Get ready to learn more about the book Changing Perspectives in this discussion with sapphic author Jen Silver.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Jen Silver about Changing Perspectives, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the BDSM category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Changing Perspectives?
I started writing this book in 1993. I wanted to write a story about how two very different women could meet and, possibly, fall in love. Dani is a sub who likes being beaten. Having reached her mid-thirties, she’s given up on finding a lover who can fulfill her needs. Ice queen, Camila, would fit the bill perfectly but she’s still very much in the closet and wouldn’t even know where to start with being the dominatrix partner Dani desires.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Dani is my favourite character. It was her story I set out to tell. I’ve been asked this before, and the answer is that she is very different to me. I don’t have any first hand experience regarding her sexual preferences.
What inspired the idea for Changing Perspectives?
I was working in London in the early 1990s – and one day on my way to work saw a women dressed fully in black leather, with studded belt and chains hanging off parts of the jacket. She stayed in my mind as I thought about where she was going in that outfit, or where she had come from early in the morning.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
Changing Perspectives was the working title, but it stuck as it became clear that both main characters needed to change their views about the contrasts in their lives if they were going to engage in a long=term relationship.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I did write a sequel of sorts. Changing Times, published in 2022 is the story moved on thirty years. So it was a chance to revisit the original characters now in their late sixties, early seventies while focusing mainly on the younger generation.
What is your favorite line from your book?
It’s from a scene where straight-laced Camila walks into a sex shop in Berlin: “Um, I don’t know if you can help me. I’m looking for something a bit more…” She waved her arms around, indicating the merchandise on display. “…adventurous.”
What is your writing process like?
I’m very much a pantser. It can be frustrating when I reach the middle part of a story and I’m not sure where it’s going. However, on the plus side, this does result in some unexpected twists. I like to think that if I’m surprised, then readers will be too.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Finishing writing the book is really just the start of another journey. I don’t tend to celebrate until after I’ve submitted the book and had it accepted for publication. It’s a relief then to know that a few others have read it and liked it – not just my wife. That’s usually the moment to enjoy a glass of champagne.
Is there a particular genre you would love to write but only under a pseudonym?
I probably should have written Changing Perspectives under a pseudonym as it’s very different from my other books which mainly fit in the contemporary romance genre. I’m drawn to science fiction and fantasy. Most recently getting into reading romantasy books from Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J Maas. So much so that the main character of my latest book, A Wild Moon Rises, is an author who has gained success in writing stories featuring dragons.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
This probably sounds very trite – but it’s very true: you can’t edit a blank page. So the best thing to do is sit down and start writing. It doesn’t matter what it is, because you can always go back and change it. I can’t remember who may have told me this. I’ve always enjoyed writing stories from a very young age. The other piece of advice most widely touted is ‘write about what you know’. This is a good idea in some respects, but could be quite limiting. If everyone did this, there would be no science fiction, fantasy or crime novels.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
Being able to research almost anything online is wonderful. But there are times when it’s a good idea to find some original source material, either from printed books or talking to experts. Whenever I’ve had scenes involving police work, I talk to my friend who had thirty years in the service.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
I enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy. But I was fortunate to grow up in a house full of books, so my reading over the years has covered classics from Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, the Brontes, Italo Calvino, Virginia Woolf, and many others.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
I reread many books. Sometimes if I’ve downloaded a book on my Kindle, I will buy a print copy as I know I’ll want to read it again. Some books I go back to immediately after finishing, others it may be years. I usually find something in the books I’ve missed, or misinterpreted. With books I read a long time ago, I’ll find that my perception of characters and events have changed as I’ve aged and have more experience to draw on.
