Author Interview, Pee Jay Bayliss

Author Interview #13, with the ever-so-lovely New Zealander, P J Bayliss!

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Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

P J Bayliss: Yes I have written Erotica themed material. I was encouraged to do so by a set of (female) friends who were very satisfied with my Poetry and erotic-themed short story scenes. They suggested I entered a competition (The Gathering 2012) & I subsequently entered the SYTYCW2012 competition.

Jess: Cool! How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

P J Bayliss: I challenged myself on this question with a blog entry: 'can a man write romance?' I looked at the top Romance stories, their story lines, and authors to help define a moral ground for myself.

I believe emotions, story lines, ploys, and moral backgrounds are all composite materials to erotica whereas pornographic writing is more biased to depicting sexual acts. I try to push the boundaries of erotica through my poetry as much as possible through expressive words and metaphors to present my 'artwork'.

Jess: Nice blog post;) 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

P J Bayliss: We live in a dawn of changing times when it comes to sexuality and human inter-relationships. Traditional understandings of sexual acts have now proven to be healthy practices within marital situations. Scientific research suggests healthier living & improved quality of life with these practices.

As an Erotica writer and natural artist, I am passionate to understand and apply as much as I can about sexuality, love, desire, and lust. From ancient Greek gods to the latest Kinsey studies. I do not want to simply scratch the surface by writing about acts of sex, or pornography.

Jess: What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

P J Bayliss: My original inspiration came from a 'tingling' sensation I received while reading a romance novel.

My family, friends I met online, and strangers that read my original works on Twitter then encouraged me. It has all snowballed from there.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

P J Bayliss: At this stage yes, however, I do plan to divert from the 'safe' aspect of this credo in order to present a problem to a population that I believe is rushing into the BDSM aspect of life.

Jess: Good. What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

P J Bayliss: My ability to draw the reader into the sensual scenes and really feel the emotions of the characters as they read.

Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

P J Bayliss: I spend a lot of time researching where I need to. It's not entirely practical to live out every fantasy I intend to write.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

P J Bayliss: It's most aligned to a female population, if written appropriately, with emotions and romantic force.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

P J Bayliss: I am reluctant to tackle Sadism & Masochism at this point in time. Hardcore sex scenes are also challenging.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

P J Bayliss:

The serpent slowly rises as a King to the throne, quivering with scented sight of her precious dome, amid rich treacle and gush of sweet innocence, she beckons me to join her with vigorous relent.

Like a stone plunged into a deep still pond, ripples fan out from my scorching hot wand, my firm hand delivers five slivers of pain, her sudden cry of ecstasy resounds like rain. Her face soon adorns a flush of pink glow, as my stream of white hot foam does flow, locked together we embrace each others soul, as the ambrosia of lust swirls within her bowl.

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

P J Bayliss:

I don't really have any particular favorite authors yet. Still learning the ropes.

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with both life and literature too!

* * * * *

PEE JAY BAYLISS (in his own words):

I'm PJ Bayliss & I live in New Zealand with my family within rural Waikato where I focus on my passion for poetry and creative writing. My works are fantasy-based and inspired by friends, Erotica authors, and poets from around the world. My initial work titled "Restraint" is poetry-based and it's a prelude to "Chronicle" which is a non-fiction romance novel.

I'm also working on a project involving a series of novels under the name "A Chemical Romance" which includes three works: Admission, Inception, Deception. Details for these books are located on my website www.pjbayliss.com.

My reasoning for writing Erotica is due to the fascination I have with this fast-growing popular culture. From an early age I have always been expressive in my sexuality and I wish to produce sensual, classy romance writing that immerses the reader into the action.

You may find me online here: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Blog | 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 :)

Author Interview, M.O.N.

Author Interview #12, with M.O.N., who writes philosophical erotica (published by gn0mebooks)!

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Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

M.O.N.: Yes, a short work entitled ObliviOnanisM, which I describe as a “profanely mystical work of hyperpurple theory-porn.” It is fictional, and a little surreal, but I think the writing is more about the language and concepts than about narrative or representation. Not much happens in the book, but from another perspective, everything happens. Which of course is also analogous to the nature of sexual/erotic experience. A reviewer wrote: “It begins with a woman, Gemma, who inserts an ovoid object into her anus--and that's pretty much the entirety of what happens for the remaining 85 pages.” I wrote it for the pleasure of writing it, for my decadent enjoyment of the perverse textual fantasy.

Jess: Sounds highly original ;) How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

M.O.N.: I understand the erotica/pornography distinction as having everything to do with differences and modulations in the ontological status of the representation, in what a representation is. A photographic image of actual sex is different from an imaginative depiction of sex, which is in turn different from a concept or intellectual image of sex. On one end the spectrum the representation is materially of a piece with the event it represents. An original photograph is in fact a real impression of trace elements of the event, photons or whatever. On the other end the representation is more independent of the event, even impossible or sexual in an unimaginable way. Sex-thoughts, thank God, are not delimited by actual sex. How flat the world would be if that were not the case. Though of course there is also something torturous and intolerable in the way sex thoughts are bound to our bodies, senses, etc. Anyway, although these three levels (material, imaginative, intellectual/spiritual), which also turn up as a central theme in ObliviOnanisM, are interrelated and inseparable, there is a noticeable and palpable difference between representations which privilege one end of the spectrum or the other, or which put one end in the service of the other or vice-versa, a difference which is felt in connection to the style of our enjoyment of the representation, how we use it or let it resonate with the correlative levels of our being. This explains to some degree why ‘pornography’ is generically localized around the graphic depiction of actual sex and why ‘erotica’ is generically localized around the arts and writing. But it also helps us understand, and this is what most interests me, how the pornographic is not proscribed by explicit sexuality and at the same time how the erotic is not confined to implicit sexuality, or sex that signifies something beyond simple lust. For me the central question is the role of the imagination as the mediating term between matter and mind, specifically, whether the imagination is put in the service of restricting desire to the material or deployed to open desire beyond itself. That said, I am not in favor of hierarchizing erotica and pornography. As we know, a lot of erotica is merely dressed-up pornography, emotional pornography for instance, and conversely, there is something profoundly sublime in the shamelessly smutty and pornographic. So in the end I am favor of writing that somehow exacerbates the distinction between the two to a point of indistinction or at least confusion. Human desire is profoundly impossible and cannot mapped or regulated according the I-know-it-when-I-see-it kind of definiteness. So why not take writing to places where you explicitly do not know it when you see it, where you can no longer even ask, is this erotica or pornography?

