Dena Celeste's Blog, page 2

Monday Musings: Release Date for Her Master's Gift PLUS an excerpt!

I am thrilled to announce that Her Master's Gift will be released through Decadent Publishing this Friday, 3/20/15!!! Woot!

Here are the official cover, blurb, and an excerpt!


Newly collared and claimed, Katie can’t wait to start her journey as her Master’s slave. Her dreams of pain and pleasure at his hands are brought to a halt when Sam tells her what her first task of obedience will be: find a new bed partner at Stroke, a club that caters to kinksters looking to expand their horizons in many ways. The problem? It has to be another woman.

Betrayed as a novice by a woman, Katie is skittish yet intrigued. While she knows Master will keep her safe, can she gather the courage necessary to move beyond the past and accept, without regrets, her Master’s gift?

Excerpt:  
“Did I pass out?”Sam grinned. “Just a little bit.” He stroked her damp hair away from her forehead, his fingers so gentle against her skin. “You’re such a good girl. I even have a surprise for you.”Katie turned onto her side and arched into him as he ran a hand down her back. “What kind of surprise? A fun one?”“I’m hoping you’ll like it.” He paused, and Katie waited, watched his face and the concern and eagerness flashing on it.He tugged her closer. “I want you to experience something, something you’ve always wanted and still seem to want, even though you do seem a bit gun-shy. On Monday night, we’re going to a club called Stroke. And you are going to find a girl you’d like to fuck.”She stared at him. Just stared. “What?” He might as well have knocked her over the head with a two-by-four. “We’re going to what?” Easing away, she tried to catch her breath.“Slow it down,” he ordered. He locked his gaze on hers. “Breathe. In, one, two, three, four, five. Now out, one, two, three, four, five. Good.”“Why are you springing this on me now?” Emotions all over the place, Katie quaked. Excitement and fear warred for supremacy.“You are now my collared slave. I want you to reach your fullest sensual potential. So, you’re going to go with me to Stroke. I’m sure there will be several women there who are your type: curvy, sweet, and delicious. We aredoing this, and you are going to try to pick someone out.”“Try?” Katie latched onto the word like a lifeline.Sam appeared unimpressed. “Of course. I expect you to put forth your best effort, but I want you to be attracted to the woman you choose. If you don’t find someone this time, we’ll just give it a go another time. However, I have it on good authority, since it is play night, most of the women there will be searching for one thing…or another.”Nodding, she worked to push the fear away. “Put forth my best effort. Okay. Okay, I can do that.”She tucked herself into Sam’s arms and closed her eyes, so tired, her limbs heavy from all the exertion. Her thoughts, however, swirled around her mind like a sandstorm.How the heck am I going to do this?

Friday Deviance - A Little Bit Little

Littles. Bigs. Middles. I'm talkin' ageplay here today. (Note: ageplay involves consenting adults acting out a power imbalance where one participant is the nurturer, and the other is the nurtured.)

Have you ever gotten excited about something from your childhood? That giddy feeling over a re-release of a TV show, or seeing books that you read as a child and getting that nostalgic sense of wonder all over again?

Ageplay can be very much like that. In fact, it's almost exactly like that. I will say that this is a rather complex topic, so let's start off with the definitions as I understand them (because, as with most things in the Lifestyle, opinions vary).

Bigs - The one in charge, who nurtures, indulges, disciplines, and cares for a Little. Usual titles - Daddy, Mommy, Uncle, Aunt, etc. Sometimes chronologically older, but never an actual blood relation. These are titles only.

Littles - The one who is subservient. Who lets themselves experience life/scenes without the filter of adulthood and responsibility for a time. Plays, colors, lacks some impulse control, experiences everything in the present moment, and often has an abundance of enthusiasm. Usual titles - girl, boy, babygirl, babyboy, little one, etc. Sometimes chronologically younger than their partner, always above legal age, never an actual blood relation. These are titles only.

Middles - One who may switch between Big and Little role, or takes up a role that's in between. Usual titles - Big Brother, Big Sister, Babysitter, etc. Like it says on the tin. Always above legal age, no blood relations, etc.

