Laura Roberts's Blog, page 73

Business or pleasure? An interview with Ashley Ladd

Ashley Ladd has written more than 70 romance novels, including her latest book, Business or Pleasure, which releases today. I had the chance to ask her a few questions about her writing process and inspirations. Here’s what she had to say.

How long have you been writing erotica, and what inspired you to get into this genre?

I’ve been writing erotica for at least a decade. I was writing fairly hot when one of my author friends suggested I write erotica. About the same time I heard how well Ellora’s Cave books were selling, so I thought I’d try it.

What gave you the idea for your latest book?

Business or Pleasure pits a vegetarian/animal activist against a family who owns a barbecue pit, which is practically a monument to carnivorism. Lately I love to watch HGTV and Food Network and all the Gordon Ramsey cooking shows. So this is a marriage of the above. Also, there’s a subplot about dementia, and that was inspired by a family event.

Her Men is inspired by dreams and fantasies. It’s set in Biloxi, Mississippi where I was stationed in the Air Force way too many years ago to admit to.

Spooky Sojourn is a ghostly paranormal inspired by Totally Bound’s new Totally Five Star Hotel line and also by my personal visit to the haunted French Lick Springs Resort about 15 years ago. Although this book didn’t fit the parameters of the T5S guidelines, it’s being published as a single story.

Who are some of your favorite erotica writers or other literary inspirations?

Stephen King. I absolutely love his book The Stand. Stephen White. Sherryl Woods. Holly Jacobs. Tina Wainscott. Lisabet Sarai. Scarlett Scott.

Describe your typical writing routine. Where do you usually write?

How many words/pages per day? Do you keep set hours? What does your workspace look like?

I used to write at Borders until they closed. I still mourn them. It was the perfect place. My daughters could read all the manga they wanted. I could get a bagel and a soda. They had power outlets. I went into a big depression and stopped writing for awhile after they closed. I write at home now, usually in my bedroom, sometimes in the living room. I write between one thousand and two thousand words a day. I wish I could write more but there’s this very annoying thing called the day job that eats about 9 hours out of my day five days every week. Then I have to come home and fix dinner for my big family. Although just this past week, I’m happy to say, my family has started taking turns making dinner. Halleljulah! Lately, since I have four books releasing between July 11th and October 23rd, I’ve been using my writing time to promote – setting up blog tours, book reviews, Triberr, Twitter, Facebook.

Do you have any favorite beverages that help keep your creativity

flowing?

My poison is diet cola. I always have to have a large glass overflowing with ice. I don’t like coffee, tea, or alcohol at all.

Do you have any writing supersitions or rituals when starting a new book?

Not really. Depending on the book, I’ll do a lot of research first and even ongoing as I’m writing the book. Sometimes I brainstorm first. I’m not one to write a synopsis first as I’d stray anyway.

What do you think makes for a good erotic story?

Romance has to come first, and a lot of it. There’s got to be heavy emotion. Without emotion, the erotic part is just body movements. I like to weave a good story with a lot of romance and meat to them. The romance leads to the open bedroom door… or in my October release, Spooky Sojourn, to a nudist beach in Miami.

What’s your favorite euphemism for genitalia, either male, female or both?

*blushing* I know I write erotica, but I’m really quite shy. The words start with c and p.

What are some of your other books coming out this fall?

Her Men will release September 29th. It’s a male/female/male ménage about a college marching band reunion. Julie’s never forgotten Timmy and James and now that she’s single again, she hopes to meet at least one of them again. When both show up single as well, she can’t decide which one she really wants.

Spooky Sojourn will release October 23rd. It’s a ghostly paranormal male/female romance about a haunted hotel. Deanna is hired to manage The Gilroy Hotel and Resort and one of her first jobs is to rid it of the ghosts – or whoever – is driving guests and employees away. She doesn’t believe in ghosts but is persuaded to hire paranormal investigator Harry DeVeaux, and sparks start flying immediately. So much so that she’s inspired by a romance writer’s convention staying at the hotel to write her fantasies about him in a blog. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) for her, Harry finds the blog and reads everything she’s written about him.

You can find Ashley’s work at Totally Bound, Ellora’s Cave, Amazon, and New Concepts Publishing.

