RELEASE TOUR incl Interview & Excerpt: Better Than Sex by Kit Erikson
Love Bytes is delighted to welcome author Kit Erikson today to answer a few questions for us!
Welcome Kit 🙂
1: What inspired you to write this book?
I was reminiscing with friends about the makeover movies of the 90s, nostalgic favorites such as She’s All That and Clueless. The idea of writing a story with this trope took root in my mind, but of course I would write it about gay men rather than straight high school students.
The idea for the sex gods was inspired by a TED talk given by a young man who had overcome a pornography addiction. To make up for lost time, he decided to transform himself into a sex god. As soon as I decided that my protagonist would be a self-styled sex god, the entire story fell into place.
Spencer’s “F***-it List” is inspired by another classic movie: The Bucket List. My conceptual hook for the novel was She’s All That meets The Bucket List, but make it gay.
2: Did one of the characters speak to you louder than the other?Â
Although Spencer embodies the outgoing, easy confidence I wish I had, Mickey spoke to me the loudest during the writing of the novel. He’s such a kind, sensitive soul, and has weathered a lot of tough times. I fall in love with every main character I write, but Mickey will always hold a special place in my heart.
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3: How did you select the names of your main characters?
The names I create are almost always a blend of inspiration and symbolism.
The name “Spencer” came to me out of the blue. Since I knew he came from money, I wanted a last name that suggested wealth. I settled on “Ewing” as a nod to the Ewings in the 80s show “Dallas”.
I chose Mickey’s name to convey a sense of innocence and virginity. (He gets asked so often if he’s named after Mickey Mouse that he sometimes adds “not like the mouse” when he introduces himself). His last name Briggs popped into my head, but in retrospect it’s probably inspired by the Myers-Briggs personality test, since I was studying the personality types a lot when I was creating the characters. The name sounds strong and grounded, and that’s the energy Mickey brings to his relationship with Spencer.
A bit of trivia: In Better Than Sex, Mickey explains that he’s named after the author Mickey Spillane, since his father liked crime novels. Later in the story, he talks to his brother, who’s named Dashiell. His brother’s name is a nod to Dashiell Hammett, another author of detective novels.
4: What was your writing process like for this book?
I identify as an “aggressive plotter.” I outline the story using a beat sheet, so I can uncover potential plot holes early in the process. Once I have the major beats of the story figured out, I layer in the subplots and character arcs, to make sure they’re complete and the reveals are well-paced. Then I plan each chapter using a modified beat sheet.
You might think that would be the last step before writing prose, but I actually write a “zero draft,” where I let the scene play out in my head while I capture bullet points and snippets of dialogue. Once that draft is done, I write the prose for the chapter.
The idea of just writing blindly without a plan gives me hives. But I’ve had a few pantsers run screaming when I describe my writing process to them. To each their own.
5: Where do you usually write? What does your workspace look like? (Could describe or share a photo)
I write at the desk in my living room. My workspace ranges from “cluttered” to “catastrophic disarray.” Picture a laptop surrounded by notebooks, stacks of paper, endless lists, and a bunch of pens (only half of which still contain ink) and you’ll have a good idea of what I’m working with.
6: If a reader has never tried your work, where do you recommend they start?
If a reader is ready to sink their teeth into a novel, they can start with my debut novel Better Than Sex. It’s the first book in an upcoming series, but can be read as a standalone.
If they want to test the waters first and see if they resonate with my writing style, I have several free short stories in the San Francisco Sex Gods universe that are available to my newsletter subscribers.
Loaded with humor and heart, Kit Erikson’s award-winning debut novel explores friendship, found family, and the messy, wonderful lengths we go to for love and acceptance.
Length: 102,000 words
Series: San Francisco Sex Gods Book 1
Genre: Contemporary
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Slow Burn, Found Family, Makeover, Virgin
Silver Medal Winner, LGBT Fiction – 2024 Global Book Awards
Eventually, even sex gods fall in love.
Spencer’s thirtieth birthday is right around the corner, and he wants to say goodbye to his twenties with a bang. Literally.
