EMLY FORREST: The Problem With Cougars

My friend Teresa wants a man. “Someone to share dinner or a movie, so I’m not the odd person out anymore,” she tells me. “A companion, a partner, and, okay, maybe a romantic liaison.” She states specifics: no dirty finger nails, no physical problems that might turn her into a caregiver, no deadbeats. Never mind that Teresa is old enough to be my mother (and I’m no teenager).

“Have you tried the Senior Center?” I offer helpfully. “Or what about a singles group?”

She gives me a look that says she’s sure I’ve lost my mind and then informs me that older men want younger women. By “younger,” she means someone my age. It’s relative of course.

Teresa’s daughter, a fine artist who makes her home in Mexico, advises Teresa that her problem is more about geography than chronology. Mexican men—actually Mexican folks of either gender—are not as age-conscious as most Americans seem to be. “They don’t see a problem with a fifty-year-old woman dating a twenty-five-year old man.” And she goes on to explain that it’s not only acceptable, but quite common.

Could this be true? Certainly, Americans are fixated on youth. Witness the thousands of women and (yes, it’s true) men who undergo the knife to undermine the wrinkles. Try to buy a magazine that is not filled with ads for creams and lotions that promise a smoother more youthful complexion. But is it possible that folks in other countries are not as obsessive about staying young as we are?

And if that’s true, is it possible that there are no cougars in these other countries? By “cougar,” I’m talking the woman-of-a-certain-age variety, not the animal. I’m guessing that if the age thing turns out to be mostly an American concept, then the idea of “cougar” would have little meaning in other countries. Maybe they even laugh at our notions of what’s acceptable.

While I try not to think of myself as a woman-of-a-certain-age (and what age is that exactly?), my doctor reminds me that I might be at each annual checkup. My petty physical complaints and pleas for understanding and relief are usually met with a pat on the knee and the assurance “Well, when we reach a certain age...” She’s letting me know that I’m falling apart slowly and there’s little she can do about it.

The upside, then, may be that I’m cougar material. Can there be a gorgeous dark-skinned lothario across the border who might find me irresistible? Is he willing to overlook a few mild frown lines, a slightly poochy tummy, and a drooping derriere because I’m witty, experienced and kind? I may never find out. But I like to keep the fantasy alive.

Perhaps that’s why I write about cougars. It’s my way of living the dream without doing irreparable harm to my marriage. But I’m particular about the “cougarness” of my cougars. First and foremost, no “Real Housewives” stuff. I don’t believe those woman are any more real than the folks that enliven Jerry Springer-type shows. My cougars must be women we all might know. Maybe even us.

Take Jessica Grandville from my novella Irish Ice, for example. Sure, she’s beautiful and has a good-paying job. But she’s also a single mom, bored with her life and ready to be romanced, whether she realizes it or not. Who couldn’t relate?

And then, there’s the matter of younger men. They should never be childish. Or too innocent (or even better, not innocent at all). In fact, as Jess finds out, some younger men may be more mature, more sensitive and more serious than a lot of older men. The point is, age is just a number. And there’s no accounting for attraction and no limits on love.

So, what do I tell my friend Teresa? This is me, shrugging. And hoping that someday she travels to Mexico to discover that her daughter was right all along. I hope she invites me along.

GINA GORDON: I Love Romance

Reading and writing romance is all about hope--the promise of a happily ever after. There are some books out there that don't end in a happily ever after or imply that there "could" be one but in my opinion, why would you want to read that? lol

I read and write romance to get swept away. I want to fall in love right along with the hero and heroine. I want to experience every kiss, sense every touch and feel every flutter. For me, a story isn't complete without some emotional connection between a man and woman. It's what makes television shows like Bones and The X-Files interesting--sexual tension and the possibility of a hook up!

Workplace romances are full of the possibility for sexual tension. They're taboo and some employers even have strict no-dating policies. But you can't help who you love no matter where you work, no matter what the rules. And that's exactly what happens between Caroline and Hayden in my newest release, The Only Exception.

It was the idea of a winter work retreat in the middle of nowhere that came to me before the actual characters. Snow can be very romantic. Especially white, untouched snow surrounding a cabin with roaring fires and champagne. Add a little music and you can't help but think sexy thoughts.

Caroline and Hayden definitely make the most of their surroundings. Not just sexually but emotionally. The winter air sheds light on their true selves. In the end, making it difficult for either to walk away.

The Only Exception

Two co-workers, one work retreat and explosive chemistry. The Canadian winter doesn’t stand a chance.

For Caroline Carlson, business is business. She will not let her profession define her. She’ll never make that mistake again. When she finds herself forced to attend a manager’s retreat in the middle of winter with her arrogant co-workers, the line between business and pleasure is blurred. Especially, since she’s forced to spend the time with Hayden, the man who has secured the starring role in her sexy dreams.

Hayden Cross is the new manager on the block. The retreat is a chance to let loose and get away from the daily grind. Until one night when a chance encounter with Caroline at a club morphs his plan into a personal dare. He is mesmerized by the sexy woman writhing on the dance floor. She’s a fantasy come to life.

Caroline is convinced that Hayden is just another man who wants the fantasy but his sexual advances are too hard to ignore. The more time they spend together the hotter it gets and the Canadian winter doesn't stand a chance.


Gina Gordon is an erotica and romance author living in Ontario, Canada. To learn more about Gina, check out her website at www.ginagordon.net

D. C. JURIS: The Romance Behind Omarati

Hi everyone! I'm DC Juris, and I'll be your guest blogger for today! For those who know me ::waves:: hi!! For those who don't, I'm an out and proud bisexual transgender man who writes GLBT (mostly m/m or ftm/m) romances. Which is way less exciting than it sounds—except for the writing part!

I wanted to talk today about why I chose to give my characters, Calliph and Mateo, a happily ever after. First, I should say that I'm not your typical writer. I don't get inspiration from people, places, and things. I don't see a tree, or a bird, or hear a song, and think "wow, that would make a great book!" The stories I write come to me directly from my characters. They walk up and introduce themselves in my head, and start talking.

So for me, it's not a choice to give my guys a happily ever after—it's just the way their story turned out. It's what happened to them; their history. I couldn't change it if I wanted to.

On the flip side of that, even if I felt I had any control over the story, I'd still give them a happy ending. Why? Because books, specifically romances, are—at least to me—meant to be escapes. They're meant to draw you into wondrous worlds, where impossibly perfect (or flawed but still pretty awesome) people live impossibly perfect lives, where everything works out in the end. There's enough drama in my real life, I don't want to read it in my books.

Additionally, I tend to attract characters who have gone through some pretty horrific things, and frankly, I think they deserve a happy ending, so I'm always thrilled when they tell me they're going to get one.

