The New Sensuality

Please Welcome Guest Author Jessica E. Subject!

2012-01-31T23:05:00.000-08:00

Today, author Jessica E. Subject stops by as part of her Never Gonna Let You Go blog tour. Thanks so much for stopping by! Jessica will be giving away a $20 gift certificate at the end of the tour, so make sure to leave a comment for your chance to win.

A new and unique perspective in dystopian fiction

My most recent release, Never Gonna Let You Go, is a scifi/dytopian fiction story with F/F and M/F romance. The story began as a writing assignment in my high school Science Fiction English course. I had a man and a woman on a mission to explore a new planet. (And I was adding romance to my science fiction back then, too – LOL) But besides finding a new and unusual creature, there wasn’t much conflict in the story. I had the outline and intro tucked away for years, pulling it out again last year.

I toyed with the plot in my mind, my muse getting free range. When the muse introduced the idea of adding another person in, I thought, okay. But then I was clearly told it would not be a ménage situation. No, the original male (Erik) and female (Calla) were former lovers, and the new female (Melina) planned to seduce Calla.

A F/F dystopian? Not much of that around. But the story developed quickly, and worked. And now there plans for two more stories in this series, the next a lesbian romance, and the third a gay romance, all continuing the story started in Never Gonna Let You Go.

Never Gonna Let You Go Blurb

Caught in a tangle of lies, Calla Jacobs must sort through the truth to discover where she truly belongs. A biologist for Planet Core, she finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit. Sent to Airondelle, she must work with a team to prepare the newly discovered planet for colonists from Earth. But the mission does not go as she expected. Her former lover, Erik Edwards, shuns her, sending Calla into the arms of Melina Holloway, their commander, for the attention she craves and more. A confrontation among the trio leaves her with a broken heart, and fleeing from the two people she trusted most.

Attempting to break free from the lies that bind her, she discovers Planet Core has deceived everyone. And when she returns to Earth, Calla learns just how far Planet Core’s control reaches.

Available from Decadent Publishing and other ebook retailers.

Buy Links here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=7889

Giveaway!!

As part of the Never Gonna Let You Go blog tour, Jessica is giving away a $20 gift certificate to either Amazon.com or AllRomanceEbooks.com. Simply leave a comment with your email address for your chance to WIN! Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://www.markofthestars.com/wp/?page_id=8999

Bio:

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories. Her debut novella, Celestial Seduction is available from Decadent Publishing.

Website/Blog: http://www.markofthestars.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jsubject

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-E-Subject-author/205759796126370

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4959083.Jessica_E_Subject

Google +: https://plus.google.com/100079570422204018357/posts

Coming Soon!

2012-01-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

Tentative release date: Friday, January 13, 2012

This book has an amazing line-up:

Succubusted by Inara LaVey

Le Petit Mort by Kat Sheridan

Never Bargained for You by Loren Rhoads

Incubator by Elizabeth Black

Shipping and Handling by Ray Garton

Insatiable by Lisa Lane

Mad with Desire by Courtney Sheets

Blood and Souls by Angela Cameron

Roadside Assistance by Red Hanner

Demon’s Grace by Elena Derring

The Devil is in the Details by Anastacia Greumach

Original Cyn by Olivia Cunning

Shine for Me by Kilt Kilpatrick

I'm really proud to have my work listed among such talented authors. You're not going to want to miss this one!

Science Fiction Romance Holiday Feature 2011

2011-12-02T09:46:00.000-08:00

Learn what your favorite SFR characters do over the holidays, read some exclusive short stories, and catch excerpts from some awesome books! Oh, and there might be some yummy recipes and fabulous prizes as well.

List of Participants:

December 1 – D.L. Jackson
December 2 – Lisa Lane
December 3 – Jessica E. Subject @ Daily Dose of Decadence
December 5 – Gini Koch
December 6 – Heather Massey
December 7 – Jessica E. Subject @ 30 Days of Decadence Holiday Blog
December 8 – Rebecca Royce
December 9 – Bella Street
December 12 – Sara Brookes
December 13 – Maureen O. Betita
December 14 – Jessica E. Subject @ Jennifer Lane’s blog & TRS Book-a-day Giveaway
December 15 – Ann Mayburn
December 16 – Jeanette Grey
December 19 – Melisse Aires
December 20 – Diane Dooley
December 21 – Jessica E. Subject on Lisa Fox’s blog
December 22 – Azura Ice
December 23 – Eve Langlais
December 27 – Ella Drake
December 28 - Cathy Pegau
December 29 – Marva Dasef
December 30 – Misa Buckley

What's in a Name?

2011-11-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

When I submitted the second book to The Darkness and the Night trilogy, I had the title Blood and Shadow in mind. However, an editor at Ravenous Romance was taken with a particular scene, one which entailed Karen making love to a galaxy on the Astral plane, and she was intent on naming the book after it.

One wonderful aspect to writing paranormal erotica is the boundless possibilities in which one can create erotic content. The following scene is one of my more adventurous endeavors. Is it good enough to merit the naming of a book? I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Excerpt: THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT 2: COSMIC ORGASM

“Don’t cry, dear,” Mona whispered, her free hand weakly brushing Karen’s face clean.

In an instant, Karen and Mona floated in an Astral void. Karen watched as Mona, now a youthful woman with colorful butterfly wings, fluttered around her.

“On the Astral, all is timeless. There is no death, only existence and lack of existence. On the Astral, memories of me will always exist, and beyond that, my soul will move on to a new and different adventure.”

A colorful, oversized jungle slowly formed around them, and Karen flew beside Mona as they fluttered and soared through the enormous overgrowth. They passed flowers the size of their bodies and trees as tall as skyscrapers. Karen realized that she too was now a butterfly, and she and Mona flew together, soaring and darting through the air.

“Everything is timeless,” Mona said, “but everything is also in a constant state of change. Nothing in this universe is constant.”

Karen watched as Mona flew into a tree, and exploded into a hundred smaller butterflies. The butterflies scattered, and Karen looked around as the scenery began to fade.

Suddenly, Karen found herself in a dark void, unable even to sense her own body. She saw nothing, but she could feel that Mona was nearby.

“I can feel my body fading,” Mona said, her voice echoing through the void. “I’ll be dead soon, but I have one last gift for you.”

Karen felt a foreign sensation pulse through her, despite her inability to pinpoint her body. Suddenly, what appeared to be a distant galaxy came into view, and Karen realized that she was a vast cluster of particles in space. Stars shone all around her, and other galaxies soon became visible. Karen looked in all directions, still unable to see any hint of her earthly body.

A cluster of asteroids flew by, inducing a light tickle across one side of her as they left ripples through space. A small portion of them fell into a vortex that seemed to lead to her center, and as they entered its event horizon, suddenly Karen felt the sweet, orgasmic sensation of deep, passionate sex. She heard an elated cry echo through the cosmos, and then realized that somehow the sound was coming from her.

The swarm of tiny butterflies came into view, and then darted away, spiraling off into the distance. There was a small flash of light as the butterflies disappeared, and then suddenly a galaxy appeared in the distance, in their place, rushing toward Karen.

She thought to brace for the impact, but there was no body to brace as the galaxy moved upon her. She felt the rush of countless sensations flowing through her as it hit, the feel of an entire universe fondling and caressing her, entering and filling her. The ripples through space danced and played against one another, vibrating through her. A deep swell of ecstasy exploded within her, and her pleasured cries sailed into eternity.

THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT 2: COSMIC ORGASM is available in paperback and all electronic formats and can be found at all major online retailers. Click on the Amazon link on the right sidebar for more information.

Happy reading!

It’s the Anti-Twilight … Oh, Yes!

2011-11-16T18:09:00.000-08:00

With the release of Stephanie Meyer’s newest Twilight film, I thought it might be helpful to remind readers that there is a deliciously dark and dirty alternative. Originally copyrighted in 1997 as short stories in my 13-Taled Beast collection, then re-written into three full-length novels in 2008 and 2009, The Darkness and the Night trilogy is effectively the anti-Twilight. For Twilight fans, that might not be a big draw; however, for those who like their vampires scary instead of sparkly, murderous instead of “vegetarian,” and lustful instead of chaste, have I got the series for you….

I haven’t read the Twilight saga, so I’m not going to pass any judgment on Meyer’s writing skills. Stephen King already covered that, and I’m not one to argue with the King. I have heard all about the series, however, and it seems to me that one either loves or hates Meyer’s work—with no in-between. For most die-hard horror fans, reading about vampires with “traditional” family values just doesn’t cut it. Mind you, I have nothing against anyone’s religious or family values. I just don’t think they mesh (at all) with stories about monsters spanning from a long history of blood-drinking, village-infesting creatures of the night. Bram Stoker surely turned in his grave when Meyer’s series got the greenlight. What’s next, “born again” zombies who moan prayers before eating pig brains?

Conversely, The Darkness and the Night offers readers a contemporary alternative to the coffin-sleeping denizens of lore without attempting to tame the beast. The storyline is dark and, at times, horrific. The sex is raw and uncensored. At times, there is raunchiness and there is gore. Would Stephen King approve? He’d likely call it dirty, rotten smut, then qualify that with a unabashed smirk. I dare not put words into the King’s mouth, however, so instead I leave you with a proposition of my own: While the YA crowd gears up to gawk at vampire sparkles, join the numbers of readers who have turned to the dark side for their vampire fix. Read The Darkness and the Night and follow the independent heroin Karen on her dark odyssey—from Stockholm victim, to self-realized monster, to suburban vampire mom—and make the comparison yourself.

Happy reading!

Review: B CUBED 1: BORN by Jenna McCormick

2011-10-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Author Jenna McCormick offers a first-person story framed by a narrator’s dream. The world she describes brings to mind a mesh between Metropolis and Blade Runner, in a time that could be the past or the present, with class struggles between feudal groups. Borns, or landowners, use Breds, manufactured humans, to work in menial jobs, breaking them down for their parts when they’ve exhausted their usefulness. Allora, the Overlord’s daughter, is soon to be wed, but that means she will have to give up the job she loves to become her husband’s servant. After she catches Cormack, a Bred, with an odd journal, she makes a decision that will alter the course of both their lives.

This story is simple but fun. At less than 120 pages long, it is a short read, feeling much like an extended short story. I think it could have been developed further, but what the author did develop worked well. The erotic scenes were all very tasteful, some of them possibly even a little too reserved, and I thought the characters’ chemistry was good. Those looking for a quick, fun read will enjoy this book.

Learn more about Jenna McCormick's books at her Amazon page.

Please Welcome Guest Author Anne Kane!

2011-09-24T23:06:00.000-07:00

It's the final day of the blog tour, and to finish things off, author Anne Kane discusses reality versus fiction in sci-fi. Take it away, Anne!

How much of Science Fiction is Fiction?

I write romance, but it’s rarely set in contemporary times. As my tag line proclaims, I write science-fiction and fantasy with a sensual twist.

As I sat here, wondering what I write about for this blog tour, the term Science Fiction rolled around in my head. It sounds like an oxymoron. Science is generally though to be a method of proving natural laws by observation and careful testing. In other words, Science deals with known things that can be measured and quantified. Fiction on the other hand is entirely a product of the author’s imagination and can be as unlikely as the writer wants it to be. How on earth do we reconcile those?

When we combine the two terms, we come up with Science Fiction. The Encyclopedia Britannica defines science fiction as:

Fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals, or more generally, literary fantasy including a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.

Just fifty years ago, a man landing on the moon would have been considered science fiction, but we are all familiar with the images of Neil Armstrong taking that first step onto the surface of the moon. What was fiction has become reality. Personally, I feel that science fiction combines what is known with what I imagine could become reality at some point in the future. Travel to Mars, or Uranus, or another galaxy may not be a fact right now, but some day, I believe it be as common as plane travel is today.

When I write, I try to keep the universes I build believable. I need to create a feeling that this could happen, that this is a reasonable extrapolation of current trends”. In my Stargazers series, I’ve combined interstellar travel, which I believe will some day be a reality, with a group of women who have special talents. Those talents are based upon a belief in ley lines and other ancient practices that may or may not be based in fact. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I convince the reader that the concept is plausible.

And therein lays the challenge; to take the fiction that I create and blend it with a scientific basis in order to entertain. If in the process, I can get people to look beyond our earth-based society and dream of a life among the stars, so much the better!

Anne Kane

www.AnneKane.com

Sci –Fi and Fantasy with a sensual twist!

BLURB:

When Tarik’s brother is captured by the Intergalactic Council, the handsome cyborg realizes he’ll need the help of a Stargazer if a rescue mission is to succeed. Problem is, as the leader of the rebellion he can’t just advertise for a Stargazer willing to flaunt the Intergalactic Council.

But when he kidnaps Krystal, he is completely unprepared for the irresistibly sexy young woman with a gentle soul. Now he’s torn between rescuing his brother and his growing attraction to the talented witch.

EXCERPT:

“Let me see if I have this straight.” Sarcasm dripped from Krystal’s voice. “You launched an unprovoked attack on my parent’s estate, abducted me, left me cooling my heels in a cold cargo bay holding cell for goddess knows how long, had my hands bound behind me with a set of barbaric and extremely uncomfortable restraints, and then had me brought to what is obviously an interrogation chamber.” She paused to sweep a scornful glance around the room, her gaze lingering on a padded rack with leather straps dangling from the various parts. “And now you’d like me to do a favor for you?” She lifted her chin and fixed him with a glacial stare. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. I’d like to go home now.”

He had to give her credit for poise. Her haughty stance and the way she held her head high, chin tilted just so, gave the impression she was used to giving orders -- and having them obeyed.

He glanced away from her for a moment and gestured at the guards. “Please remove Ms. de Mylar’s restraints and wait outside the door until I summon you. He was gratified to see a faint shadow of alarm cross her face. She knew he wouldn’t give in quite this easy. He gave her a bland smile. “We need to discuss how best to accommodate her request.”

The shorter of the two guards stepped forward to remove the restraints. Tarik had to think for a moment before he could place him. Brent was a new recruit, a refugee from the Intergalactic Council’s recent annexation of the Utan home worlds.

Krystal stepped away from the guard and rubbed her wrists. The restraints hadn’t been that tight, but they’d obviously annoyed her.

A loud click signaled the departure of the guards and Tarik leaned back, stretching his long legs out under the table. “Have a seat.” He nodded toward the empty chair across from him.

“No thank you.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. This might take a while.”

The witch raised a brow at him. “I can’t imagine why.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, letting his gaze wander from the sprinkling of freckles on her nose, down her lithe figure to the foot that she tapped impatiently on the floor. Luckily, the table hid his body’s reaction. He didn’t need her to know she could arouse him with just a glance.

“Fine!” She threw herself into the chair, crossing her arms on her chest and glaring at him. “Discuss away.”

Tarik had to suppress the urge to grin. She certainly had the supercilious attitude down pat. He leaned forward, focusing on her emerald green eyes. Bad idea. A man could drown in those eyes. He shifted his attention lower, only to find himself wondering what those lips would taste like.

Series: Stargazers

Title: Wanton

ISBN (13): 978-1-60521-179-4

Genres: Futuristic, Paranormal, Sci-Fi

Themes: Magic and Mayhem

Release Date: March 13^th, 2009

Author: Anne Kane

http://www.annekane.literalseduction.net

Publisher URL Changeling Press - Erotic Fiction

Watch the Book Trailer : Here

BUY NOW!

Second Annual Out of This World Blog Tour

2011-09-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

Starting next week, the second annual Out of This World Blog tour will feature ten different sci-fi and SFR authors whose recent or upcoming releases take place beyond Earth as we know it.

