Breanna Hayse
Golden Flogger Award nominee

Why did you begin writing BDSM novels?
I started writing to assist my patients in understanding certain behaviors and thought processes, especially when related to the BDSM dynamic. That continues to be my focus- every story has a lesson and something applicable to use in daily life and with different social, emotional and relational challenges. My first professional BDSM publication was in the spring of 2012 (The Game Plan), a novel based on the reality of age-play and the introduction to the mindset. You can see the phenomenon that it produced! Yikes! Since then, I’ve written over 50 titles and have a list of over 280 more. That should keep me out of trouble for while, don’t you think? Can we say workaholic?

Do you participate in D/s activities or merely write about them?
I live in a full time DS relationship with my husband and serve as his submissive. I also partner with him as a Switch/Mommy Domme with a group of special subbies who have become part of our family. Our mission as a team is to encourage happy and healthy relationships, strong marriages, and train both submissive and dominants in the different components of the lifestyle- emphasizing safety, communication and accountability. I am also (but not masochistically) insistent on personally acting through the majority of my consensual scenes prior to putting them on paper. It is in this manner that I can accurately communicate the feelings, thoughts and emotions as a direct resource.

Where did you get your information on this lifestyle?
I’ve been involved since my late teens (and started lying about my age). I was formally trained as a service Domme and then was introduced to the submissive/Age-play lifestyle during my overseas tour in the USMC. When I met John, I was trained and collared as a slave (which I suck at, just so you know), but it allowed me to experience all the levels of the lifestyle. I now serve as a switch and still in a constant state of learning and growing.

What does being nominated for the Golden Flogger Award mean to you?
I’m beyond excited and honored that my books have touched the lives of people enough for them to say anything! My fans are everything to me, and if I can give them something to hang onto and provide hope and direction, I will do that. I’m also thrilled that there is a group such as yours that seriously considers the impact of a lifestyler author vs a fantasy writer. If you look at the odds of erotica and BDSM writing, there really isn’t a lot of us, so it’s very uplifting that we are being acknowledged. The receipt of a community recognized award like this also provides the opportunity to educate and perhaps dispel the myths and alleviate the fears of people who are truly curious.

Do you conduct any advocacy work in this lifestyle or is it strictly fiction base for you? If so, what?
My entire life is focused on lifestyle advocacy. Besides the work that John (my husband/Dom) and I do together in training and educating fans, singles and couples in the lifestyle, I also work pro bono as a private and group therapist for those struggling with lifestyle related issues and relationships. There is nothing fictional about my life (except my weight and age!)

Where would you like to see the BDSM genre head? How will it get there?
Like anything else out of the perceived ‘norm’, I would like to see this lifestyle be accepted without legal discrimination. With morality clauses, legalities and whatnot, people hide their lives and desires in fear of being outted. This type of fear allows for too much power in a society where free speech is supposedly exercised (look how long it took for the gay community to come out of the closet)! With education regarding the benefit of a consensual and healthy lifestyle choice, and responsible representation by those who live the dynamic, I believe public acknowledgement and understanding will come in time. That will not occur if we are forced to stay hidden or if who we are is distorted.

My pet peeve is when I see/read non-lifestylers who have not researched (or even support the dynamic) write about it publically with no substance, and newbies believe them (the community use the term Fifty Shaders, lol). It grieves me when the same individuals disrespect it on FB pages, in groups and to people’s faces. That taints who we are and what we do.
My lifestyle does not exist so that people can make a quick buck, nor is it a circus show to entertain. It is real and as seriously embraced and protected as my marriage. Because of this, I feel it’s important that anyone who writes about BDSM, regardless of the level, understand that they are talking about real people and choices when they present a fictional piece. It’s much like the LBGT and Christian community- don’t’ write about it if you are against it or are unwilling to put the time and effort into learning about it.

