SARA CATE is an erotic and taboo romance author, who writes kink-positive stories that will make your heart race. Her latest book in the ‘Salacious Player’s Club’ universe is Rule of Three, where three completely different characters become entangled in a passionate love affair.
Read on for a Q&A with the author on how she writes her spicy stories.
MEET SARA CATE
‘The Salacious Player’s Club’ is a series that follows the taboo romances of the owners and employees of a high-end nightclub. Why did you decide to keep following the story with this new spin-off ‘Salacious Legacy.’
The ‘Salacious Universe’ is a world I never want to leave. I knew I had created a place where readers felt safe and empowered, and I wasn’t ready to let that go. I think we’ve all grown so attached to these characters, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to launch a new series – an entry point for new readers and a place for existing readers to return to.
And while it might seem strange for a group of owners to pass down a sex club to their adult kids, ‘Salacious’ is a world where kink is embraced and celebrated instead of shamed and shied away from. So in this world, it’s a totally normal legacy to pass down.
Where did you get the idea for The Rule of Three?
The Rule of Three was such a fun writing experience because instead of plotting the entire story through – like I often do – I put these three characters into a situation and followed their lead. I knew I wanted an elevator scene, so I stranded Freya, Archer, and Julian in an elevator in Paris for twelve hours where a new and unique relationship bloomed. Then, I let them run the show.
They each had their own character growth journeys, but the dynamic between them was very organic and grew through them. I didn’t know how they would respond to being in a throuple. I experienced all of the excitement, confusion, and even the awkwardness with them.
Out of the three main characters in this book, Julian, Freya and Archer, who was your favourite character to write?
I loved writing them all, but I had the most fun with Archer Wilde. He is a street fighting golden retriever with imposter syndrome and the boldest and scariest kink I’ve ever written.
Can you tell us more about Freya? How does she react to being swept into a romance with not one, but two billionaires?
Freya is such a complex and beautiful character. She’s a second generation Indian-American immigrant living in Paris and trying to make it as a professional chef alone, so on top of dealing with imposter syndrome, suffocating stress, homesickness and an identity crisis, she’s thrown into a sexual awakening with not one, but two billionaires. She handles it all like the queen she is, but it was definitely a challenge for me as a writer to find a balance in all of that to show this character grow in herself and in her relationship.
She reacts like I think a lot of us would in this situation. It’s fun at first – being pampered and adored by two men she loves – but eventually reality sets in, and not in romance novels does the happily ever after come easy. Freya handles it all a lot better than I would honestly.
How would you describe the relationship in The Rule of Three?
I’m no stranger to writing poly romance. The Rule of Three is my sixth true throuple romance. It’s a dynamic I love writing about because it is never the same. No unit has the same experience as another. The struggles, intimacy, enjoyment, and road to HEA are so different every single time.
They are a challenge to me as a writer because I have to juggle three brains instead of two. I have to manage the balancing act of knowing where each one stands at any given time. Who is on board? Who is still doubting it? Who is feeling left out? Who is getting too much attention? Is the triangle balanced with strong relationships between each two-person dynamic within the polycule?
It’s a lot.
But it’s such a rewarding dynamic to explore as a character-driven author. Plus, the spicy scenes are more fun.
The ‘Salacious Players Club’ series began in 2022, so you’ve been writing and publishing all throughout the current rise in romance books and the normalisation of smut and spicy content being advertised. How would you personally describe the current attitudes towards explicit romance? Have you seen an evolution in what readers are demanding in their spicy books?
We’ve come a long way for sure. I see spicy romance on end caps in major retailers, and I think we have BookTok to thank for this romance novel renaissance. And now, with the massive success of Heated Rivalry, we finally get to see the romance genre – and queer stories at that! – getting the recognition as true literature it deserves.
However, I wish we didn’t need to hide these stories behind flowery discreet and cartoon character covers. I remember a time when romance novels were printed with stunning bodice ripper artwork, and I’d love to see that level of pride in romance again. It’s nothing to hide or shame.
I get so many messages from readers saying that my books were the first romance they read and that they helped them find their sexuality. So as for what readers are demanding, I think we hear people say ‘more spice!’ but what they really want is spice they can connect with. Spice through characters they relate to.
As a kink-positive writer, what are some of the most common stereotypes around kink that you would like to dispel? Do you address the massive variety of kink culture in The Rule of Three?
The Rule of Three has more kink variety than I’ve ever written before. Freya, Archer, and Julian bring their own individual desires into the relationship, so we are exploring a lot in this book. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that I do tackle a kink that makes many people uncomfortable. The reaction to this kink is often laughing or cringing.
But the thing that I’m always trying to show my readers is that kink is so human. It’s not foreign or weird or strange. It can be romantic and sweet. Everyone has this image in their heads that BDSM and kink involves only black leather and whips, but kink is multi-layered with a rainbow of options and appearances. This is where characters discover themselves, and when they can do that with someone they trust and love, what could possibly be more romantic than that?
What was the most rewarding part of writing Rule of Three, and where do you see the series going next?
The most rewarding part was definitely writing Freya Kapoor. This was my first time writing an Indian character. I worked with the most brilliant sensitivity reader and together we did a deep dive into culture, food, history, family, and identity. She taught me so much, but I had to really work for it. I worked harder on Freya than I think I’ve ever worked on a character before, and I’m so proud of this beautiful character who came out of it.
I’m so excited for where this series is going. I do have a crystal ball in that I’ve already written the next two books, but I will say that I write more kinks that are new to me, which is such a fun experience for someone who writes as much as I do. Even when I write the same ones again, it feels brand new because of what this second generation brings.
If you could be trapped in an elevator with two other people (living or dead), who would they be?
Oh wow! Great question. I’d love to say something brilliant like Lord Byron and Emily Dickinson, but I’m just a girl. So, I’m gonna say… Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. Haha!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sara Cate is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, forbidden romance. Her stories are known for their heart-wrenching plots and toe-curling heat. Living in Arizona with her husband and kids, Sara spends most of her time working in her office with her Goldendoodle by her side.
Visit the publisher’s website here.
0 Comments