Why and How Two Strangers Wrote a BDSM Erotic Romance From Opposite Sides Of The Globe
As some of you may know, the online writing community can be one of the most supportive ones out there. Thanks to hashtags on social media, it’s easy to find your little posse of like-minded people.
That’s how Amelia Foster and Deana Birch originally met, in a Twitter chat group of unpublished authors all struggling on their various paths. Their humor and snark made for an instant bond and kinship. They also found that their strengths were a great match—one a more emotional writer, with the ability to give all the feels, and the other a more technical one with a critical eye. Although, they are both IBP bandits who should be prosecuted and put behind writer bars. Please send their editor vats of chocolate with an endless supply of wine. She deserves it.
Their long-distant friendship (Amelia is on the East Coast and Deana lives in Europe) grew from group chats to direct messages and they’ve both played important roles in the other’s career forward motion. They hold each other’s virtual hands during submissions and hair while they puke from nerves of putting book babies into the world. They’ve skyped, they know about each other’s personal lives—TMI doesn’t exist between them—and they now consider themselves close friends.
But all of that warm fuzzy loveliness didn’t mean they should write a dang book together. What if the other one hated the ideas? Why would the put a friendship on the line to write a story that might not work? And why write in a genre that is already flooded?
The last question is actually what sparked the idea of writing together, because like many Romance authors, Amelia and Deana are also Romance readers. Whether they were reading the same book or just sharing snippets via chat, they both felt a responsible and honest take on an introduction to the BDSM lifestyle and a glimpse of the sacred trust between Dominant and submissive was lacking.
So instead of whining to each other about the problem, they decided to take matters into their own hands. That’s the perk of being readers and writers! One of the two had the general premise for the story of Luca and Claire and as soon as the other one hopped on board, LUCA’S LESSONS was conceived. It was important for them to develop an alpha male, with flaws, but who was not an angry ass. Equally vital was a strong female lead. That’s why they gave Claire ambition and success previous to meeting Luca.
So how did they do it?
They’ve often said between each other that Luca is magic. Not the character, the project in general. Although their real-life Luca inspiration has an Instagram account that could possibly birth its own religion filled with devout followers. If you are nice and offer them lots of enticing treats they may share this sacred information with you and you will be forever changed.
But back to the process. The entire book was written in less than two months. Never had either author had an easier time spitting out words. In fact, there were some days where Amelia would send a chapter, Deana would read it, then write the next one within hours. For a book with a word count at 75K, and a project that had to balance Amelia’s full-time day job and Deana’s endless odd jobs, it was no small feat.
They also had support, because they are wise enough now to know they need it. Authors Meka James—who has claimed Luca as her own—and the talented Evie Drae, were constant beta readers, devoting endless hours to critiquing, advising, appropriate amounts of encouraging gushing, and lots of real life and virtual hugs. It was a book writing factory, one that could probably not be replicated if they tried.
It was also a whirlwind. And by the end of two months they had a very solid first draft.
After some polishing and a few more trusted beta readers—all fellow romance authors—came on board, the love for Luca was as magical as the process of his creation. But then came the most terrifying step, sending Luca out into the world. Two relatively unproven writers whose story took place in a Zurich sex club? They didn’t like their chances.
But, more frightening than pressing send on the submissions, was when they received multiple offers for publication! The magic of Luca had spread. Put in the wonderfully unique position of being able to choose a publisher, Amelia and Deana decided on Totally Bound and they fell in love with their editor. Yes, that is a shameless attempt to try and appease their goddess editor who handles their faux pas with grace and understanding. And wine, in case that hasn’t been mentioned.
Their hope is for romance readers to find this story and see the beauty in the BDSM world—not just the sex and spankings… although those are rather delicious. To know that a male can very much be alpha without anger. To know that a submissive holds the true power and that there is always, always, a safeword.
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Amelia Foster:
Books, coffee, and chocolate make up both the heart and body mass that is better known as Amelia Foster. She has been a lifelong lover of the written word, both as a reader and an author, and completed her first manuscript at the ripe old age of five, complete with illustrations. Sadly, her art was a medium that never improved over time, although thankfully her writing has.
From sweet to salacious, the only requirement Amelia has in books she reads – and definitely in the ones she crafts – is an excessively satisfying happily ever after… and then a little bit more.
https://www.instagram.com/ameliafosterauthor/
https://twitter.com/afosterauthor
https://www.facebook.com/amelia.foster.1213986
https://ameliafosterauthor.com
Deana Birch:
Deana Birch was named after her father’s first love, who just so happened not to be her mother. Born and raised in the Midwest, she made stops in Los Angeles and New York before settling in Europe, where she lives with her own blue-eyed Happily Ever After. Her days are spent teaching yoga, playing tennis, ruining her children’s French homework, cleaning up dog vomit, writing her next book or reading someone else’s.
https://www.instagram.com/deanabirch/
https://twitter.com/DeanaBirch
https://www.facebook.com/deana.birch.14
LUCA’S LESSONS
FROM POPULAR ROMANCE AUTHORS DEANA BIRCH & AMELIA FOSTER
An Italian Dom guides a Swiss banker through the world of BDSM and she threatens his most important rule.
Sparked by curiosity and drawn by need, Swiss banker Claire asks Italian businessman Luca to introduce her to the D/s lifestyle. He agrees, as long as she abides by his number one rule of not falling in love. The two then embark on a slow, complete and realistic path of liberating Claire’s true submissive nature.
But as their lessons progress, blurred lines morph into a child’s scribbled drawing when feelings creep into their playtime. And with new emotions bubbling under the surface, Luca questions Claire’s hard no. She calls “red” and walks away, leaving the Dom sure he’s lost the one sub who finally saw his true desire to be cared for.
Now, certain she’s broken his only rule and torn by thoughts of betraying her dead husband, Claire must decide between exploring the love she’s found or locking away her heart with the ghosts of her past.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Lessons-Deana-Birch-ebook/dp/B07QV2NDTD
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/luca-s-lessons
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Deana_Birch_Luca_s_Lessons?id=uGOTDwAAQBAJ
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lucas-lessons-deana-birch/1131290100?ean=9781786864710
Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=70650
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45027479-luca-s-lessons?from_search=true
Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips
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