Vonna, thank you for taking time from your busy writing schedule to come share a little bit about yourself with the Fallen Angel Staff and Readers.


I see that DANGEROUS RIDE is your most recent release. Can you share with us a little bit about the story?

Actually I've had another book released since then. I just haven't updated my web site. The latest is CAPTIVE WARRIOR set in a mythical country in an unknown time. It revolves around two warriors (one male, one female) from two warring tribes whose leaders hate each other. When war-liege Bor captures Nuwaa, he vows to bring her to his chief, broken and submissive. But despite her bonds, Nuwaa is a courageous woman. Both fighters bring dark, lonely pasts to their relationship and over time mutual respect is born. However, unknown to Bor, Nuwaa has vowed to kill his lord.

On your website www.vonnaharper.com you say that erotica is your brave new world. Would you care to elaborate on this?

I've written category romance for all of the major publishers where tip sheets, reader expectation, and publisher needs narrowly dictated my books' contents. With erotica, the possibilities become much greater. I can create worlds and push the envelopes. In short, I'm not operating within a box.

As an author of erotic romance, what would you like to tell readers who have yet to venture into the more erotic stories?

I'd like to encourage readers to explore not just new levels of written sexuality but creativity. I'll admit that at first I was hesitant to dig into my own sexuality, particularly in terms of fantasy, but the longer I write erotica, the more I realize that what I once thought were my private, secret thoughts are shared by unknown numbers of women. Our sisterhood is huge.

DARK TOUCH was an interesting novel with complex plotting and characterization. Can you tell us a bit about what stoked the fires in your imagination and prompted you to write DARK TOUCH?

Interesting that you should mention DARK TOUCH. Reader reaction has been both positive and negative because it indeed explores 'forbidden' issues. In another life I was a social worker and some of my clients had been or still were abused women. I wanted to deal with a heroine who had been abused but had found her way out of that hell so readers who shared her experience had a kindred soul. Paranormal elements have often found their way into my writing and bringing back a 'dead' husband served to heighten the story of a woman determined to survive.

What are your plans for future projects? Anything you can talk with us about? Give us a sneak peek?

I'm a writing junkie with no other marketable skills so of course I'm writing. I'm working on a companion story for CAPTIVE WARRIOR and a fantasy novella for Ellora's Cave and my first story for Loose Id (SURRENDER’S DANCE) has just been released.

Do you have works available other than those at Ellora’s Cave? And how do readers find out more about you and your books?

My old historical Native American books are available via Amazon under the name Vella Munn as are some of my Harlequin and Silhouette stories. I also have a man against nature story called WHITE OUT just out at Cerridwen Press, Ellora's Cave's new mainstream imprint.

How can the readers contact you personally? Do you have a fan webaddress?

Yes, my website is www.vonnaharper.com and there's an email address there.

Do many readers contact you? Do you have any cool stories about their contacts?

I have to admit I spend most of my time writing. I probably should do more promoting but there are only so many hours in a day. I do respond to every reader contact and love hearing from them.

Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader that you think should be answered to a wider audience than that one person?

Can't think of any at the moment.

What influenced your decision to write erotic romance novels?

Several reasons. I'd burned out doing category romance. The market for Native American stories was drying up. Kate Douglas who also writes for Ellora's Cave held a gun to my head and said 'write or else'. I was fascinated by the possibilities.

How much of your personality and life experiences do you put into your writing?

Almost nothing of my life experience since I'm pretty boring. I will say that I will never comprehend big city living and have never experienced it so many of my stories take place in the wilderness or small communities. I tend to be introspective so my characters spend a lot of time trying to figure themselves out. I love messing with their minds.

What is your writing routine?

It's my day job.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

Like everyone else I have bills to pay and I'm pretty self-directed so I'm at the computer most days. If I waited for inspiration and motivation to strike, I probably wouldn't be published. Also, writing fulfills me.

What do you do to relax and recharge?

Ah, watch my sons and grandson play sports, go for walks, stay at our mountain cabin, read, dig in the dirt.

A lot of your writing seems to deal with the darker sides of nature, can you share with us where do your ideas come from?

I'm not sure I have the answer to that. I've always been drawn to serious issues because they give me something to sink my teeth into. Years ago my agent mentioned that many of my stories dealt with parent-child relationships. When I was 5, my father divorced my mother, my sister, and myself so maybe I'm still trying to work through that.

What are your thoughts on the explosion of erotica in the romance market?

I don't feel I have a global picture of what's happening. I do believe that in many respects Ellora's Cave acted as the ground breaker. Their stories took off and sales are still exploding (which makes me a happy camper). Other publishers took note. I suspect that saturation will be reached just as there was a glut of category romance imprints in the 1980s. It'll be interesting to see what remains after the dust settles.

Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.) anything you would like to share.

I've been married to the same man for about 1000 years, have two grown sons, a grandson who has three younger half siblings who call me Grandma who I'm helping to raise. I'm also parenting my elderly parent. Precious little time for hobbies but I suppose photography counts. I have a bachelor's degree in sociology which with a couple of bucks will get you a cup of coffee. I love mountains, evergreens, mountain streams and lakes, driving on logging roads, Mexican food, going barefoot. I hate shopping of all kinds except bookstores and plant nurseries.

What are some of your favorite things to do?

I think I've pretty much covered that. Perfection is an afternoon at our cabin with a book, a glass of wine, and no mosquitoes.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I'm more drawn to subjects (suspense, paranormal) than author-driven purchases.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

My grandfather. He wrote science fiction for the early day pulp magazines before he was murdered at age 36.

How many books have you written?

I'm always being asked that but I honestly don't know. Somewhere between 40 and 50.

Among your own books, have you a favorite book?

SOUL OF THE SACRED EARTH about 16th century Hopi and Navajo because I worked my tail off researching four historical cultures and got to visit the tribes' Arizona reservations.

Favorite hero or heroine?

Ria Torez, heroine of a story that's never been published. She's kick-ass and a law breaker.

What book for you has been the easiest to write?

I sweat blood with all of them.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Not having to own pantyhose.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

Maybe landscaping.

Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Write, write, write. Be objective about your writing. There aren't any short cuts.

What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?

I honestly can't think of any.

Thank you,



Interviewed by: Izzy