E.L. James wrote the Fifty Shades erotic trilogy. (Handout photo)
(Handout photo)
By Maggie Galehouse
Houston Chronicle
In May 2011, a small Australian press released an erotic e-book, with an agreement to print paperbacks on demand.
The title: “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Penned by unknown British author E.L. James, the story featured a brilliant businessman and an impressionable young woman.
This couple was steamy – in explicit, handcuff-friendly ways.
Since then, millions of readers have validated James’ private fantasies (oh yes, the author owns up to it) by devouring that first book and the other two that make up her trilogy, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed.”
The lively Brit spoke with the Chronicle by phone from her London home.
Q: Your trilogy had humble beginnings as “Twilight” fan fiction that you posted on fanfiction.net. Ultimately, you reworked so much of the story that it assumed a life of its own. What is it about the “Fifty Shades” books that touched a cosmic nerve and lured tens of millions of readers?
A: I don’t know! I wrote them for me. They are my fantasies writ large, which seemed to be other people’s fantasies, too, which made me feel slightly better about the whole thing.
Q: With U.S. book sales for the trilogy at 30 million (in all formats), it’s not like you need to broaden your fan base. Why are you touring?
A: I’m wondering that myself. I think the real reason is just to say hi and thanks to everyone. And I get to see Seattle and Portland, where I’ve never been. The books are set there.
Q: What was your first inkling that the “Fifty Shades” trilogy was on its way to becoming a pop culture phenomenon?
A: I got an email on Dec. 13 of last year from one of the big talent agencies in Hollywood asking about film rights. I went, “What??!!” And then I got another call from Hollywood. And another. At that point the book was still only available in e-book and print on demand. It was difficult to get hold of. The poor Australian press didn’t really have a big distribution network. Then I got the big publishers sniffing around.
Q: In April, Vintage republished the trilogy on a large scale, bringing the saga of entrepreneur Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele to the world. Has time flown since then?
A: It feels like years and yesterday. I’m like a rabbit in headlights actually. We’re now into 44 or 46 languages. And we sold the film rights.
Q: Speaking of film rights, Twitter was aflutter earlier this month with rumors about the cast, floating names like Ryan Gosling and porn star James Deen for the role of Christian Grey. What can you tell us?
A: The movie rights were bought by Universal; Focus Features is the production company. We have two producers in place and we’re looking for a scriptwriter right now.
It’s too early to talk about casting. We’ve got to get a filmmaker on board first. I’m not even aware of a release date.
Q: Literary critics were tough on your books, labeling the writing poor and the content in poor taste. But you didn’t set out to write “War and Peace,” right?
A: No. I set out to write an erotic romantic tale. It’s about first love, about somebody very broken. I had read some BDSM (an acronym for a spectrum of sexual preferences including bondage, discipline, dominance/submission and sadomasochism) and thought, “That’s very hot,” and “What if you met someone who’s into that and you’re not?”
It’s a great story to read. I do think I can tell a story. I can put you in a room with two people and you know what they’re feeling.
Q: Some libraries refused to carry the books because of their steamy content. What do you make of that?
A: Well, that’s the thing. I can’t own anyone’s response. It’s their response and everyone’s response is totally valid.
Q: Before you became a best-selling author, you worked in television. What did you do?
A: I was the head of production for a small independent company that produced comedy shows for the BBC. I was in charge of budgeting and contracts and getting people to where they were supposed to be … So the world of TV and film is not new to me. I’m not fazed by it. Well, I’m fazed by it, but it’s not a mystery.
Q: You have two children. Have they read the books?
A: My kids are 17 and 15. They’re really proud of me and very supportive, but they do, as we say, take the piss out of me all the time. (A British expression meaning to tease.) Neither has read the books; I think that’s by mutual agreement. Maybe one day. Hopefully, when they’re older.
