Xavier
Edwards
I am
very excited to have Xavier here to Share with us about his book, writing
styles and himself. He is one of a few
authors I friended when I first got on Goodreads. He always takes time to welcome and answer
questions. So, when his books received 15+
hits on our blog I thought for sure I needed to get him on here and see what
was going on.
It’s the:
Contemporary Adult Romance/Erotica: New and Upcoming Book/Author’s Voting on
Goodreads
time.
Rad Reader: What made you decide to become a writer? How and when did
you realize you wanted to do it?
Xavier Edwards: I've been writing on and off, but mainly for personal use for, many years. It is only in the last couple of years that I've started writing for a wider audience. It is something that I will continue to do, even if there's no one else to read my stories, because I enjoy my writing.
Xavier Edwards: I've been writing on and off, but mainly for personal use for, many years. It is only in the last couple of years that I've started writing for a wider audience. It is something that I will continue to do, even if there's no one else to read my stories, because I enjoy my writing.
Rad Reader: Tell our readers
about yourself… Is there anything personal, you the writer, would like to share
with our readers that they would find interesting. Something no one knows about
you? How about something personal? (Funny childhood story)
Xavier Edwards: I've been surrounded by women for most of my life. I grew up with lots of sisters, and only have daughters. This has given me what I regard to be a unique insight into the way the female mind works.
Rad Reader: Where do you get your inspirations? How did you create the characters for your current book?
Xavier Edwards: My inspiration comes from a range of sources. It can be something or someone I see when I'm watching television, out shopping, reading a book, working on the computer, or really from anything I see or read. Sometimes inspiration strikes seemingly without any rhyme or reason and it's the best I can do to write it all down before it disappears. For the book I'm currently writing, it was one of the latter times, when inspiration just seemed to come out of nowhere.
Rad Reader: What genres do you like to write and which do you write the most of?
Xavier Edwards: I am firmly placed in the erotica and erotic romance genres, and have been wandering around the various sub-genres dipping my toes in them to get a feel for what things are like. On average, most of my titles have been contemporary erotica.
Rad Reader: What about your characters? Are any of them real? You know based on real people you’ve known or at least some of their traits?
Xavier Edwards: All of my characters are fictitious. There may be a few that are based loosely (or not so loosely) on real people I know, but for the main part they are fictitious.
Rad Reader: Out of your books do you have a favorite character? And why? If your book was to become of a movie who would you cast as your lead characters? Or was there an actor in mind as you wrote each character?
Xavier Edwards: I try not to have favorites in the characters I've written, but from time to time I get attached to some more than others. At the moment one of my favorites is Samantha, from "Six Miles High", and I do have a soft spot for Rachel, from "A Man for the Season". I've not really thought about movie conversions for my books, so I don't know who I would place as my leads. I haven't written any of my books with actors or actresses in mind while writing.
Rad Reader: How many books do you have out?
Xavier Edwards: As of the middle of September, 18.
Rad Reader: Out of the books you’ve written which is your favorite and has it been the same as the public's?
Xavier Edwards: As with characters, I don't really keep a favorite book, though I have been surprised that some of my better books haven't been well received, and that some of my weaker books have been enjoyed by more than I would have expected.
Rad Reader: When is your next book coming out?
Xavier Edwards: I am aiming for a release of a new novella, "A Proper Consummation", by the end of September, 2013.
Rad Reader: Any other genres you want to try that you are just too afraid to?
Xavier Edwards: No. If the urge strikes to write a particular style, I'm going to follow it.
Rad Reader: Are you a full-time writer? Or as they say, “Do you have a day job that allows you to write and give you great insight into your writing?”
Xavier Edwards: Writing doesn't yet pay the bills, so I still have something I'm doing to ensure that happens. The downside is that it places significant pressure on being able to find the time to write, edit, proof, and publish.
Rad Reader: What other projects aside from writing can you tell us about?
Xavier Edwards: No. I do like to keep my private life fairly private.
Rad Reader: What do you get to do during you down time for fun?
Xavier Edwards: Between work, family, and writing, there isn't much other time for fun. I do enjoy reading, and gaming when and where I can.
Rad Reader: If you knew at a young age did your parents support you? How about now, do your family and friends support you?
Xavier Edwards: My parents supported me with whatever I wanted to be, particularly with my early career. In terms of my current writing career, only a small select circle know that I write, and I do get a lot of support from them.
Rad Reader: Did you self-publish or go to a publisher? If so why? Was it hard and what would you recommend to up and coming writers on how to go about it?
Xavier Edwards: I've been self-publishing the whole time. When I started out, I wasn't so sure about whether I would be able to attract an agent (self-doubt), or what I would be able to do as far as getting published through a publisher. I also wasn't happy with the months of uncertainty that followed a submission, so I decided to publish my own way. It has been difficult, given that I have to do all of the business work myself, but it is rewarding as I retain complete creative and publishing control over my titles.