:) Like I said, I'm not your typical writer.

LARION WILLS: Why I Write Romance

Why I write romance?

Good question and I’m not sure I can answer it. I suppose I could blame it on a tender-hearted muse, because it seems no matter how one of my stories starts, it ends up with romance in it. True love. Soul mate. That one and only. One man for one woman. That one that makes you complete, feel whole. How many of us openly or secretly yearn for that? I’m not talking about sex. That exists on an entirely different, strictly physical, level, even though it is a necessary ingredient for romance. The need to procreate? No, again. That can be obtained by accident or carelessness or even deliberate design without a smidgen of romance or love connected to it. The concept my muse believes in is the soul mate, that one and only that makes you feel complete and whole.

In It’s Still Tomorrow, as soon as Sara came to mind, I just had to have a man for her, not that she wasn’t strong enough to deal alone with the evil after her in the mystery I had going. As her character began developing, she’d lead such a lonely life I just had to give her some happiness. Though she’d shied away from relationships and tried as hard as she might to convince herself she could be content without a man, my muse and I knew her heart yearned for someone to love who would love her back, not go screaming to the hills to escape her weirdness. Dem, of course, had to be something special. After all, how many men could cope with living with a woman who, among other quirks, said things on impulse that turned out to be glimpses into the future? For his sake, as well as to save her the heartache when he decided she was too much to cope with, she blocked their attraction to one another. Did I mention she’s a witch? Regardless of her powers, of course, my muse and I saw a way around that.

EMLY FORREST: Why Love Matters

“It’s only love and that is all.” So goes the Lennon and McCartney song. Only love. Not some earth-shattering event. And yet, so much of our music, literature and mythology circumscribe the theme of love.

Take for example, the catalyst of love as it figures in ancient mythology. Gods and men seem to be in constant turmoil because of romantic jealousy or spurned attentions. An entire war was fought over Helen of Troy. How cool is that?

Well, you might argue, that can’t really be proven. It may only be a legend. Nice story, but would anyone really go that far simply for love? I offer, then, the case of King Edward VII, who in 1936 abdicated the throne of England to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. No one could argue the depth of his feeling for the woman he wanted.

And while some are willing to die for love (Romeo and Juliet), others find comedic pleasure in pairing (Lucy and Ricky). Sometimes the whole thing is tragic beyond belief, as with Dr. Zhivago and the ill-fated Laura.

So why the big deal? Why are love and romance so important to us? They are important because...well, because they just are. No one is immune. Kings and paupers, wise men and fools. We are all looking for that unexplainable, sometimes painful, joy, sorrow, ache and thrill called love.

Perhaps the next best thing to being in love is reading about it. Or maybe writing about it, which is what I am privileged to do. When you write a romance, you can make it happen any way you choose. (Unlike real life, which—as we all know—often goes awry.) I can make a hunky bad boy fall inexplicably in love with a not-exactly-gorgeous wallflower. They can meet in the craziest scenario, hate each other and then decide they can’t live without one another.

If I want, I can craft a plot with a case of mistaken identity that forces a rift in a liaison. Or I can send the hero to prison (wrongly, of course), then have him released years later only to find that his love for one woman still endures (as well as hers for him).

Maybe it’s a sweet story about a married couple sharing an unbreakable bond of love and romance for a lifetime. Or a tempestuous affair that seems unlikely to last, but works out in the end.

These things don’t normally happen in the average person’s life. That’s why we’re so drawn to reading about impossible attraction and implausible endings.

When I write about romance, I draw from real life stories, either my own or those I’ve heard about. In my novel, The Last Resort, for example, I chose a protagonist who finds herself suddenly on her own after a bitter divorce. She has some road adventures, buys an RV park on the Gulf Coast and eventually reunites with a lover from her past. Not that all those things have happened to me personally. Nor to anyone I know. However, bits of Murph’s story come from many different people I know. And yes, even from my own experience.

And what about Happily Ever After? The rule for HEA is a marriage or at least committed relationship. In fact, most publishers and readers don’t consider a story to be a romance unless there is HEA. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not an absolute necessity. In Murph’s case, her HEA is a man to share her bed and be her companion. She’s a little old to expect or even need more than that. Does that mean it’s not a romance? Not in my book—literally and figuratively.

Do I have any rules for writing romance? Sure. Above all else, the focal characters must be likable and identifiable. They’ve got to be “real.” And their time together must be electric. I want readers to be drawn into the vortex of sexual attraction, feeling the irresistible pull toward something that may or may not be well advised. In a love story, of course, it won’t matter and can’t be helped.

In my soon-to-be released novella Irish Ice (Lyrical Press, March 2011), the protagonist is pursued by a man nine years her junior. She’s not looking for love. In fact, she resists the advances of the handsome stranger. Ultimately, of course, he wins her over despite her fears that he may be involved in some deadly activities.

For me, that’s the fun of writing romance. Do I really want an affair with a dangerous younger man? Nope. Am I interested in chucking my cozy life, starting all over and finding sexual adventure on the road? Not at all. But I sure like to imagine it. And I’m guessing you do, too.

L. K. BELOW - Want to read a free story?

Who can resist a FREE story? Well I'm hoping you can't, because the one I have in store for you is unlike anything I've ever written. In fact, I'm hoping it's entirely unique (but there are a lot of things out there, so who am I to say?). I'm talking about the story I'm offering, His Smoldering Eyes.

When I sat down to write this story, I wanted to write something that I, personally, have never seen done before. That's right, I wrote an erotic romance in verse. Why? Because I can. I don't know about you, but while I've seen an awful lot of mainstream and young adult novels in verse, I have yet to see an erotic romance written this way. If you're looking for something new and fresh, read or download His Smoldering Eyes for free here.

What's the story about? When Michelle meets Rick's smoldering eyes from across the room, she can't resist him.

Now, if you do decide to read it, I'd like to know: Did you like it? Is this format a dying art or would you like to see other stories in this style -- maybe in another subgenre, like historical or paranormal? Talk to me! Let me know what you think, good or bad. You can reach me through email at lbelow(at)lbelow.net. Most of all, happy reading!

L. K. Below likes to think of herself as a jack-of-all-trades. Along with poetry, romance of all subgenres, and speculative fiction, she also writes young adult (under her full name, Lindsay Below). Visit her online at www.lbelow.net.

GINA GORDON: Finding Time to Write

As a writer with a full-time day job, finding the time to do what I love most can sometimes be difficult.

Under normal circumstances, it isn’t a problem. I have zero children to be responsible for and I'm pretty lucky in the husband department. His obsession with watching sports has finally come in handy. The more sports he watches, the more time I have to write!

