Write What You Know: Erotica

Admit it.

You got your first look at E.L. James and thought, She's writing erotic fiction? This housewife-y creature? What does she know about pornography?

Good fiction is all about writing what you know, and sure Ms. James could have done hours of research, but for really good porn, wouldn't you trust an author who knows a thing or two about the subject?

Little wonder that Beth de Guzman at Grand Central Publishing snagged a novel in a pre-empt. For those left hungry for more after consuming the complete "Fifty Shades" trilogy, they'll be ready for a pornographic feast and that means big sales...and big profits.

Porn star Sasha Grey will soon shine as a literary light.

The star of Butt Sex Bonanza and I Wanna Bang Your Sister has penned a novel that she says will bring the erotic novel back to its origins. It's to be all about female sexuality as a mysterious force, all sensuality.

The Juliette Society is sure to be highly anticipated by those who question the bondage themes that were made popular by E. L. James, in which the female is weak but willing.

Ms. Grey's protagonist will be a strong woman. So are we to expect more of a dominatrix type? Whips and chains, but the male half of the relationship getting tied up? We'll just have to wait for the first excerpts to be leaked to find out.

With her many experiences in porn to draw from, Ms. Grey had plenty of varied material (to say nothing of varied sexual positions) to flesh out her imaginary characters. As an actress, she's used to the world of pretend, which is not to say that her female characters are going to fake anything. Her flights of literary fancy will be influenced by her experiences as an actress on a stage set, in which reality is what lighting and stage sets make it to be.

And the best part of all?

E-books are discrete, no covers to tip off your seatmate on the train that you're delving into pornography rather than Saul Bellow. While the hard copy (no pun intended, no Viagra jokes please) might not be a runaway best seller, the digital version could outstrip Ms. James' sales figures.

For now, sex is selling as a mainstream commodity. Whether the book-buying public will still be interested, or will have grown jaded, is a gamble that the publisher is making. They might want to push publication forward, to catch the wave before it breaks up on the shore.