Reaching the Edge
In Reaching the Edge, the main character is called Joe Dexter, who leads a complicated life. In one world he is a consultant criminal psychologist; in another he runs The Edge, a successful corporate training company. He’s also an active Dom in the London BDSM scene.
He’s at The Underground, a club owned by an old friend, when he’s introduced to a prospective sub. Joe falls hard for Olly’s tumbling blonde curls, huge blue eyes and desperate need for protection and carefully coaxes him out of his shell over an intense weekend.
Joe knows that there is trauma in Olly’s past, but it is not until his professional and private lives collide that Joe discovers the truth. He makes a mistake and lets Olly out of his sight leaving him vulnerable to a previous, sadistic Master.
With Olly’s life on the line, Joe enlists the help of his friends and risks everything to save him.
I don’t think I’m giving too much away by saying that I’m a great believer in Happy Ever Afters!
You live in a small village in the English countryside, so how much do these surroundings affect your inspiration?
I haven’t used my village as a setting yet, though it has potential! I do use places that I’ve been – often my favourite parts of the country. I used Cumbria in Mountain Rescue and Exmoor in The Portrait, both very special to me. The Edge series is set in London and North Yorkshire, so full of contrasting landscapes.
You began writing between jobs, so when did it take over your life?
I still have a full time job, so it hasn’t quite taken over completely, but I am addicted. It gets me out of bed early and keeps me up late at night.
This is book one in the series, so what can you tell us about the next installments?
The second book, Living on the Edge, features Joe’s best friend, Heath. He meets his match in a sub called Aiden who has a very mysterious background and drags Heath, Joe and Olly into another adventure.
Dancing on the Edge will follow that – all the old characters are back but the central story is about Carey, the owner of The Underground BDSM club, and his sub Alistair. They are settled and in love, but nothing’s ever quite that simple, is it?
How much research was required for Joe's job as a psychologist?
Luckily I have a friend who is a criminal psychologist and she helped with some information on how consultancy works and the connections between people in the profession. Any references to treatments are purely fictional; though hopefully close enough to reality to be credible. I think Joe’s profession helps him to be a better Dom – he’s strict but very understanding and tolerant.
Why do you think a lot of doms and subs portrayed as successful businessmen in fiction?
There’s a lot of strength in accepting what you are and having the courage to live the lifestyle of your choosing. A Dom has a hugely responsible role while a sub needs strength of will and commitment. I think the qualities for success in business are similar – honesty, trust and an inherent acceptance that difference is positive.
To what extent do you need to be addicted to writing to make it as an author?
If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t be able to do it, so being addicted certainly helps. It’s like coffee and chocolate – writing gives me a buzz! I wouldn’t want to give up any of them.
Where did your inspiration come for Reaching The Edge?
I actually wrote the second book in the series first. In the bits that I posted on my Blog, Olly’s character got a really positive response, so I knew his story had to be written, so I suppose the inspiration came from my readers – who are an amazingly supportive bunch!
What is the best piece of advice you were given when you started out as a writer?
“Slow down”. That was advice from fellow author M A Church when I was writing on free sites. I was so keen to get stories out of my head and on to paper that I had a tendency to rush them along.
What is next for you?
I have two more stories planned for The Edge series, but I’m currently finishing the first book in a new series about two police detectives, tentatively titled Rasputin’s Kiss.
You can purchase Reaching the Edge from Total-E-Bound Publishing today!