The beginning of a story I always wanted to tell.

 Sometimes, the beginning of a story hits my brain and just...sits there. It's the start of a cool book, but I have no idea what happens next. With no further ado, here comes the brain worm.

What was her family's pet assassin doing in Coco Bristol's boss' florist shop? 

It was 5pm on a Friday night and Coco was sweeping the plant cuttings off the floor. The bells on the door rang cheerily. She glanced up. Her hands gripped the broom handle when she recognized one of Seattle's most deadly men. 

"Frank Rectory," the gentleman in question said. "I'm here to see Nicole Gomez."

Coco had left the family behind years ago, but she retained the sangfroid necessary to survive in a gun merchant's family. Her thorn-scarred hand knocked on Nicole's office and with a cool voice, she announced the visitor. 

"Oh, let him in," Nicole looked like a Playboy Bunny with big blonde curls and a body made for wiggle dresses. Her voice naturally sounded like Jessica Rabbit, but she was the sweetest thing Coco had ever met. She'd thought it was impossible for someone to be so unjaded, but Nicole Gomez was the real thing. Whatever 'Frank' thought he was doing with her, Coco was there to protect her friend. 

Frank, real name Jonas Squire, maintained his perfect kill record by not being what anyone thought of as assassin. He wasn't tall, dark, tattooed, and dangerous. He was medium height, with a disarming, "Aw, shucks" smile, and sea-green eyes. At least, that was his Frank Rector persona. Jonas had dozens of looks and the ability to kill in hundreds of ways. 

If he were here, it meant that Coco's mother had an idea of how to use a four shop florist chain. 

"You can go home, Coco," Nicole said. "Mr. Frank and I have private business to discuss."

Coco slipped on her hoodie, grabbed her purse, and left the shop. The Seattle rain soon swallowed her from view. She could leave Nicole to her fate. But the woman had been a good friend. Unless Jonas/Frank was honestly here for a friendly booty call, there would soon be a nasty surprise for everyone involved.

But Coco had her own surprises.

She pulled out her insurance policy - a sniper rifle she'd hidden in a secret compartment of the flower shop's brick walls. She hadn't forgotten a thing she'd taught Jonas.

Well, I'm back and breathing.

 Hello, beautiful readers!
 

2023 has been, well, difficult. My beloved stepmother died in March, finally free from her dementia. I traveled to Ireland (hooray!) in May, where I promptly picked up pneumonia (boo). I spend all of June healing from that infection. I'm waiting (and waiting and waiting) to get to a surgeon to schedule my first of two needed knee replacements. I got Covid at end of August, and now, in the beginning of October, I have a cold.

So, a whole lot got put by the wayside, including you. While I've had this time to reflect, I realized that I want to make life more fun. And I thought - who doesn't like getting snail mail? I'm thinking of creating a proper, old-fashioned mail newsletter. Do you dig the idea? It would come out twice a year, interspersed with any small updates, probably sent on postcards. Tell me if you would like this!

Second, I wanted to update you on my writing. :) I'm working on two co-authored books. The first is with my long-term collaborator, Shea MacLeod, and is the fourth book in our fabulous Dream Factory series. My new co-author, April Aasheim, creates incredibly witchy novels, especially the Dark Root Series. We are working on a new series that follows her Dark Root Ancestry series. Wow! I'm so excited to work with such brilliant women.

Lastly, I'm brainstorming on a brand new book that will incorporate steampunk with my love of Middle Eastern history. It's still in the idea phase, so no firm updates yet.


Let me know if you would like to have a pretty newsletter show up in your meat-space mailbox.

Living a Luscious Live: Avoiding Burnout.

 

Living a Luscious Live: Avoiding Burnout

 

Little luscious acts throughout the day can really ease you, therefore, easing your burnout. Some of my favorite things:

• Take one minute to sit and enjoy the sensation of rubbing lotion into your hands and elbows. Does your lotion have a scent? Does it please you? Give yourself a tiny hand massage.
• I love lying with my legs up. It helps reduce swelling and is super relaxing. My mother used to call that time, "The Miser's Vacation." Five minutes (if your body tolerates it) can even help back pain.
• Brush your hair, or if you are bald, rub your scalp. Ahhhhhh.
• Naps. :)

None of these things cost money and can be sneaked in during a busy day.



 

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Pre-Order Here!

Why another book about writing BDSM? Because the world needs your dreams, your thoughts, and your truths. The world needs us to be honest in our writing by painting the full panoply the human experience. All of us are curious about power dynamics, sensation, helplessness, and roleplaying and how they affect our characters’ lives. Writing leather sex gives both the author and the reader a safe place to explore these experiences.

My goal for this book is that you will be able to write kink enthusiastically, with a full, rich emotional life for your characters. Everything I’m about to talk about it to reduce your anxiety or stress so you write with greater joy and clarity. If at any time, if you feel overwhelmed or like these ideas are too much work, take a breath and remember that these ideas are to keep you from writing yourself into a corner or getting stuck.

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.
 

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.

Sex Cliches that gotta go, part two.

Today, we are talking about:

 Spontaneous anal penetration.

 

You've read the scene a million times.  A penis owner wants in their partner's butt. By coercing and pressuring the bottom, the penis owner shoves that monster dick in. The receiving partner cries out in pain, but eventually is won over by the battering their rear is taking and orgasms and nearly passes out.

 

Come on. Let's be real. 

 

The rear end needs lots of extra love and preparation. If your characters aren't using lube, time, and barrier methods to get the ass ready to party, you are missing out on an incredible chance to show their vulnerabilities and motivation. Is your top wanting in the butt because it feels so tight around the penis? Or do they want in because they want their partner to feel incredible pleasure? Are these people here for trust or brutality? 

The warm up process for the ass is a worthy scene in and of itself. The goal is to send someone through the roof, and that makes for a brilliant, non-stereotyped sex scene.

Also, what is hotter than a partner whose agenda is one of mutual pleasure?  

Not much!

Sex Cliches that gotta go. Part One.

There are so many cliches in erotic materials. My next few posts are going to talk about which ones I want to see gone, gone, gone, and how to avoid them. I want your love scenes to be truthful, arousing, and to give others permission to express their desires.

Cliche #1:

 Simultaneous Orgasms (S.O.s)

Orgasming at the same moment of your partner(s) is really hot and really fun. It requires co-ordination, sensitivity to each other's arousal, and can bond the people together.

But do all of your sex scenes end in simultaneous orgasms? Each of the scenes in your work should have different levels of emotional and spiritual intimacy. An act of love that creates a simultaneous orgasms needs to create a deeper connection between the characters. An S.O. can happen at any time during the character arc. 

Just remember, that when you are writing intercourse or mutual masturbation, don't act like that the height of pleasure is cumming at the same time. When I'm reading, I want the ones involved to experience all of their erotic potential, from raw lust to tender eye contact. An S.O. should never be the only goal. 

Once you remove the onus of an S.O. from a scene, you can let the characters' individual turn-ons and fantasies guide you.This creates memorable and more truthful sexual arousal. Your reader or viewer won't get bored, and at no point, will anyone say, "I've seen *that* a million times."