Summertime Means Hot Nights…and Dark Desires…
Summertime in the South invokes images of sitting on porches drinking mint juleps. Of fishing off the end of a dock in a bayou. Of making love to the sound of a lazy fan, while the humid night breeze washes over your skin.
These are the images that inspired the stories in Hot Nights, Dark Desires, an erotic anthology by Eden Bradley, Stephanie Tyler, and Sydney Croft (who is actually Stephanie Tyler and Larissa Ione, so Stephanie has two steamy stories in this book!)
Larissa: So Stephanie and I are here today (thank you, Fatin!) to discuss our stories in the anthology, or to talk about the steamy South, or about whatever pops up, but in general, we suck at coming up with blog topics. So I decided to just ask Stephanie some questions. About the South. Or whatever pops up. Okay, Steph, you ready?
Steph: You want me to say yes, don’t you?
Larissa: Well, yes. If you lived in the South, where would you live?
Steph: Africa. Isn’t that south? Stop looking at me like that…okay, probably New Orleans.
Larissa: Let me get you a map. Or should we talk about Ecuador in front of all these people? Ahem. Okay, back to the questions. What Southern food have you always wanted to try?
Steph: Biscuits and gravy.
Larissa: You’ve never tried biscuits and gravy???? Are you serious? That was like, a staple I grew up on. Like, OMG, you’ve never tried French fries?
Steph: You’ve never tried French fries? And for the record, you had the same Ecuadorian issues.
Larissa: For the record, I did not. Can’t prove it, anyway. Unless you saved those emails. You know, the ones where my husband called us both idiots. So…ever had a mint julep? I’ll buy you one at RWA, if not. You bring the migraine meds.
Steph: I’ve had a mint julep! They’re quite minty…stop looking at me like I’m a moron.
Larissa: But it’s such a natural thing to do! Okay, next question. What’s your favorite Southern-set book or movie?
Steph: One of my favorite books in the world is Gone With The Wind…and coming from me, I know you’re going to find this hysterical, but the descriptions just always stuck with me. Reading that book always makes me hungry. Oh, and I also love this novella called Shadow Play, by this new-ish author called Sydney Croft…
Larissa: Ooh, I love Sydney Croft! Is that bad? Narcissistic? Don’t answer that. But do answer this. Where did the idea for your novella, Night Vision, in Hot Nights, Dark Desires, come from?
Steph: You ask a lot of questions. Like my mother does. Anyway…hmmm, the idea really came to me from two things – I wanted to write about a hero named Bat, for a specific reason I can’t tell you BUT if you read Night Vision, you’ll know and I love the movie Road House. Now here’s one for you – do you know where Eden’s idea for her novella, The Art of Desire, came from? (I do!)
Larissa: Um…is it because she likes tattoos? Because she’s not nearly as wussy as I am. But I do have a tattoo!
Steph: Me too!!! Three of them! And yes, it’s because she LOVES tattoos, so her novella features a heroine with a tattoo fetish, and, as you know, it’s awesome 
I’m so excited about this anthology – it feels like just yesterday that we sold it, but at the same time, it feels like we waited forever for its release!
Larissa: It does! But now that it’s out, we’re celebrating, and we’re giving away two copies of Hot Nights, Dark Desires to two commenters! So just leave a comment, maybe tell us what you think of when you think of the American deep South. Thanks so much for coming out to play with us today! And thank you Fatin, for having us!
Honorary Mention of Book Sluts 'R' Us Blogger Awards by 
Okay I’ve got be at work in 45 minutes. But I wanted to come by and say hi.
Larissa – awesome job you did interview Steph.
I’ve got this book in my Amazon cart which is just waiting for me to hit the buy button.
Steph – are you feeling better? How is your daughter doing? We miss you over at the group. Will you drop by sometime and just say and let us know you are alive and well – or alive and insane or alive – and not well – or just alive.
Okay I’ll drop by a say more later.
[...] at NovelThoughts today! Come check out Stephanie’s answers to the questions I asked her, and answer the question we [...]
What a great interview. You two are funny!
I did some of my growing up in VA and I think that might be the root of my spelling problem. lol It is hard to sounds things out and spell them right with an accent.
I know I would love to get back to VA some time because I just remember how pretty it was.
I can’t wait to read the new book.
Well, I forgot to answer the question about the south. I was born & raised in Texas. Which is kind of south but not really. So when I think of the south, I guess I would have to say Gone With The Wind comes to mind. Large plantations and small tight knit communities.
*shakes head* at Steph – you’ve never had bisquits & gravy. That so has to be remedied.
What a great post. Very funny. When I think of the Deep South. I think of plantations, sweet tea and Southern hospitality.
I would have to agree Greta…thinking of the south does bring Gone with the Wind to mind. When I lived in VA we visited a couple battle sites from the Civil War and I loved old south so much that my High School term paper was on Gettysburg, the Turning Point of the Civil War.
I thought EVERY one has tried bisquits and gavy.
Southern Hospitality: where every one is dear, honey or sweet heart.
I LOVED that.
oh the south.. i love the southern accent, i have family in Arkansas, and i just love hearing them talk..lol…
of course i always think of southern fried catfish, sweet tea, crawdads, of course there are the drawbacks, the heat, the copperhead snakes, tarantulas..and scorpions..eeek i will stop there..
Gone With The Wind.. my all time favorites…plantations, and southern gentlemen..
