Lust of Innocence

A historical erotica novelette by PJ MacDowell 

I wrote Lust of Innocence during a time of quiet fury.

My feature film Sweeping Forward had just been released — a deeply personal story about a woman living on the edge, navigating the complexities of mental illness. I submitted the film to numerous festivals, including some niche festivals specifically focused on mental health and women filmmakers.

But the responses were often dismissive. Some even said they didn’t “see the mental health aspect reflected” in the film — which felt like a dismissal of everything I had poured into it, not just as a writer and director, but as someone who has lived with mental health challenges my whole life.

At the same time, films like Fifty Shades of Grey were everywhere — celebrated, sensationalized, and dominating the conversation. And I thought: This is what gets seen? This is what gets taken seriously?

I wrote Lust of Innocence out of that frustration — and a desire to create something with depth, emotion, and integrity. Something bold and sensual, yes, but also grounded in story. I believed I could write something better. More honest. More human. With characters who were complex, conflicted, and full of fire.

The story was originally conceived as a trilogy. This is Part I.

Whether or not I continue depends on interest. But for now, I’m sharing Part I — the opening chapter of a story that still burns.

— PJ MacDowell

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A bold, emotionally grounded historical erotica novelette (approx. 12,000 words, Part I of a trilogy)