Thursday, January 31, 2013

Author Chat Friday - It's not porn. It's research!


Once again, it's time for Alysha's Author Chat Friday, and this one is a Naughty Hoot and a Half!

It’s not Porn. It’s research.

Writers are a strange bunch. We listen to the voices in our heads and convert them into stories. Most of us would rather stay home and write than go out and party. We lock ourselves away in little rooms, then waste time on the internet when we’re supposed to be writing.

Those of us who write erotic fiction are even stranger. We imagine all sorts of situations and then we strive to convert that particular embrace, that connection, that physical position into a scene in the story we’re telling. And to do that, we have to do some serious research.

Stop laughing. It’s hard work spending hours every day looking for pictures of hot naked males, preferably with ALL their equipment on display. Note, looking AT the pictures is easy, real easy, oh my god easy. Looking FOR them, not so much.

I’m sure this will absolutely astonish most people, but there is a lot of nakedness and sex on the internet! The diligent writer of erotic fiction has to wade? feel? grope? lick  (sorry, that’s just me) through a plethora of naked people doing extraordinarily interesting things to each other.

Some people post pictures that fall into the category of Things that Make You Go Hmmm. With the number of images out there, you end up looking at a few things you wish you hadn’t. Pictures you can never unsee. Fear not, I am not going to post any of these here. This is Phoenix’s blog and I am pretty sure she wants you all to come back. A brief description might do.

I was looking for an image of group sex—yeah, yeah, I know, I’m kinky, weird and a disgrace to whatever, but the thing is if you are describing a sex scene with multiple people, you need to know exactly how Tab A fits into Slot B, and connecting rod C links to receptacle D without bending along the dotted line. This is especially important if it’s an IKEA sex scene…you know, the kind where you have both hands full, a couple of strange tools and several bits left over.

Okay, so you’ve got an idea of the kind of picture I was looking for. How was I to know there was a very active cell of over sixties who not only enjoyed group sex, but also liked to post multiple pictures of themselves in the most detailed of close-ups? I’m a firm believer that sex should be fun at any age but in my head the story was filled with taut, young bodies, not proof that gravity works.

Then there’s the pictures that almost get there, but somehow leave you puzzling. You have a gorgeous male, just about perfect in every way, but he’s wearing knee high sport’s socks? What’s with that? In this case there’s also the issue of the cream.
This picture is polarizing. Reactions seem to be either yum, I’d like to lick that off (Do any of you notice there’s an unfortunate tendency to licking developing here? I may have a problem) or to get mothery and want to make him go inside and have a bath. Now I think of it, that’s not such a bad idea either. Who’s a dirty boy then? Oh yeah, that’d work.

As writers we’re aware that different people get turned on by different things. We need to check occasionally to see if what we think is hot is really sexy or just caters to our particular kink.

The Australian Erotic Writer’s group I belong to is wonderful, I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people to share questions, ideas, and, yes, pictures with. But if the average person could read some of the threads on our posts, they’d faint clean away. We refer each other to good web sites and quite often outline the particular area of kink catered to.

We talk about the best way to position the participants in multiple partner sex scenes… Yes, I do think back to front with the third sitting on her lap would work… or whether it would work better to have the heroine tied to the bed while wearing nipple clamps, or put the nipple clamps on later. And do this guys tattoos make him perfect or does he push it a bit far? The fact that this image is saved in my files as Way too many tatts guy should give you clue where I stand, but I know that isn’t everyone’s opinion.

The point is, we writers have to look and evaluate all sorts of images and ideas while we’re trying to lick our stories into shape. Um, no, let me rephrase that, while we are trying to craft our stories. Oh yes, that sounds much more professional.

So next time you read a work of erotic fiction spare a thought for the hours of hard work and eye strain that have gone into the preparation of the story. No sacrifice has been too much, no search too wearisome.

It’s a hard job and one that takes dedication and determination. But don’t worry. I think I’ve got it licked.

Alysha Ellis



Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Belated Promo Monday... with a surprise!

So things have been quite bumpy here lately, and so what was supposed to be a Promo Monday has had to be moved to today, Wednesday, as the Gold Coast was hit with a major storm. Our area was without power for about 2 days, so I was unable to get online, unfortunately. However, we're back now, and so as a special treat, not only is it a very special promo, but we have a give away, as well!


