Why Would You Write THAT??

by Sara Brookes 

I get asked a lot why I write BDSM. After my typical response of: “Why not?” I explain that the psychology behind it fascinates me. This usually throws most people for a loop. After all, say “BDSM” to the average American and, if they haven’t cringed away or called you a few choice names, think it’s all about the whips, chains and various other assorted devices people identify with BDSM.

But, believe it or not, without the psychology, those things would never come into play.

Though I do use some of the typical implements identified with BDSM (collars, cuffs, floggers, etc), you’ll find most of my books are more about Dominance and submission, or D/s.

In my Sypricon Masters series, the Doms in the club use their most powerful instrument to work with their subs—their voices. Though there are devices most people are used to seeing in regards to BDSM (though, I did make a few enhancements and changes—the series is sci-fi after all *g*) the key things between the characters is their connection.

To me, that’s one of the most important things when it comes to genuine BDSM. 

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~*~ 

Sara Brookes is an award-winning author who has always been fascinated by the strange, the unusual, the twisted and the lost (tortured heroes are her personal favorite). She is an action movie junkie, addicted to coffee and has been known to stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing RPG video games. Despite all this, she is a romantic at heart and is always a sucker for an excellent love story. Born and bred in Virginia, Sara still lives there with her husband and daughter. The entire family is owned by two cats, Galahad and Loki, who graciously allow the family to cater to their every desire.

Never Go Thirsty

by Sara Brookes

Post: As someone who writes BDSM, I always have to come up with creative scenes that move my stories forward, but still titillate readers. However, there is one constant when my stories involve a BDSM club. This is true no matter if I’m writing contemporary, urban fantasy or futuristic/sci-fi.

My characters never go thirsty.

In fact, in regards to my books, it’s a hard limit for me. *g* Hydration is just as important to me as the characters getting what they need out of a “scene”. BDSM play can be extremely exhausting, both mentally and physically. And one of the worst culprits of dehydration is alcohol. So one thing I have vowed to never have in my BDSM clubs in my books, regardless of genre, is alcohol.

The club, Tawse, in my Sypricon Masters series is no exception even though it is located far, far away on an isolated planet. In fact, because that series is futuristic/sci-fi, I got to play with technology (inventing “impulse technology” that is employed at the club, and something the club is known for) and play around with items that add to the building of my world.

One of those things is ishke.*

The hydrating drink is a staple at Tawse and if you’re a Dom or sub playing in a scene, there better be a bottle of the stuff nearby. In fact, there’s a wily bartender at the club who will ensure there is. Sometimes, even before the person knows they need it in the first place. LOL

Please join me tomorrow as the first of my Sypricon Masters shorts, Impulse Control, releases from Decadent Publishing and get a taste of the club for yourself. In fact, there’s a bottle of ishke waiting for you at the bar.

*pronounced ish-key

Sara Brookes Facts this Friday...

 

I’ve done a few blog posts here, but never formally introduced myself. So, I’m Sara Brookes and I’ve had the great honor of signing with Decadent to have the first three books in my Sypricon Master series published. After spending a few years writing full length books (varying in length from 50K to 100K words) I wanted to try my hand at a few shorts. And the BDSM club, Tawse, with its Masters on the planet Sypricon, was born. Edits are ongoing for the first in the series, Impulse Control, so for today, I’d thought I’d share a few facts about myself:

 

I love Chick-fil-a. Seriously, I have what most would claim is an unhealthy obsession with their sandwiches and waffle fries. Several years ago, I got to attend an invitation-only event when a new CFA opened in the area because I knew the owner. Talk to him today and he’ll tell you about how I used to come into one of his CFAs when I was pregnant. 14 years ago. Yeah, I go *that* much.

I can’t watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition. I love Ty Pennington to death, he’s a cutie. And I love what the whole show stands for and what they do for families that totally need, and deserve, something like that. But it turns me into a sobbing mess.

One of my favorite movies is The Thomas Crown Affair with Pierce Brosnan and Reene Russo. I wore out my VHS copy of it and had to hunt down the DVD (which was harder than you’d think). If I come across it on TV, I’ll watch it. It’s just one of those movies where even the tiniest thing makes you wonder if it will be huge by the end. Even though I’ve seen it countless time, I still find enjoyment in watching it. Who doesn’t love a good game of cat and mouse? 

My mom cooked my very first pets—a pair of goldfish—when I was three or four years old. Now before you think terribly about my mom, she didn’t do it intentionally or literally for that matter. The water needed to be changed and when she went to transfer them back into the fresh water, they went belly up. The water was too hot for them. She flushed and I cried for Pop-Pop and Lolli-Pop for a few days.

