Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Should you or should you not let your family read your smut?

Ah, the eternal question. I am an open book. I have no secrets. Everyone that knows me knows everything about me. Even people that don't know me, within five minutes of knowing me, know most everything about me. At least the important stuff.

Which brings us to today's topic. Smut! :D I've been writing smut for a longgggg time. Certain members of my family are aware of this, but it didn't really become a HOT topic until my debut release. Blind Faith, my erotic romance novelette, released at the end of July this year. I had no intention of hiding it from my family until I recalled the day my great uncle had a near-heart attack after learning my first ever email address had the word 'sexy' in it. I thought, "Hmm. Maybe we should keep this on the down-low, at least for the older, more delicate generation."

But keeping a secret in this family is next to impossible. As my release date rapidly approached, my mother went into fits. She made me promise to refer to my writing as 'steamy romance' and to never again use the term 'smut'. Okay, Mom. Smut, smut, SMUT. :P

I was amazed and thrilled at the outpouring of support from friends, fellow authors, and smut lovers everywhere when BF released. The coolest part was having a copy of my own book on my Kindle. The not coolest part was having my mom discover my Kindle copy and demand to read it. When I hesitated, she rationalized by saying that if she knew how "steamy" it was, she would then be able to inform other relatives to either stay far, far away, or to read with caution (and increase their Viagra supply). 

So I let her read it. In the van. On the way to picking up my grandparents for a drive in the country. She was silent the entire time. Freaked me out a bit. Then my grandma sat in the seat next to her and Mom handed the Kindle over. Grandma laughed all the way through it. Okay then. I didn't realize it was a comedy. Though their reactions were quite different, both agreed that the writing was very impressive, they thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, and they loved the characters. But I think my grandma is scarred for life. Oh well. At least she knows the modern lingo for a roll in the hay. 

A few weeks ago my brother and his new fiancee came to my parents' house for a visit. His fiancee purchased Blind Faith while they were there, then she proceeded to read it in another room. Next thing I knew, she and my brother disappeared into his old bedroom, and when they emerged close to an hour later, they looked a little happier and a lot more dishevelled. I wasn't sure whether to be disturbed beyond belief or proud in my ability to cause sexy times. I settled for half disturbed, half proud.

Since then I've learned that at least three couples in my family have had sexy times after reading Blind Faith. Some of my male relatives are hugging me longer now. My aunt asked me how the porn writing was going. Am I laughing or crying? I don't even know anymore. 

So, my question to all you fine people, should you or should you not allow your family to read your smut? 

:) :( ;) :D :-/ :x :P :-* =(( :-0 X( :7 B-) #:-S :(( :)) =)) :-B :-c :)] ~x( :-h I-) =D7 @-) :-w 7:P 2):) :!! \m/ :-q :-bd ^#(^

8 comments:

  1. My mind is a scarry place and I'm thinking to myself, which three couples?
    I don't even tell my family I read smut. I say I am reading romance novels.

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    1. LOL! Cousins, mainly. ;) I stopped trying to hide what I was reading after I accidentally left a smutty book with an extremely provocative cover in the bathroom at my parents' house. Thanks for chiming in, Laurie!

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  2. You know I believe in the separation of Mom and smut. It's almost as sacred to me as the separation of church and state. Excellent post!

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    1. Yes, I heard this about you. lol. Nothing shocks my mom anymore where I'm concerned. O:-) Thank you for stopping by, Margaret!

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  3. I'm pretty sure my mother doesn't even think I swear. (As an aside: Neither did my son. I told a story a few years back that involved the word 'bitch,' I believe. He turned and looked at me in shock. "I didn't even think you knew that word!" he said, equally awed and repulsed.I told him I knew lots of words!) Anyway, if my almost 89-year-old mother knew what I was reading...Let's just say it wouldn't be good. But I think this issue is a generational thing. My own daughter, who is of yours, doesn't think twice about putting things 'out there' where she knows there's a good chance that I'll see them. And we discuss certain things as equals, such as the tremendous job various actors did on the TV show Lost, especially several who did their best work with their blue shirts hanging open over their chests. So times change. And...I'd love to meet your Grandma!

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    1. I love that your son was shocked you knew the word 'bitch'. :D It's definitely a generation thing. We discussed this at length after Mom and Grandma finished reading BF. Mom and I are much more comfortable talking about good looking men and the things we want to do to them. ;) My Grandma is an amazing woman. I would love for you to meet her too! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Carol!!

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  4. I read Blind Faith and loved it. And I haven't forgotten about writing a review! I don't write 'steamy romance' yet; I just read it in secret, hehe. But I think I would have a heart attack if anyone in my family knew or read any of my writing, especially if it was my grandma. Oh, goodness... I would never hear the end of it. She would blame my parents for raising such a wicked daughter. X_X

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    1. YAYYY! I'm so happy you loved Blind Faith! Ha! My grandma knows that what I write and who I am are two very different people, but I happen to think she enjoys my saucy side. :D Thank you so much for weighing in, Lanise! If you ever DO write a 'steamy romance', I'll be the first one in line to get a copy!

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