Lisa Fox's Blog, page 165
October 9, 2012
Away from the Spotlight by Tamara Carlisle
Tamara Carlisle is here today and she will be awarding two $25 Amazon GCs to randomly drawn commenters during the tour!
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Romance Novel Supporting Cast
A well-done romance novel is a vacation from the ordinary. It is a chance for the reader to step into the shoes of the heroine and live a life that is different from the reader’s own. Supporting characters should enhance that experience. They help flesh out the imaginary world, shed light on the lead characters, move the story forward, and explain past events either unknown or not previously described by the narrator.
For example, in Away from the Spotlight, unless there was a character or plot-driven reason for heroine, Shannon Sutherland, to have traveled alone around Europe after the California Bar Exam, she needed company. Her friend, Pam, served as that company and allowed for a little snarkiness not found in the sweet relationship between Shannon and hero, Will MacKenzie:
“Let’s go get some beers. I could use a little hair of the dog. Besides, we can celebrate and being a little tipsy will make it easier for me to tolerate the two of you.”
The reactions and dialogue of the supporting cast serve to describe the main characters and their actions in a way that narrative and inner dialogue cannot. I wrote Away from the Spotlight in first-person narrative from Shannon’s point-of-view. Although a reader may determine that a character is attractive from the self-description, unless that heroine is arrogant (and an unlikeable heroine is never a good idea), narration and inner dialogue won’t necessarily make that clear.
In the following excerpt from Away from the Spotlight, Shannon’s conversation with friend and co-worker, Rachael, makes it clear that Shannon is attractive, and that Shannon doesn’t really see it:
“Please” Rachael said. “You get hit on every time we go out.”
“That’s overstating things quite a bit.”
“You seem oblivious to it half the time.”
I guess I did ignore some of it. When you spend time as part of a female minority in bars full of drunk men, it was hard not to think that some of them would have hit on me for no other reason than that I was female, regardless of how I acted, what I said, or what I looked like. I therefore learned that getting hit on wasn’t necessarily a compliment and, the later it happened in the evening, the less of a compliment it was.
As another example, the following dialogue between Shannon and Will’s friend, Niall, helps explain why Will was particularly attracted to Shannon when they met:
[Niall] then turned his gaze to Will. “You didn’t mention she had ginger hair. I might’ve known.”
“What do you mean?” I asked curiously and looked at Will, who looked embarrassed. Will then glared at Niall.
“I promised I’d be good. I’ll just say that he’s had a thing for it for a very long time.”
Supporting characters also help move the plot along. In the following sequence, Will and Shannon have broken up and been apart for a few months. Shannon’s friends took her out regularly to cheer her. On this particular occasion, Shannon’s friend, Annie, steered Shannon into the path of Will:
On the Friday night of the following week, which was my first full week of being a bona fide litigator, I met up with my college friend, Annie, at a sushi place in Beverly Hills. It was her turn in the rotation to keep me company for the evening. Annie always liked to visit different sushi restaurants and, despite the fact that I didn’t like sushi, I would go with her for the chicken teriyaki and the lively atmosphere at these types of places.
I hadn’t been seated too long when I spotted him. Will was there, sitting at a long table at the back with six other people, none of whom I recognized. Unlike his normal routine, he didn’t sit facing away from the crowd in the restaurant.
Although he was still as beautiful as always, he wore several days worth of stubble, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked fairly out of it. There were a number of large bottles of Japanese beer as well as what looked like sake sitting in front of him. He had each of his arms around the two girls flanking him, one of whom was kissing his neck.
So this was the Mr. Hyde that had been alluded to by Will and his friends from his early days of fame. Seeing him like that made me believe that I had never really known him at all. I stared across the room at him and my eyes went wide with shock. At that moment, he saw me, let go of the girls, and stared back with a pained look on his face.
Knowing that Shannon saw him in such a state, Will goes to see her the next day to explain himself, leading to a reconciliation.
