Nikko Lee's Blog, page 10
March 3, 2016
Raw Silk by Lisabet Sarai
In a foreign land, a woman discovers exotic new realms of the senses.
Lisabet Sarai has had a busy start to the winter. First the publication of The Gazillionaire and the Virgin (see my review) and now her first BDSM novel Raw Silk is being re-released in an expanded edition. So why not spread the word? Especially when it's available for only 99c (until March 8th, so hurry). I've snagged my copy for reading on these long winter evenings with spring just around the corner. Besides I've always been a sucker for 'The King and I'.
Here's some more information about Raw Silk and it's author.
About Raw Silk:
When software engineer Kate O’Neill leaves her lover David to take a job in Thailand, she becomes sexually involved with two very different men—a handsome and debauched member of the Thai aristocracy, and the charismatic proprietor of a sex bar.
Each touches her in a different way, each teaches her different things about her body and her heart.
Then David comes to Bangkok, and Kate realizes that, finally, she must choose one of the three men who all desire her.
About Lisabet Sarai:
LISABET SARAI occasionally tackles other genres, but BDSM will always be her first love. Every one of her nine novels includes some element of power exchange, while her D/s short stories range from mildly kinky to intensely perverse.
You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads and finally, on Twitter.
A Deeper Need
Erotic romance (including the all-too-famous trilogy) sometimes treats BDSM rather superficially. As I see it, BDSM is not about doing things: spanking, whipping, bondage, forced exhibitionism, or whatever. Power exchange is more a state of being, an ongoing psychic connection between the top and bottom which amplifies sensation and emotion regardless of who is doing what to whom.
I know there are some subs who seek pain for its own sake, but I have a deeper need: the need to totally surrender to a powerful other, to trust him (or her) not just with my body but with my spirit. For me, BDSM is transformational and healing, more about devotion and respect, honesty and intimacy, than about pain or even pleasure. Meanwhile, in order to feel whole, a true dominant requires the sub's willing acquiescence to being controlled and used. Complementary needs, complementary fantasies—like pieces of a puzzle, each partner in the power exchange.
Excerpt:
“But come. Let us make our way down to the quay. I have hired a converted rice barge to take us upriver. I think that you will find life along the Chao Phaya quite a contrast to this scene of royal eccentricity.”
The barge was waiting, a broad wooden craft with a central cabin and open decks at either end. A convex roof covered the whole length of the barge, shading the decks. They were met by a handsome youth with a shy smile, who helped them across the gangplank and onto the forward deck.
Then he cast off from the mooring and disappeared to the stern. Kate felt the barge vibrate as the engine started. Soon they were headed upstream, moving smoothly through the muddy water.
They lounged comfortably on the cushioned benches that lined the sides
of the boat. A young woman in traditional dress appeared with refreshments—ice cold lemon juice and an array of tropical fruit. Somtow picked up a spear of pineapple, dipped it into a dish of white and red powder that sat in the middle of the fruit platter, and offered it to Kate. “This is the typical way that Thais eat fruit,” he said. “With salt and chili. I know that it may sound odd to you, but try it.”
She took a bite. The complex of sweetness, saltiness and spiciness was quite remarkable. “That’s fantastic. Like nothing I have ever tasted before. But whatever inspired the Thais to try this in the first place?”
“Just our natural creativity,” said Somtow with a grin. “Or perhaps our craving for new and exciting sensations.” He leaned forward and kissed her, his taste adding to other flavors mingling on her tongue.
Raw Silk by Lisabeth Sarai
In a foreign land, a woman discovers exotic new realms of the senses.
Lisabeth Sarai has had a busy start to the winter. First the publication of The Gazillionaire and the Virgin (see my review) and now her BDSM novel Silk is being re-released in an expanded edition. So why not spread the word? Especially when it's available for only 99c (until March 8th, so hurry). I've snagged my copy for reading on these long winter evenings with spring just around the corner. Besides I've always been a sucker for 'The King and I'.
Here's some more information about Silk and it's author.
About Silk:
When software engineer Kate O’Neill leaves her lover David to take a job in Thailand, she becomes sexually involved with two very different men—a handsome and debauched member of the Thai aristocracy, and the charismatic proprietor of a sex bar.
