Let's Talk About Sex

Sunday June 10th, at approximately 10:40 pm, I finished the fourth book in my series. This book is a transition book for my main character, Kendra Clayton. Things are changing for her. I won't say how. But a change is a coming. This book also marks the first time I've written some sex scenes. Nothing too explicit, mind you, but definitely more sex than in the previous books. Up until now if my books were rated using the same method used to rate movies on the cable channels, they'd be rated MV-Mild Violence, AL-Adult Language, AS-Adult Situations. No SC-Strong Sexual Content.

I know that sex sells, just ask this author if you're in any doubt, and I'm probably shooting myself in the foot by not sexing up my books more. But, I write mysteries, not erotica. And to be honest, my editor has NEVER commented on the lack of sex in my books. When I write I'm all about the plot, and the clues, and the suspects, and the back story. I don't dwell on explicit details of how my main characters are getting their freak on. And trust me, I know that my books don't appeal to a lot of people because of the lack of sex. This time around, however, the sex that I put in the book fits the plot line. I didn't use it as filler. And sometimes when I read books loaded down with sex scenes, excluding erotica, I feel like the sex is used to mask poor writing. And if you stripped away the sex, there wouldn't be much left. I don't want to hide behind sex scenes. I'd like to think I'm a storyteller first and foremost.

I think there is an art to writing sex scenes. Some people are pros at it, and others border on the comical in their descriptions. Poorly written sex scenes can tank a book in my opinion. As for the sex scenes I wrote for my next book, I have no idea how good they are. I felt comfortable with what I wrote. I don't think they sounded too silly, though there is some intentional humor in a couple of them. But, I guess only time will tell on how they're received by readers ; ).

Angela