The lineup:

September 17

Diane Dooley at Amber Norris’ blog

http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/

September 18

Gary Starta at Melisse Aires’ blog

http://melisseaires.blogspot.com

September 19

Frances Pauli at Diane Dooley’s blog

http://dianedooley.wordpress.com/

September 20

Amber Norris at Greta van der Rol's blog

http://gretavanderrol.net

September 21

Lilly Cain at Anne Kane’s blog

http://www.annekane.wordpress.com/

September 22

Greta van der Rol at Frances Pauli’s blog

http://francespauli.blogspot.com/

September 23

Lisa Lane at Gary Starta’s blog

http://godsmachinesandroids.blogspot.com/

September 24

Melisse Aires at Lilly Cain’s blog

http://contactinfinitefutures.wordpress.com/

September 25

Anne Kane at Lisa Lane’s blog

http://newsensuality.blogspot.com

Many authors will be giving away prizes to random readers, so stop by each day to check out the discussion and the SWAG.

See you there!

New Release: THREE'S A CHARM

2011-08-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

I have a new release to share with you! Three's a Charm, edited by Lori Perkins, is a hot menage anthology that includes an amazing lineup:

"Witch in the Middle" by Roxanne Rhoads

"Banshee Nights" by Courtney Sheets

"Sensual Apparitions" by Rebecca Leigh

"Angel Blood" by Jay Di Meo

"Trick or Treat" by Alithea Howes

"Super Nova" by Yours Truly

"Mortal Passion" by Garland

"Moonlit Destination" by Trinity Blacio

"The Angels in Room 111" by Sienna Peron

About "Super Nova":

The shape-shifting Nova, mortal enemies of the Gatgars, have joined Space-Corp, and Suxie and Jocar have been sent as representatives for their planets at the installation ceremony and reception. When a sexy bisexual and hermaphrodite are looking to spice up their relationship, what do they do? Add a shape-shifter into the mix, of course!

Now available at Ravenous Romance.

Review: UNDER THE KILT, by Kilt Kilpatrick

2011-08-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Under the Kilt is a collection of twelve short stories by erotica author Kilt Kilpatrick. I enjoyed this collection a lot, and I was surprised by Kilpatrick’s versatility as a writer, which this anthology showcases well.

The Tiger’s Tale

Elspeth is married to Clive, a trader for East India Company. Seeing her lonely and isolated, Clive hires Vijaya to be Elspeth’s maid and companion. The two become fast friends and begin to fall for one another. When Clive catches the two together, he orders Vijaya killed and Elspeth runs away from home to save her lover’s life. Also rushing to her aid is the secret weapon neither Clive nor his hired assassins could have anticipated.
“The Tiger’s Tale” is riddled with symbolism and deep insight on religious and sexual tolerance. The story begins slowly, then quickly advances into a brilliant and beautiful story that could stand proudly beside any acclaimed fable. This was my favorite story in this anthology.

Later Days, Saints

This story is a hilarious first-person account of a young woman’s deflowering of “Elder Steward” and “Elder Harper,” two (naïve) Mormon missionaries who fall easily into her seductive trap. By convincing the two she has spiked their drinks, she leads them on a slippery slope of dirty deeds.

Handsome and Grateful

A witty, erotic retelling of “Handsel and Gretel,” “Handsome and Grateful” follows the brother and sister (both young adults in this version) through their lost trek into the forest. When they happen upon the witch’s gingerbread house, Kilpatrick offers a whole new twist on the hungry witch and helpful woodsman.

Last Times at Ridgemont High

Jeremy, a high school senior, is socially awkward and not at all popular. However, when a zombie outbreak takes out nearly the entire school, he shows the only survivors—sexy cheerleader Dee Dee and hot teacher Ms. Baymiller—how strong and sexy of a man he really is. This is the most bizarre coming of age story I have ever read. I loved it.

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Trini’s “thought experiment” takes first-person narrator Evan on a wild phone sex ride, playing with Dominant/submissive role-play and homoerotic fantasy. The narration moves between the first-person, past tense of Evan’s storytelling and the first-person present tense of Trini’s role-playing. I enjoyed The Manny Diaries, which this story prequels, and I think fans Manny fans will agree that it “Reach Out and Touch Someone” is a fun addition to the mix.

Love Bites: A Survivor’s Guide

Zombies have brought apocalyptic hell on Earth, and Michael is the last living man. Holed up in an old family home on a small island, he’s learned how to cope with the daily struggle of survival. His biggest problem? It could be that he’s running out of supplies and is down to one bullet, with new hoards of zombies coming after him every night. It could be that he’s an adult with an elf-sized imaginary friend—or it could be that he’s fallen for a woman, Tanna, despite the fact that she’s a vampire intent on making him her next meal….

That Afternoon

See my review for The Manny Diaries for my thoughts on this sweet and sexy excerpt and more.

Humuhumunukunukuapua’a

“Humuhumunukunukuapua’a” is the coming of age story of close friends Mila and Mina and the love they find they share for one another. This story is short and sweet, but also very sexy.

Santa Claus Is Coming

Evan Ross is on Santa’s naughty list…. Again, see my review for The Manny Diaries.

Mutated States of America

Humankind has relocated to the moon after a worldwide mutagen meshes the DNA of the plants and animals it comes in contact with. Galina is on a mission to return to Earth and test the atmosphere for continued presence the active mutagen, but when she encounters the four-armed mutant Alex, a series of bad choices between the two of them leaves her stranded. Alex’s people believe Galina has come from the stars bearing a gift from the gods, however, her technology perceived by the now primitive people as magic. When they return to his village, they find out that her purpose there is much less magical—but so much more important—than either of them could have imagined.

Lady Cassiopeia’s Amaranthine Palace; or, the Aerial Xanadu

This story is a mesh of urban fantasy, sci-fi, high fantasy, and erotica. Empyreal Bounty crewmember Tanner enjoys his stay at a space-age brothel containing women of all kinds imaginable.

The Blue Morpheus Inn (with Inara Lavey)

Ben, Skyler, and Mary have been friends since early childhood. When the three take a road trip to Redwood Grove, a missed turn changes the course of their outing and blown tire in front of an old, isolated inn (I loved the Rocky Horror Picture Show reference) leaves the three spending the night with hopes of repairing the tire in the morning.

Each room at the inn has a different theme, but the three find that each theme also comes with the fulfillment of an erotic desire in a similar vein as Fantasy Island: Skyler has a threesome with Betty Rubble and Wilma Flintstone; Mary has one with two pirates; and Ben takes on two of Aphrodite’s man-servants.

Betty and Wilma threw me off, but perhaps may have been easier to swallow had their scene come after Mary’s or Ben’s. Mary’s pirate threesome was very “bodice-ripper,” the rape fantasy and BDSM being a vast contrast to Skyler’s Stone Age encounter. Ben’s scene is very surreal and the erotica well executed; however, I thought it would have been more enjoyable had it not been a “coming out” experience for him.
Overall, the Under the Kilt anthology is excellent. While some of the stories are stronger than others, they’re all fun reads. The anthology includes a handful of genres, which makes expectations between one story to the next vary, but given the caliber of most of the collection, one really can’t complain.

Grid Breakdown:

Hidden Cove

2011-07-24T12:52:00.000-07:00

Amidst the sea of reality in which we all wade, there lie hidden coves, places where the lines between life and fiction become blurred, where fantasy and horror step in for just a time to alter our rules, terrify and delight us, then slide back into the shadows from whence they came.

Here are some of their stories.

Until next time....

Review: Best Lover in Town, by Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle

2011-07-20T20:04:00.000-07:00

Janet is on a desperate search to find “the one,” which leads her on a lighthearted and kinky journey taking her through the bedrooms of five very different men. While she feels a definite spark with Nathan, her boss and the first of many one-night flings, a back-stabbing friend convinces each that the other has moved on. When the fates bring them back together, Janet gives him the night of his life by implementing toys introduced to her from each of her other kinky and adventurous one-night stands.

I thought the erotic aspects to this book were fun, innovative, and well-paced. I liked the recurring theme, “the best [fill in the blank] in town,” Janet’s lighthearted character, and the chance the authors took by writing the work in present tense. I did find a handful of editing problems, and I think the prose and dialog could have been tighter, but overall, Best Lover in Town was a fun read and a good debut novel.

Guest Author Starla Kaye on Ménage a Trois

2011-06-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Today, I'd like to welcome author Starla Kaye, who has some insights to share on writing ménage a trois. Starla has published 18 novels, 17 novellas, and 5 anthologies with Blushing Books, Black Velvet Seductions, Red Rose Publishing, and iUniverse. Take it away, Starla!

Writing a Ménage a trois

Any kind of romantic relationship can be tricky. Whenever you combine two people with their unique personal histories, their likes and dislikes, their varying views on life, and everything else encompassed in a relationship it takes patience and compromise. Adding a third person only complicates it all even more.

A ménage a trois, also known as a threesome sometimes, is a fantasy both men and women have about making love to two people at the same time. The most common fantasy situation involves one man and two men, but women tend to fantasize more about making love to two men. Sex between three people at once requires creativity, imagination, and being open minded. Positions used need to guarantee that all three people involved are satisfied.

These stories are intriguing not only for their ability to please each other, but also for that hint of the forbidden. The reader might enjoy the “naughty” idea of doing something that in reality they would never dream of trying. It is the “what if” that fascinates them.

Writing a ménage a trois story can be challenging. The author must weave together the facets of interaction of three complex characters. The reader must be convinced to care about each of the three characters involved in the relationship and be convinced that each of the characters care about each other. This is a balancing act to keep the necessary intensity of dealing with each character separately and all of them together.

And there is the matter of writing a satisfying-to-the-reader sex scene involving three characters. It is more than letting them know that Tab A goes into Slot B and Tab C goes somewhere, too. The reader needs to understand what each of the people is feeling, what they are doing, and how they are concerned about the other two people in the scene.

In my newest release from Black Velvet Seductions, a medieval ménage romance, Their Lady Gloriana, I wanted to create a story about three very unique people and how they managed to find happiness together. Each of the characters (Thomas, Rowan, and Gloriana) had complicated and tragic backgrounds. Each had strong reasons why they didn’t believe they could find true happiness. Yet each character found a person that gave them a small ray of hope, that surprising chance at finding love. Then the three people managed to discover something more amazing…a loving relationship with two other people.

For more about Starla Kaye, stop by her website. Their Lady Gloriana is available through Amazon:

Please Welcome Guest Author Berengaria Brown!

2011-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I have erotic romance author Berengaria Brown here to talk about her love of reading and the escape of erotica. Thanks for stopping by, Berengaria!

The Joy of Reading

My father taught me to read when I was very young, and would never permit anyone to place boundaries on what I read. He always said if I understood what I was reading there was no sense in preventing me from reading it, and if I didn't understand it there was no need to stop me reading it, as I wouldn't understand it!

Consequently, I read a lot of books children my age had no idea even existed.

He even let me use his library card so I could take books out from the adult shelves at the library. Actually, by then I'd read all the children's books anyway.

I grew up reading very widely, and still read almost anything, signs in store windows, the back of the cereal box, and most genres of fiction, including romance from the sweet to the extremely kinky.

I write much the same way: paranormal (ghosts, vampires, werewolves, fairies), contemporary, Regency-set historical, ménage (MMF, MFM, FFM, MMM), male/male, lesbian, and even one man/one woman stories.

I thought “Bookish Arousal” was going to be an extremely kinky little MMF story. It turned out Fergus only wanted to give Yanni advice, not to be romantically involved. So this is the story of Yanni and Audrey--and a lot of erotic romance books.

“Bookish Arousal” Blurb:

Audrey has no trouble achieving orgasms reading erotic romance novels alone in her bed at night. Whether with her fingers or her favorite plastic friend, orgasms are assured. But her last boyfriend labeled her frigid when she failed to be aroused by sex with him.

Now she is madly in lust with a truly delicious work colleague, Yanni. But when they go to bed, nothing happens--she's devastated that, despite her lust for him, her body refuses to be aroused.

Yanni is determined to romance her until her body cooperates. Maybe some dirty sex talk--and other assistance--will get her aroused!

Excerpt:

Yanni picked up the TV remote and flicked through the channels until he came to a romance movie, which he left on with the sound turned low, then he turned her face to his and kissed her softly, just the briefest touch of his lips to hers.

She cuddled into him, so, encouraged, he feathered kisses on her nose, eyebrows and across her jawline, then sucked her earlobe into his mouth.

“Mmm,” she murmured, resting her palms against his chest.

Yanni tilted Audrey's mouth up to his and kissed her more deeply. When he licked the seam of her lips, she opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue inside. He pulled her body more firmly against his and kissed her harder, sliding his tongue around behind her teeth, licking the insides of her cheeks, tasting the roof of her mouth. Her tongue tangled with his, then she sucked on him, raising the heat between them to a higher level.

Finally they broke apart to breathe, and all the while he rubbed gentle circles on her back and murmured soft endearments against her neck before diving back in for another hot kiss. This time he sucked her tongue into his mouth, then thrust his tongue deeply into her mouth, subconsciously demonstrating what his aching cock was hoping for.

She pulled back a little from him, but before he could panic, her fingers began unbuttoning his shirt. Yanni let her take the lead, reminding himself, This is all about her. Let her set the pace.

Fortunately his self-control wasn't tested too far, as she ran her palms against his skin, then tweaked his nipples, before pulling his shirt out of his pants and unbuckling his belt.

Yanni slid his hands down her back to cup her butt as she unzipped him and freed his hot, aching cock. He sighed with relief as she pulled it out of his briefs and held it firmly in her hand.

“Oh yeah, that feels good,” he said, lifting up her skirt and slipping both hands inside her panties.

She wiggled in his arms, encouraging him, so he held her ass with one hand and brought the other forward to cup her mound.

Her fingers were doing wicked things to his dick, pressing on the throbbing vein and rubbing his moisture into the head. When she ran her fingernail under the ridge between the cap and the shaft, he groaned. It felt so damn good.

He slid his longest finger into her channel. She wasn't very wet yet, but she seemed to be enjoying herself, so he teased around her entry and massaged her clit. It was warm and engorged, poking out from its protective little hood, but she still wasn't creaming much.

“Tell me what you want. What would you like me to do next? Where do you like being touched?” he whispered.

“Talk dirty to me. Tell me all the things you'd like to do to me.”

“Well, hell. What wouldn't I like to do? I want to stroke you here.” He pressed his finger into her cunt and twirled it around until he could feel her walls dampening a little.

He moved the hand on her ass until one finger could rim her rosette. “I'd like to touch you here too. Maybe even fuck you here one day.”

More cream dampened the finger in her pussy, so he slid a second finger in there and pressed his longest finger to her anus.

Buy Link http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9353-bookish-arousal.aspx

Berengaria Brown
http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
http://berengariabrown.webs.com/

Heeding the Muses

2011-05-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

Most writers will agree that the drive to write goes beyond personal desire. Truly, I think it is fair to agree that most writers write because they must. Stories fight for attention within the writer’s head, while those simmering on the back burner struggle to find their place on the forefront. Never is there a moment when I do not have at least two or three stories competing for my time.

Most recently, one of my back-burner novels, which I had first completed about seven years ago—but was based on a screenplay I wrote over fifteen years ago—found its way to the forefront (despite all of the new stories that also have been fighting for the spot). This novel is in no way an erotic work; it is a sci-fi allegory/satire that I wrote in response to various examples of abuse of religious power. The story is based on the premise that we are not the first world of people to fight over religion, asking the questions: (1) What might religion look like from God’s point of view? (2) What might happen if God came to the people in the form of not one messiah, but several—at once? This takes a far leap from my erotica, but I can assure you that the plot and characters are every bit as twisted as those in my other works.

