Harper Bliss's Blog, page 32

Writing ‘Release The Stars’ – Day 4

Would it be rude to just upload a picture of ‘my numbers’? I woke up at 4 this morning, completely obsessed with this story. I stayed in bed brainstorming for another hour, trying to remember my ideas by attaching them to easy to remember words or abbreviations like SMS (which stood for strap-on, manly and self-sabotage.) I finally did get up around 5 and made some notes on my computer in order not to forget.

I’m very much a morning person, but I draw the line at getting up before the frogs stop croaking and the birds start whistling, so after making my notes I went back to bed to hug my wife (which basically equals waking her up.) (But because of this interview at Women & Words we all know she wants to be ‘fit for forty’ so she had to get up anyway to catch an early ferry and hit the gym before work!)

Writing ‘Release The Stars’ – Day 3

My goal for today was to bring my manuscript to 14.000 words, which I did… to the exact word.

Writing ‘Release The Stars’ – Day 2

I’m writing this in a slightly less frazzled state than I was in when I wrote my first blog post about Release The Stars. The first day is always such a huge rush. Today was mostly about bringing my feet back to the ground. (I might have needed that.)

Because today is a public holiday in Hong Kong, I only wrote for half a day. As you’ll see in the table below, I started later than the first day. Partly because I slept later and partly because I re-read the first 3 chapters before continuing. I do this to remember what I wrote exactly, to get back in the swing of things, and to pick out the biggest typos so that I can send a readable version to my wife so she can give me her opinion along the way.

Today the writing didn’t go as smoothly and quickly as last Thursday, but I still managed almost 3000 words, which was my goal for half a day, so no need for concern. (I know exactly how many words I need to write on any given day to be able to finish this and the other first draft I want to write before flying to Europe in… 6 weeks!) (Argh!)

I’m 10.000 words into the story and I can already tell you it’s very ‘chick lit’ (so much banter!) and there have not been any erotic encounters just yet.

Writing ‘Release The Stars’ – Day 1

So, as promised I will be keeping a public diary of writing the first draft of my new novel, first dubbed ‘The Hollywood Novel’, but now (tentatively) titled Release The Stars.

I was awake at 5.30 this morning because I was so excited to start I couldn’t sleep anymore. This story has been brewing in my mind for a very very long time so to say I was raring to go would be an understatement. After showering etc. I was in front of my computer and ready to go at 7AM.

Things got off to an excellent start as I reached the 5000 words mark before 11AM. I was so pumped by then, I felt almost physically high. It’s such a rush to be in the zone and to feel as though your fingers can’t keep up with your thoughts. (I don’t mean that in a dirty way!)

I took a long lunch break because we’re looking for a new Ladylit office and we had a few viewings planned.

After lunch, I managed 3 more writing sessions of 30 minutes and brought my total word count for the day to 7.500 words. My goal for the first day was 6000 words, so needless to say I’m very pleased with myself.

If you’re into numbers, you’ll find the break-down of my 9 writing sessions in the image below.

Admittedly, my brain is completely fried right now and I had to push myself to write this blog post. All I’m good for now is a quick swim in the ocean and an extensive lie-down in my sofa.

I won’t be writing tomorrow (so I won’t be blogging either) because I have a bunch of Ladylit/publishing tasks to complete, but I should be back on Friday.

(I can’t even come up with a witty caption for this image anymore…)

Also, if you’ve reviewed At the Water’s Edge you have a chance to win a free book if you send me the link to your review. More info on my Facebook page here >>

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Latest releases: Bossier: More Productive Tales Of Lesbian Lust, Girls Only: Volume Three and French Kissing: Season Two

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl

NEW RELEASE: Bossier (More Productive Tales Of Lesbian Lust)

First, there was Bossy. Now, there’s Bossier! Because we loved the stories in Bossy so much, we wanted a sequel. To keep it fresh, we invited four different authors to write us a tale of workplace hotness, and oh my, did they deliver!

My own story (One-on-One) is set in a fitness studio, a place I frequent daily (ha ha). It’s no secret that I have a serious fetish for sporty women (alongside cougars) so I had a lot of fun writing it.

