Meet C.J. Riggs: Hilarious Author of Erotic Horror

CJ actually stands for the first 2 initials of my government name. And Riggs is actually a nickname my mother gave me when I was born because she had a HUGE thing for Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, the movie.

I’ve always wanted to be an author, and I would write stories when I was a little girl. I was also a huge reader when I was a child too. So, I think the desire for it has always been there but I’ve never had the confidence to actually do it.
Until I met my wife, I thought up a story and pitched it to her.
The moment she heard it she told me I had to write it.
That day I went out and bought a laptop, came home and started writing.
The rest —as they say— is history.

That’s a brilliant question, and one I haven’t ever been asked before. I pride myself on being a safe space for everyone, where people can come and feel heard and valued. The one thing I love in life is making people laugh, even when I don’t feel like laughing myself.
CJ Riggs is someone who listens and understands, who speaks on things most people shy away from. I want to be an open book for everyone so when they hear or see me they know what they get. I strive to fight for those who don’t have the confidence to do so, to speak up on issues that mean the most to me, and to show women everywhere that strength is what you give yourself. And if you do that, then nobody can call you weak.

Ha ha I wish it was. I work as a manager at the moment full time, but I’m hoping in the next 18-24 months that I can become a full time author. The reason being that I have so much to write but not enough time haha.

The first horror film I watched as a kid was the 1986 version of Nightmare on Elm Street, and at the time I was 5. I blame my late grandmother for that. Ever since that day, I have been an avid horror fan, as well as a fan of the dark and banned movies around the world.
Horror has always been in my blood, and some of the fondest memories I have as a child are due to that genre. What made me decide to write erotic horror was a book called The Skeleton King by Charity B. The moment I read that, I knew that was the genre I wanted to focus on. Female rage is my first choice because the final girl is always left traumatized, and I wondered what it would be like if the final girl decided to take her rage out on those who hurt her.
I write female rage for the women who have had their voice and power stolen. As a victim myself, I write because it gives me a sense of peace. Movies like Revenge, Ready or Not and Promising Young Women, are some of my constant watches. They show the raw power a woman has but that we always forget we have.
Erotic horror to me is a genre that gives power to those who need it, control to those who lost it, and with a little bit is smut on the side.

Next year, all I can say is that I have a PNR novella, and a monster romance novella based in London. 

No For An Answer is what put me on the Amazon bestsellers list, it’s what gave me my voice as an author. But what I will say, is I have two favourites. Desperate Run, my co-write with ML Burns, and Flowers In The Wind, which is my first full length sapphic book with a woman of colour FMC. 

Shelly lol my god! Shelly came from my two loves, black and white movies, and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. I wanted to write something horrific, but with a pinch of shock humour. I wanted to twist how she may have been created if Dr Frankenstein had his own way. Shelly was born on an early Friday afternoon at 12pm ha ha and finished by 4pm that same day. She is my special baby. 

Honestly I gross myself out sometimes. Dark humour is my go to, and the old school horror movies of the 80s and 90s are my bread and butter. Shock horror and comedy are what keep me going on days I need a rest from my own mind. I was once told by an ex that I “wasn’t funny and that I would never amount to anything” so that day I made a promise that I would. And CJ Riggs was born without me even realising it.

The best part is hearing all the beautiful things people say. The messages of thanks I have received from readers who have told me that my books and things my characters have said have resonated and they felt understood. Knowing I can make those who feel… alone (for lack of a better word) feel seen makes me feel fulfilled. The worst part… brain block. Writer’s block is statistically the number one killer of an indie author haha.

This might shock some people lol, but I’m a FREAK for small town, slow burn cowboy. I know, I know, but I can’t get enough of it. MM is and always will have my heart, and sports romance. I read erotic horror here and there and sometimes extreme horror, but as an author of that genre, sometimes I need a break from that mindset so I can relax and NOTHING does it better for me… than single dad! I’ll take a single dad age gap every day and twice on Sundays!

•Bethany Winters, •Rebecca Rathe, •Luna K Wicked, •ML Burns.
I’m biased for Mel because she is a close friend of mine, and her work is phenomenal!. I also think
•Harleigh Beck, •Lo Gold, •Willow Dixon, •Tilly Ridge, •SR Clark, and •Nicole Dykes.

