Cocktails and Cock Tales with HANK EDWARDS

Today we have HAND EDWARDS at the cyber bar. Author of the Charlie Heggensford Fluffers series of books, which will make you LOL PIMP.....piss in my pants I just learned....when you read it@

The third book in the Charlie Heggensford series, Vancouver Nights, was a finalist in the Gay Erotica category for the Lambda Literary Awards.

Yay, Hank!!!!!

Hank has also written Holed Up, Destiny’s Bastard, and Plus Ones for LooseId.

And a sexy less well known bear story called Wood which I thoroughly enjoyed from the anthology Bear Lust-Hot & Hairy Fiction Vol 2 of the Bearotica series....Lol bearotica, I love that word! You can find it on Amazon

I love bears... just had to throw that out there :)

Currently working on a paranormal vampire / zombie series set in the Old West, the Venom Valley Series, Hank plans to self-publish his new series.



What we are Drinking

2 parts vodka
3 parts lemonade
garnish with a lemon
Opt for a sugared rim and mint leaf if you are trying to impress the in-laws



Deanna: First things first, Hank. Where are you and what are you wearing?

Hank: Oh God, I knew I should have changed clothes. Sigh … I’ll be honest. I’m in my office/cat room (the kitty condo, cat beds, and cat toybox are in here along with my iMac), and I’m wearing bike shorts and a T-shirt. Yeah, I’m dressed like a suburban soccer mom at the mall. (((Sigh)))

Deanna: Nice visual, hon. Now what’s your poison? Whiskey? Coffee?

Hank: I don’t drink coffee, I drink tea. In the winter I drink hot tea, in the summer, iced tea. I am a very simple man. My cocktail of preference, especially in these sizzling summer months, is vodka and lemonade. Mmmm. In the winter, a nice pinot noir really takes off the chill.

Deanna: Me and vodka were separated for awhile, considered divorcing, but recently have reconciled. So I believe I'll have a double, thank you very much!

Hank: LOL (((whips up a batch)))I enjoy all kinds of vodka drinks, but usually stick with the simple vodka and lemonade or vodka and tonic, mainly because after having a few...several, I can still remember how to make them.

Deanna: Now that we’re comfy, tell me about your new book?

Hank: (((takes a sip))) My upcoming release is called Bounty, and it’s the first book in my self-published Venom Valley Series that involves vampires and zombies in the Old West. Oh, and it’s got a touch of witchcraft and a dash of Native American spirits thrown in for good measure.

Deanna: Hmmmm, zombie cowboys? Like this? ------------->

Hank: Lol...maybe...no....you'll have to wait to read it.

Deanna: Okay, tease! Now tell me where did the idea for this story come from?

Hank: The story started with a simple thought one day while I was busy doing something mundane. I just thought: vampires and zombies in the Old West; hunh. Then it grew from there, you know? Like, two undead species, but very different from each other. Vampires are very cunning and sexy and superhuman, and zombies are the disintegrating human shells, but so deadly and contagious. Then I threw in the human characters and realized I had a huge story arc plus many several, smaller arcs that could make for a good series.

Deanna: What was the hardest part of writing this story for you?

Hank: The hardest part has been finding the time. I decided to self-publish the books after one publisher noted that the first book ends on a cliff hanger and they don’t usually go for that. (((shrugs, gulps vodka and lemonade.)))
So I’m taking a big step and researching the self-publishing world.

Book One, Bounty, is finished, and my partner put together the amazing cover. He also did the cover art for Vancouver Nights which made our trip to the Lambda Literary Awards in New York City this year that much more special!

Deanna: He did a great job! Both of those covers are wonderful! Make sure you tell him I said so.

Hanks: Thanks, and I will! I want to have a first draft of Book Two completed before I publish Book One, just so it’s ready to go soon after publishing Book One, so people don’t wait months and months or years to see what happens to the characters, right? None of this Harry Potter wait for three years, or George R.R. Martin and a five year hiatus.

Deanna: (((raises her glass again))) Here's to Harry Potter sales!

Hanks: Here here!(((Chugs the rest of his vodka and lemonade and pours another.))) Meanwhile, I’m working at the Evil Day Job, EDJ, that pays the bills and trying to maintain a touch of social life.

Deanna: I have more of an ADJ...Annoying Day Job. (((accepts a refill))) I think vodka and I might be getting back together permanently!
I don't know if that makes you a good influence or a bad one! Ha!
Now tell me, what was the easiest thing about writing Venom Valley?

