Polly J. Adams's Blog, page 35

Polygraph (interviews with erotica authors): Marina Maddix

Why erotica?
I remember devouring Harlequin romances when I was a teen. I've always been a voracious reader, but I could rip through three of them in a day! In college I got all cerebral and too good for such fluff - at least on the outside - but on the inside, I still yearned for a good, steamy read. It took me far too many years to embrace my inner desires and fantasies, but now I'm really enjoying myself. Plus, a side benefit is a hotter sex life as my husband and I 'research' my stories!

How did you get into it?
Joe Konrath's blog 'A Newbie's Guide to Publishing' really lit a fire under me. I'd been reading it for about a year and a half, always telling my husband that I really should get into self-publishing. But then I'd always let it drop because I couldn't figure out what to write. In July, Joe wrote about an erotic tale called 'Fifty Shades of Alice', an erotic retelling of Alice in Wonderland. That really got my juices flowing (not in THAT way...well, not ONLY in that way). Then in September, he featured a post by Summer Daniels of the uber-popular 'What to Read After Fifty Shades of Grey' Facebook page and it struck like a lightning bolt. I've always loved sensual stories; I could do that! I started researching and reading and then reading some more. I put out my first story ('Climax Quest') on Halloween and immediately moved on to another story, and then another (under a pen name).

What kinds of erotica do you write?
I found that I'm a romantic at heart. What I wanted to be a hot & dirty behind-the-gas-station sexcapade, turned into an erotic romance. So Marina will write erotic romances while my other pen name is for harder, kink-driven erotica.

Tell us about your experiences as an erotica author. What have the big challenges and successes been?
I've only been in it for a couple of months so I'm sure my biggest challenges and successes are still ahead of me. But I'd say figuring out the formatting and uploading process was the biggest hurdle for me in the beginning. I spent days agonizing over the best way to do it. In the end, I just did what most other people do: upload it from a Word document. It really wasn't as difficult as I made it out to be.

As for successes, I was pleasantly surprised when my BBW erom 'Knight Fall' made it onto the Hot New Releases list, even if it was only for a very short time. That was only my second book, and to see so many people enjoying it was gratifying. But I'll tell you, the emails I get from readers wanting more of Rick & Kelly's story sends me over the moon. I love corresponding with my readers!

Do you write in other genres, too?
Yes, I'm a sports journalist by trade but so far I've only self-published erotica. That will change in 2013.

Do the people around you know what you write? How have they reacted, or how would they react?
No, only my husband and my sister know. My sister loves and accepts me with no judgment and my husband, well, he's been reaping serious rewards since I started writing smut. :-) I've been tempted to tell some friends but I have a feeling that, while they would still love me, they would wonder why I'm 'squandering my talent' writing erotica. Like it's not worthwhile. I don't agree, so I just keep it to myself...for now.

Tell us about your most recent titles.
'Knight Fall' is my most recent story. It's about a young artist stuck in a dead-end job she hates. She doesn't fit in, no one likes her, and her boss is a total jerk. After a particularly bad day at work, she eyes a sexy biker at a gas station before he rides off. Let's just say that he comes back and brightens up her day in a very profound way.

Do you have a favourite, or favourites, among your stories?
I love Kelly & Rick's ('Knight Fall') story - mainly because it's very (VERY) loosely based on an experience I had - but my first release, 'Climax Quest', will hold a special place in my heart. It's pretty vanilla (no kink) and not a billionaire is in sight. But I love the evolution of the main character. My favorite scene was the first hot one - it still sets me sizzling!

How do you normally go about writing an erotic story? Is there much, ahem, research involved...?
I'm a pantster, so I typically just start writing and see where the story takes me. So far, reading other stories is about all the real research I've done. I don't care for BDSM personally, so I don't see myself branching out into that subgenre as I feel readers would sense my unease. I like a good story with lots of drama and character building, so I'll stick with that for now. My other pen name will probably explore grittier kinks that I'll have to research more. I'm sure my husband will be happy to help!

