Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well, I’m 30 years old and I live in Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie. I live with my disabled mom who I take care of, so my life is pretty narrow. I have several jobs as a nanny, driver, dominatrix, and ghostwriter. I also do very basic IT support for the elderly.
When I’m hanging out with friends, we’re usually playing retro games or EDH. When I’m alone, I actually watch a lot of wrestling. I miss Lucha Underground, but WWE seems to be building some good stories towards Wrestlemania. NXT and NJPW are always very good, and I’m really excited to see what AEW is capable of. If you ever get me talking about wrestling in real life, I can go for hours about storylines and booking.
I look at a lot of porn! I’m always looking for a new kink or inspiration. Sexuality has always fascinated me, and I love the feeling of being intensely aroused. Discovering a new exciting kink is like an adventure.
Other than that, I really enjoy casual Magic the Gathering, though I never seem to be able to find people interested in non-competitive formats.
In total I’ve written nine books. I’ve written two guides to human sexuality, three full-length erotic novels, and four erotic short story collections. Everything but the novels were written as part of ghostwriting contracts. All my erotic novels are set in a universe called World of Womencraft. The world is based heavily on a lot of MMORPG rules, but its filled with real people. All of the action so far takes place on a large island called Patriam. The island was once part of a larger continent but broke away thousands of years ago because of an all-powerful spell gone wrong. Patriam has a rich history filled with extinctions, mysterious races, and the rise and fall of powerful guilds that reigned over the country.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I just released The Little Goblin Girl at the end of January. It’s about a young goblin woman who is the victim of a hate crime and her push back against a government that wants to see her people removed from the city they live in. First and foremost it is a high fantasy novel. I love sex, so my characters have strong sexual relationships that are detailed in the story. Social justice always tugs at my heart, and each year it seems more relevant. This is just a book about a group of friends and lovers pushing back against injustice, and seeing how far their ideals can take them against systemic oppression.
I started writing The Goblin Girl Series after being deeply inspired by the erotic goblin art of Incase. I think many people in the know would argue Incase draws some of the most beautiful and arousing erotic art of our time. Their attention to detail is astounding, and his dedication to presenting each character with different genitals and levels of pubic hair make them a personal favorite of mine. Make no mistake, The Goblin Girl Series wouldn’t exist without Incase.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I guess just one. Before I sit down to write, I’ll go through all my social media and my Youtube recommendations. After viewing everything, only then will I start work. I feel this approach removes all distractions while I work. I generally try to write 1500-2000 words in a sitting. If I’m ghostwriting and need to go longer, I’ll take a break and snack and/or watch Youtube/Porn before diving back in.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
This may seem strange, but Tampa is the most memorable book I’ve read in the last decade. It’s a cross between American Psycho and Lolita where a female teacher stalks and grooms a male student for her sexual appetites. It doesn’t focus on the sex but the main character’s pathos in why she does what she does and what she thinks she’s capable of as a sociopath. It was such an evocative premise for a book, and I became completely immersed in the story. I would definitely like to see more books that challenge our pre-conceived notions about literature. I think with far too many books, we have a strong idea of what we’re getting into before we even start. Tampa definitely challenged me on what a plot and premise can do to grip you. I hope people feel the same about The Little Goblin Girl.
What are you working on now?
I’m beginning a series of short stories (erotic, of course) to better detail the history of World of Womencraft. Patriam has experienced vast and sweeping changes throughout its history, but you only get to briefly learn about a few of those through the dialogue in my books. As you read, you’ll hear about events like The Wrath, The Reckoning, The Age of Lords, and Ka Tuk’s fall to Ur that caused mass extinction. You’ll learn about the long dead races like elves, vampires, and manani, but you don’t get to learn enough about their culture and how it shaped Patriam for hundreds of years.
I think one of the best things you can do as a fantasy writer is to completely flesh out your world so dedicated readers can immerse themselves in it. I’ve written a complete class hierarchy for World of Womencraft, and a brief Geography/History, but there’s so much more I can do to get the world across to my readers.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I feel like Patreon has allowed me to succeed as a writer. Through the financial support of my patrons, as well as their feedback, I definitely found the motivation to finish two of my novels that I had previously struggled to finish. It’s not enough to live on yet, but when people are donating money to you, you definitely feel the obligation to deliver them content.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re just starting, absolutely learn grammar and formatting. If you want others to take your work seriously, learn how to write sentences perfectly. Eventually you’ll reach a point where you don’t even have to think about it, but bad grammar and spelling will absolutely turn people off of your work.
Hold the course. Too many establish writers try to tell people how to write and they don’t remember what it was like to not be good at it or not be paid for it. I’ve gone months without writing. Like just straight up months. The push and support from my patrons definitely helped me get back into the swing of things. It’s never too late to start the book up again. There’s always a way to resolve the plot organically. Don’t give up because you haven’t touched your book in a week, or a month, or even years. You are never younger than you are right now.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Rip and tear until it is done
What are you reading now?
I’m reading a book called Sadie by Courtney Summers. It’s about this teenage adult who is hunting the man who killed her sister, and half the story is told as a true crime podcast. It’s not a bad book. Summers clearly understands how to write quality prose. There’s a grit and punchiness to Sadie’s perspective that I haven’t seen other writers replicate. I’m really picky about books though. I need a blistering pace and lovable characters to carry me through a story. I feel like that’s what I accomplished with The Little Goblin Girl.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Ideally, I make enough money through Patreon and Amazon to establish my only writing sphere where I can write about whatever I want. Some people might think The Little Goblin Girl is hardcore as a piece of erotica, but I want to explore more taboo themes if possible. For now, I’m still approaching agents with my query letters. I hope that my placement in Sex and Sorcery and my willingness to self market inspires agents to take a look at me.
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?
The Complete Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
This is the true fantasy epic. The scale and art and characterizations are unparalleled. Absolutely read this book, even if you have seen the movie.
The Gunslinger
Probably my favorite book. The world Stephen King is slowly creating in the first book is inspiring. I wanted to know so much more about Mid World. He doesn’t write like this anymore, and it’s a shame.
Autobiography of Red
I need to read this book again. This is singlehandedly the best collection of poetry by a single poet. The imagery in this book will absolutely stun you, and it has taught me that I don’t know the first thing about descriptive phrasing.
Author Websites and Profiles
Illy Hymen Website
Illy Hymen Amazon Profile