Annette Mori's Blog, page 28
June 21, 2019
Double Standard
It has taken me a long time to feel comfortable admitting to several things. I don’t believe for one second that the sexual revolution really took hold in the sixties and continued on. It didn’t. Not really. Let me share what I’ve discovered.
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One, I very much enjoy reading sex scenes in the lesbian books I almost exclusively read now. Before I discovered lesbian romance, I read straight romance and still enjoyed reading the sex scenes. I didn’t know I had another choice. Don’t get me wrong, sex scenes are not a must-have. I do read fade to black and enjoy those books as well.
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Two, there is nothing wrong with masturbation. Not one thing. Frankly, I am appalled that I ever bought into the double standard that masturbation is perfectly normal for boys and men but not for girls and women.
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We do not have to stand idly by and watch as efforts to send us back fifty years continue. What we permit, we promote. I know that writing blogs, books with social meanings, and posting on Facebook is not the be all end all. But, it is something. Yeah, I sneak in social messages in my books that I hope people read. Want to see what I am most passionate about, give a few of my books a try! Links are below.
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
June 14, 2019
Competition….
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This week we have been having a lot of fun in the Lesbian Books, Writers, Readers group with their weekly giveaway. For those of you who have been following the banter, KC Luck, Caren Werlinger, Kris Bryant and I all have books to give away. The way the giveaway is structured is to simply cast a vote for the book you are interested in winning. I wanted to generate some interest so I did a live reading. My post caused KC to respond and then we were in competition mode. Let the games begin!
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Now…go out and plunk your vote on all four books because why the hell not? Wouldn’t you want a chance to win all of them (unless you already own them)? And…if you don’t win, I sincerely hope you will consider purchasing a copy of all four! As usual…the links are below.
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A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
Darkness Falls Bittersweet Garden Listen
June 7, 2019
Whet or Wet Your Whistle
Last week I was talking about posting little clips of my new book to wet everyone’s whistle and wondered about the origins of that phrase. Of course, I did a little research on that for this blog. Apparently, whet your whistle and wet your whistle have two different origins. Who knew? Here’s what I discovered.
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Whet is a derivative of whetting originally attributed to the sharpening of tools on a whetstone. So, to whet someone’s appetite literally meant sharpening their appetite. Hmmm… can that tie into my intended use of the phrase by sharpening people’s interest in my books? Maybe.
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The other phrase wet your whistle predates whet your appetite. In the early days whistle meant throat or voice and wet your whistle meant taking a drink (usually of the alcoholic variety). So…could this also apply to books? Sure, why not? Take a long, cool, drink of my book and satisfy your thirst. How’s that for a wonderful analogy?
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Honestly, I do believe either of these phrases could apply. What we are really talking about is enticing someone to eat, drink and be merry. For me, books are entertainment. Probably a more value-added form of entertainment than going out for a drink or nice meal. Don’t tell my wife this, but I would much rather spend my money on books than a nice dinner. And…for the record, I love good food. I might even be considered a foodie. Yet, I still prefer a good book on a Friday night.
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So…for those of you love to be entertained…let me just whet or wet your appetite/whistle one more time…Here’s a little steamy clip for you. (I could not resist including this picture of an actual boob whistle).
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Mandie nudged the expensive black material forward, carefully removing the dress. She caressed each shoulder, until the gown lay in a pool at Gail’s feet. Gail marveled at how sexy she felt in a matching pair of lace undies and bra. Black, of course, to match the dress. Mandie took a few seconds and stared. Gail felt adored. She couldn’t get over the feeling that Mandie looked at her as if she were a newly discovered treasure that only she had the tools to uncover.
Mandie took painstaking care, as she removed Gail’s undergarments. In the same excruciatingly unhurried manner as with the dress, a feathery caress removed her bra, then her thong. Mandie’s own dress still hung open in the back.
“Will you do me a favor?” Gail asked.
Mandie cocked her head. “What?”
“When you take my picture, will you do it nude?”
