Regina Cole's Blog, page 8

Tell me no lies- How I do Erotic Horror (part 3)

Thanks for stopping by again! For parts one and two of this series, click HERE and HERE.

 

So I had a heroine, Bryerly, and I had villains, Rafe and his crew. What and why they were doing what they were was still a mystery to me. But heck. Like all good pansters, I'd figure that out later. I had more delicious things to attend to.

I knew that my hero was a Truth Keeper. I wasn't sure what that was, but I wanted to find a name that meant truth. So I went to Google's translating tool and scanned through all the languages I could find til I settled on one I could make a name.

VERUM. It's Latin. It's sexy. It fit.

And once I had the name, I could see him in my head. Husband had been doing a lot of Insanity workout DVDs at the time, so there was a face and body that matched the idea of Verum perfectly for me.

Exhibit A, Shaun T, the creator of Insanity Workouts.

Mrow.

Okay. So who was he? What's a Truth Keeper? Hmm. He's dark, delicious, probably immortal, so he could have come from a long time ago. Someone called a Truth Keeper would probably be nearly omniscient. Maybe he could be Egyptian. Oooh, I loved that section of history. I trotted off to do some research about Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, thinking that if Verum could run afoul of the deity who represented Truth, that his punishment would definitely have something to do with that, right?

So here's Ma'at!

from Wikipedia–

List of deities of Ancient Egypt

 

Ma'at – a goddess who personified concept of truth, balance, justice, and order – represented as a woman, sitting or standing, holding a sceptre in one hand and an ankh in the other – thought to have created order out of the primal chaos and was responsible for maintaining the order of the universe and all of its inhabitants, to prevent a return to chaos

 

Okay, so Ma'at would have the power and the motivation to curse Verum if he pissed her off. Got it. So he's called to keep the truth of mankind. THAT'S why he was there when the murder was happening. He had to observe the truth. Perfect conflagration of hero/heroine/villain? Check. So how does one introduce sexy-sex into this mix? Obviously, murder witnessing doesn't do a damn thing for libido. Unless you're some kind of sick perv. If so, I don't want to know.

 

So in the next segment, we'll talk about how I twined these polar opposites together.

 

Don't forget to leave a comment below to be entered to win a Scarily Good Gift and free ebook copy of SINFUL TRUTH! To show how much I appreciate each and every one of my blog commenters, I'll be adding each of your names from now until SINFUL TRUTH releases (4/20) into a hat. Comment on multiple blog posts? Receive multiple entries. The winner will be selected via Random.org, and will receive a Scarily Good Gift  plus a free copy of SINFUL TRUTH!  Comment, comment, comment! Share! Good readers. pats your head

Seductively Creepy-How I do Erotic Horror (part 2)

Thanks for joining me for the second part of this post! If you missed post one, you can find it HERE.

So as you remember, I had the need for the book (editor asked. What can I do? She's so darn cute) and the blurb, which is like one of those hollow chocolate Easter bunnies. Look at it too closely and you can see it can't withstand a good poke in the liver. So I had my work cut out for me.

I started the next segment the way all good pantsters do-I wrote.

I know, I know, I've sort of turned into a hybrid pantster/plotter. I start to write something, then I'll stop and draw out a "W" plot graph (if you don't know what these suckers are, here. Learn. Especially if you, like me, have a weakness in the story arc area). With this story, I had the beginning given to me in my blurb. So I ran with it.

I had a girl who'd seen her jerk boyfriend commit a murder. I had Bryerly. Who was she? How did she see what she saw?

She whispered to me a little, and I wrote it down for reference. Here it is. I referred to this a lot in the beginning, for voice:

 

            I shouldn't have done what I did.

            It wasn't necessarily wrong, but I knew that Rafe would be mad with me if I left the car.

            I never expected to see what I saw.

            The blood, the dark red spill in the moonlight, the way it covered their hands, their bodies…

            Their faces…

            No.

            I shouldn't have done what I did.

                                                                        -Bryerly Keats.