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Hump Day Reviews: The Black Door by Charlotte Howard

Imogen Pearce is a single mum of four children and fast approaching 40. She works at Ryedale Incorporated where she has to battle a younger and smarter generation to get to where she wants to go. If that means taking on the account of Cherry and Sean Rubin’s adult shop, then she will. But what happens when Imogen discovers the private club that they run at the back? And what happens when she realizes she knows quite a few members?
EXCERPT

Men. All the bloody same.

My mind traced back to the day I had given up on one-sided monogamous relationships.

The children were at school or work, and the sun was beating down. It was a glorious day, and I had decided to go home for lunch, rather than spend it in a stuffy office.

I pulled up outside the house and a fleeting thought passed through my mind when I saw Connor’s car sitting in the driveway. My husband of eighteen years had had the same idea.

I crept into the house, hoping to surprise him. But, it turned out that his idea had involved a slutty bottle-blonde.

I wanted to blame the events that followed on a red mist descending over me. The truth is that in the time it took for my mind to register that some tart was riding my husband in what I later found out was known as reverse cowgirl, my mind had calculated the necessary response.

The skank lost a good handful of bleached hair, roots and all. I allowed her to gather her clothes and watched as she tugged her pants on whilst running out of the house. If nothing else, the neighbours got a good show.

Connor yelled at me. But his words were drowned out by the blood pumping in my ears. I marched back up the stairs and into his little study. Opening the window, I saw Miss Slut stood in the middle of the road, screeching obscenities at me. I looked at the Ferrari in our driveway and smiled.

I think his Xbox enjoyed its first and final flying lesson as it sailed out of the window. The fact that it landed in the bonnet of his prized mid-life crisis proved that Karma does exist.

Connor. Holly.

I made a mental note of the two names at the top of my imaginary hit list.

I blinked and I was back in the boardroom.

MY REVIEW

The above excerpt was what initially drew me to this book. It’s the perfect backstory sequence, setting up exactly where Imogen Pearce is coming from and why she’s in the middle of a sexual dry spell. Cutting back to the boardroom, we’re quickly introduced to Cal Ryedale, her boss and the clear love interest of the story — despite his irksome alpha male way of shouting at all his employees.

So score one for a forbidden office love affair. Throw in the temptations of a private club sealed behind the titular black door and you’ve got the makings of one saucy erotic romance.

But stop, hold that thought. Instead of immediately dishing up the sex scenes, The Black Door hides them from the reader for more than a third of the book. Say what?

Maybe I’m just an impatient pervert, but I took an informal poll of Facebook friends asking when they thought an erotic romance ought to start bringing the eroticism home. Most said right quick, with some chiming in that the first paragraph would be setup, the second teasing, and the third cutting straight to the chase. So let me just emphasize that if you are looking for a truly erotic read, this book is a seriously slow burn. Skip to Chapter 17 for the start of the good stuff.

Once we get past the repeated dysfunctional family scenes and Imogen’s irritating refrain of “But you’re married!” to the point where Cal and Imogen finally get down and dirty, the sex is hot (and frequently wet).

Oddly, however, the private sex club is painted in a very unsexy light. My thought was that this book meant to emphasize sex clubs as, well, sexy. As, indeed, something desirably deviant. After all, the cover promises “Adventurers Only,” suggesting that behind the black door lie all of your most exciting fantasies. Instead most of the scenes with Cherry and Sean Rubin suggest they are dirty smut peddlers, looking to deflower some poor innocent mother. Really? Why center the book’s action around Imogen’s work on a sex shop’s account if she’s not meant to lose herself in this tantalizing new world and chuck all her stuffy inhibitions once and for all?

Perhaps I’m not the ideal erotic romance reader, prefering the wicked charms of straight-up erotica to frothy happy endings where a woman is swept up by a billionaire Prince Charming. I felt misled by this book’s description, as it came off rather anti-erotic to me after promising the thrill of a back-room bordello. For me, even cheap thrills should be depicted as a bit of fun, rather than damning them as nothing but kinky sex with strangers or written off as the purview of nothing but cheaters and skanks. I was ultimately bummed that Cal and Imogen ended up being a couple of marrying-type prudes, despite their sex club memberships that could’ve truly set them apart from the rest of their cardigan-clad friends and neighbors.

C’est la vie. Maybe next time?

BUY A COPY

But don’t just take my word for it. Slip behind The Black Door yourself and see what you think. You can grab a copy at:

Tirgearr Publishing / Smashwords / Amazon US / Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

British author Charlotte Howard was born in Oman and spent much of the first part of her life flitting between Oman, Scotland, and England. Now settled in Somerset, Charlotte lives with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets.