But when there is a lull in the sporting world or when life’s everyday obligations get a little hectic, I have to get creative.

Ever try editing a manuscript while preparing dinner? I have. It’s not easy, but depending on the type of meal being made, it can be done.

Instead of catching up on sleep, I write during my very long commute to and from work. It’s damn hard to ignore the gentle hum of the bus that tempts me into falling asleep but I have super-secret herbal help that does the trick.

Recently, I've discovered my secret writing weapon--being out in public. I don't have an office or a room I can call my very own so removing myself from the everyday dullness of my home has worked wonders for increasing my productivity. I have become a regular at the café in town. A few cappuccinos and something sweet later, and the satisfaction of accomplishing my writing goal is the best feeling in the world.

I'm sure I'm not the only writer who squeezes in writing time whenever they can and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels guilty when not spewing words onto a page. In my own little world writing is my life but in reality, that just isn't the case. I often forget that I am a living, breathing being with family and friends and responsibilities that exist away from my laptop. I have to learn to remember that more often and more importantly, I must learn to get over the guilt I feel when I’m not writing.

But something in the back of my mind pushes me to focus on my dream no matter the cost as if trying to make up for the time I spent running away from it instead of toward it.

Making the most out every free minute in a day can make a difference. Any other writers out there? How do you make the most of your writing time?



Gina Gordon is an erotica and romance writer living in Ontario, Canada. Her newest release, The Only Exception, is now available from Breathless Press. To learn more about Gina, visit her website at http://www.ginagordon.net

FELICITY HEATON: Angels - The Ultimate Forbidden Love

I’m Felicity Heaton and I’m here today to talk to everyone about why I decided to write angels for my latest romance e-books.

I have been writing paranormal romance for the past seven years and have been an indie author for the past four. During that time, I have written all of the main species covered in paranormal romance books. I have explored vampires, werewolves and shapeshifters, even witches and demons. Sometimes a writer needs a new challenge. Angels were that challenge for me.

What makes an author decide to venture into the world of angels? For me, it was more than just the challenge of writing a new species. It was the chance to take on a whole new world and see what I could do with it. I had heard that people were writing angels but that they were focusing mostly on fallen angels. I wanted to explore more than just the angels that had been cast out of Heaven. I wanted to explore this new genre to the full and that meant dealing with angels who were still in the employment of a higher power.

Here was my chance to see if feathers could be just as sexy as fangs, and I decided to take it.

Two out of the three angels involved in my Her Angel series so far aren’t fallen. They’re still working for the man, and even the third one is trying to prove his innocence and get back in. While I love the idea of the lost-soul angel who has fallen and then falls in a different way for a mortal, it isn’t complicated enough for me. I like my love to be really forbidden, and there’s nothing more forbidden than a fully-fledged angel falling for a mortal... unless you count an angel falling in love with a demon... and I even wrote that angle in Her Warrior Angel.

I had a great time exploring angels and the world that I was creating. I researched and dreamt up different ranks of angels, giving them different responsibilities and a different look to distinguish them. I thought about what my angels would be like and loved the idea of them being fun and frivolous, but having to deal with all mortals believing they were saintly and asexual, which they’re very definitely not. Then I thought about how the heroines would react to them. All three of the heroines are very different. Two already know that angels exist. The third is mortal and gets the shock of her life when her hero reveals that he’s an angel. All of them share common doubts though. Surely the hero can’t fall for them? Surely it’s a sin to be with an angel? I wanted the hero to have to work to prove that a relationship with them isn’t forbidden or a sin, except in the case of Her Warrior Angel where it really is very forbidden! In that book, the hero has to work to prove that he doesn’t care what the rules say, because he’s mad about the heroine.

I also thought about other elements like what things would be forbidden for angels to do, say or experience. I enjoyed playing on an almost childlike level of curiosity when it came to things that had been previously off limits to the angels—like alcohol for example. Humans would probably leap at the chance to try something that someone had told them they couldn’t do, so why would an angel be any different? All of the angels in my series are very curious about human life, human things, and anything that is prohibited. I think readers will relate to that. We’ve all been curious about things, especially when someone has told us no!

The last thing I considered was their loyalty to their world and their duties. In all of the stories, I have explored how that loyalty can cause conflict within them, leaving them torn between it and the heroine. There is only one true way for them to be with the heroine, without asking her to go to Hell and back, which is by surrendering their wings and immortality. That’s a tough decision for an angel to make, especially when they love flying so much. The series focuses on the sacrifice that the hero might have to make in order to win the heroine’s heart and love, as well as the great trials that the heroine might face to save her hero the pain of having to give up his immortality.

It’s one of the ultimate forbidden loves in my eyes. Angels and mortals (or demons!). Two very separate worlds with very different rules. Love has a way of overlooking such things though and teaching us to look beyond what people tell us to see, to what we feel in our hearts, and that’s what the Her Angel series is all about.

Stories in the Her Angel series:

Her Dark Angel
Felicity Heaton

An angel without a mission, Apollyon lives trapped in Hell guarding the bottomless pit. Surrounded by endless darkness, he longs to fly free on Earth once more but his master hasn’t called him in centuries. When the call finally comes, it’s to serve a new master, a beautiful woman he has often watched over, a woman who has always captivated him.

Serenity is shocked when a gorgeous black-winged angel shows up in her city of Paris claiming that she called him when she was only casting a simple vengeance spell. He’s no other than the angel of death! When Apollyon offers to obey her and help her have revenge on her cheating ex-boyfriend, she can’t resist the temptation, but can she resist him? Can an angel as dark as Apollyon ever fall for a mortal woman like her?

Their charade as lovers quickly becomes reality when one dance leads to another and Apollyon proves that he’s as sinful as he looks. His sensual and hungry touch brings Serenity back to life, freeing her from the hurt of being betrayed and reigniting her passion, but she can’t ignore her growing fear. Lost in their moment together, Apollyon realises that there is a reason he heard her call—he’s in love with her.

But will Serenity see past the wings and believe that Apollyon returns her feelings and won’t hurt her? When her ex-boyfriend asks her to forgive him and be with him again, will she take the easy route or will she find the courage to fly away with her dark angel?

Dark, passionate and erotic, Her Dark Angel is a tale of intense desire and deepest forbidden love guaranteed to get your heart racing.

Read the excerpt or buy now.

Her Fallen Angel
Felicity Heaton

Annelie fell for Lukas the moment he walked into her pub three years ago. He’s stunning, his vivid green eyes lending to his otherworldly beauty, but he’s seriously out of her league. When he tells her that she’s beautiful and confesses that he wants her, she can’t resist him and his passionate kiss. She unleashes her desire and seizes the moment and Lukas with both hands. But Lukas has a secret, one that will test Annelie’s love for him and threaten to tear them apart.