You may notice a wee bit of similarity to a certain Bon Temps waitress type. In the beginning, there was a lot of Sookie Stackhouse in Bryerly Keats. But as the story went on, Bryerly showed me her true voice, which is a bit more educated, a bit less Southern, and a whole lot more herself. Back to the words in the quote.

Faces? Well that was unexpected. Bryerly had just made this story a whole lot more interesting. Instead of psychotic serial killer story, it was turning into something darker, more paranormal. But I still didn't know what a Truth Keeper was. And I didn't know what Rafe and his friends were, or why they were killing people, or why there was blood on their faces. So I wrote a little more. What I discovered surprised me. I wasn't sure I could come up with something scary, something that would really yell HORROR as well as erotic. But in the first steps of this story, I had a dark mechanic going on for the villains. Still no motivation, but I definitely had an idea of why they were the bad guys.

When Bryerly ran into Verum, the hero, he sort of materialized in my mind. For more about Verum, make sure to see my next blog, part 3 in the "How I do Erotic Horror" series.

And don't forget, be sure to leave a comment below! To show how much I appreciate each and every one of my blog commenters, I'll be adding each of your names from now until SINFUL TRUTH releases (April 20th!) into a hat. Comment on multiple blog posts? You'll receive multiple entries. The winner will be selected via Random.org, and will receive a Scarily Good Gift plus a free ebook copy of SINFUL TRUTH!  So comment below and share with your friends!

Writing Scary that’s Sexy- How I do Erotic Horror (part 1)

So since SINFUL TRUTH releases in about, oh, seventeen days (GULP) I thought it might behoove me (yes, I used “behoove” in a sentence) to talk a little bit about erotic horror, and my process for writing it.

Then I realized in order for me to talk about the process, I’d have to actually have had one.

Then I realized that I did write it, so even though I didn’t think about having a process, I must have had one. Ergo, this blog to help me (and you!) figure out how I created this scary yet sexy brainchild.

It all started when my loverly editor Carrie said, “HEY. Write me an erotic horror. Kthxbai.” It might have been a bit more involved than that, but not a helluva lot. Erotic horror? Well, I’ve read and written a good bit of erotic, and I’d read a lot of horror in my teenage years, but I’d never read anything that combined the two before. But since I heart Carrie, and would grovel across fiery shards of broken glass just to please her, (it’s amazing what those tiny editor-shaped nuggets of praise will do for a writer) I jumped right in.

I started SINFUL TRUTH as I’ve started my last few books-with a blurb.

Huh?

Yes, that’s what I said. A blurb. Like the blob of interesting text on the back of the book? I write that first. It’s a lot easier to expand a three-paragraph blurb into a novel, short story, or novella, than it is to condense a 100K-word monster into three paragraphs.

So, for your delight and edification, this was the blurb that popped into my head at CarrieJEditor’s command:

Bryerly Keats did a bad, bad thing. Her boyfriend, Rafe, told her to stay with the car, but when she heard those screams, she couldn’t stay put. The murder she witnessed that night was just the first.

Rafe and his friends know Bry saw what they did. They can’t afford to let anyone know about their plans. They’ll silence her for good. When a whole town turns against Bry and her tales, she’ll have to depend on a complete stranger to save her life.

But the stranger doesn’t work for free. And his price is the one thing that Bry isn’t sure she can face:

An Eternity with the Truth Keeper

I sent it to Carrie with a “is this kind of what you were thinking?” note, and she fired back a yes, with a ton of questions, one of which was “What exactly is a Truth Keeper?” Well, yanno, I thought, I have no bloody idea.

 

Check back tomorrow for part TWO of the How I did it: Erotic Horror series. And be sure to leave a comment below! To show how much I appreciate each and every one of my blog commenters, I’ll be adding each of your names from now until SINFUL TRUTH releases (April 20th!) into a hat. Comment on multiple blog posts? Receive multiple entries. The winner will be selected via Random.org, and will receive a Scarily Good Gift plus a free copy of SINFUL TRUTH! So comment, ask questions, harass me, and generally have a good time.

