Behind The Words // Eden Baylee

Erotic Author Eden Baylee's website is so provocative, I'm not allowed to look at it. Seriously. When I want to check in on what my favourite Torontonian adult author has on her upcoming agenda, a firewall leaps up and says, "Uh-uh-UH! Not so fast, my dear Canadian suspense author!" I've had the opportunity to read one of Eden's novellas and upon getting three or four pages in, I put it down and went to inform my wife of what I was reading. My thinking? Reduce my wife's confusion or shock should she stumble across Eden's work on our coffee table.


That said, Eden's work is more than titillating. She has a focus on lifestyle, on our modern world and the place we inhabit therein. She goes into the parts of characters that exist below a scratched surface and who we are as people, sexual or not. But, heck, enough of what I think. I'm happy to welcome Eden Baylee as my guest this week and we'd be better to get her own words about what she does and how she does it. Oh, Eden?


Eden on Eden... 

Okay. I’m brilliant, of course (in my own mind), but I think you’ve even told me I’m wittier than you are, so I have confirmation from one person at least.


I'm a Canadian gal, quit banking after 20 years, now write full-time. First book of erotic novellas called Fall into Winter was officially released February 2011. Now in process of writing the next anthology while promoting current release. As I’ve told you, Jason, I straddle the wobbly fence of promotion and continuing to write, but I’m loving every moment. It’s a true gift to be able to finally do what I want to do in life. I would have died if I remained in banking for another couple of years. They would have found my body in some dark meeting room, staring at the wall, with the look of horror on my face from realizing I was a “lifer.”


[Editor's note: true dat, E.]

Eden on her writing space...

Currently, my writing space is the couch in my living room. I stretch out with my laptop and use the coffee table as my office. On it are all the things I need for the day: books, pens, highlighters, tea, phone, vibrator, lip balm, hand cream, camera. I sit next to a big bay window where I can see out onto the street. On a bright summer’s day, I can see the trees and blue sky. On a winter’s day, it’s nice to enjoy the snowfall without having to be in it. 

I eat breakfast in the morning while I check all the social media stuff and respond to email. Breakfast usually consists of tea, fruit and yogurt. I cannot listen to music when I write. I like silence. I even put earplugs in my ears so I can’t hear my nails hitting the keyboard. Needless to say, my nails are cut to the quick anyway, so there’s not much sound coming from them, but I’m just that fussy. Anal, I like to call it. You know how much I love that word – so versatile.

[Editor's note: nevermind. I have nothing to add.]

Eden on her work...

My next book is called Spring into Summer – a brilliantly titled follow-up anthology to my first book. It will also be erotica. I’m the Vivaldi of erotica, ha!

As for similarities…well…my first book, Fall into Winter had 4 stories, as will my new one. First book had 2 stories that took place in the fall, and 2 in the winter. Guess what? New book will have 2 stories for the spring and 2 for the summer. Getting the pattern here?

First samples are not available as I’m just finishing off the last story, and it hasn’t gone through final edits as yet. I don’t share my writing till I feel it’s almost near perfect, and then I get it edited professionally and realize how far from perfect it really was. The stories will be diverse. There will be vibrators involved because I’m a fan of those, some pagan rituals, and lots of heat. We’re talking my favorite seasons of the year so I was hot just writing them.

As for when it’s coming out, I’d like to have it out in the fall, which is strange given the name of the book, but it will give those living in the cold climates something to look forward to. I can spin it that way anyway.

Eden on her approach to writing...

With one book out, I shudder even to call myself a writer, let alone muse on writing techniques that make me unique. I want to make sure I have some staying power before I make any pronouncements about technique. I’d like to consider myself a good writer, regardless of genre. I’m not one who deconstructs my writing to see how I can improve it. I’m the ultimate pantser because I dislike organization. Sure, I know there is some structured thought process in what I do, but not much. Sometimes I jot notes, sometimes I talk into a tape recorder if I have ideas, and most of the time, I come up with great plots while taking a shower. The minute I step out, I record myself because I have a terrible short term memory.

I use a Mac laptop. My screen looks like someone vomited icons all over it because I save everything there. I’m not good with putting things into folders because I hate doing that. It’s the organization thing again. Somehow, I know where everything is despite the mess.

Research is big for me, of course. Given that I’m a virgin, I need to ensure my sex scenes are realistic, so I watch lots of porn for that. (Just pulling your leg, but you knew that, right?)

The truth is erotica is not just about sex. I love writing about faraway places, different cultures, and different languages. If I don’t know enough about my subject matter, I research the hell out of it. I owe that to readers because it’s important to get the facts straight. There is no excuse unless you’re just plain lazy, especially given all the resources at my fingertips. If I can experience things first hand, that’s the best way to research something. If I can’t, then I read about it, watch YouTube, or talk to people. Many of my stories have some element of real life in them anyway, so it’s just a matter of building on them.

As for how much I write daily when I’m writing – it’s 2000 words—no ifs, ands, or buts. That’s why I’m up early and sleep much too late. I write 7 days a week, and my laptop is attached to my hip. (I’m looking into a patent for a laptop holster – similar to a tool belt. I think it’d sell, and you heard it here first.) Needless to say, I’m tired a lot and it’s my own damn fault, but I really wished I didn’t have to sleep. It’s my biggest pet peeve.

Editing style? I do it as I write, then I re-edit the next morning, then I do it again that evening. I am a grammar freak, and someone should just put me out of my misery. I attribute this to the fact that I didn’t know a word of English till I was almost seven. I thought the English language was just a different Chinese dialect. I couldn’t understand why no one knew what I was saying. I think that traumatized me somewhat. Now I feel like I have to speak and write properly all the time—I owe that to my grade 1 teacher for all the extra effort she took with me.

Eden on her writing support...

My husband is very supportive of me being a writer. He’s a creative person too so he understands my need to do it. There’s no issues with my writing nor with what I write. What he does have issue with is how I’ve taken over the living room coffee table as my pseudo-office. He’s a bit of a neat freak that way. To appease him, I clean it up once a week, and then I start all over again. I don’t think he’s caught on yet.

Luckily, we are both very independent people, so neither gets into each other’s hair. For that, I am very fortunate.

Find me at www.edenbaylee.com. From there you can find my blog, buy links, Twitter, Facebook, email, shoe size, and things you didn’t even know you wanted to know about me.

Muchos gracias Jason for letting me guest blog on your fabulous site, one of the most well-organized and informative sites I’ve had the pleasure of appearing on. (Now, if your cheque bounces, I’m rescinding this final statement). Eden


Cheque? Uh. Okay. It's, um, in the mail. I think. Though, I'm pretty sure I do owe you some scones, the pleasure of having you here at the Reaches is absolutely all mine. And the readers', of course. A hearty round of applause for Ms. Baylee! Thanks so much for your time, E.