Okay, definitions are out of the way!

Ageplay can come with accoutrements such as coloring books, pigtails, special outfits, pacifiers, even diapers (though that's more for a distinct aspect of ageplay, rather than in general). Ageplay is a state of mind, one that allows you to regress safely to a time where the only worries were which butterflies to chase and whether your crayons were the really big box of Crayolas. Or heck, to even throw a tantrum, or experience negative emotions as they happen, without having to be the "responsible" one.

This dynamic isn't one of damaged people, which is an opinion I've heard before. Certainly, some people missed out on having a childhood of innocence, and wish to experience aspects of that. Others had perfectly normal (whatever normal is) lives, and just enjoy being able to behave in a childish manner for awhile. To believe that kissing boo-boos makes it all better, and not focus on bills, jobs, responsibilities.

As with many dynamics, it can be done in several ways. 24/7, if life allows, but often at-home only, or during specific scenes. Just as kink isn't necessarily a sexual thing, neither is ageplay, though it can be as well. It's all up to the participants. And if anyone wishes to say ew, or who would do such a thing, may I direct you to the huge amount of porn dedicated to school outfits, pigtails, and play such as that?

An oft-misunderstood dynamic, it's not for everyone. Some participants focus on going into this headspace, and others are naturally Little-like, or young at heart, or naturally dominant and nurturing, Big-like. With any kink, your mileage may vary.

And if you don't like it? No worries! We always abide by, "Your kink is not my kink, but your kink is okay too."

Enjoy your kinks, your deviance, and always play safe, sane, and consensual!

Monday Musings: I have returned! Bwahahaha!

Hey guys! I'm back. Sorry I was away for so long! Hey, I even have a cover for y'all to gaze at!

I got pretty focused on Her Master's Gift, but beyond that, as you saw from my last post, my depression and anxiety got the best of me. It happens sometimes!
Rather than castigate myself for that to the point where I don't write any blogs ever (that won't work for me!), I'm moving on. Can't go back in time just yet. Unless The Doctor comes for me in the TARDIS, in which case, see you then!



Current news: I just finished the second round of edits for Her Master's Gift. My editor, Valerie, is amazing. Seriously, all of

In a somewhat sadder vein, I recently lost one of my besties, my soul-sis Sarah, to a heart aneurysm. She was one of the best people I've ever known, someone who always encouraged me in life and writing, and pounced on me as often as possible. We were separated by a large distance, but that never mattered, and I ache at her loss. Her amazing spirit lives on in our memories, and I was blessed to have her for almost 14 years. Love you bebegrrl. I'll catch you on the flipside.

On that note, that's the musings for this Monday. See y'all on Friday for our deviance post!

Depression and Creativity

Depression is insidious. It makes doing even the things you know you like rather impossible, and the things you have to do like pulling teeth, if you can even do that much. It's something I've dealt with for over half of my life now, and some times are easier than others.

Some days it's hard to put one foot in front of the other, let alone put words into any discernible order. But I'm trying, and I'm doing things that usually help to pull me back up from that dark pit of utter apathy.

So, that's part of why I haven't been 'round much. Health issues, plus depression, equals not much posting from me. I also seem to hibernate in the summertime. The heat really gets to me. Thankfully it's autumn now!

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things, trying to write a little more, add to my projects, and participate in online life in addition to offline life. It's just taking me a little bit, but I'm doing it!

Monday Musings: A contract for Her Master's Gift!

I'm quite pleased to announce that Decadent Publishing has offered a contract for Her Master's Gift! I can't explain how excited this makes me, but I might've danced around the living room when I got the news.

I wanted to wait to make the announcement (which came in last week) because my printer decided it didn't want to connect to my new computer, and I wanted the contract signed, sealed, and delivered before making a formal post.

So, I got creative and examined my printer (about 3 years old now), and found the USB drive that allowed me to scan again so that I could actually get my signed contract back to the publisher. *grins* I'd only ever done wireless printing and scanning, but apparently the drivers don't agree with my new computer any longer for the purpose of scanning. Ah well. This new way is actually a bit easier, so that's something!