“Okay.” Mandie slipped off her dress. Wearing only her underwear and stilettos, she reached for the bra’s clasp.
“Wait. I have an addendum. That’s an architectural term for a change or correction in a plan. You look scrumptious right now. Stay like that.” Gail kicked off her shoes, sending them flying to the right of the bed. “So, where would you like me?”
“Get on the bed, and I’ll position you,” Mandie ordered.
Gail pulled the covers down and eased onto the bed. A sudden burst of cool air surged into the small space and flowed over Gail’s body, eliciting an immediate reaction. Her nipples erupted into two tiny points. Pulling the sheet partially over her body, she sought a small measure of warmth, but soon found the air around her had lost that temporary chill.
Gail was too distracted by Mandie’s enraptured blue eyes and the sound of the first click of the shutter to consider why TM allowed a camera into Intermediate. She felt her lips form the hint of a smile accompanied by something intangible. Mandie took that moment to capture her expression.
Mandie gently removed the covers. She arranged Gail in an asymmetrical pose. One arm was stretched upward toward the headboard, while her other arm and hand were provocatively resting on her thigh. Gail’s finger hovered mere inches from her triangle of curly, brown hair. Mandie tucked one leg under the other.
“Can you turn so you’re barely on your side?” Mandie stepped back. Her scrutiny reminded Gail of an artist surveying her masterpiece. Mandie raised the camera to her eye. Gail heard the rapid clicking sound, and her own level of excitement ratcheted to the engineered sky. She marveled at the view revealing thousands of tiny points of light.
Gail had the best of both worlds. She could sleep outside in the open air, face to the stars, and didn’t have to bother with the elements or flying insects that would disturb her peace and quiet. Even though Mandie was definitely in the driver’s seat, Gail wondered if she had unconsciously added this small detail to the evening’s ambiance.
“Move your hand between your thighs and part your lips for me, but keep the other arm stretched upward. I promise I won’t take a close up, but oh my God, that is so…I don’t even have the words. Glorious, sexy perfection. Can you stroke yourself?”
“I can, but I prefer your fingers or tongue.”
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If the above clip does not get you to stop what you are doing and click the link below to buy this book, I give up! LOL. Seriously, I hope you will take a chance. This was a super fun book to write and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! You know the drill, simply click the links below!
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A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
May 31, 2019
Consistency
There isn’t 100% consistency with my writing. I don’t write in a specific genre. I don’t make my characters a specific age. Some books are clearly better than others if you look at the reviews! I don’t market in the same way every time.
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But, in other ways, I am very consistent. I have a unique style…quirky and in whatever sub-genre, it is always the light version. Light BDSM, light Sci-fi, light fantasy, light dystopian. I think even my historical romance was a bit light. The other area that I am incredibly consistent about is my nervousness whenever a book is about to release. Lately, with good reason.
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I’m not going to lie, it’s been tough of late. Gone are the days where I can expect to break even or rather for my publisher to break even. That fact has caused a crisis of faith for me and led me down the path of writing contemporary romances of late. I’m trying to play a bit to the market. In all honesty, that is super hard for me. I want to add the fantasy or quirk component. It’s my happy place.
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A Window to Love will be a big test because the book is predominantly a contemporary romance. Sure there is a tiny little twist to it, but it’s mostly romance. Coming off the heels of a 100% contemporary romance that did well, I hope this is the winning formula. The difference between A Window to Love and Artist Free Zone is that one was offered to Kindle Unlimited and one is not (yet). It will be interesting to see if that inconsistency makes a difference.
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I really love the premise of this story. It’s a lesbian version of Made in Heaven. I do enjoy turning classic romances into the lesfic variety. We’ll see what others think of it! The book is out tomorrow! Here is one final scene to hopefully wet your whistle. Where does that saying come from? Next blog….
Tap, tap, tap.
“Welcome to Intermediate for Fluids,” the woman’s voice boomed inside the room. “Please select a seat, and I’ll explain everything.”
