It’s my pleasure to introduce Cris Anson. I met her in 2012 when she attended the three-day BDSM for Writers Intensive what has become BDSM Writers Con. Cris has returned each year since and as a presenter in 2014. Cris has shown a dedication to her writing craft that is admirable. Her passion and willingness to explore the life of Dominance and submission is inspiring. Then again, what’s there not to love ’s about BDSM? We had a few questions for Cris. Feel free to also ask a few of your own.
BDSM? Truth to tell, I’m like a kid in a candy store. I want to taste it all, see it all, try it all.
Let me back up. In August 2012, I attended Dr. Charley’s inaugural “BDSM for Writers Workshop” in New York City, a small group that fit in the parlor of a hotel suite. Like a sponge, I absorbed every word and asked questions along with my fellow attendees, none of whom were “out” in the lifestyle.
Our curriculum included two eye-opening visits to Paddles, NYC’s longest-running dungeon (30 years so far and going strong). Friday night was quiet, so we were able to touch, try, sit on or be tied to any or all of the equipment, talk to folks who welcomed us because they wanted us writers to “get it” and tell the truth about the lifestyle. Saturday the joint was jumping, with TES (The Eulenspiegel Society) hosting a well-attended party. We watched floggings, spankings, needle play, humiliation, pussy torture, cock torture, tickling, and a host of other fetishes, all of which enlivened our imaginations for future stories.
My biggest takeaway, however, was the friends I made in the lifestyle, Dr. Charley primary among them. It should be no surprise, therefore, that I dedicated my September 2013 release from Ellora’s Cave, NO PATIENCE, thus:
To Dr. Charley Ferrer, World Renowned Clinical Sexologist. Your BDSM for Writers Weekend in August 2012 opened so many doors—into my mind and into your world. Thank you for your friendship and guidance. My writing is all the richer for it.
Okay, another huge takeaway: the lifestyle itself. I found the courage to sign up for Fetlife. Through that connection I discovered several groups in my area and began to attend “munches” – a kinky way to describe a “vanilla” social event where we simply sat and chatted, not unlike being in a friend’s living room and meeting that person’s other friends. Because believe me, you want to know a little about the person you’re standing naked in front of while they do dastardly things to you (with your consent, of course).
From there I progressed to attending a few private parties, then graduated to actually going to a dungeon with a few new female friends. I experienced spanking, flogging, single-tail whip and other impact instruments, Violet Wand, being blindfolded, tied up, was partially suspended and more. Some kinks I enjoyed more than others. Some I’d love to do again and again and again and…um, where was I? Oh, right. All of these experiences have begun to flavor my writing.
Right now I’m putting the finishing touches on REDEMPTION AND MERCY, a novel that’s about 50,000 words (and climbing). Both the hero and heroine have just dipped their toes into the BDSM world, both have a mentor, and when they meet, oh boy, electricity zaps all over the place! *big grin* Trouble is, both of them have lots of sexual experience but what they know about power exchange, delayed gratification, dominating and submitting, could fit inside a teaspoon. So each of them gets a taste of being both a Dom and a sub. And although I’m leaning a certain way, I’m still not sure which of them will be *ahem* on top at the end of the book!
But maybe that’s because I still consider myself a switch. When I meet that person who will either make me want to kneel naked before him or let him feel my lash on his naked flesh, I’ll be sure to let y’all know.
Meanwhile, let me pimp my MERCY series. The first, PUNISHMENT AND MERCY, is a ménage set in 1699 Massachusetts Bay Colony, in which both the blacksmith and his apprentice fall in love with the lusty widow. It’s available in both print and digital formats at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers. Maybe I took liberties (I’m sure no one in 1699 dared write about it), but there are BDSM elements in that story.
The second is MERCY AND REDEMPTION, a contemporary reincarnation story where the two heroes researching their genealogy meet in an old cemetery an hour from Boston. The heroine comes across them while doing gravestone rubbings. The three of them realize they have unfinished business from the past and yes, it is also a ménage. Now available digitally, MERCY AND REDEMPTION will be released in paperback on December 23.
The aforementioned book I’m working on, REDEMPTION AND GLORY, should be ready for my editor before year’s end and I hope it will be available, at least digitally, for the August conference. Because this one is strictly BDSM and it’s all as a result of Dr. Charley’s teaching at the two BDSM for Writers Conferences I attended.
If you write BDSM (or want to) or if you enjoy reading it, don’t miss this year’s
BDSM WRITERS CON!
Cris Anson’s first book was published in January 2005 by Ellora’s Cave. Since then they’ve released 13 of her titles. In her spare time, Cris enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, piano playing, flogging and being flogged, the soft sound of rain dripping on the forest canopy, and of course, chocolate.
Let me update this blog by saying that I’ve finished REDEMPTION AND GLORY and it’s in my editor’s hands. I’ll post an update when I hear from her (hopefully with a contract!).
That’s wonderful Cris. Look forward to it’s release date and getting to read it.
Thank you, Sarah, for visiting and commenting on this blog. I hope you enjoy my books, and I hope to see you at Dr. Charley’s BDSM Conference in August!
Looks like I have a few more books to add to my pile, thanks.
Cris Anson writes beautifully and is dedicated to improving her craft and providing her readers with an accurate heartfelt depiction of BDSM and D/s relationships. She’s an inspiration and an example for other authors to follow. Feel free to return and tell us what you think of her book. Hope to see you August 21-24 in NYC for BDSM Writers Con (it’s for readers as well) and Cris is sharing more info. smiles.