ON EROTIC WRITING

I'm reading a new book, out from an author who has a couple of dozen books out. It's M/M. It's a mystery/suspense. It's a romance. And...it has sex. Of course, because sex sells, right? Mmm...maybe. This particular author has intimate scenes in these books. But the interesting thing is, this doesn't represent a huge part of the text. The majority of the words are dedicated to getting to know the main characters, the plot development (including the subplots), and conflict. There is sex. Just not all the time. A couple of times--that's it. It is written in an explicit format, but contains so much of what the characters are feeling (other than lust), how the character feels about what is happening, that the reader can't help but be drawn in. It's an extension of characterization, and quite masterful. I didn't miss having a large number of sex scenes--I was caught up in the characters, so much so that I didn't want the book to end. Masterful. I've read this author's early stuff, the most recent stuff, and everything in between. I have to say, each book is widely anticipated--but not because of the sex. The take-away here is keep in mind the characters and the plot. Make sex part of characterization, not just a sweaty explicit encounter. Your readers will love you for it, and anticipate your next release. Thoughts? Questions? Whitley www.whitleygray.com Now out from MLR Press: GOING FOR GOLD http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=ANTHGOLD