As a self-proclaimed sex god, Spencer has sworn off love and dedicated himself to finishing his F***-it List – a collection of wild fantasies he’s checked off one by one. Now, only one fantasy remains: rock a virgin’s world with a night of unforgettable sex.
Shy, sweet Mickey seems like the perfect candidate, but he’ll need a major confidence boost before he’s ready to go all the way. Hoping for a chance to be Mickey’s first, Spencer makes him an offer he can’t refuse – he’ll transform Mickey into San Francisco’s next sex god.
Mickey, who’s always felt out of step with the gay scene, jumps at the chance to reinvent himself. It isn’t long, though, before styling tips and flirting lessons give way to stolen glances and heart-to-heart conversations, and what started as a playful makeover begins to look a lot like falling in love.
For Spencer, feelings were never part of the plan. But as Mickey blossoms into a self-assured man and their connection deepens, Spencer is forced to ask himself: is Mickey just another checkmark on his list, or could he be the man who finally makes Spencer believe in love?
EXCERPT:
This excerpt from Better Than Sex is the moment when Spencer and Mickey first cross paths, thanks to a stuffed tiger named Mister Stripes.
(P.S. Mickey is not married. He’s a nanny for the young boy. The woman he’s with is his best friend, Jazz.)
“Look on the bright side, man,” Xander said, patting Spencer’s chest. “You may be turning thirty, but at least you aren’t married and stuck with kids.”
Spencer pretended to shudder. “Don’t even joke about that, dude.” He returned his attention to the young couple. The woman had her hair pulled back into a ponytail and was wearing a lilac-colored blouse. She was attractive enough, but her boyfriend had obviously given up a long time ago. He was dressed in a T-shirt that was at least two sizes too big and cargo shorts with bulging pockets that covered his knees. Typical dad. No longer dressing for the ladies. Poor guy probably hadn’t gotten laid in months.
The man’s children, who still possessed the capacity for joy, launched into a spirited game of patty-cake. Their hands moved faster and faster until the game devolved into a blur of flailing limbs. The boy’s elbow bumped into a stuffed tiger that had been propped up in the wagon behind him, sending the doll tumbling to the sidewalk. Neither of the children took notice of the tiger’s abrupt departure.
Spencer knew how this story ended. The happy little family would continue on their way, blissfully unaware of the Chernobyl-level meltdown waiting for them at their destination when the kid realized his stuffed animal was gone.
“Hey, wait up!” He jogged toward the couple, scooping up the doll on the way. “You in the blue shirt! Wait!”
The guy stopped and looked around in obvious confusion, finally focusing on Spencer. “Are you talking to me?”
Spencer walked a few steps closer. Momentarily at a loss for words, he simply nodded. Despite the guy’s disheveled hair and untrimmed beard, he was unexpectedly attractive. Spencer was transfixed by the man’s eyes. They were fascinating, a color Spencer had never seen before – amber, almost gold – and perfectly framed by long lashes and bold expressive eyebrows.Â
Honey. His eyes are the color of honey.
The man’s lips curved into a diffident smile. “Hi.”
“Hi.” A pleasant warmth pooled in Spencer’s belly. “I…would you…?” Would you like to go someplace private and fool around?Â
Jesus Christ, pump the brakes. He’s a straight guy. With kids.
An adorable crimson flush warmed the other man’s cheeks. “Yeah?” When Spencer didn’t immediately answer, he bit his bottom lip and averted his gaze.
Although Kit’s been writing stories since he was a teenager, it wasn’t until 2020 that he stumbled upon the world of M/M romance. Obsessed with the love story between David and Patrick on Schitt’s Creek, he longed to experience more stories about relatable men in healthy, loving, same-sex relationships. Imagine his delight when he discovered that M/M romance is a thriving niche!
Kit loves crafting sexy, funny, and heart-warming stories about men that feel like they could be your best friends (or boyfriends).
He’s a tailor by trade – and yes, someday he will write a romance about a tailor – and lives in Portland, Oregon. When he’s not reading or writing, he’s watching scary movies, putting together miniature kits, or listening to episodes of The Why Files on YouTube while he sews.
FOLLOW KIT
Website: www.kiterikson.com
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