Back for more: a follow-up interview with erotica author Carl East

Since your last interview here in March, what have you been working on?
The fact is I haven't been writing much as I've been too busy getting my books converted into Audio and Paperback. There's a lot of work involved in doing these things and my mind can only concentrate on one thing at a time. lol

Tell us about some of your recent titles.
I wrote "The Demon Ezekiel," which is about an Angel who exorcises a demon. "Sleeping Beauties," which is a twist on the Sleeping Beauty story concerning tooth fairies, and what they get up to while the women they visit are asleep. I had fun with that one. lol I also wrote "Three Days of the Yeti," which has another twist, although I won't say what that twist entails. The books I'm most excited about at the moment though are the "Steamy Stories Vol 1 to 5" which are a collaboration between myself and four other authors. I'll give you the link to them so that your readers can check them out. We have them up at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble and I believe at $0.99 a book they are going to sell well. Here are the links:

Volume 1
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008P2OKYM 
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008P2OKYM 
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steamy-stories-volume-1-synthia-st-claire/1112253254?ean=2940015020595
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/208424

Volume 2
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Z10L8M
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008Z10L8M
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steamy-stories-volume-2-francis-ashe/1112540368?ean=2940014882866
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/215843

Volume 3
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0091A0NZW
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0091A0NZW
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steamy-stories-volume-3-malia-mallory/1112616218?ean=2940015170863
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/218440

Volume 4
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0091X2TSS
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0091X2TSS
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steamy-stories-volume-4-marie-shore/1112640972?ean=2940015210538
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/218941

Volume 5
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009282TG4
Amazon US - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009282TG4
B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steamy-stories-volume-5-carl-east/1112666632?ean=2940015233629
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/219904

Is the erotica field changing?
Not really, although places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple would have you believe that erotica is not that popular. They ban it, filter it and hide it away, but people still keep looking for it. lol

What new trends are emerging, and how has this affected your work?
Serialization seems to be making a comeback, with all the billionaire stories making the headlines. That might be responsible for my recent slump in sales, but you have to follow the trends and keep up with what's popular, unless like me you're stubborn and can't help writing what you enjoy as opposed to what others are reading in greater numbers. lol

With the high-profile successes of writers like EL James and Sara Fawkes, is erotica respectable now?
Ha ha! Respectable, no. Popular, yes. While these companies that I've already mentioned refuse to acknowledge that erotica is wanted and sought after, erotica will never be respectable. Having said that, I've just uploaded all of my books into the "Kobo Writing Life" site and they treat their authors extremely well. If you have problems, they will work with you to overcome them and their royalty rates are the best out there. Other companies should be taking notes. lol

Is the market shifting as, for example, Kobo have expanded and Amazon have opened up in India?
If by shifting you mean getting bigger, then yes it is shifting. There are twice as many sites for ebooks than there was a year ago and agents are now openly seeking out the indie writers with the right stuff, as it were.

Tell us about your typical writing day.
I usually do a lot of things first thing in the morning, after I've had my coffee of course. I will check my messages to see if anything important is happening and then my sales from various places where one can find my books. Then, I decide whether or not I should write something, update something or get something out there, like a new audiobook or paperback. After all that I might write a short story, or do some research on a story I have in mind. These days it's very rarely all about just the writing aspect of it all.

What do you do for inspiration, and how do you settle on which idea to write next?
For inspiration I usually read a good book and if anything strikes me during that read I will get on it straight away and usually end up with the first chapter of some story that's trying to break free. lol

Do you know many authors?
I know quite a few erotic authors and people would be surprised at how nice some of these authors really are. I know Delilah Fawkes, who I admire and consider a friend as well as Sara Fawkes, who recently made a huge deal with her latest book, and is one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. I know Virginia Wade who I also consider a friend and who has an incredible sense of humor. I know Selena Kitt and Tawny Taylor, both of which I admire and consider a friend, and the list goes on and on. These people are my inspiration and I'm going to get to meet a few of them later this year, which is something I'm looking forward to. I also know Alex Sanders who is without doubt the most enterprising author I've ever known. When he sets out to do something he puts his heart and soul into it. Like his audio books, he set up his own studio and went to work like there was no tomorrow, I admire such dedication.

And finally, what can we expect to see from you soon?
I'm currently working on "My Other Daddy 2". I'm also working on a story that will be submitted under a pseudonym. This story will be more of a romance than a typical erotica story.
 
More about Carl East:
Carl's previous interview here (March 2012)Carl's author page at AmazonCarl on Facebook