Shawna Hunter's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
The impact of Gender
Let me pretend, for the sake of illustration, that I am an androgynous being. I am neither female nor male and I have neither reproductive organs nor secondary sexual characteristics. From such a position I decide to write an erotic or romance novel and present it to a publisher. What path would I be lead down? Let me draw on my experiences to tell you a story. We shall call this hypothetical androgen 'Andy.'
So Andy writes its book and somehow manages to create something relatable and entertaining. Andy decides to publish. Going to writing blogs Andy finds that a male email address is best so it decides to be a he when submitting. He sends his book out and gets a reply from a business minded publisher who wishes to work with him. This publisher does a lot of market research and really tailors work to their audience. This publisher suggests a female pen name for Andy because female pen names sell better in this genre than male pen names. So now Andy is a she.
Her book is published and she is now encouraged to market it as much as possible on social media. Here she finds that a male talking about erotica and romance is seen as a gross pervert while a woman is seen as a sex maniac or porn star. If Andy presents as a male Andy will lose female fans and if Andy presents as a female Andy will receive countless flirty messages from those who think that a woman who writes about sex must want it all the time from anyone.
So Andy decides on female. Better a lot of spam than no messages at all right? Yet as Andy's popularity grows so do the number of messages and the amount of time it takes to filter through them. Advice gets missed and real fans/colleagues feel ignored. Then Andy finds a sneaky little trick. If Andy writes as a lesbian woman the "how you doing?" messages start to die down. They still come in but less frequently as many are put off by the unavailability of a lesbian. This seems great, even if the messages that still come in are increasingly offensive and disrespectful.
Unfortunately publishing opportunities start to diminish. There being a smaller market for lesbian erotica than for general erotica. So now Andy has to go back to the male email to present their work but this turns off lesbian publishers.
Next Andy finds that dominant women are intimidating to those PM senders and that the flirty messages a dominant woman does get are more respectful. It also opens up a new avenue of BDSM erotica which is a growing field. Except that BDSM erotica is preferred from the submissive pov than the dominants. So now Andy has to be a dominant woman and a submissive woman at the same time.
So Andy, in its attempt to follow the current of the market to sell the books it crafted originally out of its own interests has now become a dominant lesbian hermaphrodite with a penis for business and boobs for promotion. A sort of mashed together chimera of male and female, sub and dom, savvy sex positive marketer and cold, flirt ignoring business mogul.
Yet all hope is not lost for Andy. Our androgen is now a layered onion of personas and presentations that can be peeled, segment by segment into new characters for the next work to drag Andy through the cycle all over again.
So Andy writes its book and somehow manages to create something relatable and entertaining. Andy decides to publish. Going to writing blogs Andy finds that a male email address is best so it decides to be a he when submitting. He sends his book out and gets a reply from a business minded publisher who wishes to work with him. This publisher does a lot of market research and really tailors work to their audience. This publisher suggests a female pen name for Andy because female pen names sell better in this genre than male pen names. So now Andy is a she.
Her book is published and she is now encouraged to market it as much as possible on social media. Here she finds that a male talking about erotica and romance is seen as a gross pervert while a woman is seen as a sex maniac or porn star. If Andy presents as a male Andy will lose female fans and if Andy presents as a female Andy will receive countless flirty messages from those who think that a woman who writes about sex must want it all the time from anyone.
So Andy decides on female. Better a lot of spam than no messages at all right? Yet as Andy's popularity grows so do the number of messages and the amount of time it takes to filter through them. Advice gets missed and real fans/colleagues feel ignored. Then Andy finds a sneaky little trick. If Andy writes as a lesbian woman the "how you doing?" messages start to die down. They still come in but less frequently as many are put off by the unavailability of a lesbian. This seems great, even if the messages that still come in are increasingly offensive and disrespectful.
Unfortunately publishing opportunities start to diminish. There being a smaller market for lesbian erotica than for general erotica. So now Andy has to go back to the male email to present their work but this turns off lesbian publishers.
Next Andy finds that dominant women are intimidating to those PM senders and that the flirty messages a dominant woman does get are more respectful. It also opens up a new avenue of BDSM erotica which is a growing field. Except that BDSM erotica is preferred from the submissive pov than the dominants. So now Andy has to be a dominant woman and a submissive woman at the same time.
So Andy, in its attempt to follow the current of the market to sell the books it crafted originally out of its own interests has now become a dominant lesbian hermaphrodite with a penis for business and boobs for promotion. A sort of mashed together chimera of male and female, sub and dom, savvy sex positive marketer and cold, flirt ignoring business mogul.
Yet all hope is not lost for Andy. Our androgen is now a layered onion of personas and presentations that can be peeled, segment by segment into new characters for the next work to drag Andy through the cycle all over again.
Erotica Author Anonymity
Is Shawna Hunter my real name? No, it's a pen name.
That's about the only tidbit I'll give you about the real me. We can chat, you can read my works, my naughty tweets, my facebook posts, etc and glean something about the type of person I am but I do not talk much (if at all) about who and what I am. What are my politics? What is my race? What is my gender? What is my stance on X,Y,Z social issue? Not telling.
There are a number of reasons for this and they aren't all as simple as one might think. As an erotica author anonymity has its uses. People who know me in real life may come to view me as a pervert or a degenerate if they read my works for example. I also have a pro-LGBT stance (oops, let a social issue slip) in my work and some people can be rather hostile to that.
But it's more than this. More than the simple desire to not have my friends know...uh, I mean THINK...that I'm constantly dreaming up dirty scenarios. You see there are two schools of thought in regards to creators in the philosophy of art. Hopefully you will allow me to be generous and call my humble erotica novels art. The two schools (sorry, I don't know the names) are as follows.
One says you can't truly understand the art if you don't understand the artist. Van Gouh's Scream is just a creepy picture if you don't know what he meant by it.
The other says that your views of the artist will color your views on the art. You can love a piece of music, for example, until you find out that the person who wrote it has a lot of twisted and evil views. I fall into this camp (oops there's another opinion). I do feel that an artist's work can give you insights into who they are but I feel that the work itself should be considered apart from the creator in order to be appreciated on its own merits.
