Here’s an author interview with Lucian Carter. Take it away, Lucian…
- How did you start writing erotica?
I was fresh out of rehab and I was working on a fantasy wrestling federation. I was writing about three to five thousand words a day. I saw a movie (The Master with the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman) with a friend and mentioned that to him. He told me if I wanted to make money by writing that fast I should explore erotica. I’d done a lot of amateur writing before and never considered erotica, even though I’d read some in the past.
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
For subject matter I usually try to write based on a fetish I either have, or have read about. I’m also in a non-erotic writer’s workshop to keep me in the habit of writing.
- Who is your favourite character from one of your stories and why?
Some would expect me to say Billy, the lead character of the Hypnotic Billy series. But actually, I love his grandfather even more. I’ve never had him in an overt sex scene, but his backstory is great and leaves a lot to the (kinky) imagination. I’ve toyed with the idea of writing some material about him in his youth, but I’m not sure I’m ready for an erotic period piece.
- Do your nearest and dearest know what you do, and if so, what was their reaction when they found out?
Most of them yeah. My parents don’t want to know the details and they’re glad I use a pen name. I’ve received some weird looks from friends but never outright disapproval or disgust.
- What was your ideal career when you were a child?
As a kid I wanted to be a superhero. That morphed into teacher. Then actor. Writing was a joy, but I never figured I’d take it seriously.
- If you get writer’s block when you’re writing, how do you get around it?
I try to flesh out where I’m supposed to get to. A lot of the writing process follows the same planning process as South Park’s underpants gnomes. Step 1: Beginning. Step 2: ??? Step 3: Finished draft.
- What’s your favourite genre within erotica and why?
I am very into erotic hypnosis in all its forms.
- What are you working on at the moment?
Right now I’m converting some books to audio. I have a few irons in the fire for both erotic and non-erotic work so I’m debating which will happen next. Plus, I’m finally starting the promotion and social media work one needs to do to succeed in self-publishing these days.
- What’s the biggest writing challenge you’ve ever taken on? Did you succeed?
I think my biggest decision was choosing if I wanted two different pen names for my erotica and everything else I write. In the end, I decided I would be Lucian Carter. Erotica becomes more mainstream every day. And if Anne Rice, and Piers Anthony can produce mainstream and erotica without having to hide it, then I will too.