Q&AI------ Scott Pomfret & Scott Whittier The two Scotts-lawyer Pomfret and adver tising whiz Whittier-have broken into the book industry big time with the romance novel Hot Sauce (Warner Books, $12.95).</p><p> After self-publishing four books and setting up a Web site to promote them, the Boston based couple saw their mix of traditional romance and gay elements catch the eye of major imprints.</p><p> Now they're garnering more press and more readers than ever.</p><p> What's the difference between gay erotica (which you both write on your own) and a gay romance novel? Whittier: It's the focus on the relationship.</p><p> Pomfret: In erotica you have a lot of the allure of the stranger.</p><p> You get a lot ofthe dark alley, and the romance lasts all of 15 seconds before the action starts.</p><p> The college freshman moving into the dorm ...</p><p> Pomfret: You've got it.</p><p> One step into the dorm room, and he's already getting laid.</p><p> In one of our books the first sex scene is on page 3.</p><p> But it's always in the context of relationships.</p><p> I'd like to think it's at least as hot, but it's much more focused on tenderness and "I know what this guy likes" and loving gestures.</p><p> Which is harder to write? Whittier: 1 love writing the romances because sex isn't the only part of it.</p><p> Erotica is like a quickie; you just knock out a quick, hot little story.</p><p> Pomfret: If we've just had sex, both erotica and romance are impossible to write because there's no motivation to get worked up again.</p><p> But I think tenderness is a little harder to write.</p><p> You've got to stay focused on your characters, so one sex scene can't be so different from another that it seems like different people.</p><p> Who writes better sex scenes? Whittier: My scenes for the romance novel are sweet.</p><p> The ones 1 write for erotic anthologies are ... filthy. [Laughs] Pomfret: I've got to say, on the erotic writing, Scott has a dirtier imagination than I do.</p><p> I find it totally attractive, personally.</p><p> Is monogamy p~rt and parcel ofthe romance genre? Pomfret: Monogamy is what we're shooting for right now.</p><p> It doesn't mean there won't be a different type of romance novel in the future.</p><p> We're not trying to write for everyone.</p><p> We're writing for people who have that dream of a husband, Mr.</p><p> Right.</p><p> And that is a dream of monogamy. " In our books the sex is perfect, and it goes on for five pages, and you don't break your parents' hot tub, which I've done. " 8 I August 16. 2005 www.advocate.com And of course all your characters are absurdly handsome and successful and sexy.</p><p> Whittier: I will admit, the only negative feedback we've gotten from people is that the heroes are too handsome, too hot.</p><p> It is fantasy.</p><p> The sex is always wonderful, and it goes on for five pages, and it's perfect.</p><p> And you don't break your parents' hot tub, which I've done.</p><p> What's the most romantic thing about the other Scott? Whittier: He makes me coffee every morn ing. 1 don't get out of bed until 1 hear the grinder going.</p><p> Perhaps the most romantic fact about Hot Sauce is that it had to be rewritten.</p><p> Your original, self-published version climaxed with a gay civil union in Vermont-but when Warner Books was relaunching it, you had to update it to a same-sex marriage in Massa chusetts, where the story is set.</p><p> Pomfret: Honestly, that almost made me weep, to be able to rewrite that scene and to set it in our own state, with history getting ahead of what we are doing.</p><p> It was fantas tic.</p><p> An honor, really. -Interview by Michael Giltz THE ADVOCATE
