The Lesbian Book Club with Kate Davies

Welcome to episode 69 of the Lesbian Book Club, where I interview UK author Kate Davies. Kate is a novelist, screenwriter and author of children’s books. Her debut novel In At The Deep End won the 2020 Polari Prize and was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse prize for comic fiction. The Guardian described it as ‘without doubt, the afterparty book for anyone looking to continue their Fleabag fun’. Kate talks about writing from a place of truth, celebrating queer London, living her best life in a Scottish castle, and writing stuff that shocks you. “There’s stuff in the book I’d be embarrassed to read out loud!”

As usual, I do a run-down of the Amazon Lesbian Fiction charts in the US & UK, as well as updating you on the latest news of lesbian fiction conferences & awards season. I hope you enjoy – Kate was a fabulous guest!

Share:

Top Tips: Write What You Know

“Write what you know.” It’s the first advice given to new writers, but it’s invariably bad advice if you take it literally. Write what you know doesn’t mean your story has to be a carbon copy of your life. Nobody wants to read that, trust me.

On the contrary, ‘write what you know’ means you have to examine what you know, and also what you can research or learn. Because once you research or learn something, then you know it. Write what you know means you can literally write about anything, so long as you prepare.

Write what you know it also about experience and emotion. So yes, write about your dad’s red Ford Cortina estate with the traffic-light air freshener. Write about the fear of walking into your first gay bar. Write about the gut-wrenching pain you felt when that first woman broke your heart. But also, write about women from 1958, as I am in my upcoming lesbian romance, Big London Dreams. I wasn’t alive then, but I know how it feels to kiss a woman for the first time. To dance with a woman. I can put a magnifying glass on those emotions to hold the reader in the story, then shade in the period details once I’ve researched them.

Don’t be scared to write eras you haven’t lived, jobs you’ve never done, a gender you’ve never lived. Do the research, put yourself in the character’s shoes and truly feel their life. Then you can write what you know, because you know.

Share:

Big London Dreams: On Location

My upcoming lesbian romance is very personal to me, even though I wasn’t born in the 1950s. It’s close to my heart because my parents met and dated in 1950s London, and my mum grew up on the White City estate in west London, where the book is partly set. My first historical romance charts the illicit affair between Joan Hart and Eunice Humphries. Like my mum, both work in a clothing factory as machinists. Everything else is conjured up from my imagination, but the fact there’s a sprinkling of my mum’s life in it made this book a real treat to write… Continue reading » “Big London Dreams: On Location”

Share:

Tuesday Tips: Writing Lesbian Sex Scenes

When you’re writing a sex scene, it’s important to focus on the emotion and not the body parts. It’s not a biology exam, and nobody is going to thank you for using the word vulva. Trust me.

Sex scenes in romance are like fight scenes or car chases in action-adventure books. They’re essential and highly anticipated. Your characters (and your reader) have to work to get there, and when they eventually reach their peak, it’s your job to ensure nobody is let down.

The key thing is to make your sex scene both sensual and alluring. Describe what’s happening, but do it from the perspective of the character and all that they bring to the scene. What are their hopes? What are can they see, touch, taste, hear? What’s it reminding them of? What are they feeling in their heart now it’s finally happening?

Fingers can slide and caress. Tongues can tantalise and tease. Lube can be popped and pressed. Everything the character thought they once knew can be rewritten. Sex scenes should move the story forward. They should reflect what has gone before and what’s possible from here on in. Your characters have just taken things to the next level. Show it all.

Remember, you’re not playing a game of Sex Twister: no crazy moves required. Don’t use coarse or flowery language as that will throw your reader out of the story. Keep it real, but elevate it to a almost-perfect reality. Make sure senses tingle and stars collide. It’s all in the build-up, all in the emotion. The first kiss, the first touch, the loaded look that tips your character over the edge. Romance and sex go hand in hand, so don’t be scared of writing a sex scene. Instead, put yourself in your character’s shoes and write from the heart. Embrace it. Have fun with it.

And don’t for one second think about the fact your parents might read it.

Share:

The Lesbian Book Club With Kirsty Eyre

Welcome to episode 68 of the Lesbian Book Club where I interview UK author Kirsty Eyre. Her first novel, Cow Girl, won the inaugural Comedy Women in Print Award and a publishing contract with Harper Collins. Kirsty talks about how she stumbled into writing late, but is now fully embracing the world of novel-writing. Throughout lockdown she’s been juggling home schooling, a new puppy, a day job and trying to write her next three books. No pressure!

As usual, I also do a run-down of the Amazon Lesbian Fiction charts in the US & UK, as well as updating you on the latest news of lesbian fiction conferences & awards season. I’m currently deep in draft two of my next book, Big London Dreams, which is available for pre-order now.

Share:

The Lesbian Book Club: My Goals For 2021

Welcome to episode 67 of the Lesbian Book Club! This month the focus is on me as I round up my goals for 2021, including publishing three books and four audiobooks, as well as getting more stretchy in body and flexible in life! I also shine a light on my new release Hot London Nights, and give you a listen of the first chapter of my Made In London audiobook – all of which should get you bang into the London Romance mood.

As usual, I also do a run-down of the Amazon Lesbian Fiction charts in the US & UK. Plus, if you want to come along to my Zoom event in association with Stockport Library on February 25th – A Conversation With Clare Lydon – you can register for free tickets by clicking here.

Share:

The Lesbian Book Club Festive Special!

Welcome to episode 66 of the Lesbian Book Club where I bring you a bumper festive special to end the year! In it, I quiz seven authors about their writing year, their festive plans and their hopes for 2021. Interviewed are: AL Brooks, HP Munro, Cara Malone, Rosy Dee, Harper Bliss, Kris Bryant and Monica McCallan.

As usual, I also do a run-down of the Amazon Lesbian Fiction charts in the US & UK, as well as talking about what I’ve been up to. If you want to know what  all the authors want from Santa, listen now!

Happy holidays to you, and see you next year for more Lesbian Book Club Podcasts!

Share:

Pre-Order Before You Say I Do Audiobook!

Great news: Before You Say I Do is finally coming out as an audiobook. Hurrah! October 13th is the date, so mark your calendar. Even better, why not pre-order it on Audible? You can do so by clicking this link.

I hope you love the audio version and are thrilled all over again with the story of Abby & Jordan. But if you haven’t read my best-selling lesbian romance yet, the audiobook is a fabulous place to start. I think it sounds awesome.

Share:

The Lesbian Book Club with Melissa Lenhardt

Welcome to episode 63 of the Lesbian Book Club as I interview US author Melissa Lenhardt. A lifelong Texan, Melissa writes women’s fiction, mystery, and historical fiction. She’s just released The Secret Of You And Me, her first foray into lesbian romance – and also the first lesbian romance published by Mills & Boon. Melissa talks about her writing career, how she came to write her first queer romance, and how she hopes it’s the first of many taken on by her publisher. Also, she has a way-cool southern accent which I neglected to tell her!

I also do a run-down of the Amazon Lesbian Fiction charts in the US & UK, which this month is terribly literary with authors like Emma Donoghue, Sophie Ward and Bernardine Evaristo. I hope you enjoy the podcast!

Share: