Ellison James's Blog, page 10

Get it While it's Hot-and FREE!

I've finished my latest story On The Cross-town Bus and am offering the work FREE for a very limited time. I make this offer so that those interested may download the draft or beta copy, and give your opinion, or suggest changes. I would also love it if you might be willing to leave a review wherever it is offered once published.

Here's the link: On The Cross-town Bus at Smashwords.

Progress Report

I must admit, I'm not the most prolific writer in the world. I've been promising (working on) a new story using the main characters, Wendy and Rick, from the short erotic piece, Window Treatment . In the first story, the reader is introduced to Wendy Parker, a graphic artist working for a major corporation. One evening, Wendy happens to be looking out her window and sees her neighbors across the street engaging in some lovemaking. Despite her best efforts, she becomes so aroused by them that, in the absence of her boyfriend, who is on a business trip, decides to take matters into her own hands.
She becomes so enthralled in her own passion that see does not see that the couple see was watching has now finished and are watching her! She's embarrassed and bitter, and vows to give them a taste of their own medicine. What ensues is increasing exhibitionism and voyeurism culminating in her putting on a show at the window when her boyfriend comes home.
In this next story, Wendy has been invited to Seoul, South Korea for the possibility of a huge contract with the Samsung corporation. She has done well enough as a graphic artist to go freelance. Rick has since quit his job to become her agent and business partner. Rick has come along with her and they view this trip as a kind of "mini vacation" even though it is all business. Of course, Rick has some secret plans of his own, as he has been to Seoul before. This scene begins as they arrive at the hotel to find out it is the Ritz-Carlton. The Samsung corporation is really taking care of them. Wendy has really come to enjoy having sex in public places. It is the thought of being seen or caught that excites her most. Please be advised that this scene contains graphic depictions of sex and is meant for adult audiences.
                                                                                               
