Incest Interview

A short chat on the topic of incest step relations with Jess C Scott, who writes contemporary fiction + poetry.

UPDATED!: As of 2011, Jess writes about step relations, not incest [since it's against Amazon, PayPal, Google and Blogger's TOS to "write about bestiality and incest" (no word about necrophilia)]. Jess has updated her short stories on sale at Amazon too (so it's about step relations, not incest). 


Photo by margolove.

1) Do *you* have a brother?

Jess: No, I do not. I've wondered from time to time what it might've been like, though (if I did have one).

2) Where did the idea for the story come from?

Jess: I submitted the story for a "taboo subjects" writing anthology (I think it was one of the lines from Harlequin). A few months later, the editor replied saying that the writing needed some "cleaning up." By that time, I'd already published 4:Play (my multiple genre-crossing erotic short story collection). Ed's voice is deliberately rough and unpolished -- and I kept it that way (allows his true thoughts/etc to show through).

3) What has reader response been like?

Jess: I got slammed by an editor of a literary journal, with regards to Ed in Wicked Lovely (an excerpt of the email discussion is available in my writing portfolio, Porcelain). Apart from that, I'm quite surprised at some of the responses to my work -- I primarily just write things coz I have to get "things" out of my system, lol. So it's nice when a reader appreciates something in the writing/story. And if they don't get it, that's okay.

4) Did you do any research for Wicked Lovely?

Jess: I was surfing around websites, reading on real-life accounts of brother-sister intimacy. I frequently read many accounts which were very honest and open (anonymous, or no)...what I saw in the accounts was a pure and clean type of love which you don't see often (in a society/culture that commoditizes sex and romance). I sought to capture this in a story on the topic. My erotic fiction is never meant to just work up a reader -- I'll always try to add something else in.

5) Is incest Are family relationships "right" to you, then?

Jess: Procreation concerns aside, I tend to look at the quality of the relationship itself (over the actual relations / blood ties of the people involved). A really solid relationship based on all the good things like real trust, etc, is really special, and I guess I share the views of Ed's friend, Rafiz, in Wicked Lovely. P.S. France lifted the incest ban as early as 300 years go, during the reign of Napolean (I think). For the purpose of this Q&A (with regards to Google's/Blogger's TOS), I am neither discouraging nor encouraging incest, just stating the matter as it is.

6) Is any subject too taboo for you?

Jess: Mentally and conversationally, not really. I'm always open to learning something new...

Wicked Redhead Interview, Christine Kirchoff

Redhead Picture by Ramona

Here's something a little different for this blog -- I had my first Q&A with a fellow author (I haven't done the asking before).

Let's give a warm welcome today to Wicked Redhead/Christine Kirchoff, author of Science Fiction and Erotica! Her website is http://christinekirchoff.wordpress.com/.

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Q&A with Wicked Redhead

Jess: What do you like (and/or dislike) about writing erotica/erotic fiction?

Wicked Redhead: I enjoy everything about erotica, the sensual atmosphere, the creation unfolding on screen, and the ability to excite readers. Dislike is a little harder to pinpoint, headaches from hours of staring at the lit screen and some crude comments are becoming familiar territory.

2) It'd be interesting, to see what great masterpieces certain crude commenters have come up with. What is the most important aspect of erotic writing, to you?

The story, it’s always the story revealed. The sex has to be good, yes, and the details well written but the characters have to be whole. They have to pull at your heartstrings when they’re sad or wet your desire when they cum. I love how a happy or tragic ending can stay in your mind for days.

3) Who are some of your favorite authors?
I try to pick up a new author a few times a year, there are so many that I can’t keep up. As for my favorites, the books I buy without even reading the jacket because I know they’ll be fantastic are…Laurell K. Hamiton, Shayla Black, Lori Foster, Lora Leigh, Christine Warren, Christina Dodd, Gena Showalter, …that’s just to name some of the top individuals.

4) How long have you been writing flash fiction and what are your thoughts about being successful in the form?
I’ve only been writing it for about a year professionally. I dabbled in flash for a while but never seriously contemplating their success. I wrote my first real erotica at the end of last year (2008). I showed it to a few people and apparently, it was a hit. I never realized how off kilter my mind works from others or that I’d be able to transfer my imagination onto the computer screen. Sex in a Bubble, which will be published in November, is the first one I wanted to perfect and submit. Writing to me is exhilarating. Editing, however, is becoming the bane of my existence. Thankfully, I have a very good friend who doesn’t mind sharing his thoughts and editing skills.

