Interview with Scry of Lust author Sara the Black
Sara The Black
Sara the Black is an introverted California native hermiting deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Proudly multicultural, this primarily Sephardic Jew/Kaldresh Romani was raised in Southern California. A Gender Queer, Asexual, Intersex disabled adult living with multiple chronic illnesses, Sara opted for retirement off-grid with a fiercely independent private contractor/writer companion and neurotic female feline minions. -She- is an unapologetically voracious reader with a healthy appetite for street tacos, good beer, and Hello Kitty
Scry of Lust
Dark and seductive, alluring and imaginative, perverse, shocking, and at times hilarious—Scry of Lust is an arousing collection of erotica, paranormal romance, sexy poetry, and kinky tales that will spark your desire and quicken your breath. Indulge in the lustful imaginings of this diverse group of writers, all by your naughty self, or share it out loud to entice your lovers. Scry of Lust will charm the pants off of you—literally!
Profits from this collection are being donated to the San Francisco AIDSWalk, through SFGoth Team #5015, in memory of Gregory Hug.
Sarah the Black with Greg Hug
Writing Sample from Ego: Free Me
I burrowed deeper into my thick hoodie as I stormed out into the cold night. Dolly’s version of ‘Jolene’ queued up on my playlist. I cranked up the volume on my player app and filtered out the passing chaos of the city on a fast walk of a few blocks to my refuge.
It was one of those quirky secrets a city like San Francisco could swallow up and only be a hidden gem to true devotees of the darker side of consensual interludes. Yeah we had our share of sex club, bath houses, fetish bars and porn studios but EGO was a deliciously filthy mix of the best parts of the above with a dedicated cast of burlesque and cirque du freak acts. I reached the quiet unmarked door manned by Tiny, a huge Samoan dude in full Class A’s and a Jack Skellington beanie set at an absurd angle on his enormous bald head. He stepped in front of me with a dramatic scowl but those bright green eyes sparkled at some inside joke we’ve never uttered out loud. I pulled the hoodie back enough to show my face.
“Kit…its been a while.”
“Yeah um…I’ve been busy with stuff.” I glanced up briefly before looking back down at my threadbare Chucks.
“Stuff…yeah. They’ve been asking about you.”
“I owe them an explanation, especially Daddy Mao.”
“Yup. Go on in.” He grunted, giving me a slap on the back.
I swiped my membership card on the reader.
**BEEP**Finally.
I stashed my gear at coat check and headed straight to the bar. Behind me the house DJ was playing a Dub step/WitchHouse mix with seriously cranked up bass. The bartender Katia made eye contact with me and looked momentarily stunned before assuming the usual mask of pleasantry.
“KIT! OMG BABE!!” she had a Jack and Diet Coke (light on ice!) mixed up and slung my way before I had a chance to respond. I smiled and shook my head before chugging round one of liquid courage. She refilled it as soon as the glass hit the highly polished black lacquered counter.
“Thanks.” I was relaxing into the next round when Katia looked up and her face immediately went pale. I glanced at the antique mirror behind the bar and studied the crowd behind me.
There in all His splendor, stood Daddy Mao.
Our eyes met via the warped reflection. A finely drawn eyebrow arched briefly before Daddy spun on 5” platform heels and sauntered in an effortless stride into the back hallway.
I slowly finished my drink then slapped down a crisp new Cnote on the bar with my glass securing it.
Rolling my shoulders and giving my neck a satisfying crack, I followed Daddy Mao into utter bliss.
Interview:
Q. How did you find out about the Kinky Writer’s Group or Munch at Wicked Grounds? Was it online, in person, through a referral, and how well did it meet expectations when you arrived?
A. I’ve been invited several times but health and transportation issues have kept me from attending thus far. It seems like a lively group- I encourage those less hermity than myself to attend and unleash their yearning creativity.
Q. When did you first start writing? Do you feel it was your purpose to put writing in the world – or do you view writing as a hobby, and how did you begin to love writing if you do love it at all.
