“To me, BDSM is about trust.”

International best selling author Sierra Cartwright invites you to take a walk on the wild side with her strong, dominant heroes and heroines overwhelmed by secret desires…if you dare of course 😉

What do you find appealing about BDSM stories and why do you write them?

Oh, my gosh, I adore the beautiful exploration of a complex, emotional and physical relationship.
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and I finished my first stories when I was eight or nine. My first sales were to Harlequin books for their spicy short contemporary line. While I loved writing for them, I always felt a bit constrained. I wanted to delve deeper into sensual dynamics.
And honestly, the dynamics of BDSM—and how they’re unique to each couple—has always fascinated me.
More than anything, to me, BDSM is about trust. A submissive quite literally places her physical and emotional well-being into her Dominant’s hands. So the story is about so much more than floggers and ropes. The stakes are incredibly high, and both partners must be willing to communicate, and to a large extent, be vulnerable with each other.
Consent is an absolutely crucial component of BDSM. I find that the scenes where the characters discuss it are exciting as well as rewarding—not to mention, it’s hot, as well. Does she want him to do that? Or maybe consider that? What if he suggests something that scares the hell out of her but intrigues her at the same time? How do they negotiate what she’s willing do to? It’s so tantalizing…and sexy.
While I don’t shy away from describing sex, I really love the way that the use of BDSM will facilitate change in the characters’ behavior and their relationship.

In your books, Doms are mostly male and submissives are mostly female. Why is this dynamic most interesting for you?

Can I confess my deepest secret? The idea of being under the control of a sexy as sin alpha male who happens to be amazing with a flogger and solely concentrated on my sensual fulfillment is one of my greatest fantasies.
All of my heroines have varying degrees of experience. For example, I feature a virgin in Sexiest Billionaire. Trust in Me has a heroine who curious about the lifestyle, but has no experience. In Shockwave, Alani is a masochist who needs a Dominant who will meet her needs.
All of the dynamics are fun to explore, and describing each presents a unique challenge to me. I love the way the Dominant will uncover all of my heroine’s secrets. I adore the way he will stay with a conversation so that he can understand her and meet her needs in a way no other man ever has.
There are parts of me in all of my brave, fierce heroines.

Do you prefer to write from the POV of a sub or a Dom? Why? And what traits in Doms and subs are interesting for you to explore?

I love writing from both points of view, and all of my stories contain scenes from the hero’s as well as the heroine’s perspective.
Giving the reader access to the Dominant’s point of view as he’s tying her up for the first time or introducing her to his belt gives me shivers.
On the flip side, letting the reader experience the way a certain rope chafes against her skin creates a more sensual experience.
It’s fun to see a character’s evolution as she/he comes to realize something. And the scariness of falling in love…yes, I definitely want to feel that from each character. I want them to have equal emotional stakes. I’m not sure I’d ever write a story from a single character’s point of view. It’s possible, I suppose. But I wouldn’t say it’s likely.

The main character of your novel In the Den, a Domme, is challenged to experience submission, on the pretext it might make her better at dominating. In your opinion, can it really help a Dom/Domme to become better?

Oh absolutely!
A single-tail bites in a unique way. A cane offers a vastly different experience (and needs to be wielded by someone who knows what they’re doing!). Floggers can sting or be more thuddy. A paddle that lands in the wrong place can cause injury.
Knowing that—actually feeling the impact from each implement—can give a Dominant a new perspective. And I’m not saying that all Dominants/tops wish to ever bottom. Nor should they. Being a Dominant is an innate part of his or her personality. (And also not saying that everyone knows it from an early age.)
But the Dominants I have spoken with who have switched have gleaned something from the experience.
Likewise, a submissive who Tops may receive quite an education, about the incredible responsibility of being in a dominant role. That can potentially add another level of respect and appreciation to the partnership. And it was certainly interesting to explore when I wrote In The Den.

In your novel With This Collar, the heroine is invited to a wedding where a collaring ceremony takes place—something she doesn’t understand and reacts badly to. What do you think is the best way to introduce vanilla friends to your lifestyle if you are kinky, so they wouldn’t freak out?

BDSM is absolutely not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve gotten very honest about what I do for a living. Frankly, I’m proud to write about this dynamic.
I find that some people are interested. Some are taken aback. But it’s now rare that someone doesn’t have at least some idea of what BDSM is. Of course, there can definitely be some misconceptions, and I’m happy to chat about those. And really, anyone I meet who wants to ask questions? I’ll talk to them all night long.
Reading is a great place to start—trying out books by some of the genre’s best. There are also a ton of online resources and some fabulous non-fiction titles.
For people who are interested in learning more, but in a safe setting, I recommend attending a local munch. It’s a gathering in a vanilla setting, such as a restaurant. It’s relaxed and allows you to meet people who are happy to chat with you.