Exceedingly bad writing.

A couple of dear friends gave the Charming Man the (dubious) gift of six issues of a magazine titled, "Cthulu Sex: Blood, Sex, and Tentacles."

Fascinated beyond belief, I simply had to page through the unimaginable horrors (no names are given here to protect the guilty). And horrors there were, with such titles as:

The Pecker at the Passageway (this poem was actually pretty funny)
Decomposition: An Ode
Nerf Sex Doll
Any Ditch Will Do

And such deathless literary lines such as:
"He trudged through the dessert, his mind focused on his final destination."

or

"It's not easy to fuck a tree."
(ok, I'll admit it. This is actually a hell of an opening line.)

or
"I can almost feel him sniffing at me in the dark some misshapen nose ferally twitching, wrinkling skin beneath glowing red eyes."

or
"He wreaks of alcohol, dulling his halo to a highlight in my eyes."
(I have no idea what the author was trying to say)

.

Book Three.

For the first time in my life, I'm writing a baby as a character. Like the rest of the beings populating my world, she's a little weird, too.

Meet Minerva Dracul Soliel. Isn't she a cutie?

Goofy Moment.

The Charming Man finally found a hat that fits!

Book Three.

It looks like Book Three is going to be an interesting combination of the story of Henry II and Thomas Becket, Beauty and the Beast, and the One Thousand and One Nights.

AWESOME!

Lucky Seven!

I was tagged by Tori St. Claire to play a game called Lucky Sevens. Here is the only rule: post an excerpt from the 77th page of your book, starting at line 7, and 7 sentences long.

Well, let's see what Dracula's Secret has on its 77th page.

Lucifer’s blood, Valerie thought, save her from stupid mortal antics. If the child got trampled, she would never get inside to finish her job.

Impatiently, she snatched the child up by the straps of her overalls. When the cub wailed in fear, Valerie slung an arm under the diaper-stiff denim and held the girl against her shoulder. Unthinking, she patted the heaving back in ancient, soothing rhythms of comfort.

Ok, so it's more like seven and a half lines, but I wasn't going to cut the sentence in half.

I hope this makes you want to read more!

Working hard on Book Three

Yes. This does count as working.

John Frame

So I went to the Mark Rothko exhibit expecting to be overwhelmed and moved to tears. But for some reason, I wasn't feeling the magnificence I had before when I'd seen his work.

That's ok, though. I'm allowed my moods and you can't force emotional catharsis. So it was with great surprise when I wandered eerie yet excellent music into a mysterious area of the Portland Art Museum. and found a dark wonderland.

John Frame creates sculptures out of wood, glass eyes, found objects, and clockworks to tell a non-linear story he has titled Three Fragments of a Lost Tale. 

Included in the exhibit is the stop action movie he created with his articulated figures.

When you are a writer, you never stop working.

Even though I've turned in my manuscript and I'm ostensibly taking this week off, I'm still working. I've started brainstorming on Book Three, for example. Most of all, I'm feeding my head.

Ok, I'll admit it, the manicure/pedicure and eyebrow wax today had nothing to do with work, but what I did after was very important.

I went to the Mark Rothko exhibit at the Portland Art Museum.
I'm a huge fan of Rothko's later works - his well known paintings of enormous blocks of luminous colors. So it was a treat to see his earlier works and to explore his fascination with myth, archetypes, and darker colors. 

If you'd like to know more about Mark Rothko, go on over to his page on Artsy.net, right here.

Tomorrow, I'm going to talk about the other exhibit I saw - the completely unexpected dark whimsy of John Frame.

Woohoo!

Me on the Pont Neuf in 2010

I made it! I got the manuscript for Dracula's Desires in to my editor, Martin Biro at Kensington.

I am taking a few days off, then I get to dive into brainstorming for Book Three in addition to doing the revisions my editor will want me to do for Dracula's Desires.

Try, try again.

