rebel with a powerful creative vision, a writer with a complex understanding of the sexual psyche of women, a gift for captivating storytelling, and a social media aficionado who developed a personal connection with her readers creating a powerhouse of devoted fans. But for me, beyond the world-record- setting statistics, Erika (the “E” in E.L.) has been a dear friend of mine since the days when she was still writing the original draft of what would become Fifty Shades of Grey . It’s been exciting to see her conquer the worlds of publishing and film, but what I love best is that she’s still the warm, down-to-earth woman and
caring friend that she always was. Erika and I share a love for romance, music, art and design. We’ve attended concerts, museums and gallery shows together, and I’ve always been impressed with her naturally sophisticated visual sense. She collects classic and contemporary photography, and also takes stunning photographs herself, which she shares with her followers on social media. She’s always had a clear vision in her mind of the characters and settings of her books. Those visuals, which informed not just the book covers and promotional imagery design, but have
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