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KAREN A INTERVIEW

The lovely Karen A is one of the newest authors we have at ES - and also one of the most prolific. She debuted here as recently as April 22 2011 and, within two days, had posted eight stories. And with most of them rocketing immediately to the top of our "most popular stories" listing, it seemed a good idea to find out a little more about her - beginning with the fact that she has been writing "for some time, but only recently stumbled across ES - previously I put the stories on my own web site www.heatwavepublications.com (How about that, I answered the first and last questions at the same time!).

"The first story was 'Back to nature,' which is part of a series called 'The Heatwave.' But I had a fair number of stories already written so I put them all in at roughly the same time. There are six stories in the 'Heatwave' series, and three about Georgina, so that's nine in all. I'm working on the tenth at the moment."

Now, is there anything you'd like to tell us about yourself?

A: What sort of things do you want to know, I wonder? I'm twenty-seven, I live on the south coast of the UK, I'm blonde, blue eyes, 5' 4" tall, slim (but I still have curves), medium sized boobs, good legs. I work as a College lecturer teaching drama to degree students, which is a job I love. Oh, and I'm bisexual.

Q: How and when did you begin writing erotic stories?

A: About six years ago when I first found erotic story sites on the web. I was generally disappointed with the standard (although it's improved a lot since then) and with how poorly us Brits were represented. I started writing "Back to nature" for a laugh - more to see if I could do it than anything else. I got really involved in it and the characters and the story just seemed to write itself. I never intended it to be as long as it ended up, but once it started the characters took over and I just had to go where they wanted. I was quite shocked as to how involved I got in what I was writing - there's a lot of orgasms go into one of my stories!

Q: Have you published anywhere other than ES.com?

A: Yes, my own website and Literotica.com.

Q: What is it about writing erotica that you most enjoy?

A: I guess if I'm really honest I get off on it in a very sexual way...if I'm writing the long build up to a sex scene it's like the excitement and tension I feel when I'm with someone I want to have sex with. I have a rule never to touch myself until the sex actually starts, but after that anything goes! When I first started writing I didn't realise it would be such an intensely sexual experience, but now I don't think the stories would be as good if I didn't get into it in that way. And yes, sometimes I do write naked - only in the summer though - I live in the UK after all!

Q: What is your favorite category to write in, and why?

A: At the moment I mostly write about lesbian relationships as for me that is the most intensely sexual area of my experience. However, most of my characters are bisexual, or at least have had relationships with men as that reflects my own experience. Write about what you know, as they say. I'm also keen to get across the emotional side of this kind of relationship - it's a big thing coming to terms with the fact that you are attracted to your own sex, and there are still a lot of taboos in our society about this kind of thing. Particularly in The Heatwave series the whole story centres around two girls who happen to fall in love with each other, but the main point is they fall in love with a person, not a gender. I think that's something that's easier for a woman to understand than a man, but it's still a big, big step, even in the 21st century.

Q: How much of yourself do you include in your stories?

A: There's a lot of me in them. Most of my characters are based on aspects of my own personality, or on people I've known. Most of the things they do are either things I've done or fantasise about wanting to do, and that includes the doubts and worries as well as the pleasure. I've reached a point in my life where I've come to terms with the fact that I'm a very sexual person and I'm comfortable with that, but at other times in the past I've still been wracked with guilt about whether I should be feeling or doing the things I am. Personally I think that makes the characters sexier because it makes them more realistic, but that could just be me!

Q: Is there anything that happens in your stories that you would really like to try in "real life", but haven't yet been able to?

A: Oh my God yes! In the third part of "The Sisterhood of Sappho" one of the characters rides a Sybian (if you don't know what it is Google it). I would really LOVE to do that - it looks really intense. I'm kind of freaky about the whole "Fucking Machines" thing - I find that really hot. That whole concept of submissive auto-eroticism is something I want to explore a lot more, in stories and in "real life".

Q: Does your partner or any of your friends know that you write? What do they think?

A: Right now I'm in a relationship with a woman, and she is really into what I do - she really gets off when I read it to her, she suggests ideas to me and helps me do the research! Before when I was with my ex-boyfriend he wasn't that interested, he was too wrapped up in his own life, I guess. Mind you, as I was mostly writing about lesbian sex I guess I was exploring things I felt I was missing being with him, so he might have not wanted to know too much.

Q: What, if any, difficulties do you face when writing - erotic writing difficulties and general writing difficulties? And how do you overcome them?

A: I generally don't have any problems writing when I'm in the mood and the situation is right. I am very sensitive to interruptions though - I find I work best if I lock myself away and really get into the story. In an ideal world I want to lock the door, turn off the phone, light some incense and lose myself for a good few hours (it doesn't hurt if I can pull the curtains and get naked too, as I mentioned earlier) but that isn't always possible. I don't think there is too much difference for me between erotic and general writing, beyond the fact that I get more turned on by the erotic stuff! I'm starting work on a "proper" book at the moment, so I'll have to see how that goes.

