WWR: Portia, to start us off, can you give us a brief rundown of your writing career to date? How long have you been writing? What got you started?
Portia: I first started writing way back in the early 1980s, more by mistake than anything. An artist friend was looking for some stories to illustrate, and she suggested that I write one for her. She thought that because I was a librarian at the time, and a voracious reader, I should be able to write as well. I knew that it didn’t necessarily follow, but I thought I’d give it a shot anyway. I didn’t write what my friend wanted, but for myself I wrote a paranormal erotic short story, about a sexy zombie who fell in love with a living woman. It was a bit mad and probably a terrible story, but I enjoyed writing so much that I decided to keep on doing it.
For several years I wrote purely for my own amusement, and as part of a writing group I’d joined, but eventually, I decided to try and get published. My first attempts were aimed at Mills and Boon, but I wasn’t successful, although I got some great feedback from editors. But then, a book doctor suggested I try erotica, because I had a flair for writing hot sex scenes, and very quickly, I sold my first erotic novel to Nexus, an imprint of Virgin Publishing. Not long after that, Virgin Publishing started Black Lace too, and I became one of their pioneer authors with GEMINI HEAT, my first title for the line.
Since then, I’ve written 12 books for Black Lace as Portia Da Costa, as well as titles for several other women’s erotica and erotic romance publishers, including LESSONS AND LOVERS from Ellora’s Cave, and OBJECT OF DESIRE and WILD IN THE COUNTRY for Total-E-Bound. In all, I’ve written over twenty books.
WWR: Do you have any other names you write under? And, if so, what books have you published under the other name(s)?
Portia: I’ve got masses of pseudonyms! Some I don’t use any more, and some I’ve probably forgotten. My main writing name is ‘Portia Da Costa’, but I’ve had two women’s erotica titles published for X Libris as ‘Dorothy Starr’ - HOTEL OF LOVE and DESIGNED FOR SIN. I’ve also had two straight romances published under the pseudonym ‘Megan Paul’ – NO SWEETER CONFLICT and FORBIDDEN.
WWR: What does your release schedule for this year look like? Can you give us the titles and release dates of your upcoming releases?
Portia: I’ve had quite a busy year, with a reprint of GEMINI HEAT and a new title, GOTHIC HEAT [sequel to GOTHIC BLUE] both published on 27 May in the US, and a novella called ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT out in July, as part of the Black Lace ‘Magic and Desire’ anthology. Also out in May is the print edition of WILD IN THE COUNTRY and a short novella called THE RETREAT, in the Total-E-Bound ‘Bound Brits’ anthology. Later in the year, in November, I have my twelfth Black Lace published in the US, a contemporary called IN TOO DEEP. I also have a Spice Brief in the pipeline called CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, but I don’t have a release date for that yet.
WWR: Can you tell us about your “CALL” and what book it was for? And for others who are still waiting on "THE CALL", do you have any advice to share?
Portia: I’m afraid I’ve never had “THE CALL”. It’s always been either a letter, in the early days, or an email, for me. Which are both lovely, but somehow not quite the same. I’m still waiting to actually get “THE CALL”, one of these days.
WWR: In that same light, what's been the most memorable moment of your writing career? What would you like to see in the future? And where do you see your career heading?
Portia: One of my most recent memorable moments was having my 2007 Black Lace title SUITE SEVENTEEN judged to be “Best Contemporary Erotic Romance of the Year” by Michelle Buonfiglio of the Romance B[u]y the Book site. That was a huge honour and a thrill.
WWR: You are often credited with being one of the pioneers of “paranormal erotic romance.” Would you say this is true? And if yes, how so?
Portia: It’s hard to say. I’m sure there were other authors writing paranormal erotic romance quite early on, but their books perhaps didn’t get the exposure that my 1996 Black Lace title GOTHIC BLUE did. I certainly don’t remember there being all the vamps and shifters and other supernatural creature books around back then, when I created my world of alchemy and immortality in the “Gothic” novels.
WWR: Also, can you share your thoughts on the romance genre in general and where you think it's heading? Then specifically, where do you see erotic romance heading?
Portia: Yikes, that’s a tough one. I can’t really say. I try to keep abreast of trends and directions, but I mostly end up writing in my own way. As a reader I’d love to see lots of books that are focused on emotions and relationships, and the internal psychological workings of erotic love rather than just page after page of ‘plumbing’. I adore learning about the characters’ thoughts and feelings as they get it on!?
WWR: Readers and writers alike love to know the ins and outs of how a writer structures their time when working on a book. Can you share a typical day in your writing life with us? Also, has the way you work today changed from the way you did things when you first started out?
Portia:LOL! My days don’t have much in the way of structure or planning. I pretty much just stumble in disorder and confusion towards the resolution of a book, hoping for the best. When I first started writing, I had a full time job, so I wrote in the evenings and at weekends. I think I probably wrote for far more hours then, to be honest, than I do now that I write full time. When time is at a premium, you tend to use it wisely. When you’ve got plenty of time, there’s always the temptation to procrastinate and fritter it away.
WWR: Do you have a website where readers can keep up with you and your upcoming releases?
Portia: My releases are listed at www.portiadacosta.com but most of my news and my thoughts about writing can be found at my blog, www.wendyportia.blogspot.com
WWR: Do you recommend other authors (published or not) have a website of their own? If so, when do you suggest they start thinking about starting one (with the first book, second or later)?
Portia: Oh yes, definitely have a website, if only for the fun of it. I was already multi published when I first went online, so I set up a web site as soon as I had the skills. As soon as you have a book to sell, I’d say that’s the right time to get a site.
WWR: Do you have any plans to tour outside of England anytime soon? If so, when and where can readers expect you? If not, do you have any plans for a book tour in England?
Portia: I’ve never toured anywhere, as I’m not really a big enough name. And erotic romance isn’t as widely known in the UK so bookshops are probably unlikely to want to feature signings by erotic romance authors. I’ve only ever done one book signing, for one of my straight romance titles, and only about five people turned up! But I will be at the Romance Writers of America conference this year, so readers in the San Francisco area will be able to find me at the literacy signing there. It’s my first ever trip to America, and my first trip abroad in a long time, so I’m very, very excited about it.
WWR: On an ending note, do you like to hear from readers? If so, how (emails, blog posts, etc.)? Also, can you share the strangest comment or question a reader has ever sent/asked you?
Portia: I love to hear from readers at portiadacosta [at] gmail [dot] com and I love it when people drop by my blog and comment there. I can’t bring any strange comments or questions to mind. People are mostly just lovely and friendly and enthusiastic about my work when they get in touch.