Mandie led Gail to the last row of seats and selected the bright, lime green and royal-blue chairs at the end of the row on the left. She was trying not to panic and to lend Gail the support she needed.
“Fluids?” Gail raised her eyebrow. “Does that mean what I think it means? Is it possible that’s the term for anyone who is not strictly heterosexual? How politically correct and all-inclusive of them.”
The woman narrowed her eyes at Gail. “This is not a joke, Ms. Forrester.” She pointed down. “I want to inform you we do not exclude anyone who meets the definition of not heterosexual. We needed to find one word that would encompass everyone in this realm. Frankly, LBGTQQIAA doesn’t work for us. Besides, y’all keep adding letters. How are we to keep up?”
Mandie felt the need to take the focus off Gail. In for a penny, in for a pound. She raised her hand. “How come we don’t get our own Intermediate? You know Intermediate for Lesbians. I’m not being discriminatory here. I just think our own space might be nice.”
The woman sighed. “It’s been suggested. We’re looking into it. For now, you’ll have to be okay with Intermediate for Fluids. I’d rather we not continue talking politics. We have too much to cover and can’t afford to get sidetracked. Can you please hold your questions until I finish?”
“You’re supposed to be listening to Cornstalk, not challenging her,” Gail whispered. Playfulness curled around the edges of her voice.
“Cornstalk?” Mandie pushed the word out of the corner of her mouth.
“I’m allowed to give her and Gray Hair nicknames, because neither properly introduced themselves. Besides, even if they revealed their names, I wouldn’t remember them. Don’t you think she looks like a cornstalk with that tuft of hair on top?”
Mandie giggled.
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I learned very recently about another book that was just released and should be available on Amazon soon, Gold Star Chance by CJ Murphy. CJ exploded on the scene and won a Goldie for her debut novel and talk about consistency…she’s consistently written another solid book titled, The Bucket List and because of her consistent quality writing, I know her third book is on my to buy list!
Sheriff Chance Fitzsimmons, retired smoke jumper, turned law enforcement officer, and her K9 partner, Zeus, maintain law and order in Tucker County, West Virginia. Dr. Jax St. Claire has returned determined to start again as she takes over her retired uncle’s veterinary practice. Thirty years ago, they parted, the embers lying dormant until they run into each other. Can the flames rekindle as they grab for their ‘gold star chance’ at love once again?
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I do hope you will consider checking out A Window to Love. For all you romantics out there, this is an epic love story. The link to this new novel is not available at the time of this blog, but I know you’ll be able to get there by clicking on my Amazon page tomorrow!
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May 24, 2019
Binge Worthy
I enjoy bingeing on TV shows and serial novels. Part of the draw for me is learning how a favorite character’s life turns out. Even when a book has a happily ever after epilogue, I know that life continues for the main characters and I am compelled to read more. It’s like Christmas when I discover a new nugget of information in the next book.
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I’ve been binge reading Max Ellendale’s books including all the ones she advertises as being “in the same universe.” I love that phrase. It got me to thinking of some of my books that are in the same universe and others that I’ve decided are not really in the same universe, but maybe in the same galaxy. See how I weaved in a new saying?
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So….what do I mean about in the same galaxy? Sometimes, I like to sneak in a cameo, or weave a mention of a character from one book into a different novel. The characters don’t have the same prominence as when I purposely combine characters from different books into a new book, like I’ve done with The Book Witch. Instead, I simply sneak them into a book. I’m not sure if a reader realizes I’ve done this or not.
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For example, have any of you noticed that Codee from The Termination is mentioned in Unconventional Lovers? Or, how about how in The Book Addict, Elle sends Tanya into a scene from The Dream Catcher? Of course, later I combine the two series and have a character from Asset Management and The Organization come to life in The Book Witch. But…I also have Tanya have a mini fantasy about Val from The Organization while she’s reading that book.
