Liz Everly's Blog, page 35
February 3, 2017
Sexy Saturday Round Up
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Hey Fassy, if you read Lady Smut, Fassy, would you even admit it?
It’s resort time for the filthy rich, but here at LadySmut we’re putting on the sunglasses and faux-fur before diving outside to get a little Valentine’s Day shopping done for our fav boo.
Are you ready for some hot links to all that is weird, stimulating, and smutty this week? Well, pour yourself another cuppa joe and then hop back into bed with Joe to enjoy this week’s SSRU. ; >
From Madeline:
Yes!– to this super-bowl ad.
This female recruit is a lean mean fighting machine!
Did we evolve to get fat? Why? (Why? whyyyyyyyyy?)
Would you like to see Idris Elba try to become a kick boxer? Yes please!
A day with women scientists who are protesting Trump.
OMG! Half-naked animal rights protesters have themselves BRANDED.
From Thien-Kim
If only this app called Licker really existed
Skip the sappy Valentine’s cards and go for adorably awkward ones
Or maybe just gift your Valentine with a sex toy that makes both of you happy
Meet this adorable burly biker and his pussy (the orange tabby kind)
From Elizabeth Shore
Cum on! An oral history of the money shot.
Getting ready for the big game – 15 beer-loaded Superbowl snacks. Soft pretzel bites and beer cheese dip, anyone?
Then again, if you’re trying to avoid the big game, why not rent a steamy movie from this list of the all-time sexiest.
Pornhub goes beyond porn by launching a sex education site.
Camel no! Seamless Thread offers a discreet way to hide your luscious lips.
Why You Should Read More Romances Written by #OwnVoices
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Earlier this week, my fellow Lady Smutter Alexa Day challenged you to read more diverse books and spread the word about them.
I’m going to up the ante and challenge you to choose diverse romances written by #OwnVoices.
The basic own voices concept is to read and promote books with diverse main characters written by authors from that same diverse group. For me diversity means any community or group that is not the mainstream. It can mean race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and/or mental illness (and more). The #OwnVoices hashtag was originally coined to highlight diverse books in children’s publishing, but the philosophy is important for all genres, even romance and erotica.
In the last few years, diversity has been a buzzword in publishing. I hate that people talk about it like a trend. My experiences as a Vietnamese American is not a fad or a trend. Reading about an Asian American woman who falls in love and has mega hot sex shouldn’t be a trend. It should be just be something normal that happens–as in real life. (Now you know that I have mega hot sex.)
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While the heroines and heroes in the romance industry catch up with real life, it’s also very important that we choose to read #ownvoices. (And spread the word about the ones we like.) When you read a love story about a Black, Asian, Latinx, or queer woman that is also written by someone from that culture, you’re getting an inside look from someone who has experienced the feelings, stereotypes, and family expectations from that culture or background. They’ve walked in those shoes and felt similar feelings as their characters. Someone who is not of that same diverse group can only give readers an outsider’s perspective of their character’s life.
When we only read diverse characters written by outside voices, we risk reading a singular story. Stereotypes are more common: Asian American men who are nerds or geeks; African American men who are sports jocks or preachers; and so on. While stereotypes and tropes are common in romances, why limit our alphahole billionaires to white guys?
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Romances that stick with me are ones that defy stereotypes or put a fun twist on a common tropes. Why not have a Black computer nerd who falls in love with a Latinx woman gamer? How about successful Latina woman realtor who secretly meets her bisexual landscaper for trysts? (If any of these exist, please leave the title in the comments so I can read them!)
If you’re not sure where to look for #OwnVoices romances, read Alexa Day’s books. Then check out these blogs and indie presses for more recommendations:
WOC in Romance
Romance Novels in Color
Rainbow Gold Reviews
Cleis Press
Circlet Press
Bisexual Books
Ylva Publishing
I’m not saying you should only read own voices books. There’s plenty of good romances out there that do not fit this category. I’m challenging you to seek out ones that are #ownvoices and read them.
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After you read them, support the author. Leave reviews, tell your friends to buy the book,and spread the word. More importantly, call out the diversity and own voices in your reviews so that those of us who are searching for them can find them. Give the books good Google juice so when I type in “sexy romances with Hispanic SEALs,” they’ll show up on the first page of results.
Will you join me and take the pledge to read and review more #OwnVoices romances?