There's work ahead, from edits to excerpts, but I can't wait to do it, and I know that Decadent is the best home possible for the tale of Katie and Sam's journey of love, lust, and trust.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Reasons for my Game of Thrones Obsession

Welcome to my Thursday-13! The Thursday-13 is a weekly meme with a simple theme: each Thursday you blog a list of 13 things. What kind of things? Any kind! Just come up with a list theme and run with it.

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

So, I just recently started watching Game of Thrones, the hit show on HBO. I didn't think I'd like it, because though I'm a SFF fan in general, I don't like everything. It's a tossup between what will bore me and what will enthrall me.

So I watched episode 1. And then episode 2. And then my husband and I got into it together, and we're halfway through season 3 at the moment. I'm in love with the stories, the characters, and the sheer emotional torture that is this show. I'm sure at some point I'll also read the books, but that'll come later.

So, why am I so obsessed now? Here you go, from the general to the specific. Beware, if you haven't seen it, SPOILERS further down the list!


2. The worldbuilding - Because, oh my goodness. The lands, the peoples, the cultures. They're so rich and textured, and I like that I can see them on a map. The weather, flora, fauna, and even just the landscape have become fascinating. The peoples and their culture, from the Dothraki to the Kingdom folk to the Wildlings, it's all intense and detailed.

3. The politics - What's an AU historical fantasy novel without some good politics? The rich, the poor, the royal, the common, the whores and the queens. The politics are insanely complex, and that's what I enjoy the most about them. It's a brutal chess game.

4. The emotional masochism - Because I can't 'ship any-damn-body without having AT LEAST one of the people die, if not both. Yet still, I watch, and I hope, and I dream. And I have fanfiction, when all else fails.

5. The dialogue - Oh my. The dialogue is genius, pure genius. Some of it is very subtle, and others of it are just brutal, but it's all entertaining.

6. The relationships - The relationships in these stories are intense and wrong and right and just fantastic. Between the twincest of Cersei/Jaime, the abiding love of Ned/Cat, the forced marriage of Daenerys/Khal, and even the pretend!love/real!hate between Joffrey and Sansa...and those are just the primary ones! The secondary relationships, the sheer chemistry between some characters who don't often meet each other, such as The Hound and Sansa, is amazing.

Onto the specific characters/relationships that have and will keep me obsessed:

7. Daenerys/Khal - I like both of these characters, and how they caused each other to grow. An arranged marriage, Daenerys had little power to begin with, but it grew inside of her by leaps and bounds. Khal was rough, brutal, and has his relationship with her deepened, that brutality was tempered, at least when he was with Daenerys. Other folks watch out though *coughViceryscough* Moon of my life...my sun and stars.

8. Tyrion Lannister - Tyrion is amazing. Just awesome, and funny. He's probably the most sarcastic character on the show, and his lines tend to have me in stitches. At the same time, he's also got the most...humanity, I suppose, of those in the highest positions/family in that Kingdom. He's so often brash and funny, but these glimpses of vulnerability that we get just bring me to a deeper love for this character.

9. Sansa Stark - Oh, the little dove. Sansa is everything a proper lady should be. Her desires are to marry, have children, and be a good wife. When the series starts out, she's so naive (not just young, but really naive), and all she wants is to marry the prince and bear his babies, the future princes and princesses of the realm. As the series goes on, and she's exposed to brutal reality, far away from her sheltered life in Winterfell, she grows this spine that's amazing to see. She remains proper, and wears a decent mask for the political world, but she seems to be growing some of her own plans. She has some growing to do yet, but I really like her character.

10. Arya Stark - Arya is a character I adore. She's got spunk, smarts, and is just a bit of a revenge-hound, but that works for her (and for me, watching her). She's hilarious, and really is as naive as her sister, but in her own way. She believes in this revenge/justice hybrid, but has a loyal streak a mile wide. She is a warrior in her own right, and would rather be a warrior than a lady. She's wicked smart, and I enjoy her interactions with other characters, especially those like the Lannister patriarch, Tywin, and the bastard blacksmith Gendry.