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My latest novel has Lara Beck from The Ultimate Betrayal make a cameo appearance. In this novel, the reader learns one more piece of information about Lara and Dillon, a character from the free short story, Broken Toe, Mended Heart. The short was sent out as a thank you to my mailing list subscribers. Someone challenged me to write a BDSM short and I can’t resist a challenge. I created this short to advance the story of Lara Beck just a smidgeon. I’m going to share a snippet, but not reveal the new piece of information….Hopefully that will entice you to get A Window to Love when it comes out on June 1st!
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Mandie’s mouth hung open, as she realized Seattle’s power couple and two of the richest women in the country were standing in front of her. Photos didn’t do either of them justice.
“Oh…um…it’s…uh an honor to meet you both.”
“You’ve done it again, hon,” Dillon said.
“Done what?” Lara answered.
“Rendered someone speechless.” Dillon threw her head back and laughed.
“I feel confident it was you who rendered the lovely Mandie speechless.” Lara turned her penetrant gaze back to Mandie. “I’d like to purchase the piece in the far back room and any others in the series, if you have more. I suspect there is quite a story behind that photo.”
“I don’t know if there are others, I haven’t gotten around to developing the rest of the film. The canister was damaged and the drug store…uh…declined to develop the other prints.”
A salacious grin formed on Lara’s beautiful face. “Now that sounds far too tempting not to explore. I’ll buy a photo lab and personally see to the development of those negatives, as long as I have first crack at the pictures.”
Mandie could feel the color drain from her face. “I’d better develop them myself and take a peek before I offer them up for sale.” Intuitively, she knew they were for her eyes only. She wasn’t sure when that insight had come to her, but there was not a doubt in her mind those pictures would never be a part of any future show. She’d never sell them to anyone.
If y’all want to see how I put characters into the same galaxy or you want the free short story, you know the drill, just click on the links below. If you do join my mailing list, let me know with a quick e-mail or pm and I can send the short to you pronto!
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Join Mailing List
Artist Free Zone still on Kindle Unlimited and cheap at $4.99.
Artist Free Zone US – Help Support these Amazing Charities – It Gets Better and The Trevor Project
The Book Witch on Amazon Australia
The Book Witch on Amazon Canada
The Book Witch on Affinity Rainbow Publications
Don’t forget about Love Forever, Live Forever FREE on Kindle Unlimited…take advantage of this! Cheap way to read one of my books!
Love Forever, Live Forever Link
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
Sign–Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List
Affinity Author Page Amazon Author Page
May 17, 2019
Anniversaries…
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Sometimes anniversaries are wonderful and other times, they are not. A huge anniversary came and went—without any fanfare. To be fair, this isn’t the kind of anniversary most people would like to celebrate or mark with a cupcake.
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So why am I remembering something that happened over 2 years ago—April 14, 2017, to be exact. The answer is quite simple. I am doing the final edit for A Window to Love and the very first scene is alarmingly close to what occurred. I’ve changed some of the details to fit the story, but I’m sure if some of the players ever read this book, they would recognize the part they played. Of course, I had to make up a cheating girlfriend, because a loving wife did not work with the love story I wanted to create!
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Over the years, writing has been extremely cathartic for me. I started writing this book on the very same day I was terminated. Yes, that was the event that occurred on April 14, 2017.
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In the book, the main character jumps from a plane and something momentous happens as a result of her skydiving adventure. I did look into jumping from an airplane and I am deathly afraid of heights. That is how nuts I was at the time. I don’t think I adequately captured the devastation I felt. It is harder than you think to write about something so personal. Fiction provides cover for the emotions, but clearly not enough.
Remarkably, the story has my signature humor and definitely a lot of lightness to it. Of course, it also has the mandatory happy ending. Not the happy ending that occurred in my life, a different one. Although the very first scene was plucked from my miserable life at the time, the rest is pure fiction. I want to share not the first scene, but the scene where the main character does her crazy skydiving thing. I might still decide to do this even if my wife thinks it’s the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever had!
