EVENT ALERT!
Live Chat with the Pros
What: BDSM focused Live Chat hosted by ERWA
Featuring: Award winning author & editor Laura Antoniou
When: Thursday, December 6th, at 8:00pm EST
(5:00pm PST; 1:00am GMT)
Where: ShadowWorld chat server, channel, #erachat
http://www.shadowworld.net:8080/?nick=WebChat...&channels=ERAChat&prompt=1
Directions: Follow the link above. On screen you'll see 'Connect to ShadowWorld IRC'. In the Nickname box, key in your name. Leave the channels box at #ERAChat, and click 'Connect'. A chat text box will appear at the bottom of your screen. Those who prefer a modern interface with way-cool functions, follow the details at ERWA Chat Info:
http://www.erotica-readers.com/PRIVATE/Chat.htm
Laura Antoniou is the author of the popular Marketplace series of BDSM-themed erotic novels, She has also edited the groundbreaking Leatherwomen anthologies, and several other collections of fiction and non-fiction. Her work has been translated into Spanish, German, Hebrew, Japanese and Korean. In 2011 Laura won the NLA (National Leather Association) Lifetime Achievement Award, and the prestigious John Preston Short Fiction Award for her short story, "That's Harsh". Read about Laura Antoniou at:
http://lantoniou.com
If you want to know what publishers/editors want (and don't want), and how to make your BDSM manuscripts stand out, don't miss this opportunity to Chat with the Pro, LauraAntoniou.
The Interview:
1.
How
did you get started writing erotica?
That's
a tricky question. I usually say when Masquerade hired me to write The Catalyst
in 1991. But really, I have always written things that were erotic to me –
going back to my early teens, when fantasy, science fiction and vampires
figured heavily in my imagination. Even though my sexual experience was
theoretical, erotic images of power, ritualized and thoroughly purple in prose,
were clearly evident.
2.
What
inspired your series about The Marketplace?
I had fantasies about slavery since
before I really understood the concept. So, even as a kid, I looked for books
about slaves and owners, fiction and non fiction. The first one I remember was
an award winning children's book titled Greek Slave Boy, recommended for children
7-11. Later on, of course, I found more adult reading, and the sexually
explicit examples of "real life" slave trading organizations and
societies, such as John Preston's Network, as depicted in his Master books, and
Ann Rice's little kinky island from Exit to Eden – let alone her fantasy
version in the Beauty books. The problem with these other books though, even
when I found them hot or diverting, was that I am essentially one of those
annoying readers who expects my literary worlds to look as though they were
fully realized and functioning. And a universe of perfect bodies, pale skins,
limited scales of orientation and identity plus many other much smaller
examples of a mono-culture, made me itchy. Unlike Preston's world, I wanted to
follow the adventures of female, trans, straight and bi characters. Unlike
Rice's worlds, I wanted people who tried and failed, characters who wanted more
than heterosexual monogamy and were prepared to pay a price to get what they
really wanted. So, you might say I was inspired to write the story I wanted to
read.
3.
Open
one of the books from the series (your choice) and let us know what is
happening.
The scene I opened to was about a slave
trainee, fondly remembering how she was roughly and selfishly used once in the past,
and how wonderful it made her feel in the moment – "like a real
slave," she thinks. Then, she also recalls how later on, the encounter
made her feel cheap, and that she didn't know what or how her feelings changed,
or what that meant.
Not all of my characters 1) get what
they want, 2) really want it to begin with, 3) are very good at thinking things
out, and 4) sail through life with an amazing set of coincidences and luck.
4.
What
is your favorite thing about writing BDSM fiction?
I get to work at home and write about
the thing I love best – how humans use and misuse power over other humans. And
I get attention and a little money for it.
5.
Pizza,
cheeseburgers or a veggie plate?
Pizza from Amore, the place two blocks
away from me, that serves the best slices in Queens. I used to say a
cheeseburger deluxe plate from any decent diner, or from Donovan's Pub in
Jackson Heights, but these days I can only manage a few bites of a good, hand
formed cheeseburger. sigh
6.
Tell
us about the naughtiest, sexiest scene you ever wrote. (Lay it on-we like it
spicy.)
