Hello Darklings,

This month, we bring you a most delightful interview with the one and only ClarissaNorth She is the author of the steamy, age-gap, summer romance: Secrets, Lies, and Summer Skies and many other stories!

AfterDark Team: Thank you for availing your time Clarissa! For those meeting you for the first time, tell us more about yourself.

Thank you so much for asking me to take part!

Hi everyone, I'm Clarissa and I'm from the UK. I'm in my thirties, have an addiction to buying mechanical keyboards, I'm mostly fuelled by coffee and sarcasm. I started writing when I was about 7 or 8 years old and finished my first novel when I was about 17. It will never see the light of day!

Team Afterdark likes to play with danger. So, here goes our question. If ClarissaNorth was a character in your books, who'd they be and why?

I'm not sure I'm anywhere near as exciting as most of the heroines in your amazing catalogue of featured books. I'd probably be the quiet author who spends her days in the local cafe until she stumbles into the path of a dangerous mob boss or a vampire, probably by doing something clumsy!

We want to know about your hobbies...

When I'm not reading and writing, I like to sew. I studied creative textiles in college and wanted to be a fashion designer for a while. I'm a miniaturist. My grandfather used to build doll houses, so I spent a lot of my childhood in sheds with tools and woodworking. As an adult, I've renovated two dolls houses and hand crafted most of the furniture inside. I also needle felt, draw, paint, sculpt, and make jewellery. I'd love to learn 3D printing and get a kiln someday but I think my spouse might lose what little sanity and patience he has left for my hobbies!

Can you tell us about your favorite movie or tv series?

My favourite TV series is definitely the BBC's version of Pride and Prejudice. Most recently mentioned in the Barbie movie. I felt very attacked because I watch it at least twice a year! I grew up watching Jane Austen adaptations.

I have a LOT of movies (several hundred) but I keep going back to Dracula. The accents are diabolical but I love a dramatic gothic romance, and I have a lifelong crush on Gary Oldman.

Do you have a favorite food or cuisine?

I love trying different cuisines and have had some gorgeous Turkish, Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Sichuan, Indian, and more in recent months.

My favourite meal is probably the Christmas Dinner my spouse makes every year. Not just because I don't need to go into the kitchen, but because he makes a mean roast. Slow cooker red wine beef, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets (in the uk these are wrapped with bacon instead of pastry), stuffing, veggies, honey roast parsnips, and Yorkshire pudding.

I could probably eat Yorkshire pudding every day if I had no self-control.

Your profile mentions your love of tea and cat petting. Do you have pets? What is your favorite tea?

I have two cats! Nova is a tuxedo cat with golden eyes and wonky legs, and Luna is a thicc girl with black fur and a wonky brain. We got them both free to save them from going to shelters.

Aww... Wish we could see them!

Wish granted. Meet my Cattens. 

You are awesome, thank you! Now, tell us more about your tea preferences. 

I usually drink chamomile tea, but there's a company here called Bird and Blend which makes the most amazing loose leaf blends. My favourite is called Salted Caramel Lebkuchen and it tastes like caramel Christmas biscuits in a mug. They only make it once a year so I always stock up.

They also ship internationally. Treat yourselves!

Do you have preferred go-to snacks or beverages to fuel your writing?

I'm not much of a snacker when I write, but I always start my day with about 500ml of black coffee, switch to chamomile during the day, then sip mint hot chocolate in the evening. I don't drink a lot of alcohol, but I do sometimes have whisky or red wine while I'm writing.

Some people have places that boost their creativity or writing. Do you have one?

I like to take walks through the country lanes when the weather is nice if I feel blocked with my writing. It helps me to clear my head so I can sit back down and try again when I get home. It's beautiful in England in the summer.

Speaking of books... for those who are new to you, tell us more about the types of stories you write.

I'm an eclectic writer so you'll find a few genres in my back catalogue both here and on Radish Fiction (I'm ClarissaNorth there too).

They include contemporary young adult fiction (Worst Impressions, a Pride and Prejudice adaptation), contemporary adult romance (There are many Flowers in Tokyo, There are many Flowers in Seoul, and Second Chance Summer on Radish Fiction), horror short stories (Dark Reflections and It's Only A Game), comedy paranormal (And Then You Die), and paranormal young adult romance (Academy of Beasts on Radish Fiction).

In terms of erotica, my latest is Secrets, Lies and Summer Skies on Wattpad, and you can read Seduced by the Penthouse Playboy on Radish Fiction.

I also took part in the WritersConnX Monstrous Love anthology. Unfortunately, MIXERS AND DRAGONS was a little too spicy for Wattpad's taste so all I can tell you is that it had a mixer, a single lady, her dragon boss, and a steamy encounter on a balcony.

Hmm... that last one sounds like it'd be quite the treat! Tell us, Clarissa, do you have a favorite book among the titles you've written?

My favourite is probably Academy of Beasts because I first came up with the idea when I was a teen and I've been trying to do it justice ever since. I've always loved the dark and dangerous world of vampires. I'm rewriting this story with my agent to hopefully traditionally publish it in the future.

You are an experienced and accomplished erotica writer. Do you have any advise for writers who are exploring this sub-genre and are feeling unsure where or how to start?

As with all genres, it really helps to read existing books and wattpad stories to understand how to structure your story. In an erotica, the sex scenes need to drive the story as much as everything else. They serve as a means of strengthening the bonds between your characters.

Many writers focus on the physical aspect of an erotic scene. Remember that there are other senses you can reference, that much of the tension in the scene occurs during the foreplay and build up rather than just 'the act', and you need to describe the emotional reactions of your characters.

The duration of a sex scene also varies per writer. Of course, it's not really erotica if you fade to black, but you may find that some writers will dedicate a few pages to a sex scene, or a few paragraphs, or they might be goblins like me and have up to two chapters per encounter. There's no wrong answer when it comes to the duration of the scene, as long as it's engaging, enticing, and helps readers to connect to the characters.

Also, try to avoid flowery euphemisms for genitalia. No one wants to read about someone's bountiful lady garden or a man's pork sword. This is a chance for you to use all that filthy language your parents told you not to utter at family dinners when you were a teenager.

And please, please, please understand how biology works.

I've read some very questionable things in my life. Google is your friend. But you know, maybe in incognito mode.

LOL. That's great advice and also quite funny. It makes us just want more from you. So, do you have a teaser for something new to come, or what can your readers look forward to?

I'm working on a couple of exciting things right now. By which I mean I have over 70 projects on the whiteboard on my wall please send help and coffee.

I mentioned already that I'm rewriting my vampire series with my agent. She was very excited when I pitched to her so I hope I have good news for you all soon.

I've also teamed up with a couple of other author friends from Wattpad and we're working on a TOP SECRET PROJECT. I can't tell you too much about it now but we should be launching this year on Amazon.

Expect monsters, erotica, and a city full of possibilities and stories. I'll be publishing there as Reina Frost, and if you want to keep up with all the news you can find me on Instagram under clarissa.north, reinafrostauthor, and monstersofcrossgate .

Thank you Clarissa, for sharing your wisdom and letting us and your readers know more about you. 

Thank you again so much for inviting me for this interview, I had a blast!

There you have it, darklings. Follow ClarissaNorth to read more from her and learn a few tips about writing amazing erotica scenes!