PJ interviews Vivi Dumas

Vivi Dumas is a fellow author at Decadent Publishing, writing paranormal romance with an ethnic flavor. She's also got a little Louisiana magic thrown in for spice.

I've loved going back and forth with her on Twitter and FaceBook and look forward to hanging out with her in person in the near future. She's a saucy lady, beautiful and fun!

Without further ado, here's my interview with her:

What sort of research on BDSM did you do for "Salvation"?

For "Salvation", my research was quick and dirty. When I wrote the story, I actually didn't realize that the submission called asked for a BDSM component. I searched a few internet sites and asked a few people some questions. Rewrote my initially story and added a little BDSM component. I would call "Salvation" BDSM light.

Since then, I've been doing some more research on the topic, one because I find it fascinating and two to incorporate into other stories. I (actually a friend of mine) found a class that's offered in D.C. to learn more about the lifestyle and how to utilize the tools of the trade if you will. I will be taking a trip to the club to take the class sometime soon in the future (for research purposes *wink, wink*). We've uncovered the local hangout for people in the lifestyle and some social network sites for those who are interested in practicing.

I'm still not sure if this is something that could ever fit into my lifestyle, but I find the power dynamics interesting.

* I find the power dynamics interesting too. I'm not sure I could find the strength to submit but the idea of being a top isn't a turn on for me. There's a lot of attraction in a man who can give and take at just the right times.

Many say it's the submissive who holds the real power. The safe word, calling a stop to everything, is the submissive's to call out. What do you think about the balance of power between a top and a bottom?

I think the balance of power between the top and the bottom is a strange dynamic. On the surface it would seem the dominant would have the power, but I think it's the opposite. I have to view this from my personal perspective, which can be skewed since I've never practiced this lifestyle. For me, I believe the submissive holds the power in several ways. One, being able to give yourself over completely to someone and trust them requires a huge amount of strength. This for me would be the most difficult part. I have a hard time trusting people. Secondly, when you hold the safe word, you do hold the power in the scene. You control how far the action goes and what you will allow to happen. So yes. I think the submissive holds the power in this relationship.

* Believe it or not, I first learned this concept by watching CSI.

The things we do for beauty. The heroine in Soul Catcher is willing to deal with the Devil for beauty. Can you tell us a little more of what beauty means to Angel?

Angel has been taught from an early age to use her beauty for leverage. Her mother, who has a lot of issues with men, raised Angel to use her looks to get ahead. Everything good in Angel's life came from her utilizing her looks to get it. The people Angel surrounded herself with used her. When she lost her looks in the accident, the rest of her superficial life collapsed around her. Angel never knew she had any other value until she lost the one thing that she thought was her only redeeming quality.

I think a lot of women feel that way sometimes. I will admit I grew up kind of in the same boat as Angel, I was no supermodel, but appearance was always important in my family. When I got injured in the Army and picked up a lot of weight, it was hard for me. Luckily, intelligence was also important so I didn't feel that my looks were all I had, but I struggled not being the kind of person I thought was attractive and lost some of my confidence.

It takes a strong sense of self-worth to be able to overcome the negativity seeped into your mind from childhood, especially when it was planted by people you believe love you. That's why I hope today we are out there promoting self-esteem and self-worth to our daughters, nieces, and other females that we know. Beauty comes in all forms.

You took writing classes at a local college and Soul Catcher was your project for your beginner writing class. How important do you feel classes and workshops are to the aspiring writer?

For me, the classes were important. There is a craft to writing. It isn't enough to just have a good story to tell. You need the correct tools to tell the story well, especially if you plan to submit it to people in the publishing industry.

I'm a learner by nature. I always want to know more. I'm also a perfectionist (bad personality trait in this business). So, if someone has information to make me better at what I do, I'll always seize the opportunity. But please note that learning doesn't always have to be formal. I've also learned a lot from my fellow writers I've met, my critique partners, my beta readers, and from the editors I've worked with. All it takes sometimes is a willingness to listen and an open mind.

