IS IT EROTIC OR PORNOGRAPHIC?

An ongoing discussion within the erotic writing and reading community is to define the difference between erotic literature and pornographic literature and when does erotic writing become pornographic. There's a similar discussion going on with romance writers and readers of when does romance become erotic. Since I don't read or write straight romance, I won't get into that discussion.

Here is the definition of pornography: Sexually explicit pictures, writing, or other material whose primary purpose is to cause sexual arousal.

Back to Erotica vs Pornography or if you prefer smut. The purpose of both, I think you'll all agree, is to sexually scintillate and stimulate the reader. Some say that pornography goes farther than erotica and therefore appeals to men more than woman. Then again, define goes farther. I know there are erotic stories that go every bit as far as pornographic stories and I can't see how gender has anything whatsoever to do with the difference. Therefore, that doesn't work for me.

Among other things, I write erotic romance or erotica. I suppose, though I have written mostly erotic romance, I have strayed over the imaginary border between erotic and smut on a couple occasions. I consider Bananaz such a story. What was the difference? Simple. Erotic and pornographic alike, both contain sex and were approximately equally explicit. Therefore one could say erotic romance is romance with pornographic scenes. The difference was in the story. The pornographic story was pornography there was no story. If you took the sex away, you were left with next to nothing. Not so with erotic stories. If you removed all explicit sex scenes, you still had a story. It may have been weakened but a good writer could smooth it out and a story remained.

The bottom line; no story it's pornagraphic, story with pornographic scenes it's erotic.

I would be interested to hear your opinion.

MSA is at Coffee Time Romance all September long!

What ups a woman's sex appeal?

Today over at the Nice n' Naughty blog I asked for opinions on increasing a man's sex appeal. So drop by if you want to share what does it for you, but here I thought I'd ask about the other gender. You know, the seductive ladies. I'd love to see how the opinions differ between the sexes on this.

My husband loves to see the bottom of a woman's breasts dipping below a cut off shirt. It drives him nuts. Personally, I think cleavage is more sexy. I also think a woman with a nice ass can rock a pair of jeans.

I've read a million times that men find long hair sexy, and who doesn't love Angelina Jolie lips, but what can the average looking woman do or wear to immediately increase her sex appeal?


Are female singers as hot as male singers? Or is there another profession that turns you on more for a female? Nurse, maybe? Do you like a woman in leather? Or lace? Or uniform? Or heels? With or without nylons? Piercings or tattoos?

Do soccer moms have it going on? Or athletes? You get the drift...what do you like?

Wendi Darlin
www.wendidarlin.com

Check out The Water Bearer by Wendi Christner available at BookStrand.

The Inner Red Pencil

By A.J. Llewellyn

Hi everyone,
I have been dying to tackle the topic of how I do not believe in Writer's Block and what better time? It's my turn at the Midnight Seductions Authors wheel. Step aside kids, I make sharp turns!
Many writers talk about the dreaded WB but you see, as a trained journalist who rose the ranks of a daily newspaper, I was not allowed the luxury of giving into WB. Not much would have been written if I gave into WB, but then, I was so fortunate to have a news editor who would not allow me to believe in it.
His name was CJ McKenzie and he is probably long dead. Oh, he was an absolute ogre with foul breath, grotesque facial features thanks to a hideous drinking problem. He was a classic "newso" with a fifth of scotch, a quarter finished novel and the filthiest hanky in the world in his bottom drawer.
You guessed it, I absolutely adored him.
CJ always had a row of red pencils in his breast pocket that colored the seam so it looked like he was slowly bleeding. He red penciled everything, even bar menus and handed them back to hapless waiters.
He had been an actor who never said the word Macbeth - it was "The Scottish Play" and his superstitions didn't end there. It was the same with WB.
CJ taught me the muse is always there, but not at our convenience.
His hard line in writerly thinking and that damned red pencil taught me well. On those dreaded midnight to dawn shifts when I could not find the right words, he spanked my hands with a ruler. truly.
"Write," he would holler. "Just DO it." In those days, computers did not exist and I pounded away on a big old typewriter using carbon copies. Oh, I can still smell those blue sheets!
I have an inner CJ and God help me, my own muse looks just like him. I find when I am kept away from the 'puter, I become a total jerk...but actually do some of my best writing, believe it or not.
Cooking is the perfect "simmering" time. Walking the dog I get tons of ideas too, if I allow my mind to drift and focus on my books and not on things like playing "beat the bank" with deposits etc.
For some unfair reason I get my best ideas in the car and I use a Dictaphone recorder to make notes.
I carry a small note book and pen at all times in my pocket. I'm a gay man, but not ashamed to say Hello Kitty rides shotgun with me. I have tons of those pink pens and note books. I will stop and make notes. The dog is used to it and has accepted with some alacrity that I am a weirdo.
You can often find me in the bathroom at parties, writing stuff on toilet paper. It's dialogue I scribble mostly because I am the nosiest person alive and no conversation is secret with me around. I jot down scraps because it's the cadence I might miss when I am back at my desk fleshing things out.
When all else fails I call my own voice mail and leave a message with a line I've suddenly come up with. But don't forget, living is what we writers should be doing in between cranking out those pages.
So what about you, how weird is your muse and what lengths have you gone to in order to obey him or her?

Aloha oe,
A.J.

When the muse wanders(Beth Wylde)

Sometimes I think I'm the only person with a muse that has definite ADHD. I get an idea for a story and get started and then ten or more ideas come to me. I have a WIP progress folder that is absolutely gigantic and none of the stories in it are even close to completion. It's like my mind is in fifty places at once. Does anyone else have this problem? And if so how do you reign it in and make yourself focus on just one task at a time? Is it even possible or should I just try and go with the flow and hope my muse intends to finish at least one or two of the multiple manuscripts she has sprung on me? ^_^
Beth
Born 2 B. Wylde
http://beth-wylde.tripod.com/
Check out my new excerpts page for a look inside of all my currently available e-books!

