Author Taylor Hahn interviews THE LIFESTYLE’s Georgina and Nathan about their experience joining the NYC swingers’ scene
Authors Interviewing Characters
Author Taylor Hahn interviews THE LIFESTYLE’s Georgina and Nathan about their experience joining the NYC swingers’ scene
About the book:
THE LIFESTYLE follows Georgina Wagman’s adventure as she dives headfirst into New York City’s swinger scene in an attempt to save her marriage. Does she know what she’s in for? Spoiler: Not even close. Georgina soon finds herself lost in New York’s most elite sex clubs, role playing with Matthew McConaughey, and handcuffing a complete stranger to a bed post. But it’s not all fun and games: THE LIFESTYLE takes an intricate, thoughtful look at marriage, friendship, ambition, and the so-called “perfect” life, asking whether it’s okay to get wild and take risks in the pursuit of true happiness. It’s a romantic comedy with a twist!
Author Taylor Hahn interviews THE LIFESTYLE’s Georgina and Nathan about their experience joining the NYC swingers’ scene:
Taylor: Thanks for taking a few minutes to speak with me. I know you two are busy lawyers.
Georgina: This is way more fun than answering discovery requests, I guarantee it.
Nathan: I do have a meeting at three though, so . . .
Taylor: Right, of course. Let’s get started. A year ago, did you ever think you’d become a swinger?
Georgina: Ha! Absolutely not. I thought swingers were like Freudian fetishists and underground counter culturalists who wore black leather and chains and carried around whips and had really harsh bangs. I look like the class treasurer most days in my navy suit and flats, so no. (Laughs.) Didn’t exactly think I’d fit in.
Taylor: Were your expectations correct? Did you fit in?
Georgina: I was completely wrong. At my first party, I ended up with a guy who was wearing what I’m pretty sure was a hand-knitted sweater. I fit in perfectly (Hm, I think there’s a sex joke in there somewhere), and everyone we met was so friendly. Don’t you think?
Nathan: (Pauses.) They were fine.
Georgina: He’s just jealous because my ex-boyfriend was there.
Taylor: Where?
Georgina: When we decided to join the lifestyle, our friend Alina hooked us up with a group of swingers who invited us to join them. It turned out that my college ex-boyfriend—
Nathan: A serious boyfriend, not just some ex.
Georgina: —Was one of them. We saw him at the first party. It was . . . awkward.
Nathan: That’s one word for it.
Taylor: Had you stayed friends?
Georgina: We hadn’t spoken in thirteen years. Not since . . . I dumped him.
Taylor: Nathan, you don’t look thrilled.
Nathan: Would you have been?
Georgina: After what my husband did, I really don’t think he has a right to be mad. Do you?
Taylor: I’d rather not get in the middle. But let’s talk about that—is that why you joined the lifestyle? Because he cheated?
Georgina: Yes and no. It was the trigger, definitely. But I think we both realized that we didn’t have the most adventurous marriage, and maybe rekindling a flame between us would be a good thing.
Nathan: Not rekindling a flame. Setting fire to our entire life, you mean.
Georgina: (Shrugs.)
Nathan: I wanted to join the lifestyle because I knew something was missing, but I didn’t know what that was. I thought opening up our marriage to new possibilities might bring me the answer.
Taylor: Did it?
Nathan: In a lot of ways. In others, it made things much more complicated.
Taylor: Do you regret it?
Nathan: I regret a lot of my choices. I’m trying to be a better man.
Georgina: You’ve always been a good man, Nathan. Good men do really stupid things sometimes.
Taylor: What was the craziest thing you encountered as a swinger?
Nathan: The key party made me feel like I was in a 1970s disco movie.
Georgina: I have to say the time the hand-knitted sweater guy role-played a subway flasher while playing Janet Jackson, but the sex club with the space-themed room was pretty wild, too.
Taylor: What would you tell other couples who are interested in joining the lifestyle?
Georgina: I’m not sure there is any one thing I can say that will truly prepare someone for the experience, but a solid piece of advice would be to make sure you are on the same page. My friends and I all realized that we went into the lifestyle for different reasons, and we didn’t share those reasons with our partners. Secrets don’t work in the lifestyle. Everything needs to be out in the open. Metaphorically speaking.
Nathan: I’d say don’t put pressure on yourself. It’s overwhelming in the beginning, and it’s okay to admit you’re not ready. I think the expectation is that men just want sex, so we’ll be totally psyched about the chance to swing, but that’s not accurate. And if you’re nervous, you should admit it and give yourself a break.
Taylor: Are you going to keep going with the lifestyle or are you done?
Georgina: I think you can take the girl out of the lifestyle, but you can’t take the lifestyle out of the girl.
Nathan: I have no idea, but I can say that I’m not the vanilla boy from Kansas anymore.
Taylor: Looks like it’s almost three so you need to get to your meeting, Nathan. Wouldn’t want to get between you and a client. But any last words?
Nathan: Do you guys validate parking?
Georgina: I’ve been a pretty uptight and judgmental person my whole life. The lifestyle forced me to realize that. There are so many ways to find love and keep love, and none of us should judge others for how we find happiness. Maybe swinging isn’t for you, and that’s fine. But if it works for some people, who are you to judge? They’ve found a way to enjoy their relationship. As long as they are respecting each other’s boundaries, then good for them.
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TAYLOR HAHN is a writer and lawyer based in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University and Fordham University School of Law. The Lifestyle is her first novel. Visit her online at www.taylorhahn.com or find her on social media as @taylorsheahahn
Category: On Writing
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