Jess: Very interesting take on an age-old debate.  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

M.O.N.: I would say that the person sounds like a snob, like someone is who is accusing others of his or her own pretentiousness. At the same time the statement does properly call attention to the banal bait-and-switch logic according to which smutty literature pimps itself to society. The elephant in the room here is the erotic and pornographic dimensions of literature and writing per se.

Jess: What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

M.O.N.: The thrill of escape, of spontaneously doing something outré.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

M.O.N.: The credo is not an issue for me. My sexual tastes/aesthetics are not of the dangerous or harmful variety.

Jess: What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

M.O.N.: I hope that they find it enjoyable and unique. It was a delight when David Peak remarked on Goodreads, “frankly, it's amazing to me that this book even exists.”

Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

M.O.N.: The writing is the experience, the composition is the (real) fantasy.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

M.O.N.: I am not familiar enough with the genre to say. I do not think gender matters. Ultimately it is a game, because everyone is both male and female, and neither. A game that is to be played!

Jess: Oh yeah! Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

M.O.N.: Again this is not an issue for me. I only tackle topics I want to, and do not worry about the others.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

M.O.N.:

“Naturally she wanted her spit to drip by itself through her diaphanous panties onto the top of her pussy and suffuse the outside of its swelling lips with the wet gloss of a virtual tasting and tonguing. Naturally she did not want to manually short-circuit the process by using her hand, the tool of tools, to merely and messily move the saliva there. But even more naturally did she want to happen what actually did happen exactly by virtue of her wanting it to, within the thought-feeling-action dynamism of her desire. Here there was no question and answer, no before and after, no cause and effect. As if the force of wanting really burst out of relationality and achieved total creative transitivity, as if the subject-object correlation sodomitically suicided itself on its own phallic vector, Gemma wanted her slippery wanton saliva right onto her clit, drew it there via ducts no anatomist could ever discern. Without a doubt, the terrible seed of self-love embedded within her was spreading differentially in unpredictable, pestilential ways. Virally, Gemma’s whole body was becoming haptic.”

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

M.O.N.:

"The Sun exclusively loves the Night and directs its luminous violence, its ignoble shaft, toward the earth, but finds itself incapable of reaching the gaze or the night, even though the nocturnal terrestrial expanses head continuously toward the indecency of the solar ray. The solar annulus is the intact anus of her body at eighteen years to which nothing sufficiently blinding can be compared except the sun, even though the anus is night." (Bataille, Solar Anus)

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with both life and literature too!

* * * * *

M.O.N. (in his/her own words):

I use my initials M.O.N. because in French they mean 'mine' and 'name' backwards.

My work is published by gnOme books: http://gnomebooks.wordpress.com

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 :)

Author Interview, Rodger Thornhill

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!

* * * * *

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 :)

Author Interview, Anonymous



After the Bath, by Edgar Degas

Author Interview #10, with anonymous author #1 (who might write under a pseudonym one day--so as not to shock and offend many of his current readers)...

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Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

Anon: I have. Because human sexuality (namely, mine) interests me, and fiction allows us to explore things in a sort of intellectual playground environment where consequences cease to matter, thus allowing for experimentation that might be impractical or unwise in the real world. Erotica is to sex what action/adventures are to testosterone.

Jess: Cool! How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Anon: I'm tempted to say "the caliber of the writing", but I suspect that the ugly truth is that good prose in erotica is like a clean and well-informed employee at a comic book shop: a pleasant surprise, but not exactly necessary.

No, I suspect the thing that most differentiates erotica from porn is the emphasis on the psychological/emotional aspects of human sexuality. Porn treats sex like biology, where erotica treats it like the delectable desert at the end of a long, intricate, many-course meal. Erotica is dark chocolate melting on the tongue; porn is Lucky Charms eaten out of the box by handfuls.

Jess: Very lyrical ;) 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

Anon: I would not deign to respond to such a statement, since it is likely posited by someone who has been taught to view sexuality as a vice and is likely not in touch with his/her own sensual nature.

Jess: What a succinct response :) What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Anon: What were, at the time, unrequited fantasies and curiosities. As explained above, fiction allows a playground where the impractical, unsafe or impossible can be explored in great detail. Later, erotica allowed a place to condense memories and experiences into a more concrete, fictionalized account that could be revisited and enjoyed again.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Anon: Technically, yes. I do tend toward a more kinky angle where the consensual bit is often a little murky. I suspect all adults know that sometimes it is better not to have permission. In my fiction, however, as in real life, it is only sexy if her "resistance" is obviously token, covering up her obvious hopes that he does not abandon the pursuit of her.

