Claire
Tell us about Totally Bound-Publishing.
Totally Bound Publishing is Europe’s leading eBook publisher of erotic romance fiction, offering pure unadulterated escapism for today’s reader. Founded in 2007 by myself and my husband, Total-E-Bound trades internationally and has customers from all over the world. Working with some of the hottest erotic romance authors in the world — both well-loved big names and exciting, new voices — we publish six smoking-hot titles every week, available in all eBook formats. In the past five years, we have released 1,200 books covering a wide variety of genres suitable for over 18s. These include hot historicals, salacious sci-fi and scorching supernatural action and we cater for all tastes from boy-meets-girl and boy-meets-boy, to BDSM, threesomes, foursomes and moresomes. Novels published by Total-E-Bound range in intensity from a slow burn at the sizzling end of the heat range through to the scandalous taboo line, meaning that time and again we can fulfil all of our readers’ desires.
How did you first become involved in this?
I was instrumental in setting the company up. But the industry itself I became involved with a number of years before setting up Total-E-Bound Publishing - initially as a reader and then as an editor. I realised quite quickly that there were opportunities in the eBook market and erotic romance.
Have you always enjoyed reading erotic fiction?
I've always read romance, and I discovered erotic romance about 8 years ago. I'd always felt there was something missing for me as a reader of romance. I'd engage with the characters and the storyline and then get to the end of the book and think 'is that it?' Finding erotic romance was a light bulb moment for me. I'd found what was missing for me - and I never looked back.
Why are people so fascinated by reading about sex?
Because it's fun!!!!!!! Hmm, seriously, it depends. We have single women, married women, couples, of all ages who read our books and I'm sure they all have different reasons for doing so. Mainly it's because they are really good stories with engaging characters, interesting and varied storylines and hot sex between the characters - books that make you want to come back for more. Most women want some romance in their lives and whether it's just pure escapism
What makes a good erotic novel?
That depends on your own personal tastes, which is why we offer such a wide range both in sub genres, and heat ratings and sexometer ratings. What we look for as a publisher though is creative storytelling and original style. We want authors to weave tales of erotic romance through creating strong, dynamic and intelligent characters that readers will remember.
It's important for the story to be plot driven and to illustrate the relationship between key characters, ideally with a happy ending, but if not it should be promising.
There should always be varying degrees of sex throughout the story, with lots of opportunity for erotic exploration, interwoven with levels of tension and passion.
What exactly is your role as the head of the company?
I run it! :) Actually, I run it with the help of a very talented team. My management team comprises of the IT Director, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Financial Controller, PR and Communications Manager and Head of Art. Aside from that we have a team of content and line editors, artists, administrators, customer service and PR and marketing staff who keep the wheel turning as well as more than 250 authors. My job has evolved over the years as the business has grown. Where once I was very hands-on in the day to day running and application of information, now I try to leave that to my management team. I get involved in those matters where necessary and I do manage from the top down, but I am more focussed on the company developement, projects and business strategy these days.
The novels come in genres such as sci-fi and the supernatural, is this why they have such a wide appeal?
I think so - there really is something for everyone at our store. If you have a love for erotic romance, you'll be able to find what you are looking for at Total-E-Bound.
Why is it important to cater for people who enjoy softer sex as well as those who like hard-core sex scenes?
Everyone is different and as much as our readers have varying tastes, so do our authors have certain styles and levels of heat that work for their books. Because it is so varied we decided to have both heat ratings and a sexometer rating to explain to our readers exactly what they are getting. Depending on how hot the story is will depend on whether the book is given a sizzling, burning, melting or taboo heat rating, and depending on how much sex is in the story will depend on whether the book is given a sexometer level of 1,2, or 3. Quite a simple rating system - but effective.
Tell us about your new additions of the sexing up of classics such as Jane Eyre?
We have a FABULOUS line of books called the Clandestine Classics!
How much of a success has it been to launch this new range?
The Clandestine Classics is an ongoing line. We launched it with 5 books - Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, A Stud in Scarlet and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Since then we've released a book per month - so far, The Phantom of the Opera and Wuthering Heights, and we intend to keep releasing books each month for the next year. The collection has been very well received both by media and by readers.
There has been a lot of controversy about Fifty Shades, so what is your opinion on the whole thing?
I don't personally think the books are a good representation of erotic romance, and I've read much better books - of course that's down to personal taste. Regardless of my personal opinion, the author has had incredible success with the trilogy, and that's wonderful both for her and for the genre itself. It's good to see erotic romance getting some much deserved attention. What 50 Shades has done for the genre is bring it into the mainstream and front and centre. So, if you read it, enjoy it and think 'what next?' that's where we come in! We have a whole back catalogue of books in all sub genres – and something for everyone.