Welcome Willsin Rowe ~ Erotician and cover Artist........
i have read and reviewed several of your books with two of you books impacting me so profoundly that they have been added to my All Time Favorite Books. So let's share who you are with my readers.
(Readers don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of the article for my reviews of his books and some of his cover art)
If we
were to sneak up on you writing what would the scene look like?
Oh,
nothing too special or challenging. Structurally and geographically it’s generalized chaos
because my desk is right in the heart of the house–in the corner of the
dining room and butting up against the open plan kitchen! I live in the
sub-tropics where the summers are long and the winters are springs, so the
scariest thing you’d
see would be my naked torso!
As
for the writing process… well that would depend on whether I’ve been a good boy and
turned off my wi-fi! Mostly I get ideas written out by using Write Or Die (a
timed, punishment-based writing app), and do the refinement later. So I suppose
you’d see me typing
really quickly, and mouthing the words as I type them, with the occasional
head-smack or pause-and-snack break.
Which came first the author or the
cover artist?
I was an author for three unproductive years before I began
making cover art. I say unproductive because I was still finding my feet and
only produced two books in that time. But I’d been drawing and writing from an
early age. I focused on art in high school, but never stopped idly writing
stuff —usually humorous works.
Writing
took precedence when I realized I had more skill with words than with creating
visuals. (And even though I’m better-known for my cover art, I still do think writing is my
stronger skill. It’s
just not as well-known.)
When did you know you wanted to be an
author?
Oh,
since back when my age matched my shoe size! Seriously, I was writing stuff in
Grade 3 which earned praise, and the buzz it gave me to put words together like
that was addictive. I remember at 10 years of age having a discussion with my
grandfather about it… which segues nicely into the next question!
What obstacle did you have to overcome to make this happen?
The
discussion at age 10 which I had with my grandfather was indicative of the kind
of obstacle which gets put in front of authors. When he asked me what I wanted
to do I told him I wanted to be a writer. “You can’t
do that. You’ll starve.” Anyone who strives to
achieve in a non-standard career such as the arts, or even those with a
business idea which hasn’t
been tried before, know the potential sting of those comments. The main step
that really needs to be taken in those cases is simply to remember that if they’re a friend or family
member, they probably mean well but don’t understand. If they’re a stranger or casual acquaintance, then what they think of
you, and what you’re
doing, is none of your business.
What is one thing you'd like your readers to get from your
books?
More
than anything, I love the idea they’ll have a visceral response to my words, and the concepts they
represent. Perhaps even be left breathless for a short while. It’s something you rarely,
if ever, know as an author, unlike as a stand-up comedian for example. But to
find out I’ve built a
sentence, or a paragraph, which has evoked an emotional response in a reader is
magical.
Two of your books made a huge
impact on me and are my All Time Favorite Books.
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
1. When you wrote This,
I Can Do I was so deeply moved and
my opinion of my body was profoundly affected. To this day I remember this book
above all books I have read and it still brings tears of joy to my eyes. What brought you to the
point of writing about this subject?
Firstly,
it still touches me deeply to hear you say that. I feel blessed as an author to
have readers who understand my work so deeply, and who hold it so dearly.
It
was a range of elements, really. Firstly, I’d ventured into the concept of writing erotic romance featuring
a long-term couple with children back in 2007. It was raw, and it was more like
flash fiction, but within that story I made certain to highlight certain
aspects which, at least at that time, were not staples of romantic heroines.
Extra flesh. Stretch marks. Wrinkles. The changes wrought by time and
child-bearing. The marks of development which add visual interest (and to me,
sexiness) to a woman’s
body.
So
with “This, I Can Do”, I dipped into the
same pool. I’ve received great
feedback for the story because it’s told in the heroine’s point of view, and because it touches on so many of the
elements we’re all taught to
feel insecure about: getting bigger, getting older, losing our carefree nature.
In a society which still worships young slenderness, it’s easy to lose sight of
the importance of experience and experiences. I wanted to do a little to
redress that imbalance.