Jess: What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Anon: Hopefully the believability of the interactions, the not-just-sexual depth of the relationships, and my ability (which I admit may only exist in my own head) to understand and write from the woman's perspective.

Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Anon: Initially, I wrote neither from research of real life. I wrote from imagination. It was surprisingly effective.

Later, of course, I added repeated layers of experience to my stories. Also, having discussed erotica and sexuality with many people in a (mostly) platonic environment, I suppose that would count as research.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Anon: I suspect that, while interesting debate on the topic is surely possible (and probably a lot of fun), we all know that literary erotica caters to a mostly female audience. The reasons for this are frustratingly stereotypical: men have the capability to be fully aroused by the mere sight of an attractive woman, whereas women are more drawn to the psychological processes of attraction. Literary erotica excels at the latter, this making it ideal for the lip-biting of sensuous women, but less geared toward the hair-trigger visual-arousal of the average man.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Anon: Not much. The only prerequisite is that I, as the author, find it intriguing and attractive. Thus, for example, I would write very bad homosexual erotica.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Anon:

Call it inhibition, or propriety, or simply not being "that kind of girl", it didn't matter. He scolded himself for becoming distracted, even as they sat and talked, with thoughts like 'beyond that closed door she gets undressed every night', and 'just down that hall is the shower where she soaps herself up every morning'. When she took his glass to the kitchen, he actually smacked himself lightly on the cheek, ashamed of his erotic daydreams, even while in her presence.

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with both life and literature too!

* * * * *

ANONYMOUS (in his own words):

Anonymous (not the Anonymous who is the author of "Primary Colors", although that would be nice) is author of young adult novels with a worldwide readership. He also blogs, rambles, and offers opinions to anyone willing to listen. Or not.

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 :)

Author Interview, Larry Frisby

Image copyright 2011 Beverly Brown

 Author Interview #9, with author of "The Pink Machine," Larry Frisby!

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Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

Larry: I've written two erotic/experimental books(both related), called "The Pink Machine" and "Magenta." I wrote them because life chose to rip something out of me; and, because I'm a writer, it came out in written form.

Jess: Ah, that good ole "rip" feeling. How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Larry: To an artist, I think the distinction would be as plain as the difference between lovemaking and rape. Artistic erotica is a portal into a universe of agony, ecstasy, transmutation and connectivity, while mere pornography, in comparison, is more like a dirty film of sticky dust on the skin of what we find beneath the surface of psychology and sex/sensuality.

Jess: Excellent -- I couldn't have said it better myself ;)! 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

Larry: First, I would question the creative depth perception of a mind this narrowly composed. You almost have to be qualified to comment meaningfully on erotic art; because, if you're not, no amount of intellectual power you may otherwise possess will enable you to see through or past the sticky film (let alone the skin) I mentioned above that forms the border between these ideas. An outsider would assume we're just splitting creative/literary hairs, with no true sense of the world they stood on the intangible cusp of.

Jess: What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Larry: An extreme intersection of loss and desire. A beautiful and faithless muse. A heart that roamed and returned. The truth that, for all its brutal dispassion, has only one face.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Larry: If I ever did follow any such path, I did so unintentionally.

Jess: What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Larry: The recurring sense that no deep is too deep, and the almost neurological texture of the narrative, as if it were composed from a language pattern more consistent with thought than with speech.

Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Larry: My writing has always been rooted in an organic combination of both the lived and the learned (there being only a subtle distinction between the two in my opinion).

Jess: I have a natural tendency to blend fact and the imagination too. Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Larry: From one work to the next, the attraction or weight regarding gender will either vary or be irrelevant. In the case of my writing, my "target" audience is likely more female. Both books I mentioned are narrated by and from a female perspective (though I'm a boy).

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Larry: To my knowledge, there are no sexual "lines" I didn't cross in writing these books, to the extent that I know I've alienated large bodies of potential interest in them. But I'm an artist and a person first and a seeker of publication second.

Jess: It helps to make that clear distinction from the onset (depending on a writer's goals). Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Larry:

From The Pink Machine (Alicia speaking):

In the next painting, I'm wearing white leotards and bunched up grey legwarmers. Hair's pulled back in a ponytail. I'm posted up next to a mirror paneled wall on one foot with my other leg held up alongside my upper body so my thighs form a level line that goes from ankle to ankle(basically, the splits). The room's a small dance studio with a wood handrail running the length of the wall. My right hand's on the rail balancing me. The other is up at the base of my calf. I'm facing my reflection. I'm 37. It's a year before The End. I look at the painting the way I think you would. (I know you. I told you so on the phone today: 9-3-'05.) You see a woman breathing. A woman who can swim. A girl who lived over ten thousand days before you came along(half of those days while you were...where you've always been). You usually see all the soft, fuzzy things before you see the...Other Things. Soft cookie filled with salty pink cream. You see that I'm by myself. That I've been thinking; and you know I waste no time alone. The me in the painting is listening to The Beatles(guess what song). Outside of the moment of the painting, you see how my right hand slid from my calf down my leg. Toffee chip finger tips(or small, dead flowers) that signed their names. Came to the place between my legs. A little pile of snow that fits in my hand. One long toffee chip pushes warm wet snow between the lips. For a while, I(we) lose track of the original pretense of self admiration and I'm just fucking my finger through my leotards. I did take a few long moments to look at my Girl before I stuffed the gag in her mouth. She looked like the bottom of a white boat floating in a world where the water's made of air and the air's made of milk.