Yesterday was a low output day - only 5 pages out of my goal of 12. That said, I did some very good work on moving things around and making the flow better.

Today is day five of my ten day marathon. Let's see where it goes today.

Booyah!

Yesterday was a power day - I not only made up the four pages from Thursday, I managed to get ahead a page. That's *17* pages in ONE day!

Day Two

Missed my goal of 12 pages, but I got 8 on the computer and 2 1/2 handwritten. I'm calling that good, since one page of handwritten translates to 1 1/2 pages typed.

Had an attack of fear last night, but this morning I have my strategy all mapped out. Just gotta keep moving.

Go, go, go!

I have to write 120 pages before March 2nd. My goal is 12 pages a day.

And I have reached my goal for today! Woohoo!

I'm going to keep a running total here on my blog so I can track my progress. :)

The trick to this kind of long haul is to take several breaks for yoga, meditation, hot baths, and Elvis' 1968 Comeback special.

Wow.

It's amazing how many ways I can misspell 'vampire'.  :)

Go, go, go!

Work, work, work. Managed to edit ten chapters in less than a week. Go me!

Technical difficulties.

Right now, my pre-order links aren't working. Kensington (my publisher) is making some adjustments and you will be able to pre-order again soon!

Watch this space for more updates. :)

In the meantime, here is some Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte to keep you entertained.

Dracula's Secret is now available for pre-order!

OH MY GOD! Look at this!

Dracula's Secret is now available for pre-order!

Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/draculas-secret-linda-mercury/1108361642?ean=9781420129755&itm=1&usri=linda+mercury

Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Draculas-Secret-ebook/dp/B0070XF028/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1327443099&sr=8-6

Yet another trip to the Chinese Garden.

I love going to the Garden of Awakening Orchids in downtown Portland. It is the perfect place to gather my thoughts, look at the dizzying array of plants and buildings, and then drink tea and eat moon cakes at the Tao of Tea, also known as the Tower of Cosmic Reflections.

I like to go there when my brain has been reduced to a blithering ball of mush. I then take quick snapshots on my cell phone to jolt my creative side to see things from a different angle. Last week, I visited the second floor of the tea house for the first time.

*Above left - I really loved my cranberry-orange tea and tarot root moon cake. They were the perfect accompaniments for contemplation on a rainy day.

*Above right - the Garden was putting up decorations for the Chinese New Year.

*Left- It's hard to see, but I really loved this little dragon's, "Oh, hai!" face. It was adorable.

The rest of my pictures turned out fuzzy, but that was ok. I wasn't taking them for any other reason than to re-fill my word well. :)

OH. MY. GOD!

This is my gorgeous cover art for Dracula's Secret! I love how sexy and mysterious my heroine looks, and how strong and determined my hero is. YUM yum yum!

In additional news, Dracula's Secret will be available for pre-order within the week. It will have a mid-July release.

And to top it off, here is my back cover blurb.

In a new world where paranormals and humans share an uneasy coexistence, the most dangerous and sensual legend of the night lives once more—and one of the greatest secrets of all time is about to come out….

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, it’s game over. 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…

Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

My author picture

Photo by Michael Baxter

This is the picture that we chose for my author photo! I think it is arty, moody, and makes me look like someone who would write vampire novels.

The best Christmas present ever.

Last night, The Charming Man and myself went over to our dear friends' house (I'll think of a kicky name for them soon) for our holiday meal. I brought my laptop and spiral-bound notebooks with me since I wasn't interested in watching the basketball game.

As I sat in a quiet corner, brainstorming on my notepaper, another friend up to me. She is an avid reader of sexy paranormal romances and had been curious about Dracula's Secret since she met me.

She asked if she could read my manuscript early.

I said sure, but not the whole thing. So I handed over my laptop and let her read while I worked.

Here are her direct quotes:

"This book has surprised me in every chapter! You get used to things being a particular way in these novels, and you haven't done any of them!" (said with a great big grin on her face)

"I could read this all night!"
and
"This is some of the best stuff I've ever read."

