The Bog Zone—Author Interview #2 Eden Baylee

Enter if you dare, this curious dimension, The Bog Zone: Author Interview #2 with Eden Baylee

To read the first foray into The Bog Zone, please click HERE and discover the writing of Eleanor Parker Sapia!

Eden Baylee agreed to sit in the hot seat this time for a round of Q&A . . . welcome this brave and creative soul to Bog-land, and read Eden’s thrilling books! I am a huge fan.

Welcome, Eden, please tell me and the inhabitants of The Bog Zone a little bit about yourself.

Thrilled to be here, Justin, and thank you for inviting me to your exciting new segment. I’m a full-time writer of multiple genres. I have three collections of erotic novellas and flash fiction—Spring into Summer, Fall into Winter, and Hot Flash, along with contributing to the anthologies: Allegories of the Tarot, Indie Authors Naked, and Triptychs.

In 2014, I released my mystery-suspense novel Stranger at Sunset, the first of a trilogy with psychiatrist, Dr. Kate Hampton. Earlier this year, I was part of a group of eight authors who launched the Lei Crime Series on Kindle Worlds. My novella for the series, A Snake in Paradise, has consistently been in the Top 100 of Kindle Worlds since its release. I have a second novella coming out for the series called SEAL of a Monk, scheduled for August 2015.

Okay, fasten your seatbelts . . . try to answer quickly, off the cuff, and edit later . . . ha!

• What was your last great meal? Make all who read this hungry?

Asian Fusion – Truffle fried rice with thin slices of truffle, edamame, XO sauce, accompanied by deep-fried trout. I don’t usually eat anything deep-fried, but the combination of the two dishes just blew my taste buds apart.

I had to resist eating quickly as there were so many wonderful flavors. I usually inhale my food!

Lovely, and I have the opposite problem when it comes to deep-fried…love tempura anything. And please excuse this follow-up Question, but you know I’m curious about cuisine choices: If you wrote about a murderess on death row, what would be her last meal?

Great question, Justin. Indian food—butter chicken with rice, garlic naan, a side order of saag paneer, and kheer for dessert with absolutely no raisins. The last person she killed was the chef who put raisins in her kheer!

I say: Perfectly understandable . . . definitely makes me think of the food of life . . . and death. In writing, I do tend to gravitate towards the morbid, and unease, so on that note . . .

• What is the one book that made you jealous? Please explain . . .

I’m not sure if ‘jealous’ is the right word, but The Count of Monte Cristo was a fabulous book and made me wish I had lived in the early 1800s—in France or Italy.

I like that choice and not only because this first suspense novel is high up on my own list of favorite novels . . . jealous of the author, probably, the ability to create a long-lasting work. Don’t get me started on Harper Lee’s new book (and now a third rumored to be discovered just today). I want to read Go Set A Watchman despite how unseemly I feel the whole guardianship manipulations to possibly be . . . will you read Harper Lee’s found novel?

This is a tough one. I’ve waited this long, and I can wait a bit longer for Harper Lee’s new book. Eventually, I can’t imagine myself NOT reading it, but whether I believe she gave consent for its publication will continue to be a mystery.

• What’s the craziest thing you’ve done for love?

Stayed in the relationship too long. Seriously. Love is never enough, but that’s not something I could have known at the time.

We’re a combination of all the thousands and thousands of choices we make, and I love who you are today.

You’re a real sweetheart, Justin. Thank you.

• What song is stuck in your head?

It changes daily like a jukebox. Classic rock plays often. Pink Floyd, Clapton, Rolling Stones are stand-by favorites. The occasional disco tune makes it in there. Last one I loved hearing again was Prince’s Purple Rain.

• What is your favorite last sentence in literature?

Hard to choose, but this is classic – from John Fowles The Magus.

“Let those love now who’ve never loved; let those who’ve loved, love yet again.”

• What is the last sentence of The Lei Crime Series: A Snake in Paradise (Kindle Worlds Novella)? And will you explain what this series is, please?

The last sentence in A Snake in Paradise is: “Just try and stop me.”

The Lei Crime Series is based on the books of bestselling author, Toby Neal. Her stories are set in Hawaii and follow the life of Lei Texeira, a law enforcement officer. Within the Kindle Worlds platform, writers are encouraged to expand on Toby’s existing characters or invent their own characters and parallel stories. All genres are encouraged!

• What is your favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning?

Coffee, fruit or croissant, and no plans. It makes for an adventurous day.

That’s a great plan. ~erase and jot in stuffed calendar: cancel all Saturday business, buy croissants and the real kind of fruit~

Yes, only real fruit. So here’s a peculiarity about me now that you mention fruit. I cut up most fruits and eat them in a bowl. I don’t like eating an apple or an orange or grapefruit like normal people. I even cut up bananas. I find the experience of eating fruit more pleasant as a fruit salad.

I agree. I find eating difficult foods terribly tedious—anything I have to work at, shell, cut, peel. Slicing up fruit is a must in my book as well.

What was the last risk you took?

Ha! I’m not a risk taker, but I’m open to trying new things, and I don’t have many fears.

I like controlled risk—does becoming a full-time writer count? 😉

I say: Definitely . . . and that’s the boldest of risks.

Brief writing prompt interlude challenge dare:

            Eden, I know you are a wonderful flash fiction author, and I would love it if you could share a story with The Bog Zone. You must use this prompt as the basis for your tale. Accept this challenge at your peril . . . your story can be up to 1,000 words.

Someone says, “Can I see you in the kitchen?”

