Tell us a little about your erotic writing:
I prefer to write in the first person, as a female. Obviously, a little suspension of belief is needed by the readers as I'm male. The reason I prefer to write as a female is because you'll often hear men talking about their sexual exploits, whereas women tend to keep quiet. Male banter in pubs and bars is often centred on last night's sexual conquest and, in my view, writing as a male would be looked upon by males as boring. To me, getting an insight into the female mind is fascinating. Yes, girls do talk about sex. Girls do exchange stories with each other. And they masturbate. But they don't go shouting about it in public. I believe that a book written from the female point of view is a far greater turn-on for men. I'm not saying that I write solely for male readers. What I try to do is create a balance whereby the female reader can also enjoy and relate to my stories. Judging by the emails I receive from female readers, I seem to have the balance about right.

How did you start writing erotica?
Some eighteen years ago, just for fun, I began writing short erotic stories for a popular magazine. But there were restrictions, I'd find that the story was developing well and suddenly realise that it was far too long. My first book, Arousal, began life as a three-thousand-word short story. It was only when I realized that I'd written just over ten thousand words that I thought it might develop into a full-length novel. I carried on writing and eventually finished the book. Coming up with another idea, I wrote The House Of Lust and then The Uninhibited. My publisher liked them and asked me to write another two books, and then two more and two more and...

Who or what are your influences?
I'm influenced by the female mind as much as the female body. Obviously, teenage girls with perfect bodies are a great sexual turn-on to the majority of men. But, equally, I'm influenced by the female mind. During my teens, I didn't think that girls craved sex, I didn't believe that they masturbated. I don't know what I thought. I suppose, in my mind, there were nice girls and bad girls. The bad girls were more fun. Later in life, I discovered that girls enjoy sex as much as their male counterparts. This isn't relevant to the question but, I've always been intrigued by the fact that a male who puts it about is one of the lads, whereas a girl who puts it about is a tart. So, to answer your question — I'm influenced by the physical and mental aspects of females. And, of course, the trials and tribulations of relationships.

What themes or elements do you aim to get into your own writing?
You can please some of the people some of the time... I try to cater for all tastes. Obviously, this isn't always possible. One reader might be heavily into watersports whereas another might detest the very notion. There are so many aspects and varying tastes in erotic fiction. The themes and elements I try to get into my writing are varied but I don't write about stunningly attractive millionaire girls because the average reader can't begin to relate to such characters. Relate, that's a key word in my writing. Obviously, readers are looking for escapism. But I don't believe that escapism is to be found in rich babes and aliens with two penises. The ordinary working girl, the average housewife...these are the people we can all relate to.

How do you get ideas for your stories?
I've seen girls crying over love, I've seen men fall to pieces... I get my ideas from looking at people in general. They all have stories of love and lust to tell. Whether we like it or not, we're surrounded by adultery, lies, deceit and divorce. I'm not a doom and gloom writer but I love the intrigue of blackmail and surreptitious relationships. It's easy to write page after page of bonking, but why are these two characters bonking? How did they meet? Why are they cheating on their partners?

Have you really done all, or many, of the things you describe in your books?
I don't know whether I should answer that. When I began writing erotica, I liked to think that I was writing from experience. In fact, I was writing from experience, and I still do. But my experiences aren't all physical. I often call on experiences of a psychological nature to base my writing on. Sex is sex, the coupling of male and female or female coupling with female or whatever. The physical act is obviously the basis of an erotic tale. But I call on psychological experiences as well as physical to help me to describe characters and situations.

Would you consider your work at all satirical, as well as arousing?
Very much so. Sex has its funny side, and well as its serious side.

Do you write in other genres or styles?
I write technical articles about electronics, but that's my dark secret.

Do you have a message for your fans?
Yes. Please give me feedback and tell me what it is you want to read about. You, the reader, are the most important consideration in anything I write. Go to my website, email me, and tell me what you want.
http://www.raygordonbooks.co.uk