Here’s an author interview with James Grey.
Take it away, James…
- How did you start writing erotica?
I’ve been a professional magazine writer and editor for over a decade, but always in respectable fields. Then, a couple of years ago, I wrote a lesbian fantasy story for my then-girlfriend. She enjoyed it very much. When we recently split, she brought a bunch of my forgotten stuff to me – said erotic story included. When I re-read it I found myself quite turned on, which I took to be a good sign. So I thought I’d give erotic writing a more serious go in 2014, and by the fourth day of January I had self-published my short story Hot Wet Touches on Amazon!
- What erotic authors do you enjoy reading?
I don’t have the time to read as much as I would like, but I can name Samantha Austen and Goldeniangel (writer of Marriage Training on Booksie Silk). They have a similar talent for telling stories of female submissives.
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I don’t need to look a lot further than my boundlessly filthy imagination! Generally it’s a question of writing down things I’d very much like to happen, but I may have certain real people in mind when I do so. I have also had one or two exciting experiences that I can and will put to paper. Hot Wet Touches is one such – although sadly for me the story turns into fiction a little earlier than I’d have preferred!
- Who is your favourite character from one of your stories and why?
I only have one story so far, but Claudia from Hot Wet Touches is certainly a favourite! She’s a real woman, being gorgeous somewhere in or around Frankfurt. I like to think she’d enjoy reading my story, but I’ll probably never know.
- Do your nearest and dearest know what you do, and if so, what was their reaction when they found out?
Certainly not – and I don’t think I’m going to let them find out! It can be a pain keeping secrets, but I don’t want to upset anyone.
- What was your ideal career when you were a child?
Astronaut!
- How do you get yourself in the mood to write?
Hah! I am not somebody who needs Viagra! Getting in the mood to write erotica is as simple as clearing a space in the schedule – letting my mind run wild is beyond easy. Certainly not the case with some of the more mundane things I write for a living…
- Which author, erotic or otherwise would you love to meet and why?
Alain de Botton. He is both a fine thinker and an incredible writer, and I would love to ask him how he goes about his business. I think his subject matter – essentially the way we think and live our lives – is more relevant than anything out there.
- What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?
I’m still exploring, but I definitely like lesbian stories and a bit of BDSM involving female subs. Or a combination of both.
- What are you working on at the moment?
Promoting Hot Wet Touches. I need to get enough encouragement from that to begin work on something more substantial, partly because of the whole tortured artist thing and partly because I have a lot of other projects demanding my time.
- What’s your biggest writing achievement? Why?
I’ve been published in a ton of places under my real name, but GQ, Sunday Times and Readers Digest are probably the best known.