R.L. Martinez's Blog, page 22

Wild Horses Don’t Stop at Whoa… Now Available!

 

The thunder of wild hooves echoes through these meditations on the scars we acquire in childhood and those we inflict as adults.

With biting poetry, Martínez roots out those moments in life that define us, exploring the reality of being a woman in a time when everyone has a differing opinion on just what a woman should be.

And in three interconnected stories, Martinez introduces us to three women, each one struggling to put tragedy behind them. An unfaithful woman confronts the consequences of her own poor choices; a widow stares down her husband’s murderer; and a daughter contemplates the impending death of the father who abandoned her.

As a whole, this unique collection delves into that longing we all have for wildness, passion, adventure, and the strength to let the past go.

 

Drum Roll Please!

Wild Horses Don’t Stop at Whoa is now available! Pick up your copy at one of the retailers below.

Amazon Kindle Version

CreateSpace Print Version

Barnes and Noble Nook Version

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

And to give you a taste for the book’s contents, I put the first section of the titular novella below. Enjoy!

1

She is a half mile ahead of him. He can just make out the Ohio license plate from where he sits in the driver seat of his black ’98 VW M3. The whole way he’s kept her in sight but not so close she could look back and see him. He swipes one hand idly over the smooth surface of the passenger seat.

He has kept the M3’s cabin spotless since buying it brand new. He never allows anyone to bring in anything that would soil the dark grey interior. She always marveled at how he maintained it. Once, he told her that he treated his cars like he treated his lovers—with a firm but loving touch. She laughed, asking if he had anymore clichés to shock her with. In the moment, the jibe hadn’t bothered him, but later, when he went home alone to the house his parents had left him, he lay awake thinking of her comment and it grew to rankle him.

He meant to say something to her the next time they met. But when the time came, she fixed him with those smoky blue eyes and drove out all other thoughts but getting his hands on her skin, in her hair.

That was how it was from the beginning. When he first saw her at a planning meeting for her branch library’s building project, she hypnotized him. Not beautiful by any criteria he knew of, she still moved him in those few moments. The cornucopian curves of her body, the lines and planes of her face made him vibrate like a tuning fork. His hands itched to twine themselves in the fall of brown-blonde hair that reached to the middle of her back in tremendous waves and curls.

He feels no shame in his obsession with her. He believes it proves the power of his love. She fills his life like a stream of water into a glass, drowning him. And he welcomes the suffocation. Lusts after it, in fact.

But she left him and told him never to contact her again. This half-mile of road is the closest he has come to her in over two months. Interrupting traffic and the occasional spray of dust from the sides of the road makes him lose sight of her for a few moments. The intrusions do not deter him. Nor does her refusal to see the truth.

She’ll understand, he knows, once he explains everything to her. She is an intelligent woman, though her passions often lead her astray. He just has to find the right words, the perfect words, and she’ll do the right thing. She will come back to him.

 ###
Transcript of therapy session between Cecelia Tobias and Dr. Frederick Ellison: Friday, January 22, 2010; 8:00 a.m.
 

Ellison: This has been a really chaotic eighteen months for you, Cece. I think it would be useful to review the big events. It might help you gain some perspective on things and move forward.

 

Tobias: Okay. Um, I got promoted at work. Branch manager of my library. It’s been a big adjustment going from being responsible for one department to shouldering the entire branch.

 

Also, Nick started having ED in January last year. And around the first of February of this year, I began an affair with another man.

 

Ellison: Because of the ED.

 

Tobias: I don’t know that I had a good reason for cheating on Nick other than, at the time, we hadn’t had sex for a year. And, like I told you before, there was no affectionate touching either – no cuddling or hugs, nothing. He pecked me on the cheek whenever he left for or came home from work. At first, I tried to initiate all the affection. But it hurt too much to touch him and then have him turn away. So, I stopped reaching out and stopped feeling anything when he touched me. That still doesn’t seem like a reason to cheat. I mean, it wasn’t Nick’s fault that he was impotent. I know he resented it just as much as I did.

 

Ellison: Remind me how Nick dealt with his ED? Did you two talk about it much?

