships. It is her devout wish that her experiences translate into a richer telling of such tales.
What we are Drinking
Four Parts Orange Juice
One Part Amaretto
Enough Vanilla Ice Cream to make a nice milk shake in the blender.
Deanna: First things first. Where are you and what are you wearing?
Kayla: (((Hands Deanna a frosty mug))) Why don’t you follow me this way? My favorite reading chairs are in my library.
(((Waves Deanna to the one on the right before dropping into one or the horse-shoe shaped chairs))) These chairs are just so comfortable. (((slumps down and snuggle into it with my legs draped over one of the arms.))) Just make yourself at home.
As you can see I’m a bit of a tomboy so I’m just in my usual jeans and a t-shirt. There’s nothing fancy about me.
Deanna: And what is this yummy drink you made for us today?
Kayla: It’s called a dreamsicle and tastes a bit like an orange push up. It’s a nice little dessert that can pack a bit of a punch depending on just how stout you mix it. I think it’s a nice end to the day. (((Takes a sip)))
Deanna: (((takes a sip and smacks lips))) Oh, nice, you gave me a stiff one!
Kayla: (((grins))) I try!
Deanna: Now that we’re comfy, tell me about your new book.
Kayla: (((Leans forward))) My latest work in progress is an m/m romance called ALEXIOS’ FATE. It’s about a youth, named Alexios, in ancient Greece who happens, through no fault of his own, to capture Apollo’s fancy. There is a fair amount of history and the gods and their lesser brethren walk the pages in this period piece. Once again we are reminded that one man’s history is another’s mythology.
Deanna: I've read an older version of this story and I love it. I can't wait to read the finished version! But tell me, where did the idea for this story come from?
Kayla: I have an online group called Inspired Writing. We post a photo periodically and write a story to go with it. This particular photo was of a nearly naked man chained to a rock with a Greek temple and a trireme in the background.
Deanna: Oh and there he is!!! Yum! No wonder you were inspired!
Kayla: (((refills the cocktails))) The setting was obviously ancient Greece and very reminiscent of Andromeda. She was chained to a rock to be devoured by a sea monster in retribution for her mother unwisely bragging that she was more beautiful than the daughters of one of the local sea gods. Perseus saves her from the monster and weds her in the traditional myth.
My story is similar. Alexios’ father makes a boast that angers Apollo. The young man is chained to the rock and Apollo sends a storm to destroy him because of his father’s hubris. But will anyone be able to play the part of Perseus and save him from his fate?
Deanna: What was the hardest part of writing this story for you?
Kayla: (((Leans back and stares at the ceiling for a moment))) Hardest part… Nothing in particular. This story wanted to be written and practically flew onto the paper for me. The one thing that gave me difficulty initially was dialog. I needed more dialog and asked my good friend Deanna, the queen of gab, to help me out with suggestions on how to get more in there. (((Nods at hostess)))Thank you very much for your suggestions. They took a 20K short story up to a 35K novella and added a lot of depth at the same time.
Deanna: Awwww, thanks, hon! I was glad to help! What was the easiest thing about writing this book?
Kayla: Just about everything. I’m a pantser. I write what my guys tell me and they kept me busy trying to keep up. I really think I enjoyed writing Alexios’ tale more than anything else I have ever written. The descriptions of the culture and the surroundings, the mythology and religious aspects, the limitations of all the characters, slave, prince, king and god alike all had constraints inherent in their separate statuses they couldn’t ignore. No one, not even a god, is truly free.
One of my beta readers said that the sex in this story is very political. Every character’s actions are all based on status, power and wealth. I did not set out to write this story that way. I merely wrote situations that were historically correct, but by so doing the sex must perforce be political.
Deanna: What is your dream story, your opus, if you will? The one you dream about writing but haven’t done?
Kayla: I’m not sure that applies to me. I don’t have an epic in mind. I actually do all my stories from photo prompts. I see a photo and wonder how the people in the picture got into that situation and what they will do next. Then I spend some time ironing out all the flaws and wrinkles in the story line. I like puzzling out a logical/reasonable reason for everything.
