The author of hit book 50 Shades of Grey has revealed an unlikely inspiration - Black Eyed Peas.

British author EL James has taken over the hearts and minds of females across the globe recently with the novel's saucy content.

Speaking to The Sun, she revealed that listening to the Black Eyed Peas actually helps her to write sex scenes.

James said: "I have songs that I write sex to. One of them is the Black Eyed Peas' 'Sexy'. That is a very sexy song."

The 2003 track features lyrics such as: "For you I'm a fanatic, I'm an addict, your sexy antics turn me on like automatic."

The author added that she wanted to make the book's cover not overtly erotic so that it can be kept secret in public. She said:

"I designed the covers because in my early 30s I read a lot of romantic fiction when I was slogging in and out of London on the Tube. But they had these horrible covers with women with clothes falling off. I hated that and I had to bend the covers back. So I designed really discreet covers so that no one would ever know it is salacious."