1) Why did you choose to write BDSM? What intrigues you
about this particular genre?
Everything about the BDSM genre intrigues me, but mostly I’m
intrigued by the psychology of it. I love exploring why certain characters get off on the things they get off on.
That’s what prompts me to write about them.
2) Do you read the same genre that you write? Why or why
not?
I do. But *cringes* I’m really
particular about what and who I read. There’s so much talk right now about
how to do a BDSM novel “right” or “wrong” and I think there’s some useful
information there, but I try to stay out of those kinds of discussions. There’s
definitely a “right” and “wrong” way to do BDSM in real life, and I’m all for
being a stickler about the rules when it comes to real life play. But in a BDSM
story the whole point is that this is
a fantasy, and so it’s not necessarily “wrong” to write things that are outside
of what’s considered safe BDSM play, or stretch the boundaries of what most
would think is a healthy BDSM relationship. Although, while I can support
authors writing in the genre in whatever manner they wish and telling whatever
type of story they like in a completely theoretical sense, my own kinks and my own
views toward responsible play make me disinclined to read certain types of
stories based on personal taste. But to each their own, and I very much support
diversity in the genre.
3) What inspired you to write Liam, an actor suffering from
panic attacks?
All of my stories are planned in what’s probably reverse
order from what most authors plan their stories. I start with what type of sex
or kinks I want to write, then I create characters whose deepest desires and
emotional needs are met by those kinks, and then I plot situations that would
bring those two characters together. With A Collar For Christmas, I really
wanted to write some non-sexual kink. So from there it was a matter of creating
a character who would participate in kink without there being a sexual
component, and the key to that character was always going to be why the kink was necessary outside the
sex. Thus Liam, our damaged, anxiety riddled actor was born.
4) Give us an insight into your main
characters. Tell us what draws these two
men together?
Aaron I think is the easiest. He’s a born nurturer, a
definite care-taker. He’s drawn to Liam because of his neediness and inability
to control his panic attacks. He wants to be the guy to fix it and he’s willing to do just about anything to make that
happen. With Liam, he’s so used to being the outsider, loved but not really
understood and completely accepted for who he is, everyone looking for the
quick fix to his problems, that how could he help falling for the first guy
that really seems to see everything he is and still accept him anyway?
5) Tell us in brief
about your personal road to publication.
I started out publishing short stories for a porn website
that’s no longer in operation, first on a freelance and then on contracted
basis. Then one day I got the bright idea to try and expand one of those short
ideas into something full length. That first attempt was an utter failure and
will hopefully never see the light of day, but shopping it around taught me a
lot about the submissions process. Those lessons eventually coalesced into an
effort that was worthy of being published and my first novel, A Perfect
Solution, was published through Loose Id in 2013. I don’t plan to do any
looking back now.
6) Have you ever based a character on someone you know? If
so, did you tell them? If not, is there someone in your life you’d like to base
a character on?
No, never based a character on someone I know. I feel like
if I ever wrote a story with a kid in it, it would be pretty hard for me to
keep from making them pretty similar to my own child, just because I think my
kid’s awesome, and I don’t really know enough about kids to make one feel
realistic without making him say and do the things that mine does.
7) Do you have any writing rituals that you do when you sit
down to create? (eg: favorite drink, music?)
Coffee or tea is a must. I have several playlists for
writing and often create specialized lists for certain stories or scenes. The
biggest thing though is planning. I cannot sit down to write if I don’t know
exactly what I’m trying to write and where I’m going with it before I even try
to work. I like to have all my notes sitting next to me so that I can flip
through them as I write. I’ve often found that being outside if the weather
permits generates higher word counts. Also, if I’m having trouble with a
particular scene, I like to take a drive to clear my head, usually with the top
off the Jeep.
8) What’s coming next
for you as an author?
A few things. I’ve got sequels planned for both of the novels
I have out now and hope to release both during the coming year. I’m also
working on a story about second chances, taking risks and not judging a book
(or a sexy man) by its cover.
9) Were there any
specific part of A Collar for Christmas that you absolutely loved
writing as well as not enjoyed writing?
My favorite scenes to write were the ones with Liam and his family. I
loved playing with their dynamics. There wasn’t really anything I didn’t enjoy
writing, but after the first draft was finished my editor suggested we change
the tense from present to past so I had to edit the entire manuscript for that.
That wasn’t fun, but it was the right call, so *shrugs*
Buy Link: http://www.loose-id.com/a-collar-for-christmas.html
Blurb:
For actor Liam, anxiety and panic attacks are old friends, but they only get worse the more famous he gets. Nothing has ever worked to help him control the anxiety until his costar, Aaron, introduces him to bondage. Too bad Liam develops feelings for Aaron and ruins the only solution he's ever found for his neuroses.
Aaron only wants to keep history from repeating itself. He's already had one costar spin out of control, resulting in her tragic death, he can't just sit idly by and watch another friend and colleague destroy himself from the inside out. He'll do anything to keep that from happening--even enter into a non-sexual BDSM arrangement with him.
What starts out as a way to control Liam's anxiety becomes so much more. At least for Liam. So, tired of pretending he doesn't want Aaron in his life for good, Liam decides to give him the perfect Christmas gift. The kind that will show Aaron exactly what Liam wants from their relationship: the collar he's been dreaming of Aaron putting on him for months.
Book Links:
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18806544-a-collar-for-christmas
About The Author
A.E. Lawless
A.E. lives in south
Louisiana where everything is bigger, covered in camo and made with more
butter. She sweats her way through the summers because she loves the people,
the food and the culture found only there.
She couldn't manage any writing at all without copious amounts of coffee and her writing partner: her cat Bacon
She couldn't manage any writing at all without copious amounts of coffee and her writing partner: her cat Bacon
Author Links:
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/aelawlessauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7254452.A_E_Lawless
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7254452.A_E_Lawless
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