Rad Reader: When you self-publish you don’t get to have a marketing team to promote your book for you professional as well as a marketing team. How did you spread the news about your books if you did not have a publishing company to help spread the word and did it work?
Xavier Edwards: I'd read a number of articles from represented authors who decried the difference between what they expected an agent and publishing house to do for them in terms of marketing and promotion, and what they actually did. This helped shape the idea that the best advocate for my work was me. I rely on organic means to spread the word about my books, with some minor advertising when and where I can afford it. This means I'm still flying under the radar for many potential readers, but don't quite have the means to reach them at the moment. It does mean that I am slowly but steadily increasing my fan base before I do reach out to the next level.
Rad Reader: Where are you going from here? Do you have any hopes and dreams for your future as a writer?
Xavier Edwards: I would love for my books to receive widespread readership, and to be able to commit the time and resources to writing that I want to. I'm sure it would make my fans happy to see that, as well.
Rad Reader: Give me a name of a song that plays in your head when you think of your book. Would you like to say something to encourage our readers to read your books?
Xavier Edwards: There isn't any one song that plays through my head when it comes to my books, but if I was to pick one out for "Cardio Session" it would have to be "Physical" by Olivia Newton John. There's nothing like 80's cheesiness in a gym environment.
Rad Reader: How do you chose your titles for your books?
Xavier Edwards: Sometimes the title comes first, and the story flows out from my visions of what the title generates. Other times, I am left trying to come up with something that is concise but still manages to communicate what the book is about and still grab a reader's attention. I would almost say it is the hardest part of writing a book.
Rad Reader: If you were not an author what would you be?
Xavier Edwards: I would continue to be me. I might have some more free time to spend on some of my hobbies, but I would probably still write, just for my own satisfaction.
Rad Reader: Are there ever any hidden messages in your books you want the reader to find?
Xavier Edwards: Not really. There have been some stories that were almost cathartic to write, but I didn't go into writing them for them to carry a hidden message.
Rad Reader: What kind of books do you like to read?
Xavier Edwards: I tend to read a lot of the time out of genre. I am currently reading my way through some military history, alternating with fantasy. The current book I am reading is about the letters written from the trenches of WWI, in the voices of the authors. It is an interesting mix of pathos.
Rad Reader: What new authors have piqued your interest?
Xavier Edwards: That's somewhat hard to answer, as most of my current reading is with established authors, or authors who I have read a lot of books from previously. The most recent author that I have found myself trying to read every book from is Terry Pratchett.
Rad Reader: Where you good at English/Writing in school?
Xavier Edwards: I was reasonably good at it. I did study one of the more advanced options for English in my final two years of high school, but had always found that I could write creatively (including some really average poetry) without the classes. I would probably say that I have found the technical ins and outs of the language were picked up by osmosis more than they were taught.
Rad Reader: Are you in any writing groups? Do you use long hand, computer. Typewriter, or dictate it?
Xavier Edwards: Other than some online forums, no I'm not in any writing groups. I write with a mixture of long hand and computer, though mainly computer. I have also been known to scribble things down as they come to me and have been tempted to dictate on occasion, though have been able to find pen and paper to write things long hand.
Rad Reader: Who proof reads for you? Or do you have someone do it for you?
Xavier Edwards: I have a number of people who have been willing to volunteer their services to proof read my work, though I do act as a rough first pass alpha reader, and my wife also acts as an alpha reader. Editing takes place between alpha and proof reading.
Rad Reader: I’ve heard some authors leave their work for a month then will edit. Do you do that?
Xavier Edwards: No. In fact, some of the time what goes out to the editor is nothing more than a first draft. Even more disturbing is that those stories tend to come back with few comments or edits... There are a couple of books out there that I released which had very little oversight between initial draft and release.
Rad Reader: How do you select who edits your books?
Xavier Edwards: I have had to shop around to find a couple of editors who are happy to work with erotica content, and who are happy to work with me.
Rad Reader: Tell us about your cover. How did you select it? How important do you think it is to the sale of your book?
Xavier Edwards: I am still at the stage where I have a collection of images from some photographers who have allowed me to use their works, and I look through them prior to selecting and composing a cover for a book to find the most appropriate one to the story. My cover compositions and design are probably one of the weakest elements of my overall published book, but they are improving. I think they are one of the most important elements, along with the description of the book, and it's something that I'm continually working on improving.
Rad Reader: What advice would you give your young self?
Xavier Edwards: Keep working at it. Fortune favors the well-prepared as much as it does the brave, so be both.
Rad Reader: Finally: How can we get in touch with you? Do you have a blog, Facebook, Twitter, Web page...?
