Sex scene

Of all the things to write about, a sex scene must be the most difficult, because certainly it is one of the things most likely to put readers off if you get it wrong!

Because I write about relationships it would seem strange if there was not an intimate side to my characters. The first book I published with an explicit scene was ‘The Stalking of Rosa Czekov’ and it was really important that is should be described – it was a crucial plot device and I couldn’t have a veil drawn over what happened, the reader needed to know. I pondered long on how to do it, and how much I needed to describe, and again, as those of you who have read the book will know  there needed to be detail because of the characters involved. In ‘Loving Judah’ there is another major scene when two characters get overtaken by passion; and once again it was an important part of the plot that it should happen.

In ‘Night Vision’ the sexual relations are between Beulah and her husband Neil, nothing improper at all. They love each other, it is a natural and wonderful part of marriage, but… but, as you will read, what happens and where and how is vital to the plot. It would be  a cop out to have them falling into each other’s arms and then waking up the next morning without the reader knowing what happened …

However uneasy some readers may feel about it, those scenes have to be there. As I edit it now I have debated whether to change anything, to make it less specific, but no, those scenes have to be described otherwise the story would not make sense.

I know when I publish it, though, I will feel a little anxious!