The following is an exclusive Whispers of the Muse interview conducted by Deborah Riley-Magnus with erotic romance author, Juniper Bell.

Muse: Juniper, first of all, Whispers of the Muse welcomes you and Doll to the site. Tell us a little about yourself. What part of the world do you live in? Tell us about your background?
Bell: Thank you so much for having me on your wonderful site! It’s an honor to be here. I live in Homer, Alaska, which is also known as the “Halibut Capital of the World.” It’s very much a frontier lifestyle here. Many people, including us, don’t have running water (although we’re working on it!)  Of course, it’s frontier living 21st century style -- I’ve got a great Internet connection through a 14-foot mast on our cabin. I’m still adjusting to this life, since it’s radically different from my previous existence as a city girl with a fast-paced, high-stress TV writing job in Los Angeles.  But the peace and quiet is great for writing. 

Muse: Who are your favorite authors?
Bell: I love so many authors, but top of the list are Jane Austen, Flannery O’Connor, Jean Rhys, Anais Nin. In the romance world, Georgette Heyer, Susan Elizabeth Philips, Julie Garwood, and Lisa Kleypas are some of my favorites.

Muse: Why do you write contemporary erotic romance?
Bell:  Maybe it’s the rebel in me. I grew up in a family that was practically Amish in its modesty and reserve. So I, naturally, found everything related to sex and romance incredibly fascinating. At an early age I read Anais Nin’s stories, which blew me away. “You can write about that?? Really?” As an adult, I think there’s so much emotion and depth and fun that a writer can explore in erotic romance.  I think it’s a wonderful genre with so many possibilities.

Muse: What is your writing regimen? How often do you work on a novel? Do you set daily time or word goals? What keeps you meeting your deadlines?
Bell: When I’m working on a book, I’m extremely disciplined. I set word count goals and always meet them, even if I have to stay up after everyone else is asleep to finish.  I finished one book while writing in the cab of our truck while everyone else was fishing. I used to work as a TV promo writer with several deadlines a day, which trained me to be focused when I need to be. It’s important for me to write something every day, even if I’m not in the middle of the book, so I maintain that connection to my .... hmm, maybe the best word is “muse”!

Muse: Does the way you personally look at life reflect in your writing style?
Bell: Absolutely. Especially with respect to themes. I tend to write about people at turning-points in their lives. My tagline is “Let Sensuality Transform You,” which is all about letting go and freeing yourself to be who you truly are. I have a kind of Buddhist approach to things. Change is inevitable. Enjoy the present moment. We’re all interconnected. Suffering can lead to greater compassion for others. Hopefully that comes through in my writing.  

Muse: What are the creative jumping off points for you? Are you inspired by dreams? Music? Nature? The occasional black nightmare? What triggers your imagination?
Bell: Honestly, I have no idea what makes ideas pop into my head. I daydream a lot, my mind tends to wander aimlessly, and that’s usually when the best ideas come. I try not to overanalyze it, because I’m always so grateful and excited when an idea takes hold and my imagination starts to fly.

Muse: Tell us about your Contemporary Erotic Romance, Doll. What was your inspiration?
Bell: In the case of Doll, the inspiration was a mood. My family has a long history with an island in Maine, and visits there always put me in a very emotional state. Doll was the result of one of those visits. (Although the characters and plot are completely imaginary.)  The mood formed itself into vague outlines of characters: I felt there should be a woman with memories tugging at her like an ocean current, and a man like a rock, strong enough to free her. The story took shape from there.

Muse: What is your favorite scene from the book and why?
Bell: My favorite scene is when Chloe and Dustin get naked with each other for the first time. In her marriage, Chloe was the sexual plaything of a wealthy, twisted politician. She’s used to being a “doll” whose needs don’t matter. So getting intimate with Dustin means not only exposing her body, but also her emotional scars. This is a story about sexual healing, so that moment of vulnerability is very important. I really love that scene.

Muse: Have you written other books?
Bell:  Doll is my second published book, and I have another one due out in March. And, of course, more in the pipeline, including a Regency erotica that I’m really excited about.

Muse: Tell us about your other books?
Bell: My first book is called The Extremist, from Liquid Silver Books. Here’s an ultra-short blurb for it: For phobia-ridden Annie Swenson, only one cure works better than psychotherapy: an encounter in the Bahamas with the mysterious “Extremist” and his erotic, boundary-pushing games.

My next book after “Doll” is called “Training the Receptionist,” also from Samhain Publishing, which is about a streetwise Long Island girl’s naughty dream job!  

Muse: How do you feel about the current publishing marketplace?
Bell: It’s a confusing time in publishing, and I’m not sure how things are going to play out with respect to e-pubs and advances and such. Obviously digital publishing is going to keep growing, but I think print will still be around for a good long time. I don’t worry about it too much. And romance will definitely always be in demand. I think readers will always want stories about relationships and happy endings. My strategy is, keep writing, work hard, and hope for the best.