For example: I love Nietzsche. His philosophy (if a product of its time in terms of sexism) is insightful and moving and I personally feel that the parable of the madman is perhaps the greatest single piece of writing ever put to paper. That said he also wrote some poetry and it sucks. It's over long with no rhyme scheme and its a convoluted mess. I do not believe that I should give his poetry a pass just because I think he was overall a great writer.
Perhaps, one day, I'll get famous enough to reveal my own name and face as A. N. Roquelaure did when she was revealed to be the incredible Anne Rice. Perhaps I'll always be an obscure someone who added a few more dirty books to the pile. That's up to hardwork and fate. For now, for the sake of my work, I feel it more important to keep my day to day self and my author self separate. I do hope my readers can understand and appreciate that and if not...well try guessing. I won't tell you if you get it right but It'll certainly be entertaining to see what you come up with ;)
That's about the only tidbit I'll give you about the real me. We can chat, you can read my works, my naughty tweets, my facebook posts, etc and glean something about the type of person I am but I do not talk much (if at all) about who and what I am. What are my politics? What is my race? What is my gender? What is my stance on X,Y,Z social issue? Not telling.
There are a number of reasons for this and they aren't all as simple as one might think. As an erotica author anonymity has its uses. People who know me in real life may come to view me as a pervert or a degenerate if they read my works for example. I also have a pro-LGBT stance (oops, let a social issue slip) in my work and some people can be rather hostile to that.
But it's more than this. More than the simple desire to not have my friends know...uh, I mean THINK...that I'm constantly dreaming up dirty scenarios. You see there are two schools of thought in regards to creators in the philosophy of art. Hopefully you will allow me to be generous and call my humble erotica novels art. The two schools (sorry, I don't know the names) are as follows.
One says you can't truly understand the art if you don't understand the artist. Van Gouh's Scream is just a creepy picture if you don't know what he meant by it.
The other says that your views of the artist will color your views on the art. You can love a piece of music, for example, until you find out that the person who wrote it has a lot of twisted and evil views. I fall into this camp (oops there's another opinion). I do feel that an artist's work can give you insights into who they are but I feel that the work itself should be considered apart from the creator in order to be appreciated on its own merits.
For example: I love Nietzsche. His philosophy (if a product of its time in terms of sexism) is insightful and moving and I personally feel that the parable of the madman is perhaps the greatest single piece of writing ever put to paper. That said he also wrote some poetry and it sucks. It's over long with no rhyme scheme and its a convoluted mess. I do not believe that I should give his poetry a pass just because I think he was overall a great writer.
Perhaps, one day, I'll get famous enough to reveal my own name and face as A. N. Roquelaure did when she was revealed to be the incredible Anne Rice. Perhaps I'll always be an obscure someone who added a few more dirty books to the pile. That's up to hardwork and fate. For now, for the sake of my work, I feel it more important to keep my day to day self and my author self separate. I do hope my readers can understand and appreciate that and if not...well try guessing. I won't tell you if you get it right but It'll certainly be entertaining to see what you come up with ;)
A thing for muscle girls?
As I write my current work (centered around a lesbian relationship between a librarian turned physique competitor and her personal trainer) I realize that, following my amazonian Elizabeth character, the first type of person doubled up in my novels will be...muscle girls. Now the short answer to the expected question is yes, I like to see healthy natural muscle on a woman. I like firm, hard bodies with beefy arms, broad chests and asses you could bounce a quarter off of but it's not to the level of a fetish.
I want my works to have a variety of body types. From reasonably skinny Alyssa and lanky David to tall, strong Marcus. I want asians, latinas, blacks, whites, green (ok, maybe not green) and every healthy, sexy body type I can dream up but it needs to work with the story.
Another work I'm chugging along on will introduce a black cowboy-esque sheriff, a man in his sixties and a wheelchair bound woman. Why?
My goal isn't to fetishize any particular person nor am I out to serve some PC agenda. I simply want to help my readers develop an eye for the erotic. To see the sexual possibilities hiding in the mundane. There's something beautiful in most if not all body types and there's always someone, somewhere who wants you. I don't just write for those who already have a dirty mind but for those looking to obtain one
So expect the muscle chicks, expect the unusual as well as the blonde bombshell and square jawed hunk. Expect to find yourself aroused by people you might never have imagined and take this lesson to heart: EVERYONE can be sexy.
I want my works to have a variety of body types. From reasonably skinny Alyssa and lanky David to tall, strong Marcus. I want asians, latinas, blacks, whites, green (ok, maybe not green) and every healthy, sexy body type I can dream up but it needs to work with the story.
Another work I'm chugging along on will introduce a black cowboy-esque sheriff, a man in his sixties and a wheelchair bound woman. Why?
My goal isn't to fetishize any particular person nor am I out to serve some PC agenda. I simply want to help my readers develop an eye for the erotic. To see the sexual possibilities hiding in the mundane. There's something beautiful in most if not all body types and there's always someone, somewhere who wants you. I don't just write for those who already have a dirty mind but for those looking to obtain one
So expect the muscle chicks, expect the unusual as well as the blonde bombshell and square jawed hunk. Expect to find yourself aroused by people you might never have imagined and take this lesson to heart: EVERYONE can be sexy.
Why erotica?
Are you looking to get no respect as an author? Are you looking to get pre-judged by friends and family for your work? Do you want a genre that encourages pen names and anonymity because of the hostility towards it from the general public? Well have I got the genre for you!
I've been called a pornographer (there's no graphing involved!) a pervert, a sick-o and a slut (the joys of anonymity. No one knows which gendered insults to hurl so I get both). Why? Because I write erotica.
Erotica is derided as an easy genre. Even before 50 Shades it was a genre stereotyped for bad writing and weak plots. Erotica books were just a series of strung together naughty scenes and no one cared about anything but the masturbatory appeal (not that that isn't fun). Added to this was a judgement about the types of people that write erotica. Men like De Sade can be thanked for giving the impression that we're all sick, evil people who need to be locked away. Even truly great authors like Anne Rice had to use pen names when dealing with the genre.
