BEHIND THE WRITING OF ANYTHING GOES

Where do I start? Honesty is always the best place to start. Right? Right.

Anything Goes is a culmination of three minds: Jessica, Leslie and Jo. Who are Leslie and Jo, you ask?

Well, Leslie Walker is my sister, in every since of the word. Our fathers go as far as the sandbox; childhood friends. We think alike. We act alike. We're sisters, except we have different parents. We're like two peas in a pod. Whatever happens to her will eventually happen to me, and vice versa. I know that sounds crazy, and it is, but very true. Although we've had our ups and downs, like most friends, we've weathered the storms. She's my potty mouth sister. That chick can out cuss a sailor!

What about Jo? Well, Jo Chubbs and I go way back to Kelly Miller Junior High School in NE Washington, DC. Jo is my road dawg. I've known that woman since the 7th grade!

Now that you've met the culprits behind Anything Goes, let me tell you how it all started.  It was February 2002. I was reading Homecourt Advantage by Rita Ewing and Crystal McCrary-Anthony. Let me stated that I'd always been an avid reader, reading at least three books per week. I was a borderline book junkie. While reading Homecourt Advantage, I had heard something, as if someone was whispering in my ear. The voice said, "You can do that too." And, without a second thought, I tossed the book to the side and made a hasty beeline to my computer. I had no idea what I was going to write about; didn't have a cut as to how to begin. I rested my fingers on the keyboard and typed the first line that came to mind. The only thing I have shopped for in the past week or so is underwear. It was that one naughty line that ignited my writing career. Two hours later, I had completed the first chapter of Anything Goes. It was pretty late, and time for bed, but I was anxious. I couldn't want to call Leslie in the morning to tell her about the book I was writing.

The next morning, at 6:00 AM, on the nose, I called Leslie. I remember it as if it were yesterday.

"Hey, you up yet?"

"Yep, what's up, baby girl?" She always called me baby girl. I think I've outgrown it, 'cause she simply calls me Jessie now.

"I want to read you something."

"Okay, I'm listening."

"The only thing I have shopped for in the past week or so is underwear," I began to read her Chapter One.

Leslie was as quiet as a mouse, listening intently. Leslie, too, was a reader, but not quite as many books a week as I would read. It would have to be a book that snatched her attention from the first opening line for her to sit down and read it. Leslie and I both are E. Lynn Harris fans!

When I finished reading the chapter, Leslie said, "Damn, that was good. Let me read that book when you're finished."

"Okay, you can read it when I've finished writing it!"

"Huh? Shut up! You wrote that?"

Head nod. "Yup!"

From that day forward, around the same time every morning, I would read Leslie what I had written and she would give me her input, making suggestions. At this point, Jo didn't know what I was doing. I hadn't told her yet. Jo didn't find out until I was half-way through the book.

The original title was Sexcapades, because the main character, Raven, was a straight up slut, legs were opened like 7-11. A regular free for all, frankly. However, that title didn't sit well with Leslie. We pondered for days on a title, until one day she said, "That Raven is an anything goes bitch."

"That's the title," I'd exclaimed. "Anything Goes!"

When the book was done, I past it on to Jo for her to read, edit and critique. I wish I'd known then, what I know now. Never have your friends, cousins, aunts, grannies, and anyone else edit your book. LOL  Don't get me wrong, Jo did a fantastic job, but I'd wished I'd had the manuscript professionally edited. One thing new authors do is cut corners, because self-publishing can be expensive. However, I'd learned that editing is one thing you do not cut corners on.

During that experience, I learned that Jo was a comma-holic. She was addicted to commas. It really drove me up the damn wall, and she knew it too. We would have it over those commas, because I got sick and tired of having to into the electronic file and place a million commas in 200 pages. Jo works for a law firm, so maybe that's why she was so in love with commas. Today, she still loves commas. They're drenched in her emails. LOL She's going to kill me, but I love her so much, she'll get over it!

So, that's the story of Anything Goes.

Huh? What did you say? Wow, I knew you were going to ask me about the anal beads, dildo and the lesbian scene. :::deep sigh:::  Do I really have to answer that question? Okay, in short...

No, I've never used anal beads, although my friends (I'll use their initials) JD and TC told me about them. :::giggling::: Lord, they are going to kill me!

Yes, I do own a dildo, and I can't stand it. It's big, too. I prefer the silver bullet. The dildo takes too much arm action, and by the time I have an orgasm, my arm's tired. However, though, in 2002 when I wrote Anything Goes, I was married and didn't need a dildo. To be honest, I'm not really sure where the idea came from for Raven to use a dildo on Ramone. Well, I wrote a scene where Raven indulged in a love scene with Marcy; merely to seek revenge on Jay, Marcy's current beau and the SOB who left Raven at the altar. And, Marcy introduced Raven to the dildo and boy did Raven wax Marcy's ass... Oh sorry. Anyway...I won't say anymore. You'll have to read it for yourselves!

No, I've never been with another woman, and while I respect everyone's preference, I'm very partial to piss sticks. Single inquiries only. :-)