Thien-Kim Lam is currently writing romances about Asian American women who have mega hot sex. She is the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy reads with bedroom toys and sensual products. Batteries included. Check her Pleasure Pairings guide with buzzy recommendations for the adventurous reader
February 2, 2017
One Hot Zombie Husband, Please!–And Other Lustful Zombie Stuff
Let that repressed manic side out, Timothy Olyphant.
by Madeline Iva
On Friday night I’m watching a new show called THE SANTA CLARITA DIET on Netflix. Why? Two words: Timothy Olyphant. The guy has a kind of restrained mayhem vibe that makes women purr. He’s good when he’s a bad boy, and I like it when he does the humor thing, but really underplays it. Let’s hope he gets to do both in this new TV show.
What’s unusual is for Olyphant to be part of a duo, for he often plays the lone wolf. Yet he’s a supportive husband (awwww) as his wife’s body goes undead and her twisted feral id coming to life. (Peeps, this could be my own marriage we’re talking about—esp. when I’m on deadline.)
As for the rest of the show–we shall see. I lurv Drew Barrymore and early reviews say the supporting cast is excellent. The creator is Victor Fresco who did the short lived but great (!) show BETTER OFF TED, which walked the line of absurdism and also had a supportive, understanding, and munch-a-licious lead.
But hey, let me be your zombie pimp and recommend some other zombie joy you may have overlooked. My preference is for zombie comedy/satire. Take R in Warm Bodies[image error]WARM BODIES. So cute and so protective in his own teenage, shuffling, groan-y way.
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Click to buy the DVD
There’s also a wonderful funny little book call BREATHERS. Subversive and with a sexy element that I quite enjoyed.
Breathers: A Zombie's Lament[image error][image error]
Click to buy.
Have you seen the movie SEAN OF THE DEAD? It’s a bit like The Office meets zombies. Quite surprisingly daffy and satiric all the way through.
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Imagine The Office as a zombie flick. Click to buy the DVD…
Meanwhile, let us not forget some serious Zombie smut, like what you’ll find with our own Isabelle Drake’s SERVANT OF THE UNDEAD along with Daisy Harris’ mix of not-quite-human stuff. I lurved Hariss’ “Steins” and sex bots. In BUILT FOR IT Harris discovered M/M erotic romance and never looked back. (Can you even get these books anymore Daisy?)
[image error]Once upon a time, Lexi waxed philosophical on the ethics of sex with an undead body. I, dear readers, completely understand. Who really wants to kiss decaying flesh? On the other hand, a zombie is nothing if not a metaphor. Give me your metaphors–satiric, comedic or full of pathos and killed by societal excess and ennui. Sometimes we all seem a little rotten to the core. Zombies get to wear their decay on the outside where it’s all embarrassing and visible. Ultimately, they’re monsters and I dearly love a monster-hero, even if his heart is dead and cold.
That’s not to say that one can’t enjoy zombie horror. Lexi has traced the path of an end-of-the-world romance on the Walking Dead that I’ve followed probably with more enjoyment that I took in watching the actual show. Check out her posts:
LIFE AMONG THE DEAD: IS MICHONNE READY TO LOVE AGAIN?
THE DEAD DELIVER: IS THIS THE SEASON FOR RICHONNE?
DEAD ON! REJOICING FOR RICHONNE
If you do like your zombies with a lot of blood splatter, there’s a movie coming out called THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS.
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You’ll slurp it up if you like post-apocalyptic action/adventure. Click to buy.
The book was gripping–I stayed up all night reading it. I’m sure the movie will be excellent too, but check out the book first. It’s post apocalyptic, British, and I liked how the balance of characters in the book were female. They seemed to have deliberately switched around the race of the characters in the movie. Hmmmmmm.
There’s also World War Z — not your typical zombie genre book. It’s totally different and only about a thousand times better than the movie. (Sorry Brad Pitt.)
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War[image error][image error]
Another book I’ve read in one sitting. Click to buy.
Well, time for me to do some groaning and shuffling myself as I sign off to go jog, shower, and write. Follow us at Lady Smut. We give you reasons to live.
[image error]Madeline Iva writes fantasy and paranormal romance. Her fantasy romance, WICKED APPRENTICE, featuring a magic geek heroine, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and through iTunes. Sign up for Madeline Iva news & give aways.
January 31, 2017
Making A Pitt Stop For Brad
[image error]By Elizabeth Shore
In a conversation with my fellow Lady Smutters, we realized – to our dismay! – that in the nearly five years since we’ve had our blog, we’ve never once published anything about Brad Pitt. No gushing about his phenom body in Troy. No acknowledgement of his three Academy award nominations; no props for his humanitarian efforts. Not a Pittance! We’re like the blog version of Oscar voters who’ve snubbed outstanding performances. Well, no more. We’re righting our wrong here and giving a proper Lady Smut shout out to all things Brad.
