The Forty Files

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King

I turned to smut this summer and I haven’t looked back. Let me be clear that I love a serious book and most of my favorite books are classics. Give me soulful and inspired literature all day. But I owe a great debt of gratitude to a friend who told me last spring, “read something that pulls you out of your normal routine.” Before her advice we had been commiserating about book burnout. So I picked up a beach read and never looked back. Now I’m fully invested in reading these smutty books that have sub=genres I never saw coming.

I tend to be patterned in my likes and dislikes. I think this is common. So much of what I was reading was serious and intensely emotional. This aspect of reading, partnered with serious demands personally and professionally, led to some overwhelming obstacles. I write best when I read most, but I don’t like to write what I’m reading about. I hope that makes sense because it pretty much expresses my process and personality perfectly.

This smutty book scene is such an escape and I find it to be a welcomed distraction from the things that can too easily consume me. So to the smut, writers, I raise my glass. And to the friend who reminded me to try something different, thank you.