Welcome Dakota! What can I pour you to start?Hmmm, do you...

Welcome Dakota! What can I pour you to start?Hmmm, do you have chocolate beer? I've heard this rumor that someone has created one and even named it Sexual Chocolate? If you have that or something similar I'd love to try it. What woman can resist chocolate? [image error]
Nope. No chocolate beer.  But just to enlighten you, "chocolate beer" RARELY contains any actual chocolate.  There are certain types of dark, (usually German grown) malts that, when used as a base, release  chocolate flavor or slight essence.  That said, "Sexual Chocolate" from Foothills Brewing, a brew pub in Winston Salem, NC is "cocoa infused" which, combined with their base malt gives it an amazing aura of chocolate, toffee, coffee and molasses (my theory is they ADD blackstrap molasses to the boil but that's just me.)  It is delish, if a little cloying after just one.
I will have an oatmeal stout releasing around the New Year.  Using oats in the mash (when you first make beer and add water to the malt) ALSO infuses a rich chocolate-ness that is not overpowering.  So, enough beer school....on with the interview.
You have published an amazing number of books!  I'm in awe and a little intimidated...well, not that but I am in awe.  Tell me the story of your very first publishing adventure.
Oh my.  I wish I could say I have this huge trail by fire to get my first book published but I don't. I hate to say this but I just fell into it. (Actually it was to get my dad off my back.) You see I've been telling stories since I was a youngster. Being that I'm dyslexic, most of my first stories were oral.  I'd tell them to my dad.  He was pretty tolerant until I got into high school and forced me to actually sit down and actually write my stuff down. He even bought me this old 1960's IBM typewriter.  After that I wrote most of my stories down.  Years later my hubby found my work in a box of old school stuff and said I know this site...Literotica. You should submit some of these.  So that's what I did. That's where I met Selena Kitt and answered her call for submissions after about two years of submitting work to Literotica.  When my pops found out about it, he said submit Chocolate Made Me Do It. (Do you see a theme here? LOL)  I did it to get him off my back - you know how parents can nag a person to death until you give in and just do it, that's basically what I did. I figured I'd submit it, get a rejection letter and then it'd be over. Much to my surprise Excessica accepted it, and I had my first publishing contract. It's probably a good thing too - because if it hadn't been accepted Dad would've probably pestered me to submit to another publishing company. 

Funny. My husband "knew of Literotica" before I did too...funny, isn't it? Dirty Bastard. Oh, that's a beer too, from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  My spouse put a boot up my ass to write as well.  His words: "Just shut up about it and write it!"  Now he's all "Honey, are you coming to bed sometime soon?"
What is your favorite type to write? BDSM? Paranormal? what?
It totally depends upon what I'm writing at the moment.  I love to write BDSM - which totally floored me since my first BDSM book, Nisey's Awakening, was done on the dare of a friend of mine. Before that I wrote strictly sweet erotic romance with a dash of sci-fi.  Then I delved into the the BDSM lifestyle and found I really enjoy it. But that doesn't stop me from stepping back occasionally and write books without it. Such is the case with my 1NS book, Blind Need.  Not a lick of BDSM in it. Right now though my current passion is running between a combination of my paranormal and BDSM, since I'm finishing up the third book in my Darkest Submission series for Eirelander Publishing. 
Seems to be a trend, the BDSM thing.  The "forbidden nature" of it is appealing I can see. I like it to a certain extent.  Wrote it in on a "soft scale" to the last of my 1NS trilogy, Turkish Delights after some...careful research.
What is the secret to your success?  social networking? blogging? attending conferences? just cranking out more great books?
I'm not really sure. As I mentioned before I wrote for several years on Literotica and Storiesonline before I dipped my feet into the publishing pool.  So I honestly can't tell you what is the secret to my success. I do have a blog I'm notorious about forgetting to post to, a twitter account, facebook that I try to manage from Tweetdeck but for the most part I just try to write relatable characters.  
Those of you who did a lot of online writing and then say "Oh I forgot to blog!" crack me up.  What do you think "blogging" is you silly goose?  I love using this platform to vent, rant, brag, moan, groan and otherwise go off in ways I can't otherwise.
oh look your glass is empty!  what can I pour you next?
How about something Irish...perhaps an ale? What's your suggestion?
We specialize in lagers, which are cold fermented, clean and crisp.  We only have one ale on tap: a VERY delicious IPA but seeing as how you asked for "Irish" I know you won't want that (they are way too hoppy for the Irish).  I have an award winning Amber Lager, the District 16 named after the brewing district in Vienna.  It's gorgeous, malty, with a teensy bite of hops at the end.  
Do you find being a part of writer "groups" other than those with your publishers useful?
Honestly it's hit and miss.  I love my yahoogroups but I've collected so many of them that I don't have the time to read all the digest I get. I have found a few groups that have been beneficial however. The first that comes to mind for me  is JERK (that's Just Erotic Romance Kontests)  I've gotten a good response from them when I post my contests...as far as peeps entering.  It seems to be a great group...as long as you post a contest, you can also add a blurb for your book and excerpt too if you want. So depending on the group they can be very helpful.
*makes a note* 
What are you reading right now?
Aside from Coding books?  I'll have to say that changes more often than I change my underwear. I read notoriously fast and have an insatiable need for m/m, menage, paranormal, BDSM and as of late 1NS books.  I just finished reading a book by Gabrielle Evans last night and plan on starting Forever Kiss by Angela Knight when it arrives later today in the mail. 
I love the 1ns books by my fellows at Decadent!  Haven't read one yet I didn't like!
What was the last movie you saw?
The last movie I saw was one my dad dragged me to. We wanted to see True Steel with Hugh Jackman *drools* but unfortunately dyslexic Dakota went to the wrong theater and we ended up seeing Abduction with Taylor Lautner *drools more*  My dad is a twilight fan and wanted to see it just because Taylor was in it.  *wipes drool off* Not that I can blame him. It was pretty good movie over all - had some really good fight scenes in it.  Taylor Lautner saying "Hey, look, there's the Beer Wench!"  Well, he IS From Grand Rapids...
Okay, nightcap time..what's your poison?
How's about an Irish Coffee?  I remember my mom (a former bartender) making them for me when I was younger...and no I'm not talking about under 21. She loved to camp and Irish Coffee was a ritual while sitting around the campfire.Sorry chick. No liquor in this beer bar.  How about we mosey over to the coffee shop that opened up across the street.  They claim I've made the west side of Ann Arbor a hot commodity with my success.  I don't know about that but they give me free double shot lattes when I come running in at 3 p.m. every day so I'll let 'em believe it.
Finally, tell me your thoughts on how "real" erotic romance needs to be.  That is to say, should one have had some experience with men (or women or both) to be able to craft a decent hot story?  
Honestly a lot can be said for research. I don't expect every author I've read to have physically done even a quarter of what is in their books. If so, they'd be shagging all the time and never get any writing done. So yes, research can work as well as first hand experience when it comes to writing a hot scene. I do a ton of it from reading books to picking other peeps's brains - to make each scene realistically hot as possible.
Mmmm.....shagging all the time..... [image error]
Sorry, distracted.
Thanks so much Dakota!Good luck with all your future endeavors!