In this article, we interview Jayne Rice, WINNER of the 2025 Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH Fiction with her story, As They Like It.
Hi Jayne, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing backstory?
Hi Ed and Amanda! So, about me – I was born in the UK to a US Air Force family and grew up in America, living in various places: Massachusetts, California, Texas, South Carolina, New Jersey. After graduating from university, I came full circle, returning to England. I started my career in print journalism, then moved into digital roles, and am currently a digital product manager.
I’ve always written creatively. I wrote my first short story when I was seven (A Funny Day in Germ Town about a bunch of anthropomorphic germs) and a Lost in Space style novel when I was nine about a hapless space family who had to be rescued repeatedly by their dozen dogs. In high school, I wrote Star Trek fan fic and, after university, several never-quite-finished fantasy novels.
You WON the 2025 Not Quite Write Prize for FLESH Fiction. What did/will you spend your prize money on?
You know, I still can’t believe I won the Fantasy and Supernatural Category and then the whole thing! As I’m self-publishing a trilogy, I’ve invested the prize money into book formatting software and membership to ALLi – the Alliance of Independent Authors.
Have you written erotica in the past or was this a new adventure for you?
Immediately after a seminar on writing sex (Jericho Writers’ Conference, 2022), I told one of my fab writing friends, ‘Okay, maybe I can write some spice.’ And I have. There are intimate scenes to my trilogy, and it’s not just the characters who have arcs. The sex does too.
Even so, I did push myself well out of my comfort zone for this competition – as did my talented friend. She wrote the sci-fi gem, Carapace, which came second in the ‘Other’ category, and I’m so thrilled for her!
You were brave enough to put your real name to your story. How do you feel now that your dirty little secret is out?
Originally, I chose a pen name, Hester Prymme, but I changed my mind after I won; I wanted to see my real name in print! And I have to say, I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from everyone. I live in a close-knit village and was bowled over by how many people read the story and then made a point of congratulating me at one of our weekly pub nights. I expected to be embarrassed by the exposure as I’m an introverted soul, but I adore the story so much that I wasn’t. I would love to give my characters, Rosalind and Forest, their own novella. And with Forest being into soil, you can expect their future adventures to get pretty dirty!
Your FLESH Fiction story was one of many featuring ‘sexy plants’. Do you have any insight as to why plants featured so heavily in the entries we received?
That’s really interesting, isn’t it? I think there’s an element of returning to ancient roots (literally), of tapping into myths and the sensuality of nature itself. My own character, Forest, is a spirit of the wood. I loved the idea of Rosalind – stifled, aristocratic and Victorian – exploring her sexuality with a wild being who nurtures her.
What advice do you have for other writers who are interested in writing erotica?
Don’t start with the sex! I know that sounds counterintuitive, but I think it’s important to remember that this is still storytelling. So, start with your characters. What are they like? What do they want? What is opposing them? Build the story and the chemistry, and then let your imagination fly. I took away two vital pieces of advice from that seminar on writing sex. One, sex is plot. Fill it with emotion and vulnerability and make it true to your characters, so your readers are invested. Two, be responsible. Think about your audience and your story’s message. And I’d add: three, have fun!
You’re currently working towards the publication of a fantasy trilogy. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Absolutely! The Wild Magic series is a modern-day romantic fantasy about zoology nerd Kelly Carter, who’s thrust into the magical world of the Conservium, an ancient wildlife society at war with itself. If you love magic with a zoological twist, a fierce female protagonist who must discover her inner strength, an old manor full of secrets, and love fuelled by Wild Magic, then check out volume one, The Wild Magic of Albion Hall.
About Jayne
Jayne Rice is a fantasy writer, and mum to two fabulous grown-up daughters. She lives in a small but exceedingly social village in Oxfordshire, England, with a pair of opinionated cats and an accidentally rewilded garden.
You can connect with Jayne at:
Instagram: @jayne_e_rice
Bluesky: @jaynerice.bsky.social
Sign up to her newsletter at jaynerice.com
Join the write-off!
While we all eagerly anticipate the return of FLESH Fiction, why not join our other Not Quite Write Prize hopefuls and write a 500-word story to compete for a share in over AU$4,000, a trophy and print publication.