Jocelyn Han is the author of the Stardust Erotic romance series.
1) What originally inspired you to get into writing?
I guess reading romantic fiction inspired me to write my own stuff. I was a bit funny in the sense that I liked really romantic stories, but I also liked steamy novels – and when I was younger, books combining the two didn’t seem to exist. It was either clean romance or sex-focused stories without any build-up between the main characters. So I started to write ‘erotic romance’ during my teenage years to make up for the lack of nice books. Also, this was a perfect way to fantasize about hot celebs – writing stories with them as the male protagonist 😉
2) Where did the idea for the series spring from?
Originally, I had a few scattered stories about couples, all set in a futuristic world. When I thought I was ready to publish them, it occurred to me that I could link them up by doing a little bit more world-building and by making the different main characters friends, so I could turn it into a series. I have been a fan of Star Trek for the longest time, so a colonized solar system and with space stations orbiting various planets really sparked my imagination, plus the fact that Star Trek series have a regular cast of characters, yet tell a different story each week (or spread out over a couple of weeks, especially in the DS9 series). I think there’ll be at least three more books in the series, because I can’t stop thinking about new situations and adventures for my characters, and at some point, I will have to give my characters what they want (it really feels like that sometimes 🙂
3) Are there any characters that you feel particularly able to relate to in your books?
I can always relate to the female characters in my books, because they are all a certain part of me. For example, Ava, the character in Fly You To The Moon (the first book in the series) really stands up for what she believes in, and isn’t interested in what society thinks about it. Tori, the female lead in Make You See Stars (book 2) is quite shy sexually and needs to learn how to trust again – something I can definitely relate to as well. And Lana, the heroine in book 3, is irresistibly attracted to the bad boy, even though she knows it’s not wise. She even strives to discover the good in him despite him being not a very good person. And that comes awefully close to what I used to do, and still sometimes do.
4) Who do you anticipate being the heroes/heroines in upcoming books?
I expect some people from the supporting cast in the previous books to take center stage and tell their story. I already have a storyline set up with Georgie (Ava’s best friend in book 1) for book 4. Beyond that, I don’t know yet, but I’m sure I won’t be out of inspiration any time soon! 🙂
5) Which book so far is your favourite?
Oh, that’s a difficult question! Every book has its highlights. Fly You To The Moon was the start of the series, so that feels like a milestone to me. Make You See Stars has a lot of snarky dialogue between the two main characters that I really enjoyed writing. Chase You To The Sun was a challenge for me, because I had to write a romance between a naive girl and a bad guy who really was bad, but had to be convincing as a romantic interest, too. Somehow, writing that book was more emotional for me than writing the other two.
6) Do you have an outline for the book, or just start from where the idea comes?
Yes, I always have an outline, but sometimes, I deviate from it because I suddenly realise something else might work a lot better!
7) Have there been any particular scenes that you found particularly difficult to write?
The first sex scene in the first book, knowing that people would actually be reading that!
8) Conversely, has there been anything that has been easy to write about?
Every sex scene after that, because I’d conquered my initial embarassment 🙂
9) Are any of your characters inspired/based on real people?
I do have certain guys in mind when I write about the male protagonist ( usually actors or other famous people) but of course, I have no idea what they’re actually like, so I can’t say their personalities were inspired by those celebs! Their looks and charisma definitely are, though 🙂
10) Are there any particular authors or books that have been your inspiration?
One of the reasons I started writing erotic romance stories was that I couldn’t find many books in that department when I was younger, so in this case, nobody particularly comes to mind!
11) Do you have any advice/pearls of wisdom for budding writers?
If you have an idea for a story, don’t let anybody stop you from writing it down. But don’t publish too quickly – have a few people read it, or put it aside and read it again after a couple of weeks to see if you want to change things. The first book is the hardest, so don’t feel pushed to finish it until you’re absolutely sure it IS finished!
Ink of Blood 