My jaw literally fell open when the driver pulled the car under the covered portico of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. I had assumed the Samsung corporation would put us up in an economy-class hotel, but this was ... This was the Ritz-Carlton! Bright crystal chandeliers lined the overhang, and glass-covered gas lamps cast a romantic glow across the large glass revolving door.
"I know you're impressed," Rick said. "But, be careful not to scrape your jaw on the sidewalk when you get out of the car." Rick chuckled and grabbed my hand, as he guided me through the open car door.The driver had opened the door so quickly; I had to look to the front of the car just to make sure he had put it in park.
"Miss Barker," the driver continued to mispronounce my name. "Please, enjoy your stay. Take shuttle bus to Samseong-gong tomorrow."
"Is there a building number or address I'm supposed to go to?" I asked, not understanding what he had said.
"Shuttle bus take you to Sam Sung Town," he said, exaggerating each syllable of Samsung Town.
I handed him two twenty dollar bills and said, "Kum-sam-nida," one of the few phrases I had learned, meaning "thank you."
"Chum-nao," the driver said, and slid through the front door of his car.
I assumed it meant, "You're welcome."
Rick pulled me through the revolving doors carrying both of our bags in one hand, and holding my hand with the other. I had assumed he had not slept on the airplane ride over, but now I was not so sure. He hurried me to the check-in counter, excitedly pointing at the grand staircase, and the glass elevators moving up and down at least twenty stories.
Rick gave our bags to a bellhop and asked, "Would you like to get a drink?"
"Sure," I said. Rick's excitement was infectious, and I wondered just how opulent the bar might be, given the rest of the hotel.
The bar was just as well appointed as the rest of the hotel.
"Our room is on the twenty-seventh floor," Rick said as he allowed me to scoot into the bench seat, before sliding in beside me.
"We must be on the top floor."
"Balcony suite," He said, with a smile.
I sat with Rick discussing our plan for the meeting the next day. He ran his hands up my legs under the table. I loved that he could not keep his hands off me, and it was a huge turn on that he was willing to show his affection right there for everyone to see. Each time I felt his hands glide over my knees and up my thigh; I inched forward in my seat, willing him to move closer to the molten furnace in my core. I just knew that If I could get him to move all the way up my leg, through the thin lace edge of my panties, he would feel how excited I was, how wet I was, and pleasure me right there on the spot. We sat beside each other and I had my hand resting on his leg. Each time his hand moved up my thigh, I squeezed his leg in anticipation. He was toying with me, but I liked it. I cupped my hand over Rick's crotch and felt the bulge straining the fabric his pants to the limit. I massaged his stiff cock through his pants until he let out a muffled groan. That was when I decided playtime was over. It was time to get down to business. Only the glass elevator separated us from our room, and I knew I could not wait that long to feel his cock in my mouth, taste him, and repay his earlier selfless gesture.
"Shall we check out our room?" I said, giving Rick my most devious smile.
"Stairs or Elevator?" Rick countered, with his own devious look.
"You know I just have to check out that glass elevator," I said as Rick took my hand, and we nearly ran out of the bar toward the bank of elevators at the center of the building.
As soon as the elevator door opened, I pushed Rick in and said, "I'm gonna get you off in twenty floors."
"Well then, get your freak on, girl," Rick said with a chuckle, as he pushed the button marked twenty-seven."
Before the elevator doors closed, I had his pants unzipped and his pants halfway down his waist. His stiff cock strained against the thin fabric of his boxers, and a tiny spot of wetness was already soaking through the dark material. I pulled his boxers down against the waist of his pants and his cock sprung upward as it broke free from its restraint. The elevator began its ascent and I dove onto Rick's glorious cock, pushing him backward against the glass. He moaned as I brought him into my mouth as far as I could, while stroking his base with one hand, and cupping my other hand around his balls.
I pulled away, continuing to stroke his length, while I looked through the glass of the ascending elevator at the people below. The thought that any one of those people could look up and see what we were doing any second sent a thrill through my brain. I felt I might have been as excited as Rick, getting him off with a time limit, and the thought that someone could look up and see us, or the elevator could stop at any floor before ours with people waiting outside. I went back down on him, rolling my tongue, first around his head, and then down his shaft as I brought him as far back into my throat as I could, while gently kneading his balls. He groaned again as I gagged, and I felt his balls begin to tightened in my hands. I knew he was almost there, and the thought released a flush of heat and wetness that made inner folds glide, slick as oil, against each other, making me even more excited.
"We're moving past the twenty-fifth floor," Rick said.
I felt his body tense, and he stepped in place. I immediately pulled off him, thinking the elevator was stopping.
"Don't stop," Rick nearly yelled, as he pushed on my shoulders, urging me to continue.
I moaned as I took him back into my mouth. His balls tightened again in my hands, and he starting moving his hips against me, fucking my mouth as a he moaned in response to me.
"Ooh, Wendy. Oh fu--" He suddenly stopped and moved toward the door.
The elevator came to a sudden stop and an alarm bell sounded.
"Don't stop. I'm gonna come."
I barely heard him over the sound of the alarm bell, but I felt his body begin to quiver and shake, and he was letting out a low moan that was building into some kind of indiscernible words. I pursed my lips as hard as could around his cock while sucking and rolling my tongue over and around his head. I covered the part of him not in my mouth with my hand, stroking and kneading, ready to milk him as he came.The whole scene seemed surreal as he shuddered and came into my mouth, while spewing and alternating stream of "I love you" and profanities. The alarm bell was ringing in rapid succession that it assaulted my ears as one steady deafening tone. Rick's cock felt as if it was actually growing larger and harder as he gripped my shoulders and pushed himself into with each release of a forceful stream of cum. I loved the taste of Rick's cum, although most of it was shooting right to the back of my throat, denying me the pleasure of his salty taste.
His whole body seemed to deflate as he finished. I could hear him breathing hard, and I knew that I just gave him the best blow job he ever had. The thought of what it must have been like for him sent another flush of warmth and wetness through my pussy. I was so turned on, so wet, that my juice had moistened my inner thighs. They felt squishy and slick as I moved my legs together to enhance the sensation. I reluctantly hoisted Rick's boxers and pants up at once, folding his half-erect cock back inside, and zipping him up. He turned off the emergency stop, and the bell stopped, leaving a ghost ringing in my ears. The elevator continued its ascent to the last floor, until the digital light and ding indicated we reached our destination.As the door opened to the twenty-seventh floor, I looked out into the corridor to see a small group of  hotel staff looking in on us with perplexed looks on their faces.
"Sorry," Rick said. "Pushed the wrong button,"
He took my hand and we left the elevator together, smiles from ear to ear on both of us. We chuckled and giggled together all the way down the hall to room number twenty-seven oh two. When Rick slid the key card through, and opened the door to our room, my jaw dropped for the second time that day. The room was beautiful, with crystal light fixtures and dark wood furniture. The place might have been bigger then Rick's apartment and mine put together.
Rick did not seem as impressed with the space as I was, and simply picked me up walked toward the open double doors leading to the bedroom.
"What are you doing," I asked, although I had a pretty good idea what he had in mind, and I was tickled.
"I'm taking you into that bedroom, so I can strip you naked and return the favor," was his response.
His statement sank into my core, and I was made wet again with anticipation.
                                                                                        