I hope you enjoy this new mix of authors and their fresh take on the theme.

Here’s the blurb

Following the success of Bossy, Ladylit is back with a new collection of productive tales of lesbian lust. The ladies featured in these short stories do know how to make the workplace interesting, be it a book store, a garage, a corporate office, a dairy farm or a fitness studio. Bringing together stories by Harper Bliss, Emily L. Byrne, Rachel O. Esplanade, Ava-Ann Holland and Axa Lee, ‘Bossier: More Productive Tales of Lesbian Lust’ is most certainly Not Suitable For Work.

Table of Contents

Objects of Desire by Ava-Ann Holland

Full Service by Rachel O. Esplanade

Wage Slave by Emily L. Byrne

Night Shift by Axa Lee

One-on-One by Harper Bliss

Word count: 17.000

Price: $3.99

Available from

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon DE

Amazon AUS

Add it to your GoodReads shelf >>

P.S. The ‘regular bunch’ of themed mini-anthology authors will be back soon with a collection of Opposites Attract stories!

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Latest releases: Bossier: More Productive Tales Of Lesbian Lust, Girls Only: Volume Three and French Kissing: Season Two

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl

Call For Submissions: From Top To Bottom

When I first started writing erotica I would never have dreamed I’d one day be editing an anthology like this. But, as it seems, my preferences have shifted somewhat and I’m so very excited about this project.

I actually had the idea a few weeks ago while reading submissions for the ‘Summer Love’ anthology I’m editing together with my wife. One of the stories had some seriously hot BDSM going on and I enjoyed it so much that I started believing we needed an entire book full of these kind of stories.

So, authors: time to submit to me! (Yes, I’ve been dying to say that for a long time!) Send me your kinkiest stories. No need to hold back. All details below. (And just as a friendly reminder: I have rejected promising stories for anthologies because of extremely poor editing. Before sending me your story, please, pretty please, read it again and have someone else read it as well! Making the effort to present yourself well pays off.)

From Top To Bottom: Lesbian Erotica Stories of Dominance and Submission (working title)


Editor: Harper Bliss


Publisher: Ladylit Publishing


Deadline: 1 September 2015 (earlier submissions preferred)


Payment: US$50.00 plus a free e-book of the anthology in each format (epub, mobi, pdf)

Rights: First worldwide digital and print rights

I am looking for sexy, well-written lesbian erotica stories with a clear power dynamic. Your story should feature kinky sex between two or more women, from bondage scenarios to power play to role play to sadism and masochism. I want characters with a range of age, race and sexual experience. I welcome both stories from the dominant and the submissive’s point of view. Dommes are not required to be perfect—show me their flaws and vulnerabilities!—and subs shouldn’t be pushovers. Show me what makes your characters tick. I’m not that interested in stories of extreme humiliation, but welcome stories where pain is pleasure and vice versa. Give me a good spanking. Handcuffs. A nicely cracking whip. A top who knows what she’s doing and a bottom who’s not afraid of some unexpected pain. Surprise me with your sadism, and with how your sub can only truly take it because of the deep emotional connection with the one she must surrender to.

Stories should have a unique voice, strong characters, tension, and rising action. All characters must be over 18.

Please note the usual no-nos apply: no incest / underage sex / rape / necrophilia / bestiality. No poetry please.

Preferred length: 3000 – 6000 words

Unpublished stories only.

US English. Please submit a double-spaced Microsoft Word document, using a 12-point serif font, such as Georgia or Times New Roman. One inch margins. If using a pen name, include both real and pen name on the manuscript.

Send your story as a .doc or .rtf file attachment to submissions at ladylit dot com. Please include ‘From Top To Bottom’ and your story title in the subject line.

In the body of the email please include your legal name, pen name (if applicable) and a short bio of no longer than 100 words written in 3rd person.

Established authors welcomed, newcomers encouraged. I look forward to reading your work.

All submissions acknowledged within 5 days and acceptances notified by 1 October 2015. The anthology will be released in November 2015.