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
2. In your paranormal erotica book, Indigo, you have some
beautiful musical scenes between Indigo and Ray. Your musical visionary between
a musician and her instrument brought about all the longings and desires
invoked via music. Are you a musician because I seriously went to uTube to listen
to the music described in this book?
I am
a musician, actually. Music was what introduced me to my wife, in fact! I’ve played bass guitar
in bands since 1988, but I also did some study of music in 88-89 (the course
where I met Mrs. Willsin). The inspiration for weaving the music, and the
instrument, into the story so intensely came from the simple fact that music
can hit people so hard emotionally, with or without words. Some of the
classical works which have become almost clichés thanks to movies can still draw such a deep emotional response
from me that it’s
almost embarrassing at times! Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, for example. It has been abused for decades
now for comedic purposes or in ways which work because they’re inappropriate (such
as the Die Hard films). And the main motif is so simple as to be almost
child-like. Yet to me, that’s exactly why it hits so hard. It infuses straight to your
bloodstream.
Also,
I’ve seen first
hand how the right combination of player and instrument becomes something
stronger than a marriage, and closer to an obsession. Though it’s almost metaphorical
the relationship Indigo has with Ray, her viola, was vital to the flow of the
story. And could also be a big part of what might yield a sequel!
Can you share what this year will look like as far as new books
and cover art coming out?
I set
specific goals at the start of the year. 1) to write words every single day (so
far, so good!). 2) to write 500,000 raw words this year (being a leap year will
help a tiny bit… heh). There are others but those were the two essentials.
I
hope to get at least six titles out under this name, and perhaps some more
under my female pen name, Abi Aiken (which I only now use for co-writing).
Cover
art… well, that’s a pretty busy part of
my life. I’m still making
covers for the amazing Milly Taiden, and expect I’ll probably pump out a couple dozen more for her before the year
is out (the woman is a writing machine!) I’ve also just started working with Elle Thorne on a few series of
covers, so those should keep me nice and busy. And some other authors who are
just starting out, or who have only been publishing for a year or two, like
Sassie Lewis and Chandra Crawford. It’s exciting to have a range of work to go on with, in several
genres.
What is the most unusual thing about you that others don’t
know and you are willing to share?
I don’t know if it’s hugely unusual, but I
also do a lot of writing just for fun. Often puerile or silly. I have a small
collection of ribald poems I’m planning to publish (including one in the style of Dr. Seuss!)
I’ve presented some
other word-play-based writings on Facebook over the past six months, too. I
used to post a “school
run song” every day. When I was
about to head out to get my sons from school, I’d copy the lyrics to a popular song and then alter them to
reflect the fact I was heading out on the school run. People would then guess
what song it was. I also posted “wankerised lyrics”–the lyrics from a well-known song, re-worked into the most convoluted
form possible. My friends would then try to guess what song it was.
Oh,
and I can lick my own elbow.
 |
| REVIEW |
|
| REVIEW |
 |
| REVIEW |
 |
| REVIEW |
(Readers keep Scrolling Down the Page for some of his Cover Art)
I have done many things over and over. I have done even more things only once. I have half-done more things than I care to admit.
I don't yet know if I can ski, speak Italian or keep calm in a life-threatening situation, but I have my suspicions.
I play bass in a swampy blues band. I love to sing and don't let my voice get in the way.
I am intelligent but not sensible. I am polite but inappropriate. I am passionate but fearful. I am honest but reticent. I am neither stylish enough nor scruffy enough to be cool.
~ Find The Author At ~ Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
 |
| CHECK IT OUT |
~ Find Sportochick At ~
I so very much enjoyed your questions, Teri, and I thank you for making me think outside the square a little! It's always an honor to be here with, and I greatly appreciate the opportunity. You go above and beyond in your work with authors.
ReplyDeleteThank you Willsin for the compliments and I really love sharing authors with the world.
Delete