Avery Aster pens erotic romance for Ellora’s Cave. As a resident of New York’s Upper East Side and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city’s glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous. “I write about what I see in my metropolis that never sleeps–Manhattanites on the quest for a passionate thrill,” Avery says. “By and large, my characters are drop-dead gorgeous, ripped straight from the headlines and on the hunt for their next conquest.”

Undressed #1 (Lex & Massimo) launched The Manhattanites series, exploring people’s forbidden desires of lust and longing. Unscrupulous #2 (Taddy & Warner) is the highly anticipated prequel coming August 14, 2013. Also, stay tuned for the sequel with Unsaid #3 (Blake & Miguel) coming winter 2013.

The Manhattanites is an extended modern erotic romance series of full length juicy melodramas multilayered on love, friendship, scandal, and drama to the hilt. Fans who watch TV shows like Girls (HBO), Mistresses (ABC/BBC Drama), and The Bold & the Beautiful (CBS) love The Manhattanites series. Avery’s characters are over the top. They have raunchy sex, speak their minds and always get what they want. Each novel may be read as a stand alone.

*For Fans   **My Favorite Authors & Suggested Reading   ***For Aspiring Writers*Do you live in Manhattan?

Abso-Flippin-Lutely!! I moved to the city in the 1990s and never looked back. It’s simply the best place on Earth. I studied communications at New York University and have worked in media for most of my career. Currently I live on the Upper East Side.

I’m planning a vacation to New York. Can you tell me what the best place is to get a slice of pizza or the best musical to see?

I can’t tell you the last time I saw a musical or had a slice of pizza. I do fancy a good martini from time to time, though. And for that, I suggest the Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel. Ask for the Vesper Martini. If you’re looking for the best spa in town, I recommend The Peninsula Spa for facials. Their detox skin treatment, Instant Brightener, is a must. My favorite hair salon in Manhattan, hands down, is Paul LaBrecque. And no, I’ve never been to Chinatown to look for fake handbags. If this is your first time to our city, consider taking a carriage ride through Central Park. Have fun, and tip your drivers!

Why do you use a pen name?

With a panache for narrating toe-curling orgasms, deep, penetrating backdoor sex, confident women who know what they want, men banging other guys, and the ladies who like to watch … you tell me? *wink*

Why is your picture not on your website?

I’m immersed in a career where I’m the face for several consumer brands, and writing fiction in any capacity would be a conflict of interest for them. I hope you can respect that and still enjoy my books on this entertaining journey.

When did you first know that you wanted to be an erotica romance writer?

In the ninth grade, my friend Julie and I got our hands on a copy of The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure, a.k.a. Anne Rice. We were hooked. For years, we read every book available in the genre. Today, I’m pleased to say Julie is my #1 beta-reader and still my very dear friend. And yes, Julie is a character study for one of my heroines. But she’s asked that I not tell you which one.

Why erotic romance novels?

I love a happy ending! Life can be ugly, it can be lonely, and a romance novel with a satisfying finale most certainly can be that spoonful of sugar to help you through those bad times or to boost you higher during those great times. The erotica element is the added mint on the pillow, making it all that more extraordinary. I always say, “I’m a New Yorker. I don’t see a shrink. I don’t take anti-depressants…I write erotic romance.”

Are your novels based on your life?

Yes and no. Most of my characters are loosely based on friends that run in my social circle via Manhattan and the Hamptons. They find it amusing. Always a friend who everyone seems to tell everything to, I’d like to assume that I’m a great listener and a loyal secret-keeper. My clique trusts me implicitly with the most shocking information. My novels are a grand venue to be able to turn their stories into fictional tales that readers enjoy.

What can I expect when I pick up a novel by Avery Aster?

My novels are like opening up that periwinkle shopping bag from Bergdorf Goodman. They are opulent and feel luxurious. My characters enjoy lives that very few people in today’s economy dare dream of. Fortunately, the relationships my characters go through remain universal, something we all can relate to and, I hope, fantasize about. Everyone I know would like to give and receive love and, most importantly, enjoy their body in a healthy, fun way.

