Author Spotlight - Paulette Stout
Debut author Paulette Stout discusses her unique story and her path her publication for her novel Love, Only Better, and why she had to tell this story.
What inspired Love, Only Better?
Love, Only Better is based on my own personal experiences trying to sort out my own body and intimacy needs. I was raised by a single dad—who I love—but who totally dropped the ball from a sex education perspective. That left me woefully unprepared for what it means to be a woman. I didn’t have any other sources of information when it came to sex, so I was left fumbling around on my own. That led me to undertake a series of educational experiences to try to understand my own body and sexual needs. I hope the book will be a good source of information for woman suffering through similar issues achieving orgasms that I experienced—packaged within a fun romance!
You tackle a generally untalked about topic in Love, Only Better, why did you choose to tackle it?
Unlike men, women don’t really talk about their intimate lives in the same way. There are no self-pleasuring jokes in buddy movies like there are for men. There’s only silence. The complete absence leaves women feeling really isolated if they’re having trouble in the bedroom. But the truth is that only 33% of heterosexual women achieve orgasms during sex, compared to 75% of heterosexual men who do. That’s a huge gap. There are so many women out there who should be experiencing more, but we don’t discuss it openly. My hope is that introducing this topic in a really approachable way, will make it easier for women to speak more openly about their struggles. If women get the support they need, they’ll start having way more fun in the bedroom. And who doesn’t want that?
What issues did you run into as you drafted the book?
I wanted the book to be real, to share experiences and be a source of useful information. That meant being open about the topic of masturbation, something not often touched on outside of the kink world. But women deserve to have these honest conversations without shame or being relegated to a red-light district. I’ve strived to be respectful of the journey the main character is experiencing while still holding true to Romance/Women’s Fiction genre expectations—especially when it came to including a happy ending for the romance between Rebecca and Kyle, the two main characters.
Share your publishing journey.
Originally, I queried my book to try to get an agent. Once I learned more about publishing it became clear that my taboo topic wouldn’t get many takers. That’s when I dove into indie publishing, learning the craft and how to be a better writer myself. I had beta readers who provided super feedback, had a developmental edit, then went through the proofreading process. I also hired a cover artist and an amazing illustrator who designed custom graphics for my cover, which I LOVE, as do early readers. When I sought out a PR agency to help with launch, the first thing they said was that the quality was really high and did I try to sell it to a publisher. That was so gratifying to hear, as I want readers to have a great, quality experience and it sounds like I achieved that.
What are you working on next?
I’ve finished the first draft of book two, a sequel to book one. I know its unconventional to have a romance sequel with the same two main characters, but book one was very much Rebecca’s journey. Part romance, part women’s fiction. So, there was more to say for Rebecca and Kyle. They each have a POV in book two and the structure will be more typical of the genre. There’s an interesting love triangle, so we’ll see how it develops!
About Paulette
Born in Manhattan, and raised by a single dad, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot.
Paulette’s prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University.
Married with two kids, you can usually find Paulette at her desk in Acton, Massachusetts, rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.
About Love, Only Better
For Rebecca, sex is a joke missing a punchline. No crashing waves. Only pangs of inadequacy. At twenty-eight, shouldn’t she have had one by now? Her snickering ex thought so. As did every guy who came before him. No way she’s dating anyone again. At least, until she can take “clueless in bed” off her dating resume.
When Kyle moves in across the hall, his blue eyes and black motorcycle are magnetic. Sparks flew from the moment he rescued her takeout dinner from hitting the lobby floor. It’s the worst time for Rebecca to meet someone this dreamy. But how can she resist love notes taped to her apartment door? Hallway kisses? Sitting behind his hotness as the world zips by?
It’s risky, though. To get past whatever’s blocking her in bed, Rebecca needs expert help. Sure, it’s unorthodox, but she’s desperate for answers. Rebecca doesn’t expect anyone to understand—least of all Kyle. If he learns her secret, he’ll think she’s a freak and bolt.
Just once, Rebecca wants the guy and everything that comes along with it. Would she forever have to choose between feeling whole and being loved?