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When the plane reached the death-dive altitude, the experienced divers scooted along the floor like on some conveyor belt. Butt dusting. That must be how they keep the plane clean. She shook her head at her ridiculous thought. She felt the winds of death swirl inside the small space, whipping her ponytail around to sting her face. Buckled to her tandem partner, she wondered if the rank smell was her own nervous perspiration or his questionable hygiene. He was a scruffy twentysomething the skydiving unit insisted was the best, and she had accepted their assessment. Lately, her judgment had been far from rational. A droplet of sweat tickled between her breasts and traveled down the crevice inside her bra.
She glanced at her white-knuckled grip on the parachute strapped to her chest. There was absolutely nothing else to hold on to. No “oh crap” straps anywhere. Nothing for brand-new divers to hang on to when their life depended on remaining inside the tiny, tin holding cell. Everyone else had already left the plane with maniacal grins plastered to their faces. She was officially in hell. She’d made the decision; she couldn’t blame this on anyone else.
With a small tug on her shoulder straps, her scruffy partner yelled over the wind and loud motor of the plane. “We have to go now, Ms. Carter.”
Mandie slammed her eyes shut and gave the thumbs up signal she’d been taught. She reluctantly let Scruffy Man push her along the floor of the plane and ultimately into a swan dive into the unknown. There was no pool of cool, crisp water to cushion their fall. She imagined his body connected to her like a turtle’s shell. His hands gently moved to her arms, pulling them out so she could get the most from the dive. He was offering her the experience of flying through the air before the abrupt uplift when the parachute engaged. After a few seconds, she felt him fumbling around. That’s when she knew.
Her tandem guide was frantically trying to move them closer to the copse of trees. What was the point? She would soon expire, strapped to a smelly turtle dude. Maybe the impact wouldn’t hurt and she would instantly die. Mandie would have preferred dying in her sleep, cuddled up to a woman she’d spent the better part of her life with. She sighed. She’d never found her other half. The first branch hurt like a bitch.
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A Window to Love comes out on June 1st for those who are interested. This was both fun and cathartic to write, so I hope you will check it out! I’ll probably do a live reading in another week or so…so stay tuned. In the meantime, I have 15 other books for you to check out. You know the drill, just click the links below.
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Join Mailing List
Artist Free Zone still on Kindle Unlimited and cheap at $4.99.
Artist Free Zone US – Help Support these Amazing Charities – It Gets Better and The Trevor Project
The Book Witch on Amazon Australia
The Book Witch on Amazon Canada
The Book Witch on Affinity Rainbow Publications
Don’t forget about Love Forever, Live Forever FREE on Kindle Unlimited…take advantage of this! Cheap way to read one of my books!
Love Forever, Live Forever Link
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
Sign–Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List
Affinity Author Page Amazon Author Page
May 10, 2019
Power Trip…
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Normally, this time of year I write some kind of ode to my mother who passed away seven years ago. This year I will touch on my mother within the context of this subject. However, I felt somewhat compelled to write about power because it was on my mind all week.
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A tweet about a sociology professor who decided to run a two-week experiment was so alarming to me I kept thinking about it in many different contexts. The professor decided to see what happened if she adopted a white male privilege style both at home and in her work life. The astonishing thing about the experiment is that it worked. She got results. A link to the article is below:
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I cannot even express how profoundly disturbing that was to me, but I had to accept those results. I began thinking about all the different instances where a power trip and autocratic style does indeed work. In some of those instances, there may even be solid reasons for choosing that style.
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My mother was a kind and loving soul. And yet, like all Italian mothers, she was the matriarch and the one who ruled the roost. As children, if we were offered a cookie or piece of candy, we would look to my mother first before accepting the offering. She would nod and smile once. If offered a second piece, we would get bug eyes. Her non-verbal cue meant, no way in hell should you accept that additional cookie. Her authority was quick and efficient.