11. Cersei/Jaime - Ah, the twincest. I enjoy consensual twincest, when done right. This is definitely done right, though it's more like two tiger sharks who'd allowed each other to survive the birthing process. Cersei is vicious, her love this weird, twisted thing, whether for her brother or her children. The fact that she's brilliant, under appreciated, and was essentially sold into marriage to Robert, seems to have created this monster who will do anything to keep what power she can grab. Now, as for Jaime, he's very cavalier. Nothing appears to bother him, not even his nickname of Kingslayer, and he goes through life bandying about his father's name in order to get out of what trouble he can't remove himself from. However, as the show goes on, especially in Season 3, you find out more about him beyond the cavalier surface, to the  man inside.

12. Theon Greyjoy - He annoys me. Yes, he's a reason for my obsession, but he annoys the ever living hell out of me with his wishy-washy decisions. He loves, he hates, the fact that he worships a water deity does NOT surprise me, as he is as dependable as the ocean in a storm, that is to say, not at all. But he's a fascinating character all the same, and many things happen to him. I wonder where he's headed, and that keeps me enthralled.

13. Brienne of Tarth - As I'm only halfway through season 3, I'm only just getting to know Brienne. She's strong, stocky, and quite masculine in most of her mannerisms. She's a warrior more than a woman, and would be the first to admit it. Her loyalty, ethics, and problem solving skills are fascinating in this world where many are only as loyal as you can pay them to be.

Monday Musings: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Who you are, deep inside, doesn't stop just because you're sick. But sometimes you have to put away the play until you feel well enough to do it again. Not such a big deal when all you have is a cold, and you know you'll get better at some point. But what happens when you're chronically ill? You're not getting better. You feel weird/pained/fatigued/etc. all the time. Your body isn't your own anymore.

I have two conditions that are my primary diagnoses, and Fibromyalgia is one of them. I got diagnosed when I was 15, and it changed my life.

https://www.facebook.com/fibromyalgiastories13
I had the flu. Cough, congestion, aches, pains, fatigue. I started to get better, sort of. But I was so tired, I slept for 16-18 hours per day, every day. I never felt rested. I hurt everywhere. Nothing helped. 
Four months, ten doctors, and one rheumatologist later, and we finally had it. A diagnosis of some kind. Fibromyalgia. Now we knew what was wrong. Sadly, at that time (and even still, with certain doctors), most doctors didn't "believe in" Fibromyalgia. It was all in my head. I needed to lose weight. I was too young. I was too old. I should exercise more. I was faking it. I couldn't possibly be in pain all the time. I looked fine.

I looked fine . Well, if you didn't count the grimace from the pain, or that I moved quite slowly because it hurt so much, my body didn't seem any the worse for wear. But if you don't have visible wounds, or at least a more visible experience, then it's hard to believe what happens beneath the surface of your skin.

To me, it's like saying pins-and-needles aren't real because you can't see them. I mean, you look at the person, and their limb seems just fine! But to them, it is a very real sensation, a real experience. Only with a chronic illness, it never ends, though it may be better or worse depending on the day.

I have learned to manage my condition over the years. I walk and swim for exercise, I take certain vitamins to promote health and well-being, and I try to avoid stress, which can make Fibro flare with a vengeance. Am I always in pain? Well, yes. But I try not to let it define my life any more than I have to. If I can work through it, I do. If I can't, I give myself a break because beating myself up about it (haha!) isn't going to help.

Being kinky whilst dealing with a condition which, by its nature, causes pain, is definitely an experience. And in many Fibro support groups, you'll face some judgement. You're in pain already, why would you volunteer for more?

My nature is quite submissive, though with a lot of sass and humor. I just had to get used to my own limitations and how that would change my forms of play. I can still play with rope, I can still be at my Dom's feet (though perhaps not kneeling, I'm on the floor all the same), and I can still take a spanking.

