Describe yourself in a few words…

Mitzi: Creative, quirky, non-conformist, perfectionist, eccentric, animal advocate, prefers peace and quiet, has a famous bear.

Tell us about Red Velvet and Absinthe…

Mitzi: This anthology is a sensual homage to the Gothic literary tradition, which has always been a personal favorite all the way back to childhood. I wanted to create a book with that wonderful atmospheric feel and moody sense of romance the authors of the past were so skilled in providing their readers and which has been instrumental in inspiring so many of our contemporary authors such as Anne Rice. The book has been very well received so far and has definitely distinguished itself on the bookshelves. I think the authors all did a fabulous job writing their stories and their hard work definitely shows. In addition to the stories, there’s a comprehensive foreword from bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

What’s your typical writing day?

Mitzi: To say that I might actually spend my day doing anything typical would certainly be untypical. So too, would be saying I spend it “writing.” With two books out practically on top of each other, you can imagine how busy I’ve been these last few months with promotion and all the other work that comes with it. When the writing does finally get done, I tend to work only at home, so you aren’t going to find me sitting at Starbucks trying to look all writerly with my tall latte. Even when I’m in a highly productive period or on deadline I can’t sit and focus on writing for long hours. I’m always jumping up to do something else. Frankly, I’m not sure I believe all these authors who claim they hide themselves away in a room writing for days and weeks on end. I bet they’re doing a lot of pencil chewing and thumb twiddling in those rooms.

Who’s your favorite character in Red Velvet and Absinthe?

Mitzi: I’d have to say without a doubt the male protagonist in my story contribution “The Blood Moon Kiss.” I know it sounds egotistical to select a character from my own work, but hey, Talen Dashkovar is one major hottie! Truth be told, I patterned him on Ian Somerhalder from “The Vampire Diaries,” but with a major twist. You’ll have to read the story to find out more, as I’m not giving anything away!

Did you do any research for your story?

Mitzi: I did do a bit of virtual traveling to write “The Blood Moon Kiss.” It takes place in Savannah, Georgia – somewhere I’ve never been, so I had to get a real sense of the place to give the tale that Southern Gothic flavor and atmosphere. There are lots of weeping willows in my story! I’m actually planning a trip to Savannah very soon, so I’m curious how it will feel being there after having become so immersed in the setting during the writing of my story.

Do you prefer vampires or werewolves?

Mitzi: Vampires, absolutely. I’m not keen on hairy men.

What else is going on in the world of Mitzi Szereto?

Mitzi: I have a novel fairly recently published – Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts, which is my very raunchy parody of the Jane Austen classic. I’ve also just wrapped up a new fantasy anthology called Thrones of Desire: Erotic Tales of Swords, Mist and Fire, and it will be out in September 2012. Game of Thrones fans are certain to love it! I’m quite excited about the book; it’s got a lot of epic fantasy flavor in it and includes some very steamy stories, along with a foreword from a surprise author who’s a legend in the fantasy genre. There are also some other random things going on (random being the operative word in my life), such as my appearance in the film Lint the Movie, which has been screened in several countries, including the USA at BizarroCon 2011. I guess I’d better hurry up and apply for my SAG card in case the offers really start rolling in! Other than all this, I’m working on a couple of novels and hope to have at least one available to readers before the end of this year.

~*~

Be sure to check out Mitzi Szereto at the following locations…

Author website
Red Velvet and Absinthe website
Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto’s Weblog
Facebook Author Fan Page
Twitter
Goodreads
Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts website
Mitzi TV
MySpace

~*~

Please click HERE to check out the books available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com by Mitzi Szereto