A Short Bite With... Tamsin Baker

Today, I'm overjoyed to have another of my Hotter Than Hades buddies joining me for a Short Bite.  This is a series of interviews with members of the Edible Delights Anthology authors!

Hello Imogene,

Thank you so much for hosting me today.

I have been asked the question of how I came up with the story line for 'Hidden Talents,' and that's easy.
But how I came about joining the anthology, now that's a bit more complicated.

Last October I was floating around the RWA facebook page and found myself asking questions about BDSM. Susan Childs crooked her finger and said, 'come this way,' and invited me into the Erotic Writers group.

I was home!

I had, unfortunately missed the setting up of this anthology and didn't understand what people were talking about when it was discussed.

When I finally got the courage up to ask if I could submit, they told me that most the spots were full but I could try for the third edition.Well, I had asked if I could join, but was stuck for ideas. So, while on
facebook, I asked a friend of mine for a food related plot idea. Kate literally wrote-

'How about a story where a chef meets a food critic and doesn't know it's her, because she writes under a pen name, then they have a one night stand and she has to review his restaurant.It goes horribly and it all blows up when he finds out that she's the one who wrote the review.'

Image (Chef Using Digital Tablet) courtesy of Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thus, I had my story line.

I began writing it and two days later, the organizer posts that she needs a fourth story for submission in the first book, by the following week.

Now, I write fast when I want to, and they didn't know that at the time, so I put my hand up and said I could probably finish a first draft if they were willing to critique for me.

Well, in ten days I had written, critiqued, rewritten and submitted 14,200 words.Not bad and as it was my first attempt at an erotic piece, I was pretty rapt!

I hope you guys enjoy 'Hidden Talents,' and the other three stories contained within the Edible Delights Anthology.

Here's a short excerpt to introduce you to Mark and Amanda.

Excerpt:

“Hi, I’m Mark Dovell.”

He held out his hand and I hesitated for just a moment before reaching out with my own. His hands were big, strong. Much like I assumed the rest of him would be. My inner cavewoman jumped over his shoulder in an effort to speed the process up. She’s not a patient woman.

“I’m Amanda Cleminson. This is my friend Natalie.”

I dragged my gaze reluctantly away from him to indicate to my friend, but I managed. Well done me!

“How did you two lovely ladies come to be invited to this stuffy event?” He indicated their ritzy surroundings and Natalie burst into a round of nervous giggles. Natalie found large, beautiful men intimidating, one of the many reasons she remained single.

“Oh, Amanda works for The Sun, she invited me along.”

I smiled at Mark before turning to glare at my loudmouthed best friend. She knew how I felt about people knowing what I did. She grimaced in apology. I looked back at the hot male in front of us, hoping he wouldn’t push for more information.

“Oh? What do you do at The Sun, Amanda?”

So much for that. I stepped closer to Natalie, pressing into her in a silent plea for her to keep her mouth shut. This wasn’t the moment for her to forget her promise to me. She never meant to cause any harm, but she could be very ditzy sometimes.

“Oh just the layout, computer stuff mostly.”

Mark looked puzzled, his eyebrows furrowing over his amazing light green eyes. He stepped back to look down at my red pointed heels before his eyes slowly made their way up to my short, fitted black dress. Thank heavens I had worn something so flattering.

I flushed, unable to stop the unconscious reaction at the arousal in his eyes.

“Funny, you don’t look like a computer geek.”

Natalie opened her mouth before I could stop her.

“She has a master’s in journalism.”

When I elbowed my loudmouthed best friend this time, she broke into a round of giggles. Natalie knew I didn’t want anyone knowing what I did for a living. But put a beautiful man in front of her and she turns into a typical blonde bimbo.

I shifted my focus back to Mark, the green-eyed god, as he continued to slide his gaze over me. He must be well into his thirties, yet his eyes only held the slightest amount of wrinkles in the corners. Some people age so well.

“Really?” he asked again, one eyebrow rising in question.

I smiled a sexy smile. Time to divert the conversation.

“You’re the head chef and part owner of Le ‘Quin?”

Mark laughed, which made him look even sexier. He threw his head back as he released a proper belly laugh. My mouth dropped open a little as he graced me with the most gorgeous smile I’d ever seen.

“I hoped you wouldn’t know.”

His flirty words rolled off his tongue with practiced ease. I didn’t believe him for one minute. Time to call his bluff, and perhaps attract his attention? I could flirt up a storm when I wanted to, just often didn’t bother. Tonight, I was bothering.

“Yes you did. You play on the fact you’re so talented and successful, I’m sure. But I can pretend if you like.” I batted my eyelashes as obviously as possible, aiming the tone of my voice into the sickly sweet range. “Oh Mark, did you say what you do for a living?”

Again, he burst out laughing, which caused a quiver up my inner thighs. Too much time had passed since I had good sex, actually too long since I had sex full stop. Everything about him screamed ‘I will fuck you good.’ I was listening.

“I’m a chef actually.” He smiled, playing along with the game.

I bit my lip as cutely as possible and watched as his gaze dropped to my mouth. I had a nice mouth, why not throw everything I had at him?

“Oh how horrible, such unsocial hours.”

His eyes lit up again. God they were gorgeous. Who has his sort of colouring?

“They are, I agree. But being a chef has advantages. I could cook you anything your heart desired.”

He licked his lips, which caused my lower belly to pull tight again. Time to do something about this flirting, I’m done playing. There would be no beating around the proverbial bush tonight.

“I’m quite hungry now. The food here is shocking.” I indicated the tables lined with every delicacy you could think of. All top quality. I should know, as I had sampled almost everything before he’d come over.

“Perhaps you could take me home? Cook something for me now?”

I held my breath to see if my very ballsy move worked, having never said such a thing to a man before.

Bio:

I am an Aussie girl who LOVES to read.
I spent the first fifteen years of reading romance looking for the "good" bits.
Then I found erotic romance and pure erotica reading.
Wow did my head space change.
I could now read what I wanted and found I could write a little too.
I'm only beginning this journey but I look froward to putting out los of books in the future and reading even more!
Enjoy and thank you.

Where to catch up with Tamsin Baker:

Website   Amazon     Blog