Whose Line is it Anyway?

Co-writing a book… erm… an erotic book.

Oh, the joys of someone seeing you misspell various parts of anatomy or accidentally add another breast to the equation. Yes, we’re talking about the wonderful world of co-writing erotic fiction. Writing with another author on regular fiction can be challenging enough. The addition of erotic bed play can add another level to the tangled web we writers weave.

Stumbling over the sometimes blunt prose needed to make a scene really work certainly takes writing relationships to new levels. Michelle and I decided to try our hand at co-writing together. Our first attempt is the (still going) free online story—The Raven. This, while it had a few hiccups, wasn’t something so out of the realm of possibility that we had trouble merging our minds. Scary thought. I know. Then, one of us got the bright idea to try our hand at writing an erotic together.

*blinks innocently, hoping Michelle doesn’t start pointing fingers*

The first stages were awkward. You know, that how many dates do you need to have before you end up in bed together kind of awkward.

*Michelle covers eyes*

“Mandy, the rumors will fly on the web now. You know that right?

*clears throat*

After several bottles of wine, a lot of nervous laughter and then a Nike—Just Do It—approach to life, we dug in and our first erotic joint title was born. After birthing more, we’ve found we can almost finish each other’s sentences. We also found that too many bottles of wine and late night phone conversations make for headaches and unreadable notes the next day. Oh. And Barbie Jeeps. Its best you not ask.

*Michelle gets duct tape in hopes of stopping any more equating books with birth talk from Mandy*

*Mandy dances out of the way, laughing*

Thanks for letting us take a minute to share with you, the joys of co-writing erotic fiction.

About the Authors

Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth are published romance authors. Michelle’s newest release, Recipe for Disaster, will be on bookshelves June 10th. Mandy’s newest release, Daughter of Darkness 3: Bella Mia, comes out the end of June. Check their websites for more details.

Michelle’s Links
Website, www.michellepillow.com
Blog, www.michellepillow.com/blog

Mandy’s Links
Website, www.mandyroth.com
Blog, www.mandyroth.com/blog

The Raven
Website, www.ravenhappyhour.com
Radio Show, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ravenradio

Mandy M Roth

www.mandyroth.com

Bella Mia—Now Available!

Michelle M Pillow

www.michellepillow.com

Recipe for Disaster—Now Available!

How I Stopped Living (and Writing) in the Past

I’ve always loved history. As a kid, I was fascinated by books set in the past, from the Little House books to the Caddie Woodlawn series to Summer of My German Soldier and Farewell to Manzanar. I devoured an entire set of biographies in my elementary school library about famous women like Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, Harriet Tubman, and Julia Ward Howe. I was a history nut.

When I got into my teens and first discovered romance novels, it didn’t take me long to discover historicals. I read early Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey, and Bertrice Small. My mother scoffed a bit at my fascination with what she alternately termed “bodice-rippers” or “soft-core porn,” but I begged to differ. I knew more about both American and European (especially English) history from reading those books than most kids my age knew about what happened last week. I figured it was not just fun, it was downright educational!

In any event, it seems only natural that when I started writing my own books, I gravitated toward historical romance. In point of fact, I remember telling my critique partners quite early on in our relationship that I would never write a contemporary romance because I couldn’t possibly invent a solid plot and conflict for one. All of my story ideas were set in the past, and I was sure I’d never be struck with the inspiration for anything “modern.”

Well, I’ve learned I should never say never. My first idea for a contemporary is actually still a work in progress, but the inspiration for that story (a presentation I saw at an RWA chapter meeting last year) seemed to unlock something in my head, and to my surprise, I found myself bombarded with plots and conflicts set in the here and now.

The first of these to see publication is The Gospel of Love: According to Luke, which comes out today from Cobblestone Press. It’s the first in a planned four novella series (though I have no idea when I’ll find the time to write the final three installments) starring four brothers, predictably named Luke, Matthew, Mark, and John.

Luke’s story came to me seemingly out of nowhere. I had gotten about two-thirds of the way through the Regency-set historical I was working on at the time (Wickedly Ever After) and hit a road block. I was casting around for something to fill in the time while I waited for the rest of Wickedly to “come,” and for some reason, the words “Gospel of Love” popped into my head. From there, the “according to” part seemed only natural, and suddenly I had a title and a protagonist and an angle (first person male narration). I sat down and started writing, and two weeks later, I had a 22,000 word novella that I loved. Lucky for me, Cobblestone loved it, too, and offered to publish it.