The supporting cast can also detail relevant past events outside the perspective of the narrator. For example, Katherine Sullivan, Will’s frequent co-star explained how Will handled the break-up with Shannon:
Katherine chimed in this time. “Well, I was with Will during the Midnight 4 shoot. He wasn’t a lot of laughs then either. He spent all his free time in his room or trailer alone, probably curled up into a ball. The makeup artists complained about the bags under his eyes. And trying to get happy scenes out of him was like pulling teeth.”
At the end of the day, supporting characters should be fun, adding to the reader’s enjoyment of the story. I had fun creating mine. My two favorites were Rachael and Carrie. Shannon’s friend and co-worker, Rachael, is described as follows:
Rachael was a beautiful buxom blonde with one of her tattoos, a rose, peeking out from behind her blouse. I had never met someone who was so much fun to be around. Her wit and vivaciousness always managed to attract a crowd wherever she went.
Shannon’s friend and summer roommate, Carrie, is described as follows:
Carrie was kind of quirky, which gave her a lot of her charm. She was an avid tabloid reader, the sleazier the tabloid, the better. She planned on sleeping in a sleeping bag on top of her bed fully-dressed every night. Sheets, comforters and nightgowns were not her thing. It must have been an interesting adjustment for her boyfriend, Jeff, ten years her senior.
As a writer, I love creating and populating an imaginary world, including its supporting characters. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about a few of the supporting characters I created in Away from the Spotlight.
BLURB:
In the closing weeks of law school, Shannon Sutherland meets handsome and charming Englishman Will MacKenzie. Initially swept off her feet, Shannon finds that Will has a secret that, once discovered and the consequences realized, could destroy their fledgling relationship. Will and Shannon take great pains to have a normal relationship but, ultimately, find it impossible to do so. Will the pressures of their careers and the temptations of others drive Will and Shannon apart? Can Will and Shannon live a happy life away from the spotlight?
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tamara Carlisle is a former attorney and business consultant. Away from the Spotlight is her first published work of fiction. She currently is working on two additional novels: one is about love in the music industry and the other is a work of paranormal fiction. Tamara currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her British husband and daughter. For further information, go to http://www.tamaracarlisle.com.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Away-fr...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/books/2953130...
Library Thing: http://www.librarything.com/author/ca...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tamara_Carlisle
Tamara’s Goodreads Author Page also includes a blog detailing trivia relating to Away from the Spotlight.
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: Away from the Spotlight, Contemporary Romance, Giveaway, Guest Blogger, Tamara Carlisle
Definitely Next Week
I have decided that I am going to restart Insanity next week because writing excuse for my laziness week after week has gotten boring. I would have started this week, but I am going to the Ellora’s Cave Romanticon on Thursday and it seemed silly to start it up only to have to stop it again.
You know, if any of you all wanted to do Insanity with me, that might be fun. Or any exercise program really, it wouldn’t matter. Maybe a group effort would help motivate us all. Just a thought.
Regardless, I will definitely be bouncing around again next week! For sure!
Probably.
Filed under: Insanity Tagged: Gym, Insanity, Lazy, Lisa Fox, Workout
October 8, 2012
Hot Men Columbus Day Edition
Celebrating Columbus Day the proper way – with Italian male models!
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Filed under: Holiday, Hot Men Tagged: Columbus Day, Holiday, Italians, Male Model, Sexy Men
October 7, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday
Sculpting a Demon is now in a new print (!!!) collection titled THE ART OF ATTRACTION. When I got the books in the mail last week my head almost exploded. I’m in paperback! Yay!
Here are six sentences to celebrate!
“Are you going to behave?” she asked Arien as they waited to be admitted.
“What are you implying?” he asked, his face the very picture of innocence.
“I’m not implying anything, I’m saying straight-out that if you’re planning on doing anything wonky, you best stay outside.”
“Wonky?”
“Yes, wonky,” she said.
That trademark grin of his danced across his lips. “Define wonky.”
Be sure to stop by the OFFICIAL SITE for all of this week’s snippets!
