Tuesday 29 April 2014

Peter Moon: Strictly Business

A big welcome goes out to Peter Moon from everyone here at Heart of Fiction.

Peter joins us today from Berkshire. Originally born in London, Peter has settled with his family in the quiet climes of the English countryside.

A man with a varied past, Peter has found joy in journalism as a freelance editor and copywriter, as well as contributor in local newspapers and horseracing publications.

Today, Peter joins us to talk about his debut novel, Strictly Business, an erotic novel which crosses from England to America and back again.

Richard Swift is the son of a film executive for the UK arm of Lustrous Pictures. He's hoping to make his own name in the business. When Richard meets Amelia, sparks instantly fly. But Amelia isn't a one man woman, as we soon discover, following her through this story as she advances her own agenda. It's all business for her though, but could she have met her match in Jason Quartz, owner of Quartz Travel, and Amelia's boss?

When Richard finds himself in Hollywood, he meets ex-porn star Sherri Kendal, the woman who inspires the screenplay he decides to write with friend, Marcus Russell, called Farewell to Mercury.

Don't let the genre, erotic novel, throw you. There's a big story in Strictly Business. Each character has been carefully and intricately developed, and their stories expertly woven together to create this tale. Readers will be pulled from one drama to another, and Amelia is at the center of it, keeping things hot. Moon's scenes are instantly visual, and I dare say stimulating. If you like an equal blend of story to your erotic reading, this story is a great inclusion to any erotic library.

We managed to corral Peter for a quick chat, but before we get to his interview, don't forget that your comment will go into the draw for a free copy of this book. You must be 18 years of age to qualify!

• • •

Thank you for joining us today, Peter, and thanks for taking some time to chat with us. Our readers love discovering new-to-them authors. Let's see what we can learn about you!

I noticed on your bio that you worked on tramp steamers. I'd love to learn more about that one day, but for today, let's focus on your literary life. You must have a busy schedule with all of your writing endeavors. With so many irons in the fire, how do you schedule it all? Do you have a routine or just tackle tasks when the mood hits?
Part of my routine involves writing to order: contributing articles for a horseracing website and discussing races. I also edit and copywrite on a freelance basis, so I will tackle any outstanding work early in the day. Writers are like actors: there are more of them than there is work, so I am grateful editing supplements my income. Assignments tend to be sporadic. I won’t say the pay is poor – just  that you need to cultivate a taste for baked beans. Editing other people’s writing is more straightforward than doing your own because you read with fresh eyes, instantly spotting any inconsistencies or mistakes.
As far as my writing is concerned, like most writers, I find there are key times in the day when I seem to be most effective. Early in the morning and late at night are best. I guess I am not alone in singling out these moments for productivity – perhaps it is something  to do with the quiet and the lack of distraction. I also try to keep a notebook to hand when relaxing in order to capture those half-flashes of inspiration that occasionally enter the brain and just as quickly vacate it again. That said I am not so sad as to take a notebook with me on social outings; well not yet anyway...
Oh, I'm well-familiar with the baked beans and toast budget of an aspiring writer. You know it's payday when you can add a sausage to that meal!

I think you have something there with the quiet times of the day as being the best times to write. I was going to ask if you were a early bird or a night owl, but it seems you're a bit of both.

Do you have a dedicated writing space, or take a laptop wherever your spirit wants to go?
I have converted a spare bedroom in my bungalow into an office. It is nothing fancy but provides a nice space from which to work. There is a desktop computer, a writing desk, stereo and TV. I spend a lot of time there, working on this and that and watching necessary sporting events. At least that is my excuse. As yet I have not sunk to the depths of installing a beer fridge! 
Hmm . . . why am I not seeing an office here but a man cave? :-)

This leads to my next question, what do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?
Starting with the tedious stuff: I work out first thing most mornings. I can’t say I hate it, but I certainly don’t enjoy it; however, as I otherwise have a sedentary existence, it seems something I need to do. I always feel better for the experience when kick-starting my brain over tea and toast. 
Pleasure-wise, I love the movies (always nominate myself to answer film questions in pub quizzes) , art (don’t know much about it to be frank, but enjoy gallery-browsing. I especially like the Art Deco period, modern paintings and posters), reading (of course), cooking (curries and Bolognese and anything else where I can follow a recipe and which calls for a glass or two of wine), and eating out with friends. 
You're exactly right to get the blood pumping first thing in the morning. Not only good for the bum, but also it gets the creativity going.