If you liked this little taste, please look for this story to be released by the end of August. And, please feel free to comment, or just rant. I love the interaction.

Serious Kink

How many of you out there are into kinky sex? Don't feel like answering that question? Okay, how many of you out there like to read about kinky sex? Now I bet your starting to think about just what kind of kink you are willing to subject yourself to - in literary form, of course.

I was recently discussing a recent story I wrote with a reader. The story in question was my short erotic piece, Window Treatment , about a woman who discovers her desire for sex while being watched, or in public, after witnessing her neighbors in the act.
This reader said something that struck me as profound and insightful. In the course of a discussion about the upcoming sequel to Window Treatment, On The Crosstown Bus , the reader asked "What is it, exactly, that Wendy (my main character) likes about sex in public. You know, I never really gave it that much thought. In my story, the character just realizes she likes it. So, now I'm going to be writing that information into the next story. But, in order to do it correctly, I had to find someone that enjoyed this very thing, and could give me some idea of why someone might enjoy sex in public to the point of seeking it out.
This person was very upfront and told me the reasons she like sex in public was because of the excitement involved. The fear of being discovered or caught brought about a sense of urgency. She went on to say that the sense of urgency brought about a very high level of excitement - much more so than any other time. So, now I'm incorporating this reasoning into my upcoming story.
Another project I am working on is a story involving the melding of music with the sexual adventure. We all know music has the capacity to affect mood. I'm taking it a step further in my upcoming story aptly titled, Got The Music In Me , and making my character's playlist and integral part of her satisfaction. This story involves two characters from the story, Pleasure Doing Business , Reshonda and David. In this story, David and Reshonda have sent Michelle to a special school to become a dominatrix (another project in the works called Extreme Obedience) as a Birthday present. David introduces a new play toy into their "play" made by a company called OhMiBod.
But is any of this activity really kinky? I suppose that answer depends on each individuals standards and tolerances. In my research, I've covered everything from foot fetishes to figging. I've found that one common term covers the majority of the forms of serious kink - BDSM.
in my upcoming story Extreme Obedience , I delve into the world of BDSM that I touched upon in my story, Pleasure Doing Business . In researching this story, I found that BDSM really is a world in and of itself. A simple google search to wikipedia gave me a day's worth of reading material. I found that BDSM covers three interwoven areas of discovery. There is B/D or Bondage and Discipline. This is the part we hear about in songs with whips and chains. Next is the D/S side, or Dominance and Submission. This is where the roles of Top, Bottom and Switch come into play. Third is the S/M part, or Sadism and Masochism. Sadism involves inflicting pain or humiliation on another for sexual pleasure. Masochism is deriving sexual pleasure from receiving pain or humiliation. In addition to the two attributes listed above, BDSM also has a motto consisting of three words: safe, sane, and consensual. This means that all play must be consensual, and fall into some guidelines agreed upon before play begins. Even the S/M part cannot involve real pain that is nonconsensual or that could cause irreversible damage, or death.
Through my research, I've learned to applaud those praticing BDSM for simple enjoyment, even as a lifestyle choice. I will cover the concept, particulars, and secrecy of BDSM in my upcoming story Extreme Obedience . But if you want just a little taste of some of the basic elements of BDSM, then read my story Pleasure Doing Business .


