I am an English, forty something, Oxford-educated erotica writer masquerading as the respectable wife of a solicitor and mother of three sons and a stepdaughter. As well as writing in every spare minute I have, I work part time for some criminal defence solicitors in my home town as a legal secretary. I have lived in London, Venice and Cairo and love travelling and writing about the various places I have visited and include these experiences in my novels. I also love films, fashion, eating out, cooking, singing and photography.
I write newspaper features and short stories under my real name, but as Primula Bond I write erotic romance short stories and novels, my most recent series being the well reviewed Unbreakable Trilogy, The Silver Chain, The Golden Locket and The Diamond Ring, charting the stormy romance between Gustav Levi and Serena Folkes. I also work for the online writers' service, Writers' Workshop, offering critiques and advice for aspiring erotic and romantic writers, which has led to my running erotica and short story workshops at one or two writing festivals and finally meeting my readers face to face.
When was your first book published?
My first short story was published back in 1994. I had been rejected by the romantic publishers Mills and Boon for my over-explicit sex scenes, and one day when I was bored at work, fantasising as usual about my unavailable, handsome boss Ted, and I decided to turn one of the scenes into a short story. I submitted it to a magazine and they accepted it and paid me £150, which struck me as good money for something that I enjoyed doing and only took an hour or so to write. Ted joked that he should take the cut of the fee as it was in his time and on his computer that the breakthrough story was written.
Are you currently working on anything?
I am taking a few months out to work on a semi-autobiographic novel under my own name, which has been burning in the back of my mind for several years. After that I am sketching out a sequel or spin off from my Unbreakable Trilogy, too. I have also self published a collection of short stories on Amazon.
Why did you decide to become an Author?
I have been writing stories, mostly romantic, since I was a little girl and wrote my first love story in an old exercise book. I have a very vivid imagination and often live in a dream world, always spinning stories about people I've seen, places I've been, and what I want for my own life. My ambition, other than to meet the man of my dreams and have a family, was to see a book written by me displayed in a book shop. So I started submitting to magazines and publishers and trying not to get down from the rejection slips. And once the first story was accepted my confidence increased. More stories were published and editors started to take me more seriously. At long last I could call myself a professional writer. I saw my books on the shelves in Tesco and Smiths. And in the end I married the man of my dreams – my old boss, Ted!
When you are writing to you like to listen to music? What is on your playlist?
I have mostly jazz playing when I'm writing: Stan Getz or Miles Davies, or singers such as Melody Gardot or even the sex god himself, Barry White. Sometimes I have classical, like Bach piano concertos, Mozart, or Mahler. It has to be quiet music. Michael Jackson or Pharrell Williams do the job when I have finished an assignment and want to celebrate by dancing round the kitchen with my sons.
Who is your favorite character in your books?
I am unashamedly in love and lust with Gustav Lev, the hero of my Unbreakable Trilogy. He came from my darkest dreams and has the body, charisma and success to die for!
Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?
My heroine Serena is what I call my 'Berocca' heroine, in that, like those vitamin supplement adverts, she's like me, but on a really good day. Several people have commented that they can hear my voice through hers, but she does and says things that I wasn't brave enough to do when I was her age.
The character of Margot, the dangerous ex wife, is blatantly based on, and an exagerated version of, the ex wife of my husband and also someone I used to know. Much of what she does and says is based on the actual truth of what these people were actually capable of, and as neither of them are with us any longer they can't sue me, so I can create their characters however I like.
The slightly oafish ex boyfriend of Margot is based, if I'm honest, on one or two disastrous teenage boyfriends, amalgamated into one, so they would never recognise themselves...
What is your favorite book of all time?
The Magus by John Fowles. It is is set on the island of Spetses and I read it whilst on holiday there as a student. I was very much in love with the guy I was on holiday with at the time and the mystery of the book and the heat of the sun added to the magic of the holiday.
Tell us in one sentence why we should read your books.
All my books are well written, emotional, energetic and sexy, but with my Unbreakable Trilogy I have really let rip with language, characaterisation, locations, and of course creating an intense, passionate, hot love story that has already transported my lovely readers to a fantasy world of drama, danger, sexual adventure and ultimate happiness.
List your books that are available
Country Pleasures – Black Lace Club Crème – Black Lace Random Acts of Lust – Xcite Books (solo collection of short stories)
Out of Focus – Xcite Books (novella)
Sisters in Sin – Avon Books (novella)
The Silver Chain – Avon Books
The Golden Locket – Avon Books
The Diamond Ring – Avon Books
Where can Genuine Jenn readers find you?
Dip into my blog, find me on Facebook and follow me for chats, gossip and shameless self promotion on Twitter @primulabond
Thanks for taking your time to answer some questions for my readers at Genuine Jenn.
Giveaway Time! Primula would like to offer a signed paperback of The Golden Locket or The Diamond Ring. This giveaway is open Worldwide!
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~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~
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