Although Myths of Gods is not an erotic work, it does contain a moderately graphic rape scene, one that will no doubt generate some controversy. The scene is with great purpose, however, and those who understand the symbolism behind it will appreciate it and all it stands for. This book has been a long time in the making, and it is my hope that my erotica readers might enjoy it just as much as might those from the mainstream sci-fi or literary readership.

Myths of Gods is currently available for Kindle and PC, and will soon be available in trade paperback.

As always, I’d love to know what you think about it, and I thank you for your readership and support! Stop by on Saturday for guest blogger Berengaria Brown.

I've Been Neglectful. . .

2011-05-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

. . . and for that, I am sorry. It's been a trying past few months, but I survived. The next few months promise to be trying as well, so try to be patient with me.

With that said, I have still managed to fit some writing into my hectic schedule, although I have not recently written any erotica. I'm sure many writers feel the need to write in numerous genres, as perilous as the practice may be. To my erotica readers: there's more on its way . . . really.

In the meantime, don't forget to play the interactive short story, Pandora's Hope Side Mission.

Also, check out my Cerebral Writer blog post on Language.

Until next time. . . .

Won't You Join Me in a Pint of Esirian Ale?

2011-02-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

Esirian Ale is deceptively intoxicating, bitter-sweet, and a lovely rose-amber in hue. Although the home planet on which it was created has long been destroyed, its legacy lives on--both throughout future Corporate space and among those who can travel beyond time and visit the Astral Bar.

This might be my toughest contest yet, but the reward is great: a signed copy of one of your choice of my currently available paperbacks.

The challenge: Name all three currently available books in which Esirian Ale is either mentioned or featured.

The first commenter to answer correctly wins. Good luck!

The P&E Polls are In!

2011-02-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

The final tallies have been counted, and thanks to your votes, Pandora's Hope came in second over forty entries in the best erotica novel category! Congratulations to MeiLin Miranda for a competitive win with Lovers and Beloveds, as well as to the other top ten finalists! Here is the final breakdown:

1. Lovers and Beloveds, MeiLin Miranda, Sans Culotte Press, [link][comments]

2. Pandora's Hope, Lisa Lane, Ravenous Romance, [link][comments]

3. Possess Me, R.G. Alexander, Berkley Heat, [link]

4. Wings of Desire, Arianna Skye, Eternal Press, [link]

5. Internet Bonds 39: Terms of Surrender, Christy Poff, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, [link]

6. The Moon The Madness and The Magic, Eliza March, Siren Publishing, [link][comments]

7. Hot Spanish Nights, Bianca Swan, The Wild Rose Press, [link]

8. The Enchanted Bathroom, Liam Stalls, MuseItHOT Publishing, [link][comments]

8. Trusted Bond, Mary Calmes, Dreamspinner Press, [link]

9. The Seduction of Simone, Cherie De Sues, Noble Romance Publishing, [link][comments]

10. Hot on Her Tail, Ruth D. Kerce, Ellora's Cave, [link]

Please Welcome Guest Author Toni Sweeney!

2011-01-29T20:33:00.000-08:00

It is my pleasure to present the lovely and talented Toni Sweeney, whose recent release, Wizard's Wife, takes the reader into an imaginative world of fae and magic! Take it away, Toni!

I was indulging in a bit of fancy when I wrote Wizard’s Wife...more than a bit, it turned out, and over quite a long length of time.

I began the story in 1987, wrote one chapter (the first, in which Megan McMuir meets and marries her husband David, becomes pregnant immediately and then, upon telling David he’s to become a father—something he wasn’t in such a hurry to be—discovers she’s married a card-carrying, real life, dragonfly-winged faery), made up an outline with the names of all my characters and a long list of Gaelic words and phrases...and then promptly lost it.

And it stayed lost. Until 2008, when I discovered it in a box of manuscripts I was unpacking while I was living in California. “Well, this needs to be finished,” was my thought. And about time, too! So I sat down and transcribed that first chapter into my computer, read through it, didn’t like it as far as content and form, and allowed myself to be distracted away as one does when faced with completing something which isn’t the least inviting. I had the entire story plotted out. After all it was written down. I just didn’t like the way what I had already written sounded and didn’t want to take time right then to change it. So I wrote Blood Sin and Serpent’s Tooth instead.

Flash forward. Three years later. I’m now back in Nebraska, deciding I’d better get to work on Wizard’s Wife because the poor story has waited long enough to be told. Now, I can’t find it! I distinctly remember placing it in a box with some other long-ago-written manuscripts which I thought I might work on after I completed my move…but it’s not there! Am I mistaken? Did I place it one of the boxes destined for storage and it’s still in California, lounging on a shelf, and will probably not see the light of day for another three years, or until I can save up the shipping fee to get it and my other belongings here? Possibly.

Oh, well... I didn’t like what I’d written, so what does it matter? I have the general idea of the story in my head, the Gaelic Dictionary is bookmarked in the computer, I know all about the Harmonic Convergence which started all this in the first place, so... what am I waiting for?

So I sat down and wrote Wizard’s Wife, changing Chapter One into something a little lighter and more fanciful, and I kept on writing until the story was complete…of a faery wizard who came to our world and fell in love with a mortal…of his father’s anger at his disobedience…of the magic dimension of Ais Linn…of talking unicorns and shapeshifting knights and leprechaun watchmakers…of drop-dead gorgeous fae and one handsome and thoroughly evil villain. There are racy bits, too, of course...an explanation of fae contraception both magical and mundane…along with a seduction by proxy and more than a little magical as well...

...and when I got through, I decided this time, I really liked what I’d written!

I think you will, too.

EXCERPT:

“We’re not going through a lot of rigamarole this time, David. Just tell me straight out and without a lot of hemming and hawing… Who is Siobhan Dubhtine and what’s this all about?”

He didn’t answer, just got very busy making certain the door was shut.

“Oh my God.” Suddenly, Megan felt like kicking herself. How stupid. How utterly stupid of me. Why didn’t I realize it? “She’s a faery, too, isn’t she?

Still facing the door, David inhaled deeply. Before she could say anything else, he spun around so quickly she jumped. “Siobhan Dubhtine an’ I were once bespoken. An’ what this is all about is that she an’ her braither have ne’er forgiven me for breakin’ my troth.”

“Breaking your troth?” It took Megan a moment to understand. “You mean you and t-that woman were engaged?”

“Aye, I’m afraid we were.”

“David, I think you’d better explain.”

David drew in another deep breath. Stood there, rocking onto his heels slightly. Didn’t speak.

Megan waited.

At last, he exhaled. “I met Siobhan at one o’ our feile. Meggie, understand I was younger then—”

“How much younger?”

“A lot... A mere lad in my teens, but randy an’ full o’ fire, an’—”

“Please, spare me the angst. I know how teenaged boys act. I used to date them.”

“Well, then— She bedazzled me.”

“With glamour?”

“Nay, none o’ that. Faeries canna be truly glamoured though we’ve been befooled on occasion. ’Twas just th’ way she looked an’... Believe it or na, I was virgin mysel’ back then, an’ eager to know a woman. But I was idealistic, too, asked her to marry me straightaway, was surprised when Da didna object.”

“Why should he? She’s fae, you’re fae.” David’s father’s objections to their own marriage still rankled.

“Siobhan Dubhtine’s father was th’ Lord o’ Dark Fire, Megan.” When she looked blank, he went on, “Lord Dubhtine represented e’erythin’ wicked an’ evil in our world. An’ if that wasna bad enough, Siobhan’s mother was a solitary fairy.”

“One of those antisocial fae with a malicious streak a yard wide?”

“That's right. ’Tis surprisin’ Da even allowed me to meet Siobhan much less become affianced, but at that time, he was holdin’ to th’ belief that a child shouldna be accountable for its father’s actions.”

A little hypocrisy there. Megan thought of how Da had reacted to the announcement of his expected grandchild. “So your dear Siobhan got a double dose of badness. From Daddy and Mommy.”

He caught the sharpness in her voice, frowning. “When Lord Dubhtina died an’ her braither Exeter inherited th’ mantle, Da came to me an’ forbade me to see Siobhan again.”

“Just like that? Son, you can't see that girl any more?” Remembering David’s reaction to his father’s anger at their own wedding, Megan was surprised.

“Na exactly.” David had the grace to look embarrassed, avoiding Megan’s eyes. His wings jerked nervously. “He— Well, he stormed into my chamber, jerked Siobhan from my bed, an’ said, ‘Get dressed, slut, an’ out o’ here!’”

“God, David. You mean you were sleeping with her? And he knew?” The memory of how restrained he’d been before their marriage sent a stab of dismay surging through Megan, followed by fiery anger.

“’Tis acceptable for a betrothed couple. Darlin’, do na be jealous. ’twas long before I met you an’ remember—I was almost a child.”

“Apparently not enough of one!”

“’Tisna as if it happened this mornin’.”

“No,” she considered. “It isn’t, isn't it?” Thank goodness. She forced herself to set her jealousy aside. For the moment. “So what changed his mind?”

“He’d learned Exeter was slippin’ his men into this world. Th’ convergence. Remember?”

“OK, so your father broke off your engagement, and—”

“An’ I learned I was part o’ Exeter's plan for conquest. He’d sent Siobhan to seduce me. She cared naithin’ for me—an’ dinna that tear my ego to shreds?”

“S-she didn’t get pregnant, did she?”

David didn’t answer.

“David? Please, tell me our baby doesn’t have a half-brother or sister somewhere.”

“If that were so, you an’ I wouldna be sittin’ here discussin’ this, acushla, for I’d have married her na matter what my father said. In that respect, I was careful in my dealin’s with th’ colleen baun.”

“May I ask just how you were careful?” What exactly does a fae do in the way of contraception? “Do your physicians cast birth control spells?”

“In a way.” He managed a slight laugh. “There are gemstones embued with th’ power to prevent conception. A female wears one on a little cord ’round her neck an’ so long as it touches th’ skin, she canna conceive. Males use a...” His hesitation and the flash of pink across his face and through his wings made Megan smile slightly. Embarrassed, Master Tavy? “Lord, I canna say this to you, aghra.”

“Yes, you can. I’m your wife. You can tell me anything.” Even if I don’t want to hear it. And I certainly don’t want to hear this. “Males use...what? Condoms made of milkweed, thistledown...?”

“...a cock-ring made o’ th’ same stone.”

“Sounds uncomfortable.” She tried to envision that and found herself wanting to giggle, quickly stifled the sound. “And heavy.”

“’Tisn’t somethin’ one wants to wear continually,” he agreed and managed a rueful, if somewhat shameful smile. “Well, Siobhan tried to convinced me na to wear it at all but I had doubts on that matter.”

“Why in the world would she run the risk?” She didn't wait for his reply. “Did she hope to trap you into marriage if your father did exactly what he did?”

“Worse than that.” The color blazing in his cheeks was anger now, as was the fiery bronze in his wings. “She just wanted my child. Th’ offspring o’ a wizard o’ White Fire.”

“Why would she—”

“For Exeter. He’s going to need all th’ power he can muster when th’ convergence comes. As th’ product o’ two fae, my child would be born with a power equal to his.”

“But your child would take after you, wouldn’t it? It would be good.”

“Only if I’m there to guide it. Under Exeter’s guardianship, it would become just as he is. He thought Siobhan had me so enthralled, I’d blindly plant my seed within her without a second thought.”

Megan blinked. “But some...inner warning...kept you from doing that.”

“Exactly. I guess he thought, me bein’ th’ virgin that I was, I would think my first time could na be fertile.”

"So why didn't you use that...uh...magic gemstone with me?”

“I thought human birth control would work. An’ th’ glamour doesna work on gemstones. I couldna make it look like a condom. ”

“And our baby? Will it have powers, too?” She'd never thought about that, hadn’t given any thought to what the baby would inherit from its father. Not at all. God, could it possibly have wings, too, or those misty spiraling antenna, or... What else?

“He'll be half-fae.” He smiled, relaxing a little, his wings calming back to their original color. “With a halfling, there’s a difference. He’ll have th’ choice o’ developin’ his powers or ignorin’ them. If he chooses na to use them, they’ll disappear an’ he'll appear a normal human.”

“And if he wishes to keep them?”

“I'll teach him how to handle them an’ how to hide what he is when he’s with his maither’s people.”

“I see.” Megan sighed heavily and forced herself to smile. “If you’re certain this convergence is going to happen—and so far I have no reason to doubt you’re wrong—I guess we’d better encourage him to accept his powers. I’m sure you’ll need help to fight Exeter. Even from an infant wizardling.”

Wizards’ Wife was released by Class Act Books on January 15. For a glimpse into Chapter One, click here.

Toni’s website: http://www.tonivsweeney.com/

The Stylish Blogger Award

2011-01-25T23:57:00.000-08:00

The amazingly talented Marva Dasef named me a Stylish Blogger!

The rules for accepting this award are:

Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award. Thanks Marva!

Share 7 things about yourself. Here goes....

1. I finished writing my tenth novel last year.

2. I speak broken Italian.

3. My eye color varies dramatically depending upon my surrounding lighting.

4. My all-time favorite movie is Cube.

5. My all-time favorite work of literature is "The Star," a short story by H. G. Wells.

6. Poly-dactyls (extra fingers and toes) run in my family.

7. I was born with an extra set of eyeteeth (and one of my sisters had up to five extras of each tooth).

Award 10 recently (or not so recently) discovered great bloggers.

Morgan Hawke
Dana Fredsti
David Fitzgerald
Carole Gill
Kaye Manro
Kate Sirls
Vivi Dumas
Nikki's Wild
Angela Cameron
Julian Luna

Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.
Will do!

Bitten by Books gives PANDORA'S HOPE 4.5 Tombstones!

2011-01-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Bitten by Books, and thanks also to Jennifer for the great review! From the review:

The crew of the Pandora’s Hope returns for a sequel to their brilliant first outing, Lust in Space. The wonderful cast returns, mostly in its entirety, from the first book, and this sequel keeps up the strong pace of their first set of adventures. I have to admit that this is one of the most entertaining series I review, and I was really excited to find that there was a sequel to Lust in Space. I am a total sucker for a good sci-fi story, more than almost any other genre, and Lisa Lane manages to weave good plots, strong and sympathetic characters, and some hot erotica into her space opera.

Read the full review here.

It's that Time Again....

2011-01-10T13:40:00.001-08:00

The Predator's and Editor's Readers' Poll is up, and I sure would appreciate your vote for Pandora's Hope. Here is the link. Lust in Space, the first novel to the series, came in the top 10 last year and I would love to see Pandora's Hope follow suit. Help give me a reason to celebrate, friends.

My thanks!

Review: ULTIMATE DUTY by Marva Dasef (Contains Spoilers)

2011-01-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

When young Remy Belieux is accepted into the SemCorp's Space Service, she sees a universe of new opportunity--but she soon learns that not is all what it seems. When she infiltrates the Reformists, an anti-SemCorp insurgency group, she becomes caught between her loyalty to SemCorp and the realization that her people are nothing but glorified slaves to its power-fueled cause.

Ultimate Duty is a simple story with masterful world-building and exceptional prose. Ms. Dasef demonstrates a knack for visual description, smooth dialog, and well developed characters. Her attention to detail makes for a complex and believable universe, and her eclectic use of dystopia and future history is delightful. The erotic scenes are tasteful and well written, with a beautiful balance between explicit and closed-door romance.