Her career as a writer began at an early age, with a poem being featured in an anthology for the East Midlands. Since then Charlotte has written many short stories and poems, and finally wrote her first full-length piece of fiction in 2010.

During what little spare time she has, Charlotte enjoys reading and writing (of course), spending time with her family, and watching action movies whilst eating curry and drinking tea.

Charlotte is an active member of Yeovil Creative Writers, and can be found online at her website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

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#MarauderMonday: 69 Ways Ninjas Can Kill You

It’s Marauder Monday, which means there be pirates, ninjas and other naughty fellows on the loose! Be wary and keep your wits about you, as there are raiders, plunderers, pillagers, looters, robbers, highwaymen, freebooters, bandits, banditos, rustlers, brigands, buccaneers and corsairs lurking around every corner.

To start with, let’s take the mighty ninja.

Ninjas can kill people in a remarkable number of ways, some of which involve weaponry, and others that involve hand to hand combat. This is just a brief list of some of the many ways in which you might die at the hands of these mysterious warriors.

Decapitation by shinobigatana
Decapitation by kusarigama
Decapitation and explosion by bakuhatsugama
Decapitation by jutte
Decapitation by kama (scythe)
Decapitation by naginata
Decapitation by ninjato
Decapitation by oh-gama
Decapitation by Ronin knife
Decapitation by wakizashi
Decapitation by X-claw triple blade dagger
Decapitation by yari
Blood loss due to being kicked with ashiko
Choked by bakuhatsugama
Explosive damage from bakuhatsugama
Flailed and strangled with chigiriki
Blown up by bombs
Blown up by grenades
Poisoned by poison gas bombs
Blinded by flashbombs, then decapitated
Blown up by explosives packed with shrapnel
Blown up by land mines
Burned to death by incendiaries
Poisoned by fukiya (blow gun)
Grappling hook to the head
Sneak hitsuke (fire) attack, following by decapitation
Butted with jukendo rifle, then run through with bayonet
Run through with jutte (ten-hand weapon)
Poisoned by kakute (iron rings with spikes)
Strangled with kusari-fundo (hand-held weighted chain)
Smothered between the thighs of a kunoichi (female ninja)
Blinded by metsubushi (sight remover), then decapitated
Beaten to death with nunchaku
Smothered slowly in quicksand
Blood loss or poisoned by shuriken (throwing star) attack
Beaten to death in taijutsu (unarmed combat)
Wrestled down and beaten to death in jujutsu combat
Thrown against something sharp or solid enough to crush one’s spine in aikido combat
Grappled to submission and then thrown against something sharp or solid enough to crush one’s spine in judo combat
Betrayal and destruction at Ninja University
Speared through the heart by yumi and ya (bow and arrow)
Bitten by zombie ninja (technically this results in undeath, after a brief period of death)
Thrown off roof
Thrown down well
Thrown into threshing machine
Thrown off precipice
Thrown onto spikes
Thrown out window of tall building
Thrown off of airplane without parachute
Thrown into pit of venomous vipers
Thrown off dam onto rocks below
Thrown into lion’s den
Thrown into volcano
Thrown into acid bath
Thrown into fiery furnace
Stabbed with arrowhead
Stabbed with daggers
Stabbed with shards of glass
Stabbed with wakizashi
Stabbed with yari (spear)
Stabbed with combat X-claws
Stabbed with oh-gama
Stabbed with kusarigama
Stabbed with bakuhatsugama
Stabbed with katana
Stabbed with kakute
Stabbed with kama
Destroyed in mortal combat (or Mortal Kombat)
Seppuku (ritual disembowelment, self-inflicted)

For still more ways in which you may meet your fate of Death By Ninja, be sure to check out my list of ninja weapons from A to Z, as well as my novella Ninjas of the 512.

Check back next week for more tales of murder and mayhem, featuring more marauders on the loose!

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The 3-Day Novel Contest: To pay or not to pay?

Each year as the end of summer approaches, I begin thinking about participating in the 3-Day Novel Contest.

As longtime readers of this blog may already know, I officially participated in 2011 and wrote the first draft of what ultimately became Ninjas of the 512. Though I didn’t win the contest and take home a cash prize, I did walk away with something quite valuable: the manuscript of my first finished novel.

Knowing that the entry fee is $50 — pretty steep, especially if you don’t take home one of the top three slots — I haven’t officially entered the contest since then, though I’ve flirted with the idea of writing along with the participants as a writing exercise.

