Unsealed Section: Working behind the scenes at an escort agency inspired Jade May's erotic novel

Jade May was reading erotic novels for years before a behind-the-scenes job at an escort agency inspired her to write one of her own.

Diagnosed with a chronic illness at age 13, May missed out on things like dating and exploring her sexuality as a teen.

"My teenage years revolved around the hospital, so reading was my escape," she tells 9Honey.

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At first she stuck to adventure and fantasy books, but as she got older she was drawn to erotic romance novels, which let her explore sex from the safety of a printed page.

"I was devouring pages of beautifully curated stories on submission, domination, praise kinks, degradation kinks, breeding kinks¡­ the list goes on and on," she says.

Then May started working in marketing and about eight years ago she was hired to run the business side of an escort agency, taking client calls and other admin.

It started as a "side hustle" alongside her usual marketing clients, but the job offered a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into sex work that would go on to inspire her book.

Hearing what clients requested from escorts at the agency opened May's eyes to what Aussies really want in the bedroom.

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"I had a psychiatrist who asked for absolutely no talking, and I had a psychologist who wanted the escort to act like his mother, stroke his hair and tell him everything was going to be okay," she reveals.

"I also had an 18-year-old who was wanting to lose their virginity to an older, very mature escort, someone over 60 years old we lovingly referred to as our 'granny escort'."

Seeing a sex worker turned out to be much more common than she thought and she learned a lot while handling clients bookings behind the scenes.

Male clients often sought escorts for closeness and for connection, while female clients wanted to build confidence and heal after a breakup, being cheated on, or trauma.

What really surprised May was how many clients felt they couldn't ask for what they wanted from a partner for fear of being judged, which is why so many sought escorts.

"The one thing that both men and women have in common is that they actually feel more comfortable asking for what they want in the bedroom from a complete stranger, rather than their partners," she reveals.

Many feared being judged by their partners if they asked for what they actually wanted sexually, leaving so many Aussies struggling to explore their desires freely.

That's what inspired May to begin writing her debut erotic novel, Tempted By Eden, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Set in a brothel, the book explores kinks she often heard clients requesting, like praise kink, degradation kink, submission, spanking, and dirty talk.

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May wrote 10,000 words before showing the draft to her husband, who loved it, then she sent it to a romance publisher she found through a quick Google search.?

"I don't have any prior education in writing and creative writing, I didn't go to any seminars or any classes, I haven't read any eBooks on how to write," she admits.

But the publisher loved her draft, so May kept working on it until she had a finished manuscript, which she sent back to the punisher. They offered a contract immediately.

Now Tempted By Eden is set to hit shelves in a matter of weeks and she's hoping it will empower Aussies to explore their own desires and embrace sexual liberation.

"If it can help them take the next step into the real world, where they are ready to ask for what they want in a potential partner, then that's amazing. It's doing its job," she says.

May uses a pen name to keep her erotic writing separate from her personal and professional life, though some of the people closest to her know about her new side hustle.

"My husband knows, and he's read it and he loves it. My mum and dad know, but they won't read it. My friends do know - whether they read it or not, I've got no idea," she admits.

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She still works in marketing and doesn't want her more conservative clients to get the wrong idea, as there's still a lot of stigma around writing and reading erotic fiction.

Some critics call it 'too sexual' (which is literally the point), while others dismiss the genre because it was popularised by women and caters to a predominantly female audience.

May says it's time to put those outdated ideas to bed - no pun intended - and insists that erotic literature is not porn, nor should it be treated as such.

"It's different from traditional porn because a novel can evoke really profound emotions and forge deep connections. You don't get that with porn," she explains.

It's also a way for people, especially women, to explore their desires and kinks and find sexual liberation in a safe space, which has been so important to her.

Romance has long been one of the best-selling literary genres in the world and erotic literature is becoming increasingly popular, especially on social media apps like TikTok.

There are whole accounts in the 'BookTok' community dedicated to erotic or "spicy" novels, with fans of the genre finding creative ways to read them without being shamed.

"Publishers and people who are self-publishing are doing two types of covers now," May reveals.

"One that is socially acceptable to be read out in public, to be taken out of your bag on the bus or on the train, and then you've got the sexier covers for your Kindle."

She encourages anyone who hasn't tried reading an erotic novel before to give it a go and urges aspiring erotic authors to follow their writing dreams.

Tempted by Eden will release on October 10, 2023. Pre-order here.