Each touches her in a different way, each teaches her different things about her body and her heart.
Then David comes to Bangkok, and Kate realizes that, finally, she must choose one of the three men who all desire her.
About Lisabeth Sarai:
LISABET SARAI occasionally tackles other genres, but BDSM will always be her first love. Every one of her nine novels includes some element of power exchange, while her D/s short stories range from mildly kinky to intensely perverse.
You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads and finally, on Twitter.
A Deeper Need
Erotic romance (including the all-too-famous trilogy) sometimes treats BDSM rather superficially. As I see it, BDSM is not about doing things: spanking, whipping, bondage, forced exhibitionism, or whatever. Power exchange is more a state of being, an ongoing psychic connection between the top and bottom which amplifies sensation and emotion regardless of who is doing what to whom.
I know there are some subs who seek pain for its own sake, but I have a deeper need: the need to totally surrender to a powerful other, to trust him (or her) not just with my body but with my spirit. For me, BDSM is transformational and healing, more about devotion and respect, honesty and intimacy, than about pain or even pleasure. Meanwhile, in order to feel whole, a true dominant requires the sub's willing acquiescence to being controlled and used. Complementary needs, complementary fantasies—like pieces of a puzzle, each partner in the power exchange.
Excerpt:
“But come. Let us make our way down to the quay. I have hired a converted rice barge to take us upriver. I think that you will find life along the Chao Phaya quite a contrast to this scene of royal eccentricity.”
The barge was waiting, a broad wooden craft with a central cabin and open decks at either end. A convex roof covered the whole length of the barge, shading the decks. They were met by a handsome youth with a shy smile, who helped them across the gangplank and onto the forward deck.
Then he cast off from the mooring and disappeared to the stern. Kate felt the barge vibrate as the engine started. Soon they were headed upstream, moving smoothly through the muddy water.
They lounged comfortably on the cushioned benches that lined the sides
of the boat. A young woman in traditional dress appeared with refreshments—ice cold lemon juice and an array of tropical fruit. Somtow picked up a spear of pineapple, dipped it into a dish of white and red powder that sat in the middle of the fruit platter, and offered it to Kate. “This is the typical way that Thais eat fruit,” he said. “With salt and chili. I know that it may sound odd to you, but try it.”
She took a bite. The complex of sweetness, saltiness and spiciness was quite remarkable. “That’s fantastic. Like nothing I have ever tasted before. But whatever inspired the Thais to try this in the first place?”
“Just our natural creativity,” said Somtow with a grin. “Or perhaps our craving for new and exciting sensations.” He leaned forward and kissed her, his taste adding to other flavors mingling on her tongue.
February 22, 2016
Writing Worry #34: Finding good beta readers
After losing count of the number of revisions on a manuscript, it's easy to become edit-blind. At some point, every author has to turn their beloved fledgling story over to someone else to read. Before venturing into the deep end of queries and submissions, beta readers are an author's best friends.
These rare and elusive readers are willing to accept a completed manuscript that may still be an diamond in the rough and give feed back about what they liked or didn't and what they found interesting or confusion.
I admit it. I seek out beta readers. I solicit my friends and family. I read at writing groups. I make general pleas on my Facebook account. I even offer to exchange manuscripts with kindred authors I meet on the off chance that they are as desperate as I am for beta readers.
When all the revisions and edits are done, I'm always struck with the fear that no one will want to read what I've spent months, years usually, working on. As an author, it's hard to tell if I've been able to transfer the story and characters that have fermented in my brain onto the page.
Beta readers come in all varieties and serve multiple purposes.
-The 'I liked/loved it' beta is a great confidence booster.
-The Line Editor beta can catch many of the typos and mistakes the author no longer sees.
-The Big Picture beta often makes suggestions about characters or the plot that can make the difference between an okay storyand a truly satisfying one.
-The 'I stopped reading' beta can be the most valuable because they can give an author insight as to where the reader's attention is being lost.
Over the last month, I've received numerous comments from beta readers of Spar (M/M erotic romance set in a karate dojo). The corrections and suggestions helped me polish the manuscript enough for submission. Big thankyous to everyone who read. Look for exciting news about Spar in the near future.
