Susan Klipp asked S.M. LaViolette:

I'm almost finished with His Valet. My heart aches for Smith! He wants love so badly and yet he's so closed off and won't let anyone in. I want his story. I need his story.. It would be such an epic love! I can't see him opening up to anyone other than someone who already knows him.. I absolutely love this series! Can I have Smith's story? Please?

S.M. LaViolette Hi Susan, thanks for your kind words!

I'm about 3/4 through with Smith's story and I had to stop.

Here is probably more information than you wanted ....

I am, apparently, what's called a "discovery" writer. That means I learn what is going on as I write.

To me, it feels like I get to know an already fully formed character--they let me know what they want me to know. Just like people.

Smith, I'm learning, is a difficult character because he views sex and love as completely separate. To most people (well, at least Westerners, who are really the only group I can speak for) sexual fidelity is HUGE. To Smith, love is huge--and very, very rare. Sex is just sex. He will have sex whenever he wants, with whomever he wants, but he will only give his love to one person.

He is not an easy person to love. He is also not a nice person--unless he cares for you--and has done many bad things in his life. Smith's past, I've learned, is unspeakably brutal and dark. I was actually shocked to learn what he'd lived through.

I'm also shocked by what he apparently wants in his life. So shocked I had to stop writing his story for a while. Why? Because the temptation to force a character to "behave" or conform to societal norms is often strong. I want Smith to be who he is, whether I like it, or not.

Aren't writers nuts??;>)

The good news, IMO, is that I met another character in Smith's book who will get his own book: Malcolm Barton. Malcolm gives Smith a run for his money in the "fucked up in the head" department, so that is fun for me.

Thanks for reaching out. I love talking about this series because it is so "below the radar" for me and doesn't get the attention my traditionally published books do.

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