Writing Erotica under a Pen Name
If you're at all connected to the erotica writers community on Twitter, you probably understand the meaning of this post. If you aren't, count yourself lucky. I won't rehash that all here, because it's gone round and round enough with the 3, and who knows how many more will show up.
I can only talk about me.
Pen Name / Name
Like some are doing, I'm glad to take off the mask - so to speak - and expose a photo of me and my identity because I have nothing to hide. I don't write under a pen name to hide the fact that I write erotica, I write under a pen name because I hope to write a few genres, eventually, and didn't want them lumped under one name. My chosen name has a very personal meaning to me, one that I won't share, but I think it's unique and I like it.
I'll say that the name I go by on a day to day basis is Karsyn.
Nice to meet you. :)
Why did I phrase it that way? Well, that's a long story I won't share either. Suffice to say, I left my old life behind, and couldn't stomach my birthname any longer. I hate saying it, I can't read books with characters named it or even authors with that name. Think what you will, doesn't matter to me. I've gone by Karsyn around 10 years now. Though Karsyn isn't, yet, my legal name, it will be --- someday.
Who I am
I am a 40+ year old cis female. I identify as bisexual or pansexual if you prefer. For me, they mean the same. I'm attracted to what I'm attracted to, regardless of race, sexuality, or gender identity. I consider myself polyamorous, though this is a fairly recent development. Looking back, if I had a name for it, I believe I always was. In high school, I had "boyfriends" and I had "best friends". It was my way of loving both I think. Back then, I was deeply religious, taught that a "man" and a "woman" were the only "true" pairing. Fucking bullshit, but it took me until in my 20s to realize that, along with the fact that religion, and any "higher being" is also bullshit. I am a proud, and loud, atheist.
I am happily married to my cis straight male Best Friend. We've known each other over 25 years, been "back together" going on 16 years and have been married over 13 years.
What I Write (for now)
I am currently working on Book 3 of my Bijou Basin series. The point of BB was to write what is RARELY seen within the publishing world - namely polyamorous relationships (no 'pick one' bullshit), BDSM that is Safe, Sane, and Consensual, and relationships that are HEALTHLY in which people talk to each other to work through their issues. The Characters in Bijou Basin aren't perfect, but there's no ANGST, no DRAMA. The MC Kenzie, and her friends, are in the 30s-60s and they're settled and happy in life.
I write erotic romance because I LOVE sex and enjoy a healthy sex life with my Husband, and the occasional woman - if any are so interested. ;) I hate that most people won't discuss their sex life and/or sex is Taboo - and that's just normal every day sex, not even thinking about Kink. I very much am a YKINMK type person. If you're being safe, and having fun, then you do you! Don't let ANYONE shame you! That said, do your due diligence, and if you're looking into kinks - RESEARCH it. And I don't mean by reading shitty, but popular, fiction that's unhealthy to the EXTREME. That's not kink, it's abuse. But, anyways.
The Face Behind the Name
So, as much as I like sex (and I love sex) and as healthy of a sex life we have, I've always hated my body and my looks. My Hubby's tried to get me to look favorably on myself since we met. Not gonna happen.
That's to say, I don't do photos of myself. Blech. I even hate the term "selfies". Gag me now. I have worked as a photographer in my past, so I'm the one ALWAYS behind the camera. Since 2004, there's 3 photos of me in existence - all three with my Hubby - our wedding photo in 2004, a random one in 2011, and a snow one in 2013. That's IT. That's all I got.
I understand photos can be picked up anywhere, so if you... whomever is reading this and is actually interested, because I don't think anyone will be ...want a current photo of me. Let me know what you want me to write on a post-it, and I'll do one. But since I'm only on the sidelines of the erotic community, I don't think anyone will care all that much, so I'm just gonna leave you with the most recent photo, cropping my Hubby out of it. This is me, take me or leave me.
Why I did this?
Because I hurt that fellow erotic writers have been hurt by recent events. I only spoke with the most recent outed person. I will say we exchanged DMs ONCE and I didn't get a good vibe from them during that chat. I never reached out in DMs again and only responded one or two other times to something they posted. Though I wouldn't have guessed, I just didn't have a good feeling and so I walked away. I've ALWAYS trusted my instincts.
I feel bad for those who were hurt. I want to show who I am, so that I may be a person you can come to, if you need to chat. I know I'm not too well known in the community, because I don't post often, but I watch and I read, and I feel for you. So, if you need a friend, I'm willing to be one. Reach out to me here, or any of the links listed above.
That's that
If you made it this far, thanks.
Natural Exposure on Amazon - Now FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
Natural Exposure on Goodreads
Negative Exposure on Amazon
Negative Exposure on Goodreads
A Discovery of BDSM on Amazon
A Discovery of BDSM on Goodreads