Lately, of course, the news on Brad has been far from Hollywood sparkly. He’s in the midst of an oft-reported messy divorce from Angelina Jolie, and was charged – although later cleared – of child abuse allegations toward his eldest son. Ach! This is a far cry from the sweet-faced Brad who burst into fame in 1991’s Thelma & Louise playing sexy con man J.D. Although he’d done a fair bit of work prior to that, it was this film that first had our girly bits sitting up and asking, “Who is that?!”
Whether or not you’re a fan of Brad’s acting, it’s hard to find fault with the worthy causes and humanitarian efforts to which he’s donated time and megabucks. He’s been a supporter of causes as diverse as combating AIDS to housing for disaster victims to help for refugees. Both he and Jolie have been outspoken about supporting marriage equality and through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation have donated close to $30 million for “health, education, conservation, and sustainable development efforts,” according to InsidePhilanthropy.com.
All that is awesome of course. But, um, going back to that body…
Was this the best movie evah? Negative. Do we care? No we do not. Because, really, why the heck else do you need to watch Troy other than to drool over those giant guns. Those washboard abs. Those ripped pecs. Ahhhh…..
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The number one rule of Fight Club is, we can talk about Brad Pitt
No doubt the movies for which Brad Pitt is best know are the Ocean’s movies and, of course, Fight Club. Can you believe that was made all the way back in 1999? Get. Out! Yet it’s true. Hard as it is to believe, the number one rule of getting older is not to talk about getting older. So I won’t dwell on the fact that Fight Club came out 18 years ago, which means kids in high school today weren’t even born then, which means…damn. Which means I need to change the topic.
[image error]Brad Pitt’s filmography is actually quite varied. He’s been the stud in Troy, the wheeler dealer in Moneyball, the crafty spy in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which is where, of course, he met Angelina Jolie. But one of my favorite movies of his is much lesser known – and seen – and that’s 2006’s Babel. In it, Brad plays Richard, a man in a troubled marriage to Susan (Cate Blanchett) who goes on vacation to Morocco with his wife to try to work things out. Susan ends up getting accidentally shot, and her shooting and the aftermath are all connected to a series of four interlocking events that come together by the end of the film. Brad Pitt’s acting playing the distraught husband is really first-rate and I found myself enjoying the film and his performance much more than I would have guessed. I had the same reaction when I saw him in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. His performance in that movie was amazing.
Now, admittedly, not all Lady Smutters are swooning over Brad, although our own Alexa Day does cite this amusing introductory speech at an awards ceremony to be, and I quote, “the finest thing he’s ever done.” See for yourself.
I’ve mentioned above that we want to correct a fundamental wrong in never once writing about Brat Pitt here at Lady Smut, but how did it all come about? How did we realize the error of our ways? Well, ahem. It’s because stats guru Madeline happened to notice that our top searched for term last week was Brad Pitt smut. Ah…yeah. Brad Pitt smut. And that’s when we realized we have none to share. No Brad Pitt smut whatsoever. Horror of horrors! So with this post we’re correcting it pronto. Oh, and see below. Not necessarily smutty, per se, but I’ll take ’em.
Enjoy! And be sure to follow us at Lady Smut. We’ll give you what you want.
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Walk the Walk by Turning the Page
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By Alexa Day
Black History Month starts tomorrow, and this year, I’m mindful of our #ReadHotter challenge. You saw that, right? We threw down the gauntlet about a month ago with ten reading challenges, which I’ve placed here again for your reference.
This year, we again challenge you to read “a book with main characters of a different race or culture than you.” We had the same challenge last year. I’ve always felt some sort of way about it, to be honest. See, for a great many readers for a great many years, the mere act of reading romance was reading books with main characters of a different race or culture. Hell, for me, writing romance is writing characters of a different race or culture.
But today we live in a climate of frankness and openness. We’re called upon to be allies, to protect and understand each other. We can’t fall back on the same old stand-bys of black history.
We all have to do better. We have to teach better, and we have to do a better job of learning. That’s going to be hard for everybody.
(We do all need to be allies for each other — for everyone. You’re hearing mostly about black people today because I’m a black author and next month is Black History Month, but be ready to hear something similar from other sources.)
For our purposes today, I’m presuming that you all have at least bought a book with main characters of a different race. I want to push you a little harder, though. I want to ask you about the book you bought with an author of a different race or culture than you. Because I presume you have at least one of those, too. Seriously, if you don’t have at least one Beverly Jenkins book by now, you’ve earned the side-eye I’m giving you. It might also be any one of the other books I’ve recommended on Lady Smut over the years.
