I recently had the pleasure of interviewing another very entertaining grandmother with a secret life! Prolific erotic romance writer Alexis Fleming agreed to share her story of writing and sex with me.

Alexis Fleming:

Sex? Sex? Did someone say sex? Bring it on, baby!

Ashlyn Chase:

(Snicker.) I feel the same way, Alexis. So how did you enter this world of writing sexy stories? Give us all your dirty little secrets.

A.F.

I started writing seriously in 1997, but outside of a few short stories in national magazines, I hadn’t managed to score a contract. I’m a diehard romantic so choosing to write romance, whether it was contemporary, paranormal or fantasy, was almost a foregone conclusion. My love scenes were always hot and filled with sensual tension. I never could close that bedroom door. But they weren’t exactly what I’d call erotic.

A.C.

So what made you decide to try it?

A.F.

My critique partner suggested I try my hand at erotic romance. Hey, I like sex. I love to read it. But to write it? Nooo, I didn’t think I could do it. In fact, I laughed at my friend when she made the suggestion, telling her I couldn’t even say the words, let alone write them. She told me to go away and practice. That’s exactly what I did. I started ramping up my love scenes. I had a ball and frankly, so did my hubby.

A.C.

Oooh… Tell us about your hubby’s reaction to all this.

A.F.

At the time, my husband was retired and I was writing full time, but hubby got bored so I told him to find something to do. He did! We now own and run a motel. We made that shift in 2004. I still hadn’t submitted any of my erotic stories. About two weeks after we arrived, we got into an argument over priorities — my writing time as opposed to working all day in the motel. Hubby’s comment was that it didn’t appear that anyone wanted my writing right then, anyway, so I could fill my time in with working the motel. Oh boy, that was like a red rag to a bull. I dashed upstairs and immediately fired off a submission via email to Changeling Press, one of the erotic publishers I’d been checking out. You could have knocked me down with a feather when the editor emailed me back within two hours offering me a contract for that first novella.

Once hubby got over the shock, he was quite proud, sharing the news with any guest who would stand still long enough to hear. From then on he encouraged me with my writing and made certain I had time to write, which isn’t always easy in this business. I was 52 when I made that first sale, and things snowballed from there. I now have 17 eBooks and 11 print books out in erotic contemporary, paranormal and fantasy romance.

A.C.

That’s terrific! I think my husband reacted much the same way. He thought it was just another “pipe dream.” I had to show him. Once I began receiving those publishing contracts, he saw how happy that made me. Now he’s my biggest fan. So how about yours? Does he read your erotic stories?

A.F.

Until we got busy running a motel, hubby used to do all my proofreading for me before I sent a manuscript out. Now he doesn’t have as much time, but he still occasionally reads my work. Beyond a few raised eyebrows and wanting to know where I got certain ideas from, he’s been fantastic. In fact, he’s more than ready to help out with a bit of research. And it sure raised his status in our small town when it became known that his wife writes “those sexy books.”

A.C.

That’s another thing I can identify with. At first my husband said not to tell his work buddies about it. Now he brags about it and they think he has the “coolest wife ever.” Their words, not mine! How about your kids? Do they cringe at the idea like my daughter does?

A.F.

As far as my children go, my daughter reads and critiques all my work. Given she’s a published writer as well, her mother writing erotic romance didn’t throw her at all. Once she got over the idea that in her mind her mother wasn’t supposed to be interested in doing that any more, that is! My son was a different matter. He doesn’t have a problem with me writing erotic stories; he just doesn’t want to read them. And I’m not allowed to give any to his fiancée to read. I did that once and after she’d read it, she raced him off to the bedroom to try out the scenario from my book. My son said it was like having mom in the bedroom with him. My grandson is too young yet to have an opinion one way or the other, but you know, somehow I don’t think it will worry him to admit his nana writes sexy books.

A.C.

Isn’t it hilarious how our kids can’t stomach the idea of their parents having sex? Where do they think they came from, anyway? So were you always a ‘hot momma’ or did you have to learn about all the shenanigans that go on in our books?

A.F.

Early on, when I first started getting published in erotic romance, I decided I needed to re-educate myself so I had one of those sex parties at my motel. You know those party plan things where they sell anything from vibrators to sex swings? Originally, I just invited my staff, all female, all ages. There was so much laughter coming out of the conference room, the guests started wandering in. The women stayed. The men got tossed out and stood around outside the door wondering what they’d let themselves in for. One elderly gentleman came to reception the next morning and said he was coming back, but could we have another sex party when he and his wife were there because he’d had the best night of his life. Oh, I forgot to mention that this lady bought a copy of one of my print books and apparently read it out loud to hubby in bed.

A.C.

Isn’t that worth all the hard work you put into writing a book? I’ve been told my stories improved readers’ marriages and I treasure feedback like that! So how about your marriage? Has it resulted in certain fringe benefits?

A.F.

Do I reap the benefits from writing erotic romance? You bet. After 37 years together, it’s kind of cool to have this level of excitement in the bedroom. Whether it be research, or just fun and games… call it what you will, writing and reading these so-called “dirty” books does wonders for this 56 year-old granny.

A.C.

That’s wonderful, Alexis! I really appreciate your candor and wish you loads of success with your real career! It seems to be a calling and I know plenty of readers must be glad you answered the call!

A.F.

Ash, thank you for letting me tell my story. The readers can learn more about my books on my website at http://www.alexisfleming.net/.