Kitchen Goddess

The sound hit her first, the gurgle of the last drops of water filtering into the steel pot. Fresh brewed coffee timed to turn on at 8 am, ready in fifteen minutes. The intense, smoky aroma pulled her out of sleep with the promise of a new day.

Then she remembered last night. A rush of panic dampened her forehead. She pulled the bed sheet to cover her naked body and saw the stains.

Oh god.

New white sheets, micro-fiber soft painted with cranberry splotches.

“Mary, can I see you in the kitchen?” her husband’s voice yelled from downstairs.

Shit! He wasn’t supposed to come back until tonight!

She sprang out of bed, tore off the sheets, and stuffed them in the closet.

“Mary! Where the hell are you?”

“I’m coming!”

Open drawer. Pull on shorts. Wriggle into a T-shirt.

Think Mary. Think!

How was she going to explain this?

She entered the kitchen wearing a fake smile and her kitchen-goddess persona.

“What the hell happened here?” Rob said. “You’ve got every jar opened, every utensil out. Were you having some crazy party?”

“Hi sweetheart.” She stretched her arms up in a mock yawn. “I thought you were coming back tonight.” He didn’t close his eyes as she pecked him on the lips.

“I was . . . but got an earlier flight . . .” He looked at her sideways.

She poured a cup of coffee, took extra time stirring the sugar. “I was experimenting with a recipe, that’s all. Thought it might be good to try a new dessert.” Good one Mary.

“Well, some of the guys are coming over later to watch the game. I want this cleaned up before then.”

His words pinched. They always did. She hated him, but she was a patient woman. “Of course, darling.”

While Rob took a shower, she cleaned up the kitchen, careful to tightly seal each jam-filled Mason jar—blueberry, strawberry, and his favorite—elderberry jelly.

She’d spent all night pressing the elderberries, removing the seeds. Only this time, she saved the leaves and unripened fruit, set the seeds apart. In small doses, humans could break down the plant cyanides found in this toxic plant, but Rob never ate in small doses.

She looked forward to feeding his gluttony with elderberry pie.

* * *

Shudders, Eden, a very creepy addition to The Bog Zone. Kitchen Goddess, your short story of almost 400 words, rocks. In such a brief moment, you made me nervous for someone sketchy and not altogether sympathetic.

Thank you Justin. I’ve accomplished my mission then!

• If you could add an hour to your day, what would you do with it?

Sleep. It’s not that I like to sleep so much, but I always say I don’t have enough time for it. I cram so much into existing hours and sleep suffers for it. In this case, I wouldn’t be able to make any excuses.

• Who is your fictional nemesis, a character you love to hate?

I think one of the all-time best characters is Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. She epitomizes power and authority but is a despicable human being. It’s scary to think that people like her exist.

I couldn’t agree more. Wow. Just one last thought. If Nurse Ratched is your fictional nemesis, would you be in the asylum she haunts?

I sure hope not. I’d get a transfer out of there ASAP!

Eden, thank you very much for being the second author to answer questions in The Bog Zone.

‘Twas my absolute pleasure, Justin. You asked tough and fun questions, and I enjoyed the challenge of answering them! Thanks again for the opportunity to be on your fab blog. xo

* * *

To receive alerts of Eden’s new releases and special offers, please sign up to her mailing list and follow her on Amazon.

Additionally, you can engage with her on her blog, and find her active on Twitter @edenbaylee and Facebook.

Buy books from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Baylee/e/B004Z8Q6UQ/

* * *

An Excerpt from Eden Baylee’s A Snake in Paradise:

Curled in a fetal position in the center of a king-sized bed, a woman trembled as emotions bubbled inside her chest. An intricate array of lines covered her back and danced atop her skin each time she breathed. She pursed her lips to take in short, shallow gulps of air, fearful that her own tears might choke her.

Don’t trust the silence, not yet. Keep quiet.

The cool air of the room settled into her like rot, and she was thankful to have her nakedness cocooned under a sheet. The only real clue to her fear was an imperceptible quivering of her thighs.

A shooting pain stabbed her stomach. She stiffened, terrified she might vomit. Too afraid to reposition her head, she had use of only one ear while the other pressed painfully into the mattress. It was folded over, and it hurt with a continuous thrumming. The exposed ear pricked up each time voices passed by her door. The noise grew and then faded, coming at her in waves between the silence.

She inched her right arm away from her to ease the numbness. The immediate relief felt like a victory. She wiggled her fingers and toes, clenched her thighs and butt.

Was this what it felt like to be in shock? Disconnected until the brain commanded a limb to move?

Seconds ticked by, maybe minutes, and then some unknown cue told her enough time had passed. She whispered, “Hello?” and braced herself for a response.

Nothing.

She said it again, louder this time, waited.

Silence.

She gasped for air to quell her nausea.

“Are you there?”

Nothing.

Her voice ascended. “Are you there … you sick bastard?”

Nothing.

She rolled on her back. The glow of her folded ear subsided, and she regained stereo.

Relief.

* * *

Thank you everyone, for checking out Eden Baylee’s journey into The Bog Zone for an entirely off-the-cuff author interview . . . much more to come, but I need your help to share the news with your reading fiends . . . why not recommend A Snake in Paradise to your local Book Club? That would be incredibly kind.

ever,

Justin

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my blog and sign up for my newsletter (to the right), and Follow me on Twitter or Facebook!

Lastly, for Apple/Mac IT, WordPress wrangling and multimedia Publishing/Editing Services, please contact the company that I use: Convenient Integration.

 

If you’d like to be considered for A Bog Zone interview, become a part of this series by commenting on your fellow author’s spiral into the zone. Your input is crucial . . . and, please let me know what you think below . . . Eden would appreciate any creative thoughts. Share and share alike.