As with everyone in Twitter, I first encountered @SesshaBatto in a passing conversation.  I was intrigued by the nature of the web sites under the profile and my natural curiosity, ok my natural nosiness, wanted to learn more about this person.   With only 140 characters at a time that was no way near enough for me to get all the information I wanted.  I couldn’t help but notice the number of books written and available and had to find out what makes this Author tick.  So without much further rambling on my part, please read on and discover a bit more about Sessha Batto.

I must admit this is a first for me, interviewing someone that writes homoerotic novels; could you share with us what drew you to write in this genre?

Remember the old ads in the back of comic books for x-ray specs? For me, sex is my x-ray specs. It strips a character down to his core truth and spotlights who they are with far more accuracy than pages of exposition ever could. Sex is the ultimate act of trust. Who we trust, why, and to what extent reveals much of our psyche that we would normally keep hidden. Sex is the catalyst for revealing hidden baggage, all the events and experiences we think are safely buried but which bubble to the surface under pressure. Our kinks highlight our transgressive natures, throwing into clear definition the whys and hows of our alienation from society in general. In short, it’s the knife I wield to cut to the truth. My writing includes sex in all its permutations, from barely consensual sexual torture to tender lovemaking and the entire gamut in between. My only real boundaries are no children and no women. I write about men exclusively because of the wonderful shifts of power and control possible in a same sex relationship . . . and because I love men. No offense to the ladies, but I don’t think I could explore the same boundaries of pleasure and pain without seeming overly abusive, and that is at the core of everything I write. Beyond that, there is something wonderfully vulnerable and revealing about the decision to relinquish power, and the potent eroticism of two strong, powerful men being tender with each other.

Do you find the homoerotic writings have a good following?

A dedicated following, certainly. The readers are very loyal to the genre and to writers they like. It isn’t a huge community, but it’s growing all the time.

I see you have several books published, how long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was four, but I only started writing longer works, and sharing them with others, in 2008.

As a published Author, can you tell us about that process, the first time you were published that is?

My first experience with publication I did everything wrong – I submitted to only one publisher, a new e-book start-up, and jumped on the contract they offered. Three complete location changes and some editorial changes I did not approve of later, I had a book out I was not happy with and was not willing to promote. Thankfully the rights are back in my hands now and I’m busily trying to turn it into the book it should be. The positive result, however, was I learned a lot. Now I’m lucky to be with a publisher (the Pfoxchase imprint of Pfoxmoor Publications) that is wonderful to work with and dedicated to bringing out the best possible books.

Is writing something you do full time, or do you have to work outside of writing too?

My time is split between writing and freelance graphic design and video work. Lately I’ve been getting a lot of commissions for book covers, which are always fun to work on. It’s nice because I can write when the words are flowing, and work on graphics when they aren’t. It takes some of the pressure away from having to produce words every day.

How often do you work on a novel in a typical week?

When I’m working on a novel I write everyday for at least four or five hours. During the editing process, however, I write mostly short fiction, it’s too hard to keep two complex casts of characters separate in my head.

Your work is up at several sites, does that keep you busy maintaining all of those postings?

It does take time, but, to me, it’s time well spent. After all, I write to be read, going where the readers are and cultivating them is the best way I know of to grow readership.

Your Web Site does not give much inside info into Sessha, would you like to share some with us?

Hmm, I’m a Buddhist and a vegetarian. I practice battojutso and tai chi.

Well that is very interesting, but I have to ask you Male or Female Sessha? 

Female

Where were you born? 

I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Were you raised in that area, or were you a gypsy growing up? 

I spent my first six years in an orphanage in Belfast before being adopted by Americans. Since then I’ve lived in Detroit, New York and Baltimore.

Big question for me, are you a middle child, only child, one of a huge brood?

No clue, that’s the downside of being abandoned at birth, I’m afraid.

What is your earliest memory?

Nothing I want to dwell on – my early years were not particularly pleasant.

How has your life been different than what you’d imagined as a youth?

Day to day life is more tenuous and problematic than I expected, although I imagine that is always the case. I was never one for concocting elaborate fantasies of what could be, I’ve always concentrated more on the day to day of what is happening in my life. So far, at least, it seems to be working.

How would you like to be remembered?

I’d like to be remembered as someone who cared, who worked hard, who tried to be compassionate. I’d love to break new ground in my genre and open it up to a wider audience.

Single? Married? Divorced? Nun?

Married to an extremely patient man. Our thirtieth anniversary is coming up at the end of the year.

How many children?

One teenage son.

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you change about your life, if anything?

I wouldn’t constantly worry about making ends meet, which would be nice. Otherwise, not much would change. I’m already doing what I want, money won’t change that, just make it a bit less stressful.

What is your favorite musical group or artist?

I don’t think I could single out one artist as a favorite, my tastes are very eclectic. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Angela Aki. As far as composers, J.S. Bach, definitely.

What is your favorite room in the house and why? 

The library, because that’s where most of the books are.

If we looked in your refrigerator, what would is the first thing we would notice?

Boxes of tea – there must be twenty of them in the fridge right now.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Teleportation – no more wasting time getting from here to there, no traffic jams, no cancellations due to inclement weather.

Now for the fun, rapid fire part of the interview, one or two word answers please, but if you have read any of these interviews you will notice some have trouble sticking to that format, give it your best shot:

Favorite color? Green

Most Money you have spent on a single Book? Over $100

Fast dance or Slow Dance? Slow dance, definitely.

Short/Tall? Tall

Best book you ever read? Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima

Movie that you watch every year or more often? A Home at the End of the World

Favorite Season? Spring

Regular or Decaf? Regular

4 door sedan or sports car? Sports car

Favorite food? Mushrooms

Take out or cook at home? Cook at home

How many books a year do you read? Around 200

Favorite Movie? Lawrence of Arabia

Favorite Day of the Week? Wednesday

Cats or Dogs? Cats

Wow Sessha, I am very impressed and you managed 1 and 2 word answers ~others take note~.  I am honored to have you participate in my interviews, you have provided us all with some very frank and honest answers, and I for one appreciate that. Based upon my poking around your various web sites and seeing some of your work I know you will continue to be very successful in your craft.  Thanks again Sessha.

 Below are some links that Sessha provided, please take a few minutes and check out her work.

 Her Website – http://www.sesshabattousai.com

Shinobi: Concealed in Shadows links

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/64681

 OmniLit/AIIRomance  http://www.omnilit.com//product-shinobibookoneconcealedinshadows-559910-144.html

 Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/Shinobi-Book-One-Concealed-ebook/dp/B0054M51TE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1307445641&sr=1-2

 Barns & Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Shinobi-Book-One/Sessha-Batto/e/2940011321122/

 And in Paperback  http://www.amazon.com/Shinobi-Book-One-Concealed-Shadows/dp/1936827247/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308585423&sr=1-2