I have been writing my whole life. I wrote a lot of poetry and short stories for fun as a teen, but I’ve been writing as a career for about 5 ½ years. I started out in a completely different genre, but have been writing erotic works for about 2 years.
2. What takes you from the spark of an idea to actually contacting a publisher?
Well every writer has their own little rituals and habits but for me it usually goes:
*Come up with an idea
*Grab out my spiral notebook and jot down everything that I can think of that could happen in it.
*Write a blurb to get an idea for how I would like the big picture to go
*Outline (sometimes in great detail sometimes not so much)
*Write my first draft which usually looks nothing like my outline because my characters never want to do what I want them to do. They usually throw me curve balls that make me have to rethink everything.
*Edit… Edit… Edit…
*Edit… Edit… Edit some more
*Write a query and send it off to publishers I have researched that I think my story would be a good fit for.
3. In your website bio (www.LexiDubois.com) you mention that your husband’s dare to write hotter than hot fiction is what directed your path toward taboo fiction. Can you recap the scene of that conversation with us?
Ha. This was an interesting convo for sure.
So I was pretty jaded at the publishing industry a few years ago. I had written several novels in a different genre that weren’t going anywhere, and I was so stressed out that I would never be a professional writer. A group on my online writing friends had started writing erotica just for fun because they needed a break. I remember thinking they were crazy. That night, I mentioned what they were doing to my husband. And instead of saying, “Oh baby, that’s cool.” He laughed at me. He said something like “Oh wow, you could never do that.”
Now, not to make him sound like a jerk or anything, but that’s what happened, and if you knew me personally you would have done the same thing.
Well the fact that he told me I couldn’t do it, made me dig my heels in. We went back and forth on whether I could do it, and then he dared me. I decided that I was going to do it, just to prove that I could. I never thought that I would write another one, let alone start an erotica career lol. Because of him, I discovered that I could not only write erotica but that I was good at it and loved writing it. I honestly owe my career to my husband.
4. Any new dares your husband has set your sights on?
He actually doesn’t dare me anymore, because I think he’s in shock at my story ideas and themes now lol.
5. What inspired Willingly Taken by the Group?
Well, I have always loved writing about taboo subjects, and I had only written a ménage a trio themed book, and I wanted to see if I could keep up with a group sex story as well.
6. Now that you’ve stepped into taboo, will you keep writing in your other genres (I won’t ask what they are for privacy, but we’re all dying to know)?
Actually all of my erotica stories have been taboo. I had a MFF themed novella come out first, a short story about anal masturbation on a webcam, and now a group sex short story. I will always keep writing erotica. It is so much fun to write. I used to write teen novels. Those were fun, but erotica is definitely my niche.
7. What’s next on your release schedule?
Willingly Taken by the Group has a second part coming out. Release date is not set yet, but I’m excited to see how everyone likes where I’ve taken the sequel.
8. Do you have a taboo that intrigues you most? One that tickles your curiosity to either explore or write about?
Oh wow. This one is so hard. There are so many taboo subjects that intrigue me. I enjoy writing about MFF partnerships and BDSM the most. Many people can relate to these type stories, and I love giving them what they want.
9. Willingly Taken by the Group earned a five star review! How does it feel? (share the link?)
The five star review felt amazing and it’s also always very humbling! I’ve found writing about taboo subjects, there are usually just extremes with my reviews. They either love it, or they think I’m over the top. Writing is hard work, and seeing that people love it makes it all worth it.
Click here to see the review
10. Is there anything you want your fans to know about you?
Well, I’m actually a really shy person in real life, but when I write I tend to be over the top and push boundaries.
If they want to stay updated on my works, they can sign up for my newsletter on my website www.lexidubois.com
Lexi, thank you so much for taking the time to share yourself with us. You're funny, talented and I know I'm not the only one who can't wait to see more.