I’ve been privileged enough to be able to host several of the authors during the Riptide Publishing Grand Opening Party Blog Tour. For the next few days I’ll be hosting 3 more great authors – today I’m lucky enough to have Damon Suede here.
What’s the one thing readers can always count on when they pick up a book written by you?
BOLDNESS! Intense emotion, rich language, three-dimensional characters, persuasive worldbuilding, dark humor, and as one reader just put it “eyelash-frying sex scenes.” Those qualities get the most comment from readers, and (not surprisingly) those are the exact things that I want in romances I read. I write the kinds of books I like to read. I want meat on the bone. I like heftier stories and complicated relationships. I expect magic from my men. I enjoy happy endings that feel earned and characters transformed by love.
If you could be any mythical/fantasy creature what would you be and why?
Vampire… or any immortal nightwalker: fey, dæmon, shifter. Reasons? I cannot abide the sun and love nighttime; in fact all of my favorite activities take place when the sky is dark overhead. 🙂 I like things cool, dim, and dry. I have an intense oral fixation and tend to be pretty bitey anyway. (I was born with extended canines actually!) I’m aggressive, intense, opinionated, and observant… so I’d make a good predator. Plus with all that time on my hands, I’d be able to read and write FOREVER. Heaven.
What do you think is sexy?
Authenticity. Nothing is sexy that isn’t comfortable in its own skin. We think of cats and horses and wolves as sexy because they inhabit their bodies so fully and gracefully. And it is a hard lesson to learn, because mostly our society teaches us to resent our authentic selves and wish for things we cannot or should not have in order to sell us shit we don’t want.
This of course explains why some nudity is sexy and other nudity is empty or chilling or sad: what attracts us isn’t the naked flesh, but the person being comfortable in their flesh. That confidence, control, and ease helps dancers shine and courtesans ruin empires. Their stillness invites attention, and their motion completes space rather than jarring it. Southerners used to say that “a gentleman looks comfortable in any room, and a lady always knows when to leave.” If you look at the sexiest celebrities, the memorable “beauties” throughout history, what they share is the sense of total presence: being here now-ness. It’s why eros and thanatos are so connected, death erases us and sex insists on just how present we actually are at every moment.
BIO:
Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal. Though new to M/M, Damon has been writing for print, stage, and screen for two decades. He’s won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year. Get in touch with him at DamonSuede.com.
CONTACT LINKS
I love how you put that. "sex insists on just how present we actually are at any moment." Awesome.
-Sabrina
sabrinayala at gmail dot com
Great interview as usual! I like your reasoning for choosing a vampire and finding out about your extended canines is an intriguing factoid.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
I enjoyed the interview; it was a great read.
Each time I see that cover, I become breathless; it's wonderful.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
"Eyelash-frying sex scenes"? That's intriguing. Is all of your writing m/m? I'm brand new to erotica (in literature) but I'm not ready for m/m.
catherinelee100[at]gmail[dot]com
Great post! Love the "eyelash-frying" comment 😉 I really liked Seedy Business and can't wait to read Grown Men!
smaccall AT comcast.net
nice interview on damon… =D
jessica
jessica_klang(at)hotmail(dot)com
Absolutely loved this interview!
I finally own 'Grown Men' and can hardly wait to read it!
Haha.. and eagerly anticipating the sequel to Hot Head. xD
Judi
arella3173_loveless(at)yahoo(dot)
what attracts us isn’t the naked flesh, but the person being comfortable in their flesh.
I love this phrase. It's so very true.
Thanks for being on the blog today Damon!
Thank God for writing what you want to read! =)
Adara
adara adaraohare com
Apologies for being a little late. Lovely interview Damon & Tracy!
Damon – I actually discovered your books this morning! I read a friend's review of Grown Men and then beetled off to ARe to download Seedy Business – I have Grown Men on my ARe Wish List. The premise sounds…right up my alley 🙂 And can I just say – great cover!
Hehe. I loved this short interview! Thanks, Damon and Tracy! 🙂
japoki at inbox dot lv
Great interview Damon
Happy holidays
Sarah S
Sarahs7826(at)gmail(dot)com
Finished Seedy Business yesterday and Grown Men this morning. Amazing world building! I so hope you are continuing with this series?