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Latest releases: Girls Only: Volume Three, French Kissing: Season Two and Piano Lessons

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl

NEW RELEASE: Girls Only: Volume Three

I’ve bundled a few of my stories up again in a new installment of ‘Girls Only’. We’ve reached Volume Three already, which makes me wonder how many climaxes I’ve written since I first started…

The stories in this mini-anthology are:

– Stair Walking

– Dress Code

– Lovely Rita

– Off the Record

– Stormy Weather

– Rather

 

Please note that all six of these stories have been previously published. Two of them in themed Ladylit mini-anthologies (Dress Code & Off the Record) and two in anthologies by other publishers (Stair Walking & Lovely Rita). Stormy Weather was published as a standalone story last year, and, of course, Rather has been available for free on this website for quite some time, but it’s one of my personal favourites so I think it deserves its place in the book.

Here’s an excerpt from Stair Walking (which I wrote back in 2012… Time really does fly!)

“I know why you followed me in here that day.” Her voice was lower than usual and a little alcohol-soaked.

“Oh, yeah?” I leaned against the wall, acutely aware of the moist goings-on underneath the carefully ironed fabric of my skirt.

“I could practically smell it on you.” She took a step closer. “Like a bitch in heat.” I inhaled the wine on her breath.

“Why am I here, then?” The lamp blinked above us, erasing our presence for a split second.

“As if you don’t know.” Slowly, she let her jacket slip off her arms. It fell to the ground with a rustling whisper.

Of course I knew. I just hadn’t expected it. The sudden authority in her voice set my blood on fire, driving it, beat by beat, to my pulsing pussy lips. In response, I locked my eyes with her blazing brown ones and bit my bottom lip. As a yes, it would suffice.

“Unbutton your blouse,” she commanded. I had known it would be this way. I had seen it in her glance that day I craned my head around the door frame of her office. I’d deducted it from the aura of controlled silence in which she wrapped herself. The quiet ones always know best.

You can get Girls Only: Volume Three on Amazon:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon DE

Amazon AUS

Add it to your Goodreads shelf >>

Enjoy!

P.S. French Kissing: Season Two is now also available in print on Amazon!

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Latest releases: Girls Only: Volume Three, French Kissing: Season Two and Piano Lessons

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Want Hired Help for FREE? Subscribe to my mailing list >>

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl

Blue Woman Stories Volume Three by Cheyenne Blue

Volume Three in Cheyenne Blue’s series of ‘Blue Woman Stories: Collected Lesbian Erotica’ contains two of my favourite short stories ever: Run, Jo, Run and A Story About Sarah. The other three stories are top notch, too, of course–this is Cheyenne Blue we’re talking about–but there’s something about Run, Jo, Run and A Story About Sarah that makes me want to read them over and over again. (Which I have done. Many times. And I keep poking my wife in the arm and saying, “Damn it, she’s so good.)

I had this to say about Run, Jo, Run when I reviewed Best Lesbian Erotica 2014 (and picked it as my fav, obvs):

 

I loved this story the first time I read it in Girls Who Score and it blew me away all over again here. Cheyenne Blue is that good. Seriously, Cheyenne’s contribution packs a lifetime into a short story and ends on a very sensual and romantic note (my favourite). Additionally, the whole tale is written in the steady foot-fall rhythm of a run. It’s brilliance.

I guess A Story About Sarah (which was first published in a lesbian romance anthology and is more romantic than purely erotic) is similar in that it also seems to span the characters’ lifetime. When I read it the first time I was writing Season One of French Kissing and I needed a name for a new character and I promptly ended up calling her Sarah because I couldn’t get the Sarah from Cheyenne’s story out of my head.

All of this to say that those two stories alone will make it worth your while to read Blue Woman Stories Volume Three, and then there are the three exquisite remaining ones: Nurse Joan (lesbian sex on the operating table!), Irish Abroad (lesbian sex in the Nevada desert!) and Carrowkeel (lesbian sex in an ancient tomb!) (My ultra-short descriptions really don’t do them justice… ;-0)

Here’s the blurb for Blue Woman Stories Volume Three:

An Irish tourist meets a biker in Las Vegas, a young nurse learns more than medical procedure from an older colleague, and in A Story About Sarah, an indigenous woman recalls her long-time lover. From an Australian mining camp, to the fells of England, Blue Woman Stories Volume 3 contains five more compelling stories of lesbian love from Cheyenne Blue.