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Larry:

Nothing's within reach right now, but here's a short list of my favorite authors: Chuck Palahniuk, Cormack McCarthy, Nick Toches, John Fowles, and Ursula K Le Guin.

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Larry:

I can be found at larry.frisby on Facebook.

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with both life and literature too!

* * * * *

LARRY FRISBY (in his own words):

I just turned 40. I have a very unusual story that I've always found it difficult to summarize. A detailed portrait of my life can be found in my Facebook image files. Here are the bare bones though: I'm a personal fitness trainer, have a 15 year old daughter, have been writing for 20 years, I've never sought publication of any of the seven books I've written(until this year). I write fiction fused/saturated with biography, I write philosophy, poetry and anything else that comes to me. I have no diploma or GED but have always taken both my daughter's and my own mind very seriously; I've taught her everything from existential psychology to Egyptian history and Hindu mythology.

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 :)

Author Interview, Juliana Sliema

 Author Interview #8, with author of the Hot Wheels series, Juliana Sliema!

* * * * *

Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

Juliana: I dabbled in many other genres, but had not considered erotica until recently. What repulsed me before was the awkward "purple prose" that is often used in erotica. I decided it would be a challenge. As an author you have to push yourself to do things outside your comfort zone, so I tried it. I was hooked.

Jess: How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Juliana: For me this is a difficult difference to determine. The first drafts of my first erotic story were plain pornography. The line is extremely fine, but the most important aspects are characters and story. Do they change each other? Do they become different? Do they stay the same? Why? The sex also should be necessary for the story. If the plumber comes over it is plausible that the lonely housewife wants to sleep with him, but the reader has to understand the reasons. The better the reader understands the reasons the farther removed from pornography it is. To be honest, I'm still struggling myself on where to draw the line.

Jess: That struggle could be part of the creative tension ;) 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

Juliana: I doubt the person that made the statement has ever tried to write erotica. The elements that make a good erotica story are the same elements that make any other story good. The only difference is the focus of the action, but the same goes for sci-fi, or fantasy. The focus in sci-fi lies on technology, in fantasy it lies on magic, in erotica on sex and pleasure. Just as there is bad sci-fi and fantasy, there is bad erotica, which in many cases is no more than pornography, simply describing the motions.

Jess: What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Juliana: I have written as long as I can remember. Boredom inspired me initially, I would write in class, in meetings, conferences, late sleepless nights. There was a point where I was no longer bored and then I stopped writing, until I picked up a short story book by Neil Gaiman. He inspired me to start again.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Juliana: Not always. Let's be honest, life doesn't follow those rules, so why would the book? I ignore the safe part in most stories, because the risk adds to the thrill and it is a fantasy, so it is always safe. Sane goes out the window pretty quickly for any author. I do try to keep it consensual, but it is rare where the power distribution between to people is completely equal. Straight up kidnapping and abuse rape is completely out of the question for me. I just don't feel comfortable writing about that in a positive light.

Jess: ITA (I totally agree) with much of what you said! What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Juliana: Readers will be surprised by how much they like the characters and remember them. They might also be caught off guard by a plot twist here and there. Also, the sex it pretty hot, but that goes without saying. It is probably harder to write sex that isn't hot and steamy.

Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Juliana: Living all the events of my characters is impossible. I just don't have the time and resources. Of course, I have the advantage of a cosmopolitan background and as a global nomad have been exposed to a lot. Research is a great way to fill in the gaps.

Jess: Cool -- I love the whole cosmopolitan/global nomad thing too. Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Juliana: As males are generally more visual, I expect erotica to cater more to the female market. A male audience is likely to overlook erotica writing. Part of that is social expectations and the other part is the fact that males are exposed to different erotic stimuli growing up. Overall, I think both genders can equally enjoy it, I just think the female audience is more likely to turn to erotica.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Juliana: As I hinted as before there are some sexual behaviors I will not tackle: rape and incest. I realize there is a market for this, but I don't feel comfortable writing it. From a literary point of view that would probably not be good for the writing in any case.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Juliana:

Dominka is drawn to Andel, a cultured and sophisticated man hiding a dark secret. She is determined to uncover the secrets he holds and relishes the fear he evokes around her. She isn't exactly a good girl either, though.

-- Eternal Vengeance by Juliana Sliema

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Juliana:

There's never been a true war that wasn't fought between two sets of people who were certain they were in the right.

-- American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Juliana:

My character Rosie has taken on a life of her own and started her own twitter. She sometimes has interesting things to say: https://twitter.com/#!/RosietheTrucker

Also check out my amazon author page, as soon as my website is ready it will be posted there: http://www.amazon.com/Juliana-Sliema/e/B006YC6ICM

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with both life and literature too!

* * * * *

JULIANA SLIEMA:

Juliana Sliema knows the value of keeping the mystery alive. She has traveled the world. Now she writes erotica and has melted laptops and started fires ever since.

Juliana on Twitter and Amazon.

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 :)

Author Interview, Vanessa Wu

 Author Interview #7, with sophisticated/cultured erotica writer Vanessa Wu!

* * * * *

Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

Vanessa: Yes, all my writing has an erotic theme. Some of it is quite subtle and literary. Some of it is more raunchy, explicit and crude. That's because I have different moods and like to explore different situations. I dwell on erotic themes because it's my experience that sexual feelings have a profound effect upon character and I'm deeply interested in the tension between what we desire and what we do. Many of my stories contain the idea of liberation, as if from a spiritual cage. Desire is quite often caged in human society. I toy with the idea of freeing the caged animal, unleashing it and finding ways to live with it -- so the lion can lie down with the lamb, as William Blake put it.