(((Shrugs))) I guess I just haven’t seen the right photo yet.
Deanna: When did you first discover you were a writer? Were you like sitting on the toilet and just said, “Ya know, I think I’m gonna write a book.” Or was it more profound?
Kayla: I guess my epiphany was only marginally more profound. I was reading some Samurai Champloo slash where the author had used every name in the series, but hadn’t bothered to keep the setting or the characters true to the anime. The main characters had been brought up into the present and their personalities swapped. And it only devolved from there!
I told Sara, whose slash I helped edit, that I could do better than that. She made me prove it. About eighteen months ago I wrote the first chapter of my slash INFINITE INFATUATION. I intended my first and only piece to be a one shot PWP (Plot, What Plot?), but somehow it has grown to be six chapters long.
I still didn’t call myself an author.
Deanna: I know it can be hard to admit you actually are an author, like your bragging or something. But trust me, Kayla, You ARE an author and I love your work. I've read several of your stories a. The first one I read was that m/m Cinderella spin off. Can you tell our readers about it?
Kayla: That would be the cinderfella story I wrote called CINDER-GARCON? and then some original pieces in response to the Inspired Writing photos. Several people called me an author at that point, but I argued that point with them.
It wasn’t until a publisher offered to publish a short story for me that I started to think of myself as a writer. I finally gave in and admitted it when I started a blog a few weeks back and put in the welcome that I am an author of m/m fiction.
Deanna: Well, you are a great writer, dear! I only have the best at the cyber bar! Speaking of...
Kayla: Oh, looks like we're out! (((whips up another batch and pours them out)))
Deanna: (((taking a sip))) I'll either be drunk by the end of this or on a sugar high. Probably both! Now, what helps you when you are stumped on a scene in a manuscript? I usually have a cocktail … or three … LOL! But that’s just me.
Kayla: (((Chuckle!))) When my boys are balking, I go look at the hotties in my photo albums. When they get jealous enough to behave, I’m more than willing to listen.
Deanna: Most of my stories have a theme song, do you do that for your characters?? If so what is it?
Kayla: For Alexios I listened to a Niyaz playlist. I wanted an exotic Mediterranean feel and didn’t want to be distracted by lyrics.
Deanna: Tell us about a scene that you have written then afterward, when you read it, you shocked yourself? You know I want a dirty answer (((hint hint)))
Kayla: I’ve always written very explicit sex scenes so I’m not sure which one to pick. (((Stares off into space for a moment))) The final chapter to INFINITE INFATUATION is called “With This Ring” and features a PA…
Deanna: What's a PA?
Kayla: A Prince Albert piercing!
Deanna: Oh, I should have known that! Any other stories that got naughty?
Kayle: DIRTY POOL… It’s the story of a fledgling D/s pair who goes into a leather bar. The Dom challenges other men to play pool and bets his sub’s favors. Several men have their way with the young man bent over the pool table in a packed bar.
Deanna: I love your dirty mind, Kayla!!! Thank you so much for stopping by today and bringing these yummy drinks.
Kayla: I had a great time, Deanna. Thanks for having me.
If you would like a chance to win a FREE copy of my story LEGENDS in Breathless Press's Ad-dick-tion anthology, just post a comment below!
Deanna: Thank you, Kayla!
Don't forget to check out Kayla's FREE stories DIRTY POOL or CINDER-GARCON? or CONTROLLED FALL at her BLOG
You can also find her on Twitter
Goodreads
Facebook Author’s Page
Facebook Page
And you can buy her books here: LEGENDS at Breathless Press
Thank you so much for playing along, Kayla! Good luck to everyone!
ReplyDeleteI'll raise my glass to the Greek man in chains and to you two ladies. Great interview.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Em!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, EM. I like my Greeks in chains and collars and cock rings and very little else!
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me, Deanna.
You are always welcome at the cyber bar, Kayla!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, EM! If you will be kind enough to send me your email addy to KaylaJameth@hotmail.com, I will send you a copy of "Legends."
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by and commenting.