Go put your hand on that book. If it’s on your Kindle, go pull it up. I’ll wait.
Got it? Okay. I’m going to ask some in-your-face questions.
Have you read that book? Have you actually read that book written by a black author?
Did you read all of it?
Did you talk to anyone about it? Did you recommend it? Review it?
Did you ask any questions it raised for you? Did you examine the ways it challenged you?
I’m not just asking because our #ReadHotter challenge requires you to actually read the book. I’m not asking because I want to make sure you check off the little box on your Good Reader list.
I’m asking because actually reading that book you bought is more important than it’s ever been.
Buying the book — whenever you bought it — is a fantastic gesture. It’s an effective way to support diverse authors and the call for diversity in publishing, and I will never tell you that isn’t important.
You’re not going to get any answers that way, though. You’re only going to move forward if you read the book and act on it by leaving a review, asking questions, and going deeper.
It’s not enough any more to just buy that book. It’s wonderful and all, but just having that one book doesn’t make you an ally. It doesn’t make you an activist. You’re going to have to read it.
Read that book. Then read another one with a different author. Consider the way the heroines walk through the world — the billionaire socialites, the ancient queens, the 18th century doctors. Travel through ancient Africa and the American South still smoldering after the Civil War. Immerse yourself in the authors’ blogs as well as their books.
(Just as a start, go check out Alyssa Cole’s blog and her books — you will not be disappointed there. I promise.)
We serve each other by going beyond the mere gesture. Buying that book, in order to support that author and the call for greater diversity in publishing, is absolutely fantastic. But reading it — taking in the places where your viewpoints differ, where the author’s culture teaches you something, where you have something in common — benefits both you and the author. Reading it is where we go beyond mere talk and good thoughts and move toward real understanding.
So … what are you reading this month?
Follow Lady Smut.
January 27, 2017
Sexy Saturday Round Up
Ready to settle down to a quietly satisfying weekend? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The world outside may be going to hell in a handbag, but you can cozy up here to our fire and enjoy yourself with some fascinating blog posts around the world about the funny, bad, weird world of sex, love, and the clitoris. Enjoy!
From Madeline
What’s a Beardosexual? Read all about it at Heroes & Heartbreakers.
A must-read ling from Alexa’s blog post: Just have sex with ugly people.
Because after all, science has discovered that you are less beautiful than you think.
This top model is intersex and telling the world all about it.
The UK gives the side eye to employee dress codes.
From Mental Floss: 10 Exceptional Female Con artists
From Thien-Kim
Run out of batteries or misplaced your battery operated buddy? You’ll never look at your household items the same way.
Apparently men with big bellies can last 5 minutes longer in bed. Almost 3 times as long as the average “skinny” man.
Let’s bust these vaginal care myths once and for all.
Curious about anal play? Read this guide for beginners, which includes toy recommendations.
From Elizabeth Shore:
Sitting in and watching movies this weekend? Here are 10 sexy ones that’ll lead movie night straight to the bedroom.
Beauty’s no longer just for the girls. Here are 10 men who are rocking the beauty industry.
Forget lacy lingerie! For Valentine’s Day this year, Goop says you should buy a gold butt.
Straight guy ends up in a gay sex club, leaves an awesome Yelp review.
The Men Who Dare To Go There In Erotic Fiction
The evolution of Viagra’s marketing from Bob Dole to 40 something men during football games (so now she wants it) has given me further insight into the degradation that women experience every day, living up to impossible standards of beauty and sexuality. ~Spencer Dryden
You pretty much have to love a guy who emails you the above lines in response to your interview request related to why he writes erotic fiction. And then when he—and other male erotic writers—jump in with other awesomeness, well, it’s hard not to let pride swell one’s little heart that these gentlemen are part of our book tribe.
Authors DaddyX, Spencer Dryden, Daily Hollow and Ian Smith graciously shared their experiences writing erotic romance and erotica, including why (oh, why?) they went there. Few men do. Let’s hear from the few, the proud and the brave.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: Okay, guys, how did you get here? Why do you write in the erotic genre?
SPENCER DRYDEN: Nearly all my life I have been enchanted by female allure. I come from a time and background where anything sexual was obscured by a cloud of guilt and shame. When I reached my early 60’s (I’m 66 now) I gave myself permission to explore those fantasies through fiction as it would be much safer that trying to carry them out in real life. I have learned so much about sex and sexuality in the process, things I wish I had known as a younger man. A guy could learn a lot by reading my stuff.
