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RAQ (Rarely
Asked Questions)
To tell you the truth, people never ask me any of this
stuff. The question I’m asked most frequently, living in the middle of
downtown Denver,
is “Do you have any spare change?” But every once in awhile, some lovely,
compassionate soul will ask me something interesting and provocative. Sensuous Sadie
asked me to talk about spirituality and sexuality in this
interview, published at SMNews. And Virgin Books asked me
these very nice questions:
How
did you start writing erotica?
I recorded some of my first erotic fantasies when I
was about five years old, in a diary that I’d gotten for Christmas. I
realised that this wasn’t such a great idea when I found a family member
reading the diary—and laughing. But I never lost my fascination with
sexuality, or my desire to write about it. I started up again in graduate
school, when my interest was renewed by reading French authors like the
Marquis de Sade and Pauline Réage, and by studying Surrealist art and
photography. That was in the early 1990’s, when people like Susie Bright,
Carol Queen, and Pat Califia were publishing innovative, sex-positive
literary fiction, essays, and self-help books. I published my first short
story in a San Francisco
print magazine called Future Sex.
The story was anthologized in the Best
American Erotica 1994. At that point, I felt that I was vindicated for
that disastrous diary.
Who
or what are your influences?
There are really too many to mention, but
some of the authors and editors I admire most are Susie Bright, Pat Califia,
Carol Queen, Marcy Sheiner, Hanne Blank, Susannah Indigo, and Maxim
Jakubowski. I also love Portia da Costa, Emma Holly, Alison Tyler, and many
other Black Lace novelists. I admire their creative gifts, their courage in
delving into their deepest fantasies, and their refusal to lower the bar on
their art to meet the stereotype of “trashy” erotic fiction.
What
themes or elements do you aim to get into your own writing? Is there any contemporary erotica you rate highly?
In my short stories, I’ve written a lot about the
connection between sexuality and spirituality; I believe that sex can be a
transcendent, transformative experience that can make an ordinary life
extraordinary, if only for an hour or two. I’ve tried to pursue these same
themes in my novels, but my longer fiction has been lighter, with more of an
emphasis on humour and fun. I like to explore the power dynamics that are
implicit in any sexual relationship, even if that means stepping past the
boundaries of political correctness. I believe that the elements of pain,
shame, and humiliation are as integral to sexuality as pleasure and joy, and
I enjoy writing about the places where those diverse elements meet.
I think that contemporary erotica has reached a new
level of literary quality, thanks to the efforts of publishers and writers
who wanted to open up the genre for mainstream readers and make it a place
where artists could push the limits of their creativity. You can see examples
of high-quality erotica in print anthologies such as the Best American Erotica, Best
Women’s Erotica, and Best Bondage
Erotica series, as well as on the internet on web sites such as Clean
Sheets, Scarlet Letters, and Suspect Thoughts, and in novels and anthologies
published by Black Lace, Cleis Press, Circlet Press, Blue Moon Books, and
many others. There’s so much innovative, barrier-breaking fiction in print
now . . . much more than when I first started writing erotica.
How
do you get ideas for your stories?
My stories often start with an idea that interests me,
or an issue that arouses me, intrigues me, or makes me angry. Some of these
include: How does a BDSM power exchange fit into the daily routines of a
typical romantic relationship? Can lovers co-exist peacefully in a
polyamorous relationship? Are women truly more monogamous by nature than men?
I find a lot of creative energy in pursuing these questions, in working them
out in a fictional context.
Have
you really done all, or many, of the things you describe?
No way! I’d never have the time or the energy, or even
the opportunity to do most of the things I’ve written about. That doesn’t
mean I wouldn’t want to try those activities; I’d just need to schedule a
long vacation, locate the right equipment, and find a few willing partners .
. . .
Would
you consider your work at all satirical, as well as arousing?
Definitely.
It’s hard not to make fun of outdated sexual stereotypes when you’re writing,
if your goal is to push past those dusty ideas in order to create something positive
and new. Satire is one of the most effective ways to shed light on the
absurdity of some of our social conventions. It can also be used more gently,
as a tool to illuminate our inhibitions and show us how they limit our
sensual experiences.
Do
you write in other genres or styles?
I’ve published mainstream short stories, and I
love writing dark fantasy. Some day I hope to integrate some of these darker
paranormal elements into an erotic novel, but I don’t think I’ll ever write
about vampires. (I’ll leave that to authors who are more gifted and creative
in that area.)
Do
you have a message for your readers?
If you’ve read any of my books or stories, I can’t
thank you enough. And if you’ve enjoyed them, or if they’ve given you any
creative inspiration or enhanced your sex life in any way, you’ve made this
whole writing thing worthwhile! There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing
from a reader who somehow connected to something that I’ve written. I love
getting those responses more than anything else in the world.
What
do you do when you’re not writing?
I love reading poetry and fiction, wandering around
with my camera taking pictures, taking walks with my iPod turned up way too
loud, and spending time with my cat. I live in Denver, Colorado,
where I’m still trying to master the art of boiling rice at high
altitudes.
How
can we reach you?
Please email me: annetourney@yahoo.com.
I love hearing from readers, whether it’s praise or criticism (or just a note
of sympathy for the fact that I have no time or energy to do the things I
write about), so please feel free to write.
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