Because this book is such a departure from my two historical novellas at Cobblestone, I’m interested to see how readers react to it. I wonder if those who don’t normally read contemporaries will read this story because they’ve read one or both of my historicals. Similarly, I wonder if some folks who don’t typically take to historical will read Luke and like it enough to give my historicals a try. And then I wonder if they’ll think I suffer from multiple personality disorder! Especially since, in the wake of writing Luke, I’ve come up with a sci-fi futuristic series and a high concept for a paranormal series. I’m starting to wonder if there is any subgenre of romance I’ll leave untouched…

But enough about me. Let’s talk about my book! (Okay, technically, I guess that’s still about me, but humor me.

Blurb

Luke Finley, the eldest of four brothers, is a committed serial monogamist. He’s all for one woman at a time, but not one woman forever. He knows a lifetime of fidelity just isn’t in his genes. But when his latest girlfriend kicks him out–of his condo–the woman he’s always thought of as “one of the guys” turns out to be the one woman who can make him believe in forever.

 EXCERPT BELOW THE CUT:

(more…)

Happy Birthday Naughty and Spice!

Today I would like to give away a copy of both of my books to one person who comments on this post. I will pull a name and give the books away at the end of the night tonight PST. So at lets say 10 PM PST.

I know this is breaking the rules for the idea of a green giveaway… I simply don’t have any softcopies of my stories to give.

I started writing in 2004 and I found for me when I tried to think of all the rules when writing doing so simply restricted my creativity. It was really hard for me to suspend reality… I had to literally say to myself… anything can happen… Once I did that I was able to write a good story… it was of course my very first erotic story where this came into play NIGHT OF THE TAKING. NOTT is a paranormal so the “anything can happen” bit certainly held… Cat people with a once a year mating ritual…hummm the possibilities… kidnapping, public group sex, bondage, all these came into play.

The funny thing is… most of the inspiration for me came from reading a book called Hell Fire Clubs which is based on history. So what felt like breaking the rules for me was simply doing the nasty, dirty, things that others had accepted and done for ages.

My heroine in the second story in What She Craves… breaks society rules herself… being a widow…and a woman who is determined to prove she can please a man in bed she accepts and invitation to a naughty masked ball.

Since I have started writing and researching all the different forms of sexuality for my books, and for my own knowledge and enlightenment, Blush, doors have opened up in my mind. I have found… that breaking the rules for me seems to be simply about learning about things, expanding my knowledge, and coming to grips with how I honestly feel about them. In doing so, in breaking down those barriers and the rules I had in my mind, I discovered I am a bit kinky, and… well damn… very sexual… and well not at all who I was when all those damn rules were in place. I am simply more me.

But see… all of what I learn, no matter if I personally like what I discover or not, is creative influence in my writing.

Lacy

http://www.lacydanes.com

*Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a copy of What Happens in Vegas or anything from her backlist!*

In some comments about Stripped, I’ve seen references to Dahlia as a sex worker or a stripper. Now, the thing is, I have no beef with strippers or sex workers and if I’d wanted to make Dahlia one, I would have. But as I explain in the novella and as I’ll do here - burlesque dancing is not sex work, nor is it stripping.

From Wikipedia: With its origins in nineteenth century music hall entertainments and vaudeville, in the early twentieth century burlesque emerged as a populist blend of satire, performance art, and adult entertainment, that featured strip tease and broad comedy acts that derived their name from the low comedy aspects of the literary genre known as burlesque.

In burlesque, performers, usually female, often create elaborate sets with lush, colorful costumes, mood-appropriate music, and dramatic lighting, and may even include novelty acts, such as fire-breathing or demonstrations of unusual flexibility, to enhance the impact of their performance.

Put simply, burlesque means “in an upside down style”. Like its cousin, commedia dell’arte, burlesque turns social norms head over heels. Burlesque is a style of live entertainment that encompasses pastiche, parody, and wit. The genre traditionally encompasses a variety of acts such as dancing girls, chanson singers, comedians, mime artists, and strip tease artistes, all satirical and with a saucy edge. The strip tease element of burlesque became subject to extensive local legislation, leading to a theatrical form that titillated without falling foul of censors.

It is absolutely sexy. The dancing is sexy and it’s meant to titilate. But it’s an accentuation of the feminine, a play on sensuality rather than raw sex. It’s not better or worse than stripping, it’s just different.

No pole in sight. No lap dances. This is a strip tease - as in no actual nakedness - it’s the art of the tease.
(more…)

Have you been watching the Cover Café 2007 contest?

Kensington’s Aphrodisia line has become famous for its cover art. When I heard about the contest, I linked over there to see which Aphrodisia covers made it into the various categories.

I didn’t find any Aphrodisia covers in the Alternate Reality category, which was the first one I looked at. I wasn’t too surprised because the Aphro covers specialize in capturing that “falling in lust” moment or even the washboard abs and almost bare hips moment—but they don’t have dragons or wizards or other otherworldly accouterments on their covers. (I have to admit I voted for Magic Study, although Belladonna was hard to resist.) Sharon Page’s covers would have looked good here, though. They’re very sexy, and you definitely know you’re getting a vampire book when you see the cover art.