Now imagine me running around screaming in joy like a madwoman. It was something like this:

EeeieieieeeewowohwowohwowieeeyeesssssWOW!
              \c O(
               \ _/
            ___/(  /(
           /--/ \\//
       __ )/ /\/ \/
      `-.\  //\\
         \\//  \\
          \/    \\
                 \\
                   '--`

(edited to add: In my joy, I forgot to credit the origin of the ASCII art:

This is Boy Running from Men in ASCII Men by Joan Stark)

Overheard at the Mercury-Charming Household.

Me, staring at my laptop, freaking out, "Do you really think I can do this?"

The Charming Man, wandering around the house, looking for his slippers, "Of course you can. Madness and despair are the inevitable consequences of attempting to do anything hard. They are also temporary states. Also, my slippers were on top of the ottoman. I must frequently walk there."

Yes, madness abounds here. I am grateful to have a crazy wise man to share it with.

How to start the day right.

I recommend listening to Elvis Presley while eating a bagel covered with sunflower seed butter and bananas. And for that Pacific Northwest flavor, add a nice hot mug of Insomnia Coffee Chai.

Then you will rock out all day long!

Overheard at the Mercury-Charming Household.

"Any meal where I get to use a rubber mallet is a very good meal."

Making progress!

I just sent my teaser chapter for Book Two (still untitled) off to my editor!

How about a pretty picture to celebrate?

Soon, I will celebrate by doing this myself, and not just by looking at a picture!

Where the hell have I been?

I've announced in other places that Kensington Publishing extended a three-book contract (with options to consider the series). I am going to be the flagship author of their new e-book line and I am stoked!

(insert running around like a happy chicken here)

I'm keeping mum on a lot of details right now - I'll be able to post more once the contracts have been signed and all the marketing has started.

As of lately, I've finished the editorial revisions to Dracula's Secret, I've gotten the back cover copy for both Dracula's Secret and Book Two (untitled at the moment). Again, I'll post them once we get closer to publication - after all, things change and I don't want to get things out too early before everything is set in stone.

Mostly, I've been writing Book Two. I'm getting a good grasp on my antagonists and I've got the plot hammered out much better. It's due in February, so it's going a lightning speed. That can be exhausting, so I'm taking lots of naps and making sure I get out and about for intellectual stimulation.

I can share that Dracula's Secret will be released on June 12th, 2012, and that Book Two will be released July 12th, 2012.

So get your reading eyes ready! I'll be able to share lots more soon. :)

There really is such a thing as fresh air!

    I've been head down over my keyboard dealing with my Supa Seekret projects, but I had to get out and see the sky yesterday. So I went to the Chinese Garden in Portland and took a bunch of pictures with my iPhone.

Things I love

Our luxurious hand-made silk Turkish rug. Everyday I look at it and every time it makes me smile.

It's easy to forget how we need both break and roses. This over the top luxury good always brings great joy.

Visiting my Muses

During October, I was privileged to work with my two favorite Muses, Kim Sakkara and Michael Baxter.

Kim designed and created a gorgeous custom dance belt for a new caftan I had found in a consignment shop. May I show you the genius that is her vision?

In action!

In addition, I got to spend a weekend collaborating with Michael, exploring myth and beauty.

My time in Kim's magic studio and in front of Michael's camera forced me to dig inside to pull out my very best words. Non-verbal art makes writing stronger, wiser, and more profound.

I thank my Muses.

Things I love.

I love the Mona Lisa. The mystical background, her soft skin, and her long neck have always brought me a sense of wonder.

It's one of those pieces of 'great' art that actually do live up to their hype.

Things I love

The Moroccan-style lamp that hangs by my desk makes me smile every time I see it. It was a gift from a former co-worker and reminds me of the good times at my former job.

What makes you