“The time has come to talk of many things; of shoes of ships and sealing wax

of cabbages and kings and why the sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings.”

There are a number of people who often dismiss erotic romance and erotic romance writers as one trick ponies. We write smut, on every page. We have no plot, no characterizations, no conflict, just sex. Recently, I came upon that kind of attitude in a psychologist, of all things. I didn’t expect that a person engaged in a profession that dealt in opening minds would have such a closed mind herself. I offered her a copy of my novel, The Sarran Plague, and she refused it because it was obviously, “smut.”

I discontinued my association with the lady and complained to her supervisor. If I wanted to go on trial for my beliefs, I would have visited Oral Roberts or Jerry Farwell. The more I thought about the experience, the more annoyed I became. I decided that too many people automatically dismiss erotic romance writers as “purveyors of smut” and our novels, short stories, etc. as “dirty books” without ever opening the cover and reading one. I admit, I have seen and read with enjoyment some books who did have sex and lots of it on every other page. However, as a voracious reader, I own over 2,000 erotic romance novels. My collection includes “straight” erotica, “GLBT” erotica, “ménage and more” erotica with sub genres from contemporary, paranormal, shifters, to science fiction.

In that collection, I can honestly say to the Neanderthal female doctor, that at least 98% of those novels have intricate plots, moral and ethical conflicts, finely drawn characterization and an astute recognition of what is going on in today’s world that other “mainstream” writers refuse to discuss. These issues include child abuse, prejudice, street kids and what happens to them, the perils of coming out of the closet for GLBT youth and the inability of the “vanilla” world to accept even the patently harmless “kink.”

Fortunately, we are also able to point out the hypocrisy inherent in these prejudices. A father or mother throws their child out on the street because he or she has done something morally reprehensible. What act could be so morally reprehensible that the consequence of that act is leaving a child on the street to starve, become prey for the unscrupulous predator, or be put in the position of having to sell their soul to eat? A pregnancy? Homosexuality? Teenage rebellion? If it were a larger issue, murder, rape, robbery, assault, the parent would not have to throw their child out of their home, the state would be providing that child with a cot in the lockup, no parental interference required. Yet, in these cases a parent claims the moral “high ground.”

What about the teen who leaves home because of mental, physical or sexual abuse, is this child unworthy because they were not believed when they tried to tell an adult about a predator?

These issues are openly discussed in erotic literature. When we talk about “rent boys” and “prostitutes” we make sure we mention how that happened. If one of our characters has a serious character “flaw” that impedes a relationship, we have back story on how the flaw was acquired. We are not afraid to discuss the seamier side of life. Why, because the seamier side of life exists. And because we openly discuss it, there is the possibility that one of our readers will have a moment in which they realize that all is not well in Muddville tonight, a real honest, “oh shit,” moment. That moment will remove the blinders from their eyes and let them see an abusive spouse, a cheating spouse, a disturbed child or a predatory adult.

I am not saying that every erotic romance is a morality tale, but I am saying that in erotica, art imitates life rather than the reverse.

I, in my own fashion have decided to do something about the ignorance of others who mock our genre. Beginning on Thursday, May 27, 2009, at 9:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time, 8:00 pm, Central, 7:00 pm Mountain, and 6:00 pm Pacific will be hosting a live chat on my website, ackatt.com. Each week, I hope to have a guest author of erotica and each week we will discuss one of the author’s novels, along with anything I might be working on that could add value to the discussion. The point of the discussion will not be to promote the novel, although, I must admit, it will be a side benefit; the point will be how the novel relates to our current world and some possible solutions to the problems presented.

My first guest will be my good friend, author Mychael Black; who is an articulate advocate for gay rights, autism, and a host of other worthy causes. We will be discussing Myc’s work and how it relates to the world around us. I would like to invite all of you to participate.

If you would be interested in signing up for a chat, you may contact Dee Owens of Personal Marketing at pr_marketing@deeowens.com or at deeprmarketing@gmail.com, and she will be happy to discuss scheduling. The Guest Author will also have the choice of the topic for the evening’s discussion. The only rules I plan to enforce are the usual rules of courtesy, no spamming, name-calling or disrespect shown to anyone’s point of view. Also, the topics we discuss are not being discussed for the purposes of titillation. This is to be an intellectual discussion of how erotic romance and its sub genres relate to life.

Sincerely,

And proud of it!

My first attempt at a journal was in September of 2007. It began my journey from aspiring writer to author. On April 7, 2009, Eternal Press published my first book. Just last week, The Sarran Plague received its first review. It was Highly Recommended, please notice the bold print. I could not believe when I started out on this road that the publication of my first book would constitute but my first stop of a long journey of exploration. Then, I believed, that the publication of my book would be an end, it is merely a way station on the way to self discovery which never ends.

In honor of the journey, I am reprinting here, one of my first blogs. The feelings expressed by the author are felt even more keenly now.

Sometimes, even in the normal day-to-day routine, you have a moment. This one came upon me all of a sudden. I was in the midst of explaining that my husband supports my writing. He also doesn’t particularly care what I write about, so long as it makes me happy, and gives him the mere wisp of a chance at early retirement. Then it hit me, why I really wanted to write what I write. So, I copied and pasted the excerpt to here so that I remember.

Allen doesn’t understand why I write gay romance, but is in favor of anything that can,”support him in the style to which he has become accustomed.” The man wants to retire! Why gay romance? I thought about that myself and he did ask why. Men like to watch women, women like to watch men. It’s not the whole answer but easy enough when you are looking for a pat answer.

The other, deeper answer is I enjoy reading and writing about male characters that our open to each other, a kind of emotional depth that you don’t often see in m/f romance anymore. The emotional depth is provided by the inherent conflict between what passes for morality in our society (religious dogma) and humanism (what we are before society gets its hooks in us).

Coming out is laying everything on the line for someone else. That is something that doesn’t occur in m/f romance much anymore. The themes of Romeo and Juliet, Lancelot and Guinevere, Othello, loving despite all pressure, disdain and consequences. Although all of the other prejudices still exist (religious, tribal, ethnic, racial) all of these are routinely condemned by current mores. (Given lip service at least). Gender is the last bastion of prejudice. The type of prejudice that can get you hurt, dead (Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story) broken, (Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere) or drive you to do the unspeakable (Othello). It is the stuff of real drama, real passion based on true current and historical circumstance . I have read some of the stories written by other authors in the genre and they have moved me to tears. Sometimes because the pathos is so real, sometimes because the consequences are so deadly, but mostly because even under the most horrific circumstances, love prevails.

Hopefully, someday, the human race will accept that when you fall in love, you fall in love with a person. You may tend toward men, or women, or blondes, or dark or light skin. But eventually, you meet someone and somehow they aren’t quite what you expected. Wouldn’t it be wonderful just to be able to enjoy that totally unexpected, wonderful person without anyone giving a hoot as to their gender, religion, race, or tribal/ethnic background? When are we just going to be able to love, get married, have or not have kids, just live our private lives, in pairs, trios, or even solo with whomsoever we chose.

My one true thing is that we are all human under the skin. Maybe that fact won’t be brought home to us until we meet some Zyptz, something truly alien, scary and out to get us! Then we would soon find out how little the other “differences” are anchored in reality. I hope it doesn’t take an alien invasion to let us all “see” each other.

So, I now take a bow, and get off my virtual soapbox. (Some topics bring out the rebel in me).

Sincerely,