Can you give us a teaser from Soul Catcher?

The growls and snarls inched closer. Angel's feet pounded the dirt, kicking up red dust all around her. The barren trees provided little sanctuary. Her heart and mind raced as she tried to think of her next move. The skies darkened above and thunder rumbled through the thick air. The air smelled of dampness.

How long had she been running? It seemed hours. Other than Noel, the other cadets were long gone ahead of her. Being human sucked when it came to supernatural warfare, but she refused to give up. Every day the class waited, watched, wondering when she was going to quit. Two of the others had already dropped out, and they were demons.

Noel passed Angel on the left, ducking through the low branches of the charred trees, cackling as he passed. Angel picked up her speed, her calves cramping and an ache developing in her side. She wanted to stop. Stopping meant quitting. Quitting was not an option. The hellish howls closed in on her.

Angel glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of one of the ugly beasts. It's long, rounded snout protruded from an enlarged head. Red eyes peered through the charred trees, scanning the landscape. A ridge of ivory spikes ran down the monster's back extending from each vertebra. The dog-like fiend pounded through the forest on powerful, muscular legs, which carried its compact body. Out running them wasn't going to work. She had to come up with another plan. Scanning the terrain in front of her, the only place to go was up. The trees disappeared into the grey clouds. If she could climb high enough, maybe she could wait them out. Or maybe they would go find another victim.

She lunged for the closest branch, leveraged her foot on the tree trunk, and boosted herself off the ground. It took all her strength to hoist her weight into the tree. As she reached for the second branch, three hounds pounced on the trunk, clawing at her dangling foot. The dark-haired one's razor sharp teeth nipped Angel's ankle. Stretching for the next limb, she stared down just in time to see the dagger like claws of the reddish colored beast rip into her calf.

Scurrying up the tree, she climbed higher until she was out of reach of the animals. Angel perched on one of the higher limbs, praying it could hold her weight. She clung to the trunk and observed the creatures clawing the burnt bark off the tree. Slowly, deliberately, a hound dug its sharp claws into the tree, using them like spikes, and began to maneuver its way to her.

Tremors quivered through Angel's body, almost causing her to lose her grip and fall. Thunder clapped and lightning flashed. Ominous clouds gathered overhead, growing darker as the hound drew nearer. The animal swiped at Angel's bleeding leg, barely missing as she jerked it onto the branch she sat on. Electricity hummed in the air. Angel felt the energy gathering about her, a strange, eerie sensation floating on top of her skin.

The hound's red eyes glowed as it stretched towards Angel, drooling from its mouth and snarling. Angel stood on the limb, grabbing for the one above her. As she pulled on the branch, it snapped in her hand. She wrapped her arms around the trunk to keep from falling. The beast snagged her ankle, jerking its head, trying to yank her from her perch. Lightning flashed through the sky, hitting its target—Angel.

Angel closed her eyes as the bolt of electricity hit. The pain she expected never came. Her body absorbed the energy and channeled it to the beast attached to her ankle. The smell of burning fur wafted to Angel's nostrils. The hound fell to the ground with a thud. The two other monsters sniffed its cohort and growled up at her. Angel redirected the remaining energy to the creatures below with deadly accuracy.

PJ's Speed Round:

Sex hotter in an elevator or in a car?

Elevator – the element of someone seeing you is hot. Did I just say that out loud?

In the shower or in a hot tub?

I'm a shower girl.

Blindfold or handcuffs?

Decisions…decisions… Can I say both???

Lotion or massage oil?

Massage oil

Candle light or moonlight?

Depends on my mood and where we are. Sometimes all you have is moonlight. When the urge hits just go with it. *wicked smile*

Vivi has offered a free e-copy of Soul Catcher for one wonderful reader. Just leave us a comment and tell us if you've ever taken a writing class or participated in a writing group.