And a man who cooks? A rare and precious find!

Thanks for taking the time for a quick chat.

Now, let's get onto that excerpt for Strictly Business. Don't forget to add your email to your comment so we can find you, should you win a copy of this exciting book.

• • •

The son of a film executive is shocked when he finds a chance encounter leads him to a girl who knows his deepest and darkest desires.

A scheming beauty finds her looks can be a curse as well as an asset.

A one-time porn starlet gets a chance at her big break but has to disregard a shady past to take it.

A New York call girl is on the run and becomes immersed in a life-or-death train ride that takes her to Philadelphia.

A wrung-out detective with a drink problem and a bad marriage sets out to save the call girl but finds he is stumbling in the dark.

A young reporter learns life is more than theory.

A song was reverberating through Richard Swift’s head – Riders On The Storm by The Doors. There was no reason for it. He didn’t particularly like the song; hadn’t recently heard it playing on the radio and wasn’t a fan of a band that had been in its brief heyday before he was born. But it was one of those songs everyone knew – the sort that could burrow into the ear every now and then.

So Richard was preoccupied at the moment his life was about to change. He was in a travel agency opposite the girl that was about to change it. Her nametag stated she was Amelia. They were on either side of a glass-topped desk with a telephone, a monitor screen and several glossy holiday brochures between them. Concealed on a shelf at the side of the desk, a computer tower hummed quietly in the background. There was the chink of cups from a small adjacent kitchen; otherwise, they were temporarily alone, except that was for the spirit of Jim Morrison, whose lyrics were about to be superseded.

Having uttered a flippant aside – something relatively innocent to do with Virgin Airlines – it had been seized upon, the retort becoming the equivalent of a verbal service return in a tennis match.

Using a slender hand, Amelia tossed a rush of hair behind her shoulders, scanning him with narrowing green eyes. f felt himself wither before the gaze that cut through him. Alarmingly, Amelia had a knowing expression that indicated she had possession of not only the pictures, but also the negatives that portrayed his life story.

“You are a naughty boy. And you know what happens to naughty boys, don’t you, Richard?”

A stunned and grappling-to-respond Richard sat riveted to his chair as her words swirled in his head.

Every so often something like this happened in his life. Invariably it turned out to be a joke, or the kind of remark to which he should attach no importance. Experience had taught him to squirm inwardly, to change the subject or to ignore the mention of any such a reference. Whatever else, he knew it was wiser to keep quiet rather than blurt out something stupid or incriminating that he would later regret.

In this case, all he could see was the undeniable beauty of the girl opposite, impelling him to offer some kind of response.

“I’m not too sure; why don’t you tell me?” was his eventual stilted reply.

“If you haven’t found out by now, it’s high time you did.”

“Perhaps you should demonstrate.”

“You wouldn’t like it.”

• • •


Peter Moon was born in London, England. He left school at an early age, drifting round the world on tramp steamers, but further education proved his salvation as he went on to study journalism. After a couple of junior positions with local newspapers, a fascination with horseracing meant he decided to specialize as a freelance writer in that sphere. He has worked as a reporter, a racing analyst, and for a while was linked with one of the major bookmakers, with whom he was a liaison officer. Over the past ten years he has been a freelance editor and copywriter as well as a contributor to various websites and publications.

He lives with his partner, Rosemary, in a small Hampshire village a few miles from the Berkshire border close to Newbury.

Find Peter online at --

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