Reconciling Day Job with Writing

Have a dilemma, ladies and gentlemen.

Seems my day job boss thinks I am not taking my position seriously enough and that my writing is the reason for my lack of "sacrifice." In his estimation, I should view my job as a teacher similar to that of a doctor or lawyer, i.e. some personal time is required to do the job well. I'm not to complain about my lack of pay, nor am I supposed to cite my need for promotion and writing time when asked to stay after school to participate in a discipline program I don't use nor agree with.

Now, here's a quick description of my job duties: not only am I to teach computers and library skills to 600 Kindergarten through 8th grade students, but I'm also supposed to coordinate and teach training sessions for the teachers on how to use computers and technology in their classrooms, repair any faulty or non-working technology tools (computers, LCD projectors, TVs, DVD/VCR machines, printers, fax machines, copiers, etc.), set up and break down 50-72 computers for testing sessions 3 times a year, schedule, and monitor those testing sessions for 3-4 weeks. Of course as the monitor/proctor of the testing, I have to make sure all 600 students are in the test roster, develop and maintain a spreadsheet to record all of their test scores in 3-4 tests and make sure teachers know how to access, read, understand, and implement the information on the test results.

I'm supposed to do all this in the course of the day, while teaching classes, writing lesson plans, and keeping a smile on my face.

I freely admit, my problems are extremely minor in comparison to those people who don't have jobs, are homeless, ill, etc. but in the six weeks leading up to the start of school, my ambivalent feelings about my day job have kept me from really doing any kind of writing.

And that isn't acceptable to me.

Here's the dilemma--how do I keep from telling my principal just where to shove his job expectations for me, especially since I'm, in essence, performing 2-3 jobs and barely getting paid for one?

I'd really like to know, because it took everything I had to just enter my school last Monday and not tell the PTB to go F themselves.

The process of getting published

I'm presently spending six weeks in paradise, so unfortunately I don't have time to write a long blog. However, I recently read a post by an author friend at one of the Yahoo Groups I'm a member of and decided to share this.

How many of you authors ever thought of what it would take to get published? I'm sure you've all thought about it...A LOT...but when you were first starting out, or even now, what was/is your perception of the whole writing/publishing process? Did you think it would be as easy as baking pre-made pizza, or that it would be as hard as scaling Mt. Everest during a snow blizzard?

Personally, I don't even remember thinking much about it. I just started writing, but I truly had no idea what the real world offered as far as getting published was concerned.

Take a look at this video and have a laugh, then comment and share your views/experiences -



Angela Guillaume
www.angelaguillaume.com

Athletics, World Peace or Just Really Hot Guys???

Hey all,

I’m back after six weeks of having to stay off the computer due to a hand injury.  I probably shouldn’t do this blog yet, but I couldn’t help myself.  I missed you all.

So I’ve been watching the Olympics and enjoying them.  The opening ceremony was outstanding—very artistic, yet filled with political statements.  And I just love the parade of athletes.  Great time to check out the hot guys…I mean look at all the great costumes. *grin* During the games themselves I root for the home teams…in my case both Canada and USA, but I have an inclination to urge on the underdog no matter who they may be.

I get snarky when the prima donnas come out and boast or make a spectacle of themselves, and I want to scream when the newsies get in someone’s face who obviously needs some privacy after a defeat or a very emotional victory.  As far as I’m concerned, the question…  “How do you feel?” is the stupidest one that can be asked by a reporter.  Be a little creative people!

I about tossed a plate at the TV when an inept reporter asked Michael Phelps' teammates about how they felt about his 8^th medal win…right after they’d ALL just won the relay.  Talk about rude and insensitive.  Give them their glory first, THEN talk to Michael about his history making medal count.  At least Phelps had the grace to turn it back around and make it a team win, not that the stupid reporter was bright enough to understand that she’d just made a huge faux pas.  I hope she got her notebook shredded by her bosses. 

Personally, I like watching the sports that don’t get a lot of air time.  Kayaking, shooting, archery, taekwando or fencing.  I wish they showed more of those offbeat events.  While I enjoy gymnastics, track and field and swimming, I really wish they were more balanced in their overall coverage of the games.

I have to admit though, I giggle when I watch badminton or ping pong, and just shake my head at speed walking.  Those events I usually just turn the channel.

The BMX events were new and what little we got to see went by so fast it was hard to understand anything about it other than you need some heavy duty medical insurance to do that sport!  I saw more crashes than I saw races.  Seriously.

Another new event to me was the modern pentathlon.  It’s been around a while, but I’d never actually seen it.  Interesting, and the athletes have to be in good shape, but some of the ways they do the individual events don’t jive with the tradition it came from, so I wasn’t able to enjoy it as much.  The decathlon is another one I like watching.  Wish they showed more of it as well.

But the two weeks is almost over.  USA and Canada have done pretty well at this writing.  Plenty of medals, heartbreaks and personal victories.  I love watching the athletes interact with each other.  They can be friends and competitors.  Something we can all take a lesson from.

In fact I think that’s what the Olympics should be about.  Not just who is the best in the world, but the fact that with all the garbage going on all over the planet, for a brief space in time we can all come together and act like rational human beings…well…as rational as one can be while screaming their lungs out over a bad call in a game played with a tiny white object called a shuttlecock.  Rational…right.

