I got nothing.

Today, I am dealing with one of the realities of the writing life - I have no idea what to say. Usually, I grab a piece of paper and hand write it out in a bizarre stream of consciousness rant. For example:

"Holy cow, I have no idea what to do day, I'm a big mess, my brain is empty, I gotta do something but I haven't a clue what, at least I've showered - Go me! What do I talk about? I want something emotionally truthful, something that encourage the people to follow their dreams of a better world. Something to combat despair and hopelessness."

While I'm casting about, I want to hear what YOU need. What makes you feel like you can smash the patriarchy? What kinds of books do you read when you need comfort and courage? How can I help you gather your energy to live your favorite life?

Let me know! We can't create a more just world all alone.
 

Non-Fiction for the Holidays!

Last time, we talked fiction. Perhaps your friends and you need some non-fiction in your life! Over here at Maison de Mercure Charmante,
(named after The Charming Man and myself), we pride ourselves on great non-fiction aimed at helping people create an awesome life.

First up is the Little Sexy Workbook. Part of being an erotic writer means being an unofficial sex therapist. In order to help people have better communication around arousal and their preferences, I created this little book.
 

 

If you have been having problems with stress and rejection, I have Rejection, Bad Reviews, and Mean People. Aimed at writers, but helpful for every one, this book has real world, immediate suggestions to get through the shock of dealing with nasty words.

 

Finally, if you are writer who wants to create better love scenes and sexual tension, I created Arousal to Zipper: Writing the Best Sex of Your Life. It doesn't matter what heat level you write, this book helps you wring the most emotion from your characters.

 

Buy Links:
My Web Site
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple Books

 

The holiday season is barrelling down at us. May I humbly recommend books as fabulous gifts? They always fit, after all! Depending on what kinds of books your friends and family like, I'd like to think I've got you covered. Do you like sexy romance with lots of adventure? The Blood Wings Series (Dracula's Secret, Dracula's Desires, and Dracula Unleashed) are the darkest of my books. There are intense scenes of both hot sex and fight scenes.  They are also multicultural and GLBTQ-friendly.       Less dark and more James Bond-like is Curse of the Spider Woman. This is a story with shapeshifters and the Greek Gods. Set against the backdrop of the Greek financial crisis, this story brings two former lovers together again.             Or do you prefer sexy short stories on a variety of topics? Again, multicultural and LGBTQ friendly, I have Linda Mercury's Naughty Notes. Full of short stories and poetry, this book is wonderful to read aloud to your romantic loves.   Do you like gentle, woman-power, magical realism that take place in small towns? My co-author and I, Shea MacLeod write a series called The Dream Factory! The third book will be called A Dream of Words and will be out in early 2022. These books are all-ages appropriate and filled with hope.    Or do you dig non-fiction? That will be the next post!   Buy Links: My Web Site Amazon Barnes and Noble Kobo Apple Books

It's a rainy Friday and I feel....

 

Halloween Giveaways, Dracula's Secret.

 

In keeping with the Halloween theme, let me introduce to you, Valerie Tate. She is the heroine of my Blood Wings trilogy; Dracula's Secret, Dracula's Desires, and Dracula Unleashed. This were my first three books ever published! They have been completely revised since then, with more adventure and thrills than before.

 

I created a giveaway for the first book, Dracula's Secret, just for my newsletter people.

It is HERE.
 

Again, like last week, if you don't mind a less than perfect hard copy, head on over to my website for for the scratch and dent sale. Use the coupon "Scratch and Dent" to get $3.00 off on Dracula's Secret.

 

 

SHE HUNGERS FOR HIS LIGHT

She calls herself Valerie Tate. One of the few vampires left on earth, as
beautiful as she is powerful, Valerie has resisted her craving for human blood
for years, just as she once hid her true gender. But the night she lays eyes on
the most enticing man she's ever seen, her appetite can no longer be denied.
He radiates goodness and light-and searing sexual energy. Valerie must have
him. Taste him. Consume him. For he is temptation-and he is her destiny . . .

