দ্বারা Edward Fairfax:

After interviewing STONECRAFT লেখক Jenni Frendswith, I got a call from STONECRAFT editor and GASPING IN THE SHADOWS লেখক Lucretia Mars and was lucky enough to get an interview. Both বই দ্বারা Frendswith and Mars, and my own book মতামত OF A PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIAN, share the web-hosting hospitality of লেখক Fletcher Rhoden (SANTA & ME, FIFTY SHADES OF TRAILER PARK BOYS: TPB in the Great Comedic Traditions). These বই are all available on Amazon.com অথবা at a discount at fletcherrhoden.com/links.

Q: Thank আপনি for speaking to me, Lucretia. আপনি don’t usually do interviews, and আপনি never distribute photographs in your media materials. Why is that?
A: Well, Edward, I’m letting আপনি interview me because I know your book and I admire your ethics. A lot of journalists, in print and online, don’t share that. I feel like I’m constantly being accused of threatening women, hating women, all these women’s issues.
Q: I may have to ask similar questions.
A: As long as you’re open to my answers, Edward. As for photos, I guess that’s vanity. I’m not quite as young and gorgeous as I’d like my readers to imagine me.
Q: What about these claims that আপনি are in favor of women being subjugated and physically threatened and demeaned during sex?
A: I think 1952 has an excellent point. But this is 2012, Edward. We have a greater understanding of our sexual impulses, we’re আরো open to these, outside-the-mainstream practices without having to demonize them. We really should try to understand them. And as for asphyxiation, it’s just as much about the loss of oxygen as it is about the sense of dominance অথবা subjugation.
Q: The SHADES trilogy, for example --
A: Exactly. আপনি don’t hear people complaining that the লেখক hates women; because the female character enjoys being tied up and slapped around, because the female readers all enjoy it অথবা know that they would enjoy it. Funny that the character feels that she has to change Christian Grey, even as she relishes the experience of who he already is. I suppose that’s because people feel guilty enjoying these kinky fetishes, which they really shouldn’t! And bondage isn’t even that far from the middle of the road these days. Have আপনি seen what’s on the internet? There are people eating each other’s feces, drinking urine, even worse.
Q: Some people would say that erotic asphyxiation, which dominates your own book, GASPING IN THE SHADOWS, is one of those activities that are way outside the mainstream, not just kinky sex but psychotic violence.
A: I suppose that’s a matter of perspective. Just this week I saw a character being choked during sex দ্বারা his female partner, begging for it, needing it; on HBO’s BOARDWALK EMPIRE, a প্রদর্শনী that takes place in the 1920s. There’s a hilarious character in the cartoon প্রদর্শনী ASHER that’s a big asphyxophile. Frankly, I think of erotic asphyxiation as the পরবর্তি step past bondage, just to the left of it, but still far this side of scatting অথবা other আরো bizarre practices.
Q: Your book does discuss the issue in these various contexts, almost making a case for it as an acceptable sexual practice.
A: But of course it is an acceptable practice, Edward! I’m not saying it should be mandatory, but as a fetish it certainly should be accepted, when practiced দ্বারা consenting adults of course. But even kids do it all over the world, they call it the Choking Game.
A: And আপনি endorse that?
Q: I just ব্যক্ত very clearly that it is an acceptable practice between consenting adults. But it’s dangerous even then. Even with the danger, people still do it, but they do do it. যশস্বী do it. Fictional HBO characters do it. There are so many producers of asphyxia porn, clearly tons of people are into it.
Q: Are আপনি into it?
A: I don’t answer personal প্রশ্ন like that, Edward.
Q: My apologies. I felt I had to ask.
A: I don’t share your sense of obligation.
Q: Let’s সরানো on then. Your friend and colleague Jenni Frendswith ব্যক্ত Hollywood may not be ready for you.
A: Jennifer is a darling girl, and she’ s probably right. But that’s really the same প্রশ্ন we’ve just been circling around, isn’t it? If the readers make GASPING IN THE SHADOWS a big hit, Hollywood will be ready. As for me in particular, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Hardly anybody knows me, why am I suddenly this weirdo everyone’s gossiping about? I wrote a racy book, that’s all.
Q: And you’re so secretive, no pictures. That kind of mystery titillates people, peaks their interest.
A: If they’re interested, I’m willing to talk, people can make their decisions about me for themselves. [Lucretia Mars can be reached at contact info at fletcherrhoden.com/links.]
Q: What’s your impression of [Frendswith’s novel] STONECRAFT?
A: I loved it, thought it was better than TWILIGHT. I think Hollywood’s ready for that! Mark my words, Jennifer is going to be a big, big star.
Q: She mentioned the book as a series. Do আপনি think this is still a good way to plan a literary career?
A: Edward, it’s the only way! If আপনি haven’t got a series, আপনি haven’t got a book.
