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How did you choose your pen name (and/or what does your pen name mean)?
My pen name is a combination of my middle name (Michelle) and The French word Bon (which means good and looks like my last name less the d) and a slang spelling of the word lover (Luva) so together it’s BonLuva, which means good lover.
Why (and how) did you begin writing erotic fiction?
The “Gift” was my first endeavor at writing erotic fiction and the story came to me during a period in which I was going through a devastating breakup and I was lonely and horny. So one sleepless night I just started writing and all of my emotion just started to flow.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing seriously about five years ago, after I let some friends and other writers read the first versions of the “Gift” which at that time was a very short story, the feed back I received from people was overwhelmingly positive. I learned that there was a lack of well written, HOT lesbian erotica, and I realized that I could help to change that by the responses I received from my lesbian friends who begged me to write more about the characters Sharry and Karra and others like them. People told me that they either identified with characters in the story, or were reminded of people they knew by the characters. After that I was on a mission to tell stories about people whose voices and experiences aren’t normally heard.
How do you get ideas for your work?
I draw ideas from my personal experiences, my fantasies, and the experiences of people I’ve known throughout my life.
How long does it typically take to write a piece?
That’s the best question so far, honestly… from two hours to forever. I suffer from writers’ block, procrastination, lack of discipline, and bad time management. I live a busy life style aside from writing, which does not pay the rent YET. I am a social worker so I have to write a great deal for my job, which some time’s takes away from my time to write creatively.
How does your work reflect (or compare to) your real life experiences?
I only write about what I know which is my perspective on the lesbian life style that I’ve been exposed to since I came out at age 19, and life in general. I have seen and done a lot of things and I try to write about people and situations I’ve dealt with or other people’s experiences who I’ve known. All of my characters are parts of me or people I’ve known.
What creative projects are you working on right now?
I’m working on a four-story novella, each story focusing on different urban erotic themes. I’ve completed two so far and I am working on the third. My current projects are different because I’m stretching out creatively and writing about other types of characters, whose stories are just as rich as my lesbian characters.
Has your work been published anywhere else? If yes, where?
I have not published anywhere else. I am looking for a good opportunity so if any one is interested hit me up at Bonluva@msn.com I’m looking for an opportunity to work with a progressive publishing company and or literary agent who recognizes talent ( I gotta plug myself here a little Kuma) and wants to make money as well as enlighten and entertain the masses. But I plan to be selective when the opportunity comes, because I have heard some horror stories. So Sista writers beware don’t sell yourself cheap.
When can we look forward to reading something else by you on Kuma?
Very soon, I hope.
If you had to choose, which one of your own stories or poems published with Kuma would you say is your favorite?
The only one I’ve published here is “The Gift”, naturally it’s my favorite.
Which stories and/or poetry on Kuma do you like that were NOT written by you?
I’ve enjoyed so many of the stories and poems I’ve read on Kuma, it’s hard to name one specifically, it dishonors all my Sista writers to just pick one.
Please tell us one thing you do for fun.
I love to lounge at the Beach, that’s my number one favorite thing to do, just chilling, with some one special or alone just me and God. Prayer and Meditation are huge in my life right now.