I did have an issue with the Reformists' eagerness to assist Remy in rescuing her parents from their homeworld, as it did not seem believable to me that they would risk so much for two civilians who meant nothing to their cause. I also felt that they were too quick to suspect the betrayal of their most valuable mole. With that said, I must say the novela as a whole is am impressive read, one I would highly recommend to fans of space opera, sci-fi romance, and related genres.

For more information on Marva Dasef and her books, visit her website. Ultimate Duty is available through Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle.

Now at Borders Online!

2011-01-05T12:31:00.001-08:00

The electronic version of all of my books with Ravenous Romance are now available through Borders Online! You can find them here.

Happy reading!

Play the PANDORA'S HOPE Interactive Side Mission!

2010-12-30T13:23:00.000-08:00

The Nova have declared war in Space-Corp territory, and we need your help! Join Suxie, Buzz, and Security Manager Parker of Pandora's Hope as the commander of your own space battle ship--your choices will determine whether or not Space-Corp wins the war.

Start here.

Good luck, Commander!

Amazon's #1 Bestselling Erotic Horror

2010-12-21T13:09:00.000-08:00

The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee is currently Amazon's #1 bestselling erotic horror paperback!

Both Blood and Coffee and Cosmic Orgasm have been riding the top ten spots in Amazon's list for months now, but today Blood and Coffee hit #1. My thanks to readers for your continued interest in this dark and different vampire trilogy. It has been such a pleasure to take you along with me on Karen's dark odyssey, and I have enjoyed your letters of response and support. I thoroughly enjoyed writing all three books in The Darkness and the Night, and I am so delighted to be able to share them with people like you.

Happy reading!

SFR Brigade Holiday Blitz!

2010-12-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

If you love SFR, you don't want to miss the SFR Brigade's Holiday Blitz! There are over 50 books up for grabs. Stop by the SFR Brigade for details.

Happy holidays!

Now in Paperback!

2010-12-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

You asked, and Ravenous Romance delivered: The Darkness and the Night III: Twins of Darkness has finally arrived in paperback! Stop by Amazon for details.

TWINS OF DARKNESS

Karen learns quickly that being both a mother and a vampire is no easy task, especially since her children, fraternal twins Anna and Andy, are not typical kids. Anna, although seemingly human, has the unique ability to not only travel the Astral, but also manipulate objects and people between planes. Andy also appears to be a normal human boy, but appearances prove disastrously deceiving. With the help of her blood donor and lover, Jason, Karen does her best to offer the twins a "normal" suburban life. Despite them, Anna and Andy come into their own, exploring their family's past . . . and the very different beings they are both slowly becoming. In the process, the story takes one on a wild ride that breaks beyond the boundaries of time and reality, sexual exploration, love and sacrifice . . . and back to the vampire commune.

Happy reading!

What Draws Me to Write Erotic Sci-Fi and Horror . . . with Literary Elements

2010-12-08T20:36:00.000-08:00

One might think there would be major differences between writing space opera and crafting erotic horror, but it is what they have in common that makes both genres among my favorites to write. Take the similarities between aliens and vampires, for example. You might not think the two have much of anything in common, but consider the following:

• Since both are open to creative interpretation, the sky’s the limit on character attributes, strengths, weaknesses, abilities, beliefs, etc.
• Both allow for creative freedom in world-building and universe “rules.”
• Both create an outlet through which the author might explore the human condition.

I also happen to be a big fan of canonical literature, so I also feel compelled to write for the well-read audience. The result is my own unique brand of dark, literary erotica: multi-layered, with intricate characters and an intense reading experience.

Fang-tastic Books writes about The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee: "Lisa Lane has managed to combine it all into one fascinating read that defies conventional genre labeling. She's a great storyteller with a wild imagination and if you are interested in something dark and new this is a book for you."

Bitten by Books writes about The Darkness and the Night II: Cosmic Orgasm: “Karen is one vampire that you won’t forget!”

Cerebral Reviews writes about The Darkness and the Night III: Twins of Darkness: "As I’ve already said, the plot is superb, and when such a plot comes along, I always marvel at the human imagination and what it can produce. . . . I won’t reveal the spoiler here, but what I will say is what happens between Karen and the person ‘brought back’ gave me pause to wonder what I would do in her situation. Yes, it made me stop reading to ponder, but I see that as a good thing. A book that can make you think like that…well, it’s good, right?"

Whipped Cream Erotic Reviews writes of Lust in Space: “Ms. Lane embraced all that we love about sci-fi fantasy and heated it up to super-nova proportions. My question for Ms. Lane is, is this a long-term mission? If so, I'm applying for a boarding pass.”

I don’t write just to tell stories, but because I love words. I love crafting sentences that contain multiple meanings, creating characters that have no choice but to face their dark sides, and building worlds in which politics, religion, and hypocrisy are free domain and subject to my literary wrath (Stephen King and Kurt Vonnegut meets Scribblerus, if you will). I write because I want to leave my readers with something different, something profound or personally meaningful.

Since many of my storylines are so complex, I ask you the reader: Have either the Lust in Space books or The Darkness and the Night trilogy left you with unanswered questions, unsure about characters, or unsure about a twist? Conversely, have you found (or think you have found) any of my literary “Easter eggs” and care to share? I’d love to chat about it.

A Thankful Thanksgiving: Paperback Giveaway

2010-11-25T10:15:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for today, not because it's Thanksgiving, but because today is a good day. I've lived both in comfort and extreme poverty, in health and incredible illness, and in both lonliness and profound companionship--"I'm thankful for today" is not just rhetoric to me; it really means something.

Today, I'm thankful for my close family and friends, my health, and for the books I've written. None may be perfect, but they are all very dear to me.

So, today through December 1, 2010, I'm asking you to leave a short note telling others why "I'm thankful for today" is not just rhetoric to you, either. I will choose one winner for every ten entries to receive a paperback copy of Pandora's Hope. Have a great day!

Excerpt: PANDORA'S HOPE

2010-11-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

The Buvah’s rarity in Space-Corp was one detail that the entire ship had taken for granted, and one for which the key members of the crew could have been better prepared, had Nora read all of the information Corporate had sent her. As Suxie learned, the Buvah were bi-gendered and bisexual people; Jocar had adopted the female gender since childhood but her sexual preference was other Buvah. When among humans and other hetero- and homosexual beings, however, Jocar preferred the company of females. Females had the Buvah feminine features she found attractive, although her mixed anatomy proved too strange for most of the human women she had tried dating. Suxie was definitely not human, and she was perfect.

Nora was able to spot the relationship the next time she saw them together, the way they looked at one another betraying them both. The two moved with that new-fling euphoria, the state between two highly compatible bodies in which a simple glance can still the senses and throw the mind into dream. Nora thought about all the times in the past when she and Robert had looked at one another in that same way. She had allowed it to cloud her judgment once or twice, and she could only hope that Suxie or Jocar might not allow themselves to get so distracted. They remained professional and completed their tasks, so Nora saw no reason to acknowledge or intervene on their private affair.

It was nice to see Suxie happy. Still, there as something Nora didn’t trust about Jocar. She felt strongly that the new officer was keeping something from her, and her gut told her the new crew member was possibly gunning for her job. She was pleasant to work with, but she did take many notes, notes that were most assuredly headed for Corporate. Nora hoped Jocar was not using Suxie for more information on Pandora’s Hope’s colorful past, and she could only guess at what Jocar’s First Officer’s Report would look like.

Versatile Blogger

2010-11-13T10:17:00.000-08:00

I snagged a Versatile Blogger Award through the SFR Brigade, so I thought I'd share! The Versatile Blogger Award asks bloggers to do three things:

1. Thank the giver and link back to them.

Thanks to Laurie Green for sharing this with your fellow Brigaders.

2. List seven things about myself.

1. I've written ten novels in four different genres.
2. My favorite authors are Wells, Vonnegut, King, Stapledon, and Asimov.
3. I have seven siblings.
4. I have a black belt in karate.
5. While working on Pandora's Hope, somehow I managed to write 8000 words in one day.
6. I become irritable when I don't have enough time to write.
7. I'm notably eccentric in person--and it took me over thirty years to stop trying to change that.

3. Pass the award on to 15 other bloggers.

I pass this award on to:

1. Dana Fredsti
2. Angela Cameron
3. Lilly Cain
4. "Hagel Rat" of Un:Bound
5. Roxanne Rhoads
6. Lana Griffin
7. Carole Gill
8. Isabel Roman
9. Phoebe Jordan
10. Keta Diablo
11. Ryan Field
12. Clayton Bye
13. "One Crazy Stitch"
14. Savannah Chase
15. Trudy Doyle

Have fun and happy reading!

Halloween Weekend Scavenger Hunt!

2010-10-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Join Whipped Cream and Long and Short Reviews this weekend for a web-hopping scavenger hunt.

The rules are easy: Stop by Long and Short Reviews promo page, check out the links, and find the hidden icons. There are six huge prize packs up gor grabs.

Go to http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm for more information--or to get started! Good luck!

Review: PUSSY TALES, by Natasha Brooks

2010-10-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

Mother of two, Jasmine, falls into an early midlife crisis of sorts when her husband leaves her, her bank account freezes, and she loses her job all at once. She meets smooth-talking and sexy Lorenzo, who convinces her to become an escort for his service.

I had a hard time following Jasmine’s motivations, although I did empathize with her rough situation. The narration is very colloquial, which works for the first-person point of view, but unfortunately the book’s numerous editing errors cannot be overlooked. This story has a lot of heart, though, and I would like to share a passage I particularly liked:

“I did a lot of soul search and thought about my decision to become an escort. It was not something that I had to do. It was something that I wanted to do. It was liberating. It made me feel powerful and in control, especially at a time in my life where I had lost a lot. I don’t blame Lorenzo, although I now question his motives. Sometimes, sex and passion and control can give a false sense of love. I thought about it all for a long time locked up in my room. But, I had no
regrets about my decision at all.”

Natasha Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief of Bare Back Magazine, an erotic ezine, and has edited several erotic anthologies for Emerging Edge Publishing.

Buy Pussy Tales on Amazon.
Find out more about Natasha Brooks at Emerging Edge Publishing

Amazon's Current Top 5 Erotic Horror Novels

2010-09-30T17:50:00.000-07:00

1. Psycop: Property, by Jordan Castillo Price

2. Studio Sex: An Annika Bengtzon Thriller, by Liza Marklund

3. Camp Hell: A Psycop Novel, by Jordan Castillo Price

4. The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee, by Lisa Lane

5. Hottest Blood - Hot Blood Series: The Ultimate in Erotic Horror, edited by Jeff Celb and Michael Garrett

My sincere thanks to peers, friends, and family for your continued support. Thanks for reading!

Excerpt: BLOOD AND COFFEE

2010-09-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Warning:

Short

Graphic

Horror

Scene

Ahead

....

You've been warned.

“Why won’t you just admit it?” Jia asked, taking Karen’s secrecy personally.

“Because it’s none of your business,” Karen growled. She finished the glass and
poured herself another.

“So, you’re not denying it?”

Karen set down her glass and slowly turned to the girl with a frustrated breath.
“What is it to you?”

Jia cleared her throat, her demeanor nervous and uncertain. “I want you to change me.”

Karen couldn’t help but allow a perplexed laugh to escape her as she turned away from the girl. “You’re out of your mind!”

“I don’t belong...here! You came here for a reason. I’m sure of it!” Jia continued, the rejection clearly shaking her.

Karen wanted to ask Jia why she would find such a horrific life so attractive, but instead she simply walked toward the door. As she reached the living room, Jia came upbehind her, brandishing a butcher knife.

“Stop!” Jia cried, firmly clutching the thick knife handle in one hand, pressing the far edge of the sharp blade against the wrist of the other. Tears streamed down her face.

Karen froze, fearing that Jia was capable of following through with her threat. “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Karen pleaded.

“Don’t I?” A strange smile crept across her face, and then in one quick move the blade sliced through to the bone and fell to the floor. Jia’s smile wavered as she saw the massive streams of blood leaving her with every pump of her speeding heart. She looked back at Karen with surprise and horror as her legs failed her and her sight went dim.

“Somebody, help!” Karen yelled as she ran to Jia’s side and tried to stop the bleeding with a towel. The hunger was indeed beginning to set in and the drive to take the wound to her mouth was overwhelming. But she closed her eyes and breathed through her mouth to keep from seeing and smelling the warm liquid that now covered them both.

“You can save me,” Jia cried.

“I can’t!” She wasn’t a monster, Karen reminded herself several times over. The thought was tempting just to finish the girl off, as her odds of surviving weren’t looking good. She did entertain, for only a moment, attempting to infect Jia to save her life, but Karen knew that she would hate herself even more than she already did if she were to go through it. She wouldn’t turn and unleash upon the world a confused, angry teenage vampire.

She wasn’t a monster; she would not feed off a dying child...

The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee is currently one of Amazon's top-selling erotic horror paperbacks.

"Those who like a bit of gore with their sexual tension will hunt down the second and third volumes." --PENTHOUSE FORUM, December 2009

Blood and Coffee is also available for Kindle and other e-readers.

Trailer: THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT TRILOGY

2010-09-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

Opinions Wanted

2010-09-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

Typically, I take reviews with a grain of salt. Opinions and tastes vary, and that is going to show through in any review. Moreover, I’ve had great reviews, poor reviews, and everything in between. I try to take what I can from all sides, as that is all any writer really can do. With that said, I am not usually one to reply to a bad review as I am fully aware that it is almost always a counterproductive waste of time. Moreover, it’s just not “PC.”

However, I received a review recently that I cannot stay quiet about—not because I’m offended or hurt (I have a very thick skin), but because it is clear that not only did the reviewer not read my book, but she obviously used the review opportunity to take a pot-shot at the book’s publisher, Ravenous Romance. I’m appalled that a review site such as Erotica Revealed would allow this, as I was under the impression that all of the more reputable electronic review sites had long ago let go of the Ravenous Romance bashing party. Not so here. Please note the stark contrast to the Lust in Space review I previously received at Erotica Revealed (two separate reviewers); both are here: http://www.eroticarevealed.com/author.php?first=Lisa&last=Lane&panel_id=2

The Darkness and the Night III: Twins of Darkness review (by Kathleen Bradean):

A little over a year ago, Ravenous Romance popped up on the eBook scene with some rather bold boasts about its future. That riled a number of romance bloggers who attacked before the first book was released, and turned even more vicious after. It was (and remains) ugly, and reflected poorly on the romance community. The only part of the attack that interested me was the charge that Ravenous Romance had no right (?) to claim they published romance, as the eBooks they published were all clearly erotica.

I’m not part of the romance community. I write erotica. The fine line between the two is a personal definition, although my rule is: If it’s written in the genre style of romance but has sex scenes, it’s erotic romance. If it’s written in the genre style of literary fiction, and it uses sex and sexuality to explore the characters, then it’s erotica.

Which brings me to my book this month: The Darkness and the Night 3: Twins of Darkness. It’s written in the genre style of romance, which seems to support Ravenous Romance’s claim that they publish erotic romance. But is this story erotic?

Sex scenes, even if they occur frequently, involving multiple partners, and gymnastic contortions, aren’t always erotic. Eroticism draws in the reader through the use of sensual imagery. It had the power to physically affect the reader. Well-written erotic passages might not include orgasm or penetration, and yet, the reader is left feeling that something deeply sexual occurred. The Darkness and the Night 3 has sex scenes, but nothing about them is erotic. Take most of them out of the story, and it wouldn’t affect anything. That’s not erotica.

