Born and raised in Upstate New York, Erin moved to Nashville, Tennessee eight years ago. No longer a Yankee, and yet not a true Southerner, she remains somewhere between the two, and is happy to claim both places as home. Her upcoming work includes two novels from Bold Strokes Books, Sequestered Hearts in May 2007 and Fully Involved in December 2007, and a short story in Erotic Interludes 5: Road Games also in May 2007. For more information visit www.erindutton.com

Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Writing has always been a part of my life. It’s the extent of it that has varied. When I was younger I wrote poetry and short stories, but I did it for my own enjoyment. I didn’t share it with a lot of people.
It wasn’t until about a year and a half ago that I challenged myself to write a manuscript. I had been writing some short stories. Well I say short, but when one of them went well past 50 pages, I decided to see if I could do more. Thus began my first full-length manuscript.
Writing has always been a way for me to express myself emotionally, so I think on some level I’ve always thought of myself as a writer. It wasn’t until I signed that first contract that I began to think that just maybe I could be an author.

What were some of your favourite authors/books as a child?
As a child, I was a big Dr. Seuss fan, especially Green Eggs and Ham. I loved that book!

Which authors do you consider a big influence on your own work?
I enjoy reading all types of books, intrigue, romance and fantasy. But in my writing I tend toward romance. So, for obvious reasons, my favorite lesbian authors have influenced my work the most. To name a few: Radclyffe, Gerri Hill, Karin Kallmaker, Georgia Beers and JLee Meyer.

Your first book, Sequestered Hearts, is slated for release from Bold Strokes Books in May 2007. What were the highs and lows of writing the book?
I love the beginning of a new story because I have so many ideas in my head. There are just so many possibilities. I tend to be very distracted during this time. Another high was the first time I sat down and read through it post-edit. It’s now finally a much more polished, finished story. I think that’s the first time it felt like a book. Oh, and seeing the cover for the first time. Sheri did an awesome job with this cover. I don’t know if it’s just because it’s my first book—I hope I feel this great for every one—but it seems that every new step feels like an incredible high.
There haven’t really been a lot of lows. I certainly have times when I’m less productive. And there were a few scenes that gave me a hard time, I didn’t quite feel like I was getting across what I envisioned. But they worked themselves out in editing.

Tell us a little about the book – where did the inspiration for the story come from?
Sequestered Hearts is the story of an up-and-coming artist who suddenly disappears from a formerly active social life, and the journalist who is assigned to find out why. When they meet, both women have their reasons for being less than candid. But in spite of those reasons, they are drawn together—until secrets come out.
It started as two scenes in my head, which ended up being the opening scenes in the book. They were so vivid initially that when I started exploring the characters the story just evolved.

Once the book had been accepted for publication, what did you find most enjoyable/difficult about the editing process?
I really found the whole process enjoyable. I like seeing my work change and grow and I already feel like the first book has made my next first draft stronger. That’s a great feeling! There is so much personal satisfaction in working on my next book, or short story and realizing I’m not making those errors in craft as I might have made before.
I’ve never really been edited before, though. It’s completely different from having a friend read my work and give feedback, even a friend I trust to be totally honest. So, I realized that I have a little more ego than I thought I did. For example, looking at a scene that has just come back from the editor could bother me, if I let it. It sometimes takes a conscious effort to remind myself that it’ll all be worth it when I hold that book in my hand and know that it is absolutely the best I could make it. Knowing how much pleasure I get from reading a good book, I want to make every effort to give that to anyone who reads my book. And ultimately, that really is the point.

How do you approach re-writes?
I am re-writing constantly. During the writing of my first draft, I constantly go back over the previous chapters. Sometimes I am just tweaking language or specific parts of the scene. And sometimes the changes are intended to fall in line with a new idea I got later in the manuscript.
So when it comes to editing, re-writes don’t really bother me. It’s just part of the process. I try to approach every one as objectively as possible. If it makes the story stronger there’s no problem. I feel like if I’m really committed to a concept then I should be able to articulate why and then it’s just a matter of talking it out with my editor.

Your second book, Fully Involved, will be released in December 2007. Hw, if any, has the writing process changed for you from writing your first book to the second?
I think I am slightly more organized now, though I doubt I will ever be completely. I don’t outline. I’m too impatient to start writing. At the start of a story, I’ve just got a collection of scenes. So I begin by writing down those scenes and taking some notes on the characters. It’s not until I get to know the characters better than I can truly figure out what their story is all about. The root of the process has been the same for Fully Involved. I think I’m just streamlining it, eliminating some of the things that didn’t work as well for me the first time and incorporating what I’ve learned.

Can you give us a little background on how the story came to be?
The evolution of Fully Involved was more deliberate than Sequestered Hearts. In my work, I spend a lot of time dealing with the day-to-day operations of the local Police and Fire Departments. Radclyffe and I had talked once about the possibilities of a firefighter story. So that was in the back of my mind when I started thinking about what I wanted to do next. I still wasn’t sure if it was the time yet, but then this character, Reid, just popped into my head. I could see her so clearly, completely dressed in turnout gear. Once again it seems like that first scene practically wrote itself. When I had enough of the story for a proposal I wrote it up and sent it in. Bold Strokes accepted it and when I finished the first draft of Sequestered Hearts I immediately started on it. I had been thinking about Reid for a couple of months by then, so I was anxious to get into her head.