To view participating blogs, click here

Hello readers of The Naughty Pages of the Phoenix and thank you Phoenix Johnson for having us.
We are delighted to be on your blog today as it is a very special week for not only Naughty Nights Press (NNP) but also for one of our authors, Kiki Howell.
Naughty Nights Press (NNP) has released its first paperback novel, At War In The Willows by the Queen of Paranormal Erotica herself, Kiki Howell. We always knew it was a step we were going to take one day but finding the right time to do so and which book, was also a very important decision. It was a difficult selection to make from all our wonderful authors, but in the end we went with our readers choice for Ms. Howell’s At War In The Willows trilogy.
Just over twelve months ago, Ms. Howell began writing a trilogy that had us intrigued and excited. We have always affectionately dubbed Ms. Howell as the Queen of Paranormal Erotica and her trilogy series At War In The Willows, proved this beyond any doubt.
Each book she bought out, starting with The Vampire’s Witch, then The Vampire’s Wolf and finally with The Vampire’s Human proved that our title for her was correct.
As can be seen from her reviews, people were very impressed with the series.
NNP invite you to follow the At War In The Willows book tour, starting here with a pre-tour appearance. The list of blogs involved can be found under the Blog Tour Button at the top of the page.
Don’t forget to go to Createspace or Amazon if you wish to purchase a paperback copy of this wonderfully haunting book or go to the NNP eStore to purchase a digital format of the book.
NNP would like to thank Mr. Shane Willis from Rad Act Photos for the beautifully designed book covers for all three of the series that he was then able to combine into the brilliant cover that we have now.
***

Kiki Howell and Naughty Nights Press(NNP) are pleased to announce the At War In The Willows book tour, celebrating the release of At War In The Willows in paperback format. 

Please visit the following blogs and read guest posts and interviews with Kiki. Be in the running for a tour long giveaway of a one of a kind Vampire Scarf, hand crafted by none other than the Queen of Paranormal Erotica, Kiki Howell herself.
Some blogs will also be hosting a mini giveaway where one person who leaves a comment will win either a Vampire Book Thong or a Witch Book Thong (great to use when reading At War In The Willows so you don't lose your spot).



The queen of paranormal erotica, Kiki Howell has captured our hearts 
with her trilogy, At War In The Willows. The first book, The Vampire’s Witch was quickly followed by The Vampire’s Wolf and ended with The Vampire’s Human. 

Synopsis:

The Willows is a resort town run by vampires, werewolves and witches. Here, their true identities are kept secret from humans, and intimate relations between the individual clans are strictly forbidden.

When it becomes known that the vampire Amberlyn has fallen in love with the werewolf Kane, the tedious line of their co-existence has been crossed. Caught in the crossfire of this revelation, Drake, the vampire clan leader and Amberlyn’s maker, is killed along with an innocent witch. These deaths spark a series of horrific events leading to an all out War In The Willows.

Unexpected close encounters, bodies ripe with need, and situations beyond their control lead to forbidden relationships. Now three vampires, a witch, a werewolf and a human must ride along the edges of the rules. They will attempt once unthinkable romantic entanglements despite all those who oppose their relationships, while fighting for their lives as well.

With the Willows full of violence and bloodshed, meetings and magic amiss, will the clans ever be able to find peace among them again? Or, will this war destroy the Willows?

What people have said about At War In The Willows
Good plot, great characters and sexy enough to raise the temperature in my house about 20 degrees. A real page turner! ~4/5 Stars by Angela Holtz:
Reviews for Book I, The Vampire's Witch
“This is the first adult book I've read by Kiki Howell. And it was delicious! Good plot, great characters and sexy enough to raise the temperature in my house about 20 degrees... It's a very fast read, only about 50 pages. But it's a real page turner!” ~4/5 Stars by Lilac Wolf
“Ms Howell weaves a spell binding web that ensnares the mind and lets the reader drift away in to another world. I highly look forward to the next two books in this series!” ~4/5 Stars by Phoenix Johnson
(That's right, I reviewed The Vampire's Witch and loved it!)
“This is a sexy but short vampire and witch story which takes place in the middle of an upcoming war between three species. I can't wait for the next book in the series.” ~ 4 Stars from Linda Tonis, Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
Reviews for Book II, The Vampire's Wolf
“This is the second book in the series and picks up exactly where the first when left off… This is a short story with explicit sex. I can't wait for the next book to find out what Devin's story is and to continue learning about Isaac and Amberlyn.”~ 4 Stars from Linda Tonis, Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team 

Coming soon on Kobo, B&N and Diesel Books


Purchase your print copy at Createspace | Amazon 


***
Meet Kiki Howell


Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.


“After a long break having my boys, I finally just had to write again. And, as soon as I gave the stories the space, they entered it. It’s both awesome and humbling to find the words in my mind become characters on a page and create their lives.”
She has now had over thirty stories published between eleven different publishers. Kiki could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. Please look around. Although a bit of caution, most of her stories tend to hang out on the graphically sexy side of town.

