-Erotic Romance Author-
Audri Nichols
​FOLLOW ME
There are some questions that almost all writers get asked at one time or another. Here are my answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I get.
01
You write erotica? Aren't you embarrased?
Answer: Typically the feeling of embarrsment is rooted in either fear or shame. There was a time when I was much younger I felt a little afraid someone would read my work and think I was weird, but I grew out of it. As a grown adult, I don't feel that sexual fantasies, or admitting I enjoy sex, is something worthy of shame or embarrasment. Everyone has sexual desires. I just take some of those common thoughts and feelings people experience and put them on paper.
Yes, I write romance that is a bit more explicit than what some are used to. That's okay. Everyone has different styles and different tastes, and if my books make people a little uncomfortable, then there are other authors out there for them to read. However, I do try to make a point to focus more on the story line and the emotions of my characters, rather than just the "smutt." I hope that my stories are primarily romance based, but with super hot steamy moments.
02
Do you write about your own sexual experiences?
Answer: No. All of my story ideas come from the characters in my head. Typically I will be going about my day, and a scene flashes in my mind, kind of like a movie. There is this instant, like lightening, when I know a story is about to be born. Once that happens, one of the main characters emerges, and they sort of tell me the rest of the story. At some point, when I start writing, my characters take over telling their story, and I'm just along for the ride. I am often suprised by the twists and turns in the stories I am writing, and I usually never know how they will end until I write them. I have never written about my own sexual experiences, and I never plan to, because some things should be kept between me and my man.
03
Many books on Amazon are given away for free. Can I get a free copy of your book?
Answer: Sorry, no. The only person who gets a free copy of my work is my man. He reads my stories over and helps me do final edits. The majorty of my books are $2.99 on Amazon and other e-book venues. I'm getting started as a published author. I'll be honest, at the moment, I simply can't afford to just give my books away for free, however, there are many of them available as bundle deals, at a discounted rate.
That being said, I spend weeks, sometimes months, working on my stories, from conception to final product, I spend hundred of hours creating worlds full of suspense, drama, action, revenge, love and yes, sex. There was one time I spent an entire 12 hour day, working on one paragraph, because it was vital to the rest of the story that I get it right. My time and energy is just as valuable as anyone elses, and I think my hard work is worth a few dollars.
As an erotica author, what are your thoughts on the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey?
04
Answer: I finally broke down and read them a few months ago. First, I listened to them on audio, and then I read the actual paper books. I wanted to experience the books in both mediums before I formed an opinion of them.
Overall, I find it hilariously funny mind candy, not to be taken too seriously. I can see why so many heavily into BDSM find it appalling. I have to wonder though, how much was the authors doing, and how much was edited and revised to make acceptable to publish to the masses. Personally, I think the entire trilogy would have been much more intersting if it had been told from the point of view of Christian, instead of Anastasia.
I can also see why more vanilla types would find it titillating. The books made people curious about BDSM and becasue of that, they were willing to ask questions.
Could the BDSM scenes been more intense? Yes. Of course. Could they have been more realistic? Hells yeah! That being said, BDSM gets a lot of bad steryotyping from people outside the kink community, in large part because many "vanilla" types just don't know how BDSM really works. However, sex has been in large part, a forbidden topic of discussion in our culture for far too long. The book series wasn't that bad, for what it was meant to be: It is a fluff piece to intro them into the genre of BDSM erotica. I've read worse BDSM erotica. At least now, people are more curious, willing to ask questions and openly discuss all things kinky. That doesn't hurt the BDSM community, or the rest of us who write erotica at all.
05
What are you working on right now?
Answer: I always have several projects in various stages of completion. I am almost always finishing a book, working on the middle of another, and starting a book. Several are in the conception stages, while others are in the basic outline stage of development. I am most looking forward to finishing my Wolves of Fallen River trilogy in time for the Halloween season. It's action-packed and full of romance, mystery and hunky Alpha males. ;)