What types of characters do you write?

A cosmopolitan backdrop featuring eccentric, over-the-top characters who celebrate their insatiable yearning for passion, all packaged in a glamorous way. Mentally, my characters are experienced, at times slightly jaded, and yes, very much thrill seekers. Emotionally, they are vulnerable, a little guarded-yet crave new experiences. Spiritually, they respect and love all walks of life, including straight, gay, bisexual, and so on.Financially, they aren’t rich-they are the wealthiest people in the world. Intellectually, they are educated enough to know not to force their beliefs on others; they don’t hide behind a political agenda. Physically, my heroines aren’t pretty; they are yellow-cab traffic-stopping gorgeous. And the men aren’t endowed; they are hung like Grammy award-winning rock stars. Speaking of cocks and those of us who find them irresistible, I advocate safe sex in all of my novels-condoms are a requirement. When the storyline calls for uninhibited encounters and it fits, I go with it. Remember this is fiction. Don’t try it at home!

What can I NOT expect to read in an Avery Aster novel?

I promise all of my readers you will NEVER see me write about anything that’s demeaning to an individual or group of people: pedophilia, incest including first cousins and stepparents, rape as titillation, scat, necrophilia, weapons shoved into various bodily orifices, and certainly no bestiality.

Why did you elect to write a series and not a freestanding set of novels?

My dream as a kid was to be a soap opera writer for NBC’s Santana Barbara (1984-1993). I loved supercouples but often found myself disappointed when they’d split to thicken the plot and keep viewers interested. I started reading romance novels, because the couples didn’t break up. Sure, they have some shit storms, but we always get a happy ending, unlike some of my soaps.

How many novels did you write before you sold one?

Undressed was my first manuscript and sold to Ellora’s Cave within a month of completion. I chose Ellora’s Cave over other e-book publishers, because the editorial team is amazing. My editor, Krishan Trotman, also lives in New York, and it felt right when I received the contract from Marisa A. Corvisiero, Esq. at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Marisa said, “Avery, this is it!” Ellora’s Cave is the leader in the genre. I have the freedom to write what I like and am not confined to a specific word count, character profile, or theme. The team at Ellora’s Cave is also a bunch of fun ladies who make me proud to be a part of such a wonderful team.

When do you find time to write?

Awake at 5 a.m., I’m deep in my characters’ heads by 6 a.m. I have a very demanding day job, and I’m out the door by 9 a.m. I return to my writing at dinner time, revising what I wrote that morning or rereading it while on the elliptical at the gym. I write one novel while editing another before it goes to press, along with plotting and researching a third. My vacations are spent attending writers’ conferences and plotting workshops with my girlfriends. When I get stuck or can’t move a story along, I hit the treadmill and exercise the characters out in my head literarily, all while running at the same time.

Where do you write?

On an antique mirrored desk that was a gift from Nicole, a cherished friend. The desk is the showpiece in my living room next to a white marble fireplace. I love it. Usually for inspiration, I’ll surround myself in the streets of New York City. With my laptop, I plop down at my favorite coffee shop Sicaffé on the Upper East Side. They don’t have wireless, so there are no distractions. I only wish they didn’t close so early on weeknights.

What type of music do you listen to when you write?

I write to Jerry Goldsmith’s musical score to the erotica classic film Basic Instinct and the soundtrack to my favorite horror movie, Poltergeist. Goldsmith’s symphony tunes are eerie but stimulate my mind to type witty dialogue, especially his work with Sleeping with the Enemy and The Russia House. I also love ’80s icons like Laura Branigan’s “Solitaire,” Kim Carnes’ “Crazy in the Night,” and Sheena Easton’s “Strut.” When brainstorming a new novel I find myself only listening to operatic pop. Odd right? Some of my favorites are Amici Forever, OperaBabes, and the English trance music group Above & Beyond.

May I contact you?

Sure. I answer all emails.

Where can I buy your books?

My novels are available at Ellora’s Cave, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and Apple’s iBookstore.