Tell All Tuesday: My First Time…With BDSM

For this edition of Tell All Tuesday, we welcome back fellow erotic/erotica romance author Garland. Since Garland has answered told us about his writing before HERE, we asked him to go deeper (if you know what I mean). Garland does not disappoint, telling us about his first time . . . with BDSM!

Take it away Garland:

I don’t get intimidated and I don’t have a lack of confidence. By any means. I know my abilities as both an actor and a writer and I have gotten enough validation from reviewers, friends, and even award nominations to know that I am good. I’m not even twenty-six yet and I already have close to fifty short stories published, four novels out, one of which was nominated for an award, not to mention screenplays and stage plays. So when my publisher, Ravenous Romance, asked me to write my fourth book I began to seriously question whether or not I could do it.

There were several reasons I felt this way. First, while I have written some BDSM short stories I wasn’t sure if I could write a whole BDSM novel! While I have dabbled in some light BDSM practices I by no means consider myself an expert and I didn’t want to insult people who were hardcore scene members. One thing I always strive to do just in general is be respectful to everyone.

The second reason is I was asked by the owner of the company to write this. Lori Perkins, had come to Los Angeles for a writing conference and she wanted to meet for drinks. At this time, I hadn’t published my previous three novels yet but Ravenous had published several of my short stories and I was quickly gaining a fan base. She asked me if I had ever considered writing a novel and I told her that there was an idea that was swimming around in my head for a straight BDSM novel. I said I wanted it to be set during World War II and I wanted it to have an Emmanuelle or Story Of O feel to it; two of my favorite erotic novels. Lori then told me that she had commissioned a woman to write a lesbian retelling of The Story Of O and had always contacted another writer to write the gay retelling, called The Story Of Joe. She then asked to see an outline for my novel. I sent it to her and she showed interest in it. About three days later I got an email from her telling me that the writer who was supposed to write The Story Of Joe had emailed her and said he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t get into the story and felt he was too Dom to do the story justice. She offered me the story. I still don’t know what possessed me but I said yes.

What had I just done? I asked myself as soon as she replied with “great!” I’m not Sub by any means. I’m Dom too! And to retell one of the most famous erotic works ever! What if I couldn’t do it justice? What if Lori hated it? What if it sucked? Those thoughts nagged at me while I was writing it. I had never been plagued with as much self doubt and anxiety about any project I had ever done.

But, miraculously, I really grew to enjoy the story. I allowed the characters to take me where they wanted to go naturally and Lori liked the story and there was only one round of edits. I think what helped is I put a lot of my own thoughts, desires, fears, insecurities, curiosities, etc into Joe. I was finally able to face all the things about BDSM and being Sub that I was afraid of. It was wonderful therapy and I was sad when I finished the book and writing this book has given me the confidence to finish that first BDSM I originally pitched to Ravenous and I have several ideas for other BDSM erotica…

Garland is the penname of a fulltime actor and writer currently living in Hollywood California. His short stories have appeared in Sugar And Spice, Once Upon A Threesome, Three’s A Charm, Tight Ends, Touchdowns, Even Hotter Dads, Cougars On The Prowl, Ultimate Uniforms and many others. He is also the author of Real Boys Kiss Boys (CAPA Nomination For YA Fiction), The Christmas Cottage, In The Tarot, and The Story Of Joe. www.garlandserotictales.webs.com

Mahalo again for coming back Garland.  I am so thrilled that we share several anthologies together through Ravenous Romance.  Good luck with The Story of Joe.  I can’t wait to read it!!