In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. And, in March 2012, Kiki was awarded Bestselling Author for Naughty Nights Press, also earning two Silver Stars from All Romance Ebooks for her NNP novellas: Love, Creativity and Magick; The Vampire's Witch; and most recently Mystical Mayhem. Kiki's At War in the Willows Series has also been nominated for Best Series of 2012 by Sizzling PR.

Kiki resides in the Midwest with her incredibly handsome and talented, singer/songwriter husband Stephen Howell and two children. When she is not writing, she is spending time with her family, reading, baking or knitting.

Her biggest dream is to have a novel she writes be made into a movie that her husband creates the soundtrack for, and then cruise to Alaska with her family on the money they make.
***
Contact Kiki Howell:



And I can tell you, not only is she a beautiful person, she's a lovely soul and a terrific writer! Do check out her writing and help this wonderful writer achieve her dreams!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Author Chat Friday rehash


Ok, much like I began my first Author Chat with an apology, so too do I start this one. This time, due to unfortunate life circumstances, Delena Silverfox, who was scheduled to post today, will be unable to do so. And due to my own life circumstances, I lack time to write up an all new post. 

So I'm once again sharing my post on the importance of a good relationship between publisher and author. I'm also including snippet and blurb of The Wolf in the Neighborhood, which you should all know by now has been released and has cracked Naughty Nights Press's BestSelling list after only 4 days, and remains there still!

To get on with the post, I'd love once more to discuss the important relationship between author and publisher. Something many people don't think about, either because they aren't one of either, or they are but just don't see it as quite as important. But I can tell you know, neither would be able to succeed without the other. So it's very important that an author and publisher see eye to eye, and are both willing to meet in the middle when there is an issue. If the author has an issue with the contract TALK ABOUT IT to the publisher BEFORE signing. 

(Disclaimer: I might use a fair bit of capitalisation in this post, I'm just trying to really make a point here.)

Once the contract is signed, both author and publisher are bound to THAT EXACT contract. That's it. READ IT. Make sure you know what you're signing before you sign. 

So now we've signed the contract, and maybe time is dragging a little. Keep in mind something before you go off the deep end: publishers look after MULTIPLE authors, editors, artists, and numerous other staff. Things come up (and no, they don't HAVE to tell you unless it directly involves you! Some do, though, out of COURTESY), and so instead of wasting their time with your petty tantrums, let them use that time to sort out the issues! They're humans just like you and me. 

Now you're on to the editing process. They're not there to tell you what a great job you've done in writing the story. Their sole purpose: CLEANING IT UP. Any little error, big error, gaping plothole... any issue that might be in there, it's their job to point it out to you. If you don't like it, well that's pretty much too bad. If it's something, say, like capitalisation of a word that normally isn't, (for example, in certain scenes in my Wolf Smitten series, I capitalise Wolf when referring to Derek's Wolf), then don't get shitty if they request it changed. Just leave a comment stating that it's integral. If it's a legit grammatical error or plothole, or something that is just purely difficult to believe even given whatever strange circumstance your story might be set in, LISTEN TO THEM. They're trying to get YOUR story to the best state it can be so that the readers (who PAY YOU) don't feel that they've wasted their money. They aren't your friend, they are your editor. It is important to have a good working relationship and trust with them, yes, but FIRST AND FOREMOST: they are your EDITOR. LISTEN. 

Cover artist has now done the cover. Maybe it's not quite what you thought it would be. Or maybe there's a small detail not quite right. Again: BEFORE going off the deep end, consider: is it INTEGRAL? Maybe the eye colour is wrong. In which case send a CALM message saying "whoops, Character A's eyes are actually red, not purple. Great job though!" If it's way off, for example wrong city skyline, and maybe some readers wouldn't notice but a lot would, again, send a CALM message pointing it out. If it's not absolutely integral, however (maybe the hero is standing when you wanted him to be sitting? Or he's facing left with hand on hip, but you wanted him facing right with his arms crossed), then just LEAVE IT. THEY know what sells and what doesn't. TRUST them. 

All through the process, make sure you always take a breath and THINK before sending a message. Is it IMPORTANT? Can it wait? And ALWAYS make sure you're calm and respectful. Obviously if they aren't respectful when you genuinely have been, then you might get annoyed. But don't see that as an invitation to be disrespectful back. Maybe it was just a swamped day, and they didn't have time for the usual courtesies. You don't know. Unless there are serious red flags going up, then just bear with it. Publishing companies are looking after numerous other authors, all eagerly waiting to get their book out there. But they can't all go out at once. It just doesn't work like that. 