Do you have any favourite erotica authors?
Oh, there are so many! Christa Wick, Sara Fawkes, Michelle Fox, Selena Kitt, Veronica Wade, you. There really are too many to name. I do think one in particular doesn't get the exposure she deserves. Giselle London is such a talented writer. She delves so deeply into her characters' minds that you're really there inside the story. Her books are beautifully written and sexy as hell. I really can't get enough of her writing!

And finally, what can we expect to see from you soon?
I'm currently working on a novel length sequel to 'Knight Fall'. I'm a project-oriented writer so I have to focus all my energy on one story until it's finished before starting another. I plan to have it released in late February.

More from Marina Maddix:
Website: www.marinamaddix.comUS Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/Marina-Maddix/e/B009Z6IUACUK Amazon author page: www.amazon.co.uk/Marina-Maddix/e/B009Z6IUACTwitter: @MarinaMaddixFacebook: www.facebook.com/marinamaddix/Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6627289.Marina_Maddix

New erotic romance: Damaged Goods (A Dangerous Passion, part one)

They said he was a rock star. They said he was an Arab oil sheik, or a Russian arms dealer. Or maybe a footballer. They said he was all kinds of things but in truth nobody in the village knew much about the enigmatic stranger who had moved into the Hall.

Holly Colcroft lives in the village with her bankrupt father, making ends meet with a succession of casual cleaning and waitressing jobs, and dreaming that one day things will take a turn for the better. When Holly gets the call to go and help clean up after a party at the Hall she hopes that it might lead to longer-term work; she finds the place in chaos, and a man emotionally scarred by his past. Might Holly be the woman to save him, or is this a passion too dangerous?

Damaged Goods is available from:Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AR782YW/ref=as_li_tf_tl?tag=pollyjadams-20Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AR782YW/ref=nosim?tag=pollyjadams-21

New: Three's Company - three stories of group sex and multiple partners

If three's company, then what's a crowd?

Three stories of multiple partners, threesomes and group sex from the bestselling author of Bad Again and The Billionaires' Sex Club. These stories are very explicit, and for a mature audience only.

The Virgin and the Three Brothers
Jade Redfearn has led a sheltered life, but now must choose one of three brothers as her partner. Will it be athletic tennis coach Joe, shy genius Adam, or ultra-successful Luke? With the help of her wealthy father's all-knowing PA Gwendolyn, Jade sets out on a quest to find out.
Lizzie and Cara... Make Three
When Cara tells her best friend that her husband Steve has always wanted a threesome, she should have known what would happen... Returning home from work, Steve joins them and they tease him about what they would do. It's all a bit of fun, of course, not something they would really do - but that doesn't stop them, and when talk becomes act Steve finds that his birthday has come a week early.
Flash Mob Gangbang
It all started with a simple message on Twitter, a spur of the moment thing. Kelly was bored, and so she sent that message: "I need to be fucked." That was all it said. A simple tweet. What harm could possibly come from that? An explicit story of cybersex and an in-the-flesh gangbang.
Available from:
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Smaswords

All I want for Christmas: erotic romance

Broken: A Need for Control by Mary Chi
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
When Jake came to help independent Rebecca Warren get back on her feet, she found herself falling for the quiet but strong man. Can she break through his barriers and reach him? Can he teach her to be the woman he craves? A flawed pairing, wounded and worn, must learn to shed their masks to find what they both need - each other.

Wolf Eyes by Elizabeth Nyte
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Wildlife photographer Karalynn Whitmore travels to the tiny town of Salmon Run Alaska to photograph eagles, bears and wolves but a chance encounter with sexy wildlife biologist Zachary Anderson has her forgetting all about her assignment. Feeling like plain Jane next to Adonis, Kara tries to keep her distance, but when a string of grisly murders throws them together Zac shows her that beauty is in the eye of the beholder…and sometimes in the eye of the wolf.