I was petrified of roller coasters until the age of 13. I couldn’t even look at them and it was simply because I didn’t know—I’d never ridden one. Then I went on a field trip and the friends I was with kept talking about how fantastic coasters were. For fear of being taunted and teased, I didn’t tell them I was afraid of coasters and got on one with them. Talk about white knuckling it. That two minutes and ten second ride changed everything for me. Now you can’t keep me off roller coasters. To this day, that single event still shapes me, as I firmly believe you can’t say you have a fear until you try to face it head on.

When You Are the Character

Recently, I was chatting with my husband while I worked on a book. My male character was extremely forthright and had no problem speaking his mind quite frankly. Yes, including certain words that have come to be expected in erotic romance. Not every book I write has those words and not every character I write says them. I’ve always believed in time and place.

But this one character in particular used them quite frequently without any trouble at all. In fact, it wasn’t a conscious decision to use a particular word (let’s just say it rhymes with ‘punt) in this story the first time. I’d worked along, trying to block out noise around me at the time, which made me focus more. The next day, when I read over what I’d written, I actually stopped and asked myself “Where did that come from?” It worked for the character and the situation. In fact, it worked a lot more places as I discovered it fit the character to use the word. I’d told my husband that I had found I had a little trouble dealing with it and he said that made no sense. After I’d stared at him for a few minutes because I had no idea what he meant, I asked him why.

His response? “You are the character.”

Again, a few moments of silence for me while I processed what he said. I immediately protested and said I’m nothing like this character. He’s brash and rough around the edges. I’ll use foul language at times, but never to the extent of this character. I’m nothing like him. Which my husband pointed out wasn’t the truth.

“You created him. He’s a piece of you. Maybe not a piece that you realize, but he’s there.”

Huh. I never thought of it that way. What he says makes sense, if you think about it. As authors, we create something from nothing. We pull in slices of life all around us and create emotional characters and situations in order to tell a story. At times, doing so, we can let down our hair and let a side of us show that we’d normally keep locked away from the rest of the world.

10Q Tuesday ~ Sara Brookes

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

My writing hours are broken up into a few times over the course of a day. My husband leaves extremely early in the morning for work every day, so I usually get up when he does and get a few hours of writing in. Then it’s off to the day job for me. After everything settles down with the family for the night, usually around seven, I can sit down for another few hours to write.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

Usually getting the first draft done without stopping to go back and fix something. I’ve gotten better about just scribbling a note to myself and chugging on but sometimes, I have to scold myself to keep from fixing something. If it really bothers me, I will have to go fix just so I stop obsessing about it. But first drafts are for the crap writing in my opinion. If you can get it nailed first time out of the gate, I admire you.

Does your significant other read your stuff?

Yes! Every single story I write regardless of pairing or heat level.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Both. And they are invaluable! I cherish every time I get to work with them.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?

I’ve come to learn I’m a hybrid of the two even though I tend to lean toward pantsing. I can’t sit down and write an outline from start to finish before the book is written. Heck, I’m not sure I could even do it after the book is complete. But I will start a story knowing the beginning, one or two points I want to hit during the course of the story and the end. I just never know where those one or two point fall in the story.

Boxers or Briefs?

How about a third choice—bare as the day they were born.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

Yes. Every story I write has a playlist that usually gets put together during the first draft. Then, I’ll listen to it while I revise and edit. If it’s a story that’s being published, when edits are happening, I’ll pull back up the playlist and listen to it while I work. I’ve found, after a story is long been published, I can listen to that story’s playlist and immediately pull up in my mind the scene I identify with the song.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

What didn’t I want to be? Astronaut, firefighter, draftsman, crossing guard, teacher, mom, cop, and writer all held places on the list. Three of things I actually became but I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which. *g*

Morning Person? Or Night Person? How do you know?

I’ve been a morning person most of my life. I think it’s because my parents were so I got used to that routine growing up. There was a period of a year or two when I was 19/20 years old where I went to work at 5 pm and got off at 2 am. I hated it. Not only for the hours but because my husband worked 4 am to 4 pm. Two ships passing in the night and we were newlyweds.

Do you play games? What kind?

I got hooked on video games when the Atari came out (and I’ve just dated myself with that admission). My dad and I would play so much and so long, the unit would heat up and shut down completely. In my teens it wasn’t an unusual occurrence for me to stay up all weekend long to play Mario or Zelda. Now it’s not usual for me to stay up on the weekends playing DraonAge or any of the LEGO games