My main points are to READ the contract, SHOW and EARN respect, BREATHE, THINK and TRUST. Not something that is easy these days, but without any trust, society is just going to go to hell. I trusted, respected and, I believe, have earned respect by breathing and thinking and not being a tantrumy, impatient toddler. And now, I am about to see that all pay off with my debut release next week. I can tell you, it is worth every single second of waiting!

Excerpt of The Wolf in the Neighborhood, get your copy HERE. And feel free to leave a review, every little bit helps!

After a few more moments of sniping from him, Krissy finally convinced Derek that a nap might help him feel better, so she helped him off the couch. He pushed away her efforts to help him to her room, stating, “I sure didn’t need the help last night; I think I can make it today,” with a wink that made her giggle. She was astounded at how well she had taken this new aspect of him in her stride. She guessed it was just the exposure to werewolf novels and movies that had her desensitized.

Once they reached her room, she directed Derek to lie on his stomach so she could try to massage out some of the knots in his shoulders, tense from the double transformation. His breath groaned out of his chest as her hands – delicate yet strong – worked out some of the bigger kinks and she felt the vibrations through his back, making her recall his groans of pleasure from last night when she clawed his back.

She frowned in silent thought, wondering whether that had been man or beast enjoying that bit of pain, before she realized Derek had fallen asleep with one last groaning sigh. Krissy smiled as she watched his face, finally peaceful and frown-free.

Sunday, January 20, 2013


I'm pleased to welcome Gemma Parkes back to The Naughty Pages to talk about a new release of hers.

Hi Phoenix,

Thank you for having me over on your brilliant blog today to tell you all about
my latest anthology! I have called it ‘Erotic Encounters’ and it contains four of my hottest stories including my best seller ‘The Slipper for Rose.’

Synopsis:

  • The Slipper for Rose: Rose is a bad girl. Her college is tired of her anti- social behaviour. When a new master starts working there (Mr. Philips) he thinks he might just have the solution and set's about making it at once. It is only a matter of time before Rose finds herself locked in her master's office. Her behaviour, it seems, is a punishable offence, will she learn her lesson?
  • Alice’s Initiation: When Tom first met Alice she was a sweet, virginal girl of twenty three who still lived at home with her parents. A virtue that sexual predator Tom found irresistible. He soon set about seducing Alice, taking his time to gain both her love and her trust. It wasn’t long however, before he grew tired of her chaste approach and encouraged her to join him in a whole new world of sexual experiences. Alice soon became a willing participant in her initiation process.
  • In Lust with Lucy: Eve is disinterested in the mindless chatter about men and relationships that she hears daily from her colleagues at work. The secret object of her own desire is a work mate called Lucy. When Lucy calls around one evening and catches Eve in a compromising situation it would seem as though all her fantasies are about to come true.
  • Three’s Company? An unexpected ménage a trios brings thrills and excitement for two flat sharing young women. However, along with the excitement there is much soul searching. And for one of the girls, it is an experience that’s about to change her life forever.


Excerpt: (The Slipper for Rose)

Two weeks to the day after his arrival Mr. Philips, along with another member of staff heard a terrible commotion on the corridor outside the science block. They rushed out just in time to see Rose, with her hands full of black curls, shaking another girl and shouting very loudly in her face that if the girl had given her boyfriend head he would not have needed to get it from her. The teachers sighed before pulling the girls apart.
“I’ll deal with Rose.” Mr. Philips said, leaving his colleague to take away the shaken victim of Rose’s temper and attempt to calm her down.
“My office Rose.” he told her, turning swiftly on his heels knowing that she would follow him arrogantly.
Once inside and with the door locked safely behind them, Rose turned on the charm, her large blue eyes a picture of innocence.
“She attacked me.” she said looking incredulous.
Mr. Philips looked at her carefully. She was very pretty. Her perfect oval face
sported full, pink lips and her blonde mane of hair tumbled untidily over her
shoulders, it was as unruly as her nature. Rose certainly had a body to tempt any man, young or old, and she showed it off to him now, pushing her breasts outwards and leaning against his desk, her legs slightly apart. He felt his throat tighten. He had been patiently waiting for this moment.
“Did you sleep with that girl’s boyfriend?” he asked calmly.
Rose walked over to him swaying her hips and fixing him with a deep stare,
“No,” she said, “I just blew him.”
He groaned inwardly keeping his expression firm, “Are you sorry Rose?”
She laughed, tossing her head back so that her hair cascaded provocatively down her back.