If you have a chance, beta read for a new author. Be kind, but be honest. It can make the difference between staying in the purgatory of submission and getting accepted for publication.
February 15, 2016
The Gazillionaire and the Virgin By Lisabet Sarai
Trust can’t be bought—it has to be earned.
When Silicon Valley entrepreneur Rachel Zelinsky meets reclusive genius Theo Moore, she finds him strangely compelling. Theo is both arrogant and socially awkward, but he has an aura of power that speaks to Rachel’s carefully-hidden submissive side. Disturbed and aroused, she tries to focus on her original objective—a deal to incorporate his Artificial Intelligence software into her company’s popular virtual world. Rachel’s not a woman who lets pleasure interfere with business, but for some reason, she can’t resist Theo’s geeky appeal.
Theo Moore can’t be bought. His past battles with poverty make him deeply suspicious of the billionaire CEO. Still, with her voluptuous curves and brilliant mind, Rachel embodies his ultimate sexual fantasy. Too bad his knowledge about sex derives from extensive research and a stash of kinky porn rather than real-world experience.
That doesn’t bother Rachel, however. In his bed—in his arms—in his bonds—she discovers the bliss of total surrender. Rachel may be Theo’s first lover, but Theo is Rachel’s first true Master—and the first man to truly touch her heart. It seems that love may harmonize their differing goals and values, until Rachel’s unwitting violation of Theo’s trust threatens to tear them apart forever.
About Lisabet
LISABET SARAI occasionally tackles other genres, but BDSM will always be her first love. Every one of her nine novels includes some element of power exchange, while her D/s short stories range from mildly kinky to intensely perverse.
You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors. She’s also on Goodreads and finally, on Twitter.
Excerpt
It won’t go away. All through the day—every day—need gnaws at my spirit. Whether I’m reading my email, meeting with my board of directors, preparing a presentation, closing a deal to acquire a promising start-up, discussing deployment of the next release with my engineering managers, I can’t shake the sense that something critical is missing. In yoga class, the aching knot just above my solar plexus doesn’t unwind, no matter how deeply I breathe. Driving to work, I have to force myself to pay attention. Otherwise, I drift off into recollections of my time with Theo—what he did, what he said, how I responded.
I miss him, miss him dreadfully, though it’s been only four days since we were last together. We’ve Skyped every night since the weekend, but somehow that only makes the hunger worse. When I see him there on my screen, grainy and over-exposed, all I want is to touch him—to brush the unruly hair off his forehead, to stroke his cheek, to trace the line of his plump, sensitive lips with my thumb. To offer up my own mouth for him to claim it, tear off my blouse and press my tits against his solid chest, sink to my knees and beg him to take me.
I’d be more than willing to strip and perform for him, to act out whatever lewd actions he ordered, but he refuses to become involved in any sort of phone or cyber-sex. “Everyone’s listening in,” he asserts. “The government. The neighbors. What you and I do should be private.” So we chat about safe topics—our work, what we’ve been reading, where we should go for dinner next weekend. All the while, lust burns in those bright eyes of his. I know what he’s thinking. I’m thinking the same thing.
I’m not expecting him to call Thursday afternoon. The trill of my phone interrupts me as I’m giving Diane instructions for tomorrow. Still, the sound of his voice kindles a warm joy in the pit of my stomach as well as a wetness between my legs.
“Hello. Rachel?”
“Hi, Theo. What’s up?”
“I want you to come early tomorrow. Around noon.”
“I—um—I really can’t. I’ve got an all-day meeting up in San Francisco, some investors from India.”
“Cancel it.”
“What? I can’t do that. These guys have come half-way around the world to talk to me about a franchise deal. Think of the potential profit! More than a billion people, a soaring GDP, and Internet growth that’s doubling every year…”
It’s the wrong thing to say. I realize this the moment the statement’s out of my mouth.
“So you care more about money than about me.” Not a whining complaint, but a dry statement of the facts, at least as Theo sees them.
