Author Spotlight: Katrina Strauss

I had the good fortune to meet Katrina Strauss at BishieCon this year.  We had a great time hanging out talking about m/m and writing and biz, not to mention enjoying all the great cosplayers at that convention. Today Katrina's here to celebrate her recent release, Off the Beaten Path, and to talk about Darth Vader fanfic and the joys and pitfalls of publishing. Please join me in welcoming her to Friskbiskit's Author Spotlight.

Off the Beaten Path, by Katrina Strauss:

Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to define himself by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend's misdeed, he's forced to renegotiate his future. Carefully. Or he's going to lose his coveted lacrosse scholarship.

The last thing Travis plans on is a “volunteer vacation” in the remote wilderness with members of Omega Beta Pi, aka Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. To make matters worse, he must share a tent with Kyle, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.

Kyle Schafer is a proud activist who disapproves of Travis's ignorance on issues affecting the environment and the gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tentmate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn't dampen the chemistry that sparks between them. Pretty soon, it looks like Travis isn't the only one who'll be going off the beaten path.

Don't miss the yummy excerpt from Off the Beaten Path at the bottom of the post. And now, a  few questions.

What do you like about m/m?

When I read or write het romance, I’m constantly aware of an underlying battle of the sexes. As an author, I take pains to ensure my heroine isn’t dominated by the hero outside of the bedroom, yet still, I worry my heroine will be viewed as either a doormat or a ballbuster. With M/M, in spite of any conflicts between the lead characters, even if one male is more Alpha than the other, I see these men as united and equal in their stand against an anti-gay society. M/M frees me, as both author and reader, to simply explore and enjoy the relationship in and of itself, rather than worry if my characters’ interactions will somehow be viewed as one partner repressing the other.

That was my intellectual answer. On a visceral level, it’s just plain HOT to describe two (or more!) beautiful men making love together. 


What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

I read entirely too much yaoi. Hey, it’s illustrated! 


Was there a time when you almost gave up?  What made you keep going?

I almost gave up a few months ago, actually, due to a vicious cycle of writer’s block, finances, mediocre reviews, and personal issues. Then, a moving e-mail from a reader reminded me why I do what I do. I went back and re-read other positive letters I’ve received since my first publication. (Yes, I save them all!) I realized I just needed a break to recharge my brain cells and reassess my direction. Once I recovered from the creative crisis, a completely different issue kicked in and forced me to extend my hiatus, but I’m gradually resuming writing as my situation improves. If my work touches just one reader out of a hundred, it’s worth the time and effort. 


If you could change one thing about the publishing industry, what would it be?

Only a year ago, I would have said a more open attitude toward e-books. But overnight, we see that’s changed! Now, I’d like to see the e-book price wars level out in a way that benefits readers and authors alike. The erotic romance industry paved the way for e-publishing at well below $9.99 a book! 


Who is your favorite character, and why?

Derek from my Blue Ruin series. I’ve written him as my ultimate fantasy man, the “caring Alpha” who knows when to be firm but how to be soft. He exudes an inherent confidence that I’ve personally had to work for in my life. And he has sexy hair! 


Do you now write, or have you ever written, fanfic?  If so, what fandoms, pairings, etc?  

I used to write Vader/OFC fic set in a Star Wars AU. In making a point to un-Mary Sue my heroine, I ended up with a dark, twisted tale that, to my surprise, gained a following and my first ever readership. (Although I suppose we Vader fangirls tend to be a bit dark and twisted!) 


What kind of impact do you hope your work will have on readers?

I want readers to see that people from all walks of life and of all sexual orientations can fall in love, grow together, and face the challenges of the world hand-in-hand.

Great interview Kitty, thank you for your intriguing answers!  And now, how about a nice, steamy excerpt from Off the Beaten Path:

Travis’s eyes fluttered at the chirping of birds and the barest hint of light. Vaguely, he comprehended his whereabouts. His back felt cold, while the soft mass cradled against his front proved warm. He snuggled closer. In turn, the warm bundle pressed back, pillowed layers giving way to something firmer beneath. Travis felt his prick stir at the contact. Emitting a low groan, he involuntarily ground his hips. He sniffed, inhaling a light herbal scent. He nuzzled his face deeper. Soft hair tickled his nose.

Travis opened his eyes and froze, mortified to discover he’d spooned with his tentmate during the night. Granted, they had sleeping bags between them, but their position still proved too intimate beyond propriety.

He stopped short of jerking away for fear he’d awaken Kyle. Aside from his errant morning wood, Travis couldn’t help but notice how perfectly their bodies fit together. And damn, Kyle’s hair smelled nice, Travis thought, indulging in another involuntarily whiff.

On some cruel unspoken cue, Kyle shifted, his rump grinding harder against Travis. Emitting another stifled groan, Travis remained still, his cock throbbing against the solid swell of Kyle’s ass.