Her Secret Pleasure (A BBW BDSM Erotic Romance) by Jordan Bell
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Sean Castle was Kara Mahoney's first everything - her first kiss, her first love, and the first man to discover her obedient, sexual passions and dominate them. He was also her first heartbreak. When Kara and Sean are reunited, old passions become hard to resist. Sean struggles against reclaiming the girl he thought he'd given up six years before and Kara's body threatens to betray her by surrendering to the man she hates as much as she loves.

Loss of Innocence (A Victorian Erotic Romance) by Bella Carter
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
In a time of stringent moral codes, Lady Lydia Dosett has no choice but to marry Duke Anton Wallace. The Duke, a family friend and childhood crush, is not the man Lydia once knew. In order to avoid losing the luxurious lifestyle that she is accustomed to, Lydia must put aside her naive ideas of love and marriage and step into a world not spoken of in proper social circles.

Loss of Innocence 2-The Domination of Lydia by Bella Carter
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
The wedding day is here, the vows will be taken, and Lady Lydia Dosett will be whisked away from her childhood home. The naive young Duchess must adapt to a new world, a world where she has little control. Will Lydia be able to break through the emotional barrier the Duke has built around his heart and his overbearing housekeeper, Ms. Blackmore, carefully guards? Or will Lydia be forced to remain in a cold and unfeeling marriage with little hope of ever knowing the tenderness of love?

And from Polly:The Object of His Desire 1: Wanted
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
When Trudy goes to her estranged brother's wedding, the last thing she expects is one of those moments: a handsome stranger, their eyes meeting across a crowded room... a tempting, but dangerous stranger. Determined to find out more, she discovers that dark secrets bind him to her brother; she also learns that he's the kind of man who gets what he wants, and what he wants right now is Trudy. 

Pollygraph (interviews with erotica authors): Tanya Korval

Why erotica?
I'm hesitant to put a label on things, but I think what I write is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between full-on erotica (all sex) and full-on romance (all romance, no sex).  I think I sit roughly in 'erotic romance', although My Secret Life is an exception to that: it's more 'erotica with a story and a bit of romance'.  I like erotic romance because I like characters and this means I get to write two of them and have them spark off each other, rather than write one central character and a lot of supporting roles.  So erotic romance over erotica because I like the relationship.  Why erotic romance over romance, then?  To me, erotic romance isn't the same as a straight romance with some sex scenes thrown in.  If it's erotic romance, it's about an erotic relationship: the sex infuses everything they do, on some level, even if it's subtle.  In fact, you could in theory have an erotic romance without any actual sex; it could still be intensely sexual.  I prefer that extra intensity.
How did you get into it?
Actually there's a story to that.  I was living between London and New York for a while, so was in a sort of pseudo-long-distance relationship with my boyfriend of the time, who was in NY.  We started writing each other letters: proper, old-fashioned, fountain pen on paper letters.  After a while the letters turned into fantasies and I did a whole series of letters about 'what if I became a part-time call girl in New York?'

Anyway, my boyfriend shared his apartment and, because he's an idiot, he left one of the letters out on a table and the other guy read it.  The next time I went over there, this guy kept telling me I should write something for publication.  After much blushing and the letter doing the rounds of about five people, I relented and wrote My Secret Life.  I really enjoyed it - it was quite a surprise that people wanted to read this sort of thing (yeah, yeah, I'm British and therefore sheltered: I'm less sheltered now!) So I kept doing more and I now have seven books out.