“Why should l be?” she licked her lips, “It was really good.”
Mr. Philips stood up to his full height and looked Rose right in the eye.
“If you want to remain in College,” he said sternly, “You will stop upsetting
everybody.”
Rose pouted and flounced towards the door.
“If l have need to bring you back here Rose,” he continued, “I will take matters much further, do you understand.”
“Whatever.” Rose replied. She closed his office door behind her and thought him the same as all the rest. All mouth and trousers she laughed to herself, especially the trouser part. She could do what she wanted; the college needed her fees and would never kick her out.
Mr. Philips breathed deeply and stared at the closed door; he reached inside his filing cabinet for his toolbox before taking out his electric screwdriver, two wooden blocks and some items he hadn’t used since his last post. Then removing his jacket and draping it carefully over the back of the chair he set to work at once. He knew in his gut that Rose would be back within the week. He wanted to be ready for her.

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Erotic-Encounters-four-tales-ebook/dp/B00AUV5CYI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Erotic-Encounters-four-tales-ebook/dp/B00AUV5CYI

Author Biography.

Gemma Parkes is a freelance writer from the UK who specializes mainly in Erotic fiction. Her writing covers a variety of sexual genres.
Previous publication credits:
Anthology inclusions:
Train Whore - Girl fever – Cleis Press
Access all Areas –Back Door Lover – Ravenous Romance
Cassandra – A Wicked and Wanton All Hallows Eve – Naughty Nights Press
Scarlet – Behind Stone Walls – Yellow Silk Dreams
Novellas:
Pleasing Mia – Rebel Ink Press
Plus many self published titles, including:
Making Waves
Park ‘n Ride
Submit to Me… and many more.
You can contact Gemma by visiting her blog
http://gemmaparkes.blogspot.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/gemmaparkesbooks
Twitter https://twitter.com/GemmaPar

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I've just been nominated  by Christina Cole for the "Very Inspiring Blogger" award. Christina is the author of Time for Love, a wonderful place where romance writers and readers meet. Definitely worth checking out!

Here's my award! 


The Rules:


  1. Display the award logo on your blog.
  2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
  3. State 7 things about yourself.
  4. Nominate 15 bloggers for this award and link to them.
  5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award's requirements.
That's all!

7 THINGS ABOUT ME

  1. I am horse crazy. Seriously. I dream them, I write about them, I draw them. I love their scent and their strong, graceful beauty. I've always loved them, and although most young girls love horses at one stage, I never out-grew it. 
  2. I'm tattoo crazy. Although I only have one (for now!), I have many others planned, and can't wait to be back in the chair getting inked. I love the sensation. I don't find it painful, but relaxing. 
  3. I have an eclectic taste in just about everything. Music, for example: some of my favourite bands/artists? No Doubt, The Beatles, Michael Buble, Bryan Adams, Linkin Park, Korn, Limp Bizkit and Steam Powered Giraffe. *Shrugs* What can I say, I'm a complicated little cookie.
  4. Speaking of cookies, I love baking, and am a mostly self taught cook. I love making muffins particularly, though I make a mean roast chicken with home made bread stuffing and home made chicken gravy! Oooh so good.
  5. I'm a nerd. Angel, Buffy, The Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter... Sci-fi/paranormal stuff, and I'm almost guaranteed to love it. Almost. 
  6. The almost: Twilight. *gag* sorry to anyone who reads this and is a fan, but no. No no no no no. I cannot stand that series. I watched the first movie and was shaking my head in anger the whole time. It's just not for me. I like my vampires bloody, emotional and non-glittery. Give me Lestat, Angel and Spike anyday!
  7. I'm Pagan. No, that doesn't mean I sacrifice goats and virgins. But I do believe in the balance of nature, and that we need to be taking better care of each other and the world we live in. After all, it's our only one. And I don't think that some invisible man/creature/floating bowl of spaghetti is going to save us. No, it's up to us to save us. Our energy would be better spent saving and creating rather than destroying. We are beings of energy. Time we used our energy for good. 

15 Other Inspiring Blogs

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Author Chat Friday with Liz Adams: What makes a good sex scene in erotica?

This Friday I'm welcoming the sensual Liz Adams to The Naughty Pages for her Author Chat. 

What makes a good sex scene in erotica?


When readers think of a good sex scene in erotica, what qualifies? What about that sex scene makes the reader squirm, hyperventilate, and bite their lip?