My family are very supportive of my writing career. Even though my mum wishes I would write a book with no smut, haha I told her the likes of that happening are slim to none. More chance of walking on water. My wife is my biggest cheerleader and the one I always pitch my ideas to first. She actually helped me come up with Idee Fixe, believe it or not.

Writing with Dakota was one of the easiest yet most random things that’s happened in my writing career so far. I couldn’t have asked for a better co-author to write my Luigi Mangione fanfic lol. I think we wrote it in 14 days too. Dakota is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, and I’m blessed to have her as a close personal friend. We bounced off each other perfectly and laughed the whole time. She’s a sweet baby angel, and I love her to pieces.

Honestly, I’m really boring. My ritual is a K-drama playing in the background, coffee, and making sure the FBI don’t turn up at my house because of my Google searches. I also never force a story. I place it in my notes app —usually just a working title— and wait for it to hit me. Idee Fixe, Shelly, my one for 2026, were all written in under 24 hours because I knew what they should do. Flowers in the Wind took me 12 months due to research, conversations and research, so it all depends on how I feel on the day. I would rather not write for months than put something out that is subpar. My readers deserve better than that

Long story short, I sign up, if I get accepted, I get a word count and a due date. I usually don’t sign up for anything unless I can think of something on the spot. The ones I have been part of again… took me less than 24 hours to write. I use a lot of inspiration from horror. Retellings, ideas on what would happen in real life, and sometimes current events. 

I love this haha all my cats are assholes in their own way. But Nelly takes after me, food is the only happiness in life.

Oh god, I don’t want to sound egotistical here but, ML Burns, Harleigh Beck, Dakota Wilde, Luna K Wicked, and Mila Crawford are just some of the authors I built relationships with before I became one myself. And most recently Becca Steele which for me is like a dream come true as I was reading her works wayyyy before she began writing MM. I count myself very lucky to have them. The main author I bounce my ideas off of is Mel. Because she does it to me all the time.

The first adult book I ever read was Bram Stokers Dracula, and it continues to be my number one gothic horror romance to this day.

Never. My readers know I barely listen to my wife haha. However, I do give them what they want in tropes. I like to give them what they ask for when they send me videos on socials or suggestions of what they would like to see. I’m extremely lucky to have readers that support me no matter what I write.

I do. No For An Answer, the character of Maisy was loosely based on my experiences growing up. As a victim of sexual assault, bullying and sexual harassment, Maisy was my voice, and when I wrote her, it gave me freedom to realise I made it. That I saved myself, and that it’s possible to grow from your experiences and that they don’t define you. I’m a survivor, and the women in my books will always fight for the rights of women.

This is quite an emotional question for me. If I had the chance to speak to my younger self I would tell her that what she will go through in life although terrifying, will mould her into the woman I am now. Not to be afraid, to breathe when you need to, and to trust your instincts more. That she is not her experiences, but she is how she claws out of them. And no matter how dark the moment… love and hope are always possible.

I try not to read my reviews as they’re for the readers and a safe space for them to be honest. Regardless of the review I’m eternally grateful.

Oh god, don’t judge me please, but Shelly… because as insane as Atlas is…. That’s my green flag baby right there. And if not… then Desperate Run, because the way ML Burns wrote Draven for me…. Yeah… he would get it haha.

Never silence, haha, it means I have to think haha. If it’s not Korean or Japanese horror, it’s Scream 1996 on repeat haha. Billy and Stu are my reverse harem dream.

Word. Plain and simple. Because it’s the easiest for me to use. I don’t have the patience to learn a new system haha.

Ebook mainly, as I only buy paperback books of books I love.

This is a hard one… uhm… Ignite by Melanie Harlow. Because that single dad wouldn’t be single for long!

Love yourself. Be proud of who you are. Because if you do those two things… nobody will ever be able to tell you you’re something that you’re not. You are who you were meant to be, and who you were meant to be is beautiful. And if nobody told you today, I love you, I’m proud of you, and you’re doing great, baby.