What kinds of erotica do you write?
Contemporary erotic romance, although I've ventured into fantasy erotic romance with 'The Elf Princess's Lover' and My Secret Life is really more towards erotica because the romance isn't the main thread.  A common theme is forbidden love.  In The Elf Princess's Lover it's a high-born princess and a lowly hired sword.  In The Prince of Asteria it's a commoner and a prince.  My next book is about a privileged young musician and her super-hot but penniless boyfriend.  I'm a sucker for love conquering all.
Tell us about your experiences as an erotica author. What have the big challenges and successes been?
My Secret Life was my first time publishing, so I had to learn the ropes of Kindle Direct Publishing pretty quickly.  I've got it down-pat now, though.  Covers took me a while, but I think I'm getting better at them: though I have a way to go to match yours, Polly.  But probably the biggest challenge has been marketing myself. I've never been one of those people who are good at shouting about themselves and I think a lot of writers are the same.  We just want to be left alone in our caves to write.  Unfortunately with 10,000 new books on Amazon every second (probably) that isn't an option anymore (if it ever was).  So I'm definitely still feeling my way in marketing.
Do you write in other genres, too?
No, not at the moment.  I wouldn't rule it out in the future.
Do the people around you know what you write? How have they reacted, or how would they react?
Some close friends know and they think it's great. 
Tell us about your most recent titles.The Palace of Asteria is the sequel to The Prince of Asteria which was a real success for me.  In the first book Lucy, a shy translator for the UN in New York, sneaks into an embassy party with her much more confident friend.  She spills red wine over herself, goes off to find a bathroom to clean up and finds herself in a bedroom with Jagor, who's the crown prince of a small European country called Asteria.  Asteria is known for three things: it's very wealthy, very secretive and they say that women have a completely different role in society over there: they're actually collared and owned by men.  Lucy, being a bit of a languages geek, is one of the very few speakers of Asterian outside the country... and she's in a bedroom with the heir to the throne, who's as alpha as they come.  He seduces her, but they're interrupted and she panics and runs.  The next day he hires her as his personal aide and persuades her to fly off to Monaco with him, where he starts to bring out her submissive side.  That's the first book: it really seemed to connect with people.  I think the idea of a fantasy nation where you actually have female slaves and male masters appealed to a lot of people - we didn't actually go to Asteria in the first book, but we got a feel for it through Jagor.
Now in the second book, we have a lot more of Lucy and Jagor's relationship.  They're sneaking around, stealing kisses (and more) behind unlocked doors whenever they can. It's all very furtive and hot: if you've ever tried to keep a relationship a secret you'll know what I mean. The looks across the table at someone; the 'accidental' brush of their arm... all that.  Then: disaster strikes.  I don't want to spoil anything, but as the name suggests, we do go to Asteria in this book and Lucy has some tough decisions to wrestle with: is she ready to try life as a slave to the man she loves?

Do you have a favourite, or favourites, among your stories?
I still have a real soft spot for The Elf Princess's Lover, actually.  It's not my most successful, but I really enjoyed writing it and the people who like it really seemed to love it.  I'm a bit of a fantasy geek (Tolkein, a little World of Warcraft, D&D) so, seriously, elf princess meets roguish human swordsman who'll thoroughly ravish her?  I was all over that one. 

How do you normally go about writing an erotic story? Is there much, ahem, research involved...?
I do quite a lot of planning.  I do a rough story arc and then plan out scenes.  For something like My Secret Life where there's a lot of plot, I have a column for what's happening in each thread in each scene so that I don't forget anything (for example, clients, her job, the romance).  I don't start writing until my plan's clear: of course, I never stick exactly to the plan, but it gives me a starting point.
 
Do you have any favourite erotica authors?
Kristina Lloyd, Aimélie Aames.  Kristina writes fabulously textured, dark and edgy stuff.  Aimélie does very rich, romantic flowing prose: if you like werewolves or billionaires, you should check out her 'Her Billionaire, Her Wolf' series.