Erotic play and erotic pain work for me. I get an endorphin rush from it, and that helps me manage the rest of my pain. I have to spend some extra time warming up for something like a spanking, or with a bit more pain involved, but I can do it most days.

And on the days I can't...I remember that, kinky or vanilla, I'm still human, and there are plenty of ways to fuck with my mind, even if my body's uncooperative. So there's always that. 

Monday Musings: Genre explorations and a new blog

Hey guys! Well, I've signed on to do another blog. Oh, I'll definitely still do this one, as I like having my own place to chat with you lovely folks, but I'm now a part of *drum roll please*

Stilettos at High Noon: Western Romance About Women, For Women. Now, despite being a slightly southern girl myself, I haven't much ventured into writing this genre, though I've been a fan for AGES. I love stories about the land, the animals, and the heritage of a place bringing folks together.

Of course, you know me. My stories will likely venture into the paranormal. Possibly all the way into space! And there may be hints of rope...of the let's-tie-everyone-up variety. We shall see! I'm just very excited about this opportunity to work with some fantastic authors and explore the very interesting topic of the West.

In other news, I'm still editing Her Master's Gift, but we appear to be in the home stretch! Woo-hoo! There have been some (okay, several) changes, but they are all for the better, I promise. *beams*

That's it for today's musings. How was your weekend guys? Anything new?

A Mother Lost: Year 2

Today marks two years since I lost my Mama. The best woman I ever knew, the woman who raised me, who taught me how to be strong and to roll with the punches. I'm a Mama's girl, through and through.

I was there, when she passed. Right there with her, just me and her. I'd never seen anyone die before. I wasn't prepared for it at all. She'd been sick all of my life and most of her own, though the cancer was a more recent development. I thought she could beat anything. She always had before. Things that would've killed her, should've killed her, didn't. She survived, and fought with all her strength to keep going.

There's so much I wish she could've been there for. Not just the big things, like my marriage or graduation, but the little things. The everyday things. Until she died, there wasn't a day that passed without us speaking. If we weren't together in person, we were talking on the phone.

She was a worrywart. Her motto was, "Don't just sit there! Worry!" but she always laughed at herself about it. She smiled a lot, and always found something to be happy about, even though she wasn't well.

We used to read together. Some people watch TV shows or movies (okay, we did that too), but we'd go into the living room, pick our spots, and just read for hours. When we got the chance to go out to eat, we'd bring books and sometimes read there too, though we'd often talk as well.

Today marks the day when her body couldn't contain her any longer, but her spirit lives on. She's not forgotten. Goodness, I can't think of a person who ever met her who forgot her. Even if they met her just once. When she smiled, she beamed, and you could feel the warmth of it. Her deep brown eyes sparkled, and she wore her heart right there on her sleeve.

I love you still, Mama, and you live on in my heart and the memories of everyone you touched.

***
Mama had Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer, Hormone Positive. It spread throughout her body very fast, and it killed her. Please, please, please check yourself. Do self-exams, help your lovers with them, get them done at your check-ups. If you feel anything suspicious, tell your doctor, or go to a free clinic to get some help. It's so important to catch it early. The earlier you catch it, the better the chance of obliterating the bastard.

Monday Musings: Playing with Rope

We played with rope! MDR and I have some lovely red rope that we like to use, and he decided to practice some things on my feet.  Foot rope bondage can be really useful. Spread the legs, hoist them up, hold them in place...very versatile!

I definitely recommend playing with rope. I don't mean going to classes that teach kinbaku, or even western rope, though those are awesome if you can find any groups in your area that teach. But there's something nice about just getting out rope and doing stuff. Throwing it around, playing with knots you don't know the names of, and just getting the feel of it.

It can be sexy, but it can also be relaxing and fun. I actually fell asleep one afternoon as M. put rope on me. I got lulled by the rhythm of the ropes. It was really nice. Here's the most recent rope play. M.'s foot has a minor role in one of the pics. ;)





So that's about it for now. Anybody else play with toys this past week?