What is the hardest part of writing your novel?
The hardest part is writing scenes—seriously, how many different ways are there to write a spanking event or a blow job? Oy! I’m very big on originality, so I do my best to go to places that I’ve not seen others do, including erotic horror (although I HAVE to have a HEA!). I also have learned to listen to the reviewers and avoid the things that make people overtly uncomfortable. I go to lengths to explain, either through dialogue or narrative, the hows and whys of what is occurring. It’s difficult not to parrot yourself as time goes on.

Tell us a little about yourself and your writing works.
For the most part, everything I write is either from personal experience, inspired by real people/events, or reflections of friends in the scene and their adventures. As a therapist, my purpose in writing is to help people grasp the different concepts of life and ways to work around them in a way that diverts from the textbook lectures. Because of that, several of my books are now being used in BDSM based therapy/lifestyle discussion groups. I challenge myself constantly and never settle for the cookie-cutter plot line. I also have an inspiration cabinet and wall- trinkets that I use in each story that are palpable- and the wall grows as my fans find new and unusual items that might prove to inspire my next piece.

Will you be attending BDSM Writers Con or other events we can meet you at?
I would love to! I’m in southern California, so please let me know when you are around this area !!! I will also be at the Blushing Books Conference in Vegas just prior to Romantic Times.

A little about Breanna:
Multi-genre author of over 48 titles and Number #1 Best Seller in the categories of BDSM, Western, Victorian, Historical, Horror, and Sci Fi Erotica, Breanna Hayse strives to give her readers truth and reality of the BDSM/Age-Play/Total Power Exchange lifestyle.
Background:

A native Californian gone ‘wild’, Bree was gifted with the opportunity to travel the globe and discover the world through the eyes of both a Marine Intelligence specialist and a BDSM lifestyler. This experience has allowed her to gain unique inspiration for her books and provide realistic plots and characters that her readers can easily relate to and learn from.
She left the service to go into hospice nursing and grief counseling, eventually working as a marriage and family therapist for those involved in alternative lifestyle development. In 2004, Bree and John joined forces to work with both submissives and dominants- teaching, training, listening and loving. Their goal: take the mystery and fear out of the lifestyle and mentor people in safe, consensual and exciting relationships.

Her first book, Game Plan (AKA Cassie’s New Plan) was published in 2012 by Blushing Books and opened the door to the world of Age-Play literature. In April 2014, after publishing well over twenty-five best-selling books, the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself. Bree began to write full time for Blushing Book Publications, giving her the chance to devote all her energy to writing, researching, community involvement, and continuing with private and group pro bono counselling in deviant behavior, alternative lifestyle, and addiction recovery.

The Lifestyle:
Bree is a full switch (acting in both an active dominant and submissive role) and her scenarios are pulled primarily from either personal experience or observation. She openly admits to being a ‘workaholic’ as seen by multiple college degrees in science and psychology, including an MA in psychology with specialties in deviant behavior and sexology. Her multi-faceted background allows her to glean from many avenues and provide a unique and intelligent literary experience through elements of fantasy and fiction. She also addresses the questions and psychology of the lifestyle in a manner that is fun and informative, and based on ‘the real deal’. If asked, she will tell you three things that summarize the seriousness in which she embraces her lifestyle.

“I don’t do drama, I don’t do cheating (except for miniature golf), and I don’t do fake.”
Guardian Domination is the discovery of Breanna’s inner submissive and subsequent training. Except for the obvious ‘artistic details’, the scenarios are real. In it, as with all her books, she communicates this: D&S is more than spanking, it is a way to true freedom and a healthy, happy, trusting relationship.

She lives with her husband, musician and author John Hayse, and two border collies in southern California. Bree and John live in a 24/7 D&S relationship with speckles of AP, and happily spend every moment together that they can. Her hobbies include her puppies, hiding her vanilla salt-water taffy where John can’t find it, exotic art, collecting inspiration trinkets, and developing her own paddle line.  Write to her breannahayse@gmail.com