There are five boys I always visit when I evaluate my sex scenes:

Jack - Jack wants to know if the sex scene is arousing. For each question he asks me, he penetrates another inch deeper and isn't satisfied until every inch is in me. "Have you shown what emotions the heroine is going through? Have you shown what her body is feeling? Is the description of who's doing what to whom clear? Is the setting sexy?..." This boy has a long list of yummy questions. To share all of them with you will require a later post.  But even if I satisfy Jack, it's not enough. I need a ménage with at least the first three men on this roll sheet to know if I've written a good sex scene.

Marquis - Marquis binds my wrists to prevent me writing any further, lays me across his lap, raises my dress, and has only one goal in mind as he tortures me into bliss. He wants to make sure the sex moves the story forward. The more I tell him how my characters grow from the experience, the more he paddles me to that edge of pain and pleasure. When characters grow from the experience, he scolds me, that's their character arc and does nothing for the actual plot. He needs me to tell him what outward change has happened. Has the heroine ruined the family name? Has she prevented a war by seducing the king? Has she saved someone's marriage by helping the husband and wife find the spice in their relationship? Has she missed her appointment with her CIA handler, letting an embassador be assassinated? Marquis wants to know the changes that happen in the outside world because of the sex scene. If I can't give him that, he hands me a knife and forces me to cut it out.

Archie - With all the sizzle Archie goes through between Veronica and Betty, he knows from direct experience the inner journey his body takes. So when his hand is up my skirt, he wants to know how my sex scene will change the characters as people. Now is the time for me to reveal all the ways the characters grow from the experience. Does the heroine realize she's more beautiful than she thought? Does the hero realize he's not gay, after all? Does the heroine discover she's capable of letting go of her morals to seduce a married professor? The more my heroine and hero change as people from the sex scene, the more Archie rewards me with his fingers.

Romeo - I love kissing this boy. His lips are so delicate. He's the one who turns the erotica into an erotic romance, and wants nothing more than to see the love between my characters blossom. He holds me in his arms and begs me to tell him that the scene has brought my characters closer together. If I tell him that the scene has not brought them closer but has torn them apart, Romeo is not disappointed. He comes from a world of poisoned love and understands the bittersweet power of tragedy. "As long as they ultimately have a happily ever after, a momentary sadness of love lost is just as much the power of love as the joy love can bring." But if my sex scene does not change my character's relationship with each other, Romeo kisses my cheek goodbye threatening to drink from his cup of poison.

When I wrote Alice's Sexual Discovery in a Wonderful Land, my erotic version of Alice in Wonderland, I had to let Romeo go. In the original tale, Alice never spends a long enough amount of time to develop a meaningful relationship with the characters she meets. My version of Alice could not be an erotic romance, it could only be erotica. However, when I wrote Amy "Red" Riding's Hood, my erotic version of Red Riding Hood, Romeo and I had some quality time under the sheets. Amy "Red" Riding's Hood was an erotic romance.

The Shadow - There's someone else. A man who touches me when I'm asleep. A man who secretly watches me as I shower. I can't place him, I never get a good look at his face, but I know he's there. If I don't please him, the sex scene is still not good enough. I sense him the most when I read my sex scene and have this nagging feeling that something is not right. The scene may be arousing, it may move the plot forward, it may give the characters an arc, and it may even advance the relationship between the lovers, but there is still something off about the scene. Since I don't know who this Shadow is exactly, I sometimes disappoint him and leave him limp, and I don't know what I did wrong. Do any of you out there know who he might be? What else is required for a good sex scene?

Other than the Shadow, when I succeed at getting Jack, Marquis, Archie, and Romeo to spend, I feel confident I've made a good sex scene.

Bio
Liz Adams, author of the erotic fairy tale Alice's Sexual Discovery in a Wonderful Land, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Her short story Amy “Red” Riding's Hood, an erotic version of Red Riding Hood, is an Amazon bestseller and winner of Goodreads' Book of the Month for October 2012. Liz studied music and creative writing at UCLA and worked as a freelance model before making her writing her career. In her spare time she cuddles with her husband on the couch to watch her favorite shows and often they work together doing research for her books. Feel free to contact Liz through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Liz.Adams.Author.

Description of Alice's Sexual Discovery in a Wonderful Land
Having returned from university for the holidays, Alice can't shake the truth: She's still in love with her childhood crush Jack, the buff and handsome gardener. But as inexperienced as she is with the fine art of sexuality, and having never been able to achieve the big O, will she ever be good enough to satisfy Jack? A fall deep down a well takes her to an erotic Wonderland fairy tale where she can do her due diligence at learning how to please a man and how to achieve orgasm. She shares her sexual discoveries with a young man named "Rabbit" who likes to explore, a group of strong villagers, a "Caterpillar" who has more hands than Alice can handle, a Mad Hatter who finds Alice's exquisite weakness, and a whole host of talented characters. All lead to the Queen and her majesty's dark secret. Will Alice's sexual discovery be just the thing to snag her desired man Jack? And will her erotic fairy tale help her discover the key to her own pleasure?

