Carv's Thinky Blog I'm an author with a focus on satirical science fiction.

The Devil in Ms. Jones?

When my book tour passed through Oklahoma in early 2010, I was surprised and delighted when Davee Jones turned up at one of my signings. She was a friend of many friends back in college--I dated several of her sorority sisters--and we'd run into each other again on Facebook. She told me she was looking forward to reading my novel, and that she was thinking about writing something of her own.

A scant two years later, Ms. Jones is on the verge of becoming a published author twice over. Her first book, Finless, comes out this spring. In the meantime, her novella On Ellicott Street will be released on 3 February. That's remarkable enough, but what really grabbed my attention is the genre she writes in: erotic romance.

For the uninitiated--I was one myself--erotic romance is a subgenre of romance novels in which the plot depends on vivid descriptions of the characters' sexuality and bedroom behavior. It's not a spicier version of a Harlequin throwaway, it's a detailed character study that takes into account the most private motivations of its randy protagonists.

Is erotic romance a classier name for chick porn? No (not that I have any objection to female-friendly adult material, mind you), but it depends on your definition, now, doesn't it? I know what porn is when I see it, I think. I've read multiple chapters of both Davee's books, and they don't qualify. They are, however, steamy as hell. If your taste in light reading doesn't include words like "semierection," then erotic romance may not be the genre for you. If, however, you're intrigued by the thought of modern romance salted with lessons in boudoir sadomasochism, then you'll find Davee's efforts surprisingly involving. Granted, standards aren't especially high for erotic romance, but I applied more rigorous criteria while evaluating her books. Trust me, Davee can write.

I was interested in her work because, while the novel I'm writing now isn't erotic fiction, it is, first and foremost, about American sexuality. It's about what we do under the sheets and what we wish we could do, and it tilts at the windmill of sexual taboo. I promised myself years ago that I'd write about religion, sex, and politics, and I plan to keep that promise. I interviewed Davee last week about her book and the challenge of writing sexy fiction.

I asked her how it felt to earn the title of "soon-to-be published author." "I literally jumped up and down," she said. After receiving the news by email, "I know it sounds crazy, but I had to read it three or four times before I understood what was happening...They took Finless first. That was in September...I was so nervous about it during the World Series that I wrote my other book."

To preorder On Ellicott Street, visit Davee's publisher, Secret Cravings. "At first it'll be electronically," Davee says, meaning released as downloadable e-book, "then, a few months later, in the print-on-demand format." Secret Cravings is not some rinky-dink, vanity publishing house, by the way. Thanks to the ease of electronic release, Davee's publisher can handle a wide variety of erotic romance novels without charging its authors a dime. If anything, her deal is better than my contract for Lightfall.

As for the sex in Davee's writing, "Most people do it," she shrugged. "God created it. It's a natural part of life, a very important part of life. The story I had to tell required it. Without it, the story would've been too bland."

I asked her what drew her to the subject of S&M. "That lifestyle fascinates me," she admitted. "The commitment involved is sometimes deeper than a traditional relationship." Was the novel based on her own experiences? "Some," she revealed carefully, "a small part, and other things were from people I knew or talked to. When you become interested in that lifestyle, you become friends with people who are involved."

"It changed me as I wrote it," she continued. "When you're involved as a personal experience, you can describe it better...There are some things I learned about that I'm not interested in, but someone else may be. Someone may read it and say, 'That's something I want to find out about, maybe even experience a bit deeper.' That does happen. And it's okay, as long as it happens behind closed doors."

Davee considers herself both a lover of God and a sexual free spirit. "People believe they've fallen because of certain things they've done," she says, "but if you believe in a loving God, then you have the opportunity to reconcile your relationship with Him." But she doesn't believe reconciliation has to come at the cost of a plain Jane, vanilla sex life. "I have an open mind. Open up your mind to a new experience, and you might learn something. You may not like what I have to say, but you might find some truth in there."

I asked Davee if her family already read her books. "My sisters have read it," she said. "My husband will not read it. He doesn't want to...I think it's because it's so revealing, he's not sure how much of it is my personal experience. I think that part bothers him, not knowing." But she's ready for the inevitable fallout when her work hits the street. "I was more disturbed by my family being embarrassed, not myself at all. I had something to say, and that's why I didn't write under an anonymous pen name." Indeed, her actual maiden name is Davee Jones, which should come in handy as she starts her publicity campaign--she already has the name of a rock star. She and I are from similar small towns in Oklahoma, where expectations are limited and people don't write about taboo subjects. But as Davee puts it--a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree--"I've got something to say, and I'm proud of what I have to say."

I admire Davee's courage. In coming months, I'll be attempting to share it. Like Davee, I know there are people, even people who know me relatively well, who'll assume if I write about a sexual act, then I must be revealing my personal history (or my wife's). Like Davee, I'll inject relevant experiences into my work, never saying what's what or who helped, and then draw the rest from conversations with close friends or pure imagination. Get ready to know me a little better than you probably intended to.

In the meantime, check out On Ellicott Street and Finless. You may be inspired to visit your friendly local purveyor of fur-lined handcuffs. If so, hold your head high. It's a free world, not-so-Gentle Reader, and you're free to find the love you want in it. If Davee's right, even God will understand.