He’s an angel.

Annelie can’t believe it when Lukas says that their feelings for each other aren’t a sin, but she can believe his pain when he tells her the reason he’s on Earth. He is fallen, cast out of Heaven as punishment for a crime he didn’t commit. Lukas isn’t about to give up and accept his fate though. He’s determined to prove both his innocence and his love for Annelie, and to show her that the intense passion they share is real.

When Lukas and Apollyon discover who framed him, will he be able to stop them from going after Serenity and Annelie? Will he be able to protect the woman he loves and fly away with her into their forever after?

Read the excerpt or buy now.

Her Warrior Angel
Felicity Heaton

Einar is one of Heaven’s best hunters and he’s on a mission to uncover why an angel was working with demons. When he finds the first demon fighting a beautiful woman named Taylor, he intervenes and saves her life. Taylor has spent her whole life protecting London from the lowest demons and she’s not about to let an angel waltz into her city and take over her job, and she’s certainly not about to fall in love with him, even if he is gorgeous. The reason why she can’t is simple—she’s half demon.

There is no love in this world more forbidden than that between an angel and a demon.

Sense tells Taylor to get out before she gets her heart broken, but she winds up convincing Einar to partner with her instead. Einar is certain that working with Taylor is a bad idea, and not only because he can’t focus when he’s around her, but he can’t let her go. The mission leads them deep into the city’s underworld, where old flames burn Taylor while new flames of passion and fear of the consequences consume them, and the threat of Einar’s demons hangs over them both.

Can a love so forbidden ever have a happy ending or are they destined to break each other’s hearts?

Read the excerpt or buy now.

Thanks for having me here today and if any readers have any comments or questions, please feel free to voice them and I’ll answer them as soon as possible.

Biography:

Felicity Heaton is a romance author writing as both Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. She is passionate about penning paranormal tales full of vampires, witches, werewolves, angels and shape-shifters, and has been interested in all things preternatural and fantastical since she was just a child. Her other passion is science-fiction and she likes nothing more than to immerse herself in a whole new universe and the amazing species therein. She used to while away days at school and college dreaming of vampires, werewolves and witches, or being lost in space, and used to while away evenings watching movies about them or reading gothic horror stories, science-fiction and romances.

Having tried her hand at various romance genres, it was only natural for her to turn her focus back to the paranormal, fantasy and science-fiction worlds she enjoys so much. She loves to write seductive, sexy and strong vampires, werewolves, witches, angels and alien species. The worlds she often dreams up for them are vicious, dark and dangerous, reflecting aspects of the heroines and heroes, but her characters also love deeply, laugh, cry and feel every emotion as keenly as anyone does. She makes no excuses for the darkness surrounding them, especially the paranormal creatures, and says that this is their world. She’s just honoured to write down their adventures.

Find Felicity on her website, on her blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Goodreads.

ALAN CASS: Writing the Paranormal

When first asked to provide a piece of writing on the subject of the paranormal, or supernatural as I prefer to call it, I approached it with some trepidation. I mean really, where do you begin on such a subject? The very subject of life after death is one with which everybody has a personal belief, after all - it’s something which we’ll all care about one day whether we like it or not, in our final few moments (as long as we’re afforded the courtesy) there won’t be many who don’t wonder ‘What now?’ So on that note, I’ll begin.


There can be few of us who’ve crossed the fine line between life and death, and lived to tell the tale…it’s a paradox of possibilities. So with that in mind, surely there is the possibility that something more is out there: maybe…just maybe, we can dream awhile. Use your god given imagination if you dare, that’s what it’s there for after all. And as writers, isn’t our imagination our bread and butter? Are the boxes at the very back of the mind those which we writers choose to open? The boxes most people deem too dangerous to explore? The boxes that lead to some pretty big earth shattering questions about ourselves and the world we live in? I believe whole heartedly that one of them will be marked, ‘life after death - urban legend or reality?’


So now you’ve entered the what if phase, and since you’re a writer, you’ve engaged that god given imagination of yours: here’s where the cross over takes place, an amalgamation of myth versus reality, and the mind. When I began writing my novel, and I promise you no plugs here, I thought to myself long and hard: I figured that if I were going to embark on a journey, (of self discovery in fact) and were I going to throw myself vigorously into a project that I would complete, then quite simply the subject matter had to have been one with which I have a genuine interest. Ergo, the supernatural. I choose to write about the supernatural as it’s such a diverse topic, you can really open those aforementioned boxes and let your imagination run riot. If the full moon intrigues you, then Werewolves really do exist. If mirrors bearing no reflection excite you, then Vampires exist…this is your imagination we’re talking about, remember? The opportunities are limitless, as is your imagination…as long as you open those boxes.


With that being said, I’ll take this opportunity to return you to the box marked ‘life after death - urban legend or reality.’ We’ve covered the legends, now let’s explore reality: after all, that’s where the real shocks usually await us. I’d like to steer every last one of you away from fantasy as much as possible, you’ve got your story in your mind and you’re ready to go: here’s the deal. Fantasy is the reader’s role. Reality is yours. The tension is over and done with, and the moment lost once your Werewolf or Vampire…lurks menacingly from the darkness. The real fear exists in the terrified school girl who knows (choose your poison) she’s about to be it’s victim, that’s where you make it as real as gassing up the car…or for that matter, taking in the full moon - they don’t exist right? So what’s the problem? Oh right I forgot, your imagination is now telling you they do! Of course it is! Put yourself in the right situation, or wrong as the case may be, and anything really is possible.


Urban legend…or reality…I know which one I fear more. Sweet dreams!


Alan Cass is the author of a supernatural thriller, My Name Is Death. Visit him online at www.alancass.co.uk.

GINA GORDON: My 5 Tips For Writing Love Scenes

I am not ashamed to admit that the sexy times in a romance novel are my favorite parts. Of course I love the sexual tension, the tender moments, the realization of love but nothing gets my blood pumping faster and harder than a good sex scene.  

So what have I learned about writing sex scenes?

1) If it doesn't turn you on, don't write about it.

There is nothing worse than a cold and mechanical love scene. What's even more saddening is a love scene that borders on creepy. If biting makes you cringe, so will your heroine. If being tied up goes against everything you believe in, your heroine will feel the same way.
However, don’t limit yourself either. I find the idea of writing a BDSM story terrifying. But with a little research and some guidance I am slowly learning the emotional and intimate connections that come with a BDSM relationship and feel more confident in order to portray it on paper.

2) It’s not all about mechanics.