So why do it? Clearly I'm a good enough writer for a more "respectable" genres right? Right? Compliment me damnit! Well, ok fine, lets just assume I'm good enough then. Why wouldn't I write romance, where the sex is implied, or YA where the sex is implied or horror where the sex is implied and then punished? Well for one thing I like sex.
Sex is a biological necessity. It is a drive that can be stronger than the drive to eat because it propagates our species. It feels amazing, its healthy and we (as a society) despise it. Now, sure, promiscuity and unsafe sex can cause a lot of headaches but sex in general carries a stigma that is just absurd. Don't believe me? Look at the show Vikings. They can blood eagle a guy and be rated PG14 but if they dare show more than a second of nipple or butt, if they have the audacity to show a penis or vagina.......hard R instantly. Even the act of love making has to be quick, awkward and done covered in cloth. I'd scream to heaven that it makes no sense but believers in heaven actually have a lot to do with the reasoning for it.
Somewhere along the line human beings got this idiotic idea in their heads that pleasure is a bad thing. Not just sex with a partner (which might cause fights or unwanted pregnancy) but even masturbation. The simple act of pleasuring yourself with a couple of fingers is considered taboo. Why? What harm does it do? Better yet, what good does it do?
Sexual pleasure (whether alone or safely with a partner, a couple of partners, the entire football team, however you do it) is healthy. It relieves stress, it burns calories and it frees your mind. We live in a hard world. We're in the midst of a major social shift, political strife is exactly where its' always been (one bad day away from Armageddon) we're getting poorer and few of us have some great cause worth living for. We need vacations. We need a bit of escapism to take us away from all the shit in our lives. Something that is harmless fun, something that feels good, something to make us dream again. That something can be attained with 2 damn fingers on the right bit of flesh between your legs.
Erotica can be intelligent, well written, plot driven literature. It should be, in my not-so-humble opinion, but whether it is or not is secondary. What matters most is that it provokes fantasies. Does it get you day dreaming about that hunk or that goddess. Does it make you want to lock yourself in the bedroom or bathtub and assault yourself with pleasure until you can do nothing but lay there with a dopey grin on your face? No genre does that like erotica. Horror makes you wonder if those shadows are empty, comedy makes you giggle (which is almost as good but doesn't last as long), adventure takes you away for a time but adds imagined stresses to your life.
Erotica is my genre because of all the genres out there it is versatile, it is invigorating and most importantly it is the easiest escape into fantasy. So think what you want about the quality of the writing, the depth of the plot, the perversions of the sex. I write vacations to pleasure freaking island and I know we could all use one sometimes. We're built for it.
I've been called a pornographer (there's no graphing involved!) a pervert, a sick-o and a slut (the joys of anonymity. No one knows which gendered insults to hurl so I get both). Why? Because I write erotica.
Erotica is derided as an easy genre. Even before 50 Shades it was a genre stereotyped for bad writing and weak plots. Erotica books were just a series of strung together naughty scenes and no one cared about anything but the masturbatory appeal (not that that isn't fun). Added to this was a judgement about the types of people that write erotica. Men like De Sade can be thanked for giving the impression that we're all sick, evil people who need to be locked away. Even truly great authors like Anne Rice had to use pen names when dealing with the genre.
So why do it? Clearly I'm a good enough writer for a more "respectable" genres right? Right? Compliment me damnit! Well, ok fine, lets just assume I'm good enough then. Why wouldn't I write romance, where the sex is implied, or YA where the sex is implied or horror where the sex is implied and then punished? Well for one thing I like sex.
Sex is a biological necessity. It is a drive that can be stronger than the drive to eat because it propagates our species. It feels amazing, its healthy and we (as a society) despise it. Now, sure, promiscuity and unsafe sex can cause a lot of headaches but sex in general carries a stigma that is just absurd. Don't believe me? Look at the show Vikings. They can blood eagle a guy and be rated PG14 but if they dare show more than a second of nipple or butt, if they have the audacity to show a penis or vagina.......hard R instantly. Even the act of love making has to be quick, awkward and done covered in cloth. I'd scream to heaven that it makes no sense but believers in heaven actually have a lot to do with the reasoning for it.
Somewhere along the line human beings got this idiotic idea in their heads that pleasure is a bad thing. Not just sex with a partner (which might cause fights or unwanted pregnancy) but even masturbation. The simple act of pleasuring yourself with a couple of fingers is considered taboo. Why? What harm does it do? Better yet, what good does it do?
Sexual pleasure (whether alone or safely with a partner, a couple of partners, the entire football team, however you do it) is healthy. It relieves stress, it burns calories and it frees your mind. We live in a hard world. We're in the midst of a major social shift, political strife is exactly where its' always been (one bad day away from Armageddon) we're getting poorer and few of us have some great cause worth living for. We need vacations. We need a bit of escapism to take us away from all the shit in our lives. Something that is harmless fun, something that feels good, something to make us dream again. That something can be attained with 2 damn fingers on the right bit of flesh between your legs.
Erotica can be intelligent, well written, plot driven literature. It should be, in my not-so-humble opinion, but whether it is or not is secondary. What matters most is that it provokes fantasies. Does it get you day dreaming about that hunk or that goddess. Does it make you want to lock yourself in the bedroom or bathtub and assault yourself with pleasure until you can do nothing but lay there with a dopey grin on your face? No genre does that like erotica. Horror makes you wonder if those shadows are empty, comedy makes you giggle (which is almost as good but doesn't last as long), adventure takes you away for a time but adds imagined stresses to your life.
Erotica is my genre because of all the genres out there it is versatile, it is invigorating and most importantly it is the easiest escape into fantasy. So think what you want about the quality of the writing, the depth of the plot, the perversions of the sex. I write vacations to pleasure freaking island and I know we could all use one sometimes. We're built for it.
The escapism plan
In my day job I work in an office. I have a customer service style role. I hate my freaking day job. I once joked that we need a sound proof helmet in the break room where a frustrated employee could go and just scream out everything they'd like to say to the customer's, the boss, the co-worker, etc. Just purge it from their system.
My boss replied that it would never work because people would get addicted and would lose productivity.
I thought of that discussion while watching the new South Park. Where the guy trolling was happy and relaxed as he waked down the street. He'd vented his hate and now he felt better. The problem was that all that hate was poisoning the environment for others. So we can't actually say what we want to each other. We can't vent it in the real or digital world, so what do we do?
