Ian Noakes asked Matt Shaw:

I've recently had an erotic horror novel published, but in the build up to the release date I was concerned how my closest friends and family would react to the graphic violence and dark erotic content I created. I was wondering what kind of reaction you had, and how you managed it.

Matt Shaw Hi,

Thanks for getting in touch :)

I do not actually care what my friends and family think to my writing. I am sure they find some of what I put out there a little 'disturbing' for their tastes but I do not write to please them. I write to please both myself and the readers who DO enjoy that kind of content.

I would suggest you put a warning on your work - stating some scenes may be unsettling. This is something I do with all of my work which could potentially contain scenes which people find in bad taste. With the warning in place, it gives them a choice as to whether they give it a go or not. Although, even with a warning, you'll still find the occasional person who will buy it and then one star review it because they found it disturbing!

It may sound harsh saying I do not care what friends and family think of my work but - as previously mentioned - I'm not here to write for them and if I did write the kind of genres they enjoyed; I'd be lying to myself.

Basically - to sum up - release the work and if they're good friends and family they will support you regardless of what they think of the content. At the end of the day it is a story. It isn't YOU.

Good luck!

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