Why erotica?
This question has played over and over in my mind during the last two years, particularly in the year prior to the release of my INKomplete series. I’m predominantly a sci-fi and fantasy reader, with a special place for horror and bizarro fiction in my heart. That’s not to say that I don’t read erotica. Of course I do. I try to read everything and anything (and there’s some absolute fantastic erotic fiction out there), but I am saying that erotica isn’t generally my first choice of reading material.
So, why were my first novels—and first few published short stories, for that matter—anchored so firmly in the erotic genre?
Even after all of this time and pondering, my original answer has remained unchanged; I write erotic fiction because it arouses (pun intended) deep feelings and reactions in the reader that is difficult to replicate in other genres. A talented erotic fiction author can quite literally hold the heart strings of a reader and make it dance whichever way he or she wants.
Do sci-fi and fantasy stories hold my attention and make me want to keep reading right to the end, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning? You betcha.
Does horror make my skin tingle with fear? Does it make me keep turning the pages until I read every last word on the page? Hell yes.
But do they give me that same heart-lancing, chest bursting, insane-grinning pleasure when two MC’s finally get it together in an erotic fiction story? Nuh-uh. That feeling is solely reserved for well-written romance and erotica.
Erotic fiction is mostly overlooked in the writing world, mainly because it’s often culturally disapproved of. The use of sex and sexual emotion—no matter whether it has taboo themes or not—is seen as vulgar, crass, and beneath more “worthier” genres, but I wholly disagree. Writing erotic fiction has taught me more than any writing class could ever do.
If somebody wants to be a good writer, they could do a lot worse than taking ten really good and ten really bad erotic novels and studying them. The difference between the two will undoubtedly show you how to create well-rounded, interesting, and believable characters. If the characters aren’t believable in erotica then the rest of the story falls apart. And, unlike other genres, romance and erotic fiction has to have believable characters because it doesn’t rely on other plot devices to make it work. It’s so character centric.
I mean, if an erotic fiction writer can turn the unlikelihood of an uber-hot, multi-billionaire with a ginormous—ahem!—personality flaw (that he has to overcome in order to win his love interest) into a believable character, then he or she can go on to write pretty much any other genre because all fiction needs believable characters.
But that’s just my opinion. What do you think? I’d love to hear from other erotic fiction writers! Hit me up on Twitter (@maramalins) or on my website (www.maramalins.com) to let me know why you write or read erotic fiction.
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Blurb:
Welcome to INKomplete, a studio renowned for its tattoos, talent, and totally tempting tattoo artists. Every design tells a story, every artist has a tale. One studio, four tattooists, and a whole load of heat. Enjoy these hot and steamy reads that explore the sometimes sweet but always erotic relationships between ink and kink.
THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS ALL FOUR NOVELLAS
Book 1 — INKarnate: When Emily begins an apprenticeship at the renowned tattoo studio Inkomplete, she didn’t realise she was stepping into a world very different from her middle-class upbringing. But not everybody is happy about her dipping her toe into new waters. Famous tattoo artist, Matt Jones, knows she doesn’t belong.
Book 2 — INKapable: After her husband walked out on her, leaving her to provide for their daughter alone, Joe has no intention of relying on a man for anything ever again. As a successful tattoo artist, she can take care of what’s hers. The only thing she needs is a little fun every now and again. And if a gorgeous man offers her exactly what she needs, if they both know what they’re getting into, it can’t get messy, can it?
Book 3 — INKurable: Phee has breast cancer. As heart-breaking as it is, she’s determined to be strong so her friends don’t worry. They’re a family, so if she hurts, they hurt, and she can’t allow that. But when lines start to blur between her and her handsome surgeon, trying to hold everything together suddenly feels like the real fight.
Book 4 — INKonsolable: It’s been five years since Blakey’s beautiful wife Elizabeth died and his grief is just as sharp today as it was back then. But now he’s desperately lonely too. As he becomes closer to his friend Aisleyne, Blakey fights it with everything he has. How could he even think about moving on? No, friendship is all he has to offer. That will have to be enough.
Official page: http://www.penandkinkpub.com/home/books/inkomplete/inkomplete/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48963454-inkomplete
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08289PL3P
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/inkomplete
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1490471352
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inkomplete-mara-malins/1135373133?ean=2940163619559