The sexual journey: Exploring erotica with Kathy Kulig, Part 2

This is the conclusion of Kathryn Craft's interview with erotica author Kathy Kulig. Click here for Kathy's bio and Part One.

Kathryn Craft: You write under your own name; others take on pen names. What went into this decision, for you?

Kathy Kulig: Writers use pen names for different reasons. Some say if you write erotic romance it’s a good idea to use a pen name for privacy. For me, Kathy Kulig is my real name. I liked that it was short, easy to say and spell. I’d caution about using cutesy names or over obvious pen names like D.D. Stiletto or Raven Maniac. Or names close to well known authors like Stephen R. King, Norah Roberts, JK Rowling, etc.

Kathryn: You know everyone's dying to ask: do you research all of the, um, situations in your novels to make sure they're workable?

Kathy: My husband would love it if I said, “YES!” But you don’t need to commit a murder to write about it. You don’t need to be an FBI agent, a spy, an astronaut, an alien, etc. to write about them. The same is true for writing sexual situations or alternative lifestyles. You research what you can and make up the rest. It’s fiction.

Kathryn: What is some of the best feedback you've gotten from your readers?

Kathy: A reader asked if Dante, an antagonist in one of my books, would get together with the heroine in a future book. That was a storyline I hadn’t considered. I’d have to redeem this character. A redemption story is a powerful theme. Dante becomes the hero in book three.

Kathryn: Can you leave us with one PG-rated tip for writing great sex scenes--maybe the one that was least obvious to you when you first started out?

Kathy: Dig deep into character emotions and old wounds. As the characters come together in moments of sexual intimacy, their vulnerabilities will be revealed. These are the situations and characters your readers will fall in love with.

Thanks for ending our romance month with an expert's view, Kathy! You can visit Kathy Kulig at KathyKulig.com  or TheLustyView.com.

Kathryn Craft is a developmental editor at Writing-Partner.com, an independent manuscript evaluation and line editing service, and the author of The Art of Falling, a novel by Sourcebooks. Her monthly series, "Turning Whine into Gold," appears at Writers in the Storm. Connect with Kathryn at her Facebook Author Page and Twitter.