Today we're chatting with Deliza Rafferty, self-proclaimed smut-crack dealer and author of HOUND DOG: Volume 4 of the Savannah Rossi Chronicles, which is being released TODAY -- March 8. In the midst of her busy release schedule, I'm honored she was able to spend a few minutes here.
SHANDRA: Your latest work, HOUND DOG: Volume 4 of the Savannah Rossi Chronicles is, if I’m correct, part of a larger work that’s really a collection of continuing short stories. Why did you choose to write in this method, rather than a so-called regular novel?
DELIZA: Honestly, it had been years and years since I'd attempted to write anything wordier than a song lyric, so 40,000+ words felt terribly daunting. I thought it would be a wise idea to start with short stories to get back into the swing of things. I didn't originally intend to have an entire series about one particular character, but after writing volume 1 ("Rock & Roll") I had such a girl crush on my heroine that I wasn't ready to give her up so fast. Also I do want to point out that while the Chronicles are Savannah's stories, I've taken great care to make sure each one is a stand alone so they don't necessarily have to be read in order.
SHANDRA: Has this presented any particular challenges unique to your chosen method to tell this story, or has it been easier than a conventional novel?
DELIZA: Well...originally I thought it would be easier, but now it feels like I've broken up with four men in the last six months and it's killing me! I also originally thought I'd be just pumping out meaningless little sex scenes about once or twice a month - easy peasy - but it turns out I'm not as shallow as I thought I was and I actually want to be really good at this. I don't want to be on the "bad erotica" reading list. As a reader myself, I need vivid characters as much as vivid description and story and I detest erotica in which the characters have no motivation for why they're getting it on (in my opinion, that's just porn). So I'm just writing what I would like to read and hopefully it will work for others, too. So to answer your question (finally), it turns out it's not easier than writing a conventional novel!
SHANDRA: Can you tell us a little about what moved you to write initially? How long have you been writing?
DELIZA: Some of my earliest memories in life are writing little stories and songs, so I guess I've always been a writer. I've got a whole mess of songs published and recorded, however this is the first time I've attempted to do anything with prose on a professional level.
SHANDRA: Specifically, what draws you to erotica and romance?
DELIZA: That is a really good question. I think that being a Scorpio has something to do with it, ha! It's just something that happened...I wrote dirty stories about my boyfriends from the time I had my first kiss, just for my own enjoyment, and I voraciously read romance novels all through college. I think I'm just fascinated by the power sex holds over people and our society. In my home growing up it was implied that sex was sinful, shameful, or at best dutiful, so I am also quite sure this is a very delayed rebellion of sorts.
SHANDRA: With the advent of 50 Shades of Gray, it seems erotica is more popular than ever. Do you think the genre is finally getting its due, or is it still spoken of in hushed whispers, away from “serious” fiction?
DELIZA: Well, I haven't yet read 50 Shades (I keep trying to make it past the first 20 pages...zzzzz), but I think it's interesting there's suddenly all this attention placed on erotica because of it, when Ann Rice (my personal author goddess) has been infusing erotica in her very mainstream work for years and years (even before her Sleeping Beauty trilogy). From the mixed reviews I've gotten from friends about 50 Shades, I'm not sure it's necessarily done erotica any favors as far as getting it consideration as serious literature, but I suppose you have to start somewhere. Hopefully it leads readers to seek out some of the beautiful, poetic erotic writing that exists out there.
SHANDRA: Okay, let’s try a few non-writing questions. Rapid-fire style, just reply with the first thing that comes to mine. Ready?
DELIZA: Sure!
SHANDRA: Favorite television show?
DELIZA: Oh, I suck at this already! I'm a tv junkie, there can't be just one. Top of the list currently have to be Dexter and Supernatural, though. X-Files, 24, Oz, Friends, Six Feet Under, Lost and Cheers are some all time faves.
SHANDRA: Favorite movie?
DELIZA: Again...impossible! E.T., original Star Wars trilogy, It's A Wonderful Life, In America (a beautiful indie film about Irish immigrants), Sling Blade, All About Eve, several Brat Pack movies, just about any wonderful old Hollywood musical, The Artist, Dirty Dancing...I know there are plenty of "important" movies I'm not thinking of, too...
SHANDRA: Favorite band (any sort of music)?
DELIZA: This one's easy: Heart. Hands down, forever. Ann Wilson is God.
SHANDRA: Favorite restaurant (can either be a specific restaurant, or a type of restaurant)?
DELIZA: I don't have any one favorite place but I love Italian and Greek food the best. But I'm an Italian girl so I don't play...it better be good Italian. There's also a lot to be said for a good mom & pop diner that serves breakfast 24-7.
SHANDRA: If you could vacation anywhere in the world, money is no object, where would it be?
DELIZA: Europe...primarily Italy, France and Ireland.