I will be sure to post updates and new information on this subject in the future. All of my stories can be found at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords.

Cover Story

You've heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words" but what if you have one picture - one chance to make a positive impression on something that is fifty, or even eighty thousand words.

Being a completely independent author means I am responsible for everything from editing to book cover design. I've recently taken to getting help with editing. I've recruited the help of others, but found I still must scour my work over and over for a long time after publication. I want to be as professional as possible in my writing, and feel that, if I am to expect someone to pay for my work, they deserve the best I can produce.


I do enjoy creating my own book covers. I use photoshop and am getting better at it all the time. I've recently decided (again) to change the book cover for my novel, Lovestruck Succubus. I've tried to keep it as simple as possible. I started to think maybe the old cover was too dark, and appeared busy.
I'm hoping that I've made my new cover more appealing. Tell me what you think. Leave a comment  below.

I may use a service such as RomanceNovelCovers for a future project. this service creates very nice looking covers that remain within the bounds of decency for sellers such as Apple.

Making a Werewolf

For those of you who have read my novel Lovestruck Succubus you know that the story begins with Azra's quest to find a loving relationship like the mortals she feeds upon with each attempt ending in death of the mortal man ... until she's cornered by Raif, but he's not so mortal.

Those of you who have not read the novel, might I suggest you give it a try.

What's Raif's secret to survival against Azra? Why, he's a werewolf, of course! He is a werewolf of my own making - more of a were shapeshifter, but in my mind, a werewolf nonetheless. Where did this strange shapeshifting were come from? The answer is simple. years of myth and legend.

A little werewolf history ...
Werewolves, in their current form have been around since the medieval times or the dark ages. Wolves became so large and overpopulated that unbelieving souls would think they had to be some kind of half-human half-wolf creature that would steal their livestock, and children, in the night.
Werewolves remained popular in children's fables and literature but real popularity came in 1935, when Universal made the movie "Werewolf of London" the first werewolf horror film. Back then, Werewolves were restricted to shifting during full moons, and could be taken out by a silver bullet. Really anything with silver was believed to work. In fact, The Werewolf in "Werewolf of London" was killed with a silver-tipped cane.

Nowadays, Werewolves can be beastly creatures, or humanoids with the ability to shift whenever they desire. In the Twilight series, Jacob was more of a were-shifter than a Werewolf. I like the depiction of the Werewolf as a shapeshifter able to shift into full-wolf form at will. Some people will disagree, but I like that Werewolves have been shown as teenagers, survivalists, and even romantic heroes and heroines in the recent past.


My Werewolf, my way ...

In my Immortal Desires series, Werewolves come in two classes. First, there are the naturals - those Werewolves born of other Werewolves. Second, are the ferals - those werewolves that began their life like everyone else, and were turned into a Werewolf through some form of blood transfer from another Werewolf.

I like the distinction because I believe that there is no such things as a classless society. There will always be the haves, and the have-nots, The oppressed, and the oppressors. Of course, I designed a flaw in my Werewolf class system. For instance, what if a natural creates a feral, and later, that feral has a child with another feral or natural - doesn't much matter at this point. That child would be a natural. Yes, I know this may create tension and conflict within my Werewolf society, but that is what makes a great story.

Family lineage is very important in my Werewolf society. The Alpha is normally determined through succession and is mated to a female of equal lineage. The mating is usually through arrangement between families, and is binding for the rest of their Werewolf lives. Which brings me to my next thought. My werewolves have immortal abilities but they age and die like mortals.