Somehow it’s just not the same, though. And I think it’s the payment of that entry fee that truly makes the difference.

You see, even if you don’t win, you still WANT to win. And if you’re not officially entered into the contest, there’s no way you CAN win, so you don’t have to take it quite as seriously. The 3-day deadline isn’t real for you if there’s nothing on the line. Sure, you COULD still finish that novel in 3 days… but will you?

Probably not.

I’ve tried it both ways and, honestly, not wanting to waste my entry fee was the defining factor that got the work done, despite all the obstacles, the frustration, and the work I was avoiding. (Yes, lots of us still have to work over 3-day holiday weekends.)

So will I enter this year’s contest, pay the 50 bucks, and give it my best shot?

I’m still debating. After all, I’ve got plenty of other projects I need to finish. Why not just hole up in the writing cave and give’er?

But the idea of a ninja sequel keeps tugging at the back of my mind. Why not set aside 3 measly days — just 72 hours — to crank it out?

What do you think, gentle readers? Would you like to read another ninja story, or should I just keep on with my sexy stories instead?

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Hump Day Reviews: Bound by the Buccaneer

Frederica Beauchamp and Gaston Galette return to the high seas with lusty abandon in Bound by the Buccaneer, the second book in Normandie Alleman’s erotic Pirates of the Jolie Rouge Trilogy.

Taking up with the crew of the Ocean’s Knave where Rescued by the Buccaneer left off, Freddie and Gaston have their work cut out for them as the first pirate couple to set sail together. Having captured the Captain’s heart, Frederica now stands by his side as a pirate’s mistress, participating in the plunder. Instead of robbing innocent victims, however, the crew now relieves fellow pirates of their booty!

Knowing they’re doomed if they continue to make enemies of every pirate in the realm, they head to the Bahamas to strike a deal with three other ships’ captains. Naturally, nothing comes easy in the rough and tumble world of piracy, and the three captains demand a night with Frederica to prove she is Gaston’s whore and not his lover.

Frederica is at first appalled by the idea; she’s clearly in love with Gaston and thought her Master felt the same. He assures her this is purely a strategic move, but he has two days time to “turn her into a proper whore,” and so he teaches his newly deflowered companion to suck and fuck like a professional.

It’s a unique twist on the virgin/whore dichotomy, particularly when you consider the woman is about to engage in a foursome not long after she’s given Gaston her V card. Without giving away the outcome, let’s just say that these pirates are much more sensitive to a lady’s needs than their prickly exteriors might suggest — though certainly no less lusty for a fine wench!

If you’ve read the first book in the series, you already know that Gaston loves spanking Frederica, so it will come as no surprise that the paddlings continue in book two — though, thankfully, Frederica’s whining is cut to a minimum. In addition, you’ll also find more BDSM scenes between the lovers, including some rope games and light domination.

All in all, this installment contains plenty of hot, sexy scenes that will have you wanting to board the nearest seaworthy vessel in search of a dreadlocked, eye-patched pirate of your own. Or, perhaps, a dreamy blonde pirate like Captain Miles Appling, an attentive and experienced older man like Captain Pugwash, or even a randy young seaman like Edward Chatham? Plenty of gents to go around here, ladies, so take your pick!

Intrigued, landlubber? Unfurl your Jolly Roger and harpoon a copy of Rescued by the Buccaneer at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, ARe, Kobo, or Goodreads.

To read an excerpt from the book — along with a character interview with Frederica — check out my previous post. And don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win your own copy of Bound by the Buccaneer.

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Bound by the Buccaneer: A character interview with Frederica Beauchamp

Meet Frederica Beauchamp, the heroine of Normandie Alleman’s Pirates of the Jolie Rouge Trilogy, including the latest installment — Bound by the Buccaneer.

What does Frederica stand for?

Frederica stands for freedom and independence. Even as a child she was doing her own thing, rather than following the standards society sets for her. In Bound by the Buccaneer she sails with the crew of the Ocean’s Knave, serving as their physician – the only woman on the ship. Women pirates were certainly the exception rather than the norm in 1669.

Does she believe in taboos?

Yes, for Frederica the killing of innocents is taboo, and this becomes an issue for her in the pirate community.

Who is her nemesis?

Captain Humphrey, the evil pirate captain who kidnapped and abused her in book one – Rescued by the Buccaneer. He plays a role in all the books, but we will see him again in book three.

