Interview with Mandy M Roth

By Deanna Ashford

While at the RWA conference in Dallas I was lucky enough to meet Mandy M Roth. Not only is she delightful, charming and amusing company she is also an amazingly talented, popular and prolific writer.

Mandy lives in Ohio and has a busy life with her husband and three boys. She first started writing in 2003. Late one evening, when there was nothing on TV and she couldn’t sleep, she sat down at her computer and started to write. Four weeks later her first book Daughter of Darkness was finished. Now she has over 40 books, novellas and short stories to her credit. With all the demands of a family Mandy doesn’t get much time to write during the day, so she does most of her writing between 8pm and 3am. Not only am I jealous of her prolific output I also admire her stamina, I’m usually in bed by 11pm.

Despite her busy schedule, she has kindly taken time out to answer a few questions and give us an insight into her work

What first made you interested in writing in the erotic genre/ or how did you get started writing erotica?

It’s funny because when I started I wasn’t aware I was even writing erotic. I was writing what I wanted to read but couldn’t find in stores. It wasn’t until my publisher labelled my first book carnal that I became aware of the fact I was writing something erotic.

Which one of the books you have written is your favourite?

It’s really hard to pick just one. Each is special to me in its own way. If I have to narrow it down, I’d say the Daughter of Darkness series because it was my first.

Which book do you think is the hottest?

I’d have to go with Demonic Desires (coming soon) and from what is currently available the Cyber Sex stories. Watch, I’ll get reader email correcting me on which is the hottest. LOL

If you were to write a book entirely for yourself would it differ at all from your, published writing?

No, but only because when I started, three years ago, I wrote what I wanted to read. That hasn’t changed. I still write exactly what I enjoy reading.

If you had the chance to meet one of your erotic heroes which one would it be?

An erotic hero? Hmm, I’m not even sure what that is. Movies? Books? I could say Evan Stone who is one hell of an adult movie star but I think I’m going to go with Madonna. I know. I know. She doesn’t really qualify but in my book she does. Remember back to when the naked pictures of her came out and she simply said “so” to the press. Or how about the Sex Book she did? Yeah, she’s up there in women who embrace their sexuality for me.

I find the thought of writing with someone else fascinating. Have you a fixed way of working with Michelle or does it somehow just work out? Mandy often writes with another well known erotic romance writer Michelle M Pillow.

Working with Michelle Pillow is a joy. (Okay, now that Michelle read that part, let’s get to the nitty gritty… JK) We approach each project differently. For one we’ll pass it back and forth, each working on it a bit before handing back to the other. For other projects, we’ll establish upfront who is writing what parts and then in the end, we switch them to assure we’ve kept the continuity of the story.

Do you find writing easy or do you have to discipline yourself?

I find it hard to stop. I tend to write until the wee hours of the morning, glance at the clock and realize I need to be back up for the day in two hours.

Is there anything, with an erotic theme, that you wouldn’t write about?

There isn’t too much that makes me go “ewww”. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.

I’m stepping into BDSM writing which will be new for me. I’m very excited about that and have high hopes that my readers will enjoy it as well. I’ve toyed with it in books before but have never actually centred a story around it.

Do you have a favourite erotic writer?

Let me first start off by saying that I read Barbarian Prize (by Deanna Ashford) and Deanna, it is a fabulous book! (Please note no money passed hands here!)You’ve moved to one of the top spots on my erotic authors list. I also enjoy reading Jaci Burton, Shayla Black, Jaid Black, Eden Bradley and Lora Leigh.

Are there any writers. TV programmes or movies that have sparked your interest enough to consider writing a book with a similar theme?

Not yet but I’ve had the opposite happen. I have a series called Immortal Ops that is about shape shifting military men. I received a call from a friend of mine telling me to go turn on the television because a show called THE UNIT was on. She mentioned how seeing it made her think of my books and she knew I’d enjoy it. She was right. I do enjoy the show.

Do you enjoy the marketing yourself, or do you just consider it an uncomfortable necessity?

I’m one of those freaks of nature who absolutely love it. My background, prior to writing, was in marketing and art so it just clicked for me. I often go off on marketing kicks to clear my mind when I’m stuck on a story. I also seem to suck everyone and anyone who is near me into the marketing fold too.

Is there anything you’d like to achieve that you haven’t done yet – be as free as you’d like here!

World domination. Okay, maybe not that but wouldn’t it be great to have me in charge for a day? I felt you cringe. *snicker*

For the moment, I’m living a dream so I won’t complain.

Thank you for having me!

Thanks so much for that Mandy and I should point out here one of Mandy’s stories is in the new edition of Black Lace Quickies which is now available in the UK and will be released in the US in November.