This interview is part of Wicked Fairy Tales Month at ForbiddenFiction.com. With the launch of our first anthology of erotic fairy tales, we decided to give folks more of a glimpse behind the scenes. So, to celebrate, we will have a drawing, author and staff interviews, and other fun bonus materials. For more information on this an the Wicked Fairy Tales anthology, see HERE.

Kailin Morgan

Kailin Morgan has always been an avid reader and is now a (somewhat) dedicated writer. Although most of her writing is m/m, she loves writing strong female supporting characters. Her writing tends towards the supernatural. She likes trying to do something new with old tropes—place them into everyday settings, shake things up and see what happens. Now a slave to the muse, Kailin spends many hours hiding from the Scottish weather, hunched over her laptop, typing feverishly whilst existing solely on caffeine.

INTERVIEW with Author:

What was your favorite fairy tale as a child and why?

I was a voracious reader so my parents were forced to find the more obscure ones, like the Andrew Lang books as well as Grimm. The one that sticks most in my mind was the Six Swans (or the Wild Swans) about the young girl forcing herself to stay mute and torturing herself to save her brothers. She marries and has children all in silence. Her children are taken from her by her mother-in-law. Although at the end the curse is lifted, it is not a completely happy ending. Why did I like it? The same reason I liked all off them, they told the truth - life is grim (excuse the pun) and doesn't always have a happy ending and people dislike you for no real reason.

What is your favorite as an adult and why?

As an adult, I don't think my tastes have changed. I like the darker ones. I also discovered myths as I grew older - Persephone, Heracles, the Argonauts - tales of adventure and gods and fickle Fates. I like some of the modern re-tellings, such as the 10th Kingdom tv mini-series. Juliet Marillier's retelling of the Six Swans was epic and gorgeous. The sickly sweet Disney ones have no room in my house.

Most people think of fairy tales as children's stories. What makes a fairy tale erotic?

Fairy tales are all about power. The power to appear beautiful, to be the strongest, to be better or defeat someone else. They deal with primal instincts - hunger in Hansel and Gretel, pride in Snow White, in fact you could probably find one for each of the seven sins. Power is erotic. The thought of walking into someone else's house while they are out, rolling around in their bed; having a beautiful girl at your mercy until she can guess your name; having a fairy godmother who can transform you into a supermodel. They hit our deepest, secret desires. It really doesn't take much twisting of the tale.

Would you describe for us your writing process?

I sit and stare at the screen, letting the thoughts percolate and then just type. Usually, I work from a prompt or an idea and maybe have a character or two visualised in my head then I start writing and wait to see what happens to the story. I hardly ever pre-plan the ending, I mostly write as the story is read - from beginning to end and then go back and add occasional details to bring out later issues once I know what they are. I never have reams of character design, or plot points laid out. That kind of writing doesn't work for me, it's definitely more organic. And sometimes (most times) I finish the story and re-read it and go 'Oh, so that's what it was about! I thought it was going to be about something else.'

How did you come up with the idea for your story (or stories) in the Wicked Fairy Tales collection?

Forever After started with that first line - and a little bit of me (the library employment) and went from there. I had been overdosing on The Big Bang Theory so that's where the clothes came from (thanks Howie). I had been writing such dark stories (and reading them) and really, I just wanted something happy and fluffy and although it tried to go angsty, I wrestled it back and got my happy ending.

Red and the Wolf was harder. I'd started retelling Beauty and the Beast, but I didn't really like using a possibly under-age character (I think they were around 17) so I thought about what I liked - fantasy - and what I could do with it. It was meant to be sexier and less angsty but then backstory happened and the power dynamic changed and Aiden turned out to be not who I thought he was at the start. It was much harder adding the fairy tale to this and it is mostly just hints and nods of the hat.

AVAILABLE NOW:

Saint of the Sinners by Kailin Morgan Novella (26,000 words) Genre(s): Western, Historical, Gay, Romance Samuel Harrison is a Marshal, on the trail of a pair of thieves that have been causing trouble in various States on their way out West. He knows the temptation of newly minted gold coins will be too much to resist. Gold isn't the only temptation to be found in the small town of Salvation. Will he give in to his desire for a beautiful man or arrest him? (M/M)

Judge Not by Kailin Morgan Short Story (4880 words) Genre(s): Supernatural, Gay, BDSM Matt is gay, but has given up love rather than accept it. Hiding from himself as well as the rest of the world, he works hard and goes home alone. Until one night he doesn't make it home. He steps into the underworld of the Earl's Court where he will be punished for his mistakes—and maybe get a second chance. (M/M)

Red and the Wolf by Kailin Morgan Novella (20,000 words) Genre(s): Contemporary, Fantasy, Gay, Romance Aidan is content. He's got a good job, nice house and is comfortable in the small town—far away from anyone who knows his secrets. Yet, he feels the prickle of something stalking him. It doesn't help when a stranger starts insinuating his way into Aidan's life. Newcomer Seth is attractive in a way that stirs something in Aidan he had thought long buried. Can he keep his secret and continue in his solitary life or will events conspire against him to drag the truth into the light and change everything? (M/M) Also available in the Wicked Fairy Tales anthology.

Forever After by Kailin Morgan Short Story (4880 words) Genre(s): Fantasy, Gay, Romance Dan is trying to live an ordinary life, well as ordinary as you can in the Kingdom. He has a good job working in the Library of Stories, even if his boss is a little flat—he is a magic mirror, after all. Then one day, Dan slips up and utters two little words—five tiny little letters—that are about to spin his story around and fill it with colour and laughter—and a Fairy Godmother. Who is a man. A man who sparkles. (M/M) Also available in the Wicked Fairy Tales anthology.

Underneath It All by Kailin Morgan Short Story (5870 words) Genre(s): Supernatural, Horror Amy is rushing to get the last underground train home when she hears the cries of something in pain from along the dark deserted platform. She can't resist the instinct to help and the beautiful creature she finds can't resist taking her innocence. (M/F)

Stone Cold Heart by Kailin Morgan Short Story (4021 words) Genre(s): Paranormal, Horror Jason's got it all – good looks, nice car, his own company, staff that double as friends. When his friends persuade him to take a night out with them to enjoy himself, he never plans on risking it all to follow a stranger out into the night. (M/M) Also available in the Touched by Death anthology.

And more works in development!