By now, if you regularly read my reviews, you know that I hate to judge a book by what it isn’t. If it’s not erotica, what is it? It’s not particularly romantic in that it doesn’t focus on a core romantic relationship and how it grows. It’s sort of paranormal, sort of fantasy, but the world building isn’t there to support it. But what I found most disappointing was the level of storytelling. Nothing was shown. Everything was told. There was no depth to any scene, nothing to grab onto.

I had hoped that Ravenous Romance would put out a book that really wowed to balance out the critics. This is the third book in a series, so the first two were much better, or the readers like this style of writing. You might too. But the best rating I can give this is sideways.

Let’s take a closer look at a couple of passages in Ms. Bradean’s review:

"A little over a year ago, Ravenous Romance popped up on the eBook scene with some rather bold boasts about its future. That riled a number of romance bloggers who attacked before the first book was released, and turned even more vicious after. It was (and remains) ugly, and reflected poorly on the romance community. The only part of the attack that interested me was the charge that Ravenous Romance had no right (?) to claim they published romance, as the eBooks they published were all clearly erotica.

"I’m not part of the romance community. I write erotica. The fine line between the two is a personal definition, although my rule is: If it’s written in the genre style of romance but has sex scenes, it’s erotic romance. If it’s written in the genre style of literary fiction, and it uses sex and sexuality to explore the characters, then it’s erotica."

This is all about Ravenous Romance, not me—two whole paragraphs, here. I can only shake my head in response to this.

Now, let’s look at the reviewer’s assessment of my erotica:

"Sex scenes, even if they occur frequently, involving multiple partners, and gymnastic contortions, aren’t always erotic. Eroticism draws in the reader through the use of sensual imagery. It had the power to physically affect the reader. Well-written erotic passages might not include orgasm or penetration, and yet, the reader is left feeling that something deeply sexual occurred. The Darkness and the Night 3 has sex scenes, but nothing about them is erotic. Take most of them out of the story, and it wouldn’t affect anything. That’s not erotica."

1) There are no multiple partners or gymnastic contortions in Twins of Darkness.

2) If you were to remove just about any given sex scene in Twins of Darkness, the story would not make sense. For example: Anna requires tantric (sexual energy); Karen is conflicted between her current love and a love from the past; Andy has his first vampiric encounter during intercourse, biting his girlfriend and believing he has killed her.

3) For fairness’ sake, considering that I might hold a bias regarding the heat level of my erotica, I offer for your scrutiny the following passage from Twins of Darkness:

Background:

Anna, Karen’s “human vampire” daughter—an astral enigma due to Karen’s “cosmic orgasm” in book two—has torn Karen’s deceased lover Billy from time and space, hoping that her biological (but very un-human) father might be able to shed some light on the soul-sucking entity she has grown to become. Now restored to the physical plane, Billy confronts Karen over incidents that occurred between her and an alternate version of him.

Excerpt:

Karen closed her eyes, sinking into the soft mattress, falling asleep almost immediately. She didn’t bother attempting to hide herself from him, and she was not surprised when she found herself standing in the fields just beyond the old Victorian, dreaming lucidly. She had expected as much. She took a deep breath, reminding herself she was a lot stronger now. Although powerless on the physical plane, her Doppelganger could overpower almost any attacker on the Astral. Billy couldn’t hurt her. Their confrontation would be quick, she reassured herself.

Her breath went still as she watched Billy approach from the house. Like before, he looked much different than he had when she had last seen him; there was no malice on his face, only concern and grief.

Karen reminded herself to breathe, reminding herself that this was just a dream, even though a true version of Billy approached. It was a version of him, an Astral echo, a moving picture.

“That’s close enough!” she said, watching him peek over the tall overgrowth standing between them.

Billy stopped, holding his hands over his head. “Anna showed me everything, and I will understand if you never want to see me again, but before you go I need to know: does he make you happy?”

She nodded, feeling faint. “He does.”

He thought for another moment, his face looking tight and pained, but he held his composure. He looked down. “Well, as long as you’re happy…I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks,” Karen said, a knot forming in her throat.

“I need you to know,” he began, his voice cracking and his nose going red, “I’m so sorry for all of the things the other Billy did. I would never hurt you. You need to know that.”

Karen nodded, sure that if she spoke, there would be no more holding back her tears.

“And I need you to know that no matter where you are or who you’re with, I’ll always love you,” he said, wiping the tears from his eyes before they had a chance to reach his cheeks.

The sight of him, mourning scars imposed by the creature he would have become, was a problem for which she had not been prepared. She would have been able to handle him hurt, or even aggressive, over her relationship with Jason. She could not handle this.

“I’m really sorry,” she said, preparing her final farewell.

“Why are you sorry?” he asked. “I’m sorry. I just hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me…and I wish things could have been different.”

“Me, too,” Karen said, wishing many things could have been different.

“Goodbye, Billy,” she said, and then turned away from him and began to will herself out of his dream.
“Karen, wait!”

Suddenly a hand was on her shoulder, and he turned her to face him, his eyes intent and his face tight. “Please stay just a while longer?” he asked.

She looked into his eyes, her heart suddenly aching. “I can’t! I’m sorry Anna brought you back, but things have changed. I’ve changed.”

“Just one kiss,” Billy said, “and I won’t bother you again.”

His scent drifted into her. She took it in, savoring it for a moment, closing her eyes. She felt him move closer, slowly and deliberately, and their lips met. Karen’s knees went weak as they kissed slowly and softly, their lips soft and wet against one another.

This is just a dream. This isn’t real. This doesn’t count, she told herself as his hands moved to her hips, then down to her ass. His hands felt good as he touched her.

She felt his face, noticing the short stubble around his mouth, and ran her fingers through his long, soft hair. He pressed his body up against her, and she felt his erection, hard and compact against the fly of his jeans. The feel of it sent waves of excitement through her, and she felt herself go damp at the thought of his hot, hard cock pressing into her, penetrating her, and satisfying the sudden need swelling deep and heavy within her.

This is just a dream. This doesn’t count.

She panted with desire as he slid a hand down her pants and felt her clit and the rim of her lips with his fingers. He pressed a finger in, then another, rubbing her lightly, prompting her to lean against him for support. She moaned against his lips, and he took in her breath as if it was a whiff of sweet perfume.

They began to tug and tear at one another’s clothes, neither able to hold back any longer. They fell into the soft grass, kicking off their pants and throwing aside their shirts, both of them swollen and desperate for the feel of their bodies coming together.

They continued to kiss as he moved in between her legs, and she felt an electrifying sense of release and rapture as he entered her. He pressed into her with a needy thrust, and as soon as he filled her completely, they moved together to massage and build him against the deep, sweet, forgotten region that only he could reach.

She moaned lightly, building slowly, her lips moving to his neck. His musky scent held her, and her mouth watered as her fangs extended with an excited thrust. She breathed hard as she felt her teeth against his neck, the taste of his skin intoxicating and inviting as she kissed it. Her excitement grew as she considered the added sensation of his blood in her mouth, and she gasped as a quick prequel to her climax hit her, sending her body into a short writhing fit.

“Do it. I need you to know,” Billy said.

This is just a dream. . . .

Lost in the moment, Karen cast aside her restraint and bit deeply into his neck. The warm rush of blood was rich and soothing as it went down her throat, but the memories and feelings that rushed in with them suddenly had her reeling with overwhelming confusion. Not only did the memories and mental images in the forefront of Billy’s mind enter her psyche as she drank, but she also now saw how deeply affected he was by the knowledge of what he was to become, should Anna return him to his plane with no further intervention.

She felt his love for her and, for the moment, her mind returned to a time when their love was still young and innocent. How much had changed since then….

Karen stopped drinking, needing to see Billy’s face. “It’s really you,” she breathed, the hot, exciting sensations surging between their bodies growing painfully bittersweet. Although she had not denied this was indeed Billy, it finally hit her that this past echo of the Billy she had known was as real and potentially permanent as she. If Anna saw fit to challenge the fates, or God, or whomever had initially drawn the planes everyone on this plane knew to be reality, and keep Billy from dying on the Astral at John-Michael’s hands, Karen was going to need to decide how best to proceed. She loved Jason, and yet....

* * * *

Now, I ask you—readers, peers, RR naysayers, etc.—was the above review more about the reviewer’s personal gripe with Ravenous Romance, or is Ms. Bradean’s assessment of my erotic horror an accurate one? I invite complete honesty, here; no hard feelings or inflated egos here, regardless of the replies. I think I deserve that much.

Most humbly yours,

Lisa Lane

Review: THE MANNY DIARIES

2010-08-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Evan is a young man at a crossroads: he is no longer in denial about his sexual orientation, but, as a burned out and unemployed artist, his life seemingly lacks direction. By a strange twist of fate, he finds himself working as the nanny for a desperate divorcée—and falling for her handsome and adventurous ex.

I found the first forty or fifty pages to move slowly, although I found the back-story to be relevant and useful. With that said, I must say that I finished the remainder of the novel in one sitting. I also must say—and I do not use this word lightly, as I can be quite the snob about what I read—that the last 3/4 of The Manny Diaries is brilliant. The scene progressions are lovely, the characters are fun, and the twists are sometimes surprisingly numerous, but always rewarding. I did find Evan’s tantrum at the end of the story to be a little excessive, but overall I loved the character and I loved what Kilpatrick did with the story—it is a fun twist on the coming of age, the coming into one’s own, and the coming out of the closet, with great teasers and satisfying bedroom antics. I highly recommend this work, and I look forward to more of Kilpatrick’s books.

The Manny Diaries is available through Ravenous Romance, Amazon Kindle, and other fine online retailers.

The Journey's End

2010-08-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

My thanks to all of the authors who contributed their time, their thoughts, and/or blogs to the Out of This World Blog Tour. It was a lot of fun, and I know I definitely have a handful of books added to my TBR list.

My thanks again to SFR Brigade members Sandra Stixrude, Linnea Sinclair, Pauline Jones, D. L. Jackson, J. C Hay, Kaye Manro, and Marva Dasef for offering insightful posts and entertaining discussion. It was a great end to the summer!

Please Welcome Guest Author Kaye Manro!

2010-08-20T03:00:00.001-07:00

Today, it is my pleasure to have author Kaye Manro here as one of the final stops to the Out of This World Blog Tour, talking about erotic science fiction romance. She has written several sci-fi works, and most recently released her erotic sci-fi romance, Forbidden Love. Take it away, Kaye!

Lovemaking Deep Space Style

One of the questions I asked while doing research for my E-SFR (erotic science fiction romance) the Forbidden Love series, part of which takes place on an enhanced spacecraft was, well, what is sex like in a deep space environment? Since my books feature an advanced cultural society in which the hero’s race has already mastered FTL and hyperspace travel, it wasn’t too much of an imaginative stretch to realize I wanted these stories to have such intricacies as spaceships with artificial gravitation and inertial dampeners.

As far as T’Kon and Maya, the h/h are concerned, the setting for the love scenes in Forbidden Love is about as comfortable as spending time in your own contemporary bedroom. As I mentioned in my SF Lexicon on my website, Inertial Dampeners are mechanisms that prevent the effects of gravitational forces caused by space travel and the acceleration or deceleration created by FTL. Therefore, T’Kon and Maya hardly noticed the changes as they engaged in tantalizing love scenes.

Leaving our creative imagination behind for just a minute, let’s talk about reality. How close are we actually to accomplishing sexual encounters aboard spacecraft? How possible is having sex in zero or micro gravity?

The History Channel featured actress and SFR author Vanna Bonta in an episode called The Universe "Sex in Space."

Ms. Bonta and her husband experimented with her invention, the 2-Suit, in micro-gravity aboard G-FORCE ONE. She created the special suit to see how a couple could perform the sex act while in relative weightlessness. The conclusion, having sex while in zero or micro-gravity would be difficult at best. As fascinating as this was, without the aid of a specially fabricated suit, or a MagLock to a stationary object, it would be nearly impossible.

Even so, in the near future making love with a view of the Earth below may be the ultimate aphrodisiac for space travelers. But, let's think about the implications of space-based sex.

Taking a few ideas from science journalist, Laura Woodmansee, many have wondered what it might be like to make love in space. The passionate couples who book flights to the first space hotel will be more than excited to try zero-g sex, and out-of-this-world sex will be a reality within a decade.

Some people believe space sex will be a frustrating experience and that lovers will give up. Weightless couples will find a way to get together. Sex in space will probably take some practice and hard work at first.

It will happen, and therefore it's a legitimate topic to explore. Sex is a basic part of our nature. It drives love, the expansion of our families, and even our exploration of the unknown. We can't be ashamed of sex. That will prevent us from looking into the risks and possibilities. If we are to create a civilization in space, we need to address the possibilities of sex and reproduction in Earth orbit and beyond. Think about it, the first space babies will be space aliens in some ways. This is more than rules and mission plans. The key to successful sex in space is about managing the micro-gravity environment.

In her nonfiction book, "Sex in Space," Laura Woodmansee, describes several positions that might work, ranging from the modified missionary position to seated, with interlocking Y legs. Props also could come into play, including a shared elastic waistband or tethers to hold one partner to a stable structure, she writes.

We as SFR authors know sex and love scenes in space have been around for several decades. As in other science fiction, we have already created a blueprint and scenario for it to happen.

A FORBIDDEN LOVE EXCERPT:

…Inside the spacecraft living quarters, lying naked in a sleeping berth, Maya gazed around in awe at the interior of the small but spacious ship. It contained smooth, curved, circular fixtures throughout. Soothing, diffused, bluish lighting illuminated the sleeping compartment creating a Zen-like mood and restful hibernating atmosphere. It reminded her of the interior of a giant habitat aquarium. T’Kon told her the ambiance generated a state of mind conducive to deep space flight.

A sliding door sounded with a muffled whoosh as he entered the sleeping compartment. The sight of him caused heat to spread through her. “T’Kon,” she hummed, beckoning him to come to her. “I want to ravish you in every way possible.”

He slipped out of his compression suit and crawled into the berth next to her. “Your presence already does that quite well.” His arms enwrapped her and he brought her to rest atop his body.

She wound her fingers in his hair and ground into him.
His throat rumbled and his body sizzled with the need of
her. She sensed it.

“How about I do this.” She squirmed around and scooted from him. “Turn over,” she demanded in a husky playful voice.

Not moving, he captured her with his dark, ice blue gaze, deliberately rubbing his long leg inside her thighs. “Males initiate the mating pleasures.”

“Oh yeah? For females on my world, that’s not always true.” She slid both hands beneath his body touching the sensitive ridges along his back.

He drew in a quick breath and hissed. “You know about that?” He arched upward giving her hands more space.

“You mean those sweet, receptive, spiny scales along your vertebrae?” He let out another scintillating exhale. “Touching you here...” she gave a gentle pinch to a spiny point, “...intensifies your lovemaking experience, doesn’t it?” She pinched another spine…

Visit Kaye at her blog.
And her website.

Look for book two in the Forbidden series, Forbidden Destiny, coming soon from Red Rose Publishing.

Click here for more information on Forbidden Love.

If you leave a comment today, you will be in the running to win a download of Kaye Manro’s erotic SFR, Forbidden Love. We’ll draw a winner on Tuesday.

PANDORA'S HOPE Release Party Winner

2010-08-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Stacey! You have won your choice of a $20.00 Amazon or Ravenous Romance gift certificate. If you do not hear from me within the next 24 hours, please e-mail me at contests@cerebralwriter.com. Thanks for participating!

