RedHotRomance

No. Erotic romance is definitely not porn. Sometimes I feel as if I need to get that tattooed on my forehead. There's a difference as wide as the Grand Canyon between the two, though I guess in the minds of many, anything with a graphic sex scene is pornographic. It's all terribly subjective, the way we perceive an intricately woven sex scene in an erotic romance. Yes, as an author I want it to be arousing, but not merely for the sake of titillation. I don't write "stroke" stories. I want my words to arouse my reader's senses--and I do mean all of them. If I can't write my scenes clearly enough that my reader feels the heat, recognizes the smells, hears the sounds and sees the things that excite them, then I haven't done my job. I want a visceral reaction to my writing, whether it's a sex scene, a fight, a sorrowful good-bye or a joyful reunion. It's not an easy thing to do and I don't always get it right, but I try damned hard. When I tell people I write erotic romance and they reply with something that tells me they think what I write is pornographic, I let them know that's an insult. Porn doesn't have passion, it doesn't reach for the emotions that can often be almost painful to experience. It lacks the depth of sensual feeling that good erotica explores in words. I've been asked to write an article about the difference between pornography and erotic romance. I'd love to hear what you think. Please write to me at kate@katedouglas.com and give me your observations. I really want to know how others explain themselves when this question comes up, which it always seems to do when someone says, "And what do you write?" I really look forward to your comments.