Q: How about in more general terms - how do you feel about the "outside world's perception of erotic writing?

A: I think (as with any genre) there is a lot of dross out there, but there is also some incredibly good stuff too. My own opinion is that as we generally become more liberal, we will see more and more that good erotica moves into the mainstream. In many ways this has already happened in the movie industry. The most important thing is that the erotic writing must be more than just sex for sex sake - there needs to be a reason for it and it needs to form part of a bigger plot.

The danger comes when you feel that because you are writing erotica you have to have a fuck on every page, I'm sure we all know how erotic and sensual the build up to sex can be, we need to celebrate that and the glorious warmth of lying in your lovers arms afterwards. I think sometimes that element gets left out because writers focus on the mechanics of the act too much. There have been times when I've found myself thinking "Shit, I've written 5000 words and they still haven't had sex!" - that was the case with the first part of "The Sisterhood of Sappho" - but I really wanted to get across the anticipation and the build-up, as well as develop the plot and I hoped that readers would understand. One lady was very kind and wrote to me saying she found it all the more erotic because of the time it took, although I do wonder if that's kind of a girl thing - men aren't always very good at patience, are they?

Q: One thing that I love about ES is that you very quickly build up a community of fans, who enjoy writing to and hearing from their favorite authors. Do you have any favorite topics that have surfaced in these "conversations"?

A: I've only been here a short time, so I can't say that has really happened yet - but I really look forward to it happening. Come on guys, give me some inspiration!

Q: How do you feel when you receive negative comments or very low votes from readers?

A: That hasn't really happened yet, but I guess I'd have to feel that you can't please everybody. My stuff is never going to be a big hit with someone who finds two women having sex a turn off, so there are always going to be some people who won't like it no matter how well written it might be.

Q: And do you read, and respond to, other writers on the site? Who are your favorites?

A: The first erotic writer I really got into was Ann Douglas, many years ago. Her stuff is great, well written, believable characters and situations, lots of interesting scenarios. Recently I read I story on Literotica called "Is she, isn't she?" by HarmonyHaze, which I adored. I haven't had a chance to read much on ES yet as I'm still very new here, but I'm looking forward to doing so and finding some new favourite authors to get me off.

Q: Do you remember the first pornography you ever saw?

A: Very clearly! I was seventeen and my boyfriend and I got a DVD from one of his mates. I was surprised by how much it turned me on, I didn't think I was that visually stimulated. I remember there was a really hot girl/girl scene and that got me so wet, much more than the boy/girl scenes. I think that was when I first began to realise that I was bi, and that women were always going to be a significant part of my sexual life as well as men.

These days I generally only watch lesbian porn because I find it a lot less mechanical than straight porn. Like erotic fiction, there's a lot of dross out there and there only seem to be a few companies who are trying to make something that both beautiful and sexy to look at. For me, you can always tell when the performers have a real connection, when they're really into each other and not just doing it for the money, and when you have two beautiful girls in that situation and they just get so wrapped up in what they're doing there is nothing sexier in the world. I have a secret fantasy to star in lesbian porn - that would really appeal to my exhibitionist side!

Q: What's the kinkiest thing you have ever done?

A: Oh my God, that's a tough one! Most recently I think having my girlfriend fuck me with a strap-on, which was a new experience for both of us. We're still in the early stages of this relationship, so we're still experimenting with seeing how far we dare go! I have a big thing about getting off outdoors, either on my own or with a partner - it just seems so primeval and natural to have sex in the open air. I love sunbathing in a nice secluded spot and then making myself cum - it's even better if there are people about and I have to be careful.

I would love to have sex in public, if I could engineer the right circumstances; as I said before being a lesbian porn star is a major fantasy. When I was at Uni I went out with this guy who was always buying me sex toys (I wasn't complaining!) and one day he gave me this remote control vibrating egg. We went out clubbing that night with the egg inside me and him in charge of the remote - that was an amazing evening, I think I can honestly say it was the most fun I've ever had in a club although it really isn't easy trying to have an orgasm quietly in the back of taxi, I promise you!

Q: Do you have any fantasies that you would like to fulfill?

A: Loads! I've already mentioned the Sybian thing, that looks amazing. Being watched having sex is a huge turn on for me. My girlfriend and I sometimes fantasise about picking up a couple of guys, getting them back to our place, then forcing them to watch us make love - maybe we'd let them jack off over us? Taking part in a lesbian orgy is another good one; imagine having five or six beautiful women have their wicked way with me! Heaven! Actually, five or six beautiful men wouldn't be too bad either...

Q: What is a major turn on for you during sex?

A: Words, words words! Talk to me; tell me what you're going to do to me, what you want to do to me, what you want me to do to you! Laugh with me; giggle when things go a little wrong. Touch me, gently at first, then with increasing pressure and urgency, explore my body tell me what you love, build up the passion slowly and if you do it right I'll be putty in your hands and never let you go. Lol In terms of physical contact I like to be touched by someone who really knows how to play my body - my breasts and nipples are really sensitive and I love to have them touched and licked by someone who is prepared to take their time. And of course, I love giving and getting head.

