Erotic, Erotica, or Erotic Romance? Marla Monroe Explains
Good morning, dear readers!
Those of you - and I am certain that means ALL of you - who read Pulse and Prejudice, might have been startled to find the words "Erotic Romance" on the title page. I know I was! I had thought the two scenes of sensuality at the end of the book were rather tame. That it was thus labeled became a running joke in our household. Hell, my daughter proofed it for me, and my mother-in-law's book group even read it. In fact, those two little words almost prevented my from being accepted by the Austen Authors! That is, until the actually read the so-called "erotic" scenes.
(By the way, Alicia's Possession IS an erotic romance, mystery-suspense, in the off-chance you haven't read it. All My Tomorrows and my current work in progress - The Widow - are safe for MIL consumption!)
Erotica is a whole ‘nother ballgame. It is written with the sole intent being to aroused
and titillate much like the pictorial pornography is created to do. Its purpose
is to facilitate getting off. Just like a man might fantasize while looking at
a Playboy bunny in the magazine, he can do the same thing, using written porn
to give him a venue to set that fantasy.
Those of you - and I am certain that means ALL of you - who read Pulse and Prejudice, might have been startled to find the words "Erotic Romance" on the title page. I know I was! I had thought the two scenes of sensuality at the end of the book were rather tame. That it was thus labeled became a running joke in our household. Hell, my daughter proofed it for me, and my mother-in-law's book group even read it. In fact, those two little words almost prevented my from being accepted by the Austen Authors! That is, until the actually read the so-called "erotic" scenes.(By the way, Alicia's Possession IS an erotic romance, mystery-suspense, in the off-chance you haven't read it. All My Tomorrows and my current work in progress - The Widow - are safe for MIL consumption!)
I am absolutely delighted to have Marla Monroe here today, not only because she is a sizzling hot, fabulous author, but also because she discusses what qualifies as Erotic, Erotica, and Erotic Romance. How much is too much? Where would you draw the line? She will be presenting at the BDSM Writers Con in NYC in August (It isn't just for writers, so I hope you'll join us there!), and I can't wait to meet her in person. Until them, I am thrilled to share a virtual cup of coffee with her, and I know you will be too!
~Colette
Erotic,
Erotica, Erotic Romance
When
anyone learns that I write I hear first, ‘What do you write?’ Then after I tell
them they follow up with, ‘That’s not really writing. I mean, that’s just smut
or porno’. The next thing I hear is, ‘I’ve always wanted to write a book, or I
could write a book’. I bet most every writer has heard these words or something
similar. It doesn’t stop with just writing erotic romance, but with writing
romance in general. Romance isn’t taken seriously and erotic romance is down-right
scoffed at as dirty.
There
is a lot of confusion about erotic romance. First, because people confuse the
terms. Erotica is something written to tease, titillate, and arouse. The story
is about the sexual journey not a relationship. It focuses on the sex and not a
story. It doesn’t mean there’s no plot, just that the plot centers around the
sexual aspect of the book.
Erotic
Romance or Romantica as Ellora’s Cave calls it, focuses more on the
relationship of the characters and who they are to each other. It explores the
paths they take to cement their relationship and discusses their sexuality and
the sex act in frank open terms. The other part of it is that there is emotion
that isn’t only based on sex like lust and arousal.
Erotica is a whole ‘nother ballgame. It is written with the sole intent being to aroused
and titillate much like the pictorial pornography is created to do. Its purpose
is to facilitate getting off. Just like a man might fantasize while looking at
a Playboy bunny in the magazine, he can do the same thing, using written porn
to give him a venue to set that fantasy.
Erotic
Romance serves a similar purpose for women and some men. Not only does it have
a plot that outside of sex, but it provides the reader with a sense of emotional
satisfaction that lasts longer than the sexual one. The reader benefits from
the book as fuel for their imagination and the arousal they might have gotten
during the sex scenes. The emotional satisfaction and just pure fun of reading
a good book puts a smile on their face.
Some
couples read them out loud together. They tell me that it has brought them
closer and strengthened their connection as well as their ability to talk
frankly about sex with each other. But that is a blog for another time.
I
hope you will continue to follow this blog in the future. You will see me
again. My next blog for her is entitled, Missing Out. How I missed out on a
satisfying sex life because I hadn’t read erotica before I got married. I promise,
you will laugh at me and you’ll cry with me. As long as you take away the true
message behind it, I’ll forgive you.
About the Author
Marla Monroe has been
writing professionally for about eleven years. Her first book with Siren was
published in January of 2011. At this time, she has over 60 books available. She
loves to write and spends every spare minute either at the keyboard or reading.
She writes everything from sizzling-hot contemporary cowboys, emotionally
charged BDSM, and dangerously addictive shifters, to science fiction ménages
with the occasional badass biker thrown in for good measure.
Marla lives in the
southern US and works full-time at a busy hospital. When not writing, she loves
to travel, spend time with her cats, and read. She’s always eager to try
something new and especially enjoys the research for her books. She loves to
hear from readers about what they are looking for next in their reading
adventures.
Her blog: www.themarlamonroe.blogspot.com
Twitter: @MarlaMonroe1
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marla.monroe.7
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