“No, of course not, but I can’t put my personal life above my business…”
“You should.” I can picture his face, the stubborn set of his jaw as he retreats, distancing himself from me. “But never mind. Of course you’re too busy. I should have expected that.”
“Wait! Wait, don’t hang up, Theo.” I struggle to keep him engaged. “What’s so important about tomorrow noon?”
“I want you to meet my sister. Ellen. She’s free for lunch tomorrow.”
“Can’t we do it Saturday?”
“She’s flying to Jamaica for a two week vacation with her partner Saturday morning.”
“What about when she gets back?”
“She doesn’t want to leave without talking to you. She says she’s worried about me, worried about our relationship. She’s afraid you’ll hurt me, break my heart.”
I’d never hurt you, I almost say, then understand I’m doing so at that very moment. And it feels horrible, like a knife twisting in my gut.
Ebook Buy Links (Print coming soon!)
Amazon US
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B76B95K/
Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B76B95K/
Barnes & Noble
All Romance
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thegazillionaireandthevirgin-1974313-354.html
Kobo
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-gazillionaire-and-the-virgin
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28766414-the-gazillionaire-and-the-virgin
February 10, 2016
A novel start to finish: Outlining
When I started writing, I was a total pantser. Often I would sit down in class or at home without a clue of what was going to happen next. It was exciting and daunting to see where the characters and my imagination would take me.
Whenever I was bored and couldn't write, I would mull over what could happen next. It was great for exploring different possible actions and reaction. However, I often would forget what I settled on for the right course or found it lacking once I sat down to write.
Then I began to learn about story structure, plot arc and character development. Instead of a story being an adventure characters took me on, it was an adventure I took my characters on with a goal of how I wanted them to change.
A couple of years ago, I took a novel writing course with novelist Cynthia Thayer. At the first class, she read us a couple of paragraphs and asked us why it wasn't a story. After we discussed the lack of conflict, she guided us to the fact that the main character did not change. It is the evolution of character that is at the heart of most stories. Who isn't touched by the events they've lived for better or worse?
Then I began outlining scenes ahead of time so that I could make the most of the limited time I had. When it came time for revisions or submission, I found myself having to write the outline or a details summary.
I was in the middle of revising Spar when the idea of Wolf Creek first took hold. Not being able to start writing right away motivated me to outline the story so that I could attempt a first draft during NaNoWriMo. From then on, I was hooked on writing at least a bare bones outline.
The benefit of an outline is that it allows me to see the balance of story arcs and character progression. My outlines are still rudimentary and consist of scenes with characters or plot events I want to take place. It may very well change upon re-writes. But at least I have a start and won't get stuck wondering where my characters need to go next.
Wolf Creek Review
... by Lisabet Sarai. Check it out on her blog.
February 5, 2016
Writing Worry #33: Speaking to an empty room
Since publishing Wolf Creek, I've been doing my utmost to get the word out about the book. That has meant soliciting reviews, guest blog posts, a Twitter takeover, library author talks, and anything else I can think of. It's hard to know if any of these efforts are reaching readers.
In January, I gave an author talk at the Blue Hill library. Or rather I was scheduled to do so, but no one showed up to listen. It's January. It's dark and cold in the evenings. I can fully understand people not wanting to leave their warm and cozy homes.
This was my third library talk for Wolf Creek - fourth as an author. It's a little disappointing but beyond my control. All I can do as an author is be willing to get out there and find my audience.
I take this as another author accomplishment that everyone has to go through. Now to figure out where to speak next.
February 2, 2016
Don’t Be a Sheep By Lisabet Sarai
I am pleased to share with you an author whose newest release captured my attention right away and did not disappoint. Lisabet Sarai is well known among the ERA circles and beyond that. Her newest novel The Gazillionaire and the Virgin was published January 29. She was kind enough to stop by and offered this blog post as a part of her promotional tour. I'll be posting an excerpt in the coming days.
Don’t Be a Sheep By Lisabet Sarai
Fitting in. Being popular. Looking hip. When you’re a teenager, that’s what you want more than anything. I was no different from any other teen, back then or today. I’d have long arguments with my mother about why she wouldn’t buy me nylons until I was thirteen, or why I had to wear ugly snow boots to school, or why I couldn’t shave my legs yet.
