Author Claire Highton-Stevenson talks about why spicy scenes are important in her writing
BY CLAIRE HIGHTON-STEVENSON
Writing books wasn’t on my childhood to-do list, and I never pictured myself writing scenes that make readers blush — but here we are, and you won’t hear me complaining.
I grew up on the books my mum left around the house, mostly murder and crime, and somehow I didn’t turn out all that bad. So when I started writing romance, of course I was going to write it all.
Spicy scenes can elevate a story into that magical realism some of us crave — or are lucky enough to already be enjoying. That’s not to say closed-door or fade-to-black stories don’t have their place in the genre, but for me, to ignore the sexual element of a character’s relationship — and the appetite of my readers — would be doing a disservice to my own enjoyment of writing.
Writing romance is about more than just sex, though. It’s plot, it’s character, it’s emotion, it’s the small connections and the little moments that make a reader care. It’s the cathartic highs and lows, the tension, the longing, the victories and the setbacks. And sex is just one piece of that puzzle. It’s the punctuation mark, the exclamation point, the bit that makes everything else feel more real and immediate. Without it, the story might work, but it’s missing that spark.
I don’t write sex because I’m trying to prove a point. I don’t write it to shock, or to make anyone uncomfortable. I write it because it’s part of the story — because these characters have desires, and it would be weird if I ignored that. And, let’s be honest, my readers enjoy it. They want the tension, the pleasure, the messy, awkward, joyful moments that make characters feel like real people, not just ideas on a page. Listening to what readers respond to isn’t pandering — it’s part of understanding the genre you work in.
For me, romance is a conversation between writer and reader. I offer a story, a plot, a relationship, and sometimes, yes, a sexual moment or two. Readers take what they need from it — whether that’s excitement, comfort, escape, or just a little naughty fun. And that’s the joy of it. I’m not trying to explain the appeal, and I’m certainly not trying to justify it. It exists, it works, and everyone involved enjoys it.
At the end of the day, I write what I write because it makes sense to me as a storyteller. I write the scenes I want to read, and I include the elements I know will make the story feel alive — sex included. It doesn’t define the story, but it does make it whole. And I think that’s enough reason for anyone picking up a romance novel.
Claire Stevenson is a bestselling sapphic romance author and storyteller, with over 40 published novels. Her books are available in paperback, ebook, and Kindle Unlimited. Find out more at www.itsclastevofficial.co.uk/books or follow her on Instagram/TikTok @itsclastevofficial.
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