A. I’ve always written. It was a major survival mechanism against an absolutely atrocious childhood. As an emancipated teenager, writing helped me put reason to paper and guide me through decision making skills I didn’t have a mentor or an archetype to draw upon.
Q. Before Scry of Lust, had you ever put your writing out into the world in any form and if so, how and where?
A. I was published in a ton of underground zines in Southern California and more recently up in my WA stint. Most of it was poetry, off grid survival articles, costuming addendum to convention panels and workshops, some ghost writing for authors published through Eloras’s Cave, an article or two regarding medieval musicological theory. I haven’t published any personal pieces, absolutely nothing with a touch of self experience emancipated unto fiction until this year. My domestic partner is a ravenously prolific writer and between the call out for submissions and seeing him tap away one amazing piece after another I decided what the heck why not?
Q. Some of the pieces in the anthology are sci-fi leaning; others are fantasy, real life scenarios, poetry, or transgressive fiction. How would you describe your own brand of erotic fiction?
A. Real, raw- profoundly emotional. I write what I know. I was born intersex and was gender assigned cis female. Up until recent life events I was heavily into the modification, suspension and ‘Freak’ scene and I’ll always feature or at least hint at these details in future writings. I keep Kit’s biology purposefully vague, preferring to focus on the human experience of a scene. As a former High Protocol trained submissive that later graduated to being an instructional Top, consent, negotiated perimeters and through aftercare are essential not only in a deeply emotional piece but obviously in real life as well.
Q. Many of the people in the anthology are marginalized in one way or another. Women are underrepresented in horror while men are underrepresented in the romance literary genre, queer people are under-represented in literature and disabled people and ethnic minorities are more often written about by others than able to self-represent. Do you view yourself as a member of any marginalized communities and if so, how do you feel about the representation of those communities in both this anthology and in erotica in general?
A. I think I hit most of the big check marks on this one. Being a gender queer intersex disabled minority female that is openly of Sephardic Jew, Romani and a smattering of other exciting genetic queries I see this very strongly in the realm of writing, period. I think there is an uncomfortable amount of focus on race and identity when there’s a push to make a quota or find another marketing angle for a tired publisher/event. There are an amazing amount of undiscovered authors out there that don’t fit the classic ‘marketable’ mold. I wish more of these amazing people had a chance at mainstream recognition.
Q. Erotica seems to have a bad name in certain circles as a trash genre – do you think that is true? Anne Rice said that erotica and romance are maligned because they are genres written mostly by women for women, do you think that is valid? Finally, do you think people view male-written erotica like John Norman’s Chronicles of Gor as any more or less trashy?
A. I love me some ‘Bodice Rippers’…but I also enjoy intelligent, deeply complicated fiction where people express sexy and panty melting moments. To both dismiss and systematically lump all erotica and ‘trash’ and ‘smut’ is honestly denying oneself an opportunity for moments of escape and self reflection. I think women know the things that make a reader tick or in this case, um…purr?
Q. I think male written erotica has more acceptability because its viewed as subjective since the main subject- females, are not a state of being they are intuitively aware of being. Its like someone that writes about serial killers but isn’t one if that makes any sense.
A. Which of the other writer’s stories did you like the most and want to recommend that the readers check out? I know you loved the whole book, but this isn’t the question. If you wanted to entice the prospective reader to buy the book, name 1 to 3 works that you didn’t personally write that you would point them at to read first. And why?
I haven’t read any of the offerings on this compilation. I’m waiting for the weekend after my outpatient surgery to curl up and really immerse myself into a huge spectrum of experiences. This sounds like its going to be delightful.
Q. Finally – since this is horror blog – what is your favorite scarerogenous hot sexy scene in a horror movie, and do you think it is appropriate or inappropriate to be turned on by this?
A. Ha! I’ll blame Merlin Monroe for this final question right? Easily has to be the scene in Bram Stoker’s Dracula between the Brides and Harker. You have to also consider what a seriously sexy mofo Gary Oldman was in the role as well all decked out in improper period attire. That cravat, Gods forbid!
Sumiko Saulson 