Nicole Gestalt interviews Jude

Good morning. Today I am speaking with Jude Mason.

Hi Linda, thank you so much for having me.

Jude, why not tell your readers about one day in the life of Jude Mason.

And ruin all those fantastic, sexy misconceptions. I'd love to be able to come up with something glamorous and exciting, but it's never like that. I'm usually awake by about 7:30 A.M. dying for coffee—always the first order of business. After a quick shower and dressing, I'm raring to get to my computer. I'm one of the very lucky authors who can spend their day writing, plotting, editing, whatever's on the agenda. I'll usually stop several times during the day, to pace or grab something to eat, but I'll normally work until it's time to get dinner going. I've been known to lose track of time and not get to that until my husband comes in and shocks the hell out of me. After dinner, I may edit, or I may take time to myself. Occasionally, I'll keep writing, but not often. Evenings are normally time with hubby or family. I'm usually in bed by about 10 and might watch an hour of TV. 

So I’ll start off with one I’m sure you get asked a lot. What/Who was it that first got you into writing erotica?
 
I think I was a precocious child. LOL! Seriously, I don't remember how old I was, but the first stories were in response to some abuse I couldn't deal with in any other way. Back then you didn't discuss things like that, so writing became a kind of therapy for me. Later, in my teens, I used to write some really dark free verse poetry. I kind of wish I still had some of it, but sadly I destroyed all of my earlier work.
 
It wasn't until I came online that I realized that a dream I'd had could possibly come true . My writing had taken many twists and turns over the years, and although my execution often needed a great deal of work, the stories were there. A publisher, Roy Larkin, of Amatory Ink, is the one who really urged me to get serious. He taught me a lot and I'll always be grateful.
 
What was your families’ reaction to what you do?
 
My husband and kids all know what I write. Husband is incredibly supportive and has actually helped me with a couple of my covers. My kids, who are grown up and with families of their own, are also supportive. They know I have a website, they know I've been published, but I don't know if either of them has actually read any of my work. I don't hide it, but I don't rub their noses in it either. I figure if they want to know more about it, they'll ask.
 
Have you ever written in any other genre (i.e. books without erotica tones), if so what was the genre and what happened to the story?
 
I've dabbled in sci-fi and in straight romance. It all depends on the call I'm responding to and if I can dream up a story that fits. Often, the characters drag me along, and I don't actually do much but scramble to get their stories right. What happened to the stories? Some are published, some sit on my hard drive.
 
What did you do when you got your first acceptance?
 
Screamed. LOL Really, I did. I remember it and I'm just glad the windows were closed. I must have sounded like I was being murdered or something.
 
What books do you now have available, and where can readers buy them?
 
Single title:
 
Dance of Submission – Ephemera Bound Publishing
An Acquired Taste – Phaze
Pink Ribbon – Phaze 
Scorpio Tattoo – Phaze
Stage Fright – Phaze
Jesse's Homecoming – Phaze
Amber's Toy – Phaze
Cat's Claw – Phaze
Rose's Have Thorns – loveyoudivine
Being Neighborly – loveyoudivine
A Matter of Patience – loveyoudivine 
Yes, Ma'am -- Phaze
 
Anthologies I'm in:
 
Provocative Notes – Sultry Heat Publications
Eternal Bonds – Logical Lust
Eternally Erotic – Logical Lust
Erotic Fantasies: Tales of the Paranormal – Erotictales Publications
Masquerade: Volume 2 – Aphrodite's Apples
Cream: Best of the Erotica Readers and Writers Association – Thunders Mouth Press
413 Remembrance Lane: Diary of a House – Phaze
Coming Together: Under Fire - Phaze
L is for Leather – Cleis Press
 
Tell me a little about your new collection of stories in Yes, Ma’am available soon from Phaze, what was the inspiration behind the stories?
 
When I'm left on my own, this is the genre I tend to write. I love strong women who are still very feminine, and I love strong men who submit to them. This is a collection of those couples. What inspired them, I honestly have no idea. I get an idea, see these people in a dream or walking up the street, and I just know their stories and have to write them.
 
Now the holiday season is over we can all look forward to spring arriving what would you say was your favorite time of the year?
 
I don't think I really have a favorite time of year. Each one is my favorite while it's happening. LOL  Each season has so much to offer, summer with its heat and vibrancy, spring with its renewal of life, birthing of wild animals, I'm a huge animal lover. Then you move into the fall, when the bucks are interested in the does, and the fawns are all lanky and half grown. Then winter comes along, all freshly washed and crisp when it freezes. What's not to like?
 
If you could receive a present from one of your characters, which character would it be and what gift?
 
Joshua Lansing, he's my very macho, gorgeous changeling. What I'd like from him? The gift of becoming the cat.
 
Out of all the stories you have written do you have a personal favourite?
 