Fitting tab A into slot B should not be your main focus. Despite this being about sex, inner dialogue and introspection play a major part in a love scene. Their bodies aren’t the only thing involved. Love, worry, doubt, hope…these are all things to think about when writing a love scene. Besides, the physical, what else is at stake?
Don’t forget about your setting. Where are they? What items are around them?
Use all five senses. Although touching is probably the best part, the scents and sounds of sex are just as important.

3) Always make the first kiss explosive

Now this may not necessarily go with an actual sex scene but in my eyes, it matters. A first kiss should be about fireworks. Hearts should be racing, stomachs should be flip-flopping, hands should be holding on for dear life. It should be fairly long, more than just a sentence or two and intricately describe the intensity and excitement that can only come from the very first time two people's lips touch.

4) Don’t forget your plot

Sex forwards the plot. How many times have I heard that? Too many…because it’s true. Frivolous sex does nothing but give you a quick thrill. If you want your reader to believe your happily ever after, remember that each love scene must be a stepping stone. With every love scene you have to raise the stakes. And I don’t mean make the scene longer or add more positions, etc. (Of course that does help) When I say raise the stakes I am talking about the emotional connection of the characters. Each love scene should reveal a flaw, heighten their level of intimacy or expose a characteristic that brings them closer to their happily ever after. In short, your love scene must have a purpose.

5) For every action, there should be a reaction. 

If the hero kisses the heroine's neck, does she quiver? Does he feel her pulse beat under his lips? If the heroine skims her fingers down the abdomen of her hero, does she feel his goose bumps under her fingertips? Does his stomach tense under her touch? Following this rule not only brings the scene to life but also helps to connect the characters on a deeper level.

Gina Gordon writes romance with sizzling chemistry. Her newest release, Forever in Lingerie, will be released from Lyrical Press, Inc. tomorrow, November 22nd. Find Gina online at her website, www.ginagordon.net. 

LARRIANE WILLS: On Ghosts

When Clara asked if I had a book with ghosts, I had to snicker. Ghost, witches, and ESP are some of my favorite subjects to work with. I currently have two published with ghosts, spirits, imprints, but no angels; that’s published, not counting those written.  

What is the difference you ask between the four? Or are you asking, how does she know? How does one research ghosts? I certainly don’t have all the fancy, expensive equipment a popular TV show has, and strangers don’t invite me into their haunted houses to experience a showing for myself.

Once, in the middle of the night I woke to a very distinct thump, thump, thump. I gathered all the courage I possessed and tiptoed out hoping and fearing to witness my first specter. With only moonlight through the windows of my hundred year old home lighting my way, I crept from the bedroom. I had reached the dining room on my way to the kitchen where the noise was coming from when dark object hurled past me and hit the floor with a thud. Darn cat! I nearly swallowed my tongue, but is my adventure over? No, the thump, thump, thump is still coming from the kitchen. Once my heart dropped back down from my throat to my chest, I nearly turned tail. Then my stubborn streak came to the surface. On tiptoes again, I made my way again towards the kitchen with fear stronger than my hope at that point. Through the door, around the bar, and there--THERE--was the dog, chewing and pulling on the tendon of a ham bone trapped between his feet. Thump, thump, thump, every time it snapped loose from his teeth. I was actually disappointed. Here I had myself all geared up for a spectacular event, and it was just the dog, but it was a thrill also. The adrenalin did some pumping that night.

That’s why we read ghost stories.

We’ve heard stories from others, and maybe you’re even one of them, who have seen and heard the unexplainable. I admit I’ve never met a ghost, spirit, witnessed an imprint or, as far as I know, ever met an angel. I watch TV, fiction and non-fiction, and I read a lot. Read, as in research as well as novels with little attention to ‘Hollywood’ versions. I’ve made my conclusions, based on what I’ve investigated of people who claim to know, gathered up the most believed opinions and accepted what felt right to me in the way of possibilities. Here are those things that make the most sense to me: 

Ghosts are those who are earthbound, dead but have not passed on to the other realm. They’re stuck in one spot and one time, unless of course, they’re attached to an item that’s moved. Didn’t the little boy say, “They don’t know they’re dead?” Sixth Sense was the first movie in a very long time that got me with a surprise ending and the clues were there, visible once we knew.

Spirits are those who have passed on but return for one reason or another. They can pass through time and space.

Imprints are events with such powerful energies when they occurred that they are embedded in the area where they happened, playing the same scene over and over. No spirits or ghosts are involved, like watching an old movie.

Angels are angels. Though some believe every new born infant provides a body for an angel, others believe that angels are angels are angels and never anything else, both opinions based primarily on religious teachings.

What I find difficult to believe is that something as vibrant as the human spirit simply goes away, ends or ceases to exist when our frail bodies give out on us. Therefore ‘I want to believe’ that there is more. In my book Thirteen Souls, I have ghosts and a spirit with an involuntary medium relating what she sees and hears from them. (Or is she really?) The long winded title is unnecessary based on what I’ve learned of well known mediums. None of them are voluntary, few have only a minimal control over what comes when, and even fewer can clearly interpret what they do see. Ghosts and spirits, it seems are not very cohesive or cooperative. Ghosts may stay to help out in some way as I have them do in Mourning Meadow, (Or did they really?) and spirits may come back to give you some dire warning as took place in Thirteen Souls. That doesn’t mean they’re going to make it easy for you. Where would the mystery of it be if they did? 

You can visit Larriane at www.larriane.com. 

CHERISH D'ANGELO - Top Ten Great Things about Being an Author in Today's Publishing World

1) I can finally get these voices and stories out of my head. Yes, I hear voices. Yes, I feel slightly schizophrenic at times. I can't control when a story idea comes blasting through my cerebral cortex. I see fictitious people.

2) Microsoft Word, Grammar check and Spellcheck are my three best friends.

3) I'm self-employed and self-motivated. Good thing my self likes to work.

4) I can take my work with me on holidays, all thanks to the invention of the laptop.

5) I meet such awesome people at writers' conventions. Other writers, publishers, agents, booksellers. Conventions are a potpourri of all things 'book'.

6) I meet such awesome people at book signings. Readers are so diverse and so interesting, and I am always pleased to meet people who are on the reading end. I want to know what they like, what they want.

7.    

      7) I can publish my own books as ebooks. I don't need a publisher to do this. No more wasting time waiting. I'm not getting any younger.

      8) The publishing world is evolving at warp speed and the future of writers is exciting. It's far easier to self-publish than ever before and much more acceptable. Like the Berlin Wall's demise, we have broken through the barrier that once held authors back. We don't have to wait.

      9)I get to give my books away and do Random Acts of Divineness. See my posts during my tour to find out more about RAD.

       10) I can go to work in my home office in my pajamas (which Spellcheck insists is pyjamas) and take breaks when I want to. I'm in my Winnie the Pooh jammies now. Oh sorry, did I blow your image of a romance author writing in a flowing pink negligee and satin robe?

 

~Cherish D'Angelo

 

Lancelot's Lady ~ A Bahamas holiday from dying billionaire JT Lance, a man with a dark secret, leads palliative nurse Rhianna McLeod to Jonathan, a man with his own troubled past, and Rhianna finds herself drawn to the handsome recluse, while unbeknownst to her, someone with a horrific plan is hunting her down.

 

Lancelot's Lady is available in ebook edition at KoboBooks, Amazon's Kindle Store, Smashwords and other ebook retailers. Help me celebrate by picking up a copy today and "Cherish the romance..."

 

You can learn more about Lancelot's Lady and Cherish D'Angelo (aka Cheryl Kaye Tardif) at http://www.cherylktardif.com and http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com. Follow Cherish from September 27 to October 10 on her Cherish the Romance Virtual Book Tour and win prizes.

 

Authors: what are some other great things about being an author? Readers: what are some great things about reading?

 

Leave a comment here, with email address, to be entered into the prize draws. You're guaranteed to receive at least 1 free ebook just for doing so. Plus you'll be entered to win a Kobo ereader. Winners will be announced after October 10th.

LARRIANE WILLS: Does Science Fiction Have Any Effect On Science?

Though I only have one science fiction published, Looking Glass Portal, it isn’t because I don’t write more. Except for The Eternal Search, which will be coming out soon through XOXO Publishing, I just haven’t gotten any of the others ready yet for submission. It is one of my favorite genres to write in. Why? All those possibilities fascinate me. The challenge is to make the things you come up with believable, but do I have to rely on scientific theories? I give you a resounding no. In fact, the reverse is often true. Even 20 years ago, the idea of a phone small enough to fit into your shirt pocket was science fiction! A computer in your phone that connected you to literally millions—through the air? Home computers you could hold in your lap and you could talk to? So why not space ships and worm holes and light sabers, and best of all, aliens? Do any of you know that the cell phone was a direct result of the communicator used in Star Trek as well as other advances? Honest. I watched a documentary on how the series inspired inventions. Here’s another example:

"When I designed the UI (user interface) for the Palm OS back in '93, my first sketches were influenced by the UI of the Enterprise bridge panels,'' said Rob Haitani, product design architect for Palm-One Inc., the Milpitas firm that makes the popular handheld personal computers.

Rather than continue, visit this site to explore on technology advances developed from ideas written in fiction by non-scientists in Star Trek, one of the best know examples of Science Fiction. 

Centuries ago many of the things Galileo wrote and drew pictures of would have been called science fiction, had the term existed then. Look at all the things Jules Vern wrote about: trips to outer space before they even had planes or Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and his submarine. To quote, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” W. Clement Stone. He was a businessman and author, not a scientist, but the same thing applies. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Men love to wonder, and that is the seed of science,” and “Science does not know its debt to imagination.” What does a scientist think? “The process of scientific discovery is, in effect, a continual flight from wonder,” Albert Einstein. Did Einstein read something and then wonder? I have no idea, but such wondrous possibilities are out there, and I like wondering, imagining, and writing about it. However, when it comes right down to it, the story is the people and what they might be able to do, not the science or science fiction. The last is the background, but it has to be believable. For Looking Glass Portal I asked the question, “Do like minds reach out over vast distances, even that of space with what is reality on one world legends in another?” to explain the existence of a Pegasus. Do you think I’m mixing apples with oranges now, going from technology to ESP? No, scientists have researched ESP for decades at least. And why not a Pegasus as well as space travel? In The Eternal Search the story is based on time travel and immortality. I won’t bore you with Einstein theories that make the former at least plausible, but haven’t people dreamed of a ‘fountain of youth’ for centuries? What about Lacrezia Borgia’s attempts to stay young by bathing in virgin’s blood, earning herself the title of vampire or so some say? No, I won’t go into possibilities of vamps and weres. That’s a whole other kettle of fish as far as I’m concerned. But think about what’s possible or plausible and how much the imagination of writers through the centuries has contributed to science.

http://www.larriane.com for more excerpts and info on all my books, historical, contemporaries, fantasy and science fiction.

L. K. BELOW: Why Shifters?

Last week, I spoke to you about the witches in my story, His Familiar Touch. Today, I'm going to talk about the shifters. 

For this story, the reason I chose shifters was simple: I wanted to explore the relationship between witches and familiars. In His Familiar Touch, Rikkita is unable to shift because she is a familiar. Until she finds her witch and touches his skin, she cannot use her full abilities—and she is effectively a cougar trapped in a human body. When she learns of this, she travels across San Jose on her search for her witch, and that is when she meets Derek, who takes it upon himself to educate her as to the witch-familiar relationship. 

For the first part of her life, Rikkita exists without powers. If after she touches her witch, she disappears to lead her own life, the witch would then have no powers. It is a symbiotic relationship that I tried to create between the two. Neither is whole without the other, and together, their powers are amplified. 

That is the primary reason I chose shifters in this case, but I have always been drawn to them. Why? I think it is because of their animalistic nature. While writing Rikkita, I certainly had fun using animal metaphors. She's very blunt, very direct, and she thinks in primal ways. But that's part of her charm. 

If you want to read His Familiar Touch to find out for yourself, you can find it in Paramourtal this August. Keep an eye on my blog, Twitter, or facebook page (links below) and I'll let you know when it's out!

L. K. Below blogs about her life, her works, and just about anything on her mind at lbelow.blogspot.com. You can find her on Twitter at @LBelowtheauthor or view her fan Facebook page here. Check out her debut paranormal romance story, His Familiar Touch, this August in Paramourtal!

L. K. BELOW - Why Witches?

When Clara asked me to explain why I chose witches and shifters for my upcoming release, His Familiar Touch, I had to break it into two parts. So today, I'm going to talk about the witches aspect in my Love Potion series, and later on in the week, I'll explain my shifter motivations. 

I'll admit, my decision to use them here was because they benefited the story. That is usually my motivation for making a character who he or she is. But let me explain the benefits further. 

I like witches, because they are so versatile. You can do just about anything with them. See the future? Check. Make potions? Check. Peer into someone's thoughts? Check. Travel into the past or future? Check. More or less, anything you can think of, you can make happen. 

This series originally started with Tanja. While His Familiar Touch is the second story of the series, the first one, involving Tanja, isn't yet published. They can be read out of order. But back to Tanja. When I dreamt up the series, she was the main focus. In His Familiar Touch you don't meet her, although Rikkita does set foot in her shop, Tanja's Charms and Potions, the shop which started it all. 