Xavier Edwards: I have a number of options available:
Web - http://www.xavieredwards.com
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5894813.Xavier_Edwards
Amazon - amazon.com/Xavier-Edwards/e/B00843MPBW
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Aussierotica
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Aussierotica
Tumblr - http://aussierotica.tumblr.com/
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/114466197678498415476
LibraryThing - http://www.librarything.com/profile/Xavier_Edwards
Shelfari - http://www.shelfari.com/xavier_edwards
Xavier Edwards: I've been surrounded by women for most of my life. I grew up with lots of sisters, and only have daughters. This has given me what I regard to be a unique insight into the way the female mind works.
Rad Reader: Where do you get your inspirations? How did you create the characters for your current book?
Xavier Edwards: My inspiration comes from a range of sources. It can be something or someone I see when I'm watching television, out shopping, reading a book, working on the computer, or really from anything I see or read. Sometimes inspiration strikes seemingly without any rhyme or reason and it's the best I can do to write it all down before it disappears. For the book I'm currently writing, it was one of the latter times, when inspiration just seemed to come out of nowhere.
Rad Reader: What genres do you like to write and which do you write the most of?
Xavier Edwards: I am firmly placed in the erotica and erotic romance genres, and have been wandering around the various sub-genres dipping my toes in them to get a feel for what things are like. On average, most of my titles have been contemporary erotica.
Rad Reader: What about your characters? Are any of them real? You know based on real people you’ve known or at least some of their traits?
Xavier Edwards: All of my characters are fictitious. There may be a few that are based loosely (or not so loosely) on real people I know, but for the main part they are fictitious.
Rad Reader: Out of your books do you have a favorite character? And why? If your book was to become of a movie who would you cast as your lead characters? Or was there an actor in mind as you wrote each character?
Xavier Edwards: I try not to have favorites in the characters I've written, but from time to time I get attached to some more than others. At the moment one of my favorites is Samantha, from "Six Miles High", and I do have a soft spot for Rachel, from "A Man for the Season". I've not really thought about movie conversions for my books, so I don't know who I would place as my leads. I haven't written any of my books with actors or actresses in mind while writing.
Rad Reader: How many books do you have out?
Xavier Edwards: As of the middle of September, 18.
Rad Reader: Out of the books you’ve written which is your favorite and has it been the same as the public's?
Xavier Edwards: As with characters, I don't really keep a favorite book, though I have been surprised that some of my better books haven't been well received, and that some of my weaker books have been enjoyed by more than I would have expected.
Rad Reader: When is your next book coming out?
Xavier Edwards: I am aiming for a release of a new novella, "A Proper Consummation", by the end of September, 2013.
Rad Reader: Any other genres you want to try that you are just too afraid to?
Xavier Edwards: No. If the urge strikes to write a particular style, I'm going to follow it.
Rad Reader: Are you a full-time writer? Or as they say, “Do you have a day job that allows you to write and give you great insight into your writing?”
Xavier Edwards: Writing doesn't yet pay the bills, so I still have something I'm doing to ensure that happens. The downside is that it places significant pressure on being able to find the time to write, edit, proof, and publish.
Rad Reader: What other projects aside from writing can you tell us about?
Xavier Edwards: No. I do like to keep my private life fairly private.
Rad Reader: What do you get to do during you down time for fun?
Xavier Edwards: Between work, family, and writing, there isn't much other time for fun. I do enjoy reading, and gaming when and where I can.
Rad Reader: If you knew at a young age did your parents support you? How about now, do your family and friends support you?
Xavier Edwards: My parents supported me with whatever I wanted to be, particularly with my early career. In terms of my current writing career, only a small select circle know that I write, and I do get a lot of support from them.
Rad Reader: Did you self-publish or go to a publisher? If so why? Was it hard and what would you recommend to up and coming writers on how to go about it?
Xavier Edwards: I've been self-publishing the whole time. When I started out, I wasn't so sure about whether I would be able to attract an agent (self-doubt), or what I would be able to do as far as getting published through a publisher. I also wasn't happy with the months of uncertainty that followed a submission, so I decided to publish my own way. It has been difficult, given that I have to do all of the business work myself, but it is rewarding as I retain complete creative and publishing control over my titles.
Rad Reader: When you self-publish you don’t get to have a marketing team to promote your book for you professional as well as a marketing team. How did you spread the news about your books if you did not have a publishing company to help spread the word and did it work?
Xavier Edwards: I'd read a number of articles from represented authors who decried the difference between what they expected an agent and publishing house to do for them in terms of marketing and promotion, and what they actually did. This helped shape the idea that the best advocate for my work was me. I rely on organic means to spread the word about my books, with some minor advertising when and where I can afford it. This means I'm still flying under the radar for many potential readers, but don't quite have the means to reach them at the moment. It does mean that I am slowly but steadily increasing my fan base before I do reach out to the next level.