 

Tobias: No, not really. Nick doesn’t like to discuss that kind of stuff. Sexual stuff. Especially if it’s not [pause] working the way it should. He found his own therapist and did his own research online. But none of that seems to have helped.

 

Ellison: Tell me again how your relationship changed when he began having ED.

 

Tobias: Um [pause] we lived like roommates for quite some time—still friendly and affectionate. Then, it got to the point where we didn’t even have that. We stopped watching movies together after the baby went to bed because when we used to watch movies together, we usually ended up cuddling and making out. A lot of times we made love. So, doing that seemed like a bait and switch, you know? Going out to dinner was a chore because we had to devote our attention almost entirely to whether the baby was stabbing her tongue with a steak knife. So, Nick watched ESPN and nursed a beer while I did my own thing. After a while, we became less than roommates, no longer friends, just acquaintances.

 

Ellison: And then you met Benjamin.

 

Tobias: Then I met Benjamin. He was the contractor for my library’s building project. I was attracted to him right from the start. But I never dreamed he’d take an interest in me. Benjamin is very handsome: dark red hair and gorgeous hazel eyes. He’s tall and muscular with beautiful pale skin. [laugh] He reminded me of a highland warrior from one of those stupid romance novels.

 

Ellison: This is interesting, Cece. You never mentioned your doubts about him desiring you when you first told me about the affair. Were these doubts because of Nick’s ED and his unwillingness to talk about it? Or something else?

 

Tobias: [laughs] I can’t blame everything on Nick’s ED. Look at me. I’m not exactly a bombshell. When Ben first asked me to lunch, I assumed he just wanted to talk about the project. But, we had a lot of fun. Laughed and joked. It felt nice. After that, we just hung out—friends. I liked having that companionship with a man again. I felt like my thoughts and feelings mattered to someone.

But, as Benjamin and I got to know each other, we started sharing more about our lives. He told me about being raised by his grandparents in New York City after both his mom and dad died in a plane crash. He didn’t get emotional or weepy, but I could tell it hurt him—that hole in his life.

 

Ellison: And what about your life did you share?

 

Tobias: The whole situation with Nick. I didn’t really mean to tell him about that because I thought he would think it was my fault. Like I had turned Nick off or something. Anyway, I can’t remember how I got started, but once I did, I told him everything. Then [pause] somehow I was sobbing in his arms. He held me, whispered encouragement. Before I knew what was happening, we were kissing.

   

After that, we met during lunch hours and during the evenings when Nick had to work late. I told the babysitter I had to work late too so she agreed to keep the baby until seven thirty or so. I feel ashamed to think that I left Judah with someone else for even an extra second. [sob] She needed me, but I made excuses like: I’ll be a better mother for her if I’m rejuvenated—like I was going to the fucking spa or something! [laugh]

 

Ellison: And you felt guilty about Nick.

 

Tobias: Of course! But he just kept pulling away from me. And Benjamin was standing there with arms wide open, you know? Which direction would you have run in?

 

Ellison: Did your guilty feelings about Judah ever make you want to stop seeing Benjamin?

 

Tobias: Yes, all the time. But I didn’t because I hadn’t realized how much I missed getting a man excited by my very presence. I loved seeing desire in Ben’s eyes. And he seemed so excited to see me. I felt like a woman again.

 

Ellison: You obviously felt a lot of passion for Ben. Did you ever think of leaving Nick for him?

 

Tobias: Oddly no. It never entered my mind to leave Nick. Never.           

 

Ellison: So, you’ve ended the affair. Was that because Nick found out?

 

Tobias: No, before that. When I realized that Ben was taking over my whole life.

 

I [pause] uh [pause] I dreamt about him at night, thought about him while washing the dishes or ironing my clothes for work. One time I spent half an hour ironing a blouse while I daydreamed about him. I decided to end it when I got scared of how hungry I was for him.

When Nick found out, I realized that I had wanted him to find out the whole time. In fact, I had been fantasizing that Nick would swoop in and demand me back, fight Benjamin and drag me home to make love to me: the classic “make him jealous” ploy. [laugh] I was such a jerk!

