Onirik : We know you wrote different genres of literature. Why did you choose to write erotic drama ? Was it a deliberate choice of genre ? What is interesting ?
Megan Hart : I’ve always wanted to write romance, and my stories always seemed to feature love scenes that were not kept behind closed doors. As the erotic romance market bloomed, my writing in this area had a chance to bloom, too. I enjoy reading sexy stories, so writing them seemed a natural choice. I feel like if I’m going to write about everything in my characters’ lives, their sex lives have to be included, too!
Onirik : Eroticism doesn’t seem to separate of psychology. Have you study psychology ? Does sexual behavior intend to study human feelings ?
Megan Hart : I’ve never studied psychology, but I do think people reveal themselves quite often during sex in ways they wouldn’t elsewhere. Sex and intimacy go hand-in-hand. It’s hard to shield yourself from someone when you’re naked!
Onirik : Stephen King is a reference for you. Who are you favourite authors ? Do they inspire you for your own books ?
Megan Hart : I admire and enjoy the work of Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Clive Barker, Gary Jennings, Jacqueline Carey and so many more! I do take inspiration from my favorite authors, but mostly I just enjoy their work for the pleasure it brings me, rather than trying to make my books like theirs.
Onirik : In France we say : les gens heureux n’ont pas d’histoire (happy people have no story). The two heroines of Dirty and Broken have dramatic stories (not to say tragic…) Why did you choose a so difficult situation or hard context ? What is important about that ? Is the personnal psychic recovery of these two women ?
Megan Hart : The idea for Dirty rose out of a brief thought I had about a woman who meets a man and is led down a road into doing everything « dirty » — sexually just letting go. But as the book formed, I needed a reason for this character to do the things she did, and eventually, the character of Elle formed in my head and along with it, her story. Once I knew her story, everything else fell into place. The same happened with Broken. I had an idea about a man and a woman meeting on a park bench, and the man telling her stories. But why wouldn’t she simply act on her longing for him? She needed a reason not to give in to the fantasy. And that’s how Sadie and Adam’s story grew in my head. I didn’t set out to write books about women with tragic pasts, but it certainly does make a more interesting book, in my opinion!
Onirik : Into Broken, for my friend Callixta, the hero tells his (sexual) affairs, relived by Sadie, the heroine, who transformed reality into phantasms. For me, this man tells his affairs such words come from his women’s mouth or thought… who deem or study his behaviour. Thus, Joe reveals deep feelings, little by little, as dramatic secrets. It’s a complicated explanation for an interessant simple process. The important fact is the knowledge of Joe , no matter (come on, I know it’s so fascinating…) Sadie’s phantams ! Are we right, (both of them ?) Why do you choose that stylistic device ?
Megan Hart : Originally, I only had the idea that Joe would tell Sadie his stories as a way to relate to her, as a way of revealing himself to her. But as the book wore on, I began to think maybe Joe was really telling « stories » — not telling the truth. That his stories were told to give something to Sadie that he thought she wanted, even though she never said so aloud. I think Joe did reveal himself to Sadie through his stories, but that not all of them were entirely true. Sadie, for her part, heard Joe’s stories in the way that suited her fantasies the best. They both gained something from his telling the stories every month, but since the story is told in first person, we really only get to see what Sadie hears (which might not have been exactly what Joe says.)
Onirik : Dirty reminds me my favourite Hitchcock’s movies « Marnie » (short scenes with the heroine’s point of vue, Elle (means « she » in french… a precise choice I presum) . She loses one’s cool, self-control, she freaks out… obsessionnal behavior. As a matter of fact they have important feelings in common and specially a sexual trauma (the difference between them : Marnie refuses to contact someone. She’s afraid to reveal something of herself to a man !) Your novel is like this movie, progress of tension to the emotional outburst and… exposure. You have a so great and excellent style and this process moves deeply readers. Do you become aware of this cinematographic style ?
Megan Hart : I didn’t deliberately choose to write the story in any certain way; I wrote it how it came out when I sat down every day to work on it. I couldn’t tell you in advance how I intend to write a story because I never know until it happens! And I always hope I’m able to do the best job I can, even if I don’t know how it’s going to happen.
Onirik : The « contact » seems more erotical and more heartbreaking than sex act. Into Dirty, Elle can’t bear kissing… Into Broken, Joe doesn’t kiss ! The passage of the massage of Sadie is deeply spectacular. Could you explain this notion ?
Megan Hart : I think that kissing is more intimate than having sexual intercourse. Elle and Joe both fear intimacy more than sex, so while they’re completely comfortable sharing their bodies, they’re not able to kiss their partners without fearing they’ll lose something of themselves. Sadie’s response to massage came about after I had a massage myself, and how having a stranger touch me in such an intimate way made me feel vulnerable and emotional, not necessarily relaxed (the way a massage is supposed to make you feel!) I imagined how it would be for a woman who hadn’t been touched in so long to experience that emotional release, and that’s why Sadie got a massage in the book!
Onirik : Do you think « couple » concept is turning out (is revealing) through the eyes of others persons ?
Megan Hart : I do think we see ourselves differently than others see us, yes! (Is that what you meant?)
Onirik : I am surprised that your novels don’t follow the usual path of Harlequin romance. Do you impose your criterias, ideas and stories, or are taboos and criteras fixed by the publishing houses ?
Megan Hart : I’ve been so fortunate to write for Spice. My editor, so far, hasn’t denied me anything or asked me to either put anything in or take anything out of my books for them. Because Spice isn’t a romance line, but rather erotic fiction, the « romance » requirements aren’t there. This isn’t to say that I don’t think my books can’t be considered romantic, or relationship stories, but they don’t follow the pattern many people think of for romances. So far, I’ve been able to write what I find interesting, or feel is necessary for the story, and it’s been wonderful!
Onirik : Do you have a spoiler about the next novel (will be published in United-States in december if I haven’t made any mistake) ?
Megan Hart : Stranger will be released in late December in the U.S. and features Sam Stewart as one of the heroes. Sam is Dan’s (from Dirty) brother. The other hero is Jack, (who was also in Dirty.) The heroine, Grace, is a funeral director who’s decided she’d rather pay men for their company than try to have a real relationship. Things get complicated when she meets Sam, though, who’s everything she’s always tried to pretend she didn’t want!