Interview with Anika Kunik: author of Forty-Five-1/2 Lovers

   There is a new book about sex and relationships on the shelves: Forty-Five-1/2 Lovers The tragic sex chronicles of Amanda Buffington. I was lucky enough to interview the spunky author of this book. She has a website online, where you can read all about her, purchase her book, and contact her if you have questions of your own....

  Q : How did the idea for Forty-five-1/2 Lovers come to you? 
 
  A : It was an accident, really. I was meditating - which I do daily - and suddenly the first sentence popped into my head. I thought I better write it down because  nothing happens in my life unless I write it down - even sex! -  and then I kept writing. After about a month of this, I thought: “I should write a book!” and then it occurred to me (I can be a bit slow at times) “Wait a minute, I am writing a book, and I’m halfway through.”
 
  Q : What is unique about your book?

  A: A LOT of books have been written about sex. Everybody and their aunt, and their dog, and their first-grade teacher has written a book about sex. But these tomes are all somewhat dry and clinical in nature  which - given the subject at hand - I find a bit baffling. I mean, sex is funny, right? And then Sex And The City came along - and it was a fun read - but these four women were very archetypal in their nature, and their sexual wants were pretty much set in stone. You had Carrie, the romantic, Miranda the cynic, Samantha who some would consider a slut, and Charlotte, who pretty much had sex so she could get married. Women have various needs when it comes to sex, and view it differently at various times in their life. Sometimes we have sex because we love somebody, sometimes because we were at the right time in the wrong bed, and sometimes factors like water weight, the weather, and the condition of your skin play a part. Sometimes we have accidental sex, sort of like writing a book. 
 

  Q: Who is Amanda Buffington?

   A: I quote from the book:"I’ll admit it, I didn’t much care for Amanda Buffington when I first met her. I thought she was a bit shallow at best, and, at first glance, she didn’t put a lot of weight into her relationships. But slowly, her sparkling wit and refreshing candor pulled me in. The more I listened to her talk, the more I began to understand that her stories were about much more than just sex. Oddly, as I caught on to the true nature of her being, I started running into her more frequently; at the grocery store, at a PTO meeting, at my daughter’s soccer meet, while walking in the park or during a girl’s night out. This woman, who was now everywhere, was on a quest, and her sexual experiences did not come out of some trite character weakness, but out of a chimerical belief that love ultimately would find her. She is—and always will be—a true and hopeless romantic. And I have a great admiration for that.
 
  Q: What have you learned about love, men, yourself.....in life/ while writing this book?

  A: Absolutely nothing! Except maybe that I really do need to take a shower after writing for three days. And that guys prefer it when you shower. Oh, and also that the shower can be a pretty fun place to think about a man. And that when you think too long about a man in the shower, you risk running out of hot water, or you might get into hot water, depending on the man you're thinking about. 
 

  Q: Writing about sex is brave. How has your community reacted to your choice of topic?

  A: Considering my ex-mother-in-law just bought ten copies of the book, I guess I'm pretty lucky. Last week, a local newspaper ran a lovely article on Forty-five-1/2 Lovers, and that night, when I went to the parent basketball meet, there were a lot of nice daddies who smiled at me. So I guess the community is appreciative that at least someone is having sex. (Or at least writing about it). 
 
  Q:  If there is one thing you could tell yourself before you started having lovers, what would it be?

  A: "Never do anything you don't want to do."
 
  Q:  From a character standpoint, who's your favorite lover in the book?

  A: Oh, God, you're making me choose? They are all so endearing to me, from a character standpoint, of course. But if I'd really have to pick one, I'd say I'm really fond of "The Guy Whose Name I Forgot."
 

  Q: What's the most important thing to look for in a lover?

  A: Good looks and skill. And kindness, which is undervalued in this world. Chivalry is important too. When they have nice manners outside of the bedroom, they will think of you first in the bedroom as well. 
 

  Q: Any advice to people who want to write their first book?

  A: Same advice I give to my kids. "It's okay to talk to the voices in your head, as long as they're polite and clean up their room." And then write down what they say, because on the morrow you won't remember a thing. 

  Q: When and where can readers get a copy of your book?
 
  A: Go to www.45-5Lovers.com and click on the BUY tab.

Photo is by Kristi Wright, taken in the St. Cecilia Hotel in Austin