Travis carefully rolled onto his back. His front instantly went cold, yet his libido raged, his cock tenting the sleeping bag with a noticeable lump. He slid a hand down his sweatpants and gripped his balls. He gave a squeeze, hoping to relieve the pressure, succeeding only in sending another rush of blood to his prick. He considered tossing off, but didn’t know what to do with the resulting mess.

His breath hitched in his throat as the other man rolled toward him. “Come back here,” Kyle mumbled. “You’re warm.”

Yeah, and hard, Travis thought. He swallowed nervously, balls still cupped in his hand. “Don’t get all Brokeback Mountain on me, dude. That story had a crappy ending.”

“Huh?” Kyle’s eyelids fluttered. He stared at Travis, his dazed expression giving way to realization. He sat up with a start, the sleeping bag pooling at his hips, and looked away. “Sorry. I thought you were someone else.”

A flash of embarrassment tinged with insult seared through Travis. Face going hot, he rolled away, hoping Kyle’s eyes hadn’t lingered or adjusted enough to make out the evidence of his arousal. “Wow. I feel so cheap,” he muttered, attempting to mask his awkwardness with another crack. The joke fell flat, his humor eluding him.

He heard the zipper slide on Kyle’s sleeping bag, followed by the rustle of clothing. He peered back over his shoulder to see Kyle hurriedly slip into hoodie and sneakers.

“Got to do my morning workout,” Kyle said, crawling across the mattress.

“Really?” Travis asked, latching onto any semblance of casual conversation that he could. “What sort of workout?”

“Yoga followed by a light run.”

“Cool. I run, too. Maybe we could --”

Kyle slipped out of the tent and zipped the flap shut before Travis could suggest they jog together. Then again, with his cock weighing between his legs like a heavy pendulum, running might prove a bit difficult, while it might be best to keep a safe distance from Kyle.

Down boy, he told himself. Footsteps sounded outside, leaves and twigs crunching in their wake. Mac’s voice wafted through the canvas of the tent. “Hey, Travis. You awake?”

Travis started to speak, then cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m up.”

He cringed as the unintentional pun slipped from his mouth. Thank god Mac had no clue, exactly, as to how “up” he was.

Comments

[Jessica Freely]

Thank you for joining us, Kitty!

[Katrina Strauss]

Thanks, Jessica! I'm happy to be here!

[Aurora Alexander]

Hi Ladies, Sorry to belate to the party. Loooong day! What are you awesome authors working on these days? Any plans to hit BishieCon in 2010? How about YaoiCon? I am staring to make plans. Yes, I loved the BishieCon experience and I want more!

[Katrina Strauss]

Aurora,

Thanks for stopping by! I'm working my free short story Sunrise at Mama Irene's into a longer piece for publication. To help flesh it out, I've set it in Phoenix. Since I've lived in Phoenix twice, I figure it's time I wrote some hot manlove in the desert!

BishieCon 2009 was indeed a blast! A 2010 event is in the works but I don't have specifics yet. I'd LOVE to hit YaoiCon but am still planning things a day at a time right now. I hope you get to go! :D

[Jessica Freely]

Hi Aurora, so nice to see you! You should definitely go to Yaoicon if you can. It's a blast. Don't know if I can make it this year but I am definitely planning to go to BishieCon again.

Kitty -- I read Sunrise at Mama Irene's and really liked it. You did a great job establishing that restaurant. I felt like I was there. Yeah, I definitely think you could expand that story.

I'm working on a sequel to Rust Belt and doing some edits on a reprint of the first three David & Seth stories -- combining them so Loose Id can put them out as a single-volume prequel.

[Aurora Alexander]

Katrina, I loved Sunrise at Mama Irene's. I can't wait to see what you can do with a longer piece.

Jessica, A sequel to Rust Belt? Yay! That sounds awesome.

Glad to hear both of you are working on more excellent m/m stories! If my plans for YaoiCon pan out, I will be sure to provide gratuitous pimpage of your work. ;)

[Jessica Freely]

You rock, Aurora. Remember, it's tough out there for a pimp...

[Julie Lynn Hayes]

Kitty,

All I can say is damn that is hot, can't wait to read it. And review it, of course lol

I'm moving to a new reviewing venue, a better one. Issues arose with the other one.

Jessica, I still have the flyers I picked up about your books at BishieCon - I can't stop staring, and those are on my list too, for reading and reviewing.

Next BishieCon will be tres awesome!

[Jessica Freely]

Hi Julie, thanks for your comment! Keep up the good work. (And may I just add that you have excellent taste. ;) )

I know, I'm already looking forward to BishieCon. Only eight months to go! LOL

[Katrina Strauss]

Julie, Good to see you here! And yes, also looking forward to the next BishieCon!