Q: Yet neither of আপনি have written sequels to your books.
A: Not yet. But I could start the পরবর্তি GASPING novel tomorrow, and I’ve heard all about the সেকেন্ড STONECRAFT novel from Jennifer and it sounds incredible. আপনি have to remember that our বই have just come out. Didn’t STONECRAFT just become available this week?
Q: Yeah, it’s getting a lot of heat.
A: And GASPING was a late-September release. We’re just out of the gate. I guess we’ll see around the end of the বছর what kind of demand there will be for sequels. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jennifer has her STONECRAFT movie deal locked down দ্বারা then!
Q: আপনি edited the book.
A: Well, I think it will succeed anyway!
Q: Why are আপনি so confident in STONECRAFT’s success?
A: Because it’s got it all, Edward. Lovely characters, Rhett is an amazing character, loved the girl, Eloise; terrific story, great action sequences; when you’re পাঠ করা it আপনি can just see it as a movie. It’s one of those natural fits, and I know it would be a huge hit. And it’s just the first one, that’s the thing. আপনি know how great the পরবর্তি one will be, আপনি walk away anticipating the sequel to a movie that hasn’t even been made yet.
Q: But আপনি don’t see your own book অথবা film franchise the same way?
A: GASPING IN THE SHADOWS won’t have the same kind of mainstream appeal that STONECRAFT will. I think GASPING would be perfect for an indie film treatment, gritty, not slick like the TWILIGHT films অথবা the upcoming SHADES movies, which আপনি know will be very sleek and polished. GASPING could also be a good SHOWTIME movie. But STONECRAFT has a lot আরো commercial possibility.
Q: Jenni Frendswith mentioned আপনি as a kind of mentor.
A: Oh, not really. Well, maybe a bit. I’m a little older, I had a few things I could share with her. As I said, she’s a darling girl.
Q: GASPING IN THE SHADOWS isn’t on Kindle yet. Why is that?
A: We’re doing everything we can. That Kindle system is automated, and when the book gets stuck in a DRAFT stage in that process, it’s really hard to get tech support. We tried to launch it on Kindle and had to pull it down and just re-enter it into the system fresh. If it doesn’t work, I’m not confident that anybody there will respond. I guess we just keep trying until it gets through. It’s not a very efficient system, which is strange because amazon’s related service, Createspace, is quite reliable and offers excellent support.
Q: আপনি published GASPING IN THE SHADOWS in this way, through Createspace?
A: Absolutely. The nature of publishing has changed, Edward. I don’t see why anybody in this দিন and age would spend hundreds of dollars to send out a dozen query packages, then wait around two years only to be rejected দ্বারা a form letter. That’s the way my father tried to launch a লেখা career, and never could. These days আপনি just put the book out yourself and if it does well, a big publisher picks আপনি up and আপনি can take advantage of their publicity and distribution machines. Otherwise how could an unknown লেখক get through to a big publisher অথবা literary agent? Thank God for the internet.
Q: Do আপনি think brick-and-mortar bookstores will continue to exist?
A: I’ve been all over the board on this one. For a while I was certain they’d go exactly the way of the video rental store. And আপনি know, there are still one অথবা two of those holding on, like Eddie Brandt’s Saturday Matinee in Los Angeles. As for books, I think these big superstores will continue, because they don’t just sell books, but CDs, DVDs, coffee, presenting an experience for family shopping, a place for the kids to run around. And little shops may also hold on, these niche shops. As long as big book franchises like the POTTER series অথবা the TWILIGHT অথবা SHADES বই keep selling big numbers, there will be book stores of some kind. I think publishers need them so there will be places to have the big লেখক personal appearance tours that sell so many books. But I wouldn’t expect to find আরো than one in any প্রদত্ত city after আরো than a few years. There’ll be one Barnes & Noble in every big city and two little, used book stores and the rest will be published on demand অথবা otherwise distributed directly through মর্দানী স্ত্রীলোক and its competitors.
Q: Do আপনি read Kindle?
A: I personally don’t, but I think it’s a great innovation. I was never a big book collector. I have a collection of signed books, but I tend to read a book and then give it away, share the joy with someone else. I don’t like to lug around boxes of old books. And with natural resources dwindling, as many of these digital forms of distribution as he can exploit seem like a good idea. But personally, I just haven’t gotten around to getting one.
Q: So আপনি think the novel as an art form has a future?
A: Absolutely. The novel is still the king of the storytelling world. Think about it, all the big চলচ্চিত্র and movie series’ come from novels. The dog is still wagging the tail!
Q: If the market doesn’t demand a GASPING sequel, do আপনি have any plans for a different type of book?
A: I’m considering a few things, I’m just not sure yet. There’s plenty of time for writing, y’know? I spend my days living, Edward.
Q: Amen to that!