RBTL Presents: Submission Therapy by Katie Salidas and Willsin Rowe

Please be aware the following post spotlights a BDSM EROTICA. If you are sensitive to this subject or under 18, I suggest you move along or proceed with caution.

Submission Therapy

The Consummate Therapy Series #1

By Katie Salidas & Willsin Rowe

Published: October 31st, 2012

Billionaire CEO of Blakely Incorporated, Natasha runs her empire with an eagle eye for every detail. She's an obsessive, compulsive, micromanaging hard-ass, consumed by the need to consumed by the need to control every aspect of her life and her business.

But underneath that seemingly strong facade, Natasha is a swirling mess of anger, anxiety and sexual addiction. Only her therapist, Dr. Benson, knows how close she is to burning out...or exploding. He insists on a radical form of treatment - Submission Therapy - knowing that it's her only hope.

Skeptical but intrigued, Natasha agrees to attend the first session. What she finds there in an erotically-charged environment that will forgive none of her habitual bad behavior. And a steely-eyed man who seems to read her every desire - even the ones she won't admit to herself.

Will Natasha learn what it means to submit? Or will she allow her brittle pride to rob her of what she truly need?

WARNING: This title contains graphic language, sexual situations, bondage, discipline, toys, and plenty of billionaire shenanigans.

And now, our interview with Katie Salidas and Willsin Rowe!

*Can you tell us a bit about yourselves?

Katie:  You don’t want to hear the boring stuff about little old me. I’d hate to spoil the mystique of being an erotica writer with the hum drum of normal life. You know, things like being a mother of 2 with another on the way. Girl Scout troop leader.  Hopeful soccer mom, that kind of stuff. I’m sure you want the nitty gritty stuff, like how happy my hubby is… *nudge nudge wink wink. *  Aside from the racy stories, I am pretty much your normal, everyday mom type person. And I love it. Writing erotica is just the icing on the cake.

Willsin: I’m a father of two, husband of one (heh). Like most writers, I’ve always been a writer, even before I knew it was something you could do! I live in sub-tropical Brisbane, capital city of Queensland (Australia). Outside of writing, I’m also an in-demand cover artist, and I play bass in a swampy blues/folk/rock band.

*What inspired you to write Submission Therapy?

Katie: There was this character. She was the biggest hard ass imaginable. Stressed out from micromanaging everything and everyone around her. She was so tightly wound she could snap at any minute. And she needed a story. I remember running the idea past Willsin way before we decided to go with it. And even then, he said it sounded great. What this woman needed was to learn how to let go. And what is the most extreme version of letting go? Submission. The story really just had to be written after that.

Willsin: The story definitely hatched in Katie’s dirty mind! We’d already put out a couple of titles that were in the cute office romance style of erotica. When Katie mentioned the idea for Submission Therapy my interest was immediately piqued. Then when she sent me the little rough draft for the first scene (which ended up being about the third scene in the final product), I was very keen to run with it. I felt it covered a side of the Billionaire BDSM genre that had been largely (maybe completely) ignored.

*What made you decide to work together in writing Submission Therapy?

Katie: Willsin and I have worked together for years. We started as bloggers, then critiquing partners, and then we moved to partnering up and co-authoring. Our personalities really match, I think. Willsin may disagree, but I think we make a good Yin-Yang partnership. Where I am weak as a writer, he is strong. Where I run out of ideas, he suddenly has one. And vice versa.

Willsin: That’s certainly how it works. In part it’s the male/female pairing, which gives us ready access to both points of view. And it’s also the fact that we’re in different countries, and the “outside the box” thinking that comes with that. We never assume that any word, phrase, or experience is globally constant, for instance. It makes our minds that little bit more flexible and open.

*Did you each have a separate character to write, or did you share?

Katie: We don’t pick a character and then put them together. We talk about the scene and come up with the who, what, when, and where. Then, one person generally takes the reins. From there it is a ping pong game. When I finish my portion of a scene then I pass it off to Willsin. He takes over and runs with it for as long as he can, then passes it back to me. We continue this way until the end of the story. After that, each of us take turns looking at the work as a whole and making individual tweaks and additions. It’s a constant back and forth between us.

Willsin: Yeah, I don’t think a “separate characters” approach would ever work for us. We combine plotting and pantsing most of the time, by having a good skeleton in place, but letting the flesh fill in organically. It makes writing even more fun and exciting, I find. It’s always a buzz to get the manuscript back and see where Katie’s taken it.

*What are the pros and cons of writing with another author?

Katie:  Every writer has their own style and their own vision. You have to work with a partner who really “gets” your vision for the story, or who shares the same vision for it. Otherwise you will butt heads.  That’s really the key. It can go really well when you mesh, or very badly if you don’t.

Willsin: The pros are many! If you personally feel drained or uninspired, you know your partner will step in and drive for you. You have built-in beta-reading for every little section you write. And a whole lot more. As to the cons...hmm...the cons... Actually, I can’t think of any! There have been little occasions where I’ve put something in a story and Katie has said “not comfortable with that”...but in every case she’s had good reason, and also been right!

*If you could spend one day with any literary character ever written, who would you choose and why?

Katie: I’d love to meet the Brat Prince himself, Lestat. Need I say more? Ladies, you know… =p

Willsin: I have a soft spot for one of Katie’s “Immortalis” characters, Fallon. (Well, my spot isn’t all that soft, really!) But I’m not sure I could take down her mate, Aiden, given that he’s a werewolf! So, as bizarre as it might seem, I’d love to meet Death. The Terry Pratchett version from the Discworld novels.

*Mel and I have a weakness for good quality cheesecake- Is there a dessert the two of you just can't say no to?

Katie: I’m a pregnant woman. There is no dessert I can turn down at this point in time. Ha!

Willsin: Don’t make me narrow it down to just one! What are ya tryin’ ta do to me? But if I did have to choose a single dessert, I’d probably opt for the custard pie that my wife and I make. She does the pastry and I make the custard. Hmm...that sounds a little dirtier than I meant it to. Or maybe that’s just my erotica-writer brain looking for trouble!

*What's next for you both?

Katie: We’re working on a paranormal erotica at the moment. But, until it has been more developed, I cannot say.  *Bites and Kisses.*

Willsin: Plus we’re both working on solo stories and will be calling upon each other for beta-reading. I’m also in the middle of creating about 20 covers for various writers!

*Thanks so much for joining us on Girls *Heart* Books!

Katie: Thanks so much for having us here today! *Hugs*

Willsin: It was lovely to be joined! Wait...that’s not quite what I meant...

Aren't they a trip. I already love them. Hehe :)

And now, because we love you all, here's a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.
And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment. 

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I fall in love with a scent, a playful expression or an act of casual intimacy more easily than with physical beauty. When confronted by any combination of those I am a lost cause.
I have done many things over and over. I have done even more things only once. I have half-done more things than I care to admit.
I don't yet know if I can ski, speak Italian or keep calm in a life-threatening situation, but I have my suspicions.
I play bass in a swampy blues band. I love to sing and don't let my voice get in the way.
I am intelligent but not sensible. I am polite but inappropriate. I am passionate but fearful. I am honest but reticent. I am neither stylish enough nor scruffy enough to be cool.

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