When I thought of Tanja, I knew that she made love potions. That was her specialty. Why? Because she isn't a very powerful witch. In fact, by opening her shop, she is going against her family's wishes, and by marrying a powerless human, she is also going against the grain. But providing her potions to the public is how Tanja makes her place in the world. Eventually, she earns her family's grudging respect. The series revolves around the witching community of San Jose, and will prominently feature Tanja's shop. 

But why are witches so great? Well, unlike shifters, witches can have degrees of power. I can make Tanja something of an outcast among her clan because her powers aren't strong. With shifters or vampires, etc. this is different. The shifter can't half morph into a wolf. Or, while that might be possible, I personally doubt that I would be able to pull it off convincingly. 

My second reason, as stated above, is the versatility of witches. In my Love Potion series, they aren't limited to one power. Tanja can make potions. Derek, featured in His Familiar Touch can see the future. Other characters can see or summon spirits, cast illusions, and so on. For this series, I like witches because I can separate their powers into specialties. I can mould each specialty to fit the personality of the caster. I love the freedom, and I love the possibility.

Now, for those of you who have never heard of my story, His Familiar Touch is set to be released in Paramourtal this August. I'll speak more about it in the shifter aspect of this blog, but in the meantime, let me leave you with the blurb:

Rikkita Martinez has never been able to shift into her cougar form, isolating her from the werecougar community -- until she discovers that shifting might be possible, with the help of a witch. Setting out on a journey of discovery and desire, she meets Derek, a distracting and irresistible man who might just have exactly what she needs.

L. K. Below blogs about her life, her works, and just about anything on her mind at lbelow.blogspot.com. You can find her on Twitter at @LBelowtheauthor. Check out her debut paranormal romance story, His Familiar Touch, this August in Paramourtal!

L. K. BELOW - Revision Blues

Let's face it. That perfect story that you think you've written isn't so perfect after all. Someone, somewhere is likely to find some flaw in it, some way to make it better. Most likely, that will be your editor. But that's the end of my run of bad news—truth is, you want your editor to catch these things, because it will be one less thing for that harsh reviewer to tear apart afterward.

About this time, you're probably edging away from your computer screen, thinking I'm absolutely nuts. After all, why would you want someone to find a flaw in that prized manuscript you hold proudly in your hand? But if anyone's going to do it, you want it to be an editor. Editors, unlike critics and readers, are able to look past the flaws in your story. They are able to see past things that others won't, in order to judge whether or not the story would fit in well with their publishing program.

The good news is, if it does, they'll be banging on your door asking for your story. However, they will also ask you to revise it.

Ah, revisions. The polite way of telling you that everything you thought was spectacular and original and witty in your piece isn't what you thought. Unfortunately, revisions are a necessity if you plan on publishing that brilliant story of yours. They may not be palatable, however.

There are a couple ways you can deal with having to cut things out. In fact, they coincide with the five stages of grief:

1) Denial and Isolation.

During this stage of grief, I tend to look at my story and wince at all the comments made. How could I possibly cut and of these beauties? Sometimes, I closet the manuscript away for a day or two—or even as long as a month if there isn't a pressing deadline to the rewrite. And in fact, I often closet myself away as well. I do this by writing another brilliant piece, but the effect is the same.

How do you combat this stage? The easiest way is to remind yourself that you're making it better. Even if it feels heartbreaking to cut at every little word, once you've finished, you will have crafted a stronger piece. Of course, the easiest way for me to deal with it is to remember that it is a necessary evil in order to see my creation into publication. It does become easier, after that.

2) Anger.

When you see some sort of criticism written about your story, it is easy to become angered with the person who wrote it. All too easily, your thoughts can spiral downwards, until you tell yourself that they can't possibly know what they're talking about.

If you're looking to get published, you should probably eject all of those thoughts from your brain now. Assuming you did the legwork and sent your story to a reputable editor at a publishing company that deals in your genre, your editor knows what she (or he!) is talking about. Sure, you might get that one in a million who doesn't—but I think you're more likely to be struck by lightning seven times and win the jackpot for the 649. Editors work to publish stories that readers will read—so if an editor tells you to cut or change something, it most likely is a good idea. Of course, there is always that chance that they are wrong—and that someone else will snap up that story before you can blink—but it comes back to how much you want to see that story in print or e-print. How much do you want to see those dollars roll into your wallet?

3) Bargaining.

Now this stage might be a useful one, and I'm not going to tell you to stifle it right off the bat. Surprised? You shouldn't be. However much I want to see my work in print, I never let it interfere with what I think is right for the story. If you do, you might wind up like some authors—I'm sure all of you have read one or two of these—who sacrifice originality, consistency, and plot in order to gain wads of cash and popularity. There is an inherent sense in all writers about their work. Unless you've already become a bestselling author with a previous work and would like to sacrifice your artistic integrity, I recommend that you listen to your instincts. If it really feels wrong to change something, bring up the issue with your editor! Of course, I am not encouraging you to bring up every little thing, but if it feels monumental to the story, bring it up.

4) Depression.

Obviously, sometimes even when you bring up the issue, you may not get your way. That is the point in time when you will have to ask yourself: if so, do I really want to publish this piece here? That is up to you. Not I, nor anyone else, can make that decision for you. But if you are really feeling down about your writing, there are a few ways to keep your spirits up. Keep e-mails and other correspondence from those who have positive things to say about your writing, and re-read them. Surround yourself with friends who also write and go through the same thing. Or you could do what I do—write another story that (for now, at least) lets every ounce of your brilliance shine through.

5) Acceptance

This is the last stage, and the best one, considering that everything that was detrimental to seeing your story published has now dropped away. At this stage, you can take your pen (or your backspace button) to the page, and work to add the finishing touches to your brilliant work. Often, that pesky voice in your head crying over every changed word has faded. If it hasn't, and you are compromising in order to publish your story, there are ways to deal with that as well.

I like to hold a mourning party. If you have a blog, or even a Twitter account, a simple "RIP Sex Scene" will do. Plus, I always like to promise myself that in a year or two, when the rights revert to me again, I'll post it on the website the way it is meant to be. Then, I get to have it both ways.

Thank you, Clara, for having me, and I hope I've helped all of you overcome your revision blues.

L. K. Below


L. K. Below blogs at lbelow.blogspot.com. Her paranormal romance short story “His Familiar Touch” is set to be released in Cliffhanger Books Paramourtal anthology. Visit her at www.lbelow.com.

GINA GORDON: My Wicked Ride to Publishing

My journey to being published has been paved with dirty talk, sex and an overwhelming use of the word “thrust.” To put it in plainly, wicked.

As a child, I never would have guessed that my journey would lead me to the world of erotic romance. Writing happily ever afters, yes. Writing happily ever afters in between sweaty sheets, never.  

