Harper Bliss's Blog, page 54

Two days to FOOL FOR LOVE (Part one) – Six Sentence Sunday

Today’s six sentences are not from Champagne as usual, but from my upcoming release Fool for Love (of course). Alex and Nat are having lunch and in these six sentences you can find out a thing or two about Nat.

“Well,” Alex stood up. “We can’t all sit around and do nothing all day. I have to get back to work.”

“I don’t feel spoken to in the least.” Without a care in the world, Nat folded one toned leg over the other and fixed her eyes on what looked to Alex like a sixteen-year-old girl who had just walked into the restaurant. “I do a lot of research for my next masterpiece in places like this.”

“Good luck, Hemingway. See you in class later.”

As always, more Six Sentence Sunday goodness can be found at the official website. I’ll be back with the next six sentences of Champagne next week. Fool for Love is out on Tuesday.

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Three days to FOOL FOR LOVE

I’ve decided to do a blog countdown to the release date of my next book Fool for Love, the first novella in the High Rise series. Fool for Love will be out on Tuesday 20 November 2012, so you can expect three days of promotional madness, but I’ll try to keep it interesting.

There will be contests and excerpts and juicy background details, but let’s start at the beginning. A brief introduction to the High Rise series.

Four women. One building. A million complications.

High Rise is a series of four lesbian erotica romance novellas focusing on four women who live in The Ivy, the ‘sexiest building in Hong Kong’.

Alex, a local gym instructor. Her roommate Nat, a celebrated American writer who moved to Hong Kong for love. Their upstairs neighbour Maddie, a workaholic investment banker. And the penthouse inhabitant, Isabella, a psychiatrist who’s lived in the city for fifteen years.

Romances develop and untangle as these four women get to know each other better.

* * *

With every story I’ve written since Hired Help (my first), the focus has shifted more to romance than to pure erotica. Fool for Love is by far the most romantic of all. The story is longer (23.000 words), allowing me to spend more time building up the tension, which, in my opinion, makes that final release all the more satisfying. No worries though… while being more romance than erotica, there is still plenty of action between the sheets in Fool for Love.

The first novella zooms in on Alex and Maddie, two women who’ve been rather unsuccessful in their quest for love. The second novella will focus on the unlikely love story of the other two High Rise characters, Nat and Isabella. Numbers three and four will deal with… well, whatever comes next, but I don’t want to say too much about that yet.

What better way to dive in than with an excerpt… This first one is from the very beginning of the book. (Do read on until the end because I’m announcing a contest at the bottom of the page.)

FOOL FOR LOVE – EXCERPT

© Harper Bliss 2012

“We have to stop doing this.” Maddie tucked her blouse in her skirt and leaned against the door. She should have said it before allowing June into her office again—and in her panties. “It can’t go anywhere. We both know that.”

“Yeah.” June avoided Maddie’s eyes while she zipped up her pants. They’d had this conversation before, but it wasn’t easy for Maddie to resist June, and the delicious molten copper of her skin, when they had to work side by side every day. “I know.” Maddie realised June didn’t take her seriously anymore when she said it.

“Would you consider transferring to another department?”

This caught June’s attention. She fixed her black eyes on Maddie. “Really? You want to get rid of me?”

Maddie felt guilty already. She should never have let it come to this.

“Look, babe.” She cursed herself for using the term of endearment she resorted to when approaching orgasm. And June had given her plenty of those. Usually against the closed door of Maddie’s office. Their affair didn’t have room for beds or sleep-overs. Which was exactly what was wrong with it. “I’m not the one who’s unavailable.”

“You know how I feel about you.” June inched closer. Too close. Maddie could smell her perfume. And the musky scent of sex clinging to her skin. “Boss.”

Maddie sighed and let June kiss her neck before pushing her away. “That’s hardly the issue.” She held June at arm’s length. “When I go home tonight, it’s to an empty apartment. And when I wake up tomorrow morning, it’ll be in an empty bed. I can’t do it anymore.”

“So I should just up and move? I don’t think so.” June shook herself free from Maddie’s hold and took a step back. “I’m not ruining my career over this.”

This irked Maddie, but she restrained herself. “I’ll make sure your new position is better than the one you have now.” She took a deep breath. “How does Team Manager of Operations sound?”