“But Mom,” I’d whine. “All the girls wear stockings.”
“So what?” she’d respond. “Why do you need to be like everyone else? Do you want to be a sheep?”
The disdain in her voice made it clear that conformity for its own sake was something she held in very low regard. Arguments based on following the prevailing views or actions of the majority almost never succeeded.
At the time, I found her insistence on individualism annoying and frustrating. As I grew older, though, I realized that this was some of the best advice she ever gave me. I’ve made some unconventional choices in my life. I’ve done things “most people” wouldn’t even consider. And all things considered, I think I’m happier and more fulfilled because I haven’t followed a standard, mass-approved path.
“Don’t be a sheep” applies to my writing as well. I don’t choose what I am going to write based on what’s currently hot in the market. In fact, I take perverse delight in challenging the current literary fashions, taking stereotypes or genre tropes and turning them on their heads.
That was the genesis of my new erotic romance The Gazillionaire and the Virgin. Some time after the release of FSOG, I was chatting with my blog mates. One of my friends said, “If I read about another romance about a brooding, dominant gazillionaire hunk and a shy, inexperienced virgin, I think I’ll upchuck.”
Great title, I thought. But what if the obscenely rich gazillionaire was the heroine? And the hero was virgin?
That was all it took to send me off on a genre-busting quest to create a sexy and romantic tale about a woman who has it all and the inexperienced but naturally dominant nerd she falls for.
I can almost hear you thinking. A virgin hero in erotic romance? How could that possibly work? I don’t want to read something so weird. Everyone likes alpha heroes— like the guys in thousands of other BDSM erotic romance novels.
My answer? Be a bit adventurous. Give The Gazillionaire and the Virgin a try. If you like BDSM-themed erotic romance with both heat and heart, I think you’ll enjoy it.
Don’t be a sheep.
~ ~ ~
This post is part of my Gazillionaire and Virgin blog tour, running from February 1st to 15th. Leave me a comment on this post, including your email address, and I’ll enter you to win a $50 bookstore gift certificate (first prize) or a print copy of the new book (second prize). Visit all the stops for more chances to win. You’ll find the full list here:
http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2016/01/blog-tour.html
January 26, 2016
A novel start to finish: Wolf Creek 2
After spending so much time writing a novel and getting to know the characters within, it's hard to think of their lives stopping when the book is done. Almost as soon as I finished writing Wolf Creek, I knew that there was still more for Josh, Andrea and Gavin to accomplish in their journey to find themselves and their place in life.
It wasn't until Wolf Creek was accepted for publication that I started examining the possibility of writing a sequel. In the months it took to edit Wolf Creek for publication, I tried to pull together the ideas that would make the scaffold of the next novel.
These scaffolds included:
-A love interest for Josh
-Andrea exploring her Amazon heritage and the power within her
-Gavin's jealousy over Josh's new interest despite him moving into a stable relationship too
-Exploring what being an alpha means to Gavin
-Josh discovering the strength of Silverbane's bloodline
-Exploring the consequences of the weakening of the boundary between this world and the next where the demons are sequestered
-something with trolls and expanding the paranormal world within the series
Earlier this month I was able to carve out some time to write an outline for Wolf Creek 2. I hate picking titles almost as much as I hate deciding on character names. Usually I leave figuring out a good title until the submission stage.
Now all I need to do is clear my writing desk of two novel drafts (Spar and Safe Word) that need to be revised, beta read and submitted.
January 16, 2016
Word of the year: 'they'
I don't normally pay attention to the Word of the Year, regardless of the source. When I heard Oxford Dictionary's word of the year was an emoji, I was perplexed. Merriam-Webster's went with 'ism', which I always considered a suffix almost as ubiquitous as the scientific 'omes'. Think genome, proteosome, anything-osme.
On Friday, NPR did a commentary about another word of the year. The American Dialect Society selected the use of 'they' singular as a gender neutral pronoun. Now that is a word of the year I can get behind.
Who hasn't substituted 'they' instead of the cumbersome he or she?
In an era where gender can be fluid to non-existant, it's about time we had a gender neutral pronoun.