I wasn’t expecting to find any Aphrodisia titles in the Romantic Suspense category–even though some of us write erotic romances with suspense elements, they’re just elements. (I voted for Abandon, just barely resisting Hide.)

The Two-cover category has books with 2-part covers (a front with a second image set right inside), and I don’t think Kensington makes these for any Aphrodisia books, not even Kate Douglas, who gets raised letters and gold foil. (I am NOT green with envy—okay, I am, but it’s a pretty green, not unlike that found on the cover of Magic Study. And I’m still happy for Kate.) So, I looked at the covers and couldn’t decide. I didn’t vote in this category.

When I came to the Historical category, I thought I might find one of Noelle Mack’s covers. Not only is her cover art beautiful, but she’s garnered at least one 4 and a half star review from RT. (Again, I’m Magic-Study green with envy, but congrats to you, Noelle!) But no, nothing from Aphrodisia here. Drat.

I clicked to Contemporary, knowing we must have some great art on this page. Thigh High? Gorgeous cover. Sexy Beast? Oh, yeah. Lush? Dear God, Yes. Bound to Ecstasy? Should definitely be there. But none of them were. Damn. What’s wrong with these people? Lush and Thigh High are two of the most breathtaking covers of all time?

And then I got to the Worst Cover category, and I thought I’d fallen into the next dimension. Look at the covers they thought sucked. Lacy Danes, What She Craves? It’s beautiful and raw and edgy. Maybe not to everyone’s taste, but definitely not It Happened One Wedding, which doesn’t just border on goofy—it defines it. When Cassie Ryan got her cover for Ceremony of Seduction, I was green with envy and there wasn’t anything pretty about it. The cover is romantic and lush. The couple exuded not only lust, but romantic love. I want to be that woman. What was the nominating committee thinking? They were on crack. Big Spankable Asses? Well, the girl on the cover has a spankable ass, but it sure as hell ain’t big. So maybe it got nominated for lack of logic. But look at Kink. The cover art oozes edge. Fishnet, handcuffs, and a suggestively placed title. But the book is about kink, for god’s sake. Please.

But okay, I’m biased. I write for Aphrodisia. I love the cover art (with the exception of a certain pair of boots and a particular cover that is the exact color of a Good N Plenty box). So maybe I’m in denial about the quality of the cover art. So I start looking on the web for what other people are saying about it.

Robin at DearAuthor said: Well, I thought some of the “best” nominees belonged in the “worst” category (and vice versa for a couple of the worst noms), but it was still fun.

Jennifer McKenzie said: Wow!!! Some of these covers were great. The “worst” category wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I’ve seen some stinkers compared to those.

Evie Byrne said: Also, I protest Kink’s inclusion in the Worst. I think that design is very fresh, very strong–and edgy, yes, but heck, the novel is called “Kink.” What’s it supposed to look like?

And Robin added: I’m still trying to figure out, though, whether I like or hate the Big Spankable Asses title and cover.

So, I’m not the only one who thinks the cover committee is smoking crack. Still, looking at the covers was fun. Next year, I want to be part of that nominating committee—not tat they’ll let me because I’ll be nominating all Aphrodisia books.

So what covers would you like to see in the 2008 contest?

She’s on Top would be among my nominees for Contemporary. Sins of the Night gets my vote for Alternate Worlds. (Of course, I have to nominate my own—She and Running Wild). Dark Master and Nailed are also pretty damned hot, too. Let me know your thoughts.

*You can find a lot of the Aphro covers on our blog.

What they don’t tell you when you start writing…

One of the most common questions people ask me during an interview situation is about my advice for aspiring writers. What tips would I give to anyone starting out writing?

Aside from the advice to read, read and read some more and to sit down and write, my best tip is to exercise on a regular basis, because writing and all the sitting involved during the writing of a book, leads to bottom spread.

Yes, sadly true….take it from one who knows. It even bears repeating. Beware the dratted bottom spread.

“Exercise?” you cry. “I don’t have time to exercise.”

Yes, I can hear your words of disbelief echoing around the globe now.

The thing is, bottom spread is insidious. It creeps up on a writer and suddenly…wham! Shaking head. It’s not a pretty sight.

Luckily I have a solution to halt bottom spread. One word, and no, it’s not a dirty one.

Exercise.

I’m all about multi-tasking whenever possible so here are some ways to add exercise to your routine without too many radical changes.