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A favorite story in our family is when my father was joking with his grandson, asking him who the boss in the family was. With as much incredulity as a four-year-old can manage, he exclaimed, “Grandma is.” He looked at everyone as if they were nuts. Because, of course, everyone should know that. My dad could almost hear the, “you dummy,” at the end of his response.
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As the years progressed, more of her natural teaching style came out, because we were evolving into responsible adults. Autocracy was no longer necessary. If I am honest, I have to admit the power differential between mother and child or father and child is probably necessary. Sometimes to keep a child from running into the road or placing their hands on a stove, efficiency is queen. There is not time to discuss the options or provide a prolonged teaching moment.
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This got me to thinking about how power differentials work in life. The military is built on the necessity for soldiers to follow orders without question. For the most part, this is as necessary as intervening when your young child is about to step into traffic. And yet, we have numerous instances in history where following orders without question did not absolve those soldiers from committing immoral acts.
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The same can be held true for the industry I work in. When the physician gives an order, nurses are taught to follow that order. That is the nature of the power differential at work in healthcare. Like it or not, there is a hierarchy. Very few nurses have the strength to question orders. This is changing ever so slowly, but that change is necessary. The reality is that we are all human and capable of mistakes. A life can be saved just as easily by questioning an incorrect order, as it can by following one in a trauma situation. The key is balance.
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I don’t like acknowledging that acting like a privileged white male works. It goes against everything I believe in. I also believe that while in the short term this might be effective, I worry a great deal about the long term and the fallout from that style of leadership. Why do dictators and autocrats continue with their abhorrent behavior? Because it works. Fear works. Take a good hard look at what is happening in the US and around the world. That is all the evidence we need. But what will be the ultimate cost? Our humanity? Our long term survival? There is no such thing as a benevolent dictator. Our nation is not a small child.
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I respected my mother and wanted desperately to please her as a young child and later as an adult. Although it hurt a lot when I came out to her and she reacted so strongly, we worked through it. Ultimately, my mother was not a benevolent dictator. She was a teacher at her core. She was also patient, loving, and the product of her own Catholic upbringing. Talking through the issues, versus declaring an edict I was never going to follow, was the way to resolve the conflict.
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Well, damn, I’ve painted myself into a corner again (like I talked about in last week’s blog). I have zero ideas on how to direct you to my books. Oh wait, how about I adopt an autocratic persona…just do it, click below, no arguments! Feel free to respond and tell me if that worked?
Join Mailing List
Artist Free Zone still on Kindle Unlimited and cheap at $4.99.
Artist Free Zone US – Help Support these Amazing Charities – It Gets Better and The Trevor Project
The Book Witch on Amazon Australia
The Book Witch on Amazon Canada
The Book Witch on Affinity Rainbow Publications
Don’t forget about Love Forever, Live Forever FREE on Kindle Unlimited…take advantage of this! Cheap way to read one of my books!
Love Forever, Live Forever Link
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
Sign–Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List
Affinity Author Page Amazon Author Page
May 3, 2019
Stuck…
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Plotters, as in writers who create an outline and know exactly where a story is heading, scene by scene, never have this problem. Pantsters, like myself, who have zero specific plans and let the story flow and go wherever it takes them, struggle with this from time to time. A few weeks ago I wrote about peaking too soon. I continued to push through this issue and put another 15,000 words into my latest draft. I think that maybe that wasn’t exactly the right move. Sure, I no longer had writer’s block, but instead, I’m stuck and have absolutely no idea where to take the story and how to resolve the new obstacle.
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Several years ago, when I first met my wife and was living in the mountains, I literally painted myself into a corner. It’s a funny story now, but at the time…well let’s just say that hanging out on my upper deck, brush in hand, with no water in the nearly 100-degree weather, was not a good idea. See, I was refinishing the upper deck and had inadvertently locked myself out, thinking I could reapply the stain and then simply slip back inside. Enter automatic lock on the sliding glass door. Fortunately, I had my phone with me to call a work colleague who lived about forty-five minutes away. I was contemplating jumping from a deck fifteen feet from the ground onto the hard gravel below.
