Welcome Lyrical and self-published author, Lux Zakari!

Welcome, Lux! Great to have you here ready and willing to answer my interrogating questions...well, sort of interrogating, nothing to be scared of!

Anyway, off we go...

1) Did you set any goals for 2012?

I did! I wanted to self-publish and do the cover for my newest release, Wild Arcana, and I’m happy to be able to scratch that off the list. I also intend to write and release two other books this year, and even venture out of the erotica/erotic romance genre.

2) What is the best part of the writing process for you?

I really enjoy the creative problem-solving aspect—getting stuck on some detail and then how the answer eventually strikes me, often at the strangest, most surprising time. I find that very satisfying. I also use writing to best help me describe and remember the world around me.

3) The worst part?

Receiving negative feedback always stings, especially when you’ve written something that really puts yourself out there. But when then happens, I try to ingest the critique logically: Who’s giving the feedback? Could anything that person is going through attributed to their thoughts of the story? Is that person even your audience? More importantly, when you get down to the bones of it, is what that person is saying actually something of value that will improve the story? Consider all possibilities.

4) Favourite author/s & book/s?

I always say Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity is my all-time top favorite. Most recently, I polished off what’s available in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. It’s not something I normally would’ve picked up, but now I’m despairing that I have to wait years until the next one!

5) Tell us about your latest release?

Absolutely—here’s the blurb for Wild Arcana:

Five friends. One tarot card reading. Zero expectations—until fate stepped in.

SHANE, the movie star. He arrives at a rehabilitation clinic for his sex addiction only to be enticed in ways he never thought possible...
TREY, the contractor. He looks after his friend’s deeply troubled stepsister under the guise of remodeling his New York City high-rise, but soon faces temptations that test the bonds of friendship and his self-control...
KRI, the Japanese heiress. Regrets haunt her when she learns she’s pregnant and must leave her lover at the insistence of her strict, traditional father...
BRAND, the high-profile drug dealer. He wrestles with demons of his own after his boyfriend—a cop—ends their relationship over his questionable career path...
DISA, the wayward tennis player. She has her sights set on talk show host Jules Rohan with no idea just how much truth lies in his bad-boy reputation...

Their journey through the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana in this high-society erotic novel reveals that nothing in life is left to chance—and they’re more entangled in each other’s lives than they ever could have imagined.

6) Tease us with a short excerpt:

They entered the high-rise, kicking their shoes off by the door, and Trey moved further into the living space, turning on all the lights. Her arms crossed, Marisol watched him expectantly, still with that amused look on her face. He forced a casual grin. “Well, girl, I better get some sleep.” He faked a yawn and a stretch. “Happy birthday.”

“You’re not seriously going to bed,” she said, her tone playful. “You can’t ply me with tequila all night then leave me awake and all by myself on my birthday. It’s not even midnight. You have to stay up with me.” She pouted. “Otherwise I’ll be bored and lonely.”

It took Trey every ounce of strength he had not to take her lower lip in between his teeth. “What is it you want to do?” he asked, both anticipating and dreading her answer.

She dropped onto the couch like the Queen of Sheba. “Let’s talk about how you find the will to get up every morning and jam that pole up your butt. You hide behind this laidback persona, but really, you’re the most uptight person I’ve ever met.”

Trey stared at her, speechless. The last thing he considered himself was uptight. He knew better, and he reminded himself to consider the source. Of course Marisol would find him stodgy. She was freaking nuts and had no idea he was staying in the high-rise to ensure she didn’t completely lose her mind. Still, it bothered him to no end that she thought this of him.

She watched him, clearly expecting an answer, and he shook his head. “That’s it. I’m officially declaring an end to your birthday. Goodnight.”

“Don’t be a party pooper. We didn’t even get to talk about how you kissed me tonight.”

He froze in the doorway and turned toward her. “What?”

“You heard me,” she murmured, moving toward him.

Trey swallowed hard and forced himself to remain calm, his brain unable to comprehend that the conversation he’d been both fearing and looking forward to was actually happening. “Fine, we’ll talk about it if you really wanna go there.” He crossed his arms, hoping for a stern, no-nonsense expression. “But for the record, you were the one who kissed me.”

“How could I forget?” She took another step closer, her fingertips dancing along the edge of a nearby armchair. “I’d also like to add to the record that I really want to do it again.”

His breathing hitched, and he no longer focused on her words but rather on her hand, which moved to his belt buckle then up to his stomach, right beneath his navel. He willed his body not to react to her touch, but he fought a losing battle.

“And if I’m not mistaken,” Marisol said, pressing her body against his, her fingernails gently scraping his neck as she moved her arms around his shoulders, “I think I’m not the only one.”

7) What is your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine?

There are several characters running around in Wild Arcana. I don’t like picking favorites, but I really enjoyed writing about Brand. Being a drug dealer, he has a skeptical career path but he’s hard not to like; even when he’s miserable, it’s clear he cares for his friends and he does want to do right. And I love his friendship with Disa and their nasty but obviously playful banter; that was amusing to write.

8) What’s next?

Next, I plan to release a novel titled Single, Cool and Fine: How to Get Laid as an Ex-Teen Idol about a musician in the throes of a divorce who realizes that, despite all the girls screaming for him for the past fifteen years, he has no idea how to date, so he turns to reading fan fiction penned about himself for ideas. It was one of the most fun stories I’ve ever written, and I think that it shows! I’m also working on my first non-erotic novel and pondering creating a series of illustrated writing prompt books.

9) Tell me where you write?

Wherever and whenever I get the chance! I like sneaking it between all the other things I do.

10) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

I would like to be well-versed in writing lots of different things! I like the room to move around, try a variety of avenues—I think it’s important to do that so you’re always growing.

11) Where can we find you?

On Facebook, Twitter, Good Reads and my site!

Lux is ready and waiting for your questions and comments - don't keep her waiting! :)