Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I write erotic fiction around the power dynamic of female domination and have seventeen published books to my name. Three of these are short story collections, and fourteen of them novels in my “Mistress” series. I am always at pains to emphasize that each of my “Mistress” novels stands alone, with an entirely different cast of characters etc, so they can be read in any order. There a common theme that runs through all the books though, which is that the male protagonist is invariably conflicted in some way. It is that inner conflict that creates the tension that drives the plot.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Lessons from the Mistress”.
With this one I set myself the challenge of limiting the cast of characters to only three but still making the book a fast paced page-turner that will keep the reader gripped to the very end.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The one that springs to mind is the way I constantly surprise myself while I’m writing the books. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve got to the end of a chapter I’ve just written and thought, “Well, I didn’t expect that to happen.” It’s weird because it’s come out of my head. You think I’d know what was coming. I believe readers somehow pick up on that element of surprise and it adds to their enjoyment of the stories.
A compliment I’ve received quite a few times is that the reader found it difficult to put the book down and didn’t want it to end. I can’t think of much higher praise for a book than that and I love it when my work connects with readers in that way. It’s great to give so much pleasure to people and that is a strong motivator to me as a writer.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I am a big thriller fan both of earlier authors like Jim Thompson, John D. MacDonald and Elmore Leonard and some of the current crop like Mick Herron, Peter Swanson and Karin Slaughter.
What are you working on now?
The next novel in my ongoing “Mistress” series
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
carasutra.com have always been very supportive of the books
There’s been a promotional video about the “Mistress” series too
https://carasutra.com/2014/07/erotic-book-news-watch-alex-jordaines-mistress-series-video-plus-free-copy-of-mistress-severity-for-everyone/
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to write well and with real conviction it’s a good rule of thumb to write about something you both know and are passionate about. In my case that’s Femdom and BDSM. That’s why I chose the genre of Femdom erotica when I started writing. I’ve stuck with it ever since because I’ve found it works so well for me as a story teller: all those strict rules, all that seething emotion and sexuality. Something’s got to give and when it does the story kicks in with a vengeance.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
As a writer it is to always remember my audience. And I always do. The audience for my “Mistress” books are by definition interested in Femdom and BDSM, want characters and a story they can really engage with, and most importantly want to be turned on by what they’re reading. I try hard not to let them down and every one of my books is as good as I can possibly make it.
One of the first reviews I received for my work described it as a BDSM lover’s dream and gave it a, quote, multiple O’s rating. I aim to have the same effect on my readers with every “Mistress” book I write. That’s not however to suggest that the stories shy away from dark emotions. Loneliness, loss, despair, deceit, regret, trauma, you name it. They’re all to be found in the books but explored in a way that I hope adds to the eroticism of the stories rather than detracting from it. This is because, as I say, I always remember my audience and what they’re looking for from their read.
What are you reading now?
“The Good Daughter” by Karin Slaughter
What’s next for you as a writer?
I shall keep on writing my “Mistress” novels. They are not for the fainthearted, it’s true. And that is unavoidable, I’m afraid. It’s not a problem as I see it though, because it goes with the territory. They are very much niche fiction, after all, and are explicitly marketed as such. They are aimed at readers who have an appreciation of the dynamics of BDSM: the passion and intensity of the power exchange, the endorphin high of the pleasure-pain, the almost tantric nature of the sex involved, and above all the trust that’s such a vitally important part of it all. Also, although my “Mistress” novels are full of graphic discipline, bondage and domination, they’re essentially love stories. They explore the redemptive power of love and celebrate women.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“A Purple Place for Dying” and “The Deep Blue Goodbye” by John D. MacDonald, and “Get Shorty” by Elmore Leonard
Author Websites and Profiles
Alex Jordaine Amazon Profile
Alex Jordaine Author Profile on Smashwords
Alex Jordaine’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile