We are so excited to welcome back Kestra Gravier to BWCon 2015. Kestra’s book, Silver Chasings won our inaugural BDSM Book Contest, and this year, she is a co-presenter with Dr. Charley for the Workshop ‘Reality Bites: When Scenes Go Sideways.’

What brought you to BDSM Writers Con (BWCon) 2014?
I was looking for a temptation to help me achieve some nutrition and exercise goals I had set for myself. The combination of Joey W. Hill as keynote speaker and the convention in NYC, one of my favorite places in all the world—well, it was too good to resist. The minute I hit my goals, I signed up and booked the hotel.

What prompted you to enter the BDSM Book Contest?
I had some success a few years back with two previous books, Encounters and Dark River: Lady Elinor at Hampton Court. But then life intervened and writing fell by the wayside, although I had numerous notes on ideas for stories, scenes written and character sketches that I created in odd moments.

When I saw the book contest, it inspired me to write again. Although the inspiration didn’t trump my procrastination gene. So two weeks from the deadline, I had a concept and a disorganized outline. I decided to go for it, and wrote and revised madly over the two weeks of long working days, and sent my manuscript in just under the wire.

Silver Chasings will be released March 31, 2015.

Silver Chasings wasn’t the only piece you wrote for BDSM Writers Con, was it?
That’s correct. In my burst of writing frenzy, I also rewrote a short story originally created as a Valentine’s Day gift for a sci-fi fan. Point of No Return was accepted into the anthology published by Riverdale Books. So, amazingly, I achieved two contracts from participating in BWCon.

What were some of your most memorable experiences at BWCon?
There are three that come immediately to mind:

1. The first, not surprisingly, was Silver Chasings being awarded the prize for the BDSM Book Contest- a contract from Decadent Publishing. The ceremony was especially memorable as it was held in a gritty, urban BDSM club. Many conference attendees were there, and many were dressed in their kink finery. Demos and exploring the club’s appointments rounded out the event.

2. There were an array of compelling workshops, however, I was surprised to find that the session offered by lawyers from the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom was the one that provided me with the most material for enhancing the content of my stories. Concepts about legal jeopardy from BDSM play, comparisons of BDSM and sports activities, and the role of contracts and even inheritance of BDSM paraphernalia were all topics that fired my imagination.

3. I won a raffle prize! I never win anything, or so I say. A beautiful picture from Captured Erotica, Rings of Fire, now hangs in my home.

What are you hoping for from BWCon 2015?
It will be hard to top the experience from 2014! I am writing another submission for this year’s anthology—I have a good bit done, but deadline panic, I mean inspiration, hasn’t struck yet.
I’m looking forward to chatting with readers about Silver Chasings.

I’ve been inspired to update my website—a project that has been languishing for longer than I care to admit.

And, importantly, I’m looking forward to contributing this year as a presenter. I’ve enjoyed working with Dr. Charley Ferrer, BWCon’s Host & Founder on developing the content for the workshop. The hardest thing has been choosing what to keep in the presentation and what had to be cut. Some of the material on the cutting room floor may be more appropriate for discussion over cocktails—I encourage attendees with a taste for the macabre and a strong stomach to seek me out for these stories.