Jess: I'm deeply interested in that tension too ;) How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Vanessa: Pornographic writing serves only one purpose which is to help someone experience a sexual situation in lurid and graphic detail while he or she is masturbating, either alone or with another. Writing can often do this better than movies because it can suggest psychological twists that intensify the situation. The reader also brings his or her own imagination to it, enriching the experience with personal memories and desires.

Pornographic writing is often seen as bad but, in my view, there is simply pornography that works for me and pornography that doesn't. In addition, I prefer stories with a certain amount of depth. In order to engage my imagination, a story has to have an element of maturity and sophistication. I frequently read stories about sexual experiences because I am interested in the emotional side of sex. This is the key for me.

Quality erotica touches upon wider issues to do with sex and, in particular, incorporates an emotional truth. I like all stories to have a fundamental human reality and wisdom, the kind of wisdom you only find in the very best fiction.

Jess: Yes, I think the way the human condition is explored/presented will determine whether a piece of creative work is shallow or sophisticated. 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

Vanessa: I don't excuse my taste for pornography. I like pornography unashamedly. It is a technical challenge to write something that can help someone achieve an orgasm. It's a skill I admire. Nevertheless, I do make distinctions between good and bad pornography. I skip and pass over a lot of pornography I encounter. Some of it disgusts me, sometimes because of its content and sometimes because of its style.

Jess: A purveyor of good taste :) What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Vanessa: I have always written. I think the question is really, what inspired me to publish. I decided to do it because the opportunity arose. If we still had an old-fashioned publishing model in which we were required to submit work to aloof magazines and literary agents, I wouldn't do it. The epublishing revolution gave me the opportunity to write what I wanted without having to pass it through the medium of a literary editor who might not like it. I didn't want to have to justify, explain or defend it. I just wanted to do it.

Jess: *Thank goodness for the epublishing revolution...* Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Vanessa: No. Desire isn't sane. Why pretend it is? When you are in the throes of sexual passion you are temporarily insane. There are also people who want to be desired. If they insisted on safety they would wear a chastity belt and lock themselves in the house. I also think that society tries to lock down people's sexual feelings. Sometimes it takes force to free them. Some of my writing has an edge.

Jess: Most of the super-commercial/commoditized stuff lacks serious edge anyway. What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Vanessa: It is very difficult to be objective about your own work. I often don't know why anyone would want to read what I've written. But readers tell me that once they have read something by me they want to read everything. I think it's partly because my writing has a cinematic quality and partly because it's elegant and tasteful; but probably the main reason is that it is very real, based very much on my personal experiences. I put a lot of myself into what I write and people respond to that.

Jess: And that's perhaps the best motivation to keep writing ;) In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Vanessa: Well, I do both. As I said, a lot of what I write is based on my personal experiences. But, as a writer, your personal experience is not enough. You need to ask questions. You need to find out how other people feel. There are some experiences that you couldn't possibly invent because they are so unexpected and so far from your own personal points of reference. I have learned quite a lot since I've been publishing my work. People write to me and tell me things that are a revelation.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Vanessa: There is a wide variety of erotica available, some of it tailored to specific tastes, but I find it very difficult to classify it in terms of gender. My experience is that both men and women read it. People of all ages. They take different things from it. People don't just read it for sexual gratification. They are curious. They want to learn, to broaden their experiences. People read erotica for the same reason they read literary fiction, to widen their experiences and deepen their understanding.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Vanessa: Yes. For the moment anyway. As I writer my job is to understand others. To understand them and to recreate their experiences. If I think seriously about any taboo topic, I can get into the head of the protagonists. I could feasibly write an incest story or a story about a man who fornicates with a goat. I could even write it from the goat's point of view. But I don't want to. For me that would be getting into the realm of literary fiction. It's William Faulkner territory. I don't want to go there.

Jess: *Recalls reading "The Sound and the Fury"...* Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Vanessa:

Love Has No Limits is a short novel of 40,000 words about a young Chinese woman exploring her sexuality through encounters in Amsterdam and Berlin. She is willing to try new things with new people. She is adventurous and vulnerable. She wants to push against the limits of love, to find her boundaries. It is fast-paced but also quite thoughtful and gentle in places. I am very proud of it and I think it's a good introduction to my work and to me. It tells you a lot about who I am.

Jess: Sounds very beautiful and elegant/sophisticated (like a good gourmet chocolate). Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Vanessa:

This is from a story by Nikki Magennis called "The Sound of One Hand Clapping" in a collection called Hurts So Good edited by Alison Tyler.

"Now I see for sure where we are. Now with the pain and the bliss melding under my skin, everything becomes clear. I no longer need to ask any questions, because the answer is contained within the question. The seed of him is the arrow, the pulsing and aching of my cunt as it welcomes his cock is the arrow. We are pointing toward each other and beyond to nowhere. We are agreed at last to stay here, right where we are, fucking on the brink of beautiful."

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Vanessa:

BLOG
http://intensesensations.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002597547822

TWITTER
http://twitter.com/#!/van_wu

LOVE HAS NO LIMITS (UK)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Has-No-Limits-ebook/dp/B005IAK4BM

LOVE HAS NO LIMITS (US)
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Has-No-Limits-ebook/dp/B005IAK4BM

Thank you for having me, Jess. It has been a great pleasure for me to be here and share my thoughts about erotica with you. I admire your work and wish you well with your literary goals.