How can my Werewolves be killed? Well, not by a single silver bullet, but they can be killed. You'll just have to read my series to find out how. How they are killed (before their natural time) has much to do with how they were originally created.

How were my Werewolves created, you might ask? Think Van Helsing , Bram Stoker's Dracula , and Underworld thrown into a blender and left on frappe for a minute or two.

Now, be careful reading here. Because if you think too hard, you might just see my future series come full-circle before the remaining books are completed.

My Werewolves, Shapeshifters, however you choose to label them, were created in ancient times by Demons. Yes, Azra, my Demon Succubus, is part of those beings that created the first Werewolf. Demons created a kind of virus that they put into just a couple of humans in a time few can remember. They did this in attempt to rid the world of humans, Why, because the world was once populated by Spirits. Some call them Angels. When humans came along, some of these Angels took on the task of controlling human population and growth. The Demons were not happy with the task they had been given and figured, if they could be really efficient in ridding the Earth of mortals, they would again, be allowed to reclaim their status as Angels. They figured the best way to get rid of mortals was to get them to kill each other off.

Only, their plan did not work as well as they thought. the Lycanthropic virus they created simply did not propagate quickly enough and the Werewolf population never gained a strong foothold. So, The Demons just tolerated the Werewolf ever since. And, since the Werewolf was created by Demons, they were, for the most part, immune to some of the Demon powers.

My Werewolves do have the ability to shift at will, and in any form between human and wolf. The first shift occurs on the first full moon after infection. On this first shift, my characters shift into full wolf form and must hunt and take their first kill. From this point on, my Werewolves will need to shift occasionally and hunt in order to tame their wild nature. When they try to withhold the shift, it can happen slowly and painfully. If they plan to shift into full wolf form (the form they take in order to run fast or hone in on prey by smell alone) must remove their clothing or it will be ripped from their bodies.

Sex? Yes, please. My Werewolves can have sex just like a normal person, but they have the option of shifting into any form from human to wolf during the act. Nothing like a little freaky Werewolf sex to liven things up.

So, there it is, Werewolves as I see them. Werewolves interacting with Demons, or at least, one Demon Succubus. If you think you might like my brand of Werewolf, Try my novel. And, please, if you like it, let me know. I love to interact with readers. In fact, one reader told me they were interested in the relationship between Joe and Lexi Johnson, my tracker/hunter team of Werewolves. The comment grew into a story idea, and soon I will publish the story of how Alexis and Joseph met and fell in love.

Women of Strength

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." – J.K. Rowling
[image error] I like the above quote, and I know that J.K. Rowling has had to make her share of character-defining choices. The writing of her first Harry Potter novel was interrupted in 1990 by the death of her mother. A marriage lasting only three years left her a single parent living on assistance by the end of 1993. She suffered from depression, even contemplated suicide at one point, but continued to write. Her real success did not come until 1997 when the publisher, Scholastic, brought her novels to the vast American market. Joanne Rowling made her choices from a position of strength. Her actions, then and now, show a strength of character worthy of emulation.
[image error] Sarah Buel, co-founder and co-director of the National Training Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, did not just happen into this position. After escaping a life of domestic violence, Sarah could have just gone away, and lived her life in obscurity. She chose instead to become an attorney to better help battered women and abused children. In addition to performing her duties with the Center, she continues to run a legal clinic for battered women.

