Author Interview with DL King
Interview with D. L. King
Q: What was your first job?
My first paying job, at the age of 16, was selling concessions in a movie theatre. This was back when popcorn didn’t break you… The best thing about the job was that I got to see all the movies and eat all the popcorn I wanted, for free. My boss liked his hot dog with that advertising picture swish of mustard—he was bizarre. Probably the most interesting (and formative) aspect was the location of the theatre. It was downtown, close to the bus station and all that entails. The hookers used to come in for hot dogs on their dinner breaks. Their clothes sense left a lot to be desired, but they were sweet.
Q: How did you end up being an erotic writer?
I’ve no idea. Really. It just sort of happened. I sat down at the computer to write the next great thing—and fem dom came out. Go figure!
Q: If you could have any celebrity pictured carrying one of your books who would you choose and why?
Sarah Jessica Parker pops into my head because she loves New York as much as I do. And besides, she’s a trendy diva. I’m sure she’d sell a lot of books for me. (I doubt she’s into my stuff, but then you never know…)
Q: What does your working day typically consist of?
Although being a celebrated erotica writer pays fabulously well, I’ve decided, purely for my own quirky reasons, to keep a mundane day job.
Some people write in the early morning; I prefer to sleep. So, I wake up to the relaxing sound of my alarm clock an hour before I have to leave for work. I watch a little news while slugging down some Diet Coke, throw some clothes on and head for the subway. About three-quarters of an hour later I’m at my desk, slaving away. What happens there is boring so we’ll fast forward to five o’clock, when I head back for the subway and home.
The first thing I do, after closing my front door behind me, is take my bra off (well, you asked—or maybe you didn’t. Anyway…) then I turn the computer on. This is the beginning of my second job, which consists of all things writing, from checking my mail to looking at calls for submission, to working on the review site, Erotica Revealed, to finally getting down to actually writing. I pretty much stay glued to the computer until about eleven o’clock when I take an hour to relax, maybe watch something I Tivo’d earlier and then take a shower and go to bed to do it all again.
I was unemployed for almost nine months last year, allowing me to be a full-time writer. It was wonderful! I’m just relearning how to shoehorn all the writing work into my day again.
Q: How do people who don’t know you react when you tell them you’re an erotic author?
Most people think it’s cool. Of course I very carefully pick and choose who I tell. Sometimes I like to surprise people on airplanes, when they ask me what I do. You can usually tell who’ll get flustered and who’ll be interested. Telling the right seat-mate is a good way to be left alone for a peaceful trip—or not, depending on your goal.
There’s a remarkable sign at the Hustler Hollywood store in Los Angeles. It’s huge and mirrors the way I feel. It says: Relax, it’s just sex. Americans are so provincial.
Q: How do you like to relax when you’re not at work?
As you can see, I don’t have a lot of time to do that. When I can’t turn people down again, I enjoy going out with friends to our favorite bar (where everyone knows your name and the boys dance naked), then off to dinner while I can still stand.
If I give myself permission to not write for an evening, my ideal is to be as slothful as possible. If I could, I’d probably lie around on the couch, watching television all night. At least when I go out drinking, I’m not being slothful—gluttonous, maybe…
Q: iPhone or Blackberry?
Mmmm, I love my iPhone!
Q: What three words would your friends use to describe you?
I asked my best friend and he said: Smart, fun loving and quirky. I’m going with those.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Lean into the curve.
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