When I began writing Raw Silk, I’d read quite a bit of erotica, but I had no experience with the rules and traditions of the romance genre. I’d never read a Harlequin. My notion of romance was Wuthering Heights or Romeo and Juliet, stories of thwarted passion that definitely violate the romance requirement for a happy ending.
Nevertheless, I naively incorporated a variety of plot and character elements common to the genre. Most notably, the “hero” Gregory Marshall turns out to be the classic alpha male.
He looks like an alpha: tall, lean and muscular, with strong features and piercing blue eyes. He typically dresses all in black and wears a silver earring. He moves like an alpha, graceful and sinuous as a wild cat when he stalks into a room or swings a flogger. His voice is melodious, compelling, persuasive. He even has a dramatic tattoo.
Beyond his physical attributes, though, he has a typically alpha personality. It’s not just that he’s a dominant with many years experience, accustomed to wielding power and compelling obedience. We discover over the course of the novel that his authoritative persona hides insecurities and doubts. Due to traumatic events in his personal history, he does not trust love (like many alphas). He’s eager to initiate Kate into dominance and submission, but wary of his deeper feelings for her. He can be gruff, even cruel, as he wrestles with his inner demons.
Given that I was unaware of these tropes, why did I incorporate them into the character? I honestly don’t know. It may be that I am susceptible myself to the emotional forces that make alpha males attractive to other readers. Certainly I found Gregory as challenging and exciting as Kate does.
On the other hand, the other “heros” in the book are far from the alpha stereotype. Anand Rajchitraprasong, the lascivious Thai nobleman, is slender and slightly androgynous. He’s also polite, solicitous of Kate’s welfare (as well as her pleasure), yielding and appealingly gentle. Meanwhile, David Berman, Kate’s American boyfriend, epitomizes the beta males I prefer in my own life: honest, intelligent, tolerant and feminist.
I love both of them as much as I adore Gregory.
I’ve concluded after twenty-five years that I accidentally tapped into a societal stereotype in creating Gregory. Ultimately, one cannot analyze the creative process. Our imaginations conjure the images that move us; we cooperate by bringing them to life in our stories.
Review Quotes
“Raw Silk has all the excitement and energy of a first novel, but the author's technique is already highly evolved—with exquisite descriptions, intriguing characters and expert plot weaving. Passion and a sense of wild sensual abandon seem to drip off every page, when Kate travels to Thailand and embarks on a wild journey of sexual self discovery” ~ Loren West, Amazon review (Five Stars)
“This is by far one of the best erotic novels that I have read and it fully deserves every one of the five ribbons I am giving it! But it does make me wonder what the characters could do with them.” ~ Maree Schuler, Romance Junkies (Five Ribbons).
“[Kate’s] character grows and she comes to realize her inner needs along with her deep sexual desires. Lisabet Sarai has a flair for sexy, sensuous romance with an edgy feel. I cannot wait to read more by this talented author.” ~ Dawnie, Fallen Angels Reviews (Five Angels).
“The Bangkok setting is fascinating and adds to the overall feeling of opulent sensuality. Lisabet Sarai deftly shows the country without ever letting the descriptions take over the story. Good BDSM novels are voyages of self-discovery, and Raw Silk is a journey you’ll enjoy taking.” ~ Kathleen Bradean, Erotica Revealed
“...this is one SIZZLING read (the ending was incredible) and should not be put on the back burner of your ‘to read list.” ~ Alyssa, Amazon review (Five stars)
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Buy Links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Raw-Silk-Lisabet-Sarai-ebook/dp/B0DF6Q2S2B
Amazon CA:
https://www.amazon.ca/Raw-Silk-Lisabet-Sarai-ebook/dp/B0DF6Q2S2B
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raw-Silk-Lisabet-Sarai-ebook/dp/B0DF6Q2S2B
Kinky Literature: https://www.kinkyliterature.com/book/1666-raw-silk-a-sensual-journey/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1611408
Paperback (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKJ2PW92
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