What are the first three words that pop into your mind when you think of Frederica?

Passionate, adventurous, and compassionate.

Is Frederica someone you would switch places with?

No, as much as I’d love to spend some time with Gaston I’m too addicted to climate control and bathing to want to go back to the 1600’s.

Excerpt

The next afternoon rolled around entirely too soon for Frederica. Though she’d dressed in her finest frock, a silk gown the same color as her haunting pale blue eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder if the three captains would appreciate her charms. The plunging neckline of her dress and the way her corset whittled her waist displayed her assets to their best advantage, but what if they found her lacking? Would they call off their arrangement with the captain and crew of the Ocean’s Knave?

She shook her head no. Gaston had told her this carnal meeting was to prove that he was not taking orders from Frederica, that the situation was the other way round and she did his bidding. Remembering that helped her feel more at ease.

Hatch accompanied her to the Inn. They left a foul-tempered Gaston back on the ship. Being that it was only mid-day he’d already drank more rum than was his habit. When he’d bid her farewell his words had been slurred and his good eye glassy. Frederica hoped he’d take a nap and awake in better spirits.

In the meantime, she tried to quiet her nerves. Hatch had given her an orange and she ate the succulent fruit along the way, grateful that she didn’t feel the need to converse with Hatch as they walked. The pair had an easy companionship and Hatch was a quiet man anyway.

When they reached the Lucky Sloop, Hatch laid a hand on her shoulder. “You may not always see me, Missy, but I will be there to see they do not harm you. If you should like to stop any proceeding you need only call out my name, and I will see to it your wishes are enforced.” With that he silently pulled a blade from his back pocket and ran it in front of his throat in a mock demonstration of what he would do to anyone who tried to harm her.

Frederica gave him a wan smile. “Your protection is greatly appreciated my friend, but I deem it will prove unnecessary.”

Hatch emitted a low growl and opened the door for her. Frederica recalled what Gaston had said about his sister, and didn’t blame Hatch for being wary of men and their aggressiveness when it came to sexual matters. She took a deep breath and prayed she was right about these men, that they would not harm her.

The proprietor showed them to a back room she’d never seen. To her surprise it looked more like a meeting room than a bed chamber. She sighed with relief. Perhaps these men had no intention of bedding her. Perhaps they’d merely been testing Gaston to gauge his reaction.

All of a sudden she felt a cool sweat bead up on her skin and she feared she might faint. She looked around and tried to gather her bearings. She needed to sit down.

“Miss Beauchamp, why don’t you take a seat?” Miles Appling rushed towards her and helped her to a chair. There were several thick, wooden chairs surrounding a large table in the center of the room.

Pugwash loitered in the corner, a mug in one hand his pipe in the other. Edward Chatham slid into the seat next to her and offered her something to drink.

“I’ll have some rum,” she said.

Chatham smiled shyly and poured her a cup from a bottle sitting on the table.

Appling refilled his mug from another bottle which she assumed was whiskey and stood beside her. Fixing his gaze on hers he said, “We are so pleased you could join us, Mademoiselle Beauchamp.” Then he lifted a lock of her long brown hair and ran his fingers across a string of shells that danced in her mane. “Lovely,” he remarked.

“Thank you,” was all she could manage. In polite company his gesture would have been rude, but it made her stomach flutter with excitement. Perhaps they were going to take her after all.

Pugwash approached the table. He was not classically handsome like the other two men, but there was something interesting about the way he carried himself. A confident man, Frederica had no trouble seeing how he could inspire boatloads of men to follow him. The man was a clearly a born leader. He winked at Frederica bawdily. “Have a drink, lass. We’re here to have a little fun, not to worry you.”

She let go of the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Cheers!” she said and lifted her cup to theirs. “And you may call me Frederica.”

Bound by the Buccaneer

Two years have passed since Frederica joined Gaston aboard the Ocean’s Knave, and with every passing hour they have fallen more deeply in love. By day she is the ship’s physician, but at night she serves her captain in his bed, offering her body for him to punish and pleasure until she begs for more. But after a successful run of raiding other pirate ships, the couple have a target on their backs.

Their only hope is to form an alliance with a trio of like-minded captains, but in order to guarantee the cooperation of these unyielding, battle-hardened men, Gaston is forced to offer them a night with Frederica. Reluctantly, she agrees to be shared with the men, but afterwards Gaston finds it difficult to forgive himself for bartering Frederica’s charms. As jealousy and desperation threaten to consume him, will Gaston lose his beloved Frederica or can he weather the storm and find a way to bind her to him forever?