DADDYX: To be honest—and I will be honest—being horny. And in appreciating the fact that I still felt sexy rather late in life. It’s what was always on my mind, even at 64 years of age, when I began writing erotica. Figured to document my libido before it went away.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: We love honest guys.
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Good things come in plain brown wrappers. Daddy has stenciled a big red “X” on the cover of his new collection to warn the reading public. Open this book only if you’re ready for X-rated excesses beyond the ordinary. The five tales Daddy has chosen for this volume are X-tra outrageous.
IAN SMITH: I read some ‘chick lit’ for relaxation, and enjoyed the development of the characters and the romantic story, but felt the lovemaking scenes were a bit tame. I decided to try writing this sort of story, but with rather steamier scenes. Sex is an integral and important part of most people’s relationships, and I thought it must be possible to be realistic without being ‘porn’.”
DAILY HOLLOW: I wanted to get back into writing fiction so a few years ago I googled ‘writing competitions’ and stumbled across Literotica. After reading a few stories I was like “I can totally do this.”
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: There’s that honesty again. You all come from different walks of life so I’m calling you my ‘representative sample.’ Here’s what I want to know. Why aren’t there more male authors in the erotic genre?
DADDYX: Hah! Momma X says that when a woman writes smut, it’s considered cute. A woman can get away with appearing something akin to adventurous without looking like a perv. Conjure a naughty picture of a cute girl, book in one hand, masturbating with the other. Isn’t that sweet? But a guy in a basement who can’t get a date, one hand beating Red Roger, typing like crazy with the other? Let’s just say it’s a different picture.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: Okay, true that.
SPENCER DRYDEN: I don’t have a clue other than women weren’t seeing what they liked and have systematically taken over control of the ship. Very admirable. We need to get more male readers into erotica but I don’t see many characters I can identify with. Until men can identify with character and plot in erotica, what little fiction they read will continue to be action genres.
DAILY HOLLOW: I think because there are more female readers of erotica, so it would make sense more women would write it. Men (such as myself) tend to gravitate more toward action, horror, etc. Honestly, I very rarely read the genre, unless one of my friends has a new book or I am beta reading for someone.
IAN SMITH: There appears to be a widespread opinion that “men can’t write romance’” which I disagree with. Men feel romantic and get emotionally involved, probably in similar ways to women. Fewer men appear to write romance, or at least not under male pen names. I know the market for romance generally is predominantly female, and I can understand that people reading for escapism will typically identify more readily with their own gender.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: So as a man, do you feel responsible or obligated to write erotica or erotic romance a “certain” way? Such as more respectful (or more blatant) in certain areas because people know you’re a man?
DAILY HOLLOW: Not really. I write what I feel, then send it off to the betas. I have never had anyone tell me my writing was derogatory or disrespectful.
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Plumbers and Other Lovers is collection of four short stories about tradesmen who find unexpected rewards in home repairs as they stumble into romantic encounters during the course of their everyday blue-collar lives.
DADDYX: Not at all. But I sure get told when I get it wrong. :>) Much of my experience in offering, receiving and observing criticism is through The Erotica Readers and Writers Association lists. I have acted as Storytime editor for either flash fiction or short stories for the past few years. There, I see varying perspectives of criticism and as many ways of interpreting the same work. Everyone has his/her own way of perceiving and receiving erotica. That’s one of the more intriguing aspects of writing in our genre. Everyone absorbs the material according to their own turn-ons and squicks. In fact, with all the variety out there, it’s a miracle a writer ever connects with a reader.
SPENCER DRYDEN: My writing reflects the way I feel about women, which is that I hold them in high regard, especially the way they can use their powers of enchantment.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: See opening lines above.
IAN SMITH: No, I try to write with my own “voice.” I like my male lead characters to be decent, nice guys, and be courteous to the women they’re involved with, but that’s at least partly because it’s how I hope I am myself. I find it difficult to imagine being anything else, but that might be something fun to play with when I feel more confident about my writing.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: Do you find people hold you to a higher standard? Like a woman can get away with writing certain things, but a man would get his hand slapped for “crossing a line?”
DAILY HOLLOW: Not really. I have heard some male writers feel that way, but I have never encountered any issues.
SPENCER DRYDEN: I don’t know if “higher standard” is quite the right term for what I feel. I have read lots of short form F/F erotica (which I love) as a way to improve sensual vocabulary. Often these stories move fast and feature plots that move quickly from initial encounter to sex. (Hi I’m a girl that likes girls. Oh I like girls too….begin humping) My stories have the same structure and character arc as F/F stories but my are frequently labeled as “stroke” or “only about sex.” So it’s more like a double standard than a higher standard.
