Pollygraph (interviews with erotica authors): Maxwell Avoi

Why erotica?
My usual response to this question is "Why not?"

But to be more specific, writing erotica is just fun. I getto explore my kinks and story ideas that I've had for a long time, and now Iget paid for it. When I first started writing erotica, I didn't get paid, but Istill wrote.
What kinds of erotica do you write?
Generally I write transgender transformation erotica, with afantasy or sci-fi emphasis. Sometimes I branch out into non-TG stuff, andoccasionally I even do realistic erotica, but generally it's the transformationstuff. 

Tell us about your experiences as an erotica author. Whathave the big challenges and successes been?
Well, I've only been doing this since August of 2011. Thebiggest thing for me was the realization that yes, I CAN do this, and that Ihadn't latched onto something that was going to let me down after a month ortwo. Posting my first bundle (Variations) was a real thrill, and so was thefirst time that I broke the $1000-in-one-month mark. That was pretty recent,actually, just in December. I've gotten to work with other authors, joining inon anthologies that have been both financially nice and great for exposure.

Do you write in other genres, too?
Occasionally, but it's always sci-fi or fantasy. I'm a nerd.

Do the people around you know what you write? How have theyreacted, or how would they react?My family knows, and they're amused that I'm doing so wellat it. A couple of my friends know, but I've been careful to tell the peoplewho react exactly the way that I hoped they would: roll their eyes, make a fewjokes, then move on without really worrying about it. It's like the old sayingsays: those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. 

Tell us about your most recent titles.
I just put out a story called "The Dragon and the(Virgin) Princess," which is a story told from the point of view of ayoung dragon who knows that he has to get a Virgin Princess to complete hishoard and be taken seriously by the older dragons. He figures that Princessescome from castles, so when a knight comes to challenge him, the dragon mistakesthe knight for a princess. Unfortunately, the knight is the wrong, well, shape,so the dragon uses his magic to reshape the knight into the image of thebeautiful princess that he's assembled from the minds of the humans ("tinycreatures") around him. It's not the best day that the knight ever had.The whole thing is done for humor, and I had a BLAST writing it. 

Do you have a favourite, or favourites, among your stories?
I'll always have a soft spot for "Pollymorphed."It was one of my first, and one of my faves, I'm not sure why. I think overallmy favorite story of mine is "Twice Around." It was some of my betterwriting, and it's gotten some good feedback. 

How do you normally go about writing an erotic story? Isthere much, ahem, research involved...?
Heh. Research. Sorry, part of me is still fourteen. Anyway!My story process is to come up with an idea of how a change might take place,and then explore it. Sometimes it really surprises me, and sometimes it flatwon't work. I'm not an outliner, except when I write the fairy tale retellingslike "Cat's Black Boots" or the upcoming "Silken Jane."Those have a pretty well-established formula and story, and I like to try tokeep true to that.

Do you have any favourite erotica authors?
Yes, but I mostly know screen names. There are a lot of realgems in sites like Fictionmania. I strongly recommend Morpheus, Ed Miller, orStephanie on that site. There are others, but those three are the ones thatcome to mind first. As far as those who are publishing for sale, S. Wolf isprobably my fave right now; he goes into sci-fi and fantasy a lot, so itappeals. I love some Gia Blue, some Sarah Salari. It's hard to choose,honestly, because I like bits and pieces of most authors. Also I hang out witha lot of them online, so I'd hate to upset anyone. You're all wonderful!

And finally, what can we expect to see from you soon?
Currently in the editing process are "SilkenJane," a retelling of Iron John with rather more transgendertransformation and sex, "Granted," a story about a company thatgrants wishes, and something I'm currently calling "The Shirt Story,"about magical shirts that change the wearer. I REALLY suck at titles. 


More about Maxwell Avoi:
Website: www.maxwellavoi.com Twitter: AuthorAvoi