“Ms Adams has truly changed the way we look at fairy tales! I look forward to more erotic tales from this talented author.”
- Tonya Kinzer
“Liz Adams is a first class writer, with a heck of an imagination and a libido to match.”
- Amazon's Avid X
“Liz is a brilliant storyteller and her words flow effortlessly across the page.”
- Lexie Bay

Links
Alice's Sexual Discovery in a Wonderful Land: http://amzn.to/AlicesSexualDiscovery
Amy “Red” Riding's Hood: http://amzn.to/EroticRedRidingHood

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Belated Hump Day Hook

I must apologise that this is a little late, but Hump Day got rather hectic this week, with grocery shopping and trying to sort out our internet since it was running slower than a snail. But I'm here putting up the Hook now, so I hope you enjoy! With The Wolf in the Neighborhood released on the 15th, I thought I'd post a little Hook from it, get some interest going for this, my debut novella!
To check out other hooks, check out the list here.


“I’m certainly not complaining about the wakeup call. I just don’t want it to be some kind of obligation after last night, or – well, you know – before.”
“Let’s not talk about that right now. I just want to get as much of you as I can.” She leaned in for another deep kiss before he could say another word, grinding her hips as she did so. His moan in her mouth told her he was happy to forget about everything that wasn’t her on top of him.
His hands moved around to her back, holding her close, barely giving her the space to move back one last time. “So when is this sheet going to be removed from between us? We can’t give in to ecstasy with it still covering your waist.”
“You’re the one sitting on me, so I guess it’s up to you,” Derek replied, all sass and cheek.

The Wolf in the Neighborhood, Book One of Wolf Smitten, is a paranormal erotic romance novella, woven with suspense. It is available at the following places:
Naughty Nights Press eStore (available in ePub, Kindle and PDF formats)
and coming soon to Barnes and Noble and the iBookstore (if it isn't there already)

Many places, most (if not all) formats, and no excuses :p Plenty of places to choose from, and reviews are welcome!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Promo Monday with Cassandre Dayne's Staged Whispers

This week, I welcome Cassandre Dayne back to The Naughty Pages to talk about her upcoming release for Naughty Nights Press: Staged Whispers! Ms Dayne is known for her steamy writing, and I expect that this will be no disappointment, either. So, without further ado, take it away, Cassandre!!


STAGED WHISPERS
What happens when something from your past is so horrible you simply can’t face the ugly demon living inside of you? That’s the premise for Staged Whispers, my upcoming m/m/m release with Naughty Nights Press. I think we all hide from something in our past. We try and avoid conflict often in our present day lives so imagine if we held a dark secret close to our heart and mind? Some people have difficulty coping and their have a break in their personality, sometimes resulting in multiple personality disorders. But what if there was more going on, something so dark and evil no one had any idea what to do with the ugly being?
Are there creatures that go bump in the night? In my mind there are. I believe in ghosts and goblins, beings who can’t quite let go of the life they once had. There are countless stories about people who honestly see and communicate with spirits. Many people can also guide spirits, enabling them to take the passage to the other side. These people are Empathic, able to see into human minds as well. Then there is a lot of unknown with what the mind can do. Hmmm… Curious yet?
In Staged Whispers, I bring all the above into a story involving the frailty of heart. Can love conquer all? Perhaps and then sometimes it’s the killing force. I hope you enjoy a tiny taste.


SYNOPSIS

When secrets and tragedy threaten to destroy three lives, will the friends and lovers learn to face their personal demons or succumb to the horror of tragedy?
Cole Dumont, Dylan Wyler and Brandon Foster were old chums who decided just out of college to open Forever Green Lawn. Their business catering to the wealthiest families in Fort Lauderdale, their pristine reputation afforded them every indulgence. Unable to disclose their gay lifestyle, they sequestered their dark desires, sharing passion as well as their lives. Terrified to admit their needs, they all hid behind a mask. The reasons were too damning to admit – at least for one of the men.
When a horrifying accident nearly claimed Dylan’s life, Cole and Brandon were given a last request, one they were unable to refuse. As Dylan’s mysterious past finally became known, a series of mysteries dragged them all into a private hell. The truth was far too damning.


