A Blog post by April Nia Raine
If you have been a reader of both Trevor’s work and mine, you’ll probably notice a distinct difference in style; my stories tend to carry a certain level of spice. Why? Quite simply, because it’s fun. Writing heat into a story isn’t just about adding steamy scenes for shock value or titillation; it’s about giving the characters another layer of depth.
When we fade to black or skip over intimacy altogether, we often miss out on one of the most vulnerable and revealing moments a character can experience. A person’s sex life, whether awkward, tender, passionate, playful, or complicated, shows us things about them that no battle scene or dinner table conversation ever could. These are the moments when walls come down, when true feelings rise to the surface, and when relationships are tested or solidified.
Think about it: love and lust are some of the most powerful motivators in human history. Wars have been fought, kingdoms have risen and fallen, and countless legends have been told, all because of passion. To pretend that doesn’t matter in storytelling feels like leaving a major piece of the human experience unexplored. By including intimacy, I’m not just writing about bodies coming together; I’m writing about emotions colliding, trust being built, or broken, and characters showing sides of themselves that only emerge when they’re at their most open.
A “fade to black” may keep things neat and family-friendly, but it also strips away an opportunity for connection. For me, those vulnerable, high-stakes moments make characters feel more real. They remind us that these heroes, villains, lovers, or rebels are people first, not just players on a page. They laugh, they long, they ache, they make mistakes, and sometimes they burn with desire. Showing that side of them allows readers to engage with the characters in a deeper, more personal way.
And let’s be honest, it’s enjoyable! Spice adds excitement, tension, and an extra spark to a story. It keeps readers turning pages, not just to see what happens in the battle or political intrigue, but also to discover how the characters’ relationships evolve behind closed doors. A G-rated book can be beautiful and moving in its own right, but when you take away that intimate dimension, you take away some of the messiness, passion, and raw humanity that make a story truly unforgettable.
Stay Delicious, and Keep Reading
April Nia Raine