June shot her a disdainful look. “If you don’t want to fuck me anymore, you’re just going to have to work on your willpower.” She pouted her lips and narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t do this to get a promotion.”

“I know.” Maddie threw her hands up in despair. “But you must understand my point of view.”

“I do.” June’s face softened. “And I’m sorry, but I can’t just run off with you. We’ve discussed this and I was always very upfront about it.” A sharp pang of jealousy coursed through Maddie’s bones as June checked her watch. Hubby must be waiting. Maddie didn’t understand how June could lie to herself, and everyone around her, like that. She was born in Australia, for heaven’s sake. She didn’t need to be so Chinese and repressed about it.

“Fine. Go home to Mark. Snuggle up to him closely tonight.” Maddie stepped away from the door and opened it. “I hope you sleep well.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this.” June smoothed out one last wrinkle from her blouse before positioning herself in front of Maddie. “It’s not easy for me either.” June’s voice was soft and sultry. “Give me a little credit.”

Maddie wanted to pull June close again and kiss her until day break. She also wanted to run away from this mess. She’d always believed she was smarter than this. What a joke.

“Good night.” She pulled her face away from June, indicating the time for meaningless displays of affection had passed. Her eyes followed June’s tall, slender form as she walked away. Maddie wondered how long she’d be able to resist this time.

* * *

I hope you enjoyed that. If you did, leave a comment and win a FREE copy (e-book only – any format) of Fool for Love. I’ll be giving away one free copy every day until Tuesday.

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Things I did this week #4

- Marched in the Hong Kong Gay Pride

- Attended the Gay Day at Hong Kong Disney Land

- Had an extremely gay weekend

- Started novella two of High Rise

- Submitted a dirty short story for publication

- Fell in love some more with my new neighbourhood (I’ll post some pictures soon)

- Watched too many episodes of MasterChef The Professionals

- Discovered I’m still in tune with the youngsters because my new favourite TV show is Underemployed on MTV

- Started reading Salman Rushdie’s memoir Joseph Anton because of the Padma Lakshmi connection and got so much more than I bargained for (it’s a really great read)

- Planned the publication of Fool for Love, the first High Rise novella

- Nearly burst out of my skin with excitement because Claudia Winkleman is back with Film 2012

- Sold my 3000th e-book (thank you!)

- Celebrated the release of Lipstick Lovers with a cold Asahi (or two)

- Coughed some more, but it’s getting better

- Made this list

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New Release: Lipstick Lovers

We’re halfway through November and things are heating up. Today I celebrate the release of Lipstick Lovers, in which my story Overtime appears alongside stories by erotica all stars like Giselle Renarde, Lucy Felthouse and Elizabeth Coldwell.

Here’s the blurb for the anthology

In this sizzling selection of twenty erotic lesbian stories, find out what happens when women act on their overwhelming lust for each other. Dominant mistresses and willing slaves, bi-curious best friends, strangers swept away by the thrill of passion and long-time lovers spicing up their sex lives share the pages of Lipstick Lovers. Explicit fantasy and naughty adventures make this the hottest lesbian collection from the best writers in the genre. Everyone has fun when girls come together.

And here’s a snippet from my story Overtime

“Lock the door.” Cathy’s voice was low, a little menacing and extremely sexy.

“What?”

“Turn the key to the right and lock the door.”

Laura stifled her natural reflexes to protest and did as Cathy ordered. When she spun around, her back against the door, Cathy stood mere inches away. Her eyes peered into Laura’s as a small smile crept along her lips.

Before Laura had a chance to even consider what was happening, Cathy’s hand was on her chest. Her fingers pressed against Laura’s clavicle before finding their way down her blouse. Without warning or words, Cathy snuck her hand under Laura’s bra and squeezed her nipple brutally between thumb and index finger.

Laura gasped for air. A sharp pain sped through her body as Cathy pinched harder.

Not allowing her eyes to leave Laura’s, Cathy leaned in a little closer.

“I’m only going to ask you once.” Cathy’s lips found Laura’s ear. “Do you want me to fuck you?”

