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Alrighty, we have another one for you. Jack Handee is currently on both Top Author's lists, has 11 stories posted on the site and an average vote of 9.41 for his stories. Please read on to learn more about him.

Tell us about you:

Question: First tell us something about yourself, like name, age, and some other things we would like to know about you...Let’s call it a short bio.

Jack Handee: I’m a forty-something ‘executive type’ in corporate America, proud father, and loyal husband. While passionate about writing and reading, I maintain a broad range of unrelated interests, including music, golf, travel, and movies.

Question: What are you wearing right now?

Jack Handee: Jeans, tennis shoes, and a polo shirt.

Question: Does your spouse or significant other know you write, and if so, what does he/she think?

Jack Handee: Hmmm, I think I’ll invoke my 5th amendment rights on that one.

Question: Is it difficult for you to keep your writing life separate from your professional life?

Jack Handee: It’s not difficult, but it’s critical the two remain separate. Being in management, it would make great gossip to know “the boss” writes sex stories. It’s a carefully guarded secret that I haven’t shared with anybody in my “real life”.

My story “Internal Affairs” was patterned loosely around this question.

Question: How did you come up with your ES nickname?

Jack Handee: I was originally writing under a different moniker with heavy focus on involved, long, and plot-driven stories. I started to worry that everything I produced had to exceed everything that came before and writer’s block started to set in.

To get past the block, I wanted a new identify that wasn’t quite so “serious” and Jack Handee was born.

The pen name comes from the old Saturday Night Live character originally played by the late, very funny, Phil Hartman. Writers blatantly steal from ‘real life’ whenever possible and I’m no exception.

Question: What brought you to EroticStories.com? What made you want to stay and become a part of it?

Jack Handee: I honestly can’t remember where I first heard about the site. It was likely via the USNET forums alt.sex.stories and alt.sex.stories.moderated.

I think in many ways Art was a visionary with his site. His ongoing commitment to improving the site and his responsiveness to contributing authors is what kept me around. I’m all about having my stories read and enjoyed by as many people as possible and Art’s site generates a lot of traffic. Also, the voting mechanisms and leader boards provide both feedback and a vehicle for keeping stories ‘visible’ to the masses.

Question: What is your favorite part of your body? Why?

Jack Handee: Yeesh, that would have be my twelve inch . . . nah, just kidding.

I’d have say my mind, although I get the most compliments on my eyes and my voice.

Question: If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be and why?

Jack Handee: I would be more extroverted. Part of what leads me to write is an introverted personality. I am quite comfortable being alone and live extensively through my thoughts and imagination. The downside is that it can sometimes be lonely. It would be nice if it was easier to meet new people and to be more comfortable in new, social situations.

Question: Boxers v Briefs? / Panties v Thong?

Jack Handee: Boxers for me. Panties for the lady. The latter so I can drag them off with my teeth.

Writing Habits:

Question: What do you like the most about writing erotic stories?

Jack Handee: I’ve always liked the idea of mainstream fiction that wouldn’t “cut away” when the characters reach the bedroom. Writing erotica allows me to create something akin to mainstream fiction that’s also arousing. Real stories, real characters, and real action. I think it’s a unique mix and one I’ve tried to make my niche.

I also think the sex in the story is that much hotter when the reader gets to know the characters involved and can relate on more levels than dicks and golden brown tans.

Question: How long have you been writing now? How did it all get started and what made you write your first story?

Jack Handee: It’s been a while now. I want to say eight or more years. It started on a whim. I had considered attempting fiction for quite a while. Friends had teased me that I was a good “bullshitter”, something I chose to interpret as being good with words.

The internet has everything imaginable and I figured there was a place where authors of erotica gathered. USENET was the first place I found.

I wrote the first few chapters of my story “Turning Point” (under a different story title) and posted, having no idea how it would be accepted. I guessed most internet stories would be more extreme than mine. I wasn’t out to write a porn script and questioned whether my stories would have an audience.

The feedback on those first few chapters was tremendous and unexpected. Then I had a problem. People wanted more and I had no idea where the story was headed. So I scrambled to write a few more chapters. Again, they were well received. Again, I scrambled. Eventually I pushed through to complete the story and declared victory on a new hobby.

I went on to write a second story, this time consciously attempting to write what I thought the masses wanted to read. It was a simple plot, more focused on “action” than characters. I posted it, sat back, and waited for the same positive response I received with my first offering.

But, it didn’t come.

In fact, the second story was all but ignored. I was confused, but not ready to give up.

I turned my attention back to my “roots”, as short-lived as they were, and wrote another long, plot driven story. It took quite a while to finish, but I was happy with the result and it felt true to the style I wanted to carry forward. The feedback was again positive and I was back on track.