EXCERPT
No matter where you run or how you try to get away from me, you never will. One day you will learn what you did to me, what you forced me into. One day you’ll suffer as I have and then you’ll understand what it means to be damned. Just like you should be. You’re the monster… You’re the murderer… If you’re a smart man you’ll do the world some damn good. Fucking kill yourself.

Opening his eyes slowy, Dylan Wyler remained unmoving, fear racing through him. He was no longer certain whether or not what he was hearing was real or scattered whispers from one of the same nightmares he’d been having for the past few months. Why had the horrid visions come back? He’d been asking the question over and over again and there were no real answers. There was nothing traumatic going on in his life,
yet he was unable to sleep for fear of seeing him. Him. The thought alone made Dylan cringe.
My God, he was losing his mind. He had to be. The nauseating headache wasn’t helping. Every time he had one of his vivid nightmares, he was left terrified and his head nearly splitting in two. Turning over, Dylan groaned, every muscle in his body aching. Dylan quickly realized he was soaked in his own sweat, another regular occurrence. Resigned he wasn’t going to be able to go back to sleep, he threw back the covers and studied the celing for a few minutes. Finally crawling out of bed, he padded toward the set of French doors and glared at the illuminated sky. Maybe the full moon had something to do with his wretched dream. Snorting, he opened the door and inhaled the wafting night scents as he walked out onto the deck. Nothing in nature could have this kind of effect on him.
As he walked down the set of stairs, he thought about the ugly words. Monster. Murderer. Perhaps he was indeed nothing more than a terrible person, a monster deserving some form of punishment. Dylan stood by the pool, honing in on the way the moonlight shimmered off the water, and reflected on his life. He had everything he’d ever wanted from an incredible home, a fabulous company he was part owner of, and two men in his life who shared everything with him including being lovers. By all rights he should be one esctatic man. Instead, he was miserable.
Dylan turned to look at the darkened house before stripping off his damp clothes and tossing them across a chair. Maybe a dip into the pool would soothe his aching body, help his frazzled mind. Slipping into the cool water, he managed to swim a few laps before surfacing at the other end of the pool. His heart was racing and the headache was making his eyes water. Dylan closed his eyes and laid his head on his arms, praying to God for some kind of relief from the pain in his head and the ache in his heart.
A few seconds later he heard the sound of a splash and couldn’t help but smile. The moment a hand brushed across his neck and down his spine, Dylan exhaled. He knew instantly which man from the house was touching him. “Cole.”
Cole Dumont leaned over, kissing Dylan’s shoulder as he wrapped one arm around Dylan’s waist, pulling him back against his chest. “I thought I heard someone outside splashing around.”
“You’re a terrible liar,” Dylan whispered, taking comfort in the large man’s arms. There was something special he shared with the sexy black man, more than he did with their other housemate. For some reason Dylan simpy felt safe around Cole. They remained quiet for a few minutes and tension eased from Dylan’s body.
“Another nightmare?” Cole turned Dylan around slowly. He cupped the side of Dylan’s face, his thumb sliding back and forth across Dylan’s mouth.
“It’s okay. I just couldn’t sleep.”
“Now who’s the liar?”
The growl in Cole’s voice gave Dylan a smile. Somehow Cole always had been able to see through him, understanding his subtle mood swings. Cole never pushed him to say or admit his ragged emotions, something Dylan was grateful for. Lately, Dylan knew the swings were increasing, bordering on opposites ends of the spectrum. “Seriously, I’m just stressed about work.”
“Hmm… You have been working too many hours.” Shifting back, Cole seemed to be studying Dylan in the dim lighting. “And you’re not eating.”
“I haven’t been hungry.” Palming Cole’s chest, Dylan kneaded the hunk’s muscles and instantly his cock throbbed. As the muscle slid against Cole’s leg, he grinned mischievously. “Evidently my body parts are working.”

I hope you’ve enjoyed
Kisses xxx
Cassandre
http://www.cassandredayne.com 
http://cassandredayne.wordpress.com/

Email: cassandre@cassandredayne.com 
http://twitter.com/bethanyhalle 
http://kindlegraph.com/authors/bethanyhalle

NAUGHTY NIGHTS AUTHOR PAGE http://naughtynightspress.com/authorpages/cassandredayne.php
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https://www.amazon.com/author/cassandredayne
http://wickedlysexywriters.wordpress.com/
http://queermagazineonline.com/magazine/everything-books/author-pages/item/6841-cassandre-dayne   

Oh this does look wickedly enticing! Now, don't forget that comments are always welcome! Stay tuned for the release of Staged Whispers at the end of the month.
As always, Cassandre, was a pleasure having you here on The Naughty Pages ;)