 

Ellison: Do you feel like your plan worked?

 

Tobias: Not that I can see. After he caught Ben and me kissing in the parking lot of my library branch, I had to do all the swooping and fighting. You remember I told you that during the two months we were separated I called him, I don’t know, three or four times a day – always just got voicemail. I left these pathetic messages begging him to let me explain. I sent him these five page emails trying to tell him why I had cheated and how Judah and I needed him. He never answered any of them. But, I mean, he eventually agreed to come back and try again—for Judah’s sake.

 

Ellison: Just for Judah?

 

Tobias: That’s what he said. You know, I always resented that he never understood why I would have an affair in the first place. And I hated the fact that I couldn’t explain my reasons to him in a way that really made sense to both of us. So, our problems never got solved. In fact, they’ve gotten worse, because now I remember what it feels like to be desired and I want that back so much. But Nick [pause] Nick can’t even muster up affection for me, let alone desire. [pause] I feel like he can’t stand me.

 

Ellison: How did Benjamin react when you broke off the affair?

 

Tobias: Not good. He stormed around and yelled. Said I was making a huge mistake. That I would regret it. He’s called my work a bunch of times since. Sends me letters like – handwritten, mailed with a stamp, letters. He’s even called the house and left a message. Thank goodness I heard it first and was able to delete it.

 

Ellison: Has he threatened you?

 

[Pause]

 

Ellison: Cece, has Benjamin threatened you in any way?

Shot of Cuteness!

I don’t usually like to put photos of my kids on the Internet because… well… it’s the INTERNET, but the cuteness is too much. I have to share or my head will explode!

Regardless of the Outcome: An Interview with Heather Rainier

RLM:  You’re the first full-on erotica writer I’ve interviewed. I’m so excited – hope that doesn’t sound weird…

HR:  If I didn’t get you at least a little excited about what I write then I’m not doing my job very well. *wicked evil grin*

RLM: Hee! Hee! Anyway, I’m interested to know what drew you to write erotic romances? And even more eager to know why you focus on polyamorous relationships? Where does that come from?

HR: As a reader, the romances I enjoyed most were those where the love scenes didn’t fade to black, where the author communicated not just the romance but also the heat and passion between the lovers. That’s the heart of erotic romance: all the elements of traditional romances, with the bedroom door left wide open, from the first tingle of arousal to the last shaky sigh of satisfaction.

Although I came across many good books, I was dissatisfied with the lack of heroines I could identify with, and then I read Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The heroine was plus-sized, just like me, and that touched my heart. I wanted more books featuring lush heroines but at the time that was the only one I could find. I decided I could sit around whining about it, or I could try my hand at crafting a story of my own. I took that chance and it turned into a long-running series featuring voluptuous heroines and the men who love them.

My knowledge of multiples in relationships was limited mostly to the occasional controversy that made it onto the evening news, until one day I happened upon Colter’s Woman, written by Maya Banks. Holy Mackerel! One woman, and the three men who protected her, met her needs, and shared her heart and her bed. It was the ultimate fantasy—at least to me! What really grabbed me about the story was that the men were focused on her without sacrificing any of their alpha-hotness.

I looked for other ménages with only limited success. Ménage wasn’t necessarily difficult to find but at the time it was mostly erotica, which lacks the romantic element I craved. This is where I learned the major difference between erotica and erotic romance, and I found my niche in erotic romance. I wanted to hold up a mirror for my readers so they could see themselves in my stories. I wrote a love story featuring a voluptuous heroine whose shoes readers would feel comfortable stepping into, and then wrote her more than one hero to fall in love with. That’s how Divine Grace was born in 2010.

RLM: What research into polyamorous relationships have you done/do you conduct for your books?

HR: The Divine Creek Ranch Collection is mostly M/F/M and M/F/M/M ménage, so the rules and research for erotic scenes are essentially the same as for a traditional M/F romance where only one woman (F) and one man (M) are involved. In my particular imprint, anal sex and anal play are also included, as well as the double penetrations scenes, with the woman in the center of all the groupings. The majority of the time I spend in research, besides verifying basic facts about professions, medical issues, and logistics, is spent in the development of believable characters. I want to know everything about them, what motivates them, and what makes them act as they do.