Rad Reader: Where are you going from here? Do you have any hopes and dreams for your future as a writer?
Xavier Edwards: I would love for my books to receive widespread readership, and to be able to commit the time and resources to writing that I want to. I'm sure it would make my fans happy to see that, as well.
Rad Reader: Give me a name of a song that plays in your head when you think of your book. Would you like to say something to encourage our readers to read your books?
Xavier Edwards: There isn't any one song that plays through my head when it comes to my books, but if I was to pick one out for "Cardio Session" it would have to be "Physical" by Olivia Newton John. There's nothing like 80's cheesiness in a gym environment.
Rad Reader: How do you chose your titles for your books?
Xavier Edwards: Sometimes the title comes first, and the story flows out from my visions of what the title generates. Other times, I am left trying to come up with something that is concise but still manages to communicate what the book is about and still grab a reader's attention. I would almost say it is the hardest part of writing a book.
Rad Reader: If you were not an author what would you be?
Xavier Edwards: I would continue to be me. I might have some more free time to spend on some of my hobbies, but I would probably still write, just for my own satisfaction.
Rad Reader: Are there ever any hidden messages in your books you want the reader to find?
Xavier Edwards: Not really. There have been some stories that were almost cathartic to write, but I didn't go into writing them for them to carry a hidden message.
Rad Reader: What kind of books do you like to read?
Xavier Edwards: I tend to read a lot of the time out of genre. I am currently reading my way through some military history, alternating with fantasy. The current book I am reading is about the letters written from the trenches of WWI, in the voices of the authors. It is an interesting mix of pathos.
Rad Reader: What new authors have piqued your interest?
Xavier Edwards: That's somewhat hard to answer, as most of my current reading is with established authors, or authors who I have read a lot of books from previously. The most recent author that I have found myself trying to read every book from is Terry Pratchett.
Rad Reader: Where you good at English/Writing in school?
Xavier Edwards: I was reasonably good at it. I did study one of the more advanced options for English in my final two years of high school, but had always found that I could write creatively (including some really average poetry) without the classes. I would probably say that I have found the technical ins and outs of the language were picked up by osmosis more than they were taught.
Rad Reader: Are you in any writing groups? Do you use long hand, computer. Typewriter, or dictate it?
Xavier Edwards: Other than some online forums, no I'm not in any writing groups. I write with a mixture of long hand and computer, though mainly computer. I have also been known to scribble things down as they come to me and have been tempted to dictate on occasion, though have been able to find pen and paper to write things long hand.
Rad Reader: Who proof reads for you? Or do you have someone do it for you?
Xavier Edwards: I have a number of people who have been willing to volunteer their services to proof read my work, though I do act as a rough first pass alpha reader, and my wife also acts as an alpha reader. Editing takes place between alpha and proof reading.
Rad Reader: I’ve heard some authors leave their work for a month then will edit. Do you do that?
Xavier Edwards: No. In fact, some of the time what goes out to the editor is nothing more than a first draft. Even more disturbing is that those stories tend to come back with few comments or edits... There are a couple of books out there that I released which had very little oversight between initial draft and release.
Rad Reader: How do you select who edits your books?
Xavier Edwards: I have had to shop around to find a couple of editors who are happy to work with erotica content, and who are happy to work with me.
Rad Reader: Tell us about your cover. How did you select it? How important do you think it is to the sale of your book?
Xavier Edwards: I am still at the stage where I have a collection of images from some photographers who have allowed me to use their works, and I look through them prior to selecting and composing a cover for a book to find the most appropriate one to the story. My cover compositions and design are probably one of the weakest elements of my overall published book, but they are improving. I think they are one of the most important elements, along with the description of the book, and it's something that I'm continually working on improving.
Rad Reader: What advice would you give your young self?
Xavier Edwards: Keep working at it. Fortune favors the well-prepared as much as it does the brave, so be both.
Rad Reader: Finally: How can we get in touch with you? Do you have a blog, Facebook, Twitter, Web page...?
Xavier Edwards: I have a number of options available:
Web - http://www.xavieredwards.com
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5894813.Xavier_Edwards
Amazon - amazon.com/Xavier-Edwards/e/B00843MPBW
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Aussierotica
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Aussierotica
Tumblr - http://aussierotica.tumblr.com/
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/114466197678498415476
LibraryThing - http://www.librarything.com/profile/Xavier_Edwards
Shelfari - http://www.shelfari.com/xavier_edwards
Thanks you so much for being with us today and for taking time away
from your writing to give some insight to your process of writing. It may help an up and coming newbie. We will all be looking forward to your new
novella “A Proper Consummation”.
Thanks again.
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