Hank: The first book really wrote itself. The characters were so vivid to me, and their stories so real, I just basically wrote what they told me to. I think the characters’ storylines, which start out removed from one another, all intertwine very logically as the book progresses.

Deanna: What is your dream story, your opus, if you will? The one you dream about writing but haven’t done it?

Hank: At any given moment, I have several stories circling inside my head like vultures looking to feast on dead brain cells. This Venom Valley Series is quite the opus for me. I have a very emotional story lingering back there as well, a contemporary romance set within a tale of animal rights (I’m an animal lover, just ask those spoiled cats lounging there in the corner surrounded by catnip mice and bowls of food), and a few sequels, but first the vampires and zombies need to be unleashed. (((Sighs, chugs down the fresh drink.)))

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?

Hank: Ha! Well, it wasn’t quite the toilet scenario. As a kid, I always wanted more from my favorite movies like “Alien” or all those disaster movies from the 70s, so I wrote my own sequels. That changed to horror and disaster stories of my own and I’ve been writing off and on ever since.

Deanna: Hmmm, what did you do with your toys as a kid....((((laughs and downs her drink)))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.

Hank: It’s going to sound sick, but a workout helps me. I use the elliptical for my cardio workout and it sparks a lot of brain activity or something, because a lot of times I’ll come away having figured out a way around things. However, just the other day in a meeting at the EDJ, I was only half listening (shhh, don’t tell!) and came up with a resolution for a problem I was facing in Venom Valley Book Two. I quickly acted like I was paying attention and jotted it down in my notebook, which just goes to prove that you never know when that muse in the back of your mind is going to shoot a rubber band idea at you.

Deanna: LMAO!!!!! I love it!!! Hopefully no one looked at your notes.

Hank: I know, right? Refill? ((((holds up the pitcher in question)))

Deanna: Well, just a smidgen(((tips the bottom of the pitcher to fill her glass to the brim when Hank actually gives her just a smidgen))) These things go down a bit too smooth...oh well!
Most of my stories have a theme song, do you do that for your characters?? If so what is it?

Hank: I never really envision a specific song for my characters or books. However, I tend to listen to movie soundtracks when I write, like the original three movies from the Star Wars trilogy, or Lord of the Rings, for atmosphere. Sometimes songs with lyrics get in the way of my writing.

Deanna: Well that's cool...as long as you don't start calling your book Precious I think you're okay! LOL

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)))

Hank: LOL! Well, yeah … (((blushes, sips from drink))) Well, when I was writing the third book of the Charlie Heggensford series, Vancouver Nights, a friend of mine challenged me to have Charlie go beyond the usual fluff and fuck scenes. So I introduced a couple of characters that were into watersports and fisting and then I decided they needed to experience enemas as well. I really took them beyond the standard fluff and fuck scenes!

Deanna: You sure did! I can never look at a bowling pin the same way again!!!(((starts laughing hysterically)))

Hank:(((shrugs, pushes the lemonade aside and takes a swig of the vodka))) When I read the book over I was kind of shocked I had done it. And then seeing it in print!! Eeep!!

Deanna: And the champagne enemas!! (((laughing she wipes tears from her eyes))) That still makes me laugh!!! Hey, don't drink all the vodka, Hank!

Hank: (((moves the bottle out of reach, then tips his head back and effortlessly drains half the contents)))

Deanna:(((quirks her brows))) Well, now I know where Charlie gets his skills.

Hank: (((chokes on a laugh and vodka comes out his nose)))

Deanna: You're suppose to swallow not spit, Hank!!! (((laughs))) You should know that!

Hank: You're so bad!

Deanna: (((grins and steals the vodka))) I know! That's why you love me!

Now while me and Hank do our best to polish off this bottle, (((takes a hefty swig and passes it back))) we would love to hear from you guys!

Have you read Hank's books? Which was your favorite?
Do you like vodka?
And what are your thoughts on champagne enemas?

I want to thank Hank for coming to the cyber bar today(((waves drunkenly at Hank))) Thank you, Hank!

Hank: (((waves back, cheeks rosey from too much alcohol))) You're welcome! Thanks for having me!

Deanna: If you would like to visit Hank on the web you can find him in these places:
Website
Blog
Author Facebook Page