As a writer, lots of different things inspire me. But probably my healthiest inspiration is the outdoors. Yes, the most productive place to be is usually in front of my laptop, tapping away. However, without sources of inspiration, writers would struggle to find something to write about!

So I like to indulge my passion for the outdoors. I live in England, so I'm very lucky that there are beautiful places I can visit without travelling too far to get there in the first place. I like going to historic houses, mansions and castles, exploring their nooks and crannies and imagining what happened there in days gone past. I love to walk around pretty villages with their chocolate-box cottages, duck ponds and real ale pubs.

Most of all, though, I love the Peak District. I'm a Derbyshire lass, born and bred, and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be. I don't live in the Peak District (though I aim to, one day), but I can be within its borders in half an hour or so. It's cheesy, but every time I get there, I feel like I've come home. Maybe the air is magical, I don't know, but I feel the troubles of everyday life seeping out of me, and all I want to do is walk, climb, explore and marvel.

Luckily for me, ideas often pounce upon me when I'm doing those things. With my brain empty of everything except where I'm putting my feet and what's around me, my mind wanders. I wonder who lives in that wooden hut; if anyone has partaken of sex al fresco in those woods; if they got caught. All these things whiz through my head and as a writer, I'd be crazy not to use those ideas and inspiration and weave them into stories.

I didn't consciously write the stories within The Great Outdoors with the aim of putting them into a mini-anthology. They were both actually placed elsewhere as part of a non-exclusive deal, so I thought I'd pull them together and have a bash at self-publishing them. It paid off. Although it was a slow starter, the book is now a steady seller. This never fails to amaze me given its terrible cover (yes, that was me).

As I followed the progress of The Great Outdoors, stunned, I also picked up on some of the things people were saying in reviews. They liked it! They wanted more of the same characters and similar situations. After some thought (and some pestering from some people who'd enjoyed the first volume), I decided to put together Volume 2.

As I had lots of memories and ideas stored up from my forays into the English countryside, the first story flowed out of my head and onto the page without too much trouble, and I'm pretty pleased with the result.

The second tale took a little more thinking about, as it's a follow-up to a story in the first volume of the books. I had to give the same characters a different situation, but keep it al fresco. I admit I was stumped at first but when the solution hit me, it seemed obvious. I just hope it is living up to people's expectations!

The Great Outdoors and The Great Outdoors Vol 2 are both available as eBooks now and I'm excited to see my babies out in the world. But I'm even more excited each and every time I go off adventuring again, as I wonder what thoughts and ideas I'll come home with. Volume 3? Who knows – watch this space!

Thanks so much to Tracy for having me on the blog and letting me ramble on about my, well, rambling.
 



Lucy Felthouse, is a chocoholic, a writer, a marketer and a web geek. She graduated from the University of Derby in June 2006. Her final year dissertation was on erotic literature; and how women’s roles in the genre have increased as social attitudes change. Lucy has written for various magazines and websites, and you can find a list of books she’s appeared in on her Published Works page.

Lucy is also the creator of Erotica For All, a site designed for readers, writers and everyone in between.

For the latest happenings, check out her blog. If you’re looking for more general information on erotic writing and authors, might I suggest heading on over to Erotica For All.



You can find out more about Lucy Felthouse on her website. She's also on Twitter and Facebook.

The Great Outdoors Volumes 1 & 2 are available from eBook retailers including Amazon, Smashwords and 1PlaceforRomance.com.