Wow, I tried to think of the
naughtiest/dirtiest/sexiest, and hit a complete wall of question marks. I mean,
how can I judge? I have spent pages writing highly detailed sex scenes that
didn't do more than make my wrists ache from the typing, and I once wrote a
scene about how to set a formal dinner table that made me, ah, need to take a
break for some private time. I can say the scenes I love best range from the
brutal – two Italian scouts ruthlessly using and tormenting a slave in The
Marketplace – to the enthusiastically romantic – a scene between two characters
who had clearly been wanting each other for 800 freaking pages and then finally
get to have some. That one was in The Reunion. I am also fond of the cartoony
rough sex/rape scenes in my gay male novel Musclebound – non-consent is not
especially welcome in today's BDSM-friendly "romantic" world, so
getting it re-released as an e-book was tricky! But I find it hot, especially
since I usually imagine it illustrated by The Hun.
7.
What
is your favorite dessert?
I like things made with vanilla and/or
cinnamon flavors. Chocolate is never on top of my list when offered a choice;
to tell the truth, I like homey, comfort things like cheesecake and bread
pudding, or fruit and pumpkin pies. But what really pleases me these days is a
fine cheese plate, maybe with a little dried or fresh fruit. Mmmm. Cheese.
8.
Sometimes
writing about sex can be tough. What is the hardest scene you ever wrote and
why?
The sex is usually easy! When I create
characters, I know what they like and want, so putting them together is more
like performing arithmetic than creating something completely original. I do
sometimes find myself sitting back and thinking, "what haven't I written
about because I personally don't find it erotic. Some of my readers will. I
need to work that in somewhere." And often, I need to sort of fake it when
writing like that. A lot of people think I sort of hold my nose for
heterosexual scenes – actually, I don't. I like any assortment of people, for
me, it's all about the acts and the character connection, and some of my hotter
scenes are the ones that appear very straight! But it's REALLY tricky to write
about something kinky I actually don't even like, maybe I even, uh, hate it…and
make THAT sexy. Writing about violet wands was tricky that way. And if I ever
do more with electrical play, it'll be a real case of typing while trying not
to sneer.
9.
What
would you tell a newbie erotica author to help them succeed?
I'd tell them to define what success is
for them, first. If they said, I want to quit my job as a CPA and earn a living
writing erotica, I would suggest they keep the day job. If they said they want
to see their work in e-book format with
a cover featuring shirtless hunks and or well endowed babes, I would say, go
for it. These days, it's all a matter of figuring out what exactly you want out
of writing. I know very few erotic authors who actually make anything close to
what they'd get slinging espresso at Starbucks – I certainly don't. We spend a
lot of time self-marketing and doing jobs publishers used to do, and we write
stories for $25 a shot. I can churn out a short story in a day. If someone
looks at me like I'm crazy because I am willing to work a full day for $25,
then I don't think they are suited to the world of erotic writing. Because you
don't actually write a story every day.
But if they want to write for good
reasons like telling their stories, sharing their fantasy worlds, having the
pleasure of seeing their work distributed, and maybe even getting a little
financial reward now and then? I'd encourage them to read – a lot. Not more
erotica, but anything they can gets their hands on. For idea, for knowledge,
for style and structure hints, and to continually stretch their imagination.
I'd advise them to recruit two
important people – The Number One Fan and The Friend Who Reads Closely. The
number one fan is there to boost ego and soothe wounded pride – "everyone
on Goodreads is a douchbag! Besides, Laura Antoniou says NEVER reads the
reviews." The close reader is there to beta-read your work, and send you
suggestions, questions, feedback, and maybe even corrections – and they can do
it without the loss of your friendship.
And I'd advise them to go to writing
workshops, readings and any place where they can meet and socialize with other
writers. There's nothing like being with people who understand the voices in
your head and the annoyances of the publishing world and the combination of ego
and terror that go into putting your work out there for all the world to see.
Besides, maybe someone is putting together an anthology and you can sell them a
story for $50. It can happen.
10. What
are your current writing projects?
I just finished editing the first ever
Marketplace fan anthology, which is being typeset as I …type. This year I also
finished The Killer Wore Leather, my first comedy murder mystery, which is
coming out next year from Cleis. I am very excited about both of these, because
they not only represent firsts, but they show the effort I have been putting
into making myself more available and attractive to a wider reading audience.
Right now, I am working on The Inheritor, book 6 of the Marketplace series, and
that will keep my focus for some time, as it is long overdue. I am also
shopping around a paranormal book, because, well, everyone else is. And I know
my take on vampires and werewolves and other things that go bump in the night
and then kill you deader than dead might be a tad different from the sparkly,
cuddly world I don't like. Oh, hey – look at me once again writing the book I'd
rather read…
Thanks Laura for being on the blog today!
Mark your calendars for the ERWA chat and come and
hang out with Laura and the wonderful crew from
ERWA! If you are an erotica writer or aspire to be,
there is no better place to build your support network.
Have a great day!
Erzabet
