On a personal note, I began reading erotica years ago. There sometimes were little corners in bookstores where the lights were dark, and I'd find a small section of it. There were some early authors I enjoyed, like Lolah Burford, where they had the erotica but with a lot of story alongside it. Then came Anne Rampling, who was really Anne Rice of the vampire and horror genre fame. Under a pseudonym, she put out several books she said were written for her husband (it didn't take long for it to be revealed they were by her). I still have one of those in a keeper shelf (safely away from where any grandkids can find it). More recently, I bought the Fifty Shades books just to see what others liked so much but to be honest have never been able to get into them enough to read one. I keep thinking I will, but the writing was such a turnoff that I simply found them boring.
Basically I don't know much about the erotica of today. Although I still read a book now and again, I don't have a lot of time for pleasure reading; so I asked an author of that genre, Lacey Roberts, to answer some questions on the basics of what it is.
Would you tell us a little about yourself, Lacey?
I began writing romance with erotic overtones after being bombarded with ideas. I am married, have two adult aged children and I am retired which gives me plenty of free time to enjoy the things I love most- family, travel, our dogs and writing.
I have two new books available, which I hope you enjoy, and another is in the planning. I can be contacted by emailing:
robertslacey1955@gmail.com
I am always happy to answer your questions or just have a chat.
My website is: http://robertslacey1955.wix.com/lacey-roberts
Q: What do you like about writing Erotica?
A:
I enjoy writing Erotica because you are not committed to a standard
theme, you can let your imagination come to the fore. I like to be
creative without boundaries and Erotica allows me to do that a little
better than romance. I just have to be careful
not to step over the line.
Q: What makes erotica different from romance novels, where there also can be a lot of sex?
A:
Readers of Erotica want to be sexually aroused by what they are reading
(so they tell me in emails). There is not really anything 'sweet' and
it can involve more than the hero and the heroine. Readers don't always
want to have a hero and heroine ending up together which is what appeals
to me. Erotica can encompass violence, paranormal, fantasy and other
sub-genres the same as romance but in romance the sex is usually between
the two main characters who inevitably end up together. It is much more
predictable. With Erotica, you are never sure how it will end. Although some romance books do have fairly descriptive sexual scenes,
they are not usually quite as graphic and 'different'.
Q: In writing romance, there are certain rules that go with it-- is there with erotica?
A:
I don't know if there are hard and fast rules but my rules are: There
must be a valid story, not only sexual description. It doesn't have to
be only sexual acts, describing a hot bath, hot shower, running ones
hands over another when in public can be erotically arousing to readers.
There are certain areas which are not acceptable eg: bestiality, which I
would never, ever include.
Q: Do you think erotica is basically porn for women, or is there a difference?
A:
Honestly? Yes I do. In my opinion a book which arouses women, or men
for that matter, is really a form of soft porn which brings about the
same response. A major difference is - an erotic story is just that, a
made up story about fictional characters. Porn pictures are of real
people in sometimes demeaning situations.
Q: Do
you have favorite erotica authors who inspired you.
A: My favourites are: Eloisa James - A Kiss At Midnight
Shoshanna Evers - The Enslaved Trilogy
D.H. Lawrence - Lady Chatterly's Lover
Q: BDSM is and actually has been popular with a lot of couples and not just in reading-- what do you think is the appeal?
A:
I think people these days are more willing to explore other ways of
fulfilling their sexual appetites. Traditionally it has been the male
partner who takes command of the sexual act, with BDSM it can be the
woman in charge if agreed to. It enables exploration of the body in more
unconventional ways, pleasure can be found in all manner of ways. One
comment which has arisen over the years when couples have divorced is "I
became bored in the bedroom" It is no secret many men and
woman look for an alternate sexual partner after being married for
years. Maybe couples are turning to BDSM to prevent this from happening.
Like anything else, routine becomes boring. The creativeness BDSM
allows probably helps to prevent this boredom.
Finally how about a sample from one of your books?
Finally how about a sample from one of your books?
Snippet from Taming Gemma:
“I’m
sorry, I was…” She stopped mid-sentence as Giles slipped up behind her.
His hands slid around her chest and began fondling her breasts. She
spun on her heels, propelling her arm forward, clenched fist connected
hard with his nose. Giles stepped back sputtering as blood poured down
the front of his pale grey Armani suit.
“How dare you!” she screamed. Gemma stomped towards the reception house. Her intention was to apologise to Lynette, and her new husband, before returning home.
“You will pay for that, you tease.” Giles shouted at her back.
She turned her head to unleash her retort. “Stay away from me and keep your filthy hands to yourself.”
In her anger, she failed to watch where she was going and ran headlong into a solid wall. It almost knocked her backwards onto her butt. Large hands locked on her arms in an attempt to steady her.
Gemma’s head had connected with a man’s very broad chest, she felt his well-toned muscles bunch under his suit. A very sensuous cologne wafted over her. She tilted her head back and gazed into the blackest eyes she had ever seen, they were like pools of pure onyx. His hands remained on her arms and he smiled down at her. This man was too handsome and sexy for his own good. A strange thrill raced down her spine.
Gemma pushed back to release herself. “Let me go,” she demanded. Liam immediately released his hold. “Men!” she ranted as she stormed away.
Liam gave Pete and Jack a confused look. “What did I do?”
“Guess you got in the way of an argument between her and her boyfriend.” Jack laughed.
“That’s Gemma Carmichael. She doesn’t have a boyfriend. Giles Fisher has been sniffing around for a while but she told him she wasn’t interested.” Pete elaborated.
Liam watched the petite woman as she stomped her way to the reception house. Her pale blue, gossamer dress floated over her sexy curves and, with the sunlight behind her, not much was left to his imagination.
Taming Gemma at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Gemma-Lacey-Roberts/dp/1499144679
“How dare you!” she screamed. Gemma stomped towards the reception house. Her intention was to apologise to Lynette, and her new husband, before returning home.
“You will pay for that, you tease.” Giles shouted at her back.
She turned her head to unleash her retort. “Stay away from me and keep your filthy hands to yourself.”
In her anger, she failed to watch where she was going and ran headlong into a solid wall. It almost knocked her backwards onto her butt. Large hands locked on her arms in an attempt to steady her.
Gemma’s head had connected with a man’s very broad chest, she felt his well-toned muscles bunch under his suit. A very sensuous cologne wafted over her. She tilted her head back and gazed into the blackest eyes she had ever seen, they were like pools of pure onyx. His hands remained on her arms and he smiled down at her. This man was too handsome and sexy for his own good. A strange thrill raced down her spine.
Gemma pushed back to release herself. “Let me go,” she demanded. Liam immediately released his hold. “Men!” she ranted as she stormed away.
Liam gave Pete and Jack a confused look. “What did I do?”
“Guess you got in the way of an argument between her and her boyfriend.” Jack laughed.
“That’s Gemma Carmichael. She doesn’t have a boyfriend. Giles Fisher has been sniffing around for a while but she told him she wasn’t interested.” Pete elaborated.
Liam watched the petite woman as she stomped her way to the reception house. Her pale blue, gossamer dress floated over her sexy curves and, with the sunlight behind her, not much was left to his imagination.
Taming Gemma at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Gemma-Lacey-Roberts/dp/1499144679