Jess: Thanks for your kind comments, Vanessa, and thanks so much for sharing your insightful perspectives on the art of erotic writing :) Best wishes with your personal + literary goals too!

* * * * *

VANESSA WU:

I was born in Fuzhou, China and passed through many countries in Europe on my way to England. I now live and work in London. I have worked as a Chinese teacher both in China and in England. I studied English at Fudan University in Shanghai and always dreamed of coming to England as a child. I am so glad I fulfilled my dream and right now I couldn't be happier. I try to forget about the world's problems and just enjoy each day as it comes.

Vanessa Wu on WordPress | Facebook | Twitter

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 :)

Author Interview, Cara Mitchell

Author Interview #6, with author Cara Mitchell!

* * * * *

Jess: Have you written erotic-themed material? Why or why not?

Cara: Yes, I have. Originally it was done at the direction of a Dominant and then I discovered I enjoyed enticing him. Over the years, it has served to stimulate and entice as well as to explain the darker recesses of my mind.

Jess: How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Cara: I believe that the mind is capable of supplying the most erotic images and providing graphic detail interferes with the process. Erotica allows one to fill in the details, provides a suggestion and stimulates the imagination to go where it will. Pornography supplies all of the answers and, in the process, provides a quicker and less involved form of stimulation.

Jess: Less involved and less evolved ;). 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

Cara: I haven't a clue what that question means so cannot possibly answer it.

Jess: I'd play around with the person's mind with regards to "tastes" in erotic-themed material, but that's just me ;) What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Cara: As previously explained, a Dominant did oh-so-many years ago. Eventually, it was pointed out to me that I had a passion for writing and I realized that this was true.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Cara: Nope. Consensual, yes but "safe and sane" are relative terms and I like a bit of edge play.

Jess: *Nods* Agree with 'relative'. What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Cara: The Symphony of C series is an in-depth exploration of the inner workings of a submissive's mind as well as a glimpse of the elegance which can be part of the world of Dominance and submission.

Symphony of Discovery is a quirky exploration of the romance, sensuality and eroticism of a devotion to science--so it becomes its own new genre (how does geekrotica sound?).

And for all of my books--I write intelligently for intelligent people.

Jess: As Oscar Wilde said, "There is no sin except stupidity." :) In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Cara: I begin with living the life and then devote a tremendous amount of time into researching it.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Cara: It depends upon the reader although I believe that it skews a bit more towards the majority of female readers and the more intelligent males.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Cara: I have no ability to realistically describe same sex relationships or female Domination and so will not insult my readers with an attempt.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Cara:

"His eyes bored into me as he bent once more and lifted the other leg. Frantic now, my hands had a death grip upon the overhead chain. He nestled my calves against his waist, his hands strong as he held me in place. His eyes were intense, demanding.

“Do you trust me?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“Let go of the chain.”

Wordlessly, without pause or thought, my eyes locked upon him. Then I released the supporting chain. In slow motion I felt my body falling. The chains tightened about me; I knew I was going to be severely damaged."

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Cara:

"Would she ever dare to tell him that no pleasure, no joy, no figment of her imagination could ever compete with the happiness she felt at the way he used her with such utter freedom, at the notion that he could do anything with her, that there was no limit, no restriction in the manner with which, on her body, he might search for pleasure."
-- Pauline Réage, The Story of O

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Cara:

I can be found on Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter.

Jess: Thanks for stopping by to chat, Cara, and thanks so much for sharing your views on the art of erotic writing :)!

* * * * *

CARA MITCHELL:

Originally trained as an archaeologist and concert pianist, Cara discovered her fascination with artifacts was eclipsed by a love of cultures and the impossibility of making a career playing Beethoven exclusively. She has worked as a scuba instructor, horse packer, researcher, diplomat, cultural practitioner, scientist and wine importer. She can be found on Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter.

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 :)

Author Interview, Bunni Darling

Author Interview #5, with the other half of Lion and Mermaid Publications, Bunni Darling!

P.S. The other half = Vaughn Shepherd, whose Q&A can be found here.

* * * * *

Jess: Why do you write erotic-themed material?

Bunni: I, myself, am a very sensual person, and feel eroticism is one of the best ways to express myself. I love creating interesting characters and seeing what kind of trouble they can get into.

Jess: How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Bunni: I think pornographic writing is written to serve a singular purpose (getting off), where as quality erotica is more sensual than sexual. True, there may be graphic sex, but it isn't all about that--or the end result. It's about the journey.

Jess: I totally agree ;). 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

Bunni: Probably with a sigh and roll of my eyes. I don't judge anyone for their tastes. If you don't like erotica or pornography, don't read it. I don't care if someone thinks it is worthy or not. I write erotica because I enjoy it, and I share it because I hope others do too.

Jess: Well, as the saying goes: "Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Bunni: Most art that comes out of me is erotic in some form or fashion--be it sexy pin-ups or engaging smut. I was raised in a very sex-positive household and was never shamed for expressing myself--even if that expression was on the naughty side.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Bunni: *Laughing* Not exactly, no. Part of erotica is getting to enjoy something wild and dangerous, something that you may have dreamed of but would never try on your own.

Jess: *Nods* What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Bunni: I think our readers will really enjoy our characters. Vaughn and I put a lot of love and time into them, and it's so fun to watch them grown and mature. I hope they enjoy the lush, sensual world we created for them as well. Reading erotica should be a pleasant escape, and that is what we try to offer.

