Exclusive: Myplotmate & the Exploration of the Unconventional
Finding new ways to explore my favorite dark romance books has got to be one of my favorite pastimes. There’s nothing more exciting than finding a new collection of art, fun themed merch, and now…a company that’s dedicated to bringing specific props from our favorite dark romance books to life.
If you haven’t e-met them already, let me introduce you to MYPLOTMATE. They are a dark romance-inspired brand that designs adult-toys themed after specific dark romance scenes. While we know that dark romance books often include the taboo and unconventional exploration of sexual desires and kinks––it's important that readers who choose to explore these themes in their personal lives have safe outlets to do so. This is actually how the business itself came to fruition. The catalyst for its inception started when the owner, Alena, found her own desires taking root and looking for safe avenues to pursue said impulse. In an effort to replicate an intriguing dark romance book in a safe way––that’s when the idea of MYPLOTMATE was born.
Although a simple desire had ignited the path that would soon become this brand, there was so much more work that had to go into developing this company. Navigating a beloved industry while connecting it in a new way with something exciting and bold would take a lot of time and effort before it could reach the hands of the masses.
“From that point it took a lot of research. I was familiar with the dark romance community already and quite active as a reader. But the sex toy industry was completely new. How are sex toys created? How to ensure that they are safe? Are there any specific Regulations? It took much longer than most people imagine, but I wanted to build something readers could trust from day one.”
As readers and consumers ourselves, it’s important for us to know how products are meeting safety, material, testing, and quality standards and MYPLOTMATE assured us that this is one area that they refused to compromise on.
“Creating a product inspired by a fictional story is exciting, but the moment something is intended for personal use, responsibility comes first. We invested significant time researching materials, manufacturing standards, testing requirements, and international compliance expectations.”
It’s incredibly refreshing to know that a company that is developing products for personal and intimate use is dedicated to setting the precedent for dark romance toys in our space. They use 100% platinum cured silicone, execute toy design reviews to prevent mechanical harm, and test the finished toy again to make sure that its body-safe via independent laboratories. These steps ensure that consumers are safe in as many aspects that are within their control which is exactly what we should be looking for as an industry standard when it comes to adult toys.
Although we’re in the 21st century, and consistently find ourselves breaking boundaries when it comes to how we disclose sex and stories that celebrate sexual desires––we occasionally find ourselves in an odd disconnect via the romance genre as a whole. We asked MYPLOTMATE if they hope that there might be some hope to close that gap via accessible information about adult toys, safe sex practices, and openly discussing desire.
“I really hope that MYPLOTMATE gives more and more people the confidence to explore their desires and the confidence not to be ashamed of them. Besides the actual products, a huge part of MYPLOTMATE is education around topics like: how to tell my partner about my love for dark romance, how to bring the morally grey energy to the bedroom, how to plan a CNC date, and a lot more.” You can find a lot of these topics that are dedicated to changing the narrative about exploring these feelings on their website via their blog section!
Another positive attribute of this dark-romance brand is certainly their dedication to the authors they work with. Since these props are memorialized from scenes in dark romance books, it’s imperative that they protect an author's intellectual property by ensuring they are officially licensed partners. In recent years, we have seen unlicensed book merchandise skyrocket and I wanted to know how important it was for MPM to include authors in the development and licensing process from the beginning and here’s what they said:
“Official licensing was foundational to the entire business. Authors spend years creating these worlds and characters. If we’re building something inspired by those stories, it was important to me that the creators were not only included, but actively involved. Licensing ensures authenticity. It ensures that authors have a voice in how their work is represented. It ensures readers know they’re purchasing a product that was developed in collaboration with the author and with the authors permission.”
I can’t imagine a better experience for readers who want to knowingly invest in authors as well as small businesses. This opportunity affords them the opportunity to do both!
When deciding what books and authors to consider for collaboration, the owner Alena thoroughly reads and annotates the stories in order to keep an eye out for “an element of the story that’s memorable enough to become reality. Sometimes it’s an object. Sometimes it’s a scene. Sometimes it’s something readers talk about repeatedly on social media because it captured their attention.” No matter what it is that catches her eye, she also finds herself gravitating towards authors who are excited about collaborating with the brand themself! If you are a dark romance author looking to partner with a company in a new way to bring your characters to life, you can send in a contact form directly on their website inquiring about their future partnership opportunities!
The crossover that you find between the bookish world and the sexual wellness world, that has found a home in the brand, gives them a unique access to two very different spaces that share similar goals. While you can find them at dark romance conventions beginning in 2028, you won’t find them at any sexual wellness expos as a vendor or exhibitor at the moment, since Alena herself finds it paramount “that the focus stays on books and the emotional connection rather than a simple sex toy.”
Overall, it’s so exciting to see a new brand form in the dark-romance space specifically that is doing something fun and unique. Their first launch included a collaboration for Pretty Little Fears written by S.J. Ryder, “which allows dark romance fans finally to feel the edge of a knife exactly the right way.” They did share that they have many more products in their development pipeline and they are actively working with authors, exploring several concepts, and are preparing for more memorable sensual lifestyle products. This is definitely a company to keep your eye on!