DADDYX: Some of my characters can be despicable. I do have to work to tone them down upon occasion. Though assholes make for interesting subjects, there should be someone for the reader to relate to. Often the reader equates a character with the author, so I wouldn’t want to alienate readership of any sexual orientation. Despite everything as personal as squicks and triggers, I’d like my work to be universal; but that’s nigh impossible, considering that many people wouldn’t open an erotic book in the first place.
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Paul is Hayley’s lover and now her leading man. But acting and portraying a hero on a period TV show takes far more than a suit of armour. He’s totally out of his depth, personally and professionally. Help arrives with dramatic lessons in leadership and courage, when strange events put him and his friends in harm’s way.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: And, you Ian?
IAN SMITH: I don’t think so. Well, aside from trying to write from a female POV and getting it wrong!
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: In general, men’s fantasies vary wildly from female fantasies. They experience sex differently in real life. Do you believe that colors a male author’s viewpoint when writing erotic fiction? Do you try to write something that will appeal to what females (the bulk of erotic fiction readers) want to read?
DADDYX: Wish I had an inside track for success with female readers. Any readers. It sure would be nice. Maybe then I could sell some books. :>) So here’s what I think:
Again, I can’t really say that I write to a particular gender. To me, it’s all about the story, no matter who’s reading. The plot has to be fresh, intriguing, and hold together. The story arc must be accessible, if not immediately obvious. I like to give my readers credit as intelligent people who will extrapolate content and subtleties by my prompts and suggestions. I don’t want to alter or conform my work to appeal to the lowest common denominator. By the same token, while I’m writing, I wouldn’t want to distract myself imagining my readers as any particular gender. I feel that engineering the delivery by gender could effectively limit scope in development of the story. I like to think of literature as universal.
That said, I also like to get my readers juices flowing, no matter their gender. Problem is, how would I know?
DAILY HOLLOW: I write what I feel. I’ve actually written a few F/F stories, and honestly my novella, Leslie’s Dilemma, may be my best fiction piece to date.
SPENCER DRYDEN: “I hope that female readers will find my male characters to be genuine and memorable. There are no billionaire bad boys, alpha males or self- destructive ego-maniacs in my stories. I feature ordinary guys who fall into the orbit of sexually assertive women. [As for a different viewpoint?] Absolutely. It’s why we are more visual and more mechanical in our fiction writing.
ELIZABETH SAFLEUR: Confession time: Are you writing stories you wish would pan out in real life?
DADDYX: Heh. I’m 72 years old, for chrissakes. My fantasies will remain as such. :>) If Momma and I can achieve orgasm in the missionary position without injuring ourselves, we consider ourselves lucky. Best fantasy these days is a sexy dream. Or a trip to a thong beach. In truth though, I often write situations I’d like to have happened. Other situations, not so much. Depends on the character. He/she may think like me. Or decidedly not.
IAN SMITH: In a general sense, of people meeting and forming solid, emotionally-fulfilling relationships, and having a few adventures along the way.
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Mark Jenson is a handsome, easy going man who enjoys drinking with his buddies and the occasional Myrtle Beach golf outing. Gabriella is a beautiful, yet intimidating Jamaican assassin who has nearly fifty kills to her credit. Because Mark unknowingly insulted a mobster’s daughter after they had a drunken night of sex, Gabriella is hired to end Mark’s life
DAILY HOLLOW: LOL, who doesn’t? I also try to throw a little personal experience in as well. I’ve been in several multi-racial relationships and have written a BWWM novella and short story. I’ve also had sex in public and one of my works in progress is going to have a scene where my MC has sex in a river at a popular college hangout. In my short story “Charlene’s Surprise”, my MC is tied up while his wife and her best friend “put on a show.” I guess that would be something I wish would have panned out in real life. 
January 26, 2017
Crazyhead Is NOT Just Buffy With Demons
Raquel and Amy–ready to bash some demon booty.
by Madeline Iva
CRAZYHEAD meets my important criteria for binge-worthy TV watching:
At least one female main character—check
Main character who’s POC–check.
And this is the key point: the main character/POC character is not just token fodder, nor all plastic-y perfect, but like, ACTUALLY interesting–check
Romance*Sex*Attractions of any gender/combo you like–-check.
Side characters we enjoy as much if not sometimes a wee bit more than the main characters – the single mum demon, for instance, or Amy’s possessed roommate Suzanne. Check.