Buy links and all other information here >>

Disclaimer: this story also appears in A Woman’s Touch

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Hotties: Monica Galetti

I can’t cook. Whenever I dare to venture into the kitchen bad things happen. And I always (ALWAYS!) hurt myself. Or break something expensive. I’ve long since resigned myself to not possessing the necessary cool to stand the heat in the kitchen, but I do love watching cooking shows. I mean… Nigella Lawson, Padma Lakshmi… Hello! I may not be in touch with my inner domestic goddess, but I do have eyes in my head.

The latest addition to the Women-In-Food-I-Adore Collection in my head is Monica Galleti. She appears as a judge on the BBC’s MasterChef The Professionals and I was gutted when I googled her and discovered she wasn’t a lesbian. Not because I think every hot woman should be a lesbian (which I actually do think, but hey, I can make everyone a lesbian in my stories so no worries), but simply because after seeing her in action for about five minutes I was convinced that she was. I hate it when my gaydar tricks me. I blame the inaccuracy of TV.

Lesbian or not, Monica is severely hot in a stealth butch kind of way. She looks like the type of woman who could even teach me how to boil an egg without burning my fingers. I’m also considering introducing a chef character in one of my next short stories. I feel so inspired.

Are there wall posters available of this shot, Monica? I need one for my kitchen.

Nice attempt at a smile, Monica.

But from what I’ve seen you’re much better at scowling.

You look very good in your chef’s whites, Monica.

But if you ever do decide to change careers… this look isn’t half bad either.

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Six Sentence Sunday #12

Champagne continues for Six Sentence Sunday…

Absolutely nothing, I thought. “It has the most interesting view you’ll ever see.” It wasn’t really a lie. My living room window looked straight into my neighbour’s kitchen and he loved to cook shirtless. Not that I found that compelling in the least.

“Well then.” She gestured to the barman for the check. “I simply can’t decline.”

As always, more Six Sentence Sunday goodness can be found at the official website. I’ll be back with the next six sentences next week.

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Things I did this week #3

- Packed

- Packed some more

- Moved house

- Openmouthedly watched how four men disassembled, transported and re-assembled all of our furniture in less than three hours

- Coughed through more days and nights than I cared for

- Censored a behind

- Shed a tear of joy for Obama’s re-election

- Watched that speech way too many times

- Marvelled at This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz (Do read!)

- Gave five well-deserved stars to Gone Girl on GoodReads

- Got rid of a lot of junk

- Downsized

- Suffered through too much of Hong Kong banks’ crazy backwards bureaucracy

- Quite enjoyed Skyfall (and that exotic Bond Girl)

- Prayed for a smooth transition of our internet connection (it worked)

- Developed a TV crush on Monica Galetti

- Glowed for days after reading this review of Younger Than Yesterday

- Sent Fool For Love to my beta-readers

- Paid tribute to Bette Porter

- Napped like there was no tomorrow

- Tried three different kinds of cough syrup (all disgusting)

- Made this list

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Hotties: Jennifer Beals

This week’s hottie comes without (much) words. It’s a simple photographic tribute to the actress who portrayed the greatest fictional lesbian character ever created (flaws included—but nothing those curls couldn’t make up for). Bette Porter, the über-alpha power dyke from The L Word.

Good Morning, Bette

Roar. Good evening, Bette

Of course you can take my picture, Bette

Those collar bones… now you’re just teasing, Bette

Oh hello there, Bette

Why so serious, Bette? Is it the theme tune?

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A Censored Behind

Some retailers found the cover for All of Me a bit too risqué. A fact for which I can hardly blame them, seeing as that bum really stares you right in the face.

So, I’ve made a less daring version, cropping those artistically shadowed butt cheeks out of the cover. Here’s a little before and after. I’ll still be using the original version though. I mean, that is one seriously nice ass.

Before censorship

After censorship

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Six Sentence Sunday #11

Champagne continues for Six Sentence Sunday…

“A taxi to my place.” I said it as if it were the only option. I could have suggested the zoo, or the beach, but that would just have been a waste of time.

At last, she smiled. She bared a row of too white teeth, the unexpected dimples in her cheeks making up for it. “The foolishness of youth.” She shook her head, but kept her smile. “What’s so great about your place?”

As always, more Six Sentence Sunday goodness can be found at the official website. I’ll be back with the next six sentences next week.

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Latest releases: Can't Get Enough and A Woman's Touch

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Want Hired Help for FREE? Simply subscribe to my mailing list

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