And finally, what can we expect to see from you soon?
I have something completely different coming out.  Not in the 'alpha billionaire' sub-genre; this is an erotic romance about young love.  Remember when you fell for the 'wrong' guy and you didn't care that everyone said he was unsuitable; that your parents and your friends all disapproved, that his friends didn't trust you, because the two of you were so in love?  This is that!  A very shy, sheltered cellist called Charlotte, from a privileged background, falls for a young, virtually penniless rapper called Saul.  She's white.  He's black. They're in love. Everyone else will have to deal.
More from Tanya Korval:
Author Central Page: http://www.amazon.com/Tanya-Korval/e/B008A10SSK/Blog: http://www.tanyakorval.comTwitter: @TanyaKorvalFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/TanyaKorval

Juggling

At least that's what it feels like right now.

I have the third volume of The Object of his Desire almost ready to go, with one more volume to follow. But then I also have my Billionaires' Sex Club series on the go: two published, with a third to follow.

This week I decided to take a break from The Object of his Desire with a short story, but wouldn't you just know it? My good intentions of writing a standalone story turned into the opening story of a new serial, A Dangerous Passion.

So now I'm part-way through writing three series.

Not to mention the one I've written under another pen-name: I have the first draft of a series opener waiting for me, when I get the time.

Oh, and there's the series I'm itching to write about an illegal immigrant and her wealthy employer...

Don't get me wrong: I'm loving it!

But it really does feel like I'm juggling stories and characters at the moment.

All I want for Christmas: paranormal/fantasy erotica and erotic romance

Daughters of the Night the complete story by Carl East
Amazon (US) |Amazon (UK)
Story one: A straight-laced Accountant meets his match when he goes to the Count’s home and discovers the hidden assets of the three vampire women who live there. Their clothes come off and their mouths go down as they swallow every deposit he makes into their willing mouths. What do a few bites matter, when he can pump their nubile bodies and balance the books, to his complete satisfaction.

Dominated by the Wolf by Ashlee Alexander
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
A lonely succubus meets her match in a sexy wolf... Cursed by her succubus bloodline, Catherine craves physical contact and companionship, but her vampiric tendencies are harmful to those around her…if not deadly. Her life changes forever the night Gerard Lockhart, a sexy werewolf, steps into the diner where she works. Catherine is drawn to his magnetic energy, sensing that he is different from anyone she has ever met. Will he be strong enough to resist her supernatural powers?

Wolf Bonds by Arvel Amaya
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Gael Patricks is Wolf Blood - a human who is fated to bond with an Alpha wolf whether he wants to or not. When the shifter pack that has raised him is taken over by an abusive Alpha, Gael is forced to run in order to protect his pack but he never expected to run into the arms of another Alpha. Now he must decide whether to give in to the Alpha or fight the draw of the Wolf Blood.

Only You by Arvel Amaya
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Xavier has been in love with Tommy since the first time he met him. Discovering that Tommy was his mate should have been perfect, but Tommy is meant for so much more than being mated to a worthless tracker. Trying to do what's best for his future mate, Xavier tries to break it off, but breaking it off is harder than he thinks when Tommy sets out to prove to his mate that they are meant to be together.

Black Heart by TW Gallier
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Sable Hart hunts vampires. Some would call it a calling. She calls it divine justice, and a pretty good living. All is going well until she gets caught by some Old World vampires, and the next thing she knows vampires, bikers, and the police are all after her. To make matters worse, everyone seems to have lost their sense of humor.

And from Polly:The Touch
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
When Ruth sees Saul stripped to the waist, fit and tanned, she knows what she wants, and she sets out to win him without any help from sisters Anna and Esme. But if she can't use supernatural Charms and Enchantments, just what can she do to make him hers? A very adult tale of magic and passion from the author of Raising the Dead, containing scenes of an explicit sexual nature.

All I want for Christmas: billionaires and alpha males

Power Play: Submitting to the Kinky Billionaire by Emily Kee
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Bree Sampson was on a mission, but billionaire Morgan Clark was known to be difficult and demanding. When Morgan laid his eyes on Bree, business was the last thing on his mind. Could he convince Bree to put business aside for a little kinky pleasure? Caught between wanting to do the right thing and a growing desire for a wealthy client, Bree has to decide if she can be "that" kind of girl. How far would you bend for your own desires?

