Molly:
Can you tell me a little about the genre where you are writing your work?

Maria:
My work contains a lot of fantasy. There's also a lot about children in my writings, although what's been published have been more of that directed to the adult audience. I think my publisher (Dead End Street LLC) was looking for something in the erotica genre when I ubmitted my first story, and it just happened that that story was one of the "juicey" ones.

If you're wondering if I write under a specific genre, well the answer is "no"..but I have an open attitude about sex and erotogenic-role choices between consenting adults, and this is reflected in my writing.

Molly:
What did you find first write your book or seek out an agent or a publisher?

Maria:
Wrote the stories...first started seeking out a publisher about eight years ago, and at that time I stuck mainly with magazine editors & pubs 'cause what I was writing at the time was short fiction. But these folks all turned me down.

When my beloved one (hubby) got us hooked on the internet he suggested I try some of the non-vanity ebook publications, and that's how I found Dead End Street. I sent in a story just for the heck of it (I don't ordinarily ignore writers guidelines) and they asked to see a few more stories. Well, I guess they liked what they read, because they decided to publish the stories as a collection.

Molly:
I know you write under a pseudonym is there a reason why you chose Maria Osborne Perry as your pen-name?

Maria:
Its not quite a pseudonym...I use my middle name Maria because there's so many in my family who share my first name and really, I felt one or two of them just might not want to be asked, "are you the erotica author?"..and I include my maiden name, Osborne, as I know there's already a lady author out there by the name of Maria Perry...and Perry is my married name of which I'm proud to use. When I found out I was going to be published I played with the idea of using some exotic-sounding pen-name like "Taboo" or "Erotique" (maybe I'll hold onto those two in case I have another daughter..hee-hee).

Molly:
What does your daily writing life look like?

Maria:
Ah, goddess..well, I usually write in the afternoons when the older kids are available to watch the four & three year old. I try to squeeze in the housework and other daily living necessaries during the other hours. My husband is my task-master; he makes sure I stick at least to my writing routine, and he loves to cook, which helps a lot!

Molly:
What are you writing at the moment?

Maria:
A novel implementing the Norse legends of the swan-maidens and the vampire priests of the dark god, Loki. Set in a fantasy realm as well as Saxon Germany in the time of Charles Martel and the crusader Boniface. Not exactly what would be termed a romance, its more of an erotic storytale with dark characters as well as a heroine and hero.

Bio info:
I grew up in the South; my dad was in the Air Force and we traveled around a lot due to this. I live now in East Tennessee with my husband Robert and four children -Evelyn, Byron, Autumn and Wolfgang and our cherished lady cat, Whitey.

I am an ordained minister of the Universalist Life Church as well as a priestess of Freya and practice the Seith path; its much like the Tantric religious practices (and no, it has nothing to do with the invented Sith religion of "Star Wars" fame!)

I have been a homemaker as well as a priestess, and believe the role of homemaking and childraising are two of the most important and honorable jobs a woman can endeavor .. and look forward to the day when women can again say to the world "I am a housewife" without fear of reproach from her peers who have elected to work outside the home.

I started writing when I was a kid; wrote a lot of poetry and a couple of novels -nothing that should see the light of day!- but I found writing the best way to express my innermost thoughts and feelings even then. During my first marriage I contributed editorials of a local newspaper, The Kingport-Times News, for which I received the Star award for excellence in communication, and started writing short stories.

For eight years I submitted stories to editors and publishers; with only two interested replies .. one rejection came when the publisher apologized, saying his art staff were arguing over how to illustrate the story (it was a magazine much like Heavy Metal). The other kind rejection came from Marion Zimmer Bradley, who wrote me personally when she returned my submissions. She said that while the stories didn't fit what her magazine's editors were looking for she enjoyed them herself and suggested I extend them to novel length.

(I didn't do this, as I feel the stories were complete in themselves, but was felt quite honored she enjoyed them).

Molly:
Maria! Thank you for a most informative interview. I look forward to reading your upcoming book.