Please Welcome Guest Author Anne Kane!

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

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!

Please Welcome Guest Author Toni Sweeney!

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/

Review: ULTIMATE DUTY by Marva Dasef (Contains Spoilers)

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.

SFR Brigade Holiday Blitz!

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!

Please Welcome Guest Author Kaye Manro!

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.

Coming Soon....

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

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!

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!

Writing Mixed-Genre Erotic Romance

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?