Jess: Quality takes time and patience :) In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Bunni: I like to do a little of each, personally. I've lived a pretty interesting live and had my share of lovers, and of course these experiences play into my writing.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Bunni: Statistically, erotica caters to a wider female market. Again, it's a sensual journey rather than the raw need for completion. I imagine most males in the digital age just go straight for the visual eye candy.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Bunni: Not really, no.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Bunni:

"Starr released a low and animal noise as he bit her harder, almost like a small creature that had gotten caught in a painful trap, but liked it. She wanted to call out for him to test her further, ravish her and leave her with nothing but aches and bruises. She wanted to put his strong hands around her throat and leave everything up to trust, but she didn’t dare."

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Bunni:

"She placed a hundred burning kisses on his face and chest, and then she was above him, straddling him, gasping and laughing, sweating and slippery as a minnow, and he was arching and pushing and exulting, his head full of her and only her, and had he known her name he would have called it out aloud."
-- Neil Gaiman, Stardust

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Bunni:

Website: http://www.lionandmermaid.net


Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/bunnidarling

And I can also be found on Facebook.

Jess: Thanks for stopping by to chat, Bunni, and thanks so much for sharing your views on the art of erotic writing :)!

* * * * *

BUNNI DARLING:

Lion and Mermaid Publications consists of two authors, Bunny Darling and Vaughn Shepherd. They collaboratively author stories of a romantic and erotic nature. They have recently begun publishing these works, featuring several series, featuring wildly differing couples (or triples...).

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 :)

Author Interview, Elizabeth Spire

Author Interview #4, with U.K. author, Elizabeth Spire!

* * * * *

Jess: Why do you write erotic-themed material?

Elizabeth: It's always good to write about something you're passionate about, well for me good there's nothing more passionate than good sex. Therefore erotica is a total joy to write, it lets me express a side of myself not everyone sees.

Jess: How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Elizabeth: Erotica has passion in it, if anything for me the desire is far more key than the actual sex. When I read other authors' erotica, that's what I look for too. The need, the passion, the uncontrollable lust, working you up until finally you get any actual sex. So the characters have to be ones you can like or relate to, understand and feel for.

Erotica written like that is totally enthralling, where as porn to me is just X people in Y position, then Z etc. Very mechanical, staged and artificial...

Jess: I can totally relate ;) 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

Elizabeth: I think there are a broad spectrum of tastes in all things, as there are in actual sexual orientation. I therefore try and act and write in an inclusive way, but never part A goes into slot B, repeat until something explodes! ;)

Even darker aspects of BDSM can be written in a very erotic and appealing way if you take the time to let the reader see inside their head or their heart, so understanding why they are turned on by something a little different from average. To me porn is a very graphic thing, be it visual or written as real hard core smut. The same thing written with attention to the people involved, not just the act is far more erotic to me and therefore far more of a turn-on...

Jess: The mental/emotional play is where it's at (for me). What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Elizabeth: I just write what I'm passionate about, so it's not always erotic, though much of the time it is... I'm passionate about people's rights to a good and fulfilling sex life, regardless of preferences, gender, or even disabilities... Does a person lose their sex drive, just because they have an accident and lose their sight? We are all people and sex makes most of us feel good, why be shy about that or restrict it only to those who are physically attractive and fully able?

Jess: Equality for all, I like that ;) Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Elizabeth: Totally, utterly 100% of the time! Anything less to be is not sex, but degradation and violence, abusive and wrong. In fact we do our level best to also mention the use of condoms, especially where the encounter is not a part of a long term relationship.

Jess: What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Elizabeth: The acceptance of all and the level of passion in everything I write, from the soft, romantic, vanilla to the kinky, exploring BDSM. We all care about feeling wanted and loved, so I try and reflect that in all my writing and poetry. Oh and I do tend to write powerful females roles, who enjoy sex be they Domme/sub or just vanilla. Also my characters think about their actions quite a lot.

Jess: Yes, the mind is an important thing! In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Elizabeth: Oh I've had plenty of experiences to draw on in my writing, and continue to add more when they present themselves... I therefore know what's in the mind of my characters, having seen them or been them at different times!

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Elizabeth: I tend to think erotica is more of a female market, it stimulates the mind more than the graphic nature of porn does (at least for me).

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Elizabeth: I won't touch anything that is dangerous or permanently harming in anyway, shape or form. So body mods are out, though more mainstream piercing and tattoos are ok as long as it's very clear that they are wanted by the person having them.

Jess: Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Elizabeth:

An excerpt from my poem 'Submission':

A whip is a utensil, a dildo just a tool,
It is what lurks between your ears, that makes you, sub or Dom/me or fool!
So tell me my dear play thing, what goes on in your head,
What fires your blood and helps you live your fantasies in bed?
My money's on that grey stuff that's found between your ears,
That's the key to throbbing cock, pained whimpers or to tears.
Now pet I'm going to tell you, what lays in store tonight,
In exquisite detail for your delectation, and delight.
Caressing your libido with just my velvet tongue,
To prove cerebral stimulation's not wasted on the young.
I'll string together phrases, with the finest of detail,
Believe me when I say you'll beg before you reach the Holy Grail.

From poetry to prose I like to make people think and feel more passionately...

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Elizabeth: Well mostly I don't read erotica, so my favourite author is actually Terry Pratchett -- a genuinely lovely man with a real talent for making me laugh!

'Bestiality Carter was in fact very kind to animals.' -- Lords and Ladies, by Terry Pratchett

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Elizabeth:

http://www.unseenwords.com
http://blog.unseenwords.com
http://liz.blogs.unseenwords.com
@UnseenWords - Twitter
Elizabeth Spire on FB

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your views on the art of erotic writing :)!

* * * * *

ELIZABETH SPIRE:

Privately educated and apparently brought up to be a nice young lady, Elizabeth found she just never fit the stereotype, however thanks to a chance encounter at a reasonably young age with just the right sort of young man, she found out that she was not alone in feeling this way. In fact she soon found out that she was exactly the stuff of dreams, yep, you know the type!

Elizabeth's most interesting and educational of beginnings has over the years blossomed and broadened, as has her understanding of life and sexuality in general.

Still shorter than average, curvaceous and fun loving, Elizabeth, enjoys life to the full with such a wicked imagination there's never a dull moment!

Her motto and the credo by which she has lived her life is: 'be unique and true to yourself'. She works and writes at Unseen Words Publishing.

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 :)

Author Interview, Vaughn Shepherd

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Author Interview, Malcolm J. Brenner

Author Interview #2, with Malcolm J. Brenner!

NOTE: Malcolm's novel is of a controversial theme. Please read THE DISCLAIMER, which is in accordance with Google/Blogger's content policies. It's only realistic/honest to present a realistic/honest account. This has been the case with Mr. Brenner and I hope you will find this interview interesting.

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Jess: Why do you write erotic-themed material?

Malcolm: Because it's what happened to me and changed my consciousness, i.e. the way I look at the world.

Jess: How do you differentiate quality erotica (as an art form), from pornographic writing?

Malcolm: As some feminist once said, "Pornography is the literature of dominance." Porn exploits sex for commercial purposes, whereas erotica celebrates the pleasure and joy of consensual sex.

Jess: Totally agree with that definition of 'porn'. ;) 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

Malcolm: I would say the person who made that statement is a prude who feels threatened by his or her own sexuality, but I might be misreading the statement, taken as it is out of context.

Jess: Your diplomacy at giving said person the benefit of the doubt is admirable. What inspired you to write erotic stories/poems/etc.?

Malcolm: I fell in love with a dolphin and ended up making love with her at her insistence.

Jess: Do you always follow the "safe, sane, consensual" credo?

Malcolm: Very little about my life has been safe or sane, but if it's not consensual it's rape.

Jess: Indeed (I always like it when a person is clear-minded about consent). What do you think readers will find most notable about your book(s)?

Malcolm: The fact that it is well-written and appears to have a rather widespread appeal outside the zoophile community (such as it is).  I tried to write the story in such a way so that even readers who are not attracted to dolphins or other species would be able to relate to, and empathize with, the plight of the protagonist.  Judging from the feedback I get, I succeeded.

Jess: In order to write on certain experiences, you would have to either research or live the life. Which describes you as the writer?

Malcolm: I have no talent for fiction or plot so I have to write about what happens to me.

Jess: Do you think erotica caters to a male or female market (or does gender of the target audience not matter)?

Malcolm: I think men are more stimulated by visual depictions whereas women seem to prefer sensual descriptions. I am surprised that my novel of human-dolphin love, Wet Goddess, seems to sell equally well to women and men. I thought it would be mostly men who were interested in it.

Jess: Are there any topics you will NOT tackle, with regards to sexual behaviors and attitudes?

Malcolm: Since I am writing now about my own molestation as a child and getting pissed on by a dolphin, I guess the answer is "no," but come to think of it I wouldn't write Lolita, either. Then again I'm not Vladimir Nabokov.

Jess: (YEAH, Nabokov--the stylistic storyteller!). Please share with us a short excerpt and blurb of your work (10-100 words).

Malcolm:

“Elaine…” I whispered, “Elaine…”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to… make love?”

The question hung on the wind for what seemed like an hour.

“Yes… no… Oh God, Zack, I don’t know,” she said, and grabbed me, toppling us to the sand.

-- from Wet Goddess, of a remarkable female dolphin who convinced the narrator that dolphins have every bit as much, if not more, awareness and intelligence as human beings.

Jess: Share an excerpt of your favorite author’s work (10-100 words):

Malcolm:

"I was determined to have done with conjecture and discover the truth, even if, as I believed it would, the truth proved incomprehensible."

-- Stanislaw Lem, from Solaris (1961). It is the only book I have ever read that kept me up all night reading, because it relates so strongly to my own experience of another, non-human intelligence.

Jess: Please let readers know where they can find out more about you/your work.

Malcolm:

Website: http://wetgoddess.net/
Blog: http://blog.wetgoddess.net/

Jess: Thanks so much for sharing your views on the art of erotic writing :)!

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MALCOLM J. BRENNER:

When Malcolm J. Brenner graduated from Riverview High School (of which he has no fond memories) in 1969, he attended New College of Florida, where the events on which WET GODDESS is based took place.

At an early age, Brenner was sexually molested by an "orgonomist" (orgone energy doctor) trained and certified by Wilhelm Reich--the notorious post-Freudian psychiatrist--to work with children. Brenner plans to document the terrifying child abuse he experienced in a forthcoming autobiography, Growing Up In The Orgone Box.

Of his work, Malcolm J. Brenner says, "I'd rather write fiction, but I have absolutely no facility for plot. Nothing I can imagine is as weird or as unlikely as the things that have actually happened to me. So I just write honestly about my life, which simply reads like fiction." His website is http://wetgoddess.net/

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 Q&A, 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 Q&A's too. Drop her a note at missfeyATgmailDOTcom :)