RLM: What drew you to write in general? What age were you when you decided this was the career for you?

HR: I’ve been writing stories since I was a little girl. My first attempt was a paranormal story set in a cemetery, which my mother proudly saved for me. I still have it. I wrote my first erotic romance novel as a teenager but unfortunately I was so embarrassed by the fledgling attempt that I later threw it away. I regret that choice today. As for the ménage aspect of my stories, my first crush in elementary school was on twin boys, so I probably should’ve seen that one coming. The urge to write a full length erotic romance novel came in 2008, at the age of 43. By that point I’d been telling myself and others for decades that I had a book inside me, and it was time to get the thing out of me. That single book turned into a series with 20+ full length and epic length erotic romances in five years.

RLM: What, in your opinion, are the key elements to writing a believable romance?

HR: Communicating emotion and sensory experiences between relatable characters in such a way that readers lose themselves in the story is vital for writing a “believable” story that allows readers to suspend their disbelief. This requires knowing the character extremely well. Without emotional depth and a heart connection between the characters, all I’m doing is describing moving body parts. That’s the major difference between erotica and erotic romance. Yes, erotica can have romance but the point of erotica is to get to the heat quickly with little fanfare. The hookup is the goal with little or no lasting connection beyond. In erotic romance, if you lifted the sexual content from my novels, there’s still a well-developed story with a happily-ever-after resolution that stands on its own.

RLM: Why do you think romance is, and has always been, such a popular genre?

HR: The real world is a cruel place and relationships are hard. Crossing paths with the person who is perfect for us is a crapshoot at best. Romance novels provide an escape and give a birds-eye view of what it could look like. Certain discontented individuals think romance novels elevate women’s standards for the men in their lives, as if that’s a bad thing. I wish more women would raise their standards for the behavior they will tolerate from men. But conversely, women also need to believe in the men in their lives and show them that they can be heroes. Because I can’t hook up perfect couples one at a time (as much as I’d like to), I write fantasies for them to enjoy, either with the man they love, or until they find the man they will love.

RLM: Describe your daily writing practice.

HR: LOL, you asked that as if you were assuming I have a routine or something. I’m a stay-at-home mom as well as a published author, so I fit writing in around my life. Being in a creative field and working from home makes that much easier. I do my best to write and spend time online interacting with readers every day. Because I generally try to release one book per quarter, I am nearly always in a state of either writing a book, preparing a book to submit, editing a book, or promoting a newly released book, or any combination of the above. Being really flexible about my hours and when I sleep makes this possible. Depending on what needs to be done—and how fast—I might be up early at 4:00 a.m. writing, or it may mean I stayed up until 4:00 a.m. Luckily for me, I’m married to a wonderful man who understands. He lets me do what I need to do but also knows when to intervene.

RLM: You’re currently working on Lumberjack Weekend. Have you run into any difficulties with the story?

HR: Yes, Lumberjack Weekend is in the works now. The only difficulty I’m having with it is finding the time to work on it. During the holidays, in between spending time with my family and building a new house, I had final edits and online promo to handle for my latest book, Absentminded Angel, which released the week before Christmas.

Switching gears and going back and forth between books, and characters, is difficult because I invest a lot of energy to get inside their personas. Going there emotionally is what makes the difference in my stories but it’s also mentally and emotionally taxing and I need time in between to regroup.

Lumberjack Weekend is set in a hedonistic fantasy-fulfillment-oriented weekend but tells the story of three relatively well-developed characters from Divine. I relished the opportunity to take them into a setting where anything could happen, and will happen, if their good friend and resident Dominant has anything to say about it.

RLM: Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? If so, what is it? If not, what subject do you think has been mishandled by other writers and how do you think you would handle it?

HR: I want to tread carefully when answering this question because there are all kinds of books, authors, and readers, who all have differing ideas about what makes a good romance novel.