Has characters who aren’t all physically gym-rat perfect. Since this is British TV—check.
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Amy and ever-helpful puppy dog Jake
The opening is SO good. Amy and Raquel form a bond when they realize that they both can see demons. Raquel fights demons while Amy, alas, has a possessed roommate. Both have been convinced throughout their lives that they are a bit crazy. (Later on in the season this vulnerability is exploited–lurv it!)
Okay, so maybe it is Buffy With Demons — but there is So Much Buffy Goodness I don’t care. Yes, it’s New Adult comedy-horror. Yes, there’s meta-ness. Yes, it’s tightly scripted with that touch of gloom cause the bad guys are winning, the world is indifferent to or unable to fight horror (and we all know what THAT feels like, don’t we?). The future is not looking bright.
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Watching Jake’s character change is half the fun.
Also the most savory yummilicious part towards the end involves my favorite suspense/horror plot device: is-he-honestly-into-me-or-does-he-really-want-to-kill-me. I know, I’m twisted and perverse but I LOVE THIS KIND OF FATAL ATTRACTION DYNAMIC SO HARD.
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Amy’s roommate Suzanne is possessed, alas. But she still loves cuddles.
And! Crazyhead also explores that dynamic of the nice guy (Jake) who likes the girl (in this case, Amy) even though she’s utterly indifferent. (Perhaps because of his lack of alpha qualities?) Anyway, as the season goes along he becomes ever more helpful as a demon-basher driver and general side-kick. But you only have to fight demons so long before you start to grow and change as a human being, and watching Jake slowly morph is enjoyable. Amy can’t help but sit up a little and take notice. (There’s more to it than that but hee-hee-hee I’m not telling!)
Check out Crazyhead on Netflix.
Meanwhile, did any of you out there watch The AO over the holidays? I quit about five or six episodes in cause it was:
not at all what I was expecting
much more serial-killer-y than I ever ever wanted.
taking ***forever*** to get to the point. (Spoiler alert: I’m just sayin’— if you were locked up and in peril, and I had vowed to rescue you, would you want me to take no less than two whole nights to sit and tell my rescue posse all about how your perilous situation before we saddled up for a rescue? I don’t think so. I think you’d want me to get my f**king ass in gear.)
But hey! Sometimes I’m too quick to give up on something – if you liked it, and if it’s worth another shot lemme wanna know. After all—the first ten minutes of Stranger Things didn’t hook me and I ended up being TOTALLY wrong about that.
Follow us at Lady Smut (don’t forget to subscribe too!) and we will happily bash away at any demons you might have lying around the house.
[image error]Madeline Iva writes fantasy and paranormal romance. Her fantasy romance, WICKED APPRENTICE, featuring a magic geek heroine, is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and through iTunes. Sign up for Madeline Iva news & give aways.
January 24, 2017
Stressed At Work? Take A Masturbation Break
Someone needs a break!
Although I’m not a smoker, I’ve always felt there’s something appealing about taking a cigarette break at work.
Know what I mean?
You go outside for a few minutes, get some fresh air, and just chill the heck out for a few minutes away from the phone, the computer, and those annoying work mates. It’s a few perfect moments to de-stress. And because it’s so darn perfect, seems like there ought to be a similar work stress break for us non-smokers. Sure, we could go outside as well and just stand there, but somehow not having the ciggie prop to accompany the standing doesn’t seem quite right. So what to do?? Well, according to some doctors, their go-to Rx is to find a private spot and rub out some self love. You read that right. To de-stress at work, they say you should take a masturbation break.
Psychologist and Life Coach Dr. Cliff Arnall, in an article posted in metro.co.uk., says, “I would expect a masturbation policy to result in more focus, less aggression, higher productivity, and more smiling, Certainly taking a masturbation break for boredom or an escape would increase work focus.”
I like the way you think, Cliff! After all, in corporate lingo, masturbation breaks seem like the perfect “win-win” situation. They’re healthy for the employee since she’ll be more relaxed and better able to focus on work, and healthy for the company because a happy employee is a productive employee. Anyone see a problem here?
Not Hot Octopuss. Last year the sex toy maker debuted its inaugural “masturbation booth” on 28th street and 5th avenue in NYC and claims to have had 100 men take full advantage of it on its debut day. Success like that surely means expansion, right? Right on! Hot Octopuss says it’ll be setting up more self-love booths in other major cities across the globe, so stayed tuned. Of courose, what I want to know is, where are booths for the women?