Q: How about a major turn off?

A: Roughness (treat me gently, I'll tell you if and when I want it hard), rudeness (I'm not your bitch or your 'ho unless we really know each other well and are playing a game), and poor personal hygiene. I spend a lot of time making myself look, smell and taste good for you - the least you could do is do the same! And don't assume that just because you're gorgeous I'm automatically going to let you fuck me - arrogance is really unsexy, and I love to be seduced.

Q: How do you feel about same sex relationships, both personally and as a writer?

A: As a bisexual woman I know how difficult it can be to be to find yourself attracted to your own sex even in this day and age, and this is something that I like to explore in my stories. Although I've been aware of my sexuality for a long time, it's only recently that I've had the courage to take that to the level of getting involved in an exclusive relationship with another woman. Before that I always "dabbled" while in a relationship with a man, mostly because I felt a lot of pressure to "conform to the norm", as it were.

There's a big difference between having sex with someone of the same gender for fun, and actually falling in love with them. It's taken me a long time to get to a point where I'm comfortable enough with myself to understand that it's my body and up to me who I share it with, and that it's ok to fall in love with a person, not a gender. These are things that I really try to explore in my stories.

Q: When did you first become aware of your bisexuality?

A: Well, I think I was always found women attractive - well, we are gorgeous, aren't we? - but the first time I acted on those feelings was when I was eighteen, the summer before I went to University. I worked in a little country restaurant a few miles from my home, mostly behind the bar and taking reservations, that kind of stuff. The owner was a very attractive woman in her thirties called Jacqui, who was engaged to some big businessman in London. During the week it was usually pretty quiet and very often the place would close up around ten, and she and I got into a habit of having a chat over a glass of wine before we went home.

We got on really well, really good girly chats - she used to give me advice on how to deal with my boyfriend at the time who was being a pain about my going away to Uni. Anyway, one night we were chatting away after all the other staff had gone home, and she revealed that she'd had a boob job. For a laugh I asked her if her boyfriend could tell they weren't real and she invited me to feel for myself! Before I knew where I was she grabbed my hand and put it down the front of her dress, inside her bra.

So there I was with her boob in my hand, feeling her nipple getting hard under it, and the next thing I knew she was kissing me. I remember I had this nanosecond of doubt, and then I thought "Oh my God, this feels good!" To cut a long story short, she undressed me then and there and ate me out on one of the sofas in the bar. I didn't have that much experience of getting head at that point, and she completely blew my mind - I came over and over again. I always remember that as she started to undo my dress she paused and asked me "Are you completely comfortable with this?" I thought that was so sweet of her. We had sex several more times that summer before I left, and she taught me a lot about my body and my sexuality. She's married with kids now, and I still see her around occasionally. She always gives me a knowing smile!

Q: How long does it take for you to write a story? Could you talk us through the process?

A: My stories usually take quite a long time to complete. I have in my head a rough plot for the complete story of both "The Heatwave" and the "Georgina" series, and each new story is an episode along the way, if you like. I know roughly what is going to happen to the characters both long and short term, so I tend to start out with a short term goal (usually the point at which they have sex) and work towards that, at the same time trying to maintain the longer term view as well.

Usually I find the conversations between the characters come easier than the descriptive passages, and I often have to go back and revise those later. I like to lose myself in the people I've created and try to let them take over if I can as I think that makes the end result more naturalistic. I do spend a lot of time when I'm not actually writing thinking about how the plots will pan out, for example right now I'm thinking about the point in "The Heatwave" when Suzi and Helen will go public with their relationship. As well as thinking about how they are actually going to do that I'm also thinking about the implications of that on the bond between them.

I usually rehearse a load of different scenarios in my head before I finally commit it to paper. The only thing I regret with publishing the stories episodically is that you can't go back and re-write sections to ease the plot later - once you've submitted it, you're stuck with it, so you better get it right! Getting the sex right is another challenge; for me it's a very personal process, I prefer to be alone when I'm writing it and it doesn't work if I'm interrupted or disturbed. I have to be completely in the right mood and able to completely let myself go otherwise it just doesn't work!

Q: What do you think is the best story you have published here?

A: "The Coach House". I'm really pleased with the way I developed the characters of Suzi and Helen.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to say to the readers of this interview and your fans? Now is your chance...

A: Well, I hope you enjoy reading my stuff as much as I do writing it, and if you do please vote for me and be my fan. I'd love you to contact me and let me know what you liked - it's great to get feedback.

Q: Finally, do you have a website or a blog, where your fans can visit and maybe learn more about you?

A: Yes I do! It's www.heatwavepublications.com. I hope you'll drop in and say hello!

Please read Karen A's stories!