Filed under: Six Sentence Sunday Tagged: Art of Attraction, Ellora's Cave, Erotic Romance, Fallen Angel, Nice Ass, Paperback, Paranormal Romance, Sculpting a Demon, Sexy Men, Six Sentence Sunday
October 6, 2012
Saturday Video – The Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination
Man, I love the 80s. Also this song makes me think of Vice City which was an AWESOME game – probably my favorite GTA game of all.
Filed under: Saturday Video Tagged: (Keep Feeling) Fascination, 80s, GTA, Saturday Video, The Human League, Vice City
October 5, 2012
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Freedom to Read
Find out everything you need to know right here: Banned Books Week: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Freedom to Read
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And then get reading!
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Filed under: News Tagged: Banned Books Week, Read, Reading, Sexy Men
October 4, 2012
October 3, 2012
Which Switch? by Victoria Blisse
Victoria Blisse is here today sharing expert (or two!) from her latest release, Fulfill Me. Leave a comment on this blog for an entry in to a prize draw. One lucky winner will receive their choice of three Blisse ebooks!
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Which Switch?
Switch is a term you may have encountered if you’ve read any stories with BDSM themes before. It’s used to describe an individual who enjoys being dominant and also being submissive. So basically they can give it or take it and they’ll enjoy it just the same!
I’m like that myself, though really I just enjoy a variety of experiences after all that is the spice of life, right? And Caitlyn from Fulfill me is certainly a switch. I think if you asked her at the beginning of the novel about it she’d probably just tell you she liked sex. She’s not had much experience with kink but by the end of the novel she’s been a whip wielding Domme and a smacked arse submissive. Caitlyn is definitely a try anything once kind of gal. Which does she prefer though? Well, you’ll have to read the novel to find that out.
Here’s the blurb:
Caitlyn is out to get what she wants and she desperately wants Nick Casey, Star of Dobsons Digs the biggest soap on TV. She will do anything to get into his life but one thing, one person always stops her. His annoying yet handsome PA Mike.
But there is more to Nick and to Mike than she could ever have first imagined. She ends up on a journey from one side of BDSM to the complete opposite and all the time she’s just looking for the man who can make her whole.
And for you, two excerpts to see how she copes in both roles!
Dominant Excerpt:
Well, he’s got more gumption than I credited him with, he’s kneeling, naked, in front of the sofa waiting for me, his head bowed and yes, I can see he’s nibbling on his bottom lip. He must be nervous. Good.
“Stand up.” He stands in front of me, and I loop the leather, studded cock ring around his slightly excited member and balls. “Now position yourself over the arm of the sofa.”
We’ll start out with something familiar I think. I place the case in front of him and rummage through it’s contents for a while. I pull out the odd item, then replace it. Lube, a ruler, a small pink vibrator, a huge black dildo that almost makes my eyes water. I wonder what’s going through his mind?
“Ah ha!” I pull out the paddle, it looks just like a little ping pong bat, and I like the way it feels in my hand.
“Mistress is very disappointed in you. When you are with me, slave, I should be your highest priority.” I slap down the paddle on his arse, hard. I mean business. “And you didn’t do that. You humiliated me instead. I will not stand for that, slave.” I slap his bottom again, and again and once more, hard and fast, knowing it stings as the red marks spring up on his butt cheeks. “If you are mine, slave, you are mine and I am your top priority.” Another three stinging whacks rain down on his warmed pink cheeks. “And if you can’t deal with that, get up now, get dressed and never, ever, ever come back.” I walk to the side of him and yank up his head with his hair and look deep into his eyes. “Do you want to leave your Mistress, slave?”
He hesitates for less than a split second and replies. “No, Mistress.”
My heart thumps with relieved pleasure. He’s addicted to me now, he needs me. What a rush. Nick Casey is my slave after all the time I was enslaved to my obsession. “Right, well I hope you will learn your lesson today, only what I want matters. You hear me, slave? Who matters?”
“Only you, Mistress.”
“Good answer,” I reply sternly. “Now just you remember that and we’ll get along fine.”
Submissive Excerpt:
“Now wench, if you lie still, and let me do what I want, I’ll make it pleasurable for ye, if you make a fuss and a fluster, I’ll beatcha within an inch of your life!”