Question: What categories are most of your stories in? What kind would you never write?

Jack Handee: Most all of my stories fall into the ‘Seduction’ category. Seduction—or the ‘slow burn’ of arousal where a person crosses a line they might not otherwise cross—is the lifeblood of my stories. I love the tension that accompanies that theme.

I also believe there there’s no such thing as sex without emotion. It might begin that way, but sooner or later feelings will enter into it. That too is a recurring theme in my stories.

I would never write anything to do with children or bathroom functions. If somebody else wants to, I’d rather see it in fiction than in chat rooms with kids, but it still doesn’t float my boat.

Question: Which of your stories is your personal favorite, the one you enjoyed writing the most, and/or the one holds the best memories or feelings for you?

Jack Handee: I would have to say ‘China Doll’. In the opening scene, “Jack” is working on squeezing money out of an already gutted budget. I was in that very situation one afternoon when I flipped open the word processor and started writing as a distraction. I created a handful of paragraphs involving a sweet young secretary arriving to offer a ‘helping hand’ in relieving the pressure of my deadline.

It was really just a fragment and not a story, but it slowly began to evolve and take shape. The result was one of the better plots I’ve created and something I couldn’t have planned ahead of time.

Question: Have you ever gotten so turned on while writing that you had to stop to masturbate? What story was it?

Jack Handee: There was one story I wrote many moons ago that still turns me on when I go back and read it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit Art’s guidelines, so I can only reference it here.

The title was ‘Trading Boardwalk’ and it was the story of a married man with a young sister-in-law who uses her sex appeal to manipulate men.

One night, over a game of Monopoly, she tries to charm her brother-in-law into selling a key property by cuddling up to him with her budding “assets”. Later that night, after everybody goes to bed, he sneaks downstairs to teach her a lesson about the dangers of carelessly flirting with older men. His intent is only to “scare her straight” without taking things too far. But she resists and the ensuing situation heats up until things get out of hand. >P> I can’t say exactly why that story arouses me so. It wasn’t one of my more evolved plots and the writing isn’t my best. I’m also not forceful sexually, believing that “no” really does mean “no”. Either way, I still get turned on when I read that story.

Question: Do you write from fantasy or true stories or a combination of both? Please explain or give an example.

Jack Handee: Everything I write is a product of my imagination. Using “Trading Boardwalk” as the best example, I would never condone that situation in real life, but as a personal fantasy, it rocks.

Question: Are the characters in your story based on real people, did you make them up, or are they a combination of both?

Jack Handee: In most cases, they’re made up, although I steal snippets from real life frequently, referencing people I’ve known and personal experience.

Question: What parts of "Yourself" do you put into your characters?

Jack Handee: I started having “Jack Handee” make cameos in my stories, much like Hitchcock did in his movies. The idea evolved into “Jack” being the main character. He wasn’t always the same person. For example, in “Black Knight”, he’s a black bodyguard. In “Crossroads”, he’s referenced as a country doctor, and in “Internal Affairs”, he’s a corporate executive.

In any case, there are always “pieces of me” in “Jack”. His views on relationships, tastes in women, situations that turn him on, etc.

Question: If there was one trait you could take from one of your characters in your stories, and put it in place in your real life, what would it be and why?

Jack Handee: Probably the ability to always say the right thing in a given situation. That’s the beauty of fiction. I have my story people say all the things I wish I could.

Question: How long does it take for you to write a complete story? How does the process go?

Jack Handee: It usually takes a long time due to squeezing my writing time into stolen moments when I’m alone. The basic process is think—write—think—write—rewrite—rewrite—rewrite . . . done.

There’s a great book on writing by Anne Lamott called ‘Bird by Bird’ that has a brilliant chapter called ‘Shitty First Drafts’. Over the years, I’ve adopted that as my primary approach. I start with a sliver of an idea and just start typing to get the words on the page. Word processors allow me to go back and re-structure, cut, add, whatever. I can’t fathom the old days of typewriters and carbon paper.

Early on I would try and see the “whole story” before I started writing and, as mentioned, that led to writer’s block, particularly considering the emphasis I place on plot. The more I do it, the more I’m willing to let the story develop over time, like one of those old instant photographs that starts blurry and gets clearer over time.

There’s a quote that goes something like, “There’s no such thing as good writing—only good rewriting”. Once I get the bones down (beyond that shitty first draft), I revise like crazy until the pacing and cadence come together, along with the story I’m trying to tell.

It’s not fun sometimes and more work than most people want to invest in a hobby like this, but in the end, it works for me.