My number one pet peeve is cheating heroes. For me, there is no quicker way to kill my interest in a hero than to portray him having sex with another woman once he meets his heroine. It doesn’t matter to me whether they break up and get back together again over the course of the story. Once they meet, she is it. A woman never forgets how painful it is to discover she’s been cheated on. Why chance resurrecting that feeling in a reader by creating a male character that she bonds with and then allow him to cheat on the woman who was meant for him? That is not romantic, and it’s not something I would ever write.

There are some pretty common no-nos that I won’t touch, such as incest, pedophilia, rape, bodily function play, necrophilia, and adultery.

It’s my job to know what my readers want in a story, and to give it to them. While I may change things up to keep stories fresh and exciting, there are certain elements I won’t stray from, such as writing happily-ever-afters, creating committed relationships that overcome the odds in the story and last.

RLM: Where do you see your career heading five years into the future?

HR: The Divine Creek Ranch Collection is a long running series, and I’ve promised readers I’ll keep writing new books for it in the future. I know there are still plenty of stories to tell.

I have always been open to the possibility of writing an additional series or two. Whether those are ménages or not depends on future trends and what readers want.

I write what I enjoy reading so I anticipate that I’ll still be writing erotic romances featuring luscious, curvy heroines.

Trends may come and go in the future but readers can expect that I’ll continue writing what they love to read, and that I’ll keep spending time online with them on Facebook, Twitter, and my blog, the Divine Tease.

Readers are welcome to visit my website and blog at www.heatherrainier.com or email me at heather.rainier@yahoo.com

I have author pages at Siren-BookStrand and Amazon Author Central, as well as Barnes & Noble. They can also check out my timeline and my fan page (both under Heather Rainier) on Facebook and Twitter.

Startling Poetry: Rhiannon

I know a lot of people won’t agree that song lyrics are poetry, but… well, this is my blog so my rules :)

Anyway, I’ve heard this song many times before as background music or as just snippets on the radio. Never paid much attention to it. Never paid much attention to Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac, for that matter. But the other day, I really listened to it via the live performance recording below. Maybe it’s this specific recording. Maybe it just caught me on the right day or in the right frame of mind, but I really heard the haunting melody for the first time, really listened to the poetry of the lyrics.

So, here you are (though the video is one of the first live performances of the song, the lyrics below that are from a much later live version). Enjoy!

“Rhiannon” by Stevie Nicks

Lyrics – version from The Dance CD (live)

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night

and wouldn’t you love to love her?

She rules her life like a bird in flight

and who will be her lover?

All your life you’ve never seen

a woman taken by the sky.

Well would you stay if she promised to you heaven?

Would you even try?

And he says, “Rhiannon, Don’t go.”

And he says, “Rhiannon, stay.”

And he says, “I still cry out for you.

Don’t leave me, don’t leave me.”

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night.

And wouldn’t you love to love her?

She rules her life like a bird in flight.

And who will be her lover?

All your life you’ve never seen

a woman taken by the sky.

Well would you stay if she promised to you heaven?

Would you even try?

She is like a cat in the dark,

then baby, she is your darkness.

She rules her life like a fine skylark,

when the sky is starless.

Once in a million years a lady like her rises.

Oh no, Rhiannon, you cry, but she’s gone

Your life knows no answer, Your life knows no answer.

Rhiannon….(4*)

She rings like a bell through the night.

And wouldn’t you love to love her?

She rules her life like a bird in flight.

And who will be her lover?

All your life you’ve never seen

a woman taken by the sky.

Well would you stay if she promised to you heaven?

Would you even try? Say, would you even try?

Rhiannon….(3*)

Dreams unwind

Love’s a state of mind

Your dreams unwind

Love’s a state of mind

Your dreams unwind

And still it’s hard to find, I know.

Your dreams unwind

And still it’s a state of mind, I know

Dreams unwind

And still it’s hard to find, I know

Dreams unwind

And still it’s a state of mind, I know

Take me like the wind, child

Take me with the sky

Take me now

Take me like the wind, baby

Take me with the sky

All the same

All the same

All the same, Rhiannon

All the same

Baby, all the same

All the same

And he still cries out for her,

“Don’t leave me now.”