He scowls and I hold back a chuckle.
“I’ll be good sir, just don’t hurt me.”
“That’s a good girl.” He says as his lips plunge down my neckline and into my cleavage. “Now, where was I?”
He kisses my stomach then holding my thighs wide he runs his tongue up and down the thin material of my panties, making me groan and sigh. I want to feel more pressure on my pleasure zones.
“Damn underwear.” he grumbles then I feel two of his fingers pressing into the lace. A hard pull and I can hear the distinctive rip of material giving between his strong hands. The vibrations echoing up my thighs and into my pubis, making me gasp then bite my lip. Falling into character, I plead for him not to hurt me.
“Oh no, sweet one, I won’t hurt you.” he pants, his gaze fixed on my crotch. I feel his gentle probing tongue and the scratchy soft carpet itching my shoulders and buttocks. The fact that those lacy knickers cost me a lot of money and the constriction of my frock around my waist are all forgotten as he slowly and methodically brings my body to a mind shattering orgasm.
“To your hands and knees wench, come on.” I pick up my quivering body and comply, my body still suffused with post orgasmic bliss.
“Oh you have a pretty rump.” he coos, slapping first one buttock then the other, making me squeal with shocked delight. “I’m itching for you to be naughty so I can spank this sweet, sweet bottom. It will look beautiful in raspberry pink.”
I’ve always thought I wasn’t into pain, least not on the receiving end of it, but the way he paints the picture and the way my cheeks smart from the soft slap make me eager to be naughty, to feel his wrath meted out on my ample backside.
I hear him curse. “Condom?” He whispers.
“In the drawer.”
He moves away from me and I let my mind wander to more images of being tied down and spanked. Yes, I can imagine that feeling good. To be completely at his mercy.
You can pick up your copy of Fulfill Me from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008PUOCJC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B008PUOCJC&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelt-20, Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008PUOCJC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B008PUOCJC&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21 and All Romance Ebooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fulfillme-895165-144.html
Are you a switch?
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Victoria Blisse is a mother, wife, Christian, Manchester United fan and award winning erotica author. She is also the editor of several Bigger Briefs collections, Smut by the Sea and Smut in the City.
She is equally at home behind a laptop or a cooker and she loves to create stories, poems, cakes and biscuits that make people happy. She was born near Manchester, England and her northern English quirkiness shows through in all of her stories.Passion, love and laughter fill her works, just as they fill her busy life.
Find out more at http://victoriablisse.co.uk or follow and friend Victoria: http://twitter.com/victoriablisse http://facebook.com/victoriablisse
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Give away! Leave a comment on this blog for an entry in to my prize draw. One lucky winner will receive their choice of three Blisse ebooks from my backlist http://victoriablisse.co.uk/books
Only one comment per blog will be counted but you can get 4 more entries if you comment on each of the other stops in my Fulfill Me tour. http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/victoria-blisse-3/
Winner will be picked and contacted on the 6th October. Please be sure you leave your email so I can contact you if you win, thanks!
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: BDSM, Domination, Fulfill Me, Submission, Victoria Blisse, Which Switch?
October 2, 2012
Where Do You Find Motivation?
So, I really do want to start up Insanity again, but I am having trouble actually motivating myself to get up and do it. In my head, in my thoughts, I really want to do it, in fact, I actually liked working out when I was doing it on a regular schedule, but when I wake up in the morning and I am faced with the choice of turning on the DVD or just having coffee, I am always choosing the coffee. Usually with a cookie.
So how do you get motivated? Any tips, tricks, inspiration?
Filed under: Insanity Tagged: Bulge, Insanity, Lazy, Lisa Fox, Motivation, Sexy Men, Workout
October 1, 2012
Passionate Cooks – Free Awesome Cookbook!
Free Recipes From Today’s Hottest Romance Authors – including me!
Filed under: News Tagged: Awesomeness, Cookbook, Cooking, Free, Lisa Fox, Passionate Cooks, Recipes