Publisher’s Note: Bound by the Buccaneer is the second book of the Pirates of the Jolie Rouge trilogy, which began with Rescued by the Buccaneer. It is an adventure and erotic romance novel that includes spankings, sexual scenes including a foursome, anal play, elements of BDSM, and more.

You can pick up your copy of Bound by the Buccaneer today at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, ARe, Kobo, or Goodreads.

Since the Pirates of the Jolie Rouge Trilogy is best read in order, here’s more about the first book…

Rescued by the Buccaneer

When Frederica Beauchamp boards a ship for the Americas, she dreams of a life filled with adventure, but she gets more than she bargained for when her passenger ship is attacked by pirates. The heartless men kidnap her and force her to serve their captain—a fate that might be worse than death, since though he does not have his way with her, the captain delights in baring her, shaming her, and thrashing her bare bottom as punishment for every imagined disobedience.

After the pirates bring aboard an injured man found floating in the sea, Frederica tends to his wounds and learns that he is Gaston Galette, a survivor of a shipwrecked vessel. Gaston seeks her help to overthrow the vile captain, but when their plan goes awry he is forced to use all of his wiles to save them. As the naïve girl and the seasoned sailor navigate one perilous situation after another, he informs Frederica that the only way they can survive is if he is in command, and that if she thinks things can be otherwise, she will be taken over his knee for a bare bottom spanking.

As he watches the proud, willful Frederica bow to his authority, however, Gaston worries that her growing hold on his heart will be his downfall. He knows he cannot take a woman with him when he returns to his ship and crew, but when Frederica accepts his lustful dominance completely, submitting to him with grace and beauty no other woman could match, Gaston realizes that he may never be able to let her go.

You can find Rescued by the Buccaneer here at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, ARe, or Kobo.

About the Author

A former psychologist, Normandie Alleman has always been fascinated by human behavior. She loves writing quirky characters that are all too human. Fiber arts, baking, and Pinterest are a few of her favorite pastimes. She lives on a farm with a passel of kids, an adorable husband, and a pet pig who’s crazy for Red Bull.

Find her online on Twitter @NormandieA, Pinterest, and Facebook, or check out her Amazon Author Page, her Goodreads author profile, or her website normandiealleman.com.

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Laura live: Sexy San Diego and online events happening this week

Ever wanted to listen to me read some of my sassy short stories, live and in person? Or maybe you were hoping to catch me on the radio, talking about sex? Well this week you’re in luck!

I just finished a wild and crazy live interview on DL Zwissler’s “Lost and Found” radio show that you’ll enjoy if you like hearing two chicks talk about sex, sweaty workouts, sex, the stupid things people ask erotica writers, sex — and did I mention the sex? As one listener noted, “This show should be rated NC-71, no one under 71 admitted without a foulmouthed sailor to interpret for them.” So, um, yeah, it’s definitely NSFW, but it sure was fun.

And if you’re in San Diego this Friday, August 8, be sure to stop by the Book Lovers reading happening at the Art Institute (1439 El Prado), as part of their Poetry & Art series. Our fearless editor, Shawna Kenney (of I Was a Teenage Dominatrix fame), will be in the house, along with Chelsey Drysdale, Danielle Bauter and me! Doors open at 6:30 PM, the show starts at 7, and it’s $5 entry — or free if you BYOB. I hear there will also be art, music and vegetarian noms, if you’re into one or all of those things, so c’mon down, buy a book and say hi.

I hope to be reading at a few more local reading series later on this year, so stay tuned for more events and updates, or join my mailing list to make sure you never miss an update.

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Themed posts: Curating creativity with weekly inspiration

Having recently joined a few erotica writers’ tribes over at Triberr (which is, by the way, a great place to meet fellow bloggers and gain new readers for your blog), I’ve noticed a growing trend towards themed posts. For instance, there are Saturday Spankings, Masturbation Mondays and Horny Hump Days, not to mention the new Mile High Muses collaborative blog which posts daily themed installments from a group of Colorado romance authors.

So I asked myself: could these kinds of themed posts help inspire my own creativity? And, since the obvious answer to this rhetorical question is YES, what should my daily themes be?

Need some inspiration? Click here!