LOLOL

Anyway…personally, I enjoy checking out all the athletes.  As I let slip before, I love watching the parade of athletes not just for the costumes, but for the hot guys.  Many a hero has been discovered in one of those parades.  This year it was Rafael Nadal, tennis player from Spain and another hottie…Alexandre Despatie, diver from Canada.  Both these guys caught my notice and you can be sure you’ll see them in a book down the line.  Yum!!!

So for me, the Olympics are a smörgåsbord of hot athletes, great sporting events and a brief glimpse of a more connected and peaceful world.  The motto for the 2008 Olympics is one I personally can really get behind.

One World…One Dream.

Oh…if it could only be so.

Take care till next month!

Hugs,

CJ England

 

 

 

 

  

Never anger an elf... we have very long memories.

http://cjengland.com/mylari/eyesoffire.htm

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

 

Feral Intensity releasing September 5th.

Feral Intensity by L.A. Day
Copyright 2008
Book 3 of the Faldron Shifters Series
M/M Erotic Romance releasing September 5th from Ellora’s Cave.

Setup:
Dirk travels with the alpha of his wolf pack to meet with the coyote pack. Rian, the coyote alpha is more than Dirk expected. His senses tell him the other male is his mate. Is this coyote trickery or is he destined to have a male mate?

Unedited Excerpt:
Introductions commenced but Dirk tuned it all out until the leader extended his hand to him. His heart thundered as the bronze hand engulfed his in a firm grip. The alpha’s thumb caressed the back of his hand and his stomach muscles clenched. The dull, persistent ache that seemed ever-present in his balls, ignited in fierce desire. With hands locked, Dirk raised his gaze to meet the other male’s dark, hungry eyes and his world shifted.

Full lips curled up at the corners as the male spoke in a low, husky voice. “I am Rian. It is an honor to meet you.”

Dirk breathed in a slow pant as his mind whirled with possibilities. It can’t be! There had to be some mistake. Rian released his hand and he felt bereft at the loss of the touch.

A smug smile curled Rian’s lips and Dirk’s heart beat triple time. Lust, hotter than he’d ever felt, churned in his gut.

Conversation between the two alphas swirled around his head but he couldn’t absorb the words. From time to time, Rian’s dark eyes turned to him and he felt his gaze as a heated caress. The male’s scent entranced him.

Taking a step backward, Dirk took a deep, cleansing breath as he tried to clear his mind. Turning away, he pretended vigilance to his duty as guard of the area. His eyes roved the darkened woods but his mind screamed with panic as he attempted to reason out his dilemma.

Dirk wasn’t a scholar of philosophy or pack history. What he did know was that for the shape-shifting races lifemates were predestined. Times were changing, the breeds were mixing. He didn’t know why the fates had chosen to mix the breeds, he only knew that they had. Gionne and Jenna were an example as was Gionne’s sister, Riza and her mate, Leon the feline alpha. He had almost taken both of the females as mates but destiny had stepped in and united them with their true mates. Looking back, Dirk didn’t know why he’d willingly wanted to mate with females he’d known were not his true mates.

Dirk sighed! Had part of him known what his future held? Was he trying to hide from a truth he knew within himself?

His gaze flashed back toward Rian. Had destiny chosen this male as his mate? He wasn’t ready to accept it. Though the coyotes were known for trickery, he wouldn’t fall easily for their games.

As the meeting came to an end, Dirk felt Rian’s questioning gaze upon him but he did not acknowledge the connection.

His spine tingled. His beast wanted out. The call to mate was clear but he would fight it. Time would tell if this coyote was his true mate.

For more info: My Website
Faldron Shifters – Book One- Feral Domination
Faldron Shifters – Book Two – Feral Lust

Laura/LA Day

Support.....

As a writer/author it means a lot to have the support of family, friends and fellow authors. Small things like compliments or messages of encouragement make a huge difference in the life of most writers. It's that extra special addition that tells you that you are doing a good job. Your work is liked or loved. Your work is appreciated.

Authors love getting notes especially from readers. It might be a line or two but something so small can brighten ones day.

I am fortunate to have the support of my family, friends and fellow writers/authors. That truly means the world to me. These are the people that give me that kick in the butt to push forward when you have a rough day or you get a rejection.

They motivate you to try harder. To never stop what you do because your work makes a difference in their lives. Being an author has shown me so much of the writing world I had not known about. It has given me the chance to live out a dream doing what I love. Bringing stories to life, creating worlds, giving life to characters...

I'm thankful for everyday that I get to do what I love and have such strong supporters all around me. Not everyone is fortunate to have strong support systems around them. Someone to guide them as they try to achieve their dreams.

So I wonder who is your biggest supporter? Is it family, friends?

Also next time you read a book drop the author a line if you enjoyed the work. That gesture can brighten up their day.

So while we are on the topic of books...My book Bid For Love has been released. I thought I would tease you a bit with a blurb...


Bid For Love

Her fantasy man is up for auction. Will Nico dare to bid?

Nico’s history of romantic disasters has taught her when she gambles on men, she fated to lose. That doesn’t stop her from secretly lusting after Jeff, the handsome construction worker she sees everyday on her way to work.

When the New York’s Sexiest Bachelor auction begins and Jeff comes up on the block, she’s seriously tempted to place a bid. The wager can’t be taken lightly — it might be for a good cause, but she’s making a bid for love……

Read an excerpt

Killer Curves-Coming From Ellora's Cave

I'm so tickled to announce my next Ellora's Cave book, Killer Curves, will be released on September 5. This is a super hot story about a racecar driver and the woman he could never forget.



Here's a little blurby and excerpt of the book.



Killer Curves
Regina Carlysle

Blurb:

After the death of her husband in a fiery crash, Carrie Martin Salem left the world of the racing circuit and retreated to Texas vowing to live a quiet and safe life. But old memories dig deep, leaving her longing for the friend she left behind. From the moment, J.T. Sims steps from the cab of his truck, Carrie knows it’s more than friendship she feels for the hottest racecar driver on Earth.
J.T. Sims never forgot the beautiful wife of his long-dead best friend. She’d had her time to grieve. She’d had years to pull herself together and now it was his turn, his time to reach out for the love he’s always wanted. His mission becomes convincing the pretty Texas lady that she’s strong enough to take what he’s offering. Nights of hot passion and days filled with love.

Sometimes you just gotta laugh...

Sometimes we humans have pissy moods. Call it bitchiness, call it PMS, call it menopause... whatever you call it, don't say it anywhere that we'll hear about it or you're dead.



Hormones, they say, are wonderful things. They cause puberty, menses, hair, boobs, muscles, and procreation. Don't know that I won't miss them when they go away, but I do have to admit -- I write some hellacious plots and death scenes about once a month!

LOL.

Cassidy
(the evil one)

New from Paige Tyler - Austin Malone, Private Eye!

Taylor Cavanaugh, the heroine in my new contemporary spanking romance, has some major trust issues when it comes to men, so when her sister goes missing, it's a really big step for her to turn to private detective Austin Malone for help. It doesn't help that he's arrogant, opinionated, and did I mention, really gorgeous. Taylor does her best to run the investigation, but Austin isn't having any of it, and he has a very special way to keep her in line anytime she gets too bossy.

Austin Malone, Private Eye

When Taylor Cavanaugh's sister goes missing, she turns to private detective, Austin Malone, for help. When he discovers her sister has apparently eloped with a boyfriend that Taylor never even knew existed, she is sure he must be wrong. After all, she knows her sister better than he does.

However, when he finds a diary that proves she doesn't know her sister nearly as well as she thinks, Taylor throws a tantrum that gets her put over Austin's knee for a good, sound spanking. Taylor doesn't learn her lesson, though, and deliberately ignores his orders to stay out of his way and let him do his job. Instead, she follows him on the hunt for her sister, which leads to repeated spankings from the ruggedly handsome private eye.

But if he's as insufferable and arrogant as he seems, why is Taylor so drawn to him? Maybe it's because she knows Austin Malone is the only one who can find her sister. Or maybe it's because deep down, she instinctively knows he is exactly the kind of man she's been looking for her whole life.

Click here to read a sexy excerpt!

Buy the eBook!

For more of my sexy erotic fiction, visit http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com/

And to join my mailing list, email me at paigetyler@paigetylertheauthor.com with "add me to your mailing list" in the subject line!

*hugs*

Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

Twenty-Five Reasons Why It's Good to be an Alaskan

September 15, my Alaskan romance, Chinook Wine and Sink Her, will be released in ebook format. Yes, an Alaskan book written by someone who actually lives in Alaska. I figure that gives me a little edge. (Insert big grin here)

As I often forget to look for the blessings of living in Alaska, I decided to list a few with a little help from my AKRWA friends. We could keep going, but for one blog, twenty-five are plenty.

1. You can wander around looking at scenery and no one thinks you’re nuts.


2. Tourists. We keep their money and send them home at the end of the season. They also wander around looking at scenery. Often recognizable by their matching jackets, fanny packs, and bright white tennies. The motorhomes and tour buses also give them away. A camera is not always a good indicator of tourist status as many locals carry them around as well.


3. You can drive to the Yukon River, but unless you’re going to boat or fish it, why would you want to? I suppose because it’s there is a good enough reason. That or because you’re writing a book…


4. We have North America’s biggest mountain. And yes, that IS on the same continent as the rest of the US, aka The Lower 48. We just call it Outside, because if you aren't in Alaska, then well, you're Outside.


5. Biggest state. 2.5 times larger than Texas. It’s been discussed time and again, splitting the state in two and making Texas the third largest state in the US. Then hunting season comes along and the discussion gets dropped.


6. Men. Got lots of ‘em. Just have to shop them the same way you shop the Salvation Army – very carefully.


7. Summer. Long days and everything is green, not burned brown. Driving at midnight without headlights, toasting the sunset at 1 am and welcoming the sunrise at 4 am. ‘Nuf said.


8. However winter does counter summer. Unless you like long dark nights for cuddling with your sweetie! Bring on the cocoa with seasoning. (Seasoning = peppermint schnapps, Bailey's, Kahlua, Frangelico, whiskey... use your imagination!)


9. Permanent Fund Dividend. Buy those airplane tickets to Outside to counteract winter. Or a new snow machine (snowmobile to you Outsiders), ATV or big screen TV.


10. Mountains and the ocean. You can have both in the same town.


11. Fishing and hunting are considered acceptable activities. In fact, people brag about what they bag and are happy to get moose roadkill. The opening of moose season is practically a state holiday.


12. Sparse population. In ten minutes you can be far away from the crowds. Traffic jams are easy to plan around and avoid.


13. Alaska skies. If you can get above the birch trees, you get an ever-changing view. From sunsets to the Northern Lights, which come out to brighten up long winter nights, the sky never looks the same from day to day and changes many times a day.


14. Monster cabbages. One cabbage makes enough coleslaw to feed fifty people. We also love our flowers which thrive under the midnight sun.


15. King Crab at $9.99 per pound in your local grocery store. Reindeer sausage too!


16. More salmon than you could eat in a lifetime. If you like it, and feel up to catching it, that is.


17. You can wear blue jeans and flannel to the opera and most people won’t notice. Same thing if you wear satin and a tiara. Perfume just might get you thrown out.


18. Fur Rendezvous. Where else can you buy a fox fur hat? And I do mean fox fur hat, as in they keep the shape of the head and the fur of the body drapes down your back, complete with tail and paws. Also known as the Trapper Hat. Rondy is also a time of fun and merriment and no one complains when you wear fur, usually because it’s often the best way to stay warm when temps drop below zero! And yes, we do keep the carnival running at -15. Ever have a tailgate party at -20? An experience you’d never forget.


19. Gold nugget jewelry. Especially cool when you get it made from nuggets you found in a creek. Actually makes standing in 35 degF water for hours on end fun and rewarding.


20. Odd jewelry. Yes, you can buy earrings and other items made from moose nuggets.


21. In Anchorage, sunny skies and 80 degrees are sufficient reasons to shut down the office. Makes up for the deep snow days when they don’t close schools and businesses. At 90 degrees people pass out from heat stroke, unless you're floating in a lake with a frosty beverage in hand.


22. Tourist gidgets. Alaska has the best, and highest quality, tourist store stuff around, hands down. Also the most unique Christmas ornaments to be found anywhere with the widest variety.


23. Wildlife. Moose and bear right in town, possibly even in your backyard! Eagles are almost pests. The downside here would be the extra-humongous mosquitoes and the extra-tiny no-seeums. But on yet another side, no snakes or cockroaches! Few spiders.


24. Wildlife of the human variety. See the note about men. Ethnic diversity is wide and tolerance levels are high. People watching is a fun sport.


25. Being a writer, you get to observe all the above, and more, at close range and then put it all in your books!

I've traveled from Barrow to Juneau and have driven nearly every highway between, even some of the water ones by ferry. I wasn't born here, my husband and son were, however I did attend all four years of high school here and have seen many sights.

If you have any questions, or perceptions, about Alaska, I'd love to hear them! I can either confirm or correct the myths and legends, so don't be shy, hit me with your best.

Morgan Q. O'Reilly ~ Romance for all your moods. Get Some Tonight.

http://morganqoreilly.com/

http://www.lyricalpress.com/

The Morgan Diaries ~ The new Fall season starts next week! Check it out, starting with Trailer Trash Tuesdays and Sutton Fox's trailer from her book Lion Tamers.

Are there any new stories?

Many people say that there are no new stories, just ones that have been rewritten. Are the unique ones that crop up occasionally actually new? Or you just haven’t read the first story yet? Circles upon circles upon circles...

I do believe that there are recurring themes (betrayal, lovers meet and seperate yet ultimately come through, hope through adversity, etc. etc. etc.). Yet as both a reader and a writer, I’d like to believe there are still original stories out there.

I’d even like to believe I’ve come up with a few stories myself. I've never been one to really follow "trends", and while I may write shifters occasionally, they're very unusual ones. Paranormal? Oh yeah. I love the ghosties, so I guess maybe I'm not as original as I'd like to believe.

Is this all just wishful thinking? Maybe so – but it’s my fantasy and I can think what I like. ;)

What do you think?

Cassidy McKay
http://www.cassidymckay.com

Latte, anyone? Cappuccino? What’s your favorite specialty coffee, and do you find it at the famous coffee chain stores, or in a small local bistro? Ukrainian immigrant Nadja Petrov is an independent businesswoman who owns and runs her own specialty coffee shop in a North Iowa town, and she’s about to get run out of business by the big guns - or so they think.

I love our local bistro. The owner does her own baking, features local artists and musicians, and nearly always has something interesting and unique going on. Nadja’s Literary Cappuccino was inspired in part by this shop - and by a trip I took to Ukraine two years ago, and as always by my love of suspense and danger.

The book will be released soon at Freya’s Bower - here’s a blurb, and a link to an excerpt to whet your appetite:

BLURB: It all seems simple enough: Ukrainian immigrant Nadja Petrov is determined to hold on to her thriving new coffee shop, Nadja's Literary Cappuccino, and Java Beans District Rep Kevin Langley is equally determined to move into town with a Java Beans franchise and run her out of business. She scopes him out, he keeps a watchful eye on her, and the sparring begins. But there are other players involved, and the web of intrigue soon threatens Nadja, her shop and her aunt as well as Kevin, his franchise and his son. Within this caldron simmers a sexual attraction between Nadja and Kevin that catapults them to overcome their fears of intimacy and commitment. Their lovemaking is tender and raw. Can their love survive tragedy, doubts and fire? EXCERPT

So tell me - what IS your favorite coffee drink, and where do you like to buy it?

Amanda Burns
http://www.amandaburnsromance.com

What's in a name?

Did you ever wonder what you were going to name your next novel? Did you name it something and smack dab in the middle of writing the story decide to change it?

When I write a story, the title doesn’t come to me until I’m well into the storyline. Then out of the blue, it hits me. A name pops into my head and there’s no erasing it. Most often, the name has something to do with the overall story or just one scene that captures it perfectly.

Once while on a loop chat, an author complimented me on the titles of the excerpts I posted that day. She explained how hard it was for her to find a title that she liked and one that would go with the story she’d written.

I guess my blog shows my curiosity of how others find the challenge of naming their work. My question to you is about titles that you choose. How do you come about selecting a title for your book? Is it something to do with a scene in the story or a title that covers everything you’ve written in that novel? And the last question. Do you try to make it a sexy title with the purpose of attracting attention to the book?

Mary Suzanne

http://www.Mary-Suzanne.blogspot.com

http://www.webspawner.com/users/romancewriter/index.html

How do you balance your YES with your NO?

Someone said something very important to me the other day and it stuck in my brain like things sometimes do:

Every time you say yes to someone, you're taking time away from yourself.

How interesting is that? And so true. I thought and thought about this. See I'm one of those people who would do anything for anybody and I often do. I think fifty years ago that was just how life worked. These days not so much. People don't reciprocate like they used to.

I know I don't take enough "ME" time. I'm worth it. I love myself. I wouldn't want to spend the next fifty years with anyone else. So why is it that I don't take the time I should? I don't have a clue. I could make excuses about how my family needs me and no one else can do what I can. I could say that karma will shoot death rays at people who don't help me when they say they're going to. Heck, I could even say it's in the genes so to speak.

The truth is I love the feeling of accomplishment. Doesn't have anything to do with anyone but me. I make lists, tons of them just ask my family, and when I cross things off I feel good. I like it when I finish a manuscript, submit a story, or even help a friend with edits. I've come to the conclusion that my dilemma is balance.

Help me out one and all. Does your day have five hours too few? Do you say yes when you should go with no? How do you balance time for yourself and time for others?

(running off to accomplish another feat!)
Kissa Starling
www.kissastarling.com

What would you do?

In one of my new releases the heroine has a form of amnesia which makes it so she knows how to tie her shoes, yet has no idea if she has any brothers or sisters. So what would you do if you could wipe the slate... so to speak? Would you do it?
I know there are things I'd love to forget, yet others I wouldn't give up for all the money in the world. For example I'd never want to give up my daughters birth or first smile.
But what if you couldn't remember, what would you do? Start over or try to reclaim your life? Tough questions for some I'll bet.

Shameless promo...

What would you do if you woke up one morning with no memory? And in a strange, yet gorgeous man's home? What if someone was trying to kill you and you didn't know why?

Sage has to figure out the answers before she and Wyatt, the stranger who saved her life, end up dead.

Buy Link

NEW RELEASE - "Summer Heat: Steaming Stories For A Hot Summer Afternoon"

What do you like to read when you relax in your beach chair while the waves lap at your feet? I have always loved short story collections. When I was growing up, I devoured short story collections by Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Rather than read romances when I was a kid, I read horror stories and mysteries. But I have always loved short stories. I own huge books of collections of short stories with themes, including erotica and erotic romance. So, due to my love of short stories, I decided to create my own collection of short fiction. That book is "Summer Heat: Steaming Stories For A Hot Summer Afternoon". The book is exactly what it sounds like - light, hot, sizzling stories to arouse and excite you while you relax at the beach or sit in a lawn chair in your garden on a hot summer afternoon.

Get a glass of lemonade or iced tea, your sun tan lotion, and your sun glasses. Get ready for some hot excerpts! I include a link so that you may buy the book.

Isn't this the hottest cover? You can fry an egg on his stomach! LOL!



Want to read more? Buy the book at eXcessica!

http://excessica.com/index.php/books/summer-heat-by-elizabeth-black/

This book is a real scorcher!

I wrote some hot stories that will singe your hair faster than the sun will burn you.

Here's my blurb:

Five sexy stories to set your pulse racing on a hot summer afternoon. A shapeshifter finds herself in a very compromised position with the man of her dreams. Two luscious women have sexy fun with popsicles to ward off the summer heat. A man, a woman, a remote controlled vibrator, and a church picnic. Use your imagination. A missing kitty brings Kat together with her very sexy neighbor. Jenny is a tough-as-nails prosecutor by day – but a submissive wench by night. When the summer heat is at its hottest, you never know what might happen.

Here's an excerpt from the shapeshifter story, "Double Shift". Background: Mary Sparrow is a plain little shapeshifter who is in her gorgeous neighbor's apartment to feed her cats while she's away, but Mary can't resist trying on some of Michelle's clothes - while in Michelle's form. She didn't count on Michelle's lover, Brian, walking in on her while she is in Michelle's form. She can't tell Brian who she really is, because she's madly in love with him. She finds she's also attracted to Michelle. What a quandry! How does Mary get herself out of this sticky situation?

-----

Oh, no!! Did Michelle cancel her trip? I have nowhere to hide and it’s too early to shift back.

Up the creek without the proverbial paddle, Mary turned to go to the front room and face the music if that was to happen.

"Hey, Michelle! I'm bored! Let's go out tonight."

Brian, it’s Brian, of course he would have a key. Mary's heart pounded in her chest at the thought of being with Brian as Michelle. What on earth do I do now, and what if Michelle calls him from Houston? How do I explain being here and in Houston?

As an intimate boyfriend would, Brian simply walked into Michelle's bedroom to catch Mary standing frozen in the crimson dress.

"Oh, schmoochie, is that your fuck me dress I see you slipping into. Something else on your mind perhaps, we don't have to go out, we could stay right here."

Oh no, I had no idea, but it makes sense, a bright crimson dress. Easy, girl, don't panic, there has to be a way out of this. "Perhaps later, lover, but let's go clubbing first, you know how that gets me going."

Mary had never been clubbing in her life, but she knew Brian and Michelle did. She had seen them, dressed to the nines, leaving the complex, but come to think of it she had never seen Michelle in this dress. So I guess it is a fuck me dress, meant to be taken off. Would that be so bad?

"Clubbing it is, and if you wear that I'll be hard all night long, babe. Cleo's it is then?" Brian moved to her and placed his hand on her hips, but they weren’t there long, and they slipped down to caress her ass.

It felt good, but Mary wasn't used to this as Michelle was, and she moved away. "Okay, Cleo's, should I change, I don't want you all over me until we get home." A night of clubbing, and coming back here and letting Brian make love to me. It will be a great memory, one I'll cherish forever.

"At Cleo's, I can't see it would matter what you came in wearing. You're funny, Michelle, worrying about what to wear to Cleo's."

Mary had never heard of Cleo's, and she didn’t understand Brian’s comment, but she trusted him, and it would not look good for her to nag at him with questions about a place Michelle had obviously been to. Maybe it's very casual, they don't care what you wear. The dress will be fine.

"Can you give me so time for makeup, or do we have to rush?"

"We have time. I'll be in the living room, and I'll put on some music."

Unsteady from all that had gone on, Mary felt good settling into Michelle's makeup table, although she just put on lip gloss and some touchup. Michelle is so naturally beautiful she doesn't need a lot of makeup.

Okay, so I go clubbing with Brian and we come back here and have great sex, which I'll remember my whole life. Then I have to sneak out if he stays the night, or else he'll wake up beside scary Mary. So I
sneak out in the middle of the night to go back to my apartment, but that doesn't really work either because he'll wake up in Michelle's apartment with her gone. One good thing though, she may be trying to call him at his place, so if he’s here at least he doesn't get those calls. More nervous and tense than she had been in years, Mary knew the stress could trigger the change back earlier than the twelve hour maximum.

WAIT JUST A DAMN MINUTE

I’ve been hearing and reading rumbling a lot lately that writers and readers alike are sick of writing and reading books that contain so called ideal heroes and heroines. Protagonists who approach perfection.

Is that true?

The point of this argument is that so few of us are like the people in these books it’s almost absurd to deify our protagonists that way and the heroes and heroines should be more like us.

Balderdash! Point well taken but is that what we really want? I’ll grant you that ninety-nine percent of our literary protagonists are properly represented by something like two or three percent of our actual population. But does that mean we want our heroes to suddenly become mainstream America?

Not I! I don’t want the guy that’s going to save the world or at least get the beautiful model looking like Ralph, the pot bellied, beer guzzling, balding mechanic @ Tony’s Garage. Nor do I want my heroine to be, Gladys, an average looking, beaten down whiff of a woman at a Walmart check out stand.

Face it, we don’t read fiction for reality. Hell, we don’t even get reality in Reality TV. Give me the babes and the hunks. We live through these people don’t we? Do we read to dwell on realty or to leave it far behind. Would you buy a book that showed Ralpf and Gladys, half dressed in each others arms on the cover? I know I wouldn’t and I’ll bet you wouldn’t either.

So let’s get real. We transform ourselves into our heroes. Let’s make them as handsome, beautiful, shapely and clever as we would like to be for when we read about them—we become them.

And Yes, with the exception of Loretta, in Love and Seduction in Las Vegas, who ages before our eyes as we cover thirty years of her life, my heroes and heroines are gorgeous.

NOW FOR A COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTION.

I’ve had a ton of books come out in the last three months from Legs to Tattoos and Love and Seduction in Las Vegas to Going Deep and from the upcoming By the Book to Bananaz. Check them out. Visit my brand spanking new website: http://deedawning.com

Here are a couple recently made book trailers on Legs and Getting Naked at the Hilton, both multiple five star reviewed, recommended read recipients.

LEGS a sensual novel by Dee Dawning from Dee Dawning on Vimeo.

Lastly I'd like to invite you to visit my brand spanking new web site. One that I had a lot of input and am quite proud of: Dee Dawning, Author Website

Make It Real

I’d like to talk about how we as authors put a little bit of ourselves into each of our stories. Sometimes it may be conscious on our part and at other times not, but it’s virtually impossible to not inject some of our own personality into our work. As for me, it’s mostly conscious.

When writing a character, we give each of them some subtle—or not so subtle—characteristic that identifies them somehow. Sort of like a fingerprint, if you will. In one of my works in progress I have my heroine use the phrase, “Hells Bells” quite often. This particular story is set in the south—of course—all my stories are southern--and that expression just seemed to fit not only my heroine, but the locale as well. And it just so happens to be a phrase I personally use quite a bit.

I can also honestly say I find it hard to write things through the eyes of my heroine that I don’t personally agree with or at least am able to stretch my imagination far enough to live with. And that’s another bit of personality thrown into the mix some of you may not have realized you do.

Probably one of the things we all do a great deal of though, is to write the hero exactly the way we want him. Personally, that is. lol My great Alpha males range from having “long, coal black hair dusted with the same silver as the stars” to “close-shaven head, giving him a forbidden look”. My heroes are never blonde or red-haired because I’m not personally attracted to fair- haired men.

So is it wrong to use so much of ourselves in our writing? No. If you can’t feel it, visualize it, and basically believe it—neither will the reader. So the realism you use from your own life experiences and preferences injects that much needed believability into your manuscript. My advice? Always go with what you know—what you feel—and you’ll have a winning story every time. Just forgo all the boring stuff in your life!

Thanks for reading. Till next time.

Tess MacKall

Blonde Moments, Brain Farts, and Missing Time... Aliens?

I've come to the conclusion that aliens have landed in my yard and stolen time. Not just once, but regularly. I'm missing time. Little bits here and there, but it adds up.



My kids, the last time I looked at them, were little. Now they're big. What's up with that? (aliens!)



My yard that I just mowed has weeds taller than me. (aliens again)



My house was clean. Really, it was. Sorry you missed it. Someone came in and messed it all up. (aliens or kids -- very similar in some respects)



The time I budgeted for writing is gone, too. Don't know where that went, it's just gone. (alien probings?) I think the aliens are going into my bank account, too. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I know the money isn't just walking away.



Call it whatever you'd like -- Blonde Moments, Brain Farts, Senior Moments, whatever -- I know it's aliens and they'll be coming for you soon, too. They've about tapped me out. ;)



Cassidy McKay

http://www.cassidymckay.com/



"I don't suffer from insanity... I enjoy every minute of it!"

What's taboo to you?

Throughout history, there have been many different societies, and each one has had its own taboos—sexual and other types as well. At the same time, there have always been people who went against those societal rules, either in the form of action or through literature and art. In the past (and even today), going against societal taboos could lead to shunning, imprisonment, or even death.

While the penalties for going against societal taboos aren’t usually as stiff today, at least in most of the world, taboos do still exist. And, like in the past, we can find people breaking them, even if it's only through reading. E-publishers and print publishers have books catering to many different tastes, from erotic romance to pure porn. Many different kinds of stories are finding an audience, in spite (or perhaps because?) of their envelope-pushing contents.

As a writer of m/m, this topic is very interesting to me. There are some people who won’t read m/m (or f/f). For others, the line may be drawn at BDSM, certain types of role play, or incest/twincest. My own personal “squicks” include very hardcore BDSM (especially when a woman is the sub) and certain fetishes. There are also a few sexual acts that I’ve read about that just don’t seem sexy to me, no matter how good the writer is. Fisting and "felching" come to mind (and if you don't know what felching is, you probably don't want to look it up...). For the most part, however, I’ll read whatever’s put in front of me. I like some things more than others, but there aren’t all that many things that upset me or gross me out.

What’s taboo to you?

Cassandra Gold
http://www.cassandragold.com/

The Massage

Sensual, sexual or just plain relaxing, you have to love the massage.

Doesn’t it feel good to come home and have your honey massage the day away?

Are you sitting there watching a movie, and your or their hand slides up from lower back to the shoulders, with a little extra pressure. It feels good.

Just jump out of a hot shower or bath, laying naked on the bed and…ooohhh just a bit lower honey, that feels soooo good. No you nasty minded *Grins* we’re talking massages here, but, it can turn sexual, woot!! LOL.

So where do you start to massage your sweetie.

At the head, temples and work down to the toes…At the shoulders, and work to the back…At the calves and work up to the shoulders…Or at the toes and work up?

I usually start at the neck and work down, then my way back up again, and when trying to relax the honey, it’s a nice deep tissue massage, which hits in all the right muscles.

Hey I must be doing something right, he hasn’t complained yet *Grins* and oh yes, he returns the favor.

Do you use oils, lotions or nothing at all?

Do you have a favorite? Scent or otherwise?

Have You Seen the Light Yet?

So we're nearing the end of summer, and what a wonderful summer it has been. Full of lazy days and cold cider and barbecues (yes, even in Ireland!). There've been a few trips away and I still have a vacation in Italy to look forward to before we hit September.

My favorite part of summer is the weekends--the long, hot weekends spent lounging in the back garden and enjoying the sun. Same as last year and the year before. But I've noticed one difference.

Usually, when I'm relaxing in the sun, I always have a book in my hand. A thriller, a romance, the lastest Harry Potter...But this year, I'm not flicking through the pages of a book. Instead, I have my computer in my lap and I'm enjoying the lastest e-books from some of the best erotic romance authors around.

I was thinking about this change while I was in bed last night (it was too hot to sleep). Of course, I still read the occasional paperback. Sometimes there's nothing better than holding a book in your hands. But these days, for the most part, I'm an ebook junkie! And for many reasons too.

I love that I can store all my ebooks on my computer. I love that I can buy an ebook in any length I want-novella, novel or super-short story. I love that ebooks offer so many themes that you just don't find in print books. I love that they're not super-expensive and that I don't have to leave the house to pick one up.

So what about you? Have you been converted yet? Are you still sticking with the paperbacks, or can I persuade you to try out a piece of the ebook pie?

I promise you, it tastes real good :)

Enjoy the week everyone!


Ava

Available Now at Cobblestone Press- The Vampire Oracle: Power

A vampire's promise lasts forever...

Website ~ Blog ~ MySpace ~ Yahoo Group

Favorite summer drinks!

As I post this, I am away for a trip in FL. I only just arrived yesterday and the weather was initially uncooperative, but got very nice in the afternoon.

Sipping away at the wine tastings in a little area known as Tarpon Springs, I couldn't help but reflect on my favorite summer beverages.

- Gin and tonics. These are delicious. I frequently make them with diet tonic water and LOTS of lime...lots of Tanqueray gin! Gotta balance that lime and gin. :D My grandma taught me how to make wonderful gin and tonics, and whenever I visit her in southern FL we always have some together.

- White wines. Specifically, pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc. Drinking these always reminds me of summer.

- Fresh squeezed lemonade. A nice classic.


What are some of your favorite summer drinks and cocktails? Share with me your recipes and loves!




Love & Magic,
-A

It's a grand summer party!!!!

I can hardly wait - the four day party starts today at noon Eastern and runs till Monday night at 9pm, at our Yahoo Group, of course!! It's been a lot of fun organizing the details and rounding up member authors and guest authors for the first annual Midnight Seductions Summer Bash - and there's been huge support, from Tess Mackall who made our stunning posters, from Ava Rose Johnson, Cassidy McKay and Amanda Burns who are each coordinating a genre day (I saved the best day, erotica, for myself!), all our authors who are contributing prizes and who've contributed to the grand prize, and we're still less than a year old as a group - our first birthday won't be till November!

Here's the schedule, noon to nine pm Eastern each day:
Friday, August 1 - Perfect Paranormals
Saturday, August 2 - Exquisite Erotica
Sunday, August 3 - Scintillating Suspense
Monday, August 4 - Fabulous Fantasies

I, for one, am awed by how our group has grown and matured and pitched in towards our common goal - delivering the goods on all our fabulous hot romance books to readers across the globe. Can't wait to see what we'll be up to next!