The two women mentioned above are truly worthy of mention, and serve as a beacon of strength, but I would submit that a countless number of women you might never hear of display strength. Who is it that you would like to emulate? I think that many of you would agree with me in my choice of example in how to be strong, and make choices that strengthen character.
I grew up in a poor family but rarely went without food, clothing, and school supplies. Unknown to me until much later in life, my mother's strength and sacrifice shielded me from such suffering. One year, we all (I have a brother and a sister) had to purchase used shoes at the local Salvation Army Thrift Store, along with our usual back-to-school clothing purchases. Although our clothing was mostly second-hand, we had always gotten new shoes each year for the start of school. We later found out that Mom used the money saved to buy a used freezer from a neighbor. Of course, we did not understand this at the time, and were deeply hurt.We later realized that the freezer allowed Mom to buy food in bulk, and therefore, at a cheaper price. Like I said before, we seldom went hungry, and we later knew it was because our Mom sacrificed much more than just one year's worth of new shoes. She had sold some of her precious heirloom jewelry to buy that freezer. She spent our youth making tough choices to shield us from the harsh realities of our destitution. Since then Mom has served as a guidepost for my own choices, and I know that I could never thank her enough in my one lifetime for her choices, her her sacrifices, her strength. Rest her soul.Women of strength are inspiring. Women who are faced with difficult choices that determine their character are intriguing. These traits I found so desirable in Joanne Rowling, Sarah Beul, and my own dear Mother, that they became the basis for my main character, Azra, in my novel, Lovestruck Succubus .I wanted to show Azra as a women of strength and unwavering determination in her quest to experience love as a normal, mortal person. Of course, I could not make it easy. I threw numerous roadblocks in front of her like being pursued by a police detective, bounty hunters, and finally, her own need for sustainment. In the end, I would hope that her actions proved her a woman of strength, and a role model, like my Mother, others would honor and emulate.
[image error] If you like stories about women of strength, a heroinne that does not need saving, please give my paranormal erotic novel, Lovestruck Succubus, a try. Download it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords, or buy it in paperback.Also, look for my other stories, Pleasure Doing Business or Window Treatment at all the above locations. Or, Download my short story, The Fifth Beauty for FREE from Smashwords or Barnes & Noble. You can also find my stories at Apple ibooks, Sony, Kobo, and Diesel Books.

Author Interview With LK Watts.

Today I would like to highlight a new author on the scene. Laura Watts is the author of the wonderful book: Confessions of a Backer: My Adventure Down Under. Laura wrote a kind of travelling memoir of her time living and working in Australia. It's a good read, funny, poignant, and even heart wrenching at times. Here's a few questions Laura answered so we can all get to know her a little better:

1. When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?

When my travelling days were over and I decided I wanted to write a book about my experiences. It was only as I began to write that I realised how much I actually enjoyed the process, and decided to write other books.

2. Is this the only job you've had?

I wish it was! I've done quite a few things from working in a psychiatric ward to working in pubs. My favourite job other than this has been working in a library.

3. Have other work experiences made you more determined to follow a writing career?

Definitely. There's nothing quite so satisfying as working for yourself. You're the one in control; you don't have to answer to anyone else. That's the best bit.

4. What genre do you write?

At the moment I am currently writing a memoir about my days travelling Canada. My first book is also a memoir about travelling Australia and New Zealand.

5. Have you written under more than one genre?

No, not yet but I plan to do so. After my current book I want to take a break from writing so I can spend more time reading different kinds of books to decide what genre I want to write in next.

6. Where do you get your inspiration for writing?

Everywhere! I have a very active imagination which is the best thing to have while writing, but it can be frustrating when I want to switch off my brain to go to sleep. As for getting inspiration for my first books, I kept a detailed diary of both travelling accounts.

7. Do you ever dream of your next book?

I don't think I ever sleep enough to dream! Sometimes I'll have dreams, which will inspire stories to go into my next book, but I don't ever dream about the actual book.

8. Describe the highlight of your writing career.

Definitely selling books on Amazon. That has been fantastic.

9. Have there ever been moments where you've wanted to give up?

Absolutely not. This has been one of best things to ever happen to me. I am not giving up on it at all.

10. What's been the worst thing to happen to you regarding your writing?

I think the stress of having to constantly market, it's never ending. I didn't realise at the time when I was writing how much work I would have to do after releasing the book.

11. Have you always believed in yourself, or have you let negative comments get you down?

I take no notice of nasty comments if they are just meant to be spiteful. Constructive criticism is another matter entirely, I can listen to that no problem because I can learn from past mistakes.

12. Who is the author you'd most like to be and why?

I like being me, even if I don't sell millions of books. I'm very proud of my achievement. I didn't know at first whether I would come this far.

