Here’s an interview from Kenn Baker.
Take it away, Kenn…
- How did you start writing erotica?
To be honest, it was not my intention. The fact that I was writing a Vampire story sort of dictated that it be erotica. Can you think of anything more intimate than literally living off of someone’s body….consuming them. What is sexier than that?
- What’s your favourite published work of yours and why?
“Endless Night” is my only published work as of now, but I think it would be my favorite regardless. the whole process was a nightmare. Due to a computer issue I lost 60 pages of the first draft. The hard drive and a flash drive were both zapped by…I don’t know what…cosmic rays maybe, but they were both wiped out. I almost cried. I thought very hard for about three days about whether or not the project was worth restarting. As soon as I decided it was, I attacked it again with renewed enthusiasm and got through those lost pages and then some in a much shorter time. I felt such a connection to the characters that the book began almost writing itself. After I was finally finished. I waited a few weeks and I read it as if i had never read it before. I LOVED it. It was the kind of vampire story I had set out to write and I was satisfied when I set the book down.
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Personal experience is always, in my opinion, the best resource. I think it was Hume who said “The greatest fantasy pales when compared to the smallest of experiences.” I agree wholeheartedly with that. A person can imagine what it is like to be in prison, but until you’ve been in one you could never imagine the smells, the atmosphere, the ominous silences etc…
- Do you have any unusual writing rituals?
I’m not sure what “Usual” writing rituals would be. I do try to write all the way through. Meaning I won’t stop and go back and reread the scene. I know before I type what is happening, will happen etc… going back only makes you second guess your first instinct which was probably the best avenue.
- Who is your favourite character from one of your stories and why?
As a writer, you need to love every one of your creations, even if you have to hate them enough to kill them. If you don’t, they will never become real enough to have that “Auto-dialogue” thing happen. You could give me a scene and I could put any one of my characters in it and know immediately how they would react, maybe that is because I personalized them enough that they all became facets of myself, but that is what truly makes them yours. The first character that came to mind though was Bastian. I really Love Bastian. He is a minor character in “Endless Night”, but he will be much larger in book 2. What I love about him is his wisdom, his child-likeness, and his need to create. Plus, he’s this little unassuming fellow who can rip a body builder to pieces.
- Do your nearest and dearest know what you do, and if so, what was their reaction when they found out?
Some do, some were very surprised when they read “Endless Night” and I think the first shocking word they came across was “Cock”. “Yes Mom, my character’s Cock got hard when he fed on a voluptuous woman”.LMAO I thought I would be more embarrassed, but I’m not. I didn’t star in a porno, but I almost think that would have been less explicit. Writing a sex scene goes much deeper. I mean, I feel really naked, totally exposed, when people read it, because I’m everyone in the scene….I’m all the depravity, I’m all the violence as well. What I hope they all realize, which is the point of the whole book, is that we, as human beings are base instinct wrapped in intellect. I can be a civilized man and I use silverware and don’t attack women on the street, but underneath all of these centuries of civilization is still a creature with hunger. A beast if you will that does want to devour a woman and “Have her”, my intellect is what curbs that and makes me capable of a deeper meaningful relationship. To quote Shakespear ” At his best, he is little better than a man. At his worst, he is little better than a beast.”
One of my male coworkers told me a scene gave him a chub. That was a little more info than I needed, but that was the point of the scene.
- What was your ideal career when you were a child?
I always wanted to be an artist. I did the cover art for “Endless Night” and all the 20 or so versions that will never see the light of day. For a long time I had an artistic block. I felt like I had a voice, but nothing to say. Now that I have something to say, I feel like the written word is the best way to share it with others.
- How do you get yourself in the mood to write?
I need music or complete silence to start, but once I’m going, I find it pretty easy. It sort of feels like building momentum.
- What’s the best writing tip you’ve ever been given?
Someone told me, “People reading this are not in your head, you have to be more descriptive.” That was great advice. I had been writing “Endless Night” as a script, so the dialogue was the most important aspect, once I switched to the novel format I had to really remind myself to describe smells, and sensations.
- If you get writer’s block when you’re writing, how do you get around it?
This will sound goofy, but I go around it like a detour. I had a problem with one scene, I knew I wanted some cool action to happen, but nothing was occurring to me. So I wrote “Some cool action” and continued as if i had just written the best “Cool action” ever. When I went back for a rewrite, the cool action sort of filled itself in.
- If you could bring one of your characters to life, which one would it be and why?
Roxanne, the classically trained ballerina. Her training mixed with vampiric agility and strength would be the most graceful motion a person could imagine….that would be amazing to see.
- Which author, erotic or otherwise would you love to meet and why?
Chuck Palahnuik, his deep philosophical insights into the human mechanism fascinate me…and frankly, I want him to “hit me as hard as he can” (for those of you reading this that don’t know, Chuck wrote “Fight Club” if you haven’t read it, I highly suggest it.
- What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?
Horror/Erotica, it the best of two worlds. It scares the crap out of you and you get to read about hot sex…
- What are you working on at the moment?
A sequel to “Endless Night” and a zombie book.