Until next time, happy reading to all.

Coming Soon....

2010-08-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars--The New Sensuality has a great lineup of SFR and erotic SFR authors coming up this month:

August 14: Sandra Stixrude at Dasef Central
http://mgddasef.blogspot.com/

August 15: Linnea Sinclair at The Cerebral Writer
http://www.cerebralwriter.com/blog.html

August 16: Pauline Jones at Behind the Pallid Mask
http://jchay.com/

August 17: D. L. Jackson at Forbidden Love
http://www.sfr.kayemanro.com/index.htm

August 18: Lisa Lane at Writer's Habitat
http://sandrastixrude.webs.com/apps/blog/

August 19: J. C Hay at Perils of Pauline
http://www.perilouspauline.com/

August 20: Kaye Manro at The New Sensuality
http://newsensuality.blogspot.com/

August 21: Marva Dasef at Backward Momentum
http://backwardmomentum.blogspot.com/

New Release: PANDORA'S HOPE

2010-07-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

Captain Nora Bradley, fiancé and First Officer Robert Smith, and crew have developed quite the reputation: their current tactical officer is an astral clone of the one they started with; a race of shape-shifting aliens currently travels the stars as an impostor “Pandora’s Hope”; and everyone is still recovering from the embarrassing and life-changing ship-wide orgy caused by their bout with the “space flu.” Worst of all, though, is that the more Nora tries to plan their wedding, the more Robert gets cold feet....

Now that the ship is back on mission, with a glorified babysitter from Space-Corp on its way, it seems that the ship-wide fun might be forced to an end—but first impressions always prove wrong on Pandora’s Hope, and the new addition to their crew, “Quality Control Officer” Patrice Jocar, might have more in common with her new peers than they think. In this second installment of the Lust in Space series, the crew of Pandora’s Hope explores more exotic intergalactic regions, picking up the most unlikely of refugees and encountering new alien species—while their wild and sexy antics continue. Will Nora and Robert’s relationship survive another excursion into deep space, or will the experience tear them apart for good?

EXCERPT:

Nora and Robert sat together in a soft candlelit glow, enjoying a makeshift picnic on the floor of her room. They shared a bottle of sparkling cider, sipping the tart, bubbly beverage from champagne flutes. Intoxicated not by their drink, but by the presence of one another, they enjoyed the quiet calm of the moment and the feel of their bodies relaxing close together. She wore a revealing red teddy, and Robert couldn’t take his eyes off her supple body.

“You are beautiful,” he said, admiring her.

She finished her glass, then set it aside.

They moved together, kissing passionately. Her body ached for him, and a rush of excitement raced through her as his hands moved to explore every inch of her. He lifted her into his arms, his lips caressing her neck as he moved her to the bed, slowly shedding his clothes.

She closed her eyes, lying back as he began to kiss her body. His lips trailed along the seam of her teddy, then he slid away the lacy material and sampled her with his tongue. She brought her knees up, her body tensing as he teased and tasted her. She let out a light moan, hungry for more, running her fingers through his hair and coaxing him on.

He looked up at her, his hands searching her body. He found her breasts and began to fondle them, breathing heavily against her in his excitement. He built her slowly, his tongue going deep, caressing her gently with broad and eager sweeps, shifting to her clit with soft kisses and driving arcs. As her body tensed, moving toward climax, he teased her with a sudden reprieve, moving instead to caress her thighs with his warm, wet lips.

“I need to feel you inside me!” she whispered, desperate for the release.

An electric rush coursed through her, sending her heart racing and her body breathless as he climbed over her, his lips moving to her breast, then trail¬ing up to her neck. His naked body was hot and ready, his hard erection brushing against her, and she wrapped her legs around him as he moved to enter her. She guided him in, pulling him close, a mix of calm and excitement hitting her as she thrust against him, bringing their bodies together with a satisfied moan. They rocked together, building slowly but eagerly, the feel of their union intensifying as her body went tight and her nails dug into his back.

He began to thrust harder, allowing once again for her pleasure to build. She shifted her body to take him even deeper, and the fire between them began to grow as he hit a spot that caused them both to tense and shake. She anchored her feet behind his back, driving him in even harder. Her body writhed as the release came, and she cried out, each thrust building on the ecstasy of the last.

He held deep inside her, moaning as she continued to thrust her hips. He tensed, and the rapture returned once more as he climaxed, then they both went still, breathless and exhausted.

He pulled away, and then immediately collapsed at her side. “You’re amazing,” he said.

She smiled, feeling warm and relaxed as she lay across the soft picnic blanket. She turned to him and their eyes met. “I’m amazing?”

“Very.”

She breathed deeply, taking in his rich scent as he moved closer to steal another quick kiss.

He wrapped an arm around her and gave a contented sigh.

“I’ve been thinking about the wedding,” she said.

“What about it?” he asked.

“Well....” She paused. “It wouldn’t be too far out of our way for us to make a detour to Haslim space. We could bump up the date, stop through on our way to rendezvous with your new back-up first officer, then pick up our mission from there.”

He nodded, although she could tell he had his reservations. “We could do that.”

“But?” she asked.

“That wouldn’t give us much time to plan,” he said.

She shrugged. “It’s just a thought.”

He nodded the same reserved nod as he had a moment ago. “We’ll think about it.”

Suxie’s voice suddenly crackled over the intercom. “Captain, this is Officer Kasri. We have a situation on the bridge.”

Read more at http://www.ravenousromance.com/fantastica/pandora-s-hope.php

Watch the new trailer:

Release Party Contest!

2010-07-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

Pandora's Hope is set for release Thursday, July 29, and to celebrate I've invited the crew to help me give away a $20.00 gift certificate.

Please allow me to introduce you all to Pandora’s Hope veterans Captain Nora Bradley, First Officer Robert Smith, Tactical Officer Suxie Kasri, Navigator Geoffrey Stanton, and all three Locaru—Jim, Buzz, and Bee—as well as two new crewmembers, Quality Control Officer Patrice Jocar and Phoebe the android.

Captain Bradley: It is a pleasure!

New Sensuality: My first question is for anyone who wants to take it. Tell your audience what you think about the public reading about your (sometimes very kinky) sexcapades. Are you ever afraid that people might misidentify you as porn?

Officer Kasri: I’ll take this one. I think it’s important, firstly, to establish that we’re all about the sci-fi. We’re space explorers, and as such—

Navigator Stanton: [interrupting] We do all like to explore more than just space, though!

Captain Bradley: Can we edit this?

First Officer Smith: Leave it in—it’s very candid.

Officer Kasri: The point is that we might be open about our sexual misadventures, but we also happen to be one of the most highly talked about ships in the region: we won the Battle at Omega; we have officers who have invented amazing new uses to our best pieces of technology, we’ve mapped previously uncharted regions of space, and we’ve identified numerous new alien life forms.

New Sensuality: Officer Kasri, what has been your favorite adventure so far on Pandora’s Hope?

Officer Kasri: I would have to say that I most enjoyed encountering the Star Eaters. They were by far the most fascinating—

Captain Bradley: [interrupting] They don’t know about the Star Eaters yet.

Locaru Jim: We be allowed to talk about the new adventures yet?”

Phoebe: Does that mean I don’t get a turn to talk?

New Sensuality: Well, I don’t want any spoilers, but if you want to share a few minor details, we’d love to know.

Phoebe: I join the crew!

First Officer Smith: [under his breath] You do a hell of a lot more than that.

Officer Kasri: [under her breath] To put it mildly.

New Sensuality: I sense some slight hostility, here.

Captain Bradley: They need to get over it.

First Officer Smith: You try being put in a giant habitat by a bunch of solder-brained tin cans, and then you can tell me to get over it.

Phoebe: And a very high-grade solder, at that!

New Sensuality: Let’s shift gears and tell readers a little about our fiancées’ wedding plans. I hear you’ve been talking about exchanging your vows in beautiful Haslim space.

Captain Bradley: You heard right—although Robert gets cold feet and completely freaks me out.

First Officer Smith: At least you don’t get drunk over it, this time.

Captain Bradley: [shrugs] Live and learn.

Locaru Jim: I build the best Locaru adaption yet! People gonna love what I make for Leah!

New Sensuality: Do you feel that the crew works any more cohesively on its second mission?

Captain Bradley: Definitely. I think it takes being with a crew for at least a few good, straight months before you really know how to work with them. We all have our different ways of dealing with a given issue, and that’s something that even as captain I have to respect.

First Officer Smith: I agree.

Navigator Stanton: You also have to factor in the little bit about us being in deep, uncharted space, and how that in itself can take some getting used to.

New Sensuality: Very true, I’m sure.

Officer Jocar: [speaks with dual vocal cords] If I may, I would just like to say how glad I am to be a part of this crew. Space-Corp has these people all wrong. I thought I was jumping into the fire when I accepted the position of Pandora’s Hopes’ new “Quality Control Officer.” Really, Corporate is looking for one good reason to demote Captain Bradley, as the reports from her last mission were quite startling. How differently things can look on file....

New Sensuality: I would like to move on to some questions from our readers, and the contest I’m holding for those who would like to know more about the crew of Pandora’s Hope.

Stop by anytime this week to ask the crew your questions or leave comments. Make sure to leave some way for me to contact you, should you win. One random entrant will win their choice of either a $20.00 Amazon or Ravenous Romance gift certificate. Good luck—and thanks for stopping by!

Review: BLOOD AND SEX: MICHAEL by Angela Cameron

2010-07-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Detective Victoria Tyler is investigating Collins Bay’s new serial killer, one of the city’s vampires. Since they have marked her as a human to be killed or conquered, Tori knows that Michael is her only hope for survival. But she hasn’t spoken to him since the night she tried to kill him....

Blood and Sex, Vol. 1: Michael is a fun, sexy take on the vampire genre. Angela Cameron’s writing style is creative and confident, and reads like a smart mesh of Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series and Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, with strong leads, great character dynamics, and fantastic chemistry.

I had difficulty with some of the character motivations, the heavy use of Italian terms lost me a few times, and I had a hard time keeping up with the many supporting characters. With that said, I really enjoyed the story, and I thought the main characters and dialogue were top-notch. Moreover, the romantic, sensual, and erotic elements to this book are phenomenal and tastefully executed, and I recommend it to all who enjoy a quick, fun read.

Warnings: Story contains light BDSM elements.

Blood and Sex: Michael is available through Ravenous Romance, Amazon, and your local bookstore.

Please Welcome Guest Blogger Angela Cameron!

2010-07-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

It is my honor today to have author Angela Cameron here as my guest. Angela is the creative force behind the highly rated erotic vampire series, BLOOD AND SEX. You can read my review of the first book in the series, MICHAEL, here.

What struck me most with Ms. Cameron's writing was her ability to execute the use of BDSM (bondage/submission) so eloquently. The New Sensuality, is all about tasteful, artful erotica, and so I present to you Angela Cameron on writing tasteful, artful BDSM.

Light Bondage: The Vanilla Writer’s Guide to Writing Tasteful BDSM

Okay, so maybe it’s not an entire guide, but I wanted to say a few words about writing BDSM for those who aren’t so fetish savvy. Lisa here was kind enough to let me hijack the blog to do so. (Thanks, Lisa!!!)

Those who’ve read the Blood & Sex series know that the sex comes with a little kink. Actually, in some cases it’s probably a lot of kink, but it’s not done in a way that sends fetish virgins running for the literary hills. As someone who doesn’t read a lot of fetish stories, that’s a fine line to walk. Everyone’s version of “extreme” is different, defined by their life experiences.

So how do you know how much is too much?

And for that matter, how do you know what to write to begin with?

Since I can’t fit a complete guide into one blog post, I’ll give you the ten basics.

1-Research Fetishes - Okay, this may be obvious to some, but I had to do a bit of research to have any idea what I was writing about. I started out in an erotica writer’s group where I read the work of those who write fetish material. I learned from some of the top erotica writer’s, by reading their works and asking questions. I joined a private, small group of people who were open and honest about their adventures, even in front of me—the innocent one in the group.:-) Then, I went even further, interviewing a legal prostitute from another country to find out what makes men tick in the bedroom. Even sixteen years of marriage couldn’t give me the wealth of information she did. Most of it wasn’t even about intercourse, which was eye opening for me. She saw a level of honesty from other women’s husbands that many wives never do. Understanding the psychology and personalities behind sexual preferences is key. You wouldn’t want your hero who should obviously be a dom getting spanked, now would you?

2- Learn About BDSM - Take the research a step further by looking into BDSM. If you’re going to be believable, you need to know what you’re talking about. You may not get technical or need half the information, but you still need to see the big picture to understand your characters’ love lives.

To understand the areas fetishes fall in, take a look Encyclopedia Dramarica's The Basics and The Lingo and More

A sprinkling of the appropriate actions, attitudes and gear can make the story more believable.

3-Consider the Character – Use all that information you gathered and apply it to picking the right flavor. Just as the clothes, car, and fighting style make the hero more rounded, so does their sexual preference. Every character in the series has their own preference, dictated by their personality. It goes with their own subconscious needs.

When writing the Blood & Sex series, it was important to consider who they were to know who liked what. For Michael, it’s about being a bit dominant. There’s a power struggle between him and Tori that goes with their both being powerful individuals in their own right. For Jonas, it’s about a bit-o-bondage that goes back to a childhood connection between pain and love.

4 – Take It Slow - Write the sex scene into the story just like you would any other. Don’t push the character (or the reader) into a fetish. If the first scene throws a reader straight into the deep end of the kink pool, they’re likely to panic. Worse yet, they’ll put the book down and walk away. A nice resolution for this is to make one character inexperienced in that area and let them learn as the reader does.

5- Progress Naturally – It has to be natural. For most characters, that means the first time or three might be vanilla sex. Then, as they trust the partner more, they’d introduce the fetish into the mix. It may be just a small bit at first, maybe holding down the arms. The next time, they might introduce furry handcuffs. And, as time goes on, the preference comes out. The revelation of what the character truly wants is usually the last step, when all emotional issues are resolved.

6- Keep It Simple - There doesn’t have to be a lot of complicated words or gear, just the subtle suggestion of something a little more than just straight sex. Describe what’s happening and nothing more. Don’t get caught up in using the right lingo and ruin it all. If you write the scene from the less experienced partner’s point of view, it’s likely to come out best with inexperienced language.

7- Avoid the Extremes - Most vanilla readers can enjoy a little slap and tickle. They probably won’t understand the intricacies of being ball gagged and whipped without a huge setup.

8-Stay in Love – The sex scenes need to be filled with the understanding of love between the lovers. Each time the reach new territory, there should be a new level of intimacy achieved. For some this will spell more love, for others it will bring forward new issues to deal with.

9 - Don’t Overdo It - It’s not overly done. Their entire stories aren’t about their particular flavor of sex, but it’s definitely an important part of their life and their journey. Michael, for example, exudes dominance. But Jonas keeps his bondage locked in the dungeon. Do what makes sense for that character, and remember that even a dominatrix needs a day job and probably teaches Sunday school.

10—Have Fun! – Start with a kink that appeals to you. Just like writing anything else, if you’re disgusted by bondage, don’t go there. It will show.

So, tell us about your favorite characters. What fetishes do they have? Who’s the best author you’ve seen at writing this type of “tasteful” BDSM? Feel free to post examples.

And if you have any questions, post ‘em here for us to discuss.

For more information on Angela Cameron's works, visit her blog.

New Rave Review!

2010-07-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Natasha Brooks writes in the Las Vegas Examiner: "['One Night Stand'] is a delicious read if you are looking for a sample of an interesting erotic horror filled with vampire gore, sex, and a very twisted ending."