13. Can you name the drawbacks to being a writer?

Definitely! The lack of time for doing anything else with your life.
That's why if you want to become a writer you must enjoy it because you don't have a lot of time for anything else. That's a major downside if you have a family.

14. What's your typical writing day?

Well, I usually work a 6-7 day week. I'm always doing something. Most of the time I write in the mornings and then spend the rest of the afternoon marketing. I sometime work at night too, depending on what I am doing. Sometimes I'll market for the whole of the day, other days I'll spend mostly writing. It's pretty full on.

15. What's the most outrageous thing you've ever done?

You'll have to read my first book to find that one out!

16. What do you do when you finish writing a book?

Have a glass of wine to celebrate, and try to have a day to myself to relax a bit. Then it's straight on to my next book.

17. Do you hire an editor or do you do that job yourself?

I hire a professional editor, I wouldn't want to publish anything if it wasn't edited to a high standard. It can be a costly process but I believe every penny is worth it in the long run.

18. What do you do when you receive criticism of your work?

Take it on board if it's constructive. Otherwise, if it's nasty I just ignore it.

19. What's your best tip for other writers?

Listen to constructive criticism. You're never going to learn otherwise.

20. What's been the most helpful advice you've ever received?

To do plenty of research on the topics you want to know. If you plan and research, you'll do well.

Please support this author and take a look at her book: Confessions of a Backpacker: My Adventure Down Under


It's so easy to give the book a chance at just $0.99 USD by following any of the links below.

Smashwords
Amazon (US)
Amazon (UK)

Visit Laura's Blog:
LK Watts Confessions

Coming Soon!

I'm glad to announce that I will soon begin to post author interviews, their book links, and articles on this blog.

the first interview will be posted this Fourth of July weekend and feature Laura Watts. Or, as she is known on her book:  Secret Confessions of a Backpacker: My Adventure Down Under, L.K. Watts.

"Real" People in Stories

I know what you are thinking. No, this post is not about memoirs or true life stories or nonfiction - it's about putting characters into a story that are realistic.

I've currently working on a project involving a main character who is slightly overweight. I want to express that this is a normal body style, and something to be cherished and honored. She has some unique qualities, namely werewolf qualities. I plan to have her meet a hunk of a man that looks kind of like a black "Mister Clean" and become his partner in a bounty hunting and investigative business.

I have this character all sketched out in my head. I know her body type, bra size, how often she shaves her legs, family background, hair color(s), eye and skin tone. But this is all in my head. I recently made a search through stock photos for inspiration. I often develop a cover concept early on and use it for inspiration as I'm completing a story. It works most of the time. But, there have been a few times when the character in my story developed a will of their own and the story went in another direction.

Anyway, the observance I've made is that it is difficult to find pictures of "normal" women or men to use for stock images. Depending on the search word used one might find women desires by those following a certain fetish, namely BBW or chubby chasers. I was just amazed at the vast quantity of stock available for stick-thin models and hugely obese women, but not so much for the woman with just a few extra pounds.

In this particular story, weight, or body type is an important factor in the plot and direction of the story. Her past is affected by her weight. Not so much her, because she's comfortable in her own body, but those around her. Men in the past thought they could take advantage of her because of her body type and she refused the man (werewolf) her parents chose for her mate. She runs off and begins a life of her own. This is were she meets the other main character in the story.

I have plans for more stories using this character so it is important that I develop her to some greater depth over time. The point to this post, or rant if you prefer, is to express the lack of photo material available showing a normal person in a romantic or sexy pose.

Any suggestions?

Inspiring Erotica

I previously posted this elsewhere but thought it deemed worthy of reposting on my blog.

