1. When you first started writing, did you have any idea you’d be writing BDSM/kinky books? Do you write in any other genre?
I don’t exclusively write BDSM books. I write erotic romance that sometimes has BDSM/kinky elements in them. For me books and storylines should reflect real life, so the reader can identify with the characters and story. BDSM is something that people are involved in real life, so therefore some characters in the books live that lifestyle, but not all. The Wylde-Shore series revolves around characters that enjoy BDSM, but the storyline is more romantic suspense. The Sydney Cougar series are novellas that don’t include BDSM, at this point. There are still a few stories to be written in that series, so I’m sure someone’s bound to get their kink on at some stage.
2. Do you use a pen name? If yes (or no), why?
I don’t use a pen name, I write under the name I was given at birth. I decided not to use a pen for a few reasons. Mainly I’m proud of what I do and the books I write, therefore I am happy to use my own name. The other thing with using a pen name is, I’d probably forget who I was and not answer if someone called me by my pen name. How embarrassing would that be?
3. Are you actively involved in BDSM? If so how do you identify yourself? Dom(me)/sub? Top/bottom? Switch?
I’ve been involved in the BDSM lifestyle for about 10 yrs, maybe more. I identify as a sub. I have been an interim Mistress for a friend once, after he and his Domme broke up. It’s just not my thing. During canings I kept asking him if I was hurting him…lol. I was so pleased when he found his new Mistress.
4. At what point did you decide you wanted to write BDSM/kinky-themed erotica?
I don’t know that I consciously chose to write BDSM themes. It’s part of my life, something I enjoy, and know about. In some way it was just a natural extension of me to include the themes in my work. When the characters for Finding Angel came to me they were into BDSM, they lived the lifestyle and they were also just everyday people like you and me. I wrote the book with that in mind. There are another four books in the series, only one of the characters waiting to be written is vanilla. The others all live a BDSM lifestyle to varying degrees.
5. Do you do any “hands-on” research when you’re writing BDSM/kinky themed erotica?
I love this question, lol. I have one Dom friend and one Sadistic Daddy friend that help me out with research if I need it. Apart from that, I draw on previous personal experience. Who knew that my life would turn out to have been one long exercise in research? J
6. What is your favorite fetish? Why?
I have a leather fetish. It’s got nothing to do with wearing it, for me it’s all about the smell. A friend once told me, I’m the only person she knows who could orgasm in the middle of a handbag store. I have no idea why I find the smell of leather so arousing.
7. When you’re writing BDSM/kinky-related erotica, is there a particular movie or music that you might watch or listen to that helps you get in that frame of mind?
I tend to listen to the music that my characters like. In Finding Angel, the Shore brothers listened to AC/DC a lot, as did Steve. Angel was more an Evanescence kind of girl. With the book I’m writing at the moment AC/DC still reigns, because the book is about Steve. I don’t really watch movies when I write. However, I did watch Backdraft recently. There’s a fireman in the new book and I wanted to see how fire moved around a room, that movie has great fire scenes in it.
8. What is your favorite flavor ice cream? And since this interview is for BDSM Book Reviews, vanilla is not an option!
I don’t eat ice cream. However my friend, Hepsi, who’s currently visiting me for a few weeks, said I should tell everyone at BDSM Book Reviews that her favorite flavor is chocolate chip cookie dough.
Website, links info:
Website: http://www.jangraham.com.au
Blog: http://jangraham.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jangraham
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JanGrahamAuthorpage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jan_graham