Question: How do you come up with your story titles?

Jack Handee: I used to really struggle with this. Now I steal from real life . . . : ) Not from other authors or stories, but from song snippets, quotes, the news, whatever.

For example, “Neighborhood Watch” came from a slogan I saw on a tee-shirt and it was the perfect double entendre for a voyeurism story.

Question: What is the hardest part of writing a story?

Jack Handee: Turning off my inner critic long enough to get that shitty first draft written. I really have to watch myself and avoid jumping too soon into “fine tune editing”. Often that leads to wasted time, as I’ll end up spending a lot of time crafting a section, only to have it die on the cutting room floor during subsequent revisions.

The other part is writing the end of the story. It took me a long time to get comfortable with leaving “the rest of the story” to the reader’s imagination. I believe that’s a key element to all fiction. Everything doesn’t have to be explained.

Question: Have you ever done research for a part of a story you didn’t have any knowledge about or maybe for a sex scene?

Jack Handee: I wrote a ‘hand job’ story (early version of “Black Knight” before a subsequent rewrite), originally for a fetish site catering to the same. I did some research on the site to understand handjob techniques beyond the obvious.

The idea of doing research for a story / book is fascinating to me. I would love to spend time in a particular city or interview a particular professional to support a story idea, but that’s a bit of overkill for this genre.

If I could only do this for a living . . .

Question: Do you have any secret stories you don’t want to publish for the public? Do you publish your stories on other sites besides EroticStories.com and if so, why? Have you ever been published on paper?

Jack Handee: Stephen King once said there are two types of writers: those who write for themselves and those who write to be read. I fall squarely and exclusively into that second category. Granted, I write what I would like to read, but if people weren’t enjoying it, I’d lose interest quickly. So, no, I never write anything other than story fragments that isn’t shared over the net.

I also write for Ruthie’s Club.

Question: When you receive negative comments do you just ignore them, build from them, or let it put a negative image over the story itself, and let it hinder your writing?

Jack Handee: If they are constructive, I absolutely consider them (thanks, Harrison). Doesn’t mean I will change the story, but I thrive on the feedback all the same. The problem is getting anything that’s constructive. Every once and a while I’ll hear from somebody who obviously understands writing enough to provide an educated opinion and, when I do, I take it seriously and thank them accordingly.

Beyond that, it’s usually random and extreme, with the occasional hate mail that bashes a story because I didn’t adequately address somebody’s fetish. Since I don’t write fetish stories, those get ignored.

Reading Habits:

Question: Do you also enjoy reading erotic stories? Which categories do you enjoy the most? Do you like true stories or fantasies?

Jack Handee: Truthfully, I don’t read much erotica. Since the majority spend so much time on Part A fitting with Slot B, I get bored quickly. I’m more aroused by what’s left unsaid than what’s endlessly described.

If I thought I could get away with it, I would probably write “R rated” stories. There’s only so many ways to describe the same action from story to story. But I know that’s what the public wants and that’s the consolation I’m willing to make to be read.

Question: Do you vote on other author's stories? How do you decide what score to give when you do?

Jack Handee: If I’m asked to read something, I will usually vote, although I won’t vote if I didn’t enjoy it. In that instance, I leave it to the broader audience to decide.

I vote based on the author’s investment in telling the story and the effort they’ve put into the same. If somebody’s storytelling skills are evolving, yet they’ve obviously done the best they can, then I’ll give them a healthy vote. If they barely ran it through the spell checker, I’ll skip the vote all together.

Question: Do you send other author’s comments or feedback on their stories?

Jack Handee: Again, if I enjoyed it, yes. If I don’t have something constructive to say, I won’t say anything at all.

Question: Do you have a favorite author on ES? What makes them your favorite?

Jack Handee: Several. I’m a big fan of HedBangerSA. He’s a great storyteller and focuses on more than just the sex. Oldglassman is also quite good. He has a style that reminds me of the old Harold Robbins books. Katie Rose was quite good, although I think she’s retired.

Sex Habits:

Question: Do you enjoy the visual side of erotica, as in porn movies or pictures? If so, do you have any favorites?

Jack Handee: Do enjoy watching good-looking people get jiggy, particularly if there’s implied intimacy and not over-the-top, phony animal sounds. I’m NOT into those ridiculous close-ups where the camera angle is two inches from some guy’s scrotum.

Obviously, it can be difficult to find films that match my tastes, so I’ve taken matters into my own hands. It’s amazing what a little imagination, some good MP3s, and movie editing software can produce.

Question: Do you remember the first pornography you ever saw? Tell us about it?