How do you approach starting a new book? Do you have a specific set of rules or is it different for each story/novel?
It seems like I start thinking about the next story about three-quarters of the way through the last one. At least, that has been the case so far. I don’t let myself start writing the next draft until the current one is done, but I do start taking notes on characters and scenes. I’m just now reaching that point again, still working on Fully Involved but my mind is wandering to some new ideas as well. There’s a new character that has been pulling at me lately, inspired by a couple of strong women I know. We’ll see where that goes.

You contributed a short story to the forthcoming Road Games anthology from Bold Strokes Books. Planning on writing more short fiction?
Oh yeah, definitely. I really enjoy writing short fiction. It’s a wonderful diversion and I’ve found I can learn a lot from it. I feel like I’m still developing my writing so much. And with short fiction, every word really does count. I love the challenge of trying to tell the richest story I can within a shorter length piece. Plus, writing erotica adds the element of finding that balance between the physical scene and the underlying plot. I really want to be able to do that.

What does the term 'lesbian fiction' mean to you?
Generally, ‘lesbian fiction’ would be a work that features lesbian protagonists. More important than how we define it, however, is what it provides. It can be romantic and uplifting or bittersweet and painful or anywhere in between. But either way, it empowers us. It’s so great to read fiction that is representative of our community and the women I see around me (or those I want to see around me).
I didn’t have access to that when I was younger. I still enjoy reading Nora Roberts, Jeffery Deaver and Robin Cook. But now I also get to pick up books featuring lesbians that are just as engaging and entertaining.

Is there anything you'd like to see more/less of in the genre?
More books! I’m a fast reader, so if everyone could just write faster…
Actually, I’m very excited about the direction lesbian fiction has taken in recent years. The volume of quality books has increased, as has the range of themes. I would love to see things continue along those lines. As a reader, it’s great to go to my local bookstore and see a diverse selection.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?
I really don’t. God, I hope I didn’t just jinx myself. With both books, I’ve found I go through cycles. At times the story flows almost faster than I can type, and I’m pretty quick on a keyboard. Other times it takes more work. But it’s still there. I spend a lot of time thinking about my characters during idle moments. The drive in to work is great for this. Scenes play out in my head. I keep a separate file where I just write out scenes. Some of them, in my mind, already have a place in the story and others may not. So if I find myself stumped while looking at the manuscript, I go to those scenes and work on fleshing them out or writing some new ones.

If you were a recipe, what would it be?
What a great question! I asked a friend about this and she said I would be a pot pie. Tough on the outside, but once you break through the crust there's variety and substance in every bite. Plus it's warm and toasty!
Tell us something about Erin Dutton no one else knows…
I don’t like crowds. Really. I avoid them as much as I can.

How has the Internet in general helped you in terms of connecting with your readers and other authors?
The Internet has been instrumental in the growth of lesbian fiction. Personally, I grew up in a small town. I couldn’t even tell you where the closest GLBT bookstore was and mainstream bookstores in that area didn’t carry a good selection, if any. So, online booksellers have really helped to expand the market.
Publisher websites, author websites and sites such as this, give readers an opportunity to learn more about their favorite authors and what’s coming up.
In my experience authors of lesbian fiction are more accessible to their readers than mainstream authors. Not only can we be found through email and websites, but the various Yahoo groups as well.
Speaking from my experience, there is a wonderful Yahoo group that was started by Bold Strokes readers, bsbauthorsconnect. A new author is featured almost every week and is available for a weeklong question and answer session. It’s so cool to be able to read a book and then have the author generously make themselves available for an entire week to discuss their work.

What's a typical writing day like for you?
For whatever reason, the past year was such a crazy year for me that I’m finally getting to the point again where I actually have a “typical” writing day. I’ll come home from work and spend 2-4 hours on my laptop, sometimes writing and sometimes editing. I can’t write in absolute quiet; that is so distracting to me. Usually I’ll have some music on. In fact, I have a playlist in Itunes specifically for each project—to set the mood I’m looking for. My weekends really depend on what I’m working on, what else is happening and of course, how close I am to my deadline. I will at least spend the better part of one day working, if not both.

If you could be any character from any book, who would it be?
Can I pick two?
First, I would be Blair Powell from Radclyffe’s Honor Series. She’s a strong woman, who knows just how to stand her ground when it’s necessary. Plus, she gets to sleep with Cameron Roberts, and that woman is just hot.
My other choice would be Eragon, from the book, not the movie. I was disappointed in the movie. But the book, the first in a trilogy, was amazing. The world that Eragon lives in is so rich and diverse, full of incredible magic and beauty as well as danger and oppression. And wouldn’t it be awesome to ride a dragon?

What are some of your pet peeves in life?
Waiting. I am so impatient. I hate waiting for anything, especially in lines or traffic. I will drive 30 miles out of my way and still be happier than sitting still in traffic, as long as I keep moving.

What are some of the most important things you've learned about the writer's life in the lead up to having your first book published?
Being serious about writing has taught me the importance of discipline. When I’m writing for me, there is no timeline. If I don’t feel like writing, I just don’t. When I’m writing for publication, I don’t have that luxury. There’s a deadline and that means balancing my time. If I don’t write today, then I will have to write more tomorrow.

A happy writer is…?
I’m happiest when I’m so immersed in what I’m working on that I can’t stop thinking about it, even when I’m not writing. All of the high points of getting published are wonderful. But when I’ve created a scene that I can just get lost in there is a real feeling of accomplishment.