Startling Poetry: The Grass of God’s Garden

The Grass of God’s Garden by Saadi
I saw bouquets of fresh roses

Tied upon a cupola of grass.

I asked: “What is despicable grass

To sit also in the line of the roses?”

The grass wept and said: “Hush!

Companionship does not obliterate nobility.

Although I have no beauty, color, and perfume,

Am I not after all the grass of God’s garden?”

Pirates, Henchmen and Naughty, Naughty Men: An Interview with A.W. Exley

RLM: What age were you when you decided to pursue writing as a career?

AWE: At the risk of sounding cliché, I’ve been writing for as long as I could remember. I worked on the school newspaper at high school and always had a novel ticking away, in long hand back in those days – PCs were only just coming out and they were all green screens and DOS based! I didn’t think of it as a serious option until I took a career break while my kids were young and wondered what the heck to do with myself all day. I cracked open the drawer, pulled out those old manuscripts and thought, just maybe, I could have a serious go at this ;)

RLM: What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?

AWE: For fantasy, Raymond Feist and Anne McCaffrey were both early loves from a young age. I admire the way Anne’s son took over her world and still continues to write in the Pern universe. James Herbert has always been my “go to” author for horror ever since Rats scared the heck out of me when I was eleven. I love Regency mysteries and I am a big fan of C.S. Harris. There is a level of detail and complexity to her plots that I can only hope to achieve one day.

RLM: If you could no longer writer (fiction OR nonfiction) what would you do for a living?

AWE: I’m a Forensic Accountant by trade and used to work in enforcement. I used to investigate the illegal sector and quantify income derived from criminal activities. It’s a pretty solid back up job.

RLM: Would you describe yourself as a “pantser” writer or a “planner?”

AWE: Can I answer both? I have a rough idea when I start (and I normally have endings first and work out how to get there) but I will just sit down and type until a project has proven itself. For me that’s when I hit around 10-15,000 words. At that stage I will plot out what ideas I have, where it’s going and certain beats I need to hit. I don’t do very detailed plans, but I always have a structure outline to follow.

RLM: You write in the often slippery steampunk subgenre. What draws you to steampunk? And what do you think are the defining elements of the genre?

AWE: Firstly, I’m drawn to the aesthetic and it dovetailed with my personality long before I knew the word “steampunk.” I ride sidesaddle, wear corsets, and have always thought we should bring back parasols. Secondly, I love that we can give women characters more latitude, they can break out of the strict Victorian mold and have adventures, stand up for themselves, and sometimes shoot first and ask questions later. It also allows you to play “what if” games with history and take plausible science at the time and extrapolate it along a different timeline.

I hate definitions and unfortunately there is a small element that believes you have to follow a strict set of guidelines otherwise you’re not writing steampunk. These self-appointed police telling people what is/isn’t steampunk is one thing that saddens me terribly about the community. Being told your individual interpretation/vision is NOT steampunk is one of the reasons I am moving out of genre.

RLM: Your books all contain strong elements of romance. What, in your opinion, is key to creating a convincing and satisfying love story?

AWE: Body count. I firmly believe you can’t have a romance without someone getting killed… J

I don’t think of myself as a romance writer and as a reader, I have a particular loathing for love-triangles. I think strong women need equally strong men to have their backs. I believe no woman needs a man but it’s about finding the perfect match that compliments her life and supports her in whatever she wants to try. Sometimes it’s an expected combo, like the individual who stole Amy’s heart. I also try and inject a dose of realism, I’m not a fan of “insta-love” so always think relationships need a solid grounding and try to figure out what characteristics/traits appeal to my heroines. Plus good relationships take work – it’s about give and take.

RLM: Which of your characters is your favorite?

AWE: I really like Jackson, the gruff ex-pugilist and Nate’s right hand man. There are layers to his personality that even I am just discovering. He really surprised me in my little novella, The Unicorn’s Tail, because he wasn’t supposed to feature prominently in that story at all! Lol

RLM: Is there a message in your stories that you want readers to grasp?