You can read the full review here.

The Cerebral Writer: The Light Age

2010-07-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

"The Light Age"
Copyright Lisa Lane

Performed live at Espresso Yourself cafe in Ontario, California.
Guitar and backup vocals: Erin Barker
Bass: Steven West

Now on itunes!

2010-07-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

Download The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee, The Darkness and the Night II: Cosmic Orgasm, The Darkness and the Night III: Twins of Darkness and Lust in Space at the Apple app store!

And the Winners Are. . .

2010-06-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

... lost in cyber space due to a technical error. If you responded to the blog entry, "Interview with the Vampire Family," please e-mail me at contests *at* cerebralwriter *dot* com.

Thanks! Have a great week!

In Support of eBooks

2010-06-05T23:50:00.000-07:00

As a singer and an artist, sometimes I like to unwind through creative outlets other than writing fiction. I put together a pro-eBook video titled after the song that inspired it, "Cut Short."

"Cut Short" features the point of view of a tree that finds it is the only one left standing among a clear-cut forest. This video includes a shortened version of the song. Enjoy--and please feel free to share. Together, we can support global awareness and eBooks.

Writing Mixed-Genre Erotic Romance

2010-06-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

How Far is Far Enough … and When has it Gone Too Far?

The art of writing erotica and romance has been taken to several extremes; from eloquent to raunchy, from Austen to Sade, the topics of love, pursuit, and sex appear both in the most beautiful and the most disturbing of samples. The spectrum is wide, but surprisingly there is little that might fit their grey areas. One might write erotic romance, but just how far one takes the “sweet” versus the “erotic” will determine a book’s reception within a given genre. Moreover, elements like kink, BDSM, and even the choice of character gender, can affect market reception and the group of readers to whom a given work will appeal.

When it comes to choosing subgenres, it can be difficult to determine the most appropriate limits for a given work. This becomes particularly significant when one writes mixed-genre erotic romance, when further limits will also determine part of its genre-specific readership. For example, authors of science fiction romance must craft their writing to suit both science fiction, and the type of romance typically enjoyed by readers of science fiction. Granted, sci-fi has a broad variety of readers, so limitations might not seem like that significant of an issue here. Consider, however, my novels, Love in Space and Lust in Space—unique in nature, as they are nearly the same story, written for two very different audiences. Love in Space, a sweet space opera-style romance with not-quite explicit sex, is by far my favorite among my currently available novels, and I think overall it has been the best received. The elements can appeal to just about all fans of both science fiction and romance, and the chemistry between the characters is fun. Lust in Space, Love’s kinky and erotic evil twin, is tons of fun, but it lacks some of the heart found in Love. Could I have written a story that meshed the two, offering equal amounts of experimental kink and heart? I’m not so sure. Even if it were possible, I like having the same story available to two very different audiences (because I like writing for both).

Most authors don’t get such an exceptional chance with a novel; it is one I will likely never see again, either. The question then comes: Which subgenre fits best with what I like to write? I know that I enjoy being eclectic, but I also tend to push limits—often with great results, but sometimes with disastrous ones. I ask myself: Will the erotic romance novels I continue to write cater more to the sweet romance audience or to readers who have enjoyed my kinkier works?

I am currently working on Lust in Space 2: Pandora’s Hope, and it has been interesting to see the effect writing in two extremes has had on me. The story has heart, but it also has a decent amount of explicit sex. I decided to stay as true as possible for fans of the first Lust in Space novel, continuing the exploits of Barkeep Leah and insect-sized Jim, “unicorn” Suxie, and of course Captain and First Officer couple, Nora and Robert, while also making sure the story was fresh and exciting enough to appeal to sci-fi fans who may have read and enjoyed Love. It hasn’t lost all of its kink, although I can’t promise another ship-wide orgy. I think, considering that there will only be one incarnation of this book, I’ve found a good balance.

My question for other authors and readers of mixed-genre erotic romance: Do you consider yourself a niche writer or reader, or do you function across a wide array of subgenres? If you do cross genres, do you find it has a positive or negative impact (or both) your readership?

For Classic Vampire Fans. . . .

2010-05-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

Did you enjoy The Lost Boys, back when it came out in the '80s? Check out my blog at Paranormalists, and tell me what you think of the original movie and its sequels.

Sleep all day. Party all night. Never Grow old. Never die. . . .

Shaved Pussy . . . and Other Cliches

2010-05-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

She was due, past due, really.
That cat was getting fuzzy beyond control.
She’s nicely trimmed now, a nice, short summer buzz.
And I’m still wincing at the vet bill.

Boy, is your mind in the gutter. Yeah, the shaved pussy is probably the most cliché of the double entendres, but it got you here. Since you’re here, you might as well see some before and after pics:

You might gasp in horror at the site of a shaved pussy, but as strange as it sounds, my kitty loves the cut. She hates being long-haired, she hates being brushed—and she struts around like a kitten whenever she gets the lion cut. Go figure.

Since you stopped by and you've been a good sport, I’m going to share with you my double-entendre confession: I like clichés. I am a vintage sci-fi/horror fan through and through, and I don’t think there’s one overdone concept out there that can’t still be reintroduced in an original and thoughtful way. They take everything that fans love about the space opera genre, but take it all in unexpected or previously unexplored directions. My husband lovingly calls them “fun with clichés.” Strangely, I think that explains my space operas well.

I like to play with words, though. I’m a big reader-response buff, and I will always, no matter what I write, be guilty of either some kind of reminiscent tribute or hiding multiple literary “Easter eggs” for a little more dimension and flavor. I love good literature, and I love just about all genres of sci-fi, but it’s the deep, speculative sci-fi that I enjoy the most—because reading a truly great speculative science fiction novel is a double entendre all its own. The story, or the straightforward and direct storyline, has depth, but the real fun is in reading the story between the lines, the “hidden” story. An author creates this alternate story through symbols, which can come through words with multiple meanings, items of interest, or tone, among numerous other platforms. Word structure, names used, and the tone of a theme can become clues in themselves, when piecing together the messages left by pulp fiction greats, their speculations on the evils of our world and the potential effects humanity has upon itself.

What do you think? What are some of your very favorite science fiction or horror novels? What makes them your favorite?

New Interview and Review

2010-05-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

A fun and eclectic reader-reviewer site from New Zealand has begun to review The Darkness and the Night series.

You can read the review for book I, Blood and Coffee here. PaulaZone also posted a fun and thoughtful interview here.

Thanks, Paula!

Interview with Inara LaVey

2010-05-13T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to interview author Inara LaVey, author of the well-received novels Ripping the Bodice and Champagne. Click here to read the New Sensuality review for Ripping the Bodice. Welcome, Inara!

1. You have a very distinct and seasoned voice to your work. How long have you been writing?

Oh jeez, I've been writing since I was old enough to string one syllable words together. I wrote my first epic, The End of the Sun, when I was five. Ahem. (clears throat). "One day the sun came out. The next day the sun did not come out. It was the end of the sun. " Hemingway should be so succinct.

2. I love it! I remember in your interview on Phoebe Jordan’s author guest show, Talk About My Favorite Authors, that you, like charming lead character, Cassandra, in Ripping the Bodice, grew up reading your mother’s vintage bodice rippers. After reading the novel, I couldn’t help but wonder if what other similarities there might be between you and Cassandra. Any you might be willing to share?

Well, first of all my mom would not forgive me if I didn't rectify the misconception that the bodice rippers were hers. They were all mine. I'd leave them in the bathroom (I come from a LONG line of bathroom readers) where she or my sister would pick them up and read 'em. I'd hear lots of giggling and "how the hell do bosoms actually heave?" As far as other similarities between me and Cassandra ... I like chocolate and wine a lot! I used to be a lot more attracted to dramatic qualities in a guy than things like common sense, which is sort of Cassandra-esque. But honestly, she is pretty much a figment of my own active imagination. Okay, I DO like to daydream a lot... but OTHER than that. :)

3. You have an amazing sense of humor in both your dialogue and your prose. I’ve also noticed that you write a variety of genres. Do you apply a similar sense of humor to all of your genres, or are some of your works more playful than others?

I suspect I’m genetically incapable of writing without humor. When I was younger (I’m not saying how much younger) I’d try and write these romantic vignettes, all serious and angsty, not a spec of humor. No fun and none of the vignettes ever made it past a few pages. Okay, my one attempt at Y/A (written when I was a Y/A myself) was fairly lacking in humor, but I was a teenager and took things very seriously. I do think some works are a bit more playful than others since some genres lend themselves to humor more readily, but even my horror tends to fall into the black humor category.

4. What genres do you most enjoy reading these days? What makes a particular work stand out for you?

I am an equal opportunity genre type of gal. I love mysteries, horror, urban fantasy, paranormal, historicals, romances, action/adventure, chicklit (waiting for someone to bitchslap me for using that term), literary fiction (as long as it doesn’t break the basic rules of English and grammar in an attempt to be hip), Y/A…

What makes a book or story stand out for me are several things: humor (not necessary, but it does immediately draw me in and keep me even if other things about the work might be a little weak); believable, sympathetic characters (nothing turns me off more quickly in either a book or movie than having no one to root for); and internal consistency within the story, especially if there are any fantasy or sci-fi elements involved. You can make me believe just about everything if you stay true to the internal logic and rules you’ve established.

5. Who do you consider to be your most notable writing influences?

For mysteries and romantic suspense, definitely Elizabeth Peters. For general ‘oh, how I wish I could write like this’ authors I currently have ‘crushes’ on: Jim Butcher, Barbara Hambly, Charles de Lint, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Tanya Huff… there are more, but my brain always fails me when asked questions like this!

6. If your writing were to take off, you were the next longstanding bestseller, and overnight you found yourself filthy rich, what charity would you consider most befitting of your donations, and why?

http://www.cathouse-fcc.org Exotic Feline Breeding Facility/ Feline Conservation Center for one. Preservation and continuation of endangered species is a huge one for me. Also I’d love to donate to existing animal rescue organizations, as well as start a rescue center of my own.

7. I love the idea of opening a rescue center. I one thing you and I share is a passion for animals (with a massive soft spot for cats). I’m guessing another is reading and writing erotic romance, which might be considered guilty pleasures by some. Would you say you have any other guilty pleasure?

I’d say watching really bad movies with friends whilst drinking lots of good wine … except I actually feel no guilt about it at all.

8. A guilt-free guilty pleasure; I like it. How about a harder question: What is your all-time favorite book?

Aieee! I hate this question ‘cause I can never think of one book that stands out above all the rest. There are so many wonderful books that I’ve read and loved over the years for various reasons, I don’t think I can pick just one. It’s like asking me to pick my favorite cat.

9. I can never give a straight answer to that question, either. There are far too many talented writers out there, and choosing a favorite work out of all of them is a difficult one. How about a slightly easier question, then: Every other week, you host a “Ravenous Romancers” chat through UK review site, Un:Bound. For those who might not know about Un:Bound and its Ravenous Romancers, do you want to share a little about it?

Un:Bound is a VERY cool UK review site run by my friend Adele (otherwise known as Hagelrat) and her team of crack website techs and reviewers. She reviewed my murder mystery MURDER FOR HIRE: The Peruvian Pigeon, and we hit it off right away. When my erotic romance RIPPING THE BODICE came out, she decided to give it a go even though she was not into romances at all because she liked my writing. Once I’d paved the way with RtB, she was ripe for romance novel invasion! Bwahahahah!!!!

Ahem. Anyway, she reviewed C. Margery Kempe’s book CHASTITY FLAME (another Ravenous Romance release) and loved it. Then she came up with idea of having a Ravenous Romance day twice a month on Un:Bound and asked me to host it. So I became part of the Un:Bound team, along with some of our more brilliant and personable RR authors, yourself included.  I love my RR gang... The quality and variety of posts have been excellent and the comment threads quite lively. It’s a lot of fun and I hope to get more RR authors to write posts for Ravenous Wednesday!

10. That’s one thing I have enjoyed about the Ravenous Romance group over at Un:Bound. There are a lot of really talented contributors, and we all seem to have similar thoughts on literary style and “prose art.” Those values are so important to me that the motto here at The New Sensuality is “Erotica for the discerning reader.” What, in your opinion as both a reader and a writer of erotic fiction, makes a work not only good, but great? What turns you off?

In order for erotic fiction to work for me, there has to be a believable build of tension between the two main characters. The buildup is often more erotic and more of a turn-on to me than the actual sex scenes (although I have read some smoking hot sex scenes!); the character interaction more interesting than who’s putting what where, and how hard, and how many times. Give me that sexual tension along with sensuality in the foreplay and sex scenes themselves and you’ve got what I consider a great erotic work.

What turns me off is when the sex comes across like a medical exam sans speculum, when too many bodily fluids are shooting, spraying and trickling hither and yon, and when words like ‘cream’ are used to describe female arousal. Like, aren’t there medications for that? Also, if the characters are wooden and I don’t believe the relationship between them, I’m not gonna get turned on by them having sex.

11. Great answer! Now for the bonus question: Why is a raven like a writing desk?

If Lewis Carroll didn’t have an answer for it, neither do I. :)

New Sensuality Review: RIPPING THE BODICE, by Inara LaVey

2010-05-13T22:02:00.001-07:00

After dumping her mediocre boyfriend, avid romance reader Cassandra Devon goes on a week-long vacation with her best friend from college, Val. The story moves between Cassandra’s real-life antics and the daydreamed life of her “alter ego,” Cassandra Devereux (the story changing depending upon the book she happens to be reading at the time, and/or the situation at hand), as Cassandra fantasizes about finding her real-life tall, dark, and handsome.

Val introduces Cassandra to her friend, Connor, her cousin, Raphael, “the incarnation of all female fantasies,” and a few of their friends. Cassandra immediately begins to incorporate both men into her romance fantasies as the two take turns vying for her attention. Her preoccupation with romance novels almost costs her at chance at snagging Mr. Right, and when reality hits, Cassandra finally realizes that reality is much more intense, much more effort, and much more rewarding than fantasy.

Ripping the Bodice is a perfect mesh of fun, stimulating, smart, and provocative, paying playful homage to the classic “bodice ripper” romance with an effective and enjoyable approach. Inara LaVey’s writing style is polished and her voice is well defined and consistent. The sense of humor she portrays through her characters is delightful, making Ripping the Bodice a true page-turner. I recommend this book to fans of classic and contemporary romance alike, and I will definitely seek out more of Ms. LaVey’s work.

Ripping the Bodice is available through Ravenous Romance and HSN.

Please Welcome Guest Author Ryan Field!

2010-05-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today, M/M erotic romance author Ryan Field joins us to discuss his novel, American Star,and the issues that can arise when one veers from highly romantic to highly erotic and from serious to campy. When an author decides to take chances with his or her work, such as Ryan Field did with this one, the author also takes chances with reader reception. I'm a big advocate for taking chances, and I admire Ryan Field for those he took when writing American Star.

Mr. Field has worked in publishing for over fifteen years. He has worked as an assistant editor and editor for magazines and non-fiction publishers. Aside from his novels, his short stories have been published in anthologies and collections by Alyson Books, Cleis Press and Starbooks Press. His short story, "Down the Basement," is part of a collection of short stories in the Lambda Award winning book, BEST GAY EROTICA 2009.

Without further adieu, I present to you Mr. Ryan Field.

