Interview with Author Alethea Faust
Alethea Faust is a writer of kinky, queer, erotic epic fantasy. Things you can expect to find in their works are risk-aware consensual kink, hard BDSM, non-toxic masculinity, kind and emotionally mature adults, and a lot of butt stuff.
Their debut novel Initiation is the first in the epic Sex Wizards series set in a sex-positive, magical world. The book contains a kink-based magic system and a cast of pansexual, polyamorous, fantasy race, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and intersex characters.
When they're not writing, Alethea can be found with their nose buried in a book or roaming the wilds of their state with their mustang and their adventure-loving Pomeranian.
To start off, we need to talk about Sex Wizards. What was your inspiration?
This series was spawned from a longtime love of Dungeons & Dragons and a simultaneous special interest in kink and the BDSM community! Combining the two into one epic series just made sense in my head, and what started as a Covid catharsis project that I assumed no one would want to read turned into a life-changing canon event for me!
We LOVE the idea and execution of your kink-based magic system. How did you go about developing this system and what are the biggest challenges within it?
This entire magic system was developed over the course of a single D&D session, and I'm as shocked as you are that it works as well as it does! The biggest challenge is keeping it new and interesting over the course of a six-book series, but on the other side of the coin, it's been so fun seeing just how far I can take this magic system!
What do you hope that readers take away from this series?
That consent is sexy and engaging in kink doesn't have to be so serious. Kink can be fun and silly and still be ridiculously hot. If these stories leave a positive impression in any way, my job is done! I've gotten DMs from readers telling me how my stories helped them realize something about their own gender or sexuality. Others have told me how my books helped reignite intimacy in their own relationships, and I'm just thrilled that my stories have had a positive change on the people who pick them up.
What is your best advice for writing romance?
It's all about creating engaging, fully fledged characters. If your characters feel and act like real people, it's so much easier to get people invested in their stories!
"Write what you know is such BS advice. Do you think I knew how to be a sex wizard? Absolutely not. If you don't know it but want to write about it, use it as an excuse to learn something new!"
What made you want to be an author?
It's kind of a weird career choice for me. I've always been a bit of a storyteller, but I'm dyslexic, and reading was a struggle for me for a very long time. It wasn't until I discovered fantasy books that I found the stories that were worth the effort. Authors like Tamora Pierce, Holly Black, and Laini Taylor sparked an obsession, and it wasn't long after that I decided that's what I wanted to be when I grew up.
What is your favorite thing about indie publishing?
It's honestly hard to pick just one thing! I love the freedom to write the queer happy endings I've always craved from other media, I love interacting with other amazing authors, and I love the community that I've found through these stories!
What is some advice that you'd give to fellow indie authors?
Write the stories you want to read. Chances are there's someone else out there who wants to read that story, too!
What are some other indie romances that we need to read?
On no, there are so many. I HIGHLY recommend Kate Hawthorne and Em Denning for contemporary kink, both angsty and sweet. I'm currently binging Iris Foxglove's Starian Cycle books which I'm ADORING. Jem Zero and Lionel Hart also write amazing paranormal and fantasy stories, and we love trans books written by trans creators. You can't go wrong with C. Rochelle or Clio Evans, and AJ Truman is my go-to when I need something cozy and spicy!
What is the best way to support you as an indie author?
Talking about my books is definitely the best way to support me! My books are too spicy to advertise through conventional means, so I live entirely by word of mouth. Though if you want a more direct way to support me, I have a Patreon! And in return for joining on over there, you get exclusive stories, sneak peeks, and artwork!
If you want to make sure to stay up to date on Alethea's books & news, there are plenty of ways to do so! They can be found all across social media on Tiktok, Instagram, and Facebook, though they have exclusive stories and advanced chapters available on their Patreon! All links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/aletheafaust
What’s next for you?
The Loving Proudly anthology was just released on February 1st, and it features a brand new story about an arranged marriage, a Knight, a King, and their Queen! All proceeds for this anthology will go to the ACLU in support of queer individuals and their legal battles in the US. Book 5 of the Sex Wizards series is also coming later this year! Be sure to follow me on socials for cover and release date announcements!
To close, we'll end on two truths and a lie about Alethea!
- I started posting Sex Wizards on AO3 and Literotica before I ever published them
- I've wrestled a pregnant alligator
- I've been unhorsed while participating in a jousting tournament
(the answer: Alethea has never been unhorsed)
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