Jack Handee: Does Playboy and Penthouse count? First porn film was an old John Holmes film that I watched on an 8mm reel.

Question: Have you ever participated in erotic photography? If so, please tell us about it. If not, would you rather be the photographed or the photographer?

Jack Handee: Does my camera phone count? . . . : ) Just kidding. No experience, but the idea very much intrigues me. I would love to be behind the camera, orchestrating a scene to suit my tastes.

Question: What do you wear to bed?

Jack Handee: My boxers and a smile.

Question: Do your sex life and writing have any correlation with each other??

Jack Handee: Being monogamous and in a long-term relationship, there’s not much opportunity for the two to overlap. That doesn’t mean my sex life is boring, just different than my writing.

Question: How would you rate your willingness to try new things in bed?

Jack Handee: Very willing.

Question: What’s the kinkiest thing you have done in your life?

Jack Handee: Had sex on a picnic bench on the top of a dry ski lift in Lake Tahoe during summer. The splinters were a nightmare . . .

Question: Do you have any fantasies that you would like to fulfil?

Jack Handee: I would love to experience two women at the same time, but don’t see that happening in this lifetime. It would prove way too complicated in real life without adversely impacting my primary relationship.

Question: What is your opinion about sex toys? Do you have any toys yourself and if so, do you like to use them?

Jack Handee: Wide open if both people are on board. We have a private stash and bust them out occasionally.

Question: What do you think about solo sex?

Jack Handee: I think there’s a place for it, particularly in a long-term, monogamous relationship, as it provides a certain outlet for self-indulgent fantasies. Although it doesn’t compare to connecting with one’s partner.

Question: What are your favourite; and least favourite positions?

Jack Handee: Favourites would be with the woman on top, taking her from behind (but not IN her behind), all fours, and even missionary. I love the feeling of a woman’s legs wrapped around me. Can’t say I have a least favourite.

Question: Do you believe in one night stands?

Jack Handee: I believe in whatever works for two consenting adults. Personally, it wouldn’t work for me. I’m more into connecting with the person and sharing intimacy than I am in conquests.

Question: What makes someone sexy to you?

Jack Handee: I have always found intelligence to be extremely sexy, followed closely by a sense of humour and an authentic sense of self that doesn’t draw validation from putting down other people. Of course, a great rack is nice . . . : )

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

Jack Handee: Knowing my partner is enjoying herself.

Question: What is a major turn off for you during sex?

Jack Handee: Interruptions.

Question: Sex-talk. Do you like or dislike talking during sex?

Jack Handee: In the right quantity, it’s very sexy, but I don’t like “forced” dialog that doesn’t seem natural.

Question: In bed or on the kitchen table?

Jack Handee: What, is the picnic table unavailable?

And Last but not least...

Question: You are #20 on the “Top 100 favourite authors” list. How does it feel to know you have 158 people that have listed you as one of their favorites? ** Jack Handee is currently #5 on the top list. He has 348 people that have favorited him.

Jack Handee: I am honored that people enjoy my work enough to consider me one of their favorites. On a different note, I think Art’s addition of the leader boards to the site is a great addition, as it provides writers a form of recognition and readers an opportunity to see what other people enjoy.

Question: You are # 7 on the "Top 100 best scoring authors with more than 5 stories online, and an average vote higher than 9.0" lists with an average vote of 9.40. How does it feel make the list.? **

Jack Handee: It feels tremendous and, again, I am very appreciative of the support.

Question: Is there anybody on this site, who you would like to see interviewed? Why?

Jack Handee: HedBangerSA, as I would love to hear his answers, particularly regarding the writing process. OldGlassman, as he has tremendous life experience and much to share. Katie Rose, if you can track her down.

Question: Do you notice any differences between the "younger" writers on here, and between the "older writers" of this site?

Jack Handee: To be honest, I haven’t read enough to draw a comparison. I think “older” writers tend towards more story, while younger writers tend towards more “action”. Maybe that’s life experience talking, or maybe it’s people writing for what they think the audience wants to read. Not sure.

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

Jack Handee: A sincere thank you to everybody who has supported my stories over the years, either with their emails or their votes. Without you I would have given up long ago.

Lastly, thanks to Art for his vision in creating the site and his ongoing commitment to its improvement. It’s provided countless hours of enjoyment to many, including myself.

** Please note the statistics noted were current at the time of this interview was done in May. Statistics can change daily, even hourly, so these may not be the exact numbers that you will find on the site when you read this interview.

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Don't forget to send Jack Handee a message to thank you and let him know what you thought about his interview. Thank you Jack for answering my questions.

Thanks for reading!

PleasureKitten