Writing Scary that's Sexy- How I do Erotic Horror (part 1)

So since SINFUL TRUTH releases in about, oh, seventeen days (GULP) I thought it might behoove me (yes, I used "behoove" in a sentence) to talk a little bit about erotic horror, and my process for writing it.

Then I realized in order for me to talk about the process, I'd have to actually have had one.

Then I realized that I did write it, so even though I didn't think about having a process, I must have had one. Ergo, this blog to help me (and you!) figure out how I created this scary yet sexy brainchild.

It all started when my loverly editor Carrie said, "HEY. Write me an erotic horror. Kthxbai." It might have been a bit more involved than that, but not a helluva lot. Erotic horror? Well, I've read and written a good bit of erotic, and I'd read a lot of horror in my teenage years, but I'd never read anything that combined the two before. But since I heart Carrie, and would grovel across fiery shards of broken glass just to please her, (it's amazing what those tiny editor-shaped nuggets of praise will do for a writer) I jumped right in.

I started SINFUL TRUTH as I've started my last few books-with a blurb.

Huh?

Yes, that's what I said. A blurb. Like the blob of interesting text on the back of the book? I write that first. It's a lot easier to expand a three-paragraph blurb into a novel, short story, or novella, than it is to condense a 100K-word monster into three paragraphs.

So, for your delight and edification, this was the blurb that popped into my head at CarrieJEditor's command:

Bryerly Keats did a bad, bad thing. Her boyfriend, Rafe, told her to stay with the car, but when she heard those screams, she couldn't stay put. The murder she witnessed that night was just the first.

Rafe and his friends know Bry saw what they did. They can't afford to let anyone know about their plans. They'll silence her for good. When a whole town turns against Bry and her tales, she'll have to depend on a complete stranger to save her life.

But the stranger doesn't work for free. And his price is the one thing that Bry isn't sure she can face:

An Eternity with the Truth Keeper

I sent it to Carrie with a "is this kind of what you were thinking?" note, and she fired back a yes, with a ton of questions, one of which was "What exactly is a Truth Keeper?" Well, yanno, I thought, I have no bloody idea.

 

Check back tomorrow for part TWO of the How I did it: Erotic Horror series. And be sure to leave a comment below! To show how much I appreciate each and every one of my blog commenters, I'll be adding each of your names from now until SINFUL TRUTH releases (April 20th!) into a hat. Comment on multiple blog posts? Receive multiple entries. The winner will be selected via Random.org, and will receive a Scarily Good Gift plus a free copy of SINFUL TRUTH! So comment, ask questions, harass me, and generally have a good time.

To the winner belongs…

An eBook copy of Dear Addi!

Thanks to everyone who commented to enter the giveaway! I'm happy to announce that Shannon Leigh is the lucky winner, decided by random number generation.

 

Congratulations Shannon, and thanks to everyone for stopping by! Please do let me know what you think of DEAR ADDI, and keep your eyes peeled for SINFUL TRUTH, releasing this spring from Ellora's Cave.

 

Ciao!

~R

GIVEAWAY! I’m giving Sexy back

Hey there lovers!

If it’s your first time here, welcome! I’m Regina Cole, author of erotic romance for Ellora’s Cave.  Nice to meet you!

Today I’d like to talk a little bit about love, sharing, and oh yeah, sex.

Valentines Day is tomorrow, and as such, we are expected to grow mushy, doe-eyed, and completely inundated with love. My opinion is, why wait for Cupid? One of my favorite things to do is read a deliciously spicy story, throw on a lacy nightie, and tackle my dear husband when he least expects it. It definitely keeps the romance alive.

We romance readers (and writers) are notoriously warm hearted, giving, and damn sexy. We know what we want and how we want it. So, giant card company who shall not be named, you can have your chocolate, flowers, and canned greetings. We romance lovers are waaaaay ahead of you.While you were talking about fireworks and stars and stripes, we were talking about the same. Just in the bedroom.