When readers go to the www.ravenousromance.com web site to look for books, they will see an author's note for one of my books, AMERICAN STAR. Due to the fact that I truly believe it's important for readers to know what they are buying (for me, it's all about the reader), I wanted to make it clear, in this author's note, that AMERICAN STAR is slightly different from my other romances on ravenousromance.com. And the publisher, Holly Schmidt, was nice enough to let me do it. There was also a slight technical glitch with AMERICAN STAR that sometimes happens when formatting digital books, which I'll explain below.

This book, so there is no confusion, is not a warm, tender romance like most of my other books. I just didn't think the plot warranted being a warm, typical romance. AMERICAN STAR is, and was always supposed to be, an adult, satirical look at what might go on behind the scenes of a TV reality show like American Idol. It's very erotic, in the true sense of gay erotic fiction, and there is romance. But not the kind of romance that will leave you with wet eyes. This is more of a modern romance, between very strong men, who do not apologize for their needs and the way they live their lives. And I drew from many of my own personal experiences as a gay man to create these characters, both emotionally and sexually.

If anything, I hope AMERICAN STAR leaves readers laughing, the same way I laughed while I wrote the book. Even the sexy scenes are satirical, campy and totally unreal compared to other books I've written, like TAKE ME ALWAYS and THE GHOST AND MR. MOORE.

And, I'd also like to explain, that while formatting this book as an e-book, there was a problem with the main character's name. This happens all the time in e-publishing (so they tell me), and from what I hear it has something to do with the process of going from Word to digital format. It wasn't a problem with editing. The book was edited very carefully, just like all my other novels and stand alones, by me and two other good, experienced editors at ravenousromance.com. It's the first time this happened to me, and so far, it's been the last. As digital books grow in numbers all over, these little problems seem to be disappearing.

Ryan Field

Fang-tastic Winners

2010-04-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Rebecca, for winning a pdf copy of Blood and Coffee, and to Arlene, for winning a pdf copy of Twins of Darkness! Thanks to all who participated in the discussion, "Drawn to the Dark Side," at Fang-tastic Books.

Rebecca and Arlene, please contact Roxanne, at eroticroxanne *at* yahoo *dot* com.

Stick around--there are more contests and prizes to come!

Drawn to the Dark Side

2010-04-23T14:29:00.001-07:00

Please join me at Fang-tastic Books, where I talk about the dark side to vampires and erotic horror.

What draws you to erotic horror? I'm dying to know ... leave your thoughts for a chance to win a copy of The Darkness and the Night III: Twins of Darkness.

Update: Fang-tastic Books also has a new review available for The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee. Check it out here.

Happy reading!

Lisa

Please Welcome Guest Blogger Lana Griffin!

2010-04-14T01:13:00.000-07:00

Today author Lana Griffin takes over the New Sensuality. Lana writes in genres similar to my own and both near and dear to my heart, and it is with great pleasure that I share with you her guest post....

Giving Love, Baby!

Thanks, Lisa, for inviting me to your seductive corner of the e-world today. I had to dress -- or is that, undress? -- for the occasion.

So here I am, lounging on a fake fur rug by Lisa's fireplace. I'm wearing fishnets and a football helmet. There are some strange creatures hanging out in the shadows. I think they're from other planets, but it's dark in here, so I'm not sure.

Lisa and I have a few things in common. She writes vampire romance novels and sexy outer space novels for Ravenous Romance. Lana Griffin (moi) also writes vampire romance novels and sexy outer space novels for Ravenous Romance.

I first learned about Ravenous Romance in summer 2008, when Lori Perkins asked me to write 12 novels and edit a few anthologies. My first novel for Ravenous was supposed to be DUSK with a December 2008 release. My second novel was supposed to be SEX IN THE GALAXY with a January 2009 release.

Unfortunately, I suffered a serious injury in spring 2008. Unable to walk, I was confined to bed and stuffed with huge amounts of pain killers for 6-9 months. With my brain whirling, I didn't write anything new for well over a year.

In the meantime, Ravenous launched, and I purchased and read several releases. In particular, I remember enjoying Lisa Lane's Blood and Coffee, as well as Angela Cameron's Michael. I later enjoyed Champagne by Inara Lavey. In my condition, it was a miracle that I read anything at all.

Finally, my brain settled down into its usual state of craziness (as opposed to pain and drug-induced whirling -- yes, there is a difference).

I wrote DUSK in November 2009 and finally got in touch with Lisa, Angela, Inara, and several other authors. By this time, I'd also read wonderful novels by Isabel Roman, Keta Diablo, and Hal Bodner, etc.

What a wild and fun group of people! Everyone's been very friendly and helpful. You see, I'm new to blogging and don't even know how to twit (or tweet -- I suppose that I'm naturally prone to being a twit).

I have a "to do" list that's absurdly long. I plan to post lovely reviews of Blood and Coffee, Michael, Champagne, and some other RR novels on Amazon -- and other places if I can figure out how to do it. I keep beating myself up for not getting around to posting these reviews already.

Lana Griffin may have to give up her wild night life in order to tackle her "to do" list.

It's time for Lana to peel off the fishnets and throw the football helmet in the corner. It's time for her to blow kisses to everyone who's been so nice to her: mwah mwah mwah.

Wild and crazy girl, Lana, it's time for you to settle down and give some love, baby!

And it there a better place to give love than Lisa's seductive corner of the e-world? This place is made for love.

Um, let me put those fishnets back on, and hand me the football helmet, would ya?

And now, please excuse me as I roll around on this fur rug and indulge in my fantasies.

Here's where you can get DUSK--

Buy DUSK from Ravenous Romance

Buy DUSK from Amazon

DUSK is also available wherever fine e-books are sold. In addition, a print version of DUSK will be available at Amazon within a week or so.

Coming soon from Lana Griffin:

BITTEN BY LOVE in August
SEX IN THE GALAXY in late October

xoxoxoxo,
Lana Griffin
http://lanagriffin.blogspot.com/

Lana, thank you again for stopping by. It is a pleasure to have you as my guest, and I look forward to you future Ravenous Romance releases. The New Sensuality is slated begin reviewing erotic romance novels in the next couple of weeks, and I would love to add DUSK to the list of titles in queue.

Another Winner!

2010-04-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Congratulatiuons, Amy J. Ramsey! You have won a pdf copy of Roxanne Rhoad's recent release, Eternal Desire! You should be hearing from Roxanne soon. Enjoy!

Please Welcome Guest Blogger Roxanne Rhoads!

2010-04-09T02:44:00.000-07:00

It is my great pleasure to have paranormal romance author Roxanne Rhoads here today as my guest. Roxanne is the brains and beauty behind the successful blog sites, Roxanne's Realm and Fang-tastic Books, and she is also a reviewer for Night Owl Reviews.

Roxanne has numerous published novels and short stories, all of which you can find information and distribution information for at her above listed websites. Without any further adieu, I give you Roxanne's inspiring and insightful contribution to the New Sensuality.

The Allure of Paranormal Romance

What is it that continually draws readers to the world of paranormal romance? Is the steamy sex scenes? The escapism of being with the Other? Or is purely the love of anything and everything paranormal?

I love the possibilities.

Books are always filled with such wonderful possibilities- especially books that have paranormal/supernatural characters.

I mostly write in the paranormal romance/urban fantasy/ paranormal erotica genres so sex always plays a big part in my stories and writing sex scenes with supernatural characters leaves the door wide open for plenty of sexual creativity and experimentation.

My characters can shoot electricity from various body parts, absorb lightning, get so hot they are literally on fire, shape shift into animals, drink blood, share energy, and so much more. The possibilities are truly endless. The only thing that can’t be done is what my imagination can’t come up with.

Aside from the supernatural elements and wild magick what else is so alluring about paranormal romance? I think it is truly the allure of being with someone that is Other. Whether you are a human or a vampire having sex with a werewolf can be something extremely different. Then there’s always the forbidden appeal. We are taught to stick with our own, sometimes to the point where relationships with Others are actually forbidden by our family or society.

Yet we all long to cross the fence and be very naughty from time to time. Books offer us that option in a way where no one gets hurt. It’s a win/win situation. In my book Eternal Desire my main character LizBeth can see ghosts this leads her to a life submersed in the paranormal. While she is just a human, intimate relationships with humans become too hard because of her line of work as a hands-on parapsychologist/demon hunter. Her sexual partners- the few she has made time for- have been Other but nothing prepares her for what it is like to be with a vampire- or for how kinky ghosts can get on Halloween.

Eternal Desire was one of my favorite stories to write- filled with ghosts, vampires…and of course- steamy sex scenes. Setting the tale in New Orleans during Halloween opened the door for all kinds of myth and magick to be included.

I am offering a free pdf download of Eternal Desire to one lucky reader who leaves a comment on this post. Tell me, what would you like to see in a paranormal erotica story? More out of this world elements or just steamy sex?

Thank you so much for joining us today, Roxanne. I love your style, and I can't wait to discuss more with you and others about both the allure of paranormal romance and Eternal Desire!

Winners!

2010-04-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone who entered the New Sensuality Blog Launch Party Contest. If you didn't win this time around, stay tuned--I'll have more contests coming up soon!

Extra entry question answers:

Love in Space can be found at http://www.cerebralwriter.com/new-releases.html

In "One Night Stand," the two vampires dress up as humans for Halloween.

Contest winners:

The winner of the $25.00 Amazon gift certificate is Andrea.

The three winners of the signed The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee paperbacks are Bobbie, Theresa, and Sue.

Congratulations! Please contact me at LisaLane (at) cerebralwriter (dot) com, if you do not receive an e-mail from me within the next twenty-four hours.

Lisa

The New Sensuality Launch Party--Prizes!

2010-03-16T01:50:00.000-07:00

The New Sensuality is now officially active, and I’m giving away some prizes to celebrate.

Here’s the deal: Visit this site between now and April 1 and add yourself to the list of blog followers, and you’ll be eligible to win one of three signed paperback copies of The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee along with a The Darkness and the Night trilogy bookmark, or a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate. Already following? Then you’re already eligible to win. Make sure that I have some way of contacting you, either through your website or an e-mail address.

If you’re interested in increasing the odds in your favor, you can—in addition to the above—do one or more of the following for additional entries:

Readers

Go to my home website, at http://www.cerebralwriter.com/, find the page on which my novel, Love in Space, can be found, and then send me the link through my contact page: http://www.cerebralwriter.com/contact.html.

Read my free short story, “One Night Stand,” which can be found at http://www.cerebralwriter.com/erotic.html, and then (at the same above contact page) send me the answer to the following question: What does each vampire dress up as for Halloween?

Sign up to review any of my published books or short stories. For a list of what I have available, you can go here: http://www.cerebralwriter.com/erotic.html and here: http://www.cerebralwriter.com/new-releases.html

Authors, Artists, Etc.

Sign up to guest blog at this site (erotica and romance), or at the Cerebral Writer (literary, horror, and speculative science fiction). Send all guest blog inquiries to contests@cerebralwriter.com.

Add the Cerebral Writer and/or the New Sensuality to your blog roll (one entry for each link added, up to two entries max).

Anyone

Share the link to this contest at your blog, website, and/or social networking venues (one entry per venue, up to five entries max); make sure to let me know where I can find the shared links by leaving them below.

Thanks for stopping by—and good luck!

Lisa

Loving My New Poster!

2010-03-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

Recently, I won a contest at Fangtastic Books, the prize being a free poster of my design, courtesy of onlineposterprinting.com. I had long fantasized about the prospect of decorating one or more of my walls with posters of my novel covers, and after much consideration I decided to send in a copy of the cover for The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee. The website was easy to navigate, very professional, and I received my order two days after completing the form. I am delighted with the result, and might just buy posters for the rest of the trilogy. My thanks to both Roxanne at Fangtastic Books and onlineposterprinting.com. You rock!

Interview at the Galaxy Express

2010-03-03T23:20:00.000-08:00

I will be at the Galaxy Express on Tuesday, March 4, where Heather has invited me to talk about my HSN exclusive sci-fi romance, Love in Space, and its kinky and erotic sister novel, Lust in Space.

http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/

In the interview, I will offer insights into both novels, a little about my writing background, and updates on Lust in Space's long-awaited sequel, Pandora's Hope.

Hope to see you there!

Join Me Today at Lana Griffin's!

2010-03-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

Stop by the blog of Lana Griffin, NYT bestseller and author of Dusk, to chat about the allure of vampires in fiction. While you're there, leave a comment for a chance at a copy of The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee, the first book in my erotic horror series that takes vampires to a darkly new level.

http://lanagriffin.blogspot.com/2010/03/allure-of-vampires-with-lisa-lane-win.html

See you there!

Win a Copy of Lana Griffin's DUSK

2010-02-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

Stop by Sidhe Vicious Reviews for a chance to win DUSK, written by bestselling author, Lana Griffin!

http://sidhevicious.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/lana-griffin-guest-blog-giveaway/

See you there!

On Building Tension

2010-02-08T23:52:00.000-08:00

In response to an article I recently wrote for the Guide to Literary Agents Editor’s Blog, Miss S. stated, “Perhaps you could have a follow-up with more detail about building tension--and how?” I thought Miss S.’s suggestion was a good one, definitely worth the follow-up, so today I dedicate my blog to the subject of building tension in erotic and romantic works.

Good tension begins with good character dynamics.

In both erotic and romantic writing, it is important to consider the way the characters are going to interact. Ask yourself, “What is it that attracts your protagonists to one another? What could potentially keep them apart?” You want the romance to build gradually, waxing and waning in a natural progression, while also creating obstacles that threaten to destroy the relationship before it has a chance to climax. Don’t be afraid to tease your audience; you want your readers to crave satisfaction just as desperately as you want your characters to crave one another. If you give in too quickly, you might make later interactions less satisfying—but if you hold off for too long, you’ll lose your readers’ interest.

Balance is the key.

Just like any good story should be divided into three “acts,” a good erotic romance should be divided into a number of “episodes.” In a typical plotline, Act I introduces the characters and whatever initial dilemma they are to overcome, Act II brings added intensity to that dilemma (often with the overcoming of the first dilemma, only for a larger one to arise in its place), and Act III moves the story to its climax and conclusion. With romantic and erotic “episodes,” the romantic and/or sexual tension should rise and fall around every thirty to fifty pages. Just like with the necessary resolution and additional dilemma found in the transition between acts, one should strive for romantic or sexual dilemmas between these episodes, offering resolution—or even some kind of minor release—only to build the tension even higher than before. Mistaken identity, misconstrued words and/or actions, quarrels and reconciliations, and love triangles all work well to add to the building and dropping of romantic and sexual tension.

Think of the building of romantic tension as written foreplay.

Words are powerful tools; use them to your best advantage. Play with your readers’ senses. Use words or phrases that appeal to the body or further arouse the imagination. Your wordplay need not be overtly sexual to be sensual.

Consider the following poem:

A gently laced chain of words
awakens every sense;
colorful, sweet, musky, hard,
and symphonic offering, aching, needing.

The hot, dew-wet red rose
smells the fragrant hard wood
that penetrates deep into the earth,
expanding, tasting her soil,
and dancing to the sonata in the wind.

The above words use imagery in slow, sensual steps to build its readers. If the poem were to continue, it is safe to say that the sexual tension would rise and fall through a series of several more stanzas, with the final lines bringing both the natural figures and their audience to climactic release. Give your readers prose that takes them beyond their own bodies, while at the same time offering a holistic, full-body experience. Tantalize their minds, make their bodies tingle, and then tease them with a twist of heartache or disappointment, only to build them and their expectations even higher than before.

And then, around the same time you’ve reached the climax of Act III, give your readers what they’ve been waiting for—sweet, beautiful, sensual release.