Table of contents

A Story About Sarah

Irish Abroad

Nurse Joan

Carrowkeel

Run, Jo, Run

And you can get it from these retailers:

Direct from Ladylit:

– ePub for for iPad, iPhone, Sony eReader, Nook and other devices

– Mobi for Kindle

– PDF for any computer or device

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Amazon DE

Amazon AUS

All Romance

Smashwords

Kobo

iTunes US

iTunes UK

Add it to your Goodreads shelf >>

Enjoy!

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Latest releases: French Kissing: Season Two, Piano Lessons and At the Water's Edge

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Want Hired Help for FREE? Subscribe to my mailing list >>

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl

7 novelettes for $0.99

I’m running a crazy promotion on 7 of my novelettes. You can get all of them nicely bundled up for $0.99 only. If you’ve read 6 of them already, it’s still worth getting the boxed set because the price for the entire thing is lower than what I normally price 1 standalone novelette. (Plus, the climax count in this set is through the roof. ;-p)

Because Amazon has adult filtered this book (and it doesn’t show up in the results after you type the title in their search box), I’m listing all the Amazon (*) links below:

– Amazon US

– Amazon UK

– Amazon CA

– Amazon AU

– Amazon DE

(*) This boxed set is only available from Amazon.

Here’s a reminder of the novelettes included in the boxed set:

I STILL REMEMBER

Successful news anchor Elise returns to her hometown after running away from a love she couldn’t understand nor act upon twenty years ago. When she bumps into her old best friend Amy, the one she had to get away from, all that was left unspoken bubbles to the surface and they revisit the past in more ways than one.

A HARD DAY’S WORK

Jo fancies her straight, married boss Amanda. She’s convinced her crush is a hopeless one, until a performance review changes everything.

YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY

Rose’s husband died seven years ago, but when she welcomes an unexpected guest in her Tuscan holiday home, she’s forced to remember what instant desire feels like. Desire for a younger woman no less.

SUMMER HEAT

When Cat is unceremoniously dumped by her girlfriend right before their holiday, she decides to join her parents on their annual trip to Tuscany. Prepared for two weeks of sun-drenched melancholy, she finds much more than nostalgia in the house where she used to spend her summers as a child.

LEARNING CURVE

Ada’s company relocated her to Berlin, provided that she’d take an intensive course in German. It proves to be a steep learning curve, until her teacher Giselle implements some alternative educational methods.

THE HONEYMOON

A sizzling novelette featuring a couple of newlyweds honeymooning in Phuket. When they encounter a mysterious Asian woman in their beach side resort, they decide to give each other a very special wedding gift.

HIRED HELP

Olivia’s girlfriend walked out on her months ago and she’s desperate for some action. Her best friend recommends some hired help.

Enjoy & Happy Weekend!

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Latest releases: French Kissing: Season Two, Piano Lessons and At the Water's Edge

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Want Hired Help for FREE? Subscribe to my mailing list >>

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl

French Kissing Fantasy Casting: Marie Dievart

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t read French Kissing: Season Two yet and plan to, you may want to skip this post. (Although I won’t be giving away major plot points, but just in case…)

Doctor Marie Dievart, the sexy, über-confident neurosurgeon was too entertaining a character to just send back to Belgium (ha ha!) after Season One. She’s back in Season Two and, of course, her presence is shaking things up quite a bit.

From the first time she made an appearance, Dr. Dievart was Kristin Scott Thomas in my head. I haven’t written Season Three yet, of course, but I’m seriously considering making the sexy neurosurgeon an even more prominent character. (Imagine the drama she could cause?)

Who will Doctor Dievart go for next?

Nadia never really stood a chance…

She can even dreamily almost-smile…

Maybe I’ll have her dye her hair blonde in Season Three…

Previous fantasy casting for the other characters can be found here >>

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Latest releases: French Kissing: Season Two, Piano Lessons and At the Water's Edge

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Want Hired Help for FREE? Subscribe to my mailing list >>

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Want more FREE stories? Download French Kissing: Episode One, Fool for Love (High Rise Novella One), Wetter, All of Me and New Girl