Ashe Barker
BDSM Writers Con 2016
Golden Flogger Award nominee
Why did you begin writing BDSM novels?
I wrote my first book around three years ago, and never took a conscious decision to become an erotic or BDSM writer. It just happened, and seemed the absolute right thing for me. I simply couldn’t have written anything else, and so far all my books have featured the D/s theme. For me the most fascinating aspect of a BDSM relationship is the psychology of it, the trust required, the sense of adventure and self-discovery, maybe tinged with being just a bit scared. My stories tend to reflect the building of that trust and empathy, and see it played out as the Dom/sub dynamic blossoms
Where did you get your information on this lifestyle?
Some of what I write is based on personal experience, but my own adventures would make for dull reading by and large. I read a lot, and I do mean A LOT, of BDSM fiction, and have done so for many years. Maybe those preferences were my original inspiration when the writing bug bit, but when I got down to seriously planning my first book I felt somewhat under-informed. I said as much to a friend of mine as we had lunch at Nando’s and she simply advised me to go online. It would all be there, in glorious technicolour. She was right, it was, and suffice it to say my internet browsing history since then is a scandal. I could get arrested. Certainly it’s not the sort of thing to mention down at the church social.
For the first few weeks I didn’t tell anyone that I was writing, let alone what the subject matter was. I often had to slam my laptop shut when my husband or daughter came into the room. These days I’m out and proud, as we tend to say in my sort of circles, so the issue arises far less. Even my mother knows what I get up to (well, the bits I decide to share).
What does being nominated for the Golden Flogger Award mean to you?
My goodness, what an honour! I find myself in awesome company. Many of the other nominees are authors I consider to be my friends and whose work I respect so much. Whoever wins, the awards will be going to great homes.
For me, the Golder Flogger Award nomination is a validation, reassuring me that what I write is of decent quality, and enjoyed by readers. I try to write the sort of stories I like to read, I expect many authors do, but the Golder Flogger Award is a stamp of approval from the industry. Writing is my passion, I do it because I love it, and I’d continue writing even if no one ever read my stuff. Wider recognition tells me I’m getting at least some of it right and encourages me to carry on telling my stories.
What is the hardest part of writing your novel?
I usually start a story with a real head of steam. I tend to have the opening scenes already quite well developed in my head, some fairly concrete idea of the dynamic between my two main characters, and the situation they find themselves in. I also know where I want to end up, namely with some crisis resolved, the relationship solid, and my beloved characters safely ensconced in their HEA. The bit in the middle is the problem and I often find this section the most difficult to write. I rarely plan my stories in any depth. I prefer to sit at the computer, re-read the last few pages, and take it from there.
What was the inspiration for Red Skye at Night?
The book is set in the Highlands of Scotland, one of my favourite locations. The idea was born when I went there on holiday a couple of years ago now, and saw so many deserted crofts scattered about. It got me thinking about a way of life now almost extinct, and of the people who fought to drag a living out of such a wild landscape. Of course, being me I had to incorporate the BDSM element, and I think it works well in such an austere setting.
Tell us a little about yourself and your writing works.
I live in the north of England with my husband, teenage daughter, two dogs and a grumpy cockatiel. My home is right in the heart of the West Yorkshire moors, the same area so beloved by the Brontë sisters almost two centuries ago. The moors haven’t changed that much, with the exception of the odd reservoir or wind turbine here or there perhaps. Like the Brontës I tend to incorporate the local landscape into my books. It’s almost like an additional main chara
Whilst I do have other work, writing is my main occupation and I treat is very much as my day job. I work from home, which I love. The rest of the family disappear off to work or school, and I have the house to myself so can spread out my laptop on the kitchen table and lose myself in smutty imaginings. I count myself very lucky to be making a living doing the thing I love most
I’ve been an avid reader of fiction for many years, erotic and other genres. I still love reading, the hotter the better. But now I have a good excuse for my guilty pleasure – research.
I tend to draw on my own experience to lend colour, detail and realism to my plots and characters. An incident here, a chance remark there, a bizarre event or quirky character, any of these can spark a story idea.
When not writing – which is not very often these days – my time is divided between my role as resident taxi driver for my teenage daughter, and caring for a menagerie of dogs, tortoises. And a very grumpy cockatiel.
I have around thirty titles on general release, with publishers on both sides of the Atlantic, and several more in the pipeline. All my books feature BDSM. I write explicit stories, always hot, but they offer far more than just sizzling sex. I like to read about complex characters, and compelling plots, so that’s what I write too. Strong, demanding Doms are a given, often paired with new submissives who have a lot to learn.
I love to hear from readers. You can find me on my blog, and on the Totally Bound site. I’m on Facebook, and twitter and now on Tsu as well. I’m on Pinterest too, and Goodreads