Rude Words

An interview with Paige E. Roberts

What was your childhood ambition?

My greatest ambition from about the age of 11 when I started my first novel was to be a writer, but for many years, I let the world convince me that it was an unrealistic ambition.  I pursued other things, but eventually came back to what I loved most.  I now make my living as a “technical content developer” which is a fancy way to say, I write, and do multi-media and web projects to go with what I write.  My day job combines my love of art, of people, and of writing.  And, at the end of the day, when I want to do something just for the joy of it, I write fiction.

What ambitions do you still have?

My ambition is still to be a writer.  I’d like to publish a bunch more mainstream fiction, make enough money to quit my day job, and go to book signings every weekend.

How did you end up being an erotic writer?

I ended up writing erotica, I believe, largely because I got a swift kick in the pants from a friend, who was a very successful writer, when I was in my late thirties.  She told me to stop just writing, and start submitting my stories to markets.  That’s probably the best piece of advice I’ve ever been given, so I guess this answers two questions at once.  At the time, like many women in my thirties, I was a very sexual animal.  Still am, but not quite as ravenously so.  All the stories I wrote in my thirties were raw sex, with romantic and fantastic elements.  My interest and experience in the kink community, especially female dominance, and multiple sexual partners during that time of my life was also intense, and my writing reflected that.  I still write some very hot fiction, some of it erotica, some of it hard to classify, but maybe more in the torrid romance area.  But I also have gone back to some of my first loves of sword and sorcery, science fiction and superhero stories.  Now, my fantasy and sci fi stories are richer, though, because there is a strong erotic subtext in a lot of them.

What are the most important components that go into making  good erotic fiction?

Good erotic fiction needs three key elements:

1. Interesting, sympathetic characters.  The reader needs to fall in love, or at least lust, with the characters themselves.

2. Tension.  There has to be conflict, something keeping the characters apart; keeping them from getting what they so desperately want.  That’s what makes it so very sweet when the tension breaks.  That’s what gives a story intensity and passion.

3. Sensory detail.  Giving the reader the feeling that they’re there, they’re experiencing the moment.  That’s what makes a good erotic story a real turn-on.

If you could have any celebrity pictured carrying one of your books who would you choose and why?

If I could have any celebrity seen carrying one of my books, it would probably be Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  He’s one of the most deliciously hot men alive, and if he had one of my books, it would mean he was into the same kind of wild stuff as me.  And, it might give me an in to introduce myself.  One of my favorite fantasies is a three-way with him and Jensen Ackles from Supernatural.  Although, I could be nearly as happy with Douglas Henshall and James Murray from Primeval.  Whew!  Is it warm in here?  By the way, what is it with British TV and killing off all the hot male characters?  I really liked Ianto, too, and the Doctor should not die and turn into an emo kid, but I digress.

What’s the best present you’ve ever been given?

The best present I’ve ever been given was for my birthday in 2001.  A friend gave me a ferret, a fabulous little pet that I absolutely adored, but that wasn’t my best gift.  That wonderful present was completely outclassed by the fact that I also got a husband that day.  We got married on my birthday unexpectedly, and I have been absolutely delighted with my husband ever since.  Don’t have the ferret anymore, unfortunately, but the husband is a keeper.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us?

I think it would surprise people to know that for six years, I lived in a tent in eleven acres of forest in Texas, with no running water or electricity.  I don’t recommend it, even for someone like me who loves the outdoors.  I think some people would be downright shocked to find out I’ve done huge interactive spook houses for charity for the last 20 years, starting back with Richard Garriott’s first Britannia Manor in Austin in 1988.  I was assistant director last year of SCARE for a CURE which benefits a local breast cancer charity, with Jarrett “The Defuser” Crippen as my director.  Not everyone can say they hang out with a superhero, or have a friend who spent a week on the International Space Station.  I live an interesting life, sometimes in the Chinese sense, and have very interesting friends, in the entirely wonderful sense.

It probably wouldn’t surprise anyone to know that I own dentist quality fangs, and I know how to use them.

Published work by Paige E. Roberts:

“Bare Throat, Naked Hunger” available at www.midnightshowcase.com

Tie Me Up (Xcite Selections)

Sex and Satisfaction (Xcite Selections)