Paris De Luca: On Phone Sex and Chocolate
Dark Horse Publishing takes a break with Paris De Luca to discuss her erotic romance series, A Part of Me and You smoldering on Amazon shelves for the next 12 months.
DHP: So, Paris, you write erotica.
PDL: I do.
DHP: You're writing is intense. Have you ever been shy about anything in your life?
PDL: Not really! (Laughs)
DHP: Your stories are incredibly erotic, like cold-shower worthy. How do you do it?
In order to have really great sex characters need to have really great chemistry.
PDL: I feel like in order to have really great sex characters need to have really great chemistry. So, I've pushed the envelop to bring to the readers more than just sex in these books. I feel the characters have soul and it's their personality making the sex so good.
DHP: We spoke about this before, but you don't categorize your books as erotica, correct?
PDL: Right, I think they're romances. I think sex is a part of the courtship dance and even if stories tend to focus on sex, or at least provide a more graphic visualization of it, it doesn't negate they're romances. In my opinion, it's just a more complete intimate portrayal.
DHP: True. So what can you tell us about your series of books, A Part of Me and You?
PDL: The two main characters are Blair and Whitney. They're both very complex people with their own dreams and aspirations who happen to meet and over the course of the series grow closer and learn more about one another. We get to watch their relationship develop through their experiences both in and out of the bedroom.
DHP: Why 12 books?
PDL: So, part of this is drawn from the idea of studying what happens in a relationship over the course of a year. I majored in sociology, so the study of human behavior is a passion of mine and I like exploring it in a controlled environment.
DHP: Are Blair and Whitney based off anyone in your life specifically?
PDL: I think Blair and Whitney are both a little bit of me, and a little of my girlfriend. I think they also represent an ideal that we as people strive for. They grow, they change, and yet they keep coming back to one another. I think we all yearn for the freedom to become our best selves. I also like characters that are deeply flawed, but are generally good. I think it makes writing and reading more interesting when you can relate to people who are human.
DHP: Are you saying we're all deeply flawed?
PDL: If we weren't, we wouldn't be people.
DHP: So, how did you get started writing erotica?
In long distance relationships [...] you get good at creatively expressing your wants and desires
PDL: Honestly, I was in a long distance relationship for two years. You get really good at creatively expressing your wants and desires for someone when you only have words. I have to credit that relationship with helping me grow a lot of my ability to write and express myself in general. I don't think I was able to communicate effectively before it.
DHP: I see that Blair and Whitney have some time where they're apart. Is that an homage to your long-distance relationship?
PDL: A little, but I wanted to make the sex in the story as dynamic as I could, so I thought a little bit of phone sex would be fun.
DHP: (laughter) Agreed. So, we're 2 books into the series (2 that have been released, and 1 pending) and already I have a feeling that Whitney is falling for Blair. Is Blair in the same head space?
PDL: I think Blair is more hesitant than Whitney. As the series progresses we uncover more about Blair's past which will give color to why she is the way she is. In the end, I think Blair probably feels the same, but can't 'go there' like Whitney does.
DHP: So what do readers have to look forward to in future books of A Part of Me and You?
PDL: Oh, I'm not sure what to say. They'll be going on a trip to Maui, and probably head to Whitney's favorite restaurants. I'm sure they will spend time getting to know one another's backstory. I think I'd like to explore some fun, lighthearted sex scenes in the next few books.
DHP: Lighthearted? As in playful?
PDL: Yeah, I think it's going to be fun.
DHP: Can there be chocolate involved?
PDL: I hear Whitney is a chocoholic, so there's a pretty good chance.