1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
2. Park your vehicle in one central place and walk to different shops/destinations to complete your chores.
3. Walk your children to school instead of driving them.
4. Go for a walk after dinner. Take your children and husband wi th you and make it into family time.
5. Explore some of the National and State parks during weekends and holidays.
6. Walk barefoot on the beach.
7. Take the dog for a walk.
8. Do the housework – not my personal favorite, but I’m just laying out all the options!
9. Go dancing or put on some music at home and shake your groove thing.
10. Use that gym membership.
11. Drag the old bike out of storage.
12. Take up a new sport.
13. Try gardening – grow your own flowers and vegetables.
14. Fancy a swim? My local pool has water aerobics, which actually tur ned out to be a lot of fun. Swim or walk up and down the pool.

As well as a great way to combat weight gain, regular exercise helps with concentration. It gives you time to think about your characters and plot. Yes, it’s that multi-tasking thing again. Exercising is me-time and although you mightn’t think so at first, it’s also fun. So get to it! Sweat those toxins out and you’ll find you’ll feel better. You might even live longer and gain in self-confidence. And above all, you’ll stop that nasty bottom

spread!

What do you think about exercise? Do you like it or hate it? Do you exercise? Pssst – do you suffer from the dreaded bottom spread?

Shelley Munro lives in New Zealand and loves to write. She was horrified to discover the truth about bottom spread and has worked hard to combat said problem ever since. Shelley likes walking the dog and cycling but hates housework. Her most recent release is Wanderlust, a contemporary tale of travel through India. It combines all of Shelley’s favorite things: ex1otic location, love, and lashings of intrigue and murder. Wanderlust is available from Cerridwen Press as of yesterday! You can visit Shelley’s website at http://www.shelleymunro.com

I’m delighted to be today’s guest blogger. I write sexy romances for Kensington Aphrodisia – and I owe it all to two women.

Let’s start with Grace Metalious who, back in 1956, wrote a book called Peyton Place. Is anyone old enough to remember that book? Or the movie (1957, starring Lana Turner, nominated for a ton of Academy Awards) or TV show (1964-69, with Ryan O’Neal and Mia Farrow – the first primetime soap opera)?

My book club just read Peyton Place and I learned all sorts of interesting things. It sold over 10 million copies and is the 4th biggest selling novel of all time. But, more relevant to my blog today, is the fact that when it was published it was considered to be utterly scandalous. It created a whole new – and shocking – image of small-town life, rife with sex and secrets. The women of Peyton Place were the original desperate housewives, and the town harboured illegitimacy, adultery, rape, abortion and murder.

Peyton Place was a “dirty book,” but it was also an exposé of the secrets small-town America had kept buried. Grace Metalious was America’s “naughty girl” but her book had a huge popular appeal. It opened the door for commercial fiction that wasn’t “nice” and “proper.” It said, basically, that sex is an intrinsic part of normal life, and that women as well as men are sexual beings.

And remember, this was the 1950s. The days of white picket fences and Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best and The Donna Reed Show. The days when, if a bedroom scene was shown at all, the man and woman were husband and wife, buttoned up to the neck in PJs, and sleeping in separate twin beds. All I can say is, hurray for Grace!

Now, fast forward to the mid 1990s when a woman named Candace Bushnell wrote a column called Sex And The City, which became a book and an amazingly successful TV show. As with Grace, Candace wrote about a community – this time not a small town (or is it, in its own way?) but Manhattan. And within that community she focused on four female friends who did what young women had never done quite so openly before: experimented with sex and love, and got together to laugh, cry and dish explicitly about it. Again, a writer shattered the conventions and notched up another triumph for the liberation of women – and of female characters in fiction.

Okay, I’m no groundbreaker like either of them, but I love writing about my own Awesome Foursome, four 20-somethings who live in my own wonderful community – Vancouver, BC. These girls are at that magical but stressful age when you try to figure out who you are as a woman. They’re discovering their sexuality, figuring out whether they want sex or long-term love, learning how to separate from their parents without completely disrespecting them, working out how to balance career with personal live. And they’re doing it all as best friends, the same way Carrie Bradshaw and her friends did in Sex And The City. The fourth and final book in my series was released last week. “She’s on Top” is the story of Rina Goldberg, a woman with body-image issues who reconnects with her first love and discovers he’s turned out to be a true hottie. I’m thrilled to bits that it’s an RT Top Pick and has garnered a lot of other fabulous reviews.

I’d love it if you checked out my books (complete with trailers, excerpts, review quotes, and notes on how each originated) at my website: http://www.susanlyons.ca. If you hop on over and enter my monthly contest and say you came from Naughty & Spice, you’ll be entered in a contest to win a copy of “She’s on Top”. I’ll pick the winner on Saturday, April 5.

What I’d like to chat about with you today is: what books, movies, TV shows really rocked your world when you were young? Which were the ones that were scandalous in some fashion – that opened your eyes and made you see the world around you in a different way?