with Torrian Ferguson

 There's a new voice in erotica, and it belongs to Torrian Ferguson. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Torrian is the youngest on four siblings. He graduated from Miami Norland Sr. High and later attended Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. While matriculating through Bethune, he became an active member of Alpha Phi Omega Incorporated and a member of the Prince Hall Masons.

Torrian's love for writing comes from his passion for creativity, great story telling, and his unique ability to blend comedy, drama and erotica into one very well told work of fiction that has you relating to the characters and re-thinking your morals. Coupled with his passion for cooking, he has also become a master chef at adding just the right spices to his literary full course meal to keep you coming back for more.

Torrian's debut novel, Swingers, was met with critical acclaim from readers who enjoyed his next-door neighbor like characterization of an upper middle class couple by the names of Greg and Rena. In this novel, Torrian has the reader caught up in taking a peek inside the taboo world of swinging while making you wonder just how far will Greg go to prove his love for his wife.

Torrian currently resides in Greensboro, NC with his wife and two kids. Check out his website at www.torrianferguson.com.

Urban-Reviews.com: Can you tell us what Swingers is all about?
Torrian Ferguson: Swingers is about a couple Rena and Greg Robbins that are going through a rough time in their marriage. So they decide to dive into the taboo world of "swinging" and get more than what they bargained for.

UR: Where did you come up with the idea for this novel?
TF: I have a lot of friends that are in to the "swinging" lifestyle. A few of told me about a few situations that have come up, and I took it and ran with it.

UR: In Swingers, you brilliantly alternated the chapters between the two main characters. Why did you choose this method to tell the story?
TF: I wanted to show the difference in the way men and women think. The man is thinking about himself and what he can do. The woman is a step ahead of him and actually knows what he's going to do before he does it.

UR: Swingers dives right into the plot starting with the first sentence. Why did you decide to do this?
TF: I like to write books that grab you right from the beginning. I hate reading books that take 5-6 chapters to let you know what's going on.

UR: How did you get into the business?
TF: I just sat down after I read God's Gift to Women by Michael Baisden and figured I could do it. Three months later Swingers was a manuscript.

UR: What authors or books inspired you to become a writer?
TF: Michael Baisden's God's Gift to Women, Shannon Holmes Bad Girlz, and (don't trip on a brotha) but J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

UR: What projects are you working on now?
TF: Right now I have my second novel coming out in December titled Scandalous. I have also started my own literary consultant company named Ferguson Literary Group. The website is www.fergusonliterarygroup.4t.com. We work with a lot of new authors on setting them up with book signing, interviews, get them reviews and things of that nature. A lot of the stuff authors don't have time to do themselves.

UR: What made you decide to jump into erotica? Would you consider going into another genre in the future?
TF: I'm a very sexual person so erotica was right up my alley. I don't know if I can write without it getting dirty...LOL.

UR: As a first time author, what challenges have you faced in the literary industry?
TF: The biggest challenge has been getting the book into stores. Other than that, I've just been trying to get to know the right people and people that have my best interest at heart.

UR: If you had to do it all over again, would you do anything differently?
TF: No. Because I've learned so much from everybody, even from the people who didn't treat me right. I learned the correct and wrong way to go about things. I've learned what I will and won't listen to.

UR: How did your family and friends react to the release of Swingers?
TF: My mother has the book but she will not read it. She called me nasty. But she's very happy for me. Every one else says that they always knew I had a freaky side to me.

UR: Is there anything else you would like to add?
TF: I just want other authors to know that nobody will believe in your work like you do. Do not get discouraged. Stay the course and everything will turn out O.K. And did I mention that in the November Issue of Essence Magazine my book was ranked #4 on Fiction Paperback. Yeah Me!!!

Don't forget to check out our review of Swingers in AA Fiction.