Enter fantasy. Hate that bitchy girl from school? Read Dorothy Must Die. Sick of BS over fast food and how it's never perfect? How about some nice erotica? Just want to hunt down and kill that entitled bastard who just screamed at you for hours over something you have no control over because he didn't like the only resolutions you're able to offer? Murder mystery time!
My point is that fantasy works best as an escape. It's not always safe or relaxing but it allows us to vent our emotions and purge our frustrations. Brooke's Hollow, the fictional town from my books, is a safe, happy place where sex is practically on tap and fights are rare. Where a house wife can diddle the mailman for fun and still have her husband or wife be happy to see her when they get home from work. Is it realistic? Probably not but should it be? No. Its a vacation from the realities of selfishness, jealousy and kids walking in on your right as things get good. Its breath of fresh air when you really need it and a challenge that you can overcome and find greater happiness for having gone through it.
"It would never work. People would get addicted."
Book addictions aren't all that bad, are they?
My boss replied that it would never work because people would get addicted and would lose productivity.
I thought of that discussion while watching the new South Park. Where the guy trolling was happy and relaxed as he waked down the street. He'd vented his hate and now he felt better. The problem was that all that hate was poisoning the environment for others. So we can't actually say what we want to each other. We can't vent it in the real or digital world, so what do we do?
Enter fantasy. Hate that bitchy girl from school? Read Dorothy Must Die. Sick of BS over fast food and how it's never perfect? How about some nice erotica? Just want to hunt down and kill that entitled bastard who just screamed at you for hours over something you have no control over because he didn't like the only resolutions you're able to offer? Murder mystery time!
My point is that fantasy works best as an escape. It's not always safe or relaxing but it allows us to vent our emotions and purge our frustrations. Brooke's Hollow, the fictional town from my books, is a safe, happy place where sex is practically on tap and fights are rare. Where a house wife can diddle the mailman for fun and still have her husband or wife be happy to see her when they get home from work. Is it realistic? Probably not but should it be? No. Its a vacation from the realities of selfishness, jealousy and kids walking in on your right as things get good. Its breath of fresh air when you really need it and a challenge that you can overcome and find greater happiness for having gone through it.
"It would never work. People would get addicted."
Book addictions aren't all that bad, are they?
You can't write that!
I've wanted to talk about this for some time but I've really been struggling with how to do it without including spoilers. I think I've figured out a way but it may still have some minor spoilers for my new book Master May I? So if that bothers you look away child, look away!
Master May I?: A Tale of Worship and Submission
So Master May I? isn't your typical erotica novel. That's not promotional buzz either I really believe that there hasn't been a novel quite like this one and that MAY not be a good thing. This is, after all, an erotica novel and erotica means a few things doesn't it? It means sex, lots of hot, sweaty, detailed, graphic sex! It also means simplistic plots, happy endings and cookie cutter characters.
Except when it doesn't. With Master May I? I decided to directly challenge the preconceived notions of the genre and not in my usual Shawna Hunter style. I didn't just get creative I broke a major rule with Erotica. Which one? Tears. Now erotica blends well with other genres. Horror and Sci-Fi erotica are easy to find, Romance/erotica used to be the only kind and even comedy/erotica can be found (Check out Roxy Katt) but what I did was take Erotica and mix it with the only genre erotica is supposed to stay the hell away from. I blended it with Tragedy. I mean why not? Who'd've thought vodka and cream would work well together until some Russian guy tried it?
Now there's a lot of diversity in Master May I? Hell the main couple is interracial with a dominant black sheriff and a submissive white reporter that's cool right? Tumblr? I also explore the various types of BDSM relationship with an emphasis on both physical and spiritual romantic connections. Not to mention the heaping helping of kinky sex and all that good stuff but there are the following themes as well:
- Suicide
- Depression
- Alcoholism
- End of life care
- Loss
These are not tertiary concepts that I brush over between sex scenes either. They are an integral part of the plot. They are not fetishized or sexualized. The point here was to create a story that could (and boy does it) have all the hot sex of your traditional erotica but which would also explore the broader emotional connections between individuals. Sex and love go together after all but love isn't all rose petals and riding crops. Those we love can be hurting, those we love can be lost. We can find support in one another but the bonds we form can also cause us the deepest pain.
Dealing with these subjects in this medium was in no way easy. I had to find the right tone and the right touch. I couldn't have it be aggressively depressing or painful but at the same time I didn't want to make light of very serious issues. It's never easy to talk about these things but doing it within a sexy, kinky, playful world? This is why I believe Master May I? To be unique. It's an erotica tale that's meant not only to turn you on but to create a narrative that deals with very serious, real world issues and the impact they can have on our lives. My goal was to address these things with respect. Never trying to find solutions or preach but instead to have these realities be part of the narrative in a natural way that makes sense to the characters.
So the rule I broke? Erotica should never make you cry. Erotica is usually light and easy, an escape from the real world into a naughty fantasy land that gets you all hot and bothered. Master May I? does that but then it takes candy land and makes it a real place with real people and real problems. A place of laughter, fun, love and loss. Why? Because we're all human beings. That kinky cop making jokes about handcuffs, that slutty author (no, I mean Alyssa!) in the skimpy dress (seriously, I mean Alyssa), that double amputee struggling to get her wheelchair through the grocery store's door. We all have sex, we all have friends and joys and pains. So yes, I took an erotic fantasy and made it human but I am human and I don't know about you but when I dream of sex its with other real, complete, complex human beings. That may bring pain but what is that pain if not a reflection of how much that person (real or fictional) meant to us?
So maybe this book is for you or maybe it's just too much of a turn off I don't know but let us never say it can't be done. Boundaries are there to be pushed and maybe (dare I dream) your favorite erotic novel will be the one that makes you cry.
Master May I?: A Tale of Worship and Submission
So Master May I? isn't your typical erotica novel. That's not promotional buzz either I really believe that there hasn't been a novel quite like this one and that MAY not be a good thing. This is, after all, an erotica novel and erotica means a few things doesn't it? It means sex, lots of hot, sweaty, detailed, graphic sex! It also means simplistic plots, happy endings and cookie cutter characters.
