How well do you know Jaid Black?

Jaid Black is a woman worth admiring. Starting as an author hoping to publish sexually graphic romances, she soon discovered if her work was to be published she would need to create her own publishing house, which she did.  Enter Ellora's Cave, dubbed "The world's first and foremost publisher of erotic romance for women." 

And, as if being a highly successful publisher wasn't enough, Ms. Black is also recognized as a USA Today Best Seller, she's received a Trail Blazer Award from Romantic Times Magazine, was nominated for the Henry Miller Award for the best literary sex scene written in the English language, and has been featured on television and in magazines.  

I had a chance to meet her personally at the 2011 Romanticon, a reader oriented conference for erotic romance.  Let me tell you, she certainly knows how to throw one Hell of a party.  This year's Romanticon titled Mayan Apocalypco (October 11 - 14) looks to be the best one yet. 

Ms. Black agreed to answer a few personal questions that I'm dying to have you read.  I think you'll agree, success hasn't changed this down to Earth lady.

• Which of your books is your personal favorite and why?

A novella I wrote called “Seeds of Yesterday.” It’s semi-autobiographical and helped me slay a few personal demons.

• Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given.

When explaining to an elderly lady at church that I didn’t know if I wanted to devote 7 years of my life to attending university she said to me, “Seven years takes seven years to go by no matter what, so do whatever will bring you the most happiness seven years from now.” I never forgot that.

• The worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given.

“Women don’t like to read graphic sex. Tone your manuscripts down.” – Signed, Every New York publisher I submitted to before launching Ellora’s Cave

• What’s your birth sign and does it accurately reflect your personality?

Aquarius and yes it fits me perfectly!

• Describe your perfect day.

Sitting on the deck of a beach house in Malibu watching the ocean waves lap in; coffee in one hand, a smoke in the other. (Yeah, I know… bad smoker! Hopefully I’ll find the oomph to quit one day soon.)

• Your bucket list. What have you done and what’s left to do?

Professionally I’ve done all I set out to do. It would be nice to make the NYT’s list as an author one day, but realistically I know I don’t put books out consistently enough to do so! Plus, my dear friend Laurann Dohner has hit the NYT’s list with a few Ellora’s Cave books, so I can go to my grave knowing I hit the list as a publisher. On a personal level, my bucket list includes having grandkids (wayyyy down the road!) and building my forever home. A nice booty-call now and then would be way cool too ;-)

• List 3 adjectives that describe you best.

Loyal, honest, tenacious

• What did you do last night?

I laid in bed, ate strawberries, and watched The Stepford Wives (remake with Nicole Kidman) while I laughed my ass off!

• What was the last book you read?

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

• What actor would play you in a movie about your life?

Melissa McCarthy or Kirsty Alley—definitely!

• Back in high school, which group were you in? The popular crowd, the jocks, the nerds, the burnouts, or add your own.

I was a burnout—kind of ironic when I think about it because I had good grades, I didn’t drink and I’ve never been a drug-user. (Does marijuana count? lol)

• Who is your greatest source for inspiration?

My daughters; nobody else inspires me like they can and do.

• What was your most embarrassing moment?

I don’t really get embarrassed. In this business you can’t survive without (1) a high tolerance (for everything!) threshold and (2) diamond-tough skin… embarrassment is something I don’t have time for.

• If you could be a super hero, what power would you like to have?

I would want to possess Wonder Woman’s “Lasso of Truth.” It would be cool if all the haters who’ve spread lies and half-truths about me had to fess up and be honest!

• I can do impressions of –

My daughters. It annoys them. *cackling*

• If you were given $1 million that you had to donate anonymously, who would be your recipient?

I would totally fund the creation of the Lasso of Truth Foundation :-P

Seriously though, I already donate money anonymously to people and causes in need so choosing one recipient is an impossible task for me.

• If you could take a trip anywhere for 30 days with money not being a consideration, where would you go and what would you do?

I would sit on the deck of a beach house in Malibu watching the ocean waves lap in; coffee in one hand, a smoke in the other. (At least until I dammit quit!) And I’d be writing. I’d always be writing.