5) What attracts you to Science Fiction and Erotica vs. other genres?
I honestly don’t know the answer to that one. I find I read, write, watch TV, movies with science fiction or erotic subjects. That’s just what my mind gravitates towards.

6) Ah, it's always nice to follow one's natural instincts ;). Speaking about instincts/naturality -- do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere before the words flow?
Alone and quiet works best. My house is always busy with something so I tend to write at night when the world descends to sleep. I do like some music on, depending on which scene I’m working, but that’s about it.

7) Do elaborate on being a "wicked redhead".

Besides having red hair I have the personality to match. I can be feisty, wild, or just plain wicked. I started that name on my blog, just something that would truly describe me and it stuck.

8) What is the #1 tip you would give to anyone who likes to write?
Trust in yourself and try your hardest to work your way through the BS that’s in life.

9) I read on your blog that you are currently working on a novel. Please tell us more about it!

Once Upon a Mate is progressing, the rough draft almost complete! Lake George, New York with all its beauty holds a secret, seven of them actually. Seven half-human experiments have escaped the laboratories to find and rescue their mates from their enemies. Avery is the oldest, part wolf and is desperate to find his mate Violet. They soon meet in a collision of gunfire and irresistible lust. They have to work through their insecurities and outlast their hunters. Orgasms roar, betrayals scorch and their love forces the world into a new era of survival.

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Thank you so much to Wicked Redhead for the lovely interview! Be sure to check out some of her published work @ http://christinekirchoff.wordpress.com/.

Interview + Review

I've got my first interview (regarding some of the material in 4:Play) scheduled, and a review also -- now to send out a few more emails/stuff, to get the word out about 4:Play, heh.

P.S. Had an interesting note from a reader -- #8 under "Yay's" on the Feedback page.

A Word About Ed Drake

Photo by Joseph Brauer

Ed Drake is one of the lead characters (the "step brother") in Wicked Lovely (the second story in 4:Play). The title was "Ed & Julie" initially -- kind of was following a "Romeo & Juliet" type of vibe, but I decided to change it later.

Ed's voice might seem unedited and illiterate. I was inspired by the stream-of-consciousness narrative mode of The Rules of Attraction, by Bret Easton Ellis. I liked the unforced nature of the writing style.

Ed might sound like a whiny brat, and speak like a child (input I have received so far), but I think he manages to get his point(s) across.

* * * * *

Excerpt of Wicked Lovely (Scene 1, Ed Drake) / 4:Play

Peel myself off the sofa. Ed, you sicko.

I wanna tell the voice in my head and the whole world to shut up. They can talk and talk but they’ve not been in the same situation, they don’t even know what they’re missing out on.

That. That’s the exact thing that fuels their disgust and anger. It’s a displaced frustration, that they can never have access to this deranged special kind of arrangement. Go, Ed!

Drag myself up the stairs in a weird mix of dread guilt apprehension and uncontrollable wild anticipation and excitement.

Find myself in front of Goddess Julie’s room. The door is closed but you can’t lock it from the outside. Glare at the morons on the poster. Some lame brothers emo-looking band with way too much eyeliner and black hair dye that really sucks BIG TIME, nothing but pop "rock" crap for 12 year old girls to listen to (Julie isn't 12 -- figure of speech). Their lyrics are about their love life and if those lyrics are indeed true, damn their love life blows. They don’t have one insanely hard and talented guitar solo, no drummer, no bass player, and no talent. They are just another manufactured product and who knows what their appeal is. Where’s a new Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Nirvana, or Guns n’ Roses? Good music is dead. So once again, I don’t think they suck, I KNOW they suck.

Then the paranoia and urgency strikes. Hurry up! Someone might be home any minute!

* * * * *

A contemporary cocktail of erotic short stories...

I've ordered the proof copy for 4:Play. This is the CS page for 4:Play.

I'll be fiddling around with the sidebar here, making sure everything is "not too much of a mess"...I've one more trailer to go. I'm tired (work-tired, not the sick-of-it type of "tired")...so I hope I can still put something together for one trailer that covers 4:Play, as a whole collection.

Personally, I prefer launching a book, and then getting (unsolicited -- it's more genuine) reviews for it. Maybe it's just me, but the concept of ARCs (and much of the traditional publishing model) seems pretty archaic to me.

Update 04/August/09 -- Sat down last night and completed the trailer at 11pm, bwahaha.

I wanted an electronica beat/music style for this one. There was another reggae fusion music track I was considering, but it was a little bit "relaxing" and laidback for what I had in mind.



Kindle & eBook editions should be available soon. With EyeLeash, I got the print copies set up first, before the digital formats. I'm doing it the other way around this time, which I think works better.