A warm welcome to author Quinn Anderson joining us to talk about new release “Hotline”.

Welcome Quinn 🙂

Hello, everyone! This is Quinn Anderson, author of the Murmur Inc. series, and I’m here to share some inside information about, Hotline, coming out October 31st. Stay tuned to hear about where I get my ideas, writing comedy, and how I went “undercover” as a sex worker to research my novels. Leave comments on the tour posts for a chance to win a $10 Riptide Publishing gift card!

 

Why I Decided to Write a (Mostly) Realistic Novel about Sex Work

 

Sex work is in no way a new topic for romance novels. Rent boys, cam boys, et cetera, abound in the world of slash, and I couldn’t be happier, because I love to read about them! When crafting Hotline, however, I wanted to tell a slightly different story. And I’m not just referring to my decision to write about phone sex, which is less common than other forms of sex work. I wanted to write a realistic story about someone who engages in sex work to pay their bills, not to facilitate an easy romantic plot, or to give me an excuse to write smut. And believe me, after more than ten years of writing fanfiction, I can make smut happen anywhere.

 

I worked as a Phone Sex Operator (PSO) for research for the novel. I didn’t think twice about it, because most of my close friends have been in some form of sex work or other. Pro-Doms, strippers, cam girls, full service sex workers, erotica writers, and more have sat around my birthday table with me, drinking cocktails and swapping stories. I don’t consider it taboo, and so it was important to me when writing this novel to portray sex work as any other job. Zack, my main character, has coworkers he hangs out with, a boss who chides him when he’s underperforming, and bills to pay. And, most importantly, his relationship status does not dictate whether or not he shows up for his shift, just like it doesn’t with any other job.

 

I think my time as a PSO gave me perspective, some great party stories, and a lot of respect for the people who don’t get to quit whenever they want, like I did. If you get nothing else out of Hotline, I hope you get a realistic look at being a PSO, with a heaping helping of sizzling smut too. This is a fantasy, after all.

 

Some bonus information about being a PSO:

 

Phone sex can be very strange, and not kink shaming was occasionally difficult for me to do, because some of the requests I got were just so foreign to me.

 

Phone sex is being somewhat replaced by sexting and cam work, but there are still people who make a killing,

 

Marketing is key! Just like with any other business, you as an independent contractor have to market yourself.

 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about the sex industry: it isn’t sexy. At least, not for the workers, who are often uncomfortable and faking any and all arousal. That’s why I’m such a big believer that this is a job like any other and should be treated as such. So, if you find out tomorrow that your partner is doing PSO work or cam work: relax. They’re probably not enjoying it, ha ha.

 

I still don’t feel like I have proper insight into what it’s really like. I think that’s pretty much all I wanted to say about sex work?

 

About Hotline

 

Zack never intended to become a phone sex operator, but with half a college degree and a smart mouth, his options were limited. It helps that he has a knack for thinking on his feet and a willingness to roll with whatever his clients throw at him. Sure, he gets his fair share of creeps and unconventional requests, but it pays the bills, and he’s in no danger of breaking his one rule: never fall for a client.

 

Until a man named “John” starts calling, and Zack finds himself interested in more than a paycheck. It’s not just that John has money, or that his rumbling baritone drives Zack wild. He’s everything Zack isn’t: educated, poised, and in total control of his life.

 

A twist of fate brings them face-to-face, and now that they’ve seen each other—and spent an unforgettable night together—they can’t go back to the way things were. A sex worker and a trust fund brat . . . It’s like Romeo and Juliet, but with less stabbing and slightly fewer dick jokes. Hopefully they can pull off a more successful ending.

 

Hotline is available from:

Riptide Publishing

Amazon

 

About Quinn Anderson

 

Quinn Anderson is an alumna of the University of Dublin in Ireland and has a master’s degree in psychology. She wrote her dissertation on sexuality in popular literature and continues to explore evolving themes in erotica in her professional life.

 

A nerd extraordinaire, she was raised on an unhealthy diet of video games, anime, pop culture, and comics from infancy. She stays true to her nerd roots in writing and in life and frequently draws inspiration from her many fandoms, which include Sherlock, Harry Potter, Supernatural, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Buffy, Marvel, and more. You will often find her interacting with fellow fans online and offline via conventions and tumblr, and she is happy to talk about anything from nerd life to writing tips. She has attended conventions on three separate continents and now considers herself a career geek. She advises anyone who attends pop culture events in the UK to watch out for Weeping Angels, as they are everywhere.

 

Her favorite television show is Avatar: the Last Airbender, her favorite film is Tangled, and her favorite book is Ella Enchanted. She can often be spotted at conventions, comic shops, and midnight book releases. If you’re at an event, and you see a 6’2” redhead wandering around with a vague look on her face, that’s probably her. Her favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Gail Carson Levine, Libba Bray, and Tamora Pierce. When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling, cooking, spending too much time on the internet, screwing the rules, finding the Master Sword, guided falling, consulting for the NYPD, guarding the galaxy, boldly going, and catching ’em all.

 

Connect with Quinn:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorQuinnAnderson/
• Tumblr: quinnandersonwrites

 

 

To celebrate the release of Hotline, one lucky winner will receive $10 in Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 5, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!