SHANDRA: If you could have any job in the world, without regard to whether it would be enough to financially support you, what would it be?
DELIZA: Once I'd have said a recording artist. But after lots of time in the biz in many capacities, I'm burnt out and sick to death of the emphasis on appearances, particularly for women. So lately I've been thinking that spending my days in my pajamas, possibly unshowered, drinking coffee and writing stories would be absolutely dreamy.
SHANDRA: Okay, back to writing. I know you recently started a blog. What do you feature there, and what do you hope to accomplish with the blog?
DELIZA: I was told that if I'm gonna call myself a writer then I'd better have a blog, so I'm totally flying by the seat of my pants, admittedly. The address is www.dirtydramas.com (I spent hours on it so please everyone at least go look at it once! lol).
DELIZA: This week I started "Man Candy Mondays," where I'll feature some half-dressed hottie once a week. Mondays are hard, man...let's look at some hard men and make it better! I'll be hosting blog tours eventually (which I'm very excited about), I'll be reviewing, I'll be booking guest bloggers of all kinds (authors, artists, musicians, etc.) and of course posting my own blogs that will document my process as I'm writing. Above all I want it to be sexy, fun and generally positive and not too terribly serious or heavy. I am very aware that my audience consists primarily of sunshiny soccer moms who have a saucy side behind closed doors and if I had kids I'd probably be that, too. I'm just not all that dark and twisty, despite what I write. So I'm just going to be me and hope it resonates with people.
Anyone interested in doing a guest post or requesting a review can drop me an email at DelizaRafferty@aol.com. I'll read almost anything, though admittedly scifi isn't my favorite. That's not a hard no, though. If it's a great story with great characters, I'm all in.
SHANDRA: Tell us a little about what’s coming up next, either a work in progress or something you’re kicking around inside your mind?
DELIZA: Well I went and put in writing that I'm doing ten volumes of the Savannah Rossi Chronicles before I actually planned any of them out (dummy), so up next is Volume 5, which has no name or even a plot yet. The only thing I know for sure is that the title will be something musical (as are they all, because Savannah's a musician) and we will meet Savannah's life long best friend/bass player/co-writer Leif, who is discussed quite a bit in "Slow Jam" (Volume 2), but whom we barely meet. I'm very carefully weighing the options of having them become sexually involved, if he pines for her or if it's strictly platonic...their honorary sibling-hood is precious to them and I'm not sure I want to risk messing with it.
SHANDRA: Tell us where we can find HOUND DOG.
SHANDRA: Anything else you’d like to say in closing?
DELIZA: Just that "Rock & Roll (Vol. 1 of the Savannah Rossi Chronicles)" is free, so people can get an idea of my writing style. Hopefully after that they'll want to continue on Savannah's journey with me. I'm having the best time bringing her strong, sexy, sassy self to life and I'm happy to share her with others!
SHANDRA: Thanks so much for stopping by, Deliza. It’s been fun getting to know you a bit, and I am hoping HOUND DOG reaches the top of the erotica lists!
DELIZA: This has been a really fun interview, Shandra. Thank you so much for having me! ♥
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A little more about Deliza
Deliza Rafferty is a new erotic romance writer (spicier than traditional romance without hardcore BDSM -- always super hot!) located in Hollywood. She's written all sorts of stories and poems for personal enjoyment since she was a little girl, but has spent most of her career in the music business. She is venturing into sharing her musings publicly for the very first time and is excited that modern day technology allows her to do it at her leisure. Currently she is focused on writing her short story series, the "Savannah Rossi Chronicles."
Deliza means "gives pleasure" and Rafferty means "rich and prosperous." With a name like that, what else could she do? Like...legally?
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And now. what you've been waiting for -- a little about HOUND DOG
The "Savannah Rossi Chronicles" is a series of erotica/erotic romance short stories that pave the way to an eventual full-length novel. Each story is a stand-alone and follows the steamy adventures of sexy, independent, musically-gifted singer/songwriter Savannah Rossi, who is teetering on the verge of national success. This is no spoiled brat pop princess looking to be saved. Confident, driven, intelligent and unabashed in her sexuality, Savannah has created her own success and enjoys a vibrant sex life on her own terms with men of her choosing. Is it possible that any one man could tame such an independent free spirit? Who says she even needs to be tamed?
In "Hound Dog," Volume 4 of the series, Savannah lands a major studio gig singing for one of the music industry's hottest songwriter/producers. However, she is blindsided when she shows up to the job to find that the only man she ever gave her heart to -- the one who also demolished it several years prior -- is the sound engineer on the recording sessions. As painful memories are revisited, Savannah and Jax struggle to behave professionally in spite of the deep-seated hatred and intense desire they still hold for each other. Time does not necessarily heal all wounds -- and new ones can still be inflicted...
*Contains graphic sexual content, language, and mild violence.*
