I think that my writing is universal and can be enjoyed by both women and men, younger and older readers alike. The ones that like a deeper read enjoy the dark underlayers, while the ones looking for a lighter relaxing book can appreciate the romantic and sex sugarcoating.
Eli Gilić – 29 November 2020
The Back Flap
Charles Baudelaire, Rasputin, Anna Karenina, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Ophelia, Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Sand, Frederic Chopin, Vincent Van Gogh, Antonin Artaud, Maria Izquierdo, James Joyce, Federico Garcia Lorka, Salvador Dali.
Can Rasputin find redemption through the sins of others? What awaits Anna Karenina on the other side? Does passion still flow through the veins of the lovers from Verona? Can Hamlet and Ophelia escape their fate? Is Van Gogh’s loneliness a blessing or a curse? And can Dali dispel Lorca’s fear?
Eli Gilić deftly weaves fact and fiction to bring some of the world’s great writers, literary characters, artists, and composers to life as they reach the heights of passion and the depths of despair in this mesmerising erotic short story collection.
About the book
What is the book about?
Slaves to Desire is a short story collection. It portrays dark moments and passions in the relationships of famous historical figures and literary characters: Charles Baudelaire and Jeanne Duval, Joyce and Nora… as well as Anna Karenina, Romeo and Juliet. I wished to explore a few universal doubts, like: Does unconditional love exist or is it only a myth ‒ I tried to explore that in the story of George Sand and Frederic Chopin. Does easy access really kill romance and inspire deviations, as Rasputin muses during his existential crisis during an orgy. Is free will an illusion and everything that we think and feel is actually ancestral heritage, as Hamlet and Ophelia try to find out when they escape Shakespeare’s scroll? Can loneliness be a blessing and a curse at the same time, as Van Gogh struggles to find out? Can a relationship between two headstrong partners who don’t want to make compromises, like Dostoevsky and Polina Suslova, work? What would a man facing death think about, as Lorca does in his final moments?
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing it in 2014, and Laguna, the biggest publisher in Serbia, published it in 2015. Then it took me a long time to translate it into English since my job was getting in the way. And the process of hunting for a publisher in the UK was so challenging that I often thought of giving up.
How long did it take you to write it?
Since I have a day job, it took me more than a year to squeeze and steal an hour or two a day. I admire all those authors who can wake up at four or five and write before starting their day, but that didn’t work for me.
Where did you get the idea from?
I have translated erotica bestsellers, wasn’t particularly thrilled with them, and wondered why nobody writes erotica that I would like to read: stories that would move me or make me think twice about something, stories that have something to say instead of only offering a romance with steamy bedroom scenes. And then I concluded that there must be more people like me and decided to write that kind of book so we can enjoy it.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Since the characters of my stories were couples in real life or literature, I struggled to imagine the right partner for Antonin Artaud since he didn’t have one, and I just had to put him in my collection. But once I read more about Maria Izquierdo, everything clicked into place.
What came easily?
Everything else came easily. I have chosen some of my favorite historical characters and enjoyed the whole process – research, plotting, writing.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I would have to be objective about my work to answer that, and that is impossible. I believe that everything I have ever read influenced me in one way or another. Of course, I would love to say that my favorite authors had influenced me, but that would be very haughty since my favorites are truly great: Dostoevsky is on the top, and then the modern ones: Nicole Krauss, Jenny Erpenback, Ali Smith, Robert McLiam Wilson…
Do you have a target reader?
No, I think that my writing is universal and can be enjoyed by both women and men, younger and older readers alike. The ones that like a deeper read enjoy the dark underlayers, while the ones looking for a lighter relaxing book can appreciate the romantic and sex sugarcoating.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I don’t have a process. Unlike most people who write early in the morning or late in the evening, writing for an hour or two after lunch and coffee works best for me. It is the time when I have already finished half of my day’s work, eaten, washed the dishes… so I am relaxed and feeling good. I write the old-fashioned way – pen and paper. and edit while I type it on the computer the next morning. When I finish everything, I try to forget about it for two or three months before printing the pages and editing again.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
No. I think about it that more than half of my book is written in my head before I start so outlining seems like a waste of time.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I edit yesterday’s writing while I type it on the computer next morning. When I finish everything, I try to forget about it for two or three months before printing the pages and editing again.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
My playlist is chaotic. Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, The Cult, The Ramones, Dandy Warhols, Cigarettes After Sex, War on Drugs, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire… While I was writing the story about Rasputin, I listened to beautiful Russian Gypsy songs. While writing about Chopin and Sand, of course I listened to his works. When editing, I prefer jazz.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did but gave up. Everyone was biased since I am from Serbia and the genre of my book is technically erotica, and that made me think: F*** you all!
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I came across my indie publisher by chance. And I fell in love with her energy and concept, she fell in love with my words, and a match from heaven ensued.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
The publisher has a professional and talented graphic designer. I love the cover!
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I am just winging it. It was different for me in Serbia since I translated over eighty books, had experience in the publishing industry, and had many contacts before writing the book. The self-promotion process often looks frightening, but I try to view it as a challenge and opportunity to try/learn something new.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
The cliché: Don’t give up! You have poured your time, energy, and a part of your soul into that manuscript. Don’t let it go to waste. You will probably have to endure many rejections. Your book will probably be published three years later than you hoped. But if you didn’t give up while writing, don’t give up now.
About You
Where did you grow up?
My family moved a lot when I was a kid. Belgrade, London, Kuwait, and Belgrade again.
Where do you live now?
I have left Belgrade four years ago, and live in a house in the woods with my three dogs and crazy parrot. Living in nature really makes you get to know yourself and explore your creativity.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Yes, I am ironic and dark, but deep down, I am still a romantic who believes in love.
What are you working on now?
I am writing a new short story collection. And it will be as thought-provoking as Slaves to Desire.
End of Interview:
For more from Eli visit her website and like her Facebook page.
Get your copy of Slaves to Desire from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
