Here’s an author interview with Jack Hammer. Take it away, Jack…
- How did you start writing erotica?
I attended a writing convention in London towards the end of 2014 and one of the segments covered writing erotica and the rise of the genre (no pun intended…) since the explosion of ‘50 Shades …’ I made copious notes and, after doing detailed research, decided to write my own short stories.
- What’s your favourite published work of yours and why?
I really like ‘Bang-Up’. It’s the initial book of the series that introduces John Gambit and I’m really happy with the way the character comes to life. I didn’t want to write stories that “just happened” but had a solid reason for being, and this story does that well.
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Dare I say real life? Ok, maybe real life with a touch of imagination.
- Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
Sadly, no unusual writing habits. Normal stuff without any hanging upside down naked exploits…
- Where’s your favourite place to write?
I have a spare room at home that I use as an office. It looks out across sheep fields and is really inspiring.
- Who is your favourite character from one of your stories and why?
It has to be John Gambit, my central character. He’s determined and very strong-willed but has inner demons to battle as well as the attitudes of his colleagues.
- Do your nearest and dearest know what you do, and if so, what was their reaction when they found out?
They do! And I’m surprised that the reaction has been, on the whole, very positive. In fact most are very excited to hear what’s happened so far and what’s in the pipeline. They’ve all been very supportive.
- What was your ideal career when you were a child?
I grew up wanting to be an actor, which I did – on a small scale – for a number of years during my late teens/20s but the need to pay rent increased so I had to take a ‘normal’ job.
- How do you get yourself in the mood to write?
I turn off the TV and phone and get myself sat at the desk. If I only wrote when the ‘muse’ took me then I’d get very little down. I’m approaching this as a job.
- What’s the best writing tip you’ve ever been given?
Two things spring to mind: 1) You can’t edit a blank page, so just get something down, and 2) Give yourself permission to write a sh*t first draft!
- If you get writer’s block when you’re writing, how do you get around it?
I take the dog for a walk and let my mind drift. She gets walked a lot!
- If you could bring one of your characters to life, which one would it be and why?
I’d love to meet Gambit (of course) but it’s his colleague nemesis – William Franks – who I’d bring to life. He’s the sort of smug b*stard that we all know and hate, and it’d be great to let him have his deserved comeuppance.
- What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?
Gay. Obviously. Although I may try my hand at M/F erotica in the future, or even F/F for that matter.
- What are you working on at the moment?
I have the next two Gambit adventures pencilled in – I’ve set myself a target of writing at least one per month for 2015 – which are set in Amsterdam and France respectively.