I know that many reading this aspire to write or read the best stories, or erotic stories, as they possibly can. Otherwise, why goe through the trouble?The question is then, just what erotica is worthy of aspiring to?I believe this discussion must begin with a definition of erotica.Erotica as defined by Merriam Webster Online Dictionary:1: literary or artistic works having an erotic theme or quality2: depictions of things erotic
Not such a great definition of Erotica. So I went a step further and looked up the word erotic.EroticDefinition of EROTIC1: of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire2: strongly marked or affected by sexual desire
Okay, now it is starting to make some sense, but I also am constantly hounded by those who tell me I write porn. Well then, let's look up the definition of porn.Pornography1: the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement 2: material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement
I don't know. I'm not the smartest person in the world, having only achieved the menial master degree in human resource management and an MBA, but don't the two definitions seem eerily familiar?I personally believe the difference between sexual desire and sexual excitement to be nearly non-existent. I mean, does sexual desire not come from sexual excitement? I think the point here is that one person's erotica is another person's porn. I've read other definitions that state erotica is the exploration of sexual desires and situations often considered taboo by society. I like most of this definition but do not believe a work must cover a taboo subject to be considered erotica because, again, what is considered taboo is not only societal, but personal as well. I guess what I'm trying to say is that what one considers erotic is very personal. I think the most important thing is that inspiring erotica should create an undeniable effect on the person reading it.Back in the late sixties, people flocked to the stores, or wherever they could, to buy a novel (not considered erotica or taboo at the time) originally published in 1955 about an adult man lusting for a twelve year old girl, only to finally have them fulfilled on her request.  The real depiction of anything even remotely resembling a sexual act between the two characters was limited to one sentence on one of 336 pages. I won't argue the theme of the story was most certainly taboo. But taboo (and considered downright sick by some) or not, this book is listed by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English language novels from 1923-2005. Of course Vladimir Nabokov died long before his work became famous. Of course, the story is question is "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov.
While I think it is completely possible for anyone to stumble upon greatness, and write a truly inspiring erotic story (I believe that may be the only way I will find such greatness) there are those that, in my opinion, seem to have their finger firmly pressed on the erotic tale. For me, the first author that comes to mind is our own Selena Kitt. By way of example, I will briefly discuss two of her stories (both available free, by the way) that clearly make her an inspiration in both range and ability.
The first story is one of her more popular stories, "Babysitting for the Baumgartners." In this story, the character get downright nasty. Nothing is held back. The language used and the actions taken depict characters that are free and open, maybe even a little manipulative, in their sexuality. I like this story because it is completely within the characters personalities to use bold language and terminology when discussing body parts and actions. In other words, I find very little purple prose in this story.Selena also has another wonderful story (of her many wonderful stories) titled, "A Twisted Bard's Tale." This story reads like a regency romance without the purple hue, and explores, in grand fashion, the concept of bi-sexuality, secret lovers, lesbianism – whatever you choose to call it, in a way that had me cooing and goo-ing by the third paragraph. This story is a complete contradiction to the style of the first story discussed. This, in my opinion, is why I consider these stories, and Selena Kitt to be inspiring in the erotica genre.
 I must also mention Jax Cassidy. Her stories are so laden with romance and emotion, the erotic parts sneak up and completely take over your mind and body before you conspire to resist. To me, this is the sign of a truly inspiring writer. Someone who weaves stories so fine that one cannot perceive where the romance ended and where pure lust and eroticism took over.
Another writer I believe will soon become a force to be reckoned with is Summer Ellis. She is new, inexperienced, and unsure, but already wields a powerful pen. I do not believe she has even offered any of her work for sale yet, but I already consider her inspiring. Her second story, "Boudoir Books" tackles the subject of sex in public. No, not just in public but in the middle of a bookstore! Now, how sexy is that? Especially to us writer types. The story is very short, and maybe lacking a good sense of ending, but her raw natural talent in undeniable. She is worthy of following as, when she decides to go pro, she'll likely be, highly sought after.Of course there are countless more writers out there that very well could be inspiring in the erotica genre.  I did not mention these three in some scheme to get more people to read their works. Each of us must find our own inspirations. I merely listed them by way of example of what might be considered inspiring to others, as they are personally inspiring to me.So, who do you consider inspirational in the erotica genre?