Author Interview: Shawna Hunter

About the author:
I am a BDSM erotica writer with stories focused on strong, accepting communities and personal expression. My works feature many LGBT characters and are often well read in that sub genre.

I live in Ontario Canada and am 31 years old. I live a rather quiet life outside of writing but enjoy hiking, photography and reading in what spare time I can find.

What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
I've tried my hand at many genres but to write something I have to feel it and I didn't enjoy feeling afraid for horror or angry for action. Romance makes me happy and I want to share that happiness as best I can.

Tell us about how you write.
I try to put myself in my character's head (which is why I write in the first person). My first draft is usually present tense because I'm living the story through the character. It is only upon editing that I usually change it to past tense and make it more like the character telling you the story instead of showing me.

Do you listen to or talk to to your characters?
I am my characters or rather they are various aspects of who I am built up into unique personages.

What advice would you give other romance writers?
Don't over think and imagine how people will react to your writing. Write what you love and make it the best story you can.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I wrote my first story as a fetlife short but it grew and grew to the point where I figured no one would read it in that format. So I made the choice to try turning it into a novel and once I had the manuscript I asked advice of author groups on the website. One directed me to a list of calls for submission and I took my shot.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I've heard everything from "audiobooks are the future" to "reading is dead." Its all garbage. Digital formats are fun but nothing will replace that feeling of walking through an overstuffed small book store with a coffee in one hand and digging out a novel you've never heard of only to flip a few pages and fall in love.

Which romance sub-genere(s) fit your stories best?
Erotica

My books are available in the following formats:
eBook, Print