Friends and family ask how? How do you come up with the words on the page? How are you able to write sex scenes? In my opinion the desire to write, the need to put the words on the page is something that you are born with. But to be good at it takes time, practice and patience. Oh, and maybe a twisted imagination.

Every day I exercise my brain creating new characters and stories. I try to think outside the box and push my own limits, teetering on the thin line of what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour. For me, that’s what being a writer is all about, pushing myself to create and try new things. In the end, it always leads to the same conclusion. My characters always have a good time!

I often say that writing erotic romance is meant to be and that my choice to seriously pursue my dream at this specific time in my life wasn’t a coincidence. Will my journey always be wicked? I don’t know but I do know that I am having a blast.

Gina Gordon is an erotica and romance writer living in Ontario, Canada. To learn more about Gina and her newest release, Wicked Ride, visit her website at http://www.ginagordon.net

L. K. BELOW - How to Make Your Aliens Alien

Everyone takes a different approach when it comes to creation. That's what makes each writer unique. However, if you're at a loss, there are a couple points to think about when you're creating your species or world.

Fantasy writer Tessa Hei uses a world-by-world basis. Her approach is simple: use magic. Many times, her work classifies as urban fantasy, which means it is set in a modern-day setting, but with the addition of magic. If this sounds a little like your world, then read closely. Tessa Hei has a simple scheme to help develop her worlds.

She calls it "Hidden/Unhidden". Hidden is when only a few people know of this magic or supernatural entity. Many paranormal romances fall under this category. On the other hand, Unhidden is when everybody is aware of the magic. As Tessa puts it,

The difference between "Hidden" and "Unhidden" isn't the amount of time the character is aware of the magic; it's the amount of people in the world who knows about it. If it's lightly spoke of among anyone (e.g. you can say it to your grandma, the bag lady down the street, or the graduating class of '09), it's generally Unhidden. If magic is known but outlawed (not spoken lightly of), then what? That would be an Unhidden world; it's common knowledge. If magic has been forgotten and rediscovered in medieval ages: Hidden; not the whole world knows of it.

My approach is different. I focus more on the race itself, picking out points which could be used to differentiate humanity from an alien or supernatural species. The main points I concentrate on are: speech patterns, customs, and prejudices.

Clara just finished talking to you about language and slang, but I'm still going to skim over it lightly. When I work speech patterns into my races, it involves more than just slang. First of all, you do have to watch that your aliens DON'T speak slang, not unless they've been immersed in human culture for a while. Then, I always keep in mind that whatever my race, if their first language is not English, they're going to approach speaking English in a unique way. They might structure it differently. If any of you speak a second language (or if English is your second language) you likely know what I mean. Living in Canada, I speak some French. My first instinct is always to structure it as I would in English, but using French words. That is not always correct. When it doesn't jar the reader, I try to work in the same speech patterns with my alien characters.

I'm going to move on to prejudices and leave customs for last. Think about what prejudices afflict humanity, either now, or in the past. The main ones are: race, religion, and gender. Sometimes I work those into my stories. More often, I like to come up with new ones. Age, for instance. Either the young are dismissed out of hand, with the old being honoured almost to the point of being revered; or the old are dismissed out of hand and the young are honoured to the point of being revered. If the latter case, you could take the prejudice one step further, to where the old are often prosecuted or killed. Or, I once wrote a story where the status in society revolved around the number of eyes you had. The fewer eyes a character had, the higher up the command ladder he or she was. The same might be said of arms, legs, spots, horns, or wings.

Now, on to customs. This is where I like to show the divide between humanity and the race I've created. Even if I was given a thousand pages, I probably wouldn't be able to name all of the possibilities. In terms of romance, major customs you might want to explore are: mating, marriage, the naming of children, courtship, and certain things like fashion, eye contact, touching, dancing, etc. which might inadvertently encourage a sexually agressive response from your main character or love interest. Other ways customs might differ would be in burials, education, showing respect, or the use of body language.

In the end, it depends on how you'd like to make your point. If you're trying to illustrate how different the two species are, then I suggest you work in as many points of difference as you can. If, on the other hand, you're trying to show that the two, although different on the outside, are really quite similar, I would start with some differences in the beginning of the story, but weed them out as you go along. If a character was once human, likely there won't be very many differences at all.

Thanks, Clara, for having me!


L. K. Below blogs at lbelow.blogspot.com. Her paranormal romance short story “His Familiar Touch” is set to be released in Cliffhanger Books' Paramourtal anthology. Visit her at www.lbelow.com.

GINA GORDON: What Fantasies Are Made Of

What's in a fantasy?

Is it our secret desires? Is it a way of reliving an enjoyable experience? Is it something we use to escape from our everyday lives?

Actually, it's all of the above.

Fantasies are an unrestrained use of the imagination. After all, it's where we harbor the most intimate parts of ourselves—what turns us on, what gets us hot, new things we want to try.

It's our job as writers to dig deep and bring those fantasies to life. Fantasies that you, as a reader, may never utter out loud. Maybe, just maybe, we can even introduce you to a fantasy you didn't even think you were capable of. However, you don't have to be a take-action kind of person in order to enjoy your new-found "interests". The best part of a well-written erotic romance is that it will scoop you up and take you along for the ride as if you were experiencing every passionate kiss and cataclysmic release.

According to Anita Naik, the top six female fantasies are:

-To be taken by a stranger

-To be with someone famous

-To have a threesome

-To have sex with another woman

-To have someone watch

-To be punished/spanked

These fantasies are used over and over again in the erotica and romance industry. Why? They are tried-and-true scenarios that will catch the reader's attention. I've written about three of them myself. But how do we take those fantasies to the next level? How do we make each story unique—by playing the "what if" game. By playing the "what if" game, each writer infuses their own individuality into their work.

I played the "what if" game one morning as I stood in line to buy my coffee and watched a man and woman shamelessly flirt with one another. My mind took a dirty turn and the "what if"s started flying. What if he or she had been eying the other for months? What if this was a planned meeting? What if they left here this very minute and hooked up? Where would they go? And so the idea for my first published work came to fruition. Her Five Favourite Words. An erotic short story about lattes and sex with a stranger.

For me, being free to let my mind wander to sexy places or even dark places is the best part about being a writer. Any time of day, I can vacation to my own little world where sex is not taboo, living out your fantasies is not frowned upon and where there is always a happily ever after.

Thank you, Clara, for having me as a guest.

Gina Gordon

Gina Gordon loves dreaming up exciting characters who find love, and sometimes a steamy encounter, in the most unusual places. Her Five Favorite Words will be released on April 2^nd from Breathless Press. Visit Gina's official website at www.ginagordon.net