AWE: This is the horrible moment when you find out there is no deep and meaningful subliminal message in my books! Lol! I have always tried to show the value of true friendships more than “having a man.” A woman can be independent and fulfilled on her own, that she doesn’t need a man but the right one can complement and enhance her life.

RLM: What do you want to have accomplished in your career when it’s all said and done?

AWE: Gosh that’s a hard one. I just want to entertain people for a little while, to take them away to my world and have them forget what is going on outside the window for a few hours. If one person reads and enjoys my books then that is more than I could have imagined. If my books have any longevity after I am gone, then that is its own sort of immortality.

RLM: What can we expect next from you?

AWE: I’ve just sent book 4 in the Artifact Hunters off to my publisher and sorry to say, it is THE END for Cara and Nate. I’m taking a break and going to try something different. I have a dark fantasy world I am playing with, that will be a series of standalone novellas. I’m also going to try my hand at a Regency romance, although it will be more “romantic” than a true Romance (with the capital R) and will probably have a stronger mystery element.

You can connect with A.W. on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Alpha Males are Sexy, Psychos AREN’T

I am perplexed by how a romance story can be considered, you know, ROMANTIC, when the “hero” acts like a total d-bag the entire way through the narrative – including displaying jealously towards his unborn child. HIS OWN FREAKING KID. I am FAR from the perfect mother, but I have never begrudged one ounce of the affection my husband shows our boys. To me, jealously of one’s child signals a very dangerous and immature psyche that you do NOT want around children.

And I’m not just speaking out of my butt here. I grew up with a father who was jealous of my sister and I our whole lives. Guess what, he was an indifferent father at best. At worst, he was selfish and emotionally damaging to us. And he jettisoned us as soon as he had the opportunity.

Why can’t romances celebrate the good and positive ways men behave (bravery, self-sacrifice, affection, intelligence, gentleness, determination) without including all the douche-baggery stuff (possessiveness, irrational behavior, uncommunicativeness, cruelty, lying, physical intimidation, must I go on?). Patricia Briggs and Sharon Shinn (among others) have got a good handle on romantic heroes who are both strong and sensible; protective but not crazy possessive.

Don’t get me wrong. Alpha males are all well and good. And I love a little dominance in my romance heroes. When alpha male characters are done right, they can be sexy and swoon-worthy. When done wrong, they are basically criminals. CRIMINALS! Think about it, if a man acted the way many romantic heroes do, they’d be thrown in jail for stalking and have a restraining order on their asses so fast it would make their heads spin.

Bottom line, if the only way you can make your male hero emotionally complex is by making him a psychotic pseudo-rapist/stalker, you need to go back to school and relearn your character development lessons. Word!

Stacey Jay, Veronica Mars, and The Kickstarter Controversy

robinlmartinez:

I first heard about this from Chuck Wendig’s blog and it made my heart hurt. When I posted Chuck’s blog post in a Facebook writing group I’m a part of, a lot of WRITERS, WOMEN WRITERS were echoing all of these excuses for why Stacey Jay’s kickstarter project was “inappropriate.” I’ve about had it with that group after this (along with some previous incidences). Shouldn’t writers support and celebrate when someone finds an innovative way to pay the bills through writing? Doesn’t that make it a little bit easier for us coming after?

Originally posted on Marni Bates:

Hey everyone,

Okay, I’m not going to lie. I’m upset. In fact, I’m shaking with the force of my feels. So please brace yourself, because this might be a bumpy ride.

Where to begin?

Right. Stacey Jay.

For those of you who haven’t had the distinct pleasure of meeting Stacey Jay, she’s a tremendous YA author whose talent is equaled only by her kindness. I met her at the Las Vegas Book Festival. I entered a room (where I knew almost nobody) wearing a giant poofy, sparkly prom dress and Stacey immediately made me feel welcome. That’s the kind of person she is.

You can read about that conference right here!

Unfortunately, Stacey’s book sales haven’t been strong enough for her publishing house to keep her on as an author. And at the end of the day, if a publisher feels like they will make more money investing in someone…

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