Eden Baylee

I'd like to introduce to Eden Baylee. She is the author of a paired anthology set, Fall into Winter and Spring into Summer. I like the titles of your paired anthologies. Is there a reason you wrote them in the order you did? 

I wrote Fall into Winter first. The book was published in December 2010, but I wanted to launch it for Valentine’s Day February 2011, which made more sense for a book of erotica. I always knew I would complete all the seasons with my books, so Spring into Summer was the next one.

Most of your writing seems to be in short form (stories in an anthology, flash fiction). Are you planning on writing something longer or sticking with your strength?

I love the short story genre and thought it would be the best way to expose readers to my writing. My next book will be a full-length novel because I’m ready for the challenge. It’s the natural progression.

Figures that makes her unnatural. Doesn't mind.  You feature other artists on your blog. How do you choose who/when to feature someone?

I’ve been featuring authors since I started my blog November 2011. Author interviews are done Fridays and I also have author promotions, which highlight new book releases. Doing interviews is one of the best ways to learn about people, and I’m genuinely interested in other writers. My interviews focus on the person behind the writing.

As for who and when I feature someone on my blog – it’s an organic process. I meet many people via social media and invite those I feel a connection with. There’s no real formula, and it’s never tit for tat, but I try very hard to help out those who’ve been kind to me and whose work I respect.

I completely understand. I'm always eager to meet new people, and asking them a bunch of questions makes getting to know them easy. I was overwhelmed by the reciprocation I found on my first release and I can't wait to return the favour again. What social media platform have you found is the most beneficial to you when writing? Is there another that is better for reaching your audience?

I’m in so many places that I forget where I am most days, but my mainstays are my blog and Twitter. My blog highlights other authors, features my writing, and allows me to connect to readers. Twitter is where I socialize and meet new people.

You have self-published your anthologies. Did you shop around for a publisher or know right away that you wanted to do it yourself?

I wrote the stories of Fall into Winter to be sold separately to traditional publishers. When my submissions were rejected, I decided to package four of my stories into one book as an anthology. Publishers liked my writing but wanted me to change things I wasn’t willing to do. For a control freak like me, indie publishing was the way to go.

Complete control is the ultimate perk of indie publishing. I just don't trust myself to do it right. pictures a book with the cover upside down. What was the hardest part of self-publishing? What was the most fulfilling?

The most challenging part of self-publishing is doing it all. You need to have the time, energy, and personality for it. I consider myself the CEO of a publishing company—I just happen to be publishing my own books. The most fulfilling is also doing it all. I have no one to blame if I fail, and conversely, I love the satisfaction of knowing I succeeded doing it my way.

Your own publishing company. That is a great way to think of it. What's next? What are you working on now?

I’m putting together a book of flash fiction and poetry, which should be out by yearend. My first full-length novel is scheduled for next year. I have some other joint projects but don’t have enough details about them at this time. Of course, the promotion machine continues for both Spring into Summer and Fall into Winter. Let’s just say I’m never bored!

Thanks, Angelica, for the opportunity to speak to your readers. It’s much appreciated.

Thank you for stopping in! To get a look into Spring into Summer, Eden has shared some synopses with us.

In Spring into Summer, a collection of emotionally-charged erotic novellas, four women explore their sexual limits, marked by love, lust, and loss.
Life for Claire Pelletier is changed forever when she meets a professor who teaches her a most important lesson in "A Season for Everything."
Evelyn Sutton goes in search of a man in "Unlocking the Mystery" and discovers the key to her own heart.
With an open mind, Ava Connors attends a party but wonders if reality can ever live up to her hottest fantasies in "Summer Solstice."
In "The Lottery," Sierra Zhao sacrifices herself to numerous men to help a friend, fully aware of the consequences.
With locations in London, Dublin, Cape Cod, and Bangkok, these four women will seek pleasure to alter their lives and push their sexual boundaries.

You can find Eden on Goodreads, Twitter (@edenbaylee), Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest.