Yay! I get to be the first blogger on Naughty and Spice for 2010! Normally, a New Year’s Day post would be about setting goals or New Year’s Resolutions. Me? I want to talk about keeping things fresh.
One of the biggest challenges for me as an erotic romance writer is to find ways to make sex fun, unique, and sensual. I’m sure you’ve stumbled across writers who seem to use the same scenes over and over. Just change the names and the location, but the same Tab A into Slot B action. Blah!
On the other hand, I’m wary of writing about things I’m unfamiliar with. Take BDSM. Light bondage is fun to write, but when you get into the hardcore stuff, one of the biggest complaints I hear is that the author did not do her research. I wonder what “research” would entail, and more importantly, if my husband be interested in helping me conduct my “research”.
I’ve tended to be a little “vanilla” in the past, so I’m looking to shake things up in my writing this year. I’m on the prowl for sexy new ways to keep my erotic scenes from falling to a rut. A quick flip through the Karma Sutra may give me some ideas, even if some of the positions would require my characters to be double-jointed contortionists. Reading other authors always leads to some inspiration. Maybe I need to throw in a little kink (Spank me like you mean it!). But in the end, I keep an open mind and let the characters tell me what they’re game for (and what they’re not).
What are some of the best-written erotic scenes you’ve read? What kind of things would like to see more of? Leave a comment, and I’ll draw the name of a person to receive a copy of one of my ebooks from my backlist or an eARC of my upcoming Red Hot release from Samhain, Heart of a Huntress. Check out my website: www.cristamchugh.com
Andy Rodriguez has always desired his partner, Emily Hawkins, but the memory of his former lover’s murder five years ago still haunts him. Em doesn’t know he’s a shape-shifter, and he has no plans to drag her into his world where a war between true shifters and werewolves constantly wages. All that changes the night a werewolf attacks Emily. Available now.
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Heart of a Huntress, coming February 23, 2010, from Samhain
A legend…a myth…a high stakes game that could shatter them both.
The Kavanaugh Foundation, Book 1
As one of the oldest surviving vampire hunters in the Foundation, Lana has learned the toughest lesson: success comes at a price. So while the yummy stranger she bumps into at Caesar’s trips all her temptation switches, duty comes first. Better to be alone than to gamble with someone else’s heart—or her own. Although maybe a one-night stand won’t hurt…
Byron has set a one-way course for revenge against the Vegas vampire who murdered his uncle. When he collides with Lana, though, her scent calls to him like a potent aphrodisiac. The only explanation: she’s his true-mate. And the timing couldn’t be worse. He can’t afford any distractions—not to mention it’ll be hell convincing her to love someone who sprouts fur and fangs every full moon.
One drink together turns into a daring night of passion. Their erotic interlude ends abruptly with the news that Lana’s partner has been abducted by the very vampire Byron seeks. Now Byron has no choice. He must reveal what he is and risk a rejection that could spell his own destruction…
Warning: Contains a hot and steamy taxi ride, wild sex you want to sink your teeth into, and a shower at the Venetian that may need to be closed for repairs until further notice.
Amy S.
January 1st, 2010 at
7:49 am
Cat’s Eyes was a great book! Loved it! Heart of a Huntress sounds great. I can’t wait for it. I love shifter stories. I really liked the warning for it too.
I’m a guest blogger! « Tripping Along the Stumbling Blocks of Writing
January 1st, 2010 at
11:41 am
[...] I’m a guest blogger! January 1, 2010 Today, I’m guest blogging on Naughty & Spice about keeping my erotic scenes fresh and giving away a free ebook to a commenter (including an eARC [...]
Rhiannon Leith
January 1st, 2010 at
11:44 am
They sound wonderful, Crista, but then I love some paranormal.
For me, the intensity of an erotic romance isn’t so much about the kink involved, but the intensity of emotion that the author draws out of the characters. I love reading Kate Pearce, Portia da Costa, Jennifer Leeland and Madelynne Ennis.
Shelli
January 1st, 2010 at
11:47 am
Hi, Crista! Thanks for blogging at Naughty and Spice! I love love love that cover. I think some of the best erotic scenes I’ve read have a great build up and are just raw and go for it. I don’t necessarily (or really care for) much kink.
Crista
January 1st, 2010 at
12:01 pm
Great ideas! Thanks! Keep them coming!
I’m feeling a bit better about my “vanilla” scenes, now. I’ve always been hestiant about writing about things on the fringe, and I’m relieved to hear readers enjoy more of the emotional aspect of erotic scenes rather than the actual action.
I’m glad you enjoyed Cat’s Eyes, Amy! Thank you!
Thanks for the suggestions of some of your favorite authors, Rhiannon. I’ve read a couple of them, but I’m always looking for authors who do it well. I learn best from masters.
And thanks lettting me have the mic today, Shelli!
Raine
January 1st, 2010 at
12:15 pm
Probably the BEST light BDSM scene I’ve ever read was in the first two chapters of Emma Holly’s “Velvet Glove”. It was so riveting and evocative I was nearly stunned.
Rhiannon Leith
January 1st, 2010 at
12:17 pm
Gosh it would help if I could spell. That should have been Madelynne ELLIS! Brain appears to have shut down after the fun of last night.
Amie
January 1st, 2010 at
12:50 pm
Welcome Crista!!! I have to say that for us erotica writers I think it can also be easy for us to get a bit um…jaded? Not sure that makes sense! To me, the best scenes are the ones you feel in your gut, regardless of whether they’re vanilla or red hot flavored
And granted I’m biased because they’re my crit partners and/or writer friends but they’re such awesome writers that’s WHY they’re my CP’s or writer friends but I have to throw out Raine Weaver (she has a very evocative kinda old school style and her Incubus is one of the best paranormal stories I’ve ever read BAR NONE!), Jackie Barbosa (lush but with a delicate hand whether it’s a sex scene or not) and Emma Petersen who will make you like BDSM damnit and beg for more!!! LOL (I’m a pretty vanilla person but all three are gifted storytellers and Emma *shaking head* she can do hot and raw like nobody’s business!).
Jody F.
January 1st, 2010 at
1:48 pm
Happy New Year everyone! As for what I want to see….I want more physically imperfect characters. They too deserve their happy endings. I’ve gotten into the m/m genre so more of that would be great too.
Kate Diamond
January 1st, 2010 at
2:24 pm
Okay, this is very vanilla… but I don’t write erotic. I write series romance.
I am going to write sex in a non-traditional location. And maybe, for research purposes, I’ll have… oh, wait. I believe that’s what we call an over-share!
Sherry
January 1st, 2010 at
8:40 pm
Some of the best erotica scenes that I’ve read was in Jane’s Warlord by Angela Knight and One Dark Night by Jaid Black. Both of the books have been out for a while but they are still a couple of my favorite books.
Teresa D'Amario
January 1st, 2010 at
11:50 pm
Hey Crista,
Wow, the best erotic scenes. That’s tough. I read something recently, now having to remember what it was. I guess mine doesn’t really count, so let me think…..I think it’s Nalini Singh who does the best. Every one of her books has some spicy hot animal sex. Ok, maybe not animal sex in all of them, but most of them!!!! I love her stuff! All of it.
Crista
January 1st, 2010 at
11:50 pm
Thanks for the suggestions, Raine, Amie and Sherry! I’ll have to check those authors out!
And good idea, Jody. I like the idea of imperfect characters. M/M I’m is still something I’m not quite ready to try my hand at, but it’s something to keep in mind.
And non-traditional locations, eh, Kate? Have fun with the *research*!
Crista
January 1st, 2010 at
11:51 pm
I have Singh’s psy-changling series, Teresa, but I haven’t read them yet. Maybe I need to move them up on the TBR list.
Kinsey Holley
January 2nd, 2010 at
10:56 am
For more extreme, non-vanilla sex scenes, one of my favorite writers is Sasha White. JR Ward writes great sex scenes too.
My pet peeve with sex/love scenes is cheesy dialog. If a writer gets all the mechanics and descriptions right, and envisages the hottest situations I’ve ever heard of, but the H/H’s line’s make me laugh, then the scene is a fail for me. (Unless the dialog is supposed to be funny, of course – I love funny sex scenes).
I need to give Emma Holly another try. All I’ve read of hers is an historical and while it wasn’t bad, the sex was kinda weird and the characters were too modern, in my opinion, in their attitudes and speech.
I want Cat’s Eyes!
Boone Brux
January 2nd, 2010 at
12:51 pm
Oi, that is such a good question. I don’t write erotica and am always in awe of those that do. I have a hard enough time coming up with enough words for body parts that don’t sound vulgar, or like I’m trying to think up names for body parts. Good luck with keeping it fresh. It’s a nobel endeavor.
Crista
January 2nd, 2010 at
5:27 pm
According to random.org, Kate Diamond is the winner!! Congrats! And thank you to all the commenters for your insight. It will definitely help me as I get started on 2010’s work.
Kate, please email me at crista (at) cristamchugh (dot) com and let me know which e-book you want. You can choose from my three prior releases or my upcoming release, Heart of a Huntress. Go here for more info:
http://www.cristamchugh.com/index_files/Page329.htm