Scorpio Tattoo, it was my first venture into the paranormal, with a ghost and a seer. I loved the way the mystery unfolded, and I loved how the lead male had grown into his gift so well.
 
Where do you get your ideas from, what inspires you?
 
Anywhere and everywhere. I can see something in the newspaper, and get a story. A truck passing by can give me another. Just looking out the window and seeing my yard gave me one, a naughty D/s one. LOL
 
What will 2008 find you writing/releasing so far?
 
At the moment, I have 5 contracted and with release tentative release dates.
 
Who Races – Who Wins, due out Feb. 1, with Dark Eden Press
Yes, Ma'am, due out Feb.15 with Phaze
L Is for Leather, due out in Feb. through Cleis Press - an anthology I have a short in
Fantasies VI, due out in March, with Phaze - another anthology, I have a short in
Shoon Joining, due out in April with Phaze
 
Do you find you work well with deadlines or are you more of a last minute type of person?
 
I learned to work with deadlines when I wrote for a fetish ezine awhile ago. I did one or two 5-10K stories a month for them, and man it was wild. I did that for nearly 3 years and learned one heck of a lot.
 
Do you like to plot your stories out or just see where they take you?
 
It depends on the length. If it's a short story, anything up to about 10K, I'll usually wing it. Longer, and I'll do rough chapter by chapter drafts.
 
You have a very eclectic back catalogue of stories, what inspires you to write in so many sub-genres?
 
I honestly don't know. I know a lot of authors write in one or two genres and are happy doing that. I seem to need more. I'll see a call for submissions and think, I can do that, I've got this idea, and bingo, I'm off.
 
Do you have a particular favourite sub-genre you would like to delve into further?

I write pretty much what I want to. So, really, I don't think so.
 
Do you like to write about what you know or do you spend a long time researching into things?
 
Both. I seem to instinctively know a good deal about what makes people tick. The background, I might have to research, and I love doing it. I actually just finished a short story for an anthology that involved natives from the area I live in. Now, I do know a little about them, but I don't know the language or a lot of the ancient lore. Tracking that down was amazing.
 
Very often when I can’t get a particular scene straight in my head I have to have my partner act it out with me, do you find you do the same or is it just me?
 
LOL I love that. I don't ask him to do anything, but I might be very aware of what happens under certain conditions. When I write from the male POV, I know deep down that I'm not a man and can't know what some things feel like, so I might consciously try to feel what he's going through when we're intimate.
 
Do you have any sort of ritual that you like to follow when you write?
 
Nope, I just have to have coffee. 
 
Do you have your own writing desk, or can you write anywhere?
 
I have my own desk and computer, but I can write anywhere. I've written while on vacations or jotted things down when I'm away from the house.
 
What do you do once you’ve finally finished the story, polished it and sent it off?
 
My reward is always a bubble bath and a glass of either wine or cider. If I'm really lucky, my sweetie serves the beverage to me.
 
Do you do anything special to celebrate an acceptance?
 
Not usually, not something I do every time.
 
Are there any tips or words of wisdom you could pass on to those who are thinking about writing or who are now at the first submission stage?
 
Write, do it a lot. Read, do that a lot too. When you're about to submit something, make sure you read the guidelines. I've known a couple of publishers over the years, and one once told me that an outrageous number of submissions were deleted unread, because they didn't follow the guides. It was something like 50% weren't even read. That's insane.
 
What genre have you never written in but would like to give a go when you’ve got chance?
 
I'm thinking I might like to try mainstream. A paranormal mystery. We'll see how that goes.
 
How can people get in contact with you?
 
Email: mason.jude.gmail.com

Newsletter/chat group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jude_Masons_Newsletter/
To join my mailing list, email me: jude.mason.yahoo.ca 
 
Do you have any competitions or coming soon dates you would like to mention?
 
I’m really thrilled about Yes, Ma'am, so I'll plug that first. This is my first collection in print and I really want it to do well.
 
I'm also a member of an authors group called the Essence of Erotica, and we'll be having a scavenger hunt this coming Valentines. We don't have all the particulars yet, but I will be sending out a notice about it on February 1rst, so possibly check my site, or join my newsletter.
 
Do you have any final words for the readers?
 
Ah, the readers. Those mysterious people who I know are out there, but who never seem quite real. Without you, I'd be writing for myself. You're the most important people, yet the most elusive. Your whims and foibles confuse the writer in me, but you’re the reason I'm here. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 
 
Thank you for taking the time to fill all of this in, I hope it wasn’t too repetitive!
 
And thank you Heidi, I've enjoyed answering these questions and I hope the readers have enjoyed learning a little more about me.
 
Thank you Jude for the great interview! I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did and don’t forget to check out Jude’s books and websites.
 
That’s all for me this month, but coming next month more interviews, Q&A’s, writing news and competitions so keep an eye out and feel free to email me to say hi!
Have a good one
 
Nicole Gestalt
http://www.nicolegestalt.blogspot.com

L