Except when it doesn't. With Master May I? I decided to directly challenge the preconceived notions of the genre and not in my usual Shawna Hunter style. I didn't just get creative I broke a major rule with Erotica. Which one? Tears. Now erotica blends well with other genres. Horror and Sci-Fi erotica are easy to find, Romance/erotica used to be the only kind and even comedy/erotica can be found (Check out Roxy Katt) but what I did was take Erotica and mix it with the only genre erotica is supposed to stay the hell away from. I blended it with Tragedy. I mean why not? Who'd've thought vodka and cream would work well together until some Russian guy tried it?
Now there's a lot of diversity in Master May I? Hell the main couple is interracial with a dominant black sheriff and a submissive white reporter that's cool right? Tumblr? I also explore the various types of BDSM relationship with an emphasis on both physical and spiritual romantic connections. Not to mention the heaping helping of kinky sex and all that good stuff but there are the following themes as well:
- Suicide
- Depression
- Alcoholism
- End of life care
- Loss
These are not tertiary concepts that I brush over between sex scenes either. They are an integral part of the plot. They are not fetishized or sexualized. The point here was to create a story that could (and boy does it) have all the hot sex of your traditional erotica but which would also explore the broader emotional connections between individuals. Sex and love go together after all but love isn't all rose petals and riding crops. Those we love can be hurting, those we love can be lost. We can find support in one another but the bonds we form can also cause us the deepest pain.
Dealing with these subjects in this medium was in no way easy. I had to find the right tone and the right touch. I couldn't have it be aggressively depressing or painful but at the same time I didn't want to make light of very serious issues. It's never easy to talk about these things but doing it within a sexy, kinky, playful world? This is why I believe Master May I? To be unique. It's an erotica tale that's meant not only to turn you on but to create a narrative that deals with very serious, real world issues and the impact they can have on our lives. My goal was to address these things with respect. Never trying to find solutions or preach but instead to have these realities be part of the narrative in a natural way that makes sense to the characters.
So the rule I broke? Erotica should never make you cry. Erotica is usually light and easy, an escape from the real world into a naughty fantasy land that gets you all hot and bothered. Master May I? does that but then it takes candy land and makes it a real place with real people and real problems. A place of laughter, fun, love and loss. Why? Because we're all human beings. That kinky cop making jokes about handcuffs, that slutty author (no, I mean Alyssa!) in the skimpy dress (seriously, I mean Alyssa), that double amputee struggling to get her wheelchair through the grocery store's door. We all have sex, we all have friends and joys and pains. So yes, I took an erotic fantasy and made it human but I am human and I don't know about you but when I dream of sex its with other real, complete, complex human beings. That may bring pain but what is that pain if not a reflection of how much that person (real or fictional) meant to us?
So maybe this book is for you or maybe it's just too much of a turn off I don't know but let us never say it can't be done. Boundaries are there to be pushed and maybe (dare I dream) your favorite erotic novel will be the one that makes you cry.
Nods to the hardcore
In my work a certain balance needs to be struck between BDSM reality and erotic fantasy. This is done for a variety of reasons mostly to do with narrative flow but I always like to sprinkle in a few bread crumbs for my kinkster readers. In my books you will find passing references to (among other things) CBT, Urine play (not gonna use the p word), castration/sissification fantasy (book 6, coming soon), body modification and other BDSM acts and fantasies which would be far too extreme for mainstream audiences and publishers. I do this not to show off my knowledge but to imply a broader world that there simply isn't the narrative space (yet) to put a focus on.
BDSM is huge with fantasies, practices, varying opinions, etc enough to fill a million books. So I like to sprinkle some of these throughout the world of my more mainstream novels to imply that depth and indicate that there's so much more to learn and to explore. I don't write how-to guides I write novels with a narrative structure and a framework for a series of story arcs between the books. Please enjoy my novels as such and have a little fun finding my Easter eggs and sprinkled references but (especially when it comes to the hardcore) if you're interested in learning more do your research. There are so many things waiting to be discovered.
BDSM is huge with fantasies, practices, varying opinions, etc enough to fill a million books. So I like to sprinkle some of these throughout the world of my more mainstream novels to imply that depth and indicate that there's so much more to learn and to explore. I don't write how-to guides I write novels with a narrative structure and a framework for a series of story arcs between the books. Please enjoy my novels as such and have a little fun finding my Easter eggs and sprinkled references but (especially when it comes to the hardcore) if you're interested in learning more do your research. There are so many things waiting to be discovered.
Skip it. Skip it good.
*Minor book spoilers below be warned!*
So Beauty and the Bitch primarily (but my other works as well) has gotten some criticism for "glossing over" or "ignoring" the negotiation stage of a BDSM relationship. This has ranged from just pointing it out "hey shouldn't they..." to rage quitting the book because the characters didn't have consent forms signed in triplicate and notarized before daring to touch each other even playfully. Honestly it's kind of an odd thing to focus on in the Brooke's Hollow universe but since people are I might as well address it.
Not that it's the only thing of this nature that gets sighted but lets use it as the prime example because many of the others are taste specific. So why do I skip or speed through the negotiations, contracts, etc that appear in so many other BDSM novels? Well the simple answer is that they appear in so many other novels! In a universe like Brooke's Hollow consent and negotiation would be as common place as deciding what to eat for dinner or dividing up bills and/or chores within a household. It's something mundane to the point of derailing the character-driven narratives I seek to present. Looking at books (and even more so the movie) like 50 Shades we see a heavy focus on contracts and negotiation and how did that turn out? As cinema sins so eloquently put it "but arguing about the contract is all you do!" So for things of this nature I prefer to leave them to so-called "off screen" moments unless it's something plot related.
This is something that has changed in me from book to book, however, and I am still fine tuning it. In Their Wild Little Girl consent was a big part of the narrative and there's an entire chapter long conversation dedicated to it (which is also an empowerment moment for Elizabeth). There are also numerous references in Their Wild Little Girl and Their Meddling Aunt to what they were eating. What I learned from writing those is that a lot of it was pointless. Sure the pancake thing is a cute quirk of Elizabeth's and the consent issue was a huge part of the relationship dynamic in the book but was it necessary to specify that they were eating chicken caesar salad or to spell out repeatedly that Elizabeth could say "no" even though she clearly understands this (as Marcus' nose can attest)? No. Looking back I didn't even have a plan to take a lot of those things anywhere (Elizabeth was never intended to use a safeword for example). It was just an unnecessary detail.