I don’t know if here in Florida counts as “south”. I mean, yeah…we are pretty far south but culturally, unless you go to certain cities, it’s pretty much as far away from the south as you can get! Favorite southern movie…”Steel Magnolias”…always makes me cry, but I still watch it! I have to agree with you on GWTW as far as books go.
Hello, ladies!
Wishing you three the best of luck with the book :raising glass:
As someone raised in a completely different culture, the South doesn’t have the same meaning for me as it does for so many of you ladies.
I mean, I’m living in Florida, southernmost state, and I’m told it is not the south :chuckle:
But I’m learning… slowly, it’s true
but I am.
Anyway… I’m shallow. I really like Josh Holloway’s bad boy southern accent in LOST
Hi Steph and Larissa! Great interview!!
I already have this amazing book so don’t enter me in the drawing!!
I’ve never been to the South!!!! My Dad was military and we lived all ove the place but never in the South! It is on my list of places I want to travel to before I die so one of these days I will get to experience Southern Hospitality!!
Great interveiw as always ladies… I’ve never been to the south but i’ve always wanted to go. It always sounds so vibrant and cultural lol.
Welcome ladies! When I think of the deep south I think of the plantations, sweet tea, and very friendly people. They never see a stranger. As everyone else said Southern Hospitality.
Ah yes, the South. I am from the South. What do I think of? NASCAR, LOL.
Love the interview, ladies! Keep the books coming!
Thanks for sharing… I enjoyed the interview!!!
I am not from the South, but I associate NASCAR, country music, good ole southern cooking, and sweet accents with the good ole South!!! 
Love the cover! The interview was great, when I think about the South it reminds me of relatives I have living there.
Hi everyone!!!!
Y’all think about the same things I do when it comes to the South! and yeah, totally NASCAR!!!!! *g* Or, as my husband calls it, “Redneck circle jerk.” Hmph. He’s obviously not a fan.
I have to say, having lived all over the U.S., one of my favorite places was Mississippi. I loved the food and the people. I could live without the humidity, heat, bugs, and poisonous snakes, but other than that, it was great!
I’m looking forward to reading this book!
Wow…when I think of the south…I think of everything. I can’t narrow it down to one thing. I grew up south of New Orleans (yes, there is something farther south of there
)
An East Tennessee girl, born and bred, I’ll make a confession about biscuits and gravy … I’m not a big fan of gravy. Same goes for dumplins. I just do not like them for whatever reason. I love sweet tea though, so I suppose that makes up for it!
Southern movies — I typically love them all, but my favorites are Gone With the Wind, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Bull Durham.
Excellent interview, ladies! Cannot wait to read this anthology!!
Great interview! I am from the South. I love living in the south. I have to admit I love Matthew McConaughey’s accent. I also love the food in the south.
It’s been a while since I’ve been down South but I think of the friendly people and the slower pace.
You two crack me up, what a fun interview. I’ve never been to any of the southern states before, but my son is now stationed in Georgia, so I see a road trip in my future.
Congrats on the new release! When I think of the south I think of sweet tea and a slower pace of life. I think of warm and friendly hospitality. My hubby is half Cajun from his mother’s side and I remember when I visited them in Opelousas, LA. They were so warm and friendly and they had that awesome Cajun accent. They really put on a feast as well with gumbo and lots of other delightful cajun food ending with pecan pie topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. They were so hospitable. I was truly touched.
Hi, Larissa and Stephanie! Terrific conversation
I’ve never visited the deep South, but love reading about it–apparently there’s no comparison for down-home Southern hospitality!
Congrats on your new release!
The only southern state I have been to is Texas.
Too hot for me there.
Hi Steph and Larissa!
Great interview! When I think about the south I think of all the phrases my Aunt Dot used.
NASCAR is big here in the north! The Pocono 500 will be here in PA June 8th and I can’t wait.
I’ve never lived in the South, but it makes me think of fried chicken, beignets and seafood gumbo.
Can I just say once again that I adored every story in HOT NIGHTS, DARK DESIRES!?
And Steph, I have a killer recipe for good southern sausage gravy that is really easy. Oh, and it only uses one pan, meaning minimal cleanup. I’ll shoot it to you if you are interested…
When I think of the south, it’s how the talk and eat. I love how the say things and their accents. They do eat some odd things though.
Hmmm.. Deep South.. not the fast pace of the Northeast.
When I think of the South, I think of fried chicken, jazz and blues. lol I’ve never actually been anywhere in the South except Florida. All I know I learned from the romance books I read or the news.
yes great cajun food i love damn crawfish want some now. and hot and pretty mena nd women all around. the sun , beaches but mostley food.
I think I already live in the Deep South towards Houston and Galveston. During the summer time, it gets very hot!
Hi Stephanie and Larissa! Great interview
. I’m definitely a Yankee… but when I think “South” I always always think Texas. I’ve only been to Austin, and I hear that it’s a bit different.
If I had to expand more, I guess I’d think Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.
Actually, I’ve only been to 2 places in the South – New Orleans and Austin. Loved them both
Lovely interview ladies, most amusing
Does South include South Wales? If not then no I have never been to the south but would love to visit it – especially New Orleans as I think it sounds a fun city to be in
LOL a story about a hero named “Bat” and a heroine who has a “thing” for tattoos
I sooo am in love with this anthology….I do not have any tattoos but i have several good friends who do and they have such terrific back stories regarding how they got the tats….could that be what is going on?
OH YEAH!!! Everything about this book screams buy me to me! Just mentioning the South brings back all the good food memories I have of New Orleans. I was there several years ago and my mother and me loved that Cajun stuff!