Bermudian author Sloane Wilson is days away from releasing her first erotic drama ‘Bitter Sweet’.The novel, written under the pen name LyriQ, already has people talking.It follows the fictional life and intimate relationships of a Bermudian woman living in Atlanta“It’s definitely going to raise some eyebrows. Bermuda is very tight-lipped about anything sexual so for a book to come out that is labelled ‘erotica’ is something new,” said Ms Wilson.“Everyone reads [books by sex author] Zane, but for someone of Zane’s style to come out in Bermuda I am waiting to see what the response is going to be. I am hoping it’s positive and encouraging, but I also know there’s going to be the sceptics who see it’s new and some people do not like change.”The book’s cover, which features local models Aaron Brown, Monique Stevens and Lamelle Paynter, has attracted a lot of interest, Ms Wilson said.She designed the cover along with James Lee, who photographed it with Vincent Roberts.The book came about after Ms Wilson, 29, was asked to create a short story for a friend’s compilation book earlier this year. Eighty pages on, she realised it had taken on a life of its own.She would work on the novel after work and late into the night once her four-year-old son had gone to bed.After getting her friend’s stamp of approval, she sent the book overseas to be published. She was both tearful and excited when the first shipment arrived.“I did an Indian dance and I cried and slept with [the package] that night. It was an amazing feeling. I have taken the book everywhere and shown it to everyone.”She described the two-month process from idea to finished product as a journey.“A lot of the stories in the book have come from stories from my friends and different things they have done in their lives that they may not be so proud of. It’s very real and down to earth and the characters are very believable and I feel it makes for an easy read.”There seems to be a market on the Island for such books, particularly those written by popular author Zane.But what may set her book apart from others is the storyline and its characters. “It’s not just about the juicy parts. There is a story behind it,” she said.Ms Wilson grew up passionate about reading and writing in her journal and described getting her story published as “a dream come true”.“I always wanted to write a book, but just never really put an effort until now. I am getting older and when you start getting close to 30 you think of all the things you wanted to do that you haven’t done and you start to check things off of your personal bucket list.”She said she loved writing “because you get to be something you’re not. You get to create alternate lives and your characters can be anything or anyone you want them to be”.“They can be as believable or unbelievable as you want them to be,” she added.Asked what she hoped people would get from reading the risqué novel, she said: “A sense of adventure; an escape. I want people to get lost in the characters, in their lives, their issues.“I also hope it adds a little spice to those with lacklustre love lives,” she added.The Bitter Sweet launch party will take place on Friday at MySTiques, on the corner of King and Reid Streets, from 5pm until 7.30pm. The event is sponsored by Secrets; Borrows and Lightbourn will be providing signature drinks or cocktails.The book, $20, is available at Bermuda Book Store, Secrets, MySTiques and Brown and Co. Books can also be ordered by e-mail: booksbylyriq[AT]gmail.com.Part two to the book, ‘When Life Gives You Lemons’, is expected to be completed in January.