In later books I learned to chop that sort of thing out wherever possible. If it isn't important to the plot then the reader can be trusted to infer it. In Submission Backstory, for example, consent is discussed but certainly not to the level it is in Wild Little Girl. In fact the Alyssa/Jane encounter doesn't really have any discussion of consent. The scene is built to imply a sort of playful blackmail (a common erotic fantasy) with Alyssa's body language and enthusiasm left to convey that she is in no way doing it against her will. This story was more psychological, more about the inner temptations Alyssa was experiencing so consent wasn't all that big a part of the plot as the central conflict revolved around her wanting everything that was happening.
Next up, in Beauty and the Bitch (which was written during a hiatus from Master May I and is thus my 4th and 5th book depending on how you look at it) the story is meant for lighthearted escapism. Where the first 3 were varying themes on sexual temptation and grappling with one's desires here the idea is more about fun. Yes there's the fitness challenges and the job threat (not to mention that drug sub plot that connects to my upcoming release) but the story is primarily about being flirty and relaxed. Learning to be comfortable with who you are and to let down your guard and trust another person. Consent isn't that big a factor in the plot because for these characters it's all very much a game. The slap (that caused one reader to rage quit) was a playful thing which shocked Isabelle more than hurt her and the later sexual acts were all about exploration. If anything this story is the most hedonistic of my works to date but consent and care for one another are still there. They're just left to implications and subtle hints. The biggest one, of course, being Rachel's concern for Isabelle's well being as the competition grows closer.
It happens again in Master May I? (which I'm honestly surprised hasn't been criticized as heavily as Beauty and the Bitch for it). Here Alyssa can come across as ridiculously trusting. The concept is actually meant to show her experience and her self-reliance. The handcuff escape, for example, is meant to demonstrate that Alyssa always has a back-up plan. Now, again, consent is discussed in passing with both Darrius and Wendy but here more than ever it's brushed off. There are moments when even I imagined the character giving a little hand wave when answering questions about it. That is because these are very experienced players. The narrative is meant to lay out that, for them, safe words, consent, hard and soft limits, etc are all boiler plate things that everyone involved understands at a glance. If I were to have them really sit down "on screen" and hash it out it would come out as nothing more than 2 very bored people reading the terms of service on a new iphone. Sure, in real life, one would do that (right?) but in an erotic fantasy world that sort of thing would just be dull for the majority of readers.
All that said my books are exactly that, erotic fantasy. I keep the world as realistic as possible to aid the suspension of disbelief but since, as a reader, I don't care to read about how this character accessorizes, when that character uses the bathroom or how they discussed Red, Yellow, Green for the dozenth time I don't focus on that as a writer. Please understand that I am not writing how-to guides on real life BDSM (If you want one of those I suggest Screw the Roses Send me the Thorns). I should no more have to tell readers not to expect the real world to conform to the Brooke's Hollow norm than E.L. James should have to tell you that tripping into a Billionaire's office will likely not result in him marrying you. If you want non-fiction go to the non-fiction section. Erotica is a playground for fantasy and fantasy sometimes requires that we skip a few boring details.
So Beauty and the Bitch primarily (but my other works as well) has gotten some criticism for "glossing over" or "ignoring" the negotiation stage of a BDSM relationship. This has ranged from just pointing it out "hey shouldn't they..." to rage quitting the book because the characters didn't have consent forms signed in triplicate and notarized before daring to touch each other even playfully. Honestly it's kind of an odd thing to focus on in the Brooke's Hollow universe but since people are I might as well address it.
Not that it's the only thing of this nature that gets sighted but lets use it as the prime example because many of the others are taste specific. So why do I skip or speed through the negotiations, contracts, etc that appear in so many other BDSM novels? Well the simple answer is that they appear in so many other novels! In a universe like Brooke's Hollow consent and negotiation would be as common place as deciding what to eat for dinner or dividing up bills and/or chores within a household. It's something mundane to the point of derailing the character-driven narratives I seek to present. Looking at books (and even more so the movie) like 50 Shades we see a heavy focus on contracts and negotiation and how did that turn out? As cinema sins so eloquently put it "but arguing about the contract is all you do!" So for things of this nature I prefer to leave them to so-called "off screen" moments unless it's something plot related.
This is something that has changed in me from book to book, however, and I am still fine tuning it. In Their Wild Little Girl consent was a big part of the narrative and there's an entire chapter long conversation dedicated to it (which is also an empowerment moment for Elizabeth). There are also numerous references in Their Wild Little Girl and Their Meddling Aunt to what they were eating. What I learned from writing those is that a lot of it was pointless. Sure the pancake thing is a cute quirk of Elizabeth's and the consent issue was a huge part of the relationship dynamic in the book but was it necessary to specify that they were eating chicken caesar salad or to spell out repeatedly that Elizabeth could say "no" even though she clearly understands this (as Marcus' nose can attest)? No. Looking back I didn't even have a plan to take a lot of those things anywhere (Elizabeth was never intended to use a safeword for example). It was just an unnecessary detail.
In later books I learned to chop that sort of thing out wherever possible. If it isn't important to the plot then the reader can be trusted to infer it. In Submission Backstory, for example, consent is discussed but certainly not to the level it is in Wild Little Girl. In fact the Alyssa/Jane encounter doesn't really have any discussion of consent. The scene is built to imply a sort of playful blackmail (a common erotic fantasy) with Alyssa's body language and enthusiasm left to convey that she is in no way doing it against her will. This story was more psychological, more about the inner temptations Alyssa was experiencing so consent wasn't all that big a part of the plot as the central conflict revolved around her wanting everything that was happening.