Bred By The Dark Lord by Virginia Wade
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Orphaned Hannah Stuart is sent to work at Darkfield Manor, where she finds herself at the mercy of its seductive owner, Lord Jasper Dark. Aroused by the young woman's submissive demeanor, he is determined to find sexual fulfillment by dominating Hannah in every way possible. ...but Hannah has a secret, and she must reveal it, or they will not survive the danger that faces them.

At His Whim: His #1 (A Billionaire Domination Serial) by Erika Masten
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Adrian Knight lets people think he’s the manager of the luxury resort on the private Brazilian island of Ilha de Flor when in truth he’s the owner, a perfect example of the rake you get after a few generations of ridiculous wealth. Sex is a transaction for him, until Chloe Bloom walks out of the arms of Knight’s lifelong rival and into his resort.

My Pretty Ponygirl by Jenevieve DeBeers
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
Sometimes a girl's just gotta pony up to get the man of her deepest desires. Sylvie is a receptionist by day, who transforms into a sexy midnight cowgirl when it's time to let her hair down and have some fun. She has set her sights on billionaire bachelor Brett Stirling, the city's most eligible cowboy. But Brett's an alpha male with a taste for absolute control of his beautiful lovers…his pets.

What Money Can Buy by Katie Cramer
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD... When sexy temp Lauren is summoned to the office of her fearsome, billionaire boss Jason King, she's certain that she's about to be fired. Struggling to make ends meet and working two jobs to pay her father's medical bills, Lauren braces herself for a dressing-down from the handsome, enigmatic playboy. CAN BUY ANYTHING YOU DESIRE... But Jason King has other plans. He's been watching Lauren since the day she arrived, ready to sweep her off her feet and bring her into his world of wealth, success, power and sex. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A COST. In a few short days, Lauren's world is turned upside-down as her meager existence collides with Jason's extravagant life. From New York to Milan to Venice, her alpha male boss leads her down a rabbit-hole of lust and extravagance that proves intoxicating. But his world is littered with domination and deception...and Lauren is falling fast for her mysterious billionaire, with consequences that will change her life forever.

And from Polly:Captive at the Billionaires' Sex Club
Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)
When Kate decided to spend the summer as a waitress at parties for the super-rich, she knew she would be moving in circles she'd never encountered before - a completely different world. It turned out to be a world of depravity and pure unbridled lust she had never even dreamed about. That summer, she discovered the Billionaires’ Sex Club. An explicit story of bondage, dubious consent and more.

Now in paperback: The Wings of Desire

Just available in a lovely print edition, the complete set of eight stories in my Knee-tremblers and Indulgence series:

The Wings of Desire
CreatespaceAmazon - coming soon!

The Wings of Desire

Just a quick note to warn you not to be confused by an apparently new title, The Wings of Desire: it's actually a repackaged collection of all my Knee-tremblers and Indulgence series - effectively, a short novel when presented together like this.

Why repackage? This series, about a young woman's journey of sexual exploration, leading up to an affair with the wealthy owner of a sex club, straddles that line between erotica and erotic romance. It has the attention to characterisation and plot of a romance, but it is, well, very explicit.

The original stories were published as erotica, but my publisher and I have been thinking about this for a while, and finally opted to repackage the final collection. It had previously been published as, simply, the complete Knee-tremblers and Indulgence series, but we didn't think this really struck the right note: 'indulgence' might work for the romance field, but 'knee-tremblers' emphasised the quick and urgent nature of some of the sex. The book needed a title in its own right.

With this in mind, the book is now called The Wings of Desire, a far more romancy title. This series has been among my more successful works to date, and I'm hoping that this move will bring the stories to a new audience.

Here's hoping!

The Wings of Desire is available from:
Barnes and NobleAmazon.coAmazon.co.ukKobo