That being said, Saint Valentine has given us a pretty primo excuse to be as lovestruck as we want to be. So what are your favorite Valentine’s Day traditions? Do you treat it any differently? Should you?

Please do let me know in the comments! I’ll be picking one lucky winner for a FREE ebook copy of DEAR ADDI, my Ellora’s Cave debut release! This post is part of the With Love Valentine’s Day Blog hop, hosted by the wonderful folks at The Blog Hop Spot! Make sure to stop by their website to check out all the other posters, and possibly win some great free stuff!

Ciao!

R

GIVEAWAY! I'm giving Sexy back

Hey there lovers!

If it's your first time here, welcome! I'm Regina Cole, author of erotic romance for Ellora's Cave.  Nice to meet you!

Today I'd like to talk a little bit about love, sharing, and oh yeah, sex.

Valentines Day is tomorrow, and as such, we are expected to grow mushy, doe-eyed, and completely inundated with love. My opinion is, why wait for Cupid? One of my favorite things to do is read a deliciously spicy story, throw on a lacy nightie, and tackle my dear husband when he least expects it. It definitely keeps the romance alive.

We romance readers (and writers) are notoriously warm hearted, giving, and damn sexy. We know what we want and how we want it. So, giant card company who shall not be named, you can have your chocolate, flowers, and canned greetings. We romance lovers are waaaaay ahead of you.While you were talking about fireworks and stars and stripes, we were talking about the same. Just in the bedroom.

That being said, Saint Valentine has given us a pretty primo excuse to be as lovestruck as we want to be. So what are your favorite Valentine's Day traditions? Do you treat it any differently? Should you?

Please do let me know in the comments! I'll be picking one lucky winner for a FREE ebook copy of DEAR ADDI, my Ellora's Cave debut release! This post is part of the With Love Valentine's Day Blog hop, hosted by the wonderful folks at The Blog Hop Spot! Make sure to stop by their website to check out all the other posters, and possibly win some great free stuff!

Ciao!

R

Cover reveal for SINFUL TRUTH

Here's a happy for your Friday.

 

 

Enjoy, bellas!

 

 

~Ciao!

 

R

DEAR ADDI gets 4 hearts from Sizzling Hot Book Reviews!

Woohoo!!!!

Because all authors google their books obsessively, I found a great review for DEAR ADDI on Sizzling Hot Book Reviews! They gave it FOUR HEARTS, which is awesome!

 

 

 

Here are my favorite lines from the review:

 

"Addi's character is so easy to identify with; if you don't relate to her actions, you've thought about doing them at one time or another. Addi's steamy scenes with Jackson don't over take their love story; Regina Cole does a wonderful job of balancing out the moods of the relationship. Addi and Jackson share many light hearted times together, and frankly just being in Addi's head alone would be enough to keep me entertained."  -Angela, Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

 

 

Please stop by and check out the whole review! And please, don't forget to pick up a copy of DEAR ADDI. If you like contemporary romances with plucky heroines and intelligent, sexy heroes, then this is one you shouldn't miss.

Click the banner to read the review, and I'll chat with you later, loves!

 

Ciao!

 

~R

 

 

 

Shoe Whore

I am rapidly becoming a shoe whore. I didn't know this about myself. For years I wore absolutely nothing but flip-flops year round. The only time I wore what my mother termed "real shoes" was when it snowed, and that's just because she begged and begged. (Yes, I was an adult at the time. No, I was not a smart adult at the time. Don't judge me.)

I have recently discovered that I can walk in heels. Yeah. My bank account is trembling in fear. So far, I've only acquired a few new pairs, but convention season is coming, and what better to make you feel like a million bucks than a pair of sassy heels?

I have also recently discovered a blog called "The Frisky." They do a Daily Shoe Porn blog. O. M. G.

So for you, my loves, I'm giving my own version shoe porn today. Let me know what your shoe addictions are below, because I'm ready to explore!

 

Click to view slideshow.

Ciao!

 

~R