Next up, in Beauty and the Bitch (which was written during a hiatus from Master May I and is thus my 4th and 5th book depending on how you look at it) the story is meant for lighthearted escapism. Where the first 3 were varying themes on sexual temptation and grappling with one's desires here the idea is more about fun. Yes there's the fitness challenges and the job threat (not to mention that drug sub plot that connects to my upcoming release) but the story is primarily about being flirty and relaxed. Learning to be comfortable with who you are and to let down your guard and trust another person. Consent isn't that big a factor in the plot because for these characters it's all very much a game. The slap (that caused one reader to rage quit) was a playful thing which shocked Isabelle more than hurt her and the later sexual acts were all about exploration. If anything this story is the most hedonistic of my works to date but consent and care for one another are still there. They're just left to implications and subtle hints. The biggest one, of course, being Rachel's concern for Isabelle's well being as the competition grows closer.
It happens again in Master May I? (which I'm honestly surprised hasn't been criticized as heavily as Beauty and the Bitch for it). Here Alyssa can come across as ridiculously trusting. The concept is actually meant to show her experience and her self-reliance. The handcuff escape, for example, is meant to demonstrate that Alyssa always has a back-up plan. Now, again, consent is discussed in passing with both Darrius and Wendy but here more than ever it's brushed off. There are moments when even I imagined the character giving a little hand wave when answering questions about it. That is because these are very experienced players. The narrative is meant to lay out that, for them, safe words, consent, hard and soft limits, etc are all boiler plate things that everyone involved understands at a glance. If I were to have them really sit down "on screen" and hash it out it would come out as nothing more than 2 very bored people reading the terms of service on a new iphone. Sure, in real life, one would do that (right?) but in an erotic fantasy world that sort of thing would just be dull for the majority of readers.
All that said my books are exactly that, erotic fantasy. I keep the world as realistic as possible to aid the suspension of disbelief but since, as a reader, I don't care to read about how this character accessorizes, when that character uses the bathroom or how they discussed Red, Yellow, Green for the dozenth time I don't focus on that as a writer. Please understand that I am not writing how-to guides on real life BDSM (If you want one of those I suggest Screw the Roses Send me the Thorns). I should no more have to tell readers not to expect the real world to conform to the Brooke's Hollow norm than E.L. James should have to tell you that tripping into a Billionaire's office will likely not result in him marrying you. If you want non-fiction go to the non-fiction section. Erotica is a playground for fantasy and fantasy sometimes requires that we skip a few boring details.
Painful lessons of the Past
Listening through my old books is not a fun experience for me. With the duel benefits of hindsight and my increased knowledge of writing I find my older works ALMOST embarrassing. Unnecessary words like "however" and "slightly" which the narrators oh-so-helpfully over pronounce make me cringe and there's so much that I would have changed had I written them today.
That said the walk down memory lane also stirs old feelings and memories in me. References I've forgotten over time and feelings I've since worked through were the catalyst for these stories and as such their ghosts still haunt the pages as I go. Thinking back I can almost boil each book down to what I intended it to be and see how my interests as a writer have evolved. It creates an interesting timeline which I don't mind sharing:
Their Wild Little Girl - Vacation. This book is the closest to straight up porn of all my works. I wrote it at a time when I was very stressed and needed an escape into fantasy. At the same time it includes reflections on the moral quandary posed by BDSM desires (especially for a dom) and I can see that I was at least starting to think about themes I'd return to later.
Their Meddling Aunt - Perhaps my most underappreciated book due to the issues with publishing it. The story, again, is near porn and even has tongue in cheek step-mother themes. Here, however, I had family firmly on my mind (not in the gross way). It began with Jessica struggling with fears brought up in the conclusion of Wild Little Girl and ends with the threesome a stronger unit than ever before. The journey is all about coming to terms with who you are and how you fit into your family and I wrote it at a time when I too was struggling with these issues.
Submission Backstory - The story of a woman lured by temptation into a life changing decision. It's the least subtle of all my books (to my ears at least) because the metaphors are simple. It's me coming to terms with being an erotica author and realizing that it wouldn't be a 1 off thing (Meddling had yet to be rejected at the time). Perhaps that's why people always assume that I relate most strongly to Alyssa?
Beauty and the Bitch - My most popular book. This one was actually a lot of fun and fun was the theme of it. I was dealing with the fallout of being an erotica author and the reactions this provoked in friends and loved ones. For Isabelle her concerns were more about her body confidence and she learned how fitness could help her through them while also discovering its similarity to BDSM. For me it was a journey of dealing with my author confidence and finding the argument that BDSM was rather like fitness. Izzy and I were essentially hitting the same theme from different ends.
Master May I? - The germ of the idea for this story came from the way I lost my parents. Both died of long term, debilitating illnesses. That's why I can't read certain chapters without crying. The rest was built on discoveries I made as I came out as a BDSM author (to those who know the real me behind the pen name). I lost some people but I met so many more who accepted me and welcomed me. That community helped me get through the losses and taught me that living life is the best way to heal old wounds. I do feel that that came across in the story in the end.
The Domme's Daughter - I work from home in my day job and as an author. I spend most of my days in a dark room all alone and only go out on weekends or to the gym. I don't mind the loneliness (as an aspie I welcome it) but I understand how people would and thinking about how that isolation would effect a normal person's views on society inspired the story. How often have I been caught talking to myself?
The Girl Named Flower - I know it's not out yet but don't worry this'll be spoiler free ;) This is part of a 3 story arc that will shake up Brooke's Hollow. It reflects my desire to grow as an author and work in more observations about the world. I resisted this early on (I do love discussing controversial subjects) because I thought I lacked the skill to give it the light touch fiction needs. Now I feel I've grown enough to address interesting issues in the real world in a light, implied way via fiction and (as a bonus) bring my characters together in an ensemble story. It wasn't easy to get this far and I've had a lot of growing pains along the way but now I feel I'm ready for the next evolution.
I only hope I'll still be able to read my older works once it's done.
That said the walk down memory lane also stirs old feelings and memories in me. References I've forgotten over time and feelings I've since worked through were the catalyst for these stories and as such their ghosts still haunt the pages as I go. Thinking back I can almost boil each book down to what I intended it to be and see how my interests as a writer have evolved. It creates an interesting timeline which I don't mind sharing:
Their Wild Little Girl - Vacation. This book is the closest to straight up porn of all my works. I wrote it at a time when I was very stressed and needed an escape into fantasy. At the same time it includes reflections on the moral quandary posed by BDSM desires (especially for a dom) and I can see that I was at least starting to think about themes I'd return to later.