There are some religious groups, of course, who want nothing whatsoever to do with “pleasures of the flesh.” Porn-free.org states that masturbation, “opens the door to the deceiving influences of lust.” Sounds serious. However, there is a possibility that the masturbation break at work could potentially lead to sexual harassment situations. Or hostile workplace environments. For instance, if employees started bringing in their favorite skin mags as a way to “inspire” them during their breaks and then accidentally left them lying around. Or worse yet, asked a fellow employee to be the source of inspiration. If the solo becomes a duo, then inappropriate workplace behavior become an HR nightmare just waiting to happen.
Those concerns aside, the masturbation break is, literally, just what the doctor ordered as a way to de-stress. Apparently plenty of workers have already jumped on that bandwagon. A Time Out New York poll had 39 percent of male respondents confessing to doing the deed, and a 2012 Glamour magazine poll put the figure at 31 percent of all workers.
What do you think? Are you in on the masturbation break at work, or is it better to keep work and play separate? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to follow us at Lady Smut, where our posts are always a nice break. No lube required.
For Your Amusement: Three Diversions to Occupy Your Impatient Mind
Dorothy and Lucas, from Emerald City. This ain’t Kansas, and that guy’s no scarecrow.
By Alexa Day
Three weeks until The Walking Dead comes back.
Eight months until Pitch returns.
Day 3 of the new President’s first 100.
These are hard times for an impatient woman. I found myself in search of diversions, something to take my mind off the political clusterf*ck that is social media. Something that would make time go by much, much faster.
I got lucky this week and found three.
1. Emerald City. Mixed opinions follow Emerald City, an NBC series inspired by L. Frank Baum’s Oz books. It’s a dark reimagining of the stories many of us know best through the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. But the Oz books were darker than the film, and the series is darker still. Just within the first few episodes, the story reveals prostitution, ritual suicide, and the introduction of gun violence into a world that’s already a pretty dangerous place.
I love it.
Visually, Emerald City is quite a spectacle. The spires of the titular city rise high over the sea, and we’re treated to a variety of sweeping landscapes. Everything looks just unreal enough. It’s a big change from the Technicolor experimentation of the film.
Women dominate Emerald City’s storylines. The Wizard has forbidden magic in the realm of Oz … and magic is used primarily, if not exclusively, by women. The story traces several women’s relationships with their powers, whether their magic is stifled, latent, or on full, startling display. Morality, identity and power come together in fascinating ways, and before long, the Oz of Emerald City starts to raise questions that have troubled women for a long, long time.
Oh … and the Scarecrow’s never looked quite like this.
Give it a try. It’ll make you think.
2. Playboy. I wrote a while ago about what Playboy would be like without its nudes. I popped over there last weekend, looking for something to read, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Playboy has always upheld a somewhat proud literary tradition; its track record with short fiction is long and impressive. And then there’s the Playboy interview, whose question-and-answer format gave Alex Haley a way to use laconic jazz legend Miles Davis’s curt responses. When I read Playboy, I really was there for the articles. But I’ll confess that I haven’t read any part of it in a pretty long time.
I don’t know if the disappearance of the print pictorial has anything to do with it, but my recent visit to the website revealed a wealth of women writers, alongside their male counterparts. The lineup of articles includes coverage of the Women’s March (including the best of the signs), questions about women, jazz and La La Land, a critique of modern journalism, and my favorite — a peek at how much better sex can be with an unattractive partner.
Are there still scantily clad women on the Playboy website? Sure. But I work in a world of scantily clad men. I will not now be seen to point fingers.
3. Exhibit Unadorned. In its struggle to redeem itself this past week, Facebook introduced me to a new-to-me blog, Exhibit Unadorned. Kayla Lords, a woman I’m proud to call a Facebook friend, wrote this interview with Exhibit A, a male sex blogger from London. Exhibit A didn’t match my stereotypes of what a male sex blogger would sound like. Sure, his blog has a whole page of links to dick pics sprinkled generously through his posts. But his post about a sex party he attended with his girlfriend would be at home in any erotic romance. A his-and-hers commentary about a shabbily written list of sex don’ts is too cute for words, and all too true.
I feel bad for being surprised by this. I don’t really have a reason, other than being narrow-minded, to think that a male sex blogger can’t produce this kind of inviting, fun, sex-positive work. Perhaps Snctm left a bad taste in my mouth.
If you’re looking for a diversion for the next 98 days and beyond, I hope I’ve given you a lot to click on! We’re all in this together, after all. And if you’ve got diversions to share, hit me up in the comments.
And follow Lady Smut. The time will just fly by.
