Author Angelika Devlyn

An erotic short story by Zeina Khalem

But first an interview:

What is something unique about you?

I’m polyamorous, so that’s bound to make my idea of a happily ever after different than monogamous
romances. Having practiced ethical non-monogamy for nearly a decade, being polyamorous isn’t this
wild, strange thing to me. It’s just my life!
Just like any other relationship, sometimes my relationships can get hard. My partners and I have conflicts we must work through just like anyone else. But overall, I’d like to challenge the idea that non-
monogamy must be inherently difficult. I’ve got an amazing polycule with partners and metamours whom

I love. I wouldn’t want my life any other way.
So I try to reflect my polyamorous life in my works. Tentacle Tied is a short story and a bit of a dark
romance, considering it involves, well, a monster. I won’t spoil anything, but I think the ending is
purposefully open-ended in a way that reflects polyamory. For example, you may have a comet partner
who only comes into town twice a year. You care for each other and set bounds and expectations for
your relationship that work for both of you. Who wouldn’t want a sexy hot springs monster to visit
whenever they need a good tangle?

What kind of world ruler would you be?

In the deepest, darkest depths of my man-eating heart, I am the GIF of Galadriel proclaiming, “All shall
love me and despair!” (Would I have turned down the ring and passed the test? Unclear!) Whose ego
doesn’t wish to be adored and feared by all?

But I like writing about utopian societies – think Star Trek, not Middle Earth. A pansexual, socialist, post-
scarcity, space-faring future sounds pretty rad to me, which is why I’m writing a sci-fi romance novel in that setting. The other alternative to this question would be me ruling the galaxy as a consciousness
transferred into an all-powerful, algorithm-based AI that optimizes society. (Except, of course, such systems rarely work as intended.)

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m currently working on an anthology of sexy short stories titled Sexy Shorts! Two of the stories are free
to read online on my website and I’ll be releasing more on my Patreon as I go.
The unofficial theme of the anthology is “On the Edge,” focusing on sexy situations that may happen
barely outside of the public eye, falling just shy of exhibitionism. The two stories that are currently
available to read are Up the Stairs and On the Beach.

I’m also working on a sci-fi romance novel set in a technologically advanced, post-scarcity future called
Bound by Stardust that follows a mismatched Earther and Spacer through some galaxy-scorching
adventures. Think Star Trek but significantly sexier, gayer, sluttier, and a little kinky to boot, with
replicators, holodecks, and sexytimes in space!

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Tentacle Tied?

Neither of the characters in Tentacle Tied has a name. I imagine the first-person narrator to be an
independent, outdoorsy femme who has a long trail of well-worn hiking boots behind her and a camping
setup ready in her trunk for her next weekend trip up the mountains. She’s not afraid to explore on her
own, even into the woods where mysterious creatures may live. In other words, she’s not like me at all!
(I’d be happy if I never camp again a day in my life.)

The tentacle monster, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery. All the narrator knows is that the creature
lives in a hot spring. You’ll have to read the story to learn more about them.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Tentacle erotica is a niche topic. I’ve actually never written this type of erotica before, but I really enjoyed
being able to play within a new and unfamiliar set of scenarios and tropes.

I also really enjoyed diving into a character who’s neutral or ambiguous like the creature. The rules are
different when you’re dealing with unfathomable monsters from the deep, you know?

Pen or typewriter or computer?

My writing process involves a mix of handwriting and typing. I love handwriting first drafts because I get
too obsessive with editing if I type. When I’m handwriting, I have to move forward because it’s a lot
harder to edit while I write, especially if I’m working with pen and paper.

I also love the tactile feel of pen on paper, specifically extra fine sharpies. I have a couple dozen
notebooks and legal pads filled with my scribbles. But eventually, I started handwriting on my tablet with
a note-taking app. Even though the tactile feel isn’t the same on my tablet, I can organize all of my notes
and drafts and keep working on them wherever and whenever I want.

I also enjoy handwriting first drafts because the act of transferring my handwritten draft into a typed
document helps me do a first round of edits as I go!

What are you currently reading?

I usually read romantic fiction, but recently I picked up a non-fiction book called The Art of Gathering,
which considers why and how people gather.

I’ve always enjoyed hosting and organizing gatherings and events amongst friends. Whatever I know about hosting, I learned mostly from the women in my family – my mother, my aunt, and my grandmother. They gave me a solid foundation to build on, but The Art of Gathering goes deeper into the heart of what brings us together and how to best cater our gatherings to the kind of experiences we want them to be. The more I think about it, the more I realize just how pivotal gathering is to our lives – and the book delivers many gems of wisdom on the topic.

Thank you!!