Their Meddling Aunt - Perhaps my most underappreciated book due to the issues with publishing it. The story, again, is near porn and even has tongue in cheek step-mother themes. Here, however, I had family firmly on my mind (not in the gross way). It began with Jessica struggling with fears brought up in the conclusion of Wild Little Girl and ends with the threesome a stronger unit than ever before. The journey is all about coming to terms with who you are and how you fit into your family and I wrote it at a time when I too was struggling with these issues.
Submission Backstory - The story of a woman lured by temptation into a life changing decision. It's the least subtle of all my books (to my ears at least) because the metaphors are simple. It's me coming to terms with being an erotica author and realizing that it wouldn't be a 1 off thing (Meddling had yet to be rejected at the time). Perhaps that's why people always assume that I relate most strongly to Alyssa?
Beauty and the Bitch - My most popular book. This one was actually a lot of fun and fun was the theme of it. I was dealing with the fallout of being an erotica author and the reactions this provoked in friends and loved ones. For Isabelle her concerns were more about her body confidence and she learned how fitness could help her through them while also discovering its similarity to BDSM. For me it was a journey of dealing with my author confidence and finding the argument that BDSM was rather like fitness. Izzy and I were essentially hitting the same theme from different ends.
Master May I? - The germ of the idea for this story came from the way I lost my parents. Both died of long term, debilitating illnesses. That's why I can't read certain chapters without crying. The rest was built on discoveries I made as I came out as a BDSM author (to those who know the real me behind the pen name). I lost some people but I met so many more who accepted me and welcomed me. That community helped me get through the losses and taught me that living life is the best way to heal old wounds. I do feel that that came across in the story in the end.
The Domme's Daughter - I work from home in my day job and as an author. I spend most of my days in a dark room all alone and only go out on weekends or to the gym. I don't mind the loneliness (as an aspie I welcome it) but I understand how people would and thinking about how that isolation would effect a normal person's views on society inspired the story. How often have I been caught talking to myself?
The Girl Named Flower - I know it's not out yet but don't worry this'll be spoiler free ;) This is part of a 3 story arc that will shake up Brooke's Hollow. It reflects my desire to grow as an author and work in more observations about the world. I resisted this early on (I do love discussing controversial subjects) because I thought I lacked the skill to give it the light touch fiction needs. Now I feel I've grown enough to address interesting issues in the real world in a light, implied way via fiction and (as a bonus) bring my characters together in an ensemble story. It wasn't easy to get this far and I've had a lot of growing pains along the way but now I feel I'm ready for the next evolution.
I only hope I'll still be able to read my older works once it's done.
Lowest scam yet
"Sensitivity Readers"
I came across this earlier today and the more I read about it the more it offends me. It is by far the most unethical "service" I've ever seen attempting to prey on authors and it comes wrapped up in SJW lingo!
A character is an individual not a symbol for any group they may belong to. That character's thoughts and actions are there own and don't even necessarily represent those of the author (think villains).
A reader is an individual and not a spokesperson for everyone in any group they may belong to. They cannot judge what is or isn't acceptable from someone else of similar characteristic.
What this does is make a "no true scotsman" argument via criticism of your work and then expect you to acquiesce. You'll note (say, in the example below) that they can't guarantee you won't offend. That's because NO ONE PERSON can speak for a group and it demonstrates clearly that they know exactly what they're doing which makes me sick.
If you're scared of offending people with a character or plot point then don't write that character or plot point but don't shy away from writing what you want because of fear of offense. You can't please everyone but you can't let that keep you from expressing yourself creatively. We all face those insecurities while writing but they serve a purpose. They help make our work better by helping us to double check and really put ourselves in our characters' shoes. What this "service" does is prey on those insecurities. It offers to allay them for a fee but, as I said, they can't offer any true guarantee.
The world today is facing major tensions and "marginalized groups" are becoming more vocal which is great...but with that impetus to change and growth comes these leaches that try to use these moments to turn a prophet. To me they're no better than hoarders during a famine or drought that try and steal supplies and sell them back to the people.
Here's one example that I found via google (you may need alcohol to read it). Please don't ever fall for this. We're all people and we ALL have the right to express ourselves creatively. If someone doesn't like your story they don't have to read it but you should never feel guilt for how you express yourself.
http://writeinthemargins.org/sensitiv...
I came across this earlier today and the more I read about it the more it offends me. It is by far the most unethical "service" I've ever seen attempting to prey on authors and it comes wrapped up in SJW lingo!
A character is an individual not a symbol for any group they may belong to. That character's thoughts and actions are there own and don't even necessarily represent those of the author (think villains).
A reader is an individual and not a spokesperson for everyone in any group they may belong to. They cannot judge what is or isn't acceptable from someone else of similar characteristic.
What this does is make a "no true scotsman" argument via criticism of your work and then expect you to acquiesce. You'll note (say, in the example below) that they can't guarantee you won't offend. That's because NO ONE PERSON can speak for a group and it demonstrates clearly that they know exactly what they're doing which makes me sick.
If you're scared of offending people with a character or plot point then don't write that character or plot point but don't shy away from writing what you want because of fear of offense. You can't please everyone but you can't let that keep you from expressing yourself creatively. We all face those insecurities while writing but they serve a purpose. They help make our work better by helping us to double check and really put ourselves in our characters' shoes. What this "service" does is prey on those insecurities. It offers to allay them for a fee but, as I said, they can't offer any true guarantee.
The world today is facing major tensions and "marginalized groups" are becoming more vocal which is great...but with that impetus to change and growth comes these leaches that try to use these moments to turn a prophet. To me they're no better than hoarders during a famine or drought that try and steal supplies and sell them back to the people.
Here's one example that I found via google (you may need alcohol to read it). Please don't ever fall for this. We're all people and we ALL have the right to express ourselves creatively. If someone doesn't like your story they don't have to read it but you should never feel guilt for how you express yourself.
http://writeinthemargins.org/sensitiv...
