Erotica. How women reclaimed their sexuality.

I am a Author who writes erotic books for a living. I have actually been writing within the genera for near on 25 years. I began when I was fifteen.

Back then it was pretty basic stuff, but I had a fair idea because by that age I’d discovered Anis Nin, A. N. Roquelaure, black lace, and my all time love, Nexus publications.

There was a stall in one of the alcoves that lined the edge of the fish market in my city, and in one dark corner in a cardboard box were stashed the stories I craved. Dog eared, smelling of perfume and cigarettes, no questions asked.

I started there.

Discount book stores stocked them, and a specialist retailer tucked away beneath the beautiful Victorian ballroom I later frequented.

My first foray was the Lidir trilogy by Aran Ashe. To this day one of my absolute favourites. This was how I discovered my own body, and also my sexuality.

Then came the sleeping beauty trilogy by A. N. Roquelaure… ie Ann Rice. Neither of these trilogy’s are recommended reading, unless you really like it hardcore. I mean seriously. It’s no wonder I turned out to be the pervert I am.

But that’s where my fifteen year old self began and I pride myself that after that nothing could ever shock me sex wise.

That’s where the seed germinated, for I knew I wanted to write and sex was what I wanted to write about.

Back in the nineties all of this was done under plain wrappers, paper bags and long leather dusters. The pockets in those coats were the perfect size to fit in a dirty book or two. Then I could sneak them home to be ready under the cover of night.

The naughty nineties was not as naughty as it made itself out to be, for erotica was really quite taboo. It was always assumed it was men reading them. But men need visuals not words.

It was the women and the girls all along. Having discussed this among the like minded, I know now how we cared and looked after our collections knowing we’d like as not never see another copy again.

I have copies dating back to the 80’s and the early 90’s.

Then the dip came. Suddenly these publications vanished. It wasn’t as if they were mainstream, but with the breakdown of nexus publishing and the disappearance of black lace the market just seemed to stop.

Until 50 shades of grey.

Now I’m afraid I have no love of this trilogy, it is trite, not very sexy and in my mind dull. But like like the Beatles, it was the first thing to get the market back on track. It was the catalyst and I grudging acknowledge that it was important in that it allowed the genre to return.

Not wishing to dwell on 50, I will continue apace. Woman were writing again, writing about sex. And it was good. The event of E-books and kindle have allowed women to claim a massive chunk of the market.

Sneered at by men in ties, we are told we shouldn’t like it. We should read sensible books and not get too worked up. The fact is these men are terrified of the power in our pages.

Erotica is the largest all women led market. We make money without publishers, and we create our own businesses. The publishers we might use have sprung up from our own writing, they are run by women for women.

Maybe it’s okay to sneer. To claim it’s all nonsense. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Women don’t just want sex scenes in their books. They need solid stories, accuracy, a plot that makes sense, and sex, but not sex for the sake of it. It has to make sense.

I am so very glad to see us back, writing and doing what we love. Long may erotica rule. Long may women hold the crown.