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You’d think that I would alter the way I tend to do things, but I never have. I don’t plan out home repairs, or cooking big meals, or writing novels. Sometimes there are disastrous results like literally painting myself into a corner, falling from the chair stacked on the counter while installing a ceiling fan, or having to go back to the store multiple times because I don’t have all the ingredients I need. On days when the store is closed, I get very creative with substitute ingredients.
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I’ve spent nearly sixty years of my life as a pantster, so that is not going to change. What I need are tools to help a pantster get unstuck. I did some research and read a blog about 5 ways to unstick. While this may help others, it did not help me. I know what my characters desire and what is getting in the way of that desire. I know what my story is about. I know what the obstacles are. I know where I want the story to end. The problem is I created an obstacle that I don’t have a resolution for. I’ve painted myself into a corner without an exit strategy.
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I know this is fiction and I can write whatever outrageous thing I want to. I can especially do this because this book is another urban fantasy romance. But, here’s the thing, it just isn’t ringing true. The solutions are too weird, even for me.
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Ironically, I’ve been binge watching Jane the Virgin. This hysterical Netflix series is about a writer who gets stuck, has writer’s block, and the plotline of the series is increasingly outrageous. The series parallels the telenovelas that are known for outrageous plot twists. I should simply toss my concerns aside and write one of those extreme resolutions, but I can’t because none of them work for me. Maybe if I simply continue to meander through life, an idea will pop into my head because of something someone says or does. Hey, it could happen. It occurs all the time in Jane the Virgin. So, why isn’t it plausible it might happen to me!
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If you want to check out how I’ve overcome obstacles before with the various twists and turns in my previous novels, you know the drill….click on the links below.
Join Mailing List
Artist Free Zone still on Kindle Unlimited and cheap at $4.99.
Artist Free Zone US – Help Support these Amazing Charities – It Gets Better and The Trevor Project
The Book Witch on Amazon Australia
The Book Witch on Amazon Canada
The Book Witch on Affinity Rainbow Publications
Don’t forget about Love Forever, Live Forever FREE on Kindle Unlimited…take advantage of this! Cheap way to read one of my books!
Love Forever, Live Forever Link
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
Sign–Up for the Annette Mori Author E-Mail List
Affinity Author Page Amazon Author Page
April 26, 2019
Let’s Talk About Sex Baby…Part 3
I was reading a string of responses after a very funny post on writing sex scenes. That got me to thinking about my own experience with this topic. You know I had to add my two cents.
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Ah, the dreaded sex scene. I know I am not alone in my anxiety over writing sex scenes. I’ve heard from a lot of other authors who feel the same way. Some choose to do fade to black as a solution to their dilemma. I admire the writers who not only don’t have trouble with sex scenes but love to write them. It shows.
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I wanted to dig deeper into the psychology around this. As the initial post suggested, there might be a fear of family and friends reading our sex scenes. A lot of us can relate to this. I know I can. And as the post suggested after about the fifth or sixth book, we may start to take a ho-hum attitude regarding friends and families reading those very intimate scenes. Some of us, like myself, still squirm. The question is why?
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I don’t like one answer, but I have to acknowledge the remnants of my own Catholic upbringing were not without negative consequences. Sex was considered taboo, especially before marriage, and gasp, between two women! Catholicism is not the only religion that places certain taboos on sex. Culture plays a huge part as well. In my research, even in the more enlightened countries and cultures there is a certain taboo regarding women as sexual beings. Religion coined the term “living in sin” and this suggested that sex outside of marriage was a sin. Since lesbians only recently gained the right to marry in the eyes of the law, well, that meant there was a whole lot of sin happening. Those messages we’ve grown up with are very hard to shake. Oh, and I hate that these messages are different for men.
