Monday 10 April 2017

Writers' experiences of writing gay/shifter or BDSM stories

The fourth in my series on writers’ experiences of writing gay, shifter or BDSM stories is from Amara Lebel who tells us her experiences of writing gay sex.


I have always had a love for erotica, gay romance in particular. Kallysten is my favourite author of MM erotic romance. I have devoured every last piece of work the woman has ever wrote, repeatedly. I adore her characters, the worlds she created, and the relationships she built within them. She was a huge influence in my decision to write, and of course the genre I chose. Kally was the one who opened my eyes to world of MM romance, and now I am truly obsessed.

I can honestly raise both hands and say that I have an unhealthy addiction to all things man on man. I watch, read and drool over everything to do with gay couples. Be it artistic photography, a gay romance, or even a little porn. Yes, that's right, porn. I'm not a huge fan of it, never really was. Until I went researching some things for my first book. Now, I do find myself enjoying it from time to time. Very inspirational.

I also have a vast Yaoi collection which I devour religiously - for those of you not in the know Yaoi, and/or Shounen-ai, is MM anime and manga, ranging from Light to Hard core. There are so many genres within this genre alone that there will definitely be something for everyone to enjoy. 'Tis very good. I recommend you give it a try.

Now, due to my obsession, I tend to spend a lot of my free time fantasising about steamy scenes of male love, sensual encounters, and so much more. Yes, I am a little perverted, yet in a good way. In my opinion at least. Anyhow, with so much going on in my head I finally decided that maybe I should take the advice of a friend and actually put pen to paper. So I did, and Tristan Bailey and Joshua Malone were born.

When I first sat down to write Denial, the first book in The Unrequited Trilogy, I had someone very close to me in mind; my cousin and his gorgeous husband. Their entire relationship was like a romance novel in my eyes. They had the whole will-they-wont-they thing going on. Keeping me in suspense until the day they finally married in an amazing forties style bash. Their bond and love is so deep, even to this day, and I love seeing it. Theirs is a relationship that rivals many, and I personally think it is so much more because of the fact that they are a gay couple. Their bond is strong and unwavering, regardless of anything that they have experienced due to it. In my eyes, this is true love. And that is the kind of thing I want to write about.

Some of the experiences, and mile stones, my characters reach within their story are actually things my cousin and his husband have went through themselves. From their initial meeting, right up to their Happy Ever After with Samuel in tow. As I've said, their relationship is the thing of romance novels.

Now, I must state that even though I always had my cousin's relationship in mind while writing the Unrequited Trilogy, not everything I write comes from the love I have for them. Their relationship may be the basis of my story. Yet the erotic side of it all is entirely my own imaginings. Because let's face it, that would just be weird! They're family! I will admit though that I once asked my cousin's husband a very general question about intercourse, which he answered, but that's as far as my curiosity went. As I said before. . . that's just wrong!

I gather my inspiration for my sex scenes from other sources, and once I get started on a love scene it just seems to flow. I never really know which direction it will take until it happens; be it rough, soft and sensual, or animalistic. At times I find myself going into more detail in one scene than I would in another. Yet Im never dissatisfied with them when I am finished. I have always found them easy enough to write.

What does she know about gay sex, I hear you say!

Well, if we truly think about it, the act of intercourse - you know, of sticking a penis into a hole - hehe, is basically the same regardless of where said penis goes. Therefore, in my opinion, it isn't all that hard to write about this aspect of the sexual act.

And if I may refer you back to my earlier statement about watching gay porn - I watch it, occasionally ... okay, I watch it a lot! And I've paid real good attention to what goes on. *coughs* I may not be the proud owner of a penis, but I can read people's emotions pretty well, and I am also a boundary-breaking fiend who questioned the man of her life relentlessly about his own penis and experiences, etc, etc. *coughs* there may have also been some experimentation of our own *coughs* Therefore, during certain parts of the love scenes, I am able to work from my own personal experiences.

And in others, as I stated before, I simply ask my husband how it felt for him. And he is always good enough to try to explain these things to me. Throw in the lust, tension, carvings, and all that other raw emotion which makes for a great scene, and I can honestly say that I know enough by now to write me some good MM sex.

If you doubt me, then I ask you to simply purchase one of my books and have a read for yourself. And please, come back and tell me if I succeeded!

Because at the end of the day.  I'm not only writing these books for myself, I'm doing it for you, the readers. Without you I wouldn't it really have much reason to write. I enjoy knowing that someone has read my work and liked it. That its made an impression on you in some way. Even if that impression is negative, I welcome the feedback as it helps me improve myself and better my writing. I doubt there is an author out there who doesn't it crave reader feedback, or their fan-base. If were to be honest, as authors, we are nothing without you.

So keep doing what you're doing, and enjoy the stories we create for you!

Buy links and blurb for Denial:

Tristan Bailey is a man who never takes no for an answer in anything he does or wants. Life treats him good as the CEO of his own airline, and one of New York's finest bachelors. Men and women alike fall at his feet, the world opens to him without complaint. There isn't much he desires. Until he lays eyes on Joshua, that is.

Death has become a living nightmare for Joshua Malone. No matter what he does, a past riveted with pain and destruction follows him and forces him to make life decisions he would rather not. Josh never wanted to be reminded of the heartache that loving someone could bring, but he finds himself struggling to deny Tristan's advances.

Two different worlds collide in a heated meeting of longing and lust. Can the inner fears of one be laid to rest by the newfound love for the other, or will they both be denied?




Siren BookStrand - http://www.bookstrand.com/denial  
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1pZFQB8  
Amazon US - http://amzn.to/1wM7OYq  
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/16oi2n5 
Bookworld - http://bit.ly/1yLiuXi


Many thanks, Amara. Look out next Monday for the next guest blog. If you wanted to read the others:

Jennifer Denys click here.
Samantha Winston click here
Jules Dixon click here

This series is to inspire people to write for my Balls & Chains series – a gay shifter series set in a BDSM club. If you are interested full details can found on Luminosity’s website. The first book in the series ‘To Claim a Mate’ is out in mid May.



1 comment:

  1. I'm so pleased with myself right now lol. Thanks for having me, Jen ;)

    ReplyDelete