Author Interview #11, with Rodger Thorhill (who writes romance erotica!)
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Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?
Rodger: I have. The subject interests me, a lot.
Jess: Me too ;) How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?
Rodger: Porn is simply tab A into slot B, or the same-sex equivalents. Erotica lets you know the characters as more than puppets.
Jess: Yes. I shall now ask how you would respond to the following statement:
“I am very put off by the notion of 'literate smut', as if any porn is intellectual, that erotica needs to have a high and low art distinction. I think this is just a pretentious way for people to excuse their taste for pornography.”
-- originally posted on http://www.barbelith.com/topic/925
Rodger: High art, low art . . . who cares? In the visual arts, I can enjoy Jackson Pollack as well as Norman Rockwell. Not everything I read is "literature" as well.
Jess: What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?
Rodger: My late wife enjoyed erotica, but so many of the paperbacks available then were pretty poorly written, and, worse, treated the women characters badly. I felt I could write better than that.
Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?
Anon: Consensual, yes. I've dabbled only a time or two with NC scenes and did not enjoy them one bit. Safe and sane? Well the three works I have are pretty vanilla because they are mostly true and involve two partners just starting out. Exploring each others' kinks comes later.
Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?
Rodger: Some of of both. My late wife and I were nibbling around the edges of polyamory before the word had been invented. Anything involving BDSM beyond a little pretend bondage, I'd have to ask others.
Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?
Rodger: I truly hope it would appeal to both sexes. Since my wife's passing, though, I've been writing for myself.
Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?
Rodger: The NC stuff I alluded to above.
Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).
Rodger:
We kissed intermittently for about half an hour as we lay on the floor. Still shy about touching her too intimately, I caressed only her face and neck; she returned the favor a little more boldly down my chest. Gradually I wound up mostly on top of her and we clasped each other. She was aroused enough that her nipples showed under the sweater and I thrilled to feel her breasts move against me when we hugged but I was still too shy even to try cupping them through the sweater yet.
Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with both life and literature too!
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RODGER THORNHILL (in his own words):
Sexuality is a part of being human. Those who would suppress it are sweeping against the tide. To quote Robert Heinlein: "When any government, or any church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know, the end result is tyranny and oppression no matter how holy the motives."
You can email Rodger Thornhill at roger_thornhillATawesomeauthorsDOTorg
His books can be found via his Amazon Author Profile.
JESS C SCOTT:
Jess is the author/artist/non-conformist behind jessINK (her indie publishing division). One of her specializations is erotic literature.
If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and would like to share your views via a similar interview, just check out/fill out the form at Author Interviews. Jess will email you with the link once it is posted.
Jess is available for interviews too. Drop her a note at missfeyATgmailDOTcom :)
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