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It’s no wonder I’ve struggled with writing sex scenes. But, the cultural taboos on sex are not the only struggles I have. Like others, I wonder, after 19 books (I am currently working on my 20th and not all 19 have been released yet), how I can possibly make those sex scenes fresh and new. It is proving more difficult than I first envisioned. I’ve written everything from sweet, first-time intimate love scenes to the lighter end of BDSM. I’ve had my characters use everything from a feather to a camera in their foreplay. I can’t claim that I’ve physically researched every single instance, but drawing on my personal experience has certainly been one technique.
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So, how as a writer can I write about things that are definitely outside the realm of my experience? Google. Today, a writer can find just about anything they want on a variety of topics. Thank Goddess for that!
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Honestly, I don’t think I will ever completely lose my hang-ups about sex. No matter how far I have come in becoming comfortable with the fact that I am a sexual being and there is not a damn thing wrong with me because of it, a tiny kernel of discomfort will remain. Sometimes I joke about sex because that is a tried and true technique for me to cope with something that causes me discomfort. But, perhaps the best way for me to continue to embrace something that is perfectly natural and good is to continue writing those sex scenes. It’s all part of my reformation project. I am not too freaked out to admit I love reading sex scenes, so it’s logical that others might as well. That means no fade to black for me. I’m going to continue to push through my discomfort. I owe it to womankind!
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If you want to read all my different sex scenes, you know the drill. Click on the links below. I have at least one in every book I’ve ever written.
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April 19, 2019
Peaking Too Soon…
All right get your heads out of the gutter. I’m not talking about orgasms here. This week’s topic is about story arcs. Most writers plot out their stories with this concept in mind and follow a relatively typical pattern to achieve the common arc.
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The arc goes something like this: There is a beginning that hopefully starts with an enticing event. The action builds until there is a climax. Yes, it is actually called a climax. Then there is falling action and finally resolution. Resolution is where you tie up all those loose ends. Without the resolution stage, you have the very frustrating cliffhanger. Even in a series, some authors will create a kind of resolution where most of the loose ends are tied up, but they may leave one or two as a way to continue the series. Other authors prefer to have a weak or no resolution ending and the dreaded cliffhanger is a result.
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Believe it or not, this whole concept of a story arc was researched back in 1863 by a man named Gustave Freytag, a German novelist. It’s called Freytag’s Pyramid where he explained how every arc goes through five dramatic stages.
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Here’s where I am having a huge issue with my current story. Some people say a climax should occur at around the eighty to ninety percent spot in your novel. I am almost at thirty thousand words and already to the point where I do the big reveal. Granted, this is not necessarily the peak, because how the characters deal with this reality has the potential to ratchet up the action. And yet, I have only a vague idea of where to take the story after the reveal.
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On the other hand, sometimes I question how well a normal arc works in my novels. When I think back to my previous books, I haven’t always followed this perfect little pattern. I’ve done more of a roller coaster version. Lots of peaks as the twists and turns unfold. I can use the analogy of sex. Sometimes it can be quite fun to do something called edging where you bring someone to the edge (peak) several times before letting them tumble over (orgasm). The trick is not to do that too many times before you let the readers have their release.
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The difference with the novel I am writing now is that I haven’t really engineered a way to achieve multiple peaks. Thus, I’m peaking too soon. Having to create the arc within a three-day span of time is more difficult than I thought it would be. In the past, I’ve had a lot more time to develop relationships or the plot. Maybe I should study the TV show 24. They certainly packed a lot into 24 hours.
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For those of you who have read my books, what do you think? Did I follow this tried and true story arc concept or deviate as is my perception? More importantly, did it work? If you haven’t read my stuff to know, well….you know the drill click on the links below.
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Artist Free Zone still on Kindle Unlimited and cheap at $4.99.
Artist Free Zone US – Help Support these Amazing Charities – It Gets Better and The Trevor Project
The Book Witch on Amazon Australia
The Book Witch on Amazon Canada
The Book Witch on Affinity Rainbow Publications
Don’t forget about Love Forever, Live Forever FREE on Kindle Unlimited…take advantage of this! Cheap way to read one of my books!
Love Forever, Live Forever Link
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
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