I used to run “Fetish Fridays” on a previous blog, where I’d either write about a specific fetish or simply post pictures as an illustrative example of the fetish in question. Of course, at some point you’re bound to run out of legit fetishes, and then what?

As a writer that dabbles in various genres, I’ve been toying with “Fiction Friday,” where I’ll post a short story that can come from the toy box of topics I typically write about, including sex, travel, ninjas and more. That should also help keep me on task since I’ve been missing my Friday posts, due to my weird weekly schedule where I have Fridays and Saturdays off instead of a typical Saturday/Sunday weekend.

For Mondays, I’m thinking of starting a “Manic Monday” series, in which I post a quickie using only short, bullet pointed lists with accompanying photos (like, say, the grumpy looking cat pictured above). Since we’re all a little frazzled on Mondays, it’ll be a quick and easy read and a chance for you to share some bullet points of your own — whether it’s your weekly To Do list, a list of accomplishments from the previous week, or just a random collection of links.

To prevent theme burnout, I figure I’ll leave my Tuesdays and Thursdays open for now (after all, there’s always a chance to toss out a “Throwback Thursday” photo or two when you’re at a loss for ideas), slipping in author interviews and personal WIP updates as I go. And of course Wednesdays will remain Hump Day Review days, where I present erotic books, movies and assorted cultural artifacts for your edification.

So those are my themed post ideas, for now. Do you ever write themed posts, and if so, what themes do you like to play with on your blog?

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July Camp Nanowrimo progress report

July’s Camp Nanowrimo efforts have not gone quite as planned.

It occurs to me that although I enjoy writing about sex, I don’t actually enjoy writing erotica. That is, I get easily bored when trying to write several sex scenes, one on top of the other, and trying to come up with new ways to describe the same old positions.

To me, the exciting part of writing about sex is all foreplay. Most of my best stories are more about the chase than the capture and inevitable outcome (and emissions). Some call it romance, I suppose. Others call it a tease. Whatever the case may be, I’ve grown tired of writing about the Happy Endings. And, therefore, my erotic works have stalled.

I have, however, jumped back to working on my Hack Your Love Life book, which is nonfictional, all about finding great apps to find love and improve your sex life, and should be finished by the end of July if I can stop writing this blog and get back to it already!

So, that’s my Camp Nanowrimo progress report. It’s a little different than I expected it to be, but hey — that’s life.

What have you been working on this July?

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Hump Day Reviews: Bettie Page in Danger (Vol 4)

I’m not normally a consumer of comic books, since I’ve typically got about a thousand books on my nightstand instead, but when my pal Jimmy Callaway mentioned he had a Bettie Page comic for sale, I was intrigued.

As you can see from the cover, this “Bettie Page in Danger” comic combines vintage Bettie Page photos and modern pin-up pix (in 3D, no less!) for mature audiences only. They also include some “true and twisted striptease stories,” and come with both a set of 3D glasses (which haven’t changed at all since I was a kid; they’re still made of cardboard and cellophone) and a bonus DVD.

I was most intrigued by the DVD, when I first picked up my copy, as I couldn’t imagine what might be on it. More pix?

Nope, there’s actually another odd mash-up of vintage Bettie films and modern-day footage, telling the tale of some female prisoners and their torture at the hands of the evil Doktormentor (who, it seems, also has his own spinoff series).

According to my sources, there are currently 11 issues in this series, created by SHH! Productions. This comic is actually the fourth in the series, so I’ll admit to being a bit confused by the plot, having missed the previous three episodes. Then again, it’s Bettie Page posing in pinup shots with comic book bubbles superimposed — what more do you really need to know?

Though the puns here will leave you groaning, I enjoyed flicking through this crazy comic. I might suggest, however, that you not try reading it in public — unless you like to receive odd looks, glares and rude remarks from strangers. (My husband also insisted I brown-bag it when I popped by his workplace, since the cameras might pick it up and wonder why I was ogling nude females in a place of business.)

Giveaway!

As my collection of books threatens to overrun my available space, I’ve decided to host a giveaway to win a copy of this very comic!

To enter, just leave a comment telling me why you’re Bettie’s #1 fan and deserve to win.

Of course you must be 18+ and live in the US or Canada to be eligible to win. And if you’re a comic book collector, don’t bother if you’re gonna holler about how it ain’t in mint condition. The book is also (obviously) risqué, so if you’re offended by tits, you’d best move on.

So since we’re talking comics, who’s your favorite female superhero, and whaddya think about that whole Thor’s now a woman situation?

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