HE BURNS FOR HER DARKNESS

Lance Soleil is a rugged war veteran who runs a homeless shelter in Portland.
At first gaze, he knows what Valerie is-and wants her even more. But when he
welcomes a pack of werewolves into his shelter, he attracts the attention of
Valerie's oldest rival-her bloodthirsty brother, Radu, who hopes to become the
first vampire President of the United States. Valerie knows Radu has a hidden
agenda, and with Lance's help she is determined to stop his unholy rise to
power. But first, she must risk their growing love by fully revealing herself-as
the one and only Dracula . . .

Buy Links:
My Web Site
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple Books

Halloween promotion: Keeping It Up.

 

Happy October, everyone! It is Halloween month, and that means it is time to read about sexy vampires and shifters. Since I gave away Vamping It Up, the first in the Auntie Vamp series (here's the giveaway, if you didn't nab yours), this letter is about the sequel, Keeping It Up.

Holly Barros has grown in confidence and influence since her ex-fiancé dumped her five years ago. She is ready to take over her great-aunt’s position on the International Paranormal Council. She’s got influence, she’s got the ideas, and her lover/bodyguard, former Marine Lincoln Jones, has the moves to keep her safe.

Is Lincoln capable of keeping up the good work guarding Holly’s body?

Glamorous vampire Celeste Barros has never been afraid of risks, but she has played it safe in love for centuries. Now she is ready to retire from high-stakes international politics. Perhaps a new, more leisurely lifestyle could bring a new, fresh perspective on love. Young historian Grayson Brown is interested in more than a frolic with the much older woman.

Could Grayson be capable of Keeping It Up for Celeste?

 

Also, if you like hard copies, I am having a "Scratch and Dent" Sale over at my web site! If you don't care about my first attempts at getting fonts right, or a slightly crimped cover, come on over and get books at a deep discount. Enter the code MESSY IS BEAUTIFUL and get 30% off of Keeping It Up. This sale only only lasts a week (until October 12th).

P.S. If you are interested in other scratch and dent books, just wait. I'll be having them on sale only for my newsletter people in later weeks in the month!

Buy Links:
My Web Site
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple Books

Cliches that gotta go, Part Four.

 Cliche: Telling us how sexy someone is.

 

 Show us how sensual a person is.

From American Photo, Nov/Dec 1993

.

One day, I got ice cream with a male friend. Conversation lagged while we enjoyed our treat. 

 He closed his eyes and swirled his tongue around the scoop, licking and sucking at the cone. I nearly orgasmed from watching his mouth relish the smooth, cold, silky cream. He was entranced by the flavor and simply abandoned himself to the sensations. If I hadn't already been thoroughly besotted already, I would have fallen just from watching him get into the moment.

A few years later, I showed my book hero impressing my heroine by his firm, assured handling of her classic muscle car, a 1966 Ford Shelby. This car model boasts 350 horsepower and went from zero to sixty in 4.5 seconds. This is the kind of automobile that easily could be pushed and pushed hard. I almost had the hero gunning the engine, squealing the tires - basically pushing the ferocious engine to its limits. But wait.

I remembered how my friend’s un-selfconscious pleasure seduced me. I wanted my character to seduce the heroine by showing how he handled power, by showing that he had class, sensuality, and stamina. I wanted her to be intrigued by his ability to unleash this magnificent automobile's potential with a long smooth ride, not something rocky, jerky, and way too short.

Don't just describe your sexy person. Show us what about them turns on the observer.

Cliches that Gotta Go; Part Three.

Coercion?

Just don't.  

 

I completely stopped reading a famous author when I realized that her heroes constantly pushed and bullied their way into the heroine's body. *coughLoraLeighcough*

One of them refused to let her orgasm until she agreed to his cock in her ass (a pet peeve of mine, see Part Two of this series). One 'hero' repeatedly forced his sexual attentions on a heroine despite her concerns for maintaining her reputation/pregnancy/losing her autonomy. At no point did the hero address her emotional needs, preferring to shove his various body parts into her mouth and other locales of interest.

I left those books feeling violated, not aroused. Force isn't sexy.

When you are creating your erotic moment, remember that there is a huge difference between a seduction and coercion. Seducing is an invitation to pleasure and mutual joy. There is an element of play, of delight, of seeing who the other person is, and learning what works on this one in particular.

Coercion is about one person's "need" to get off. It also refuses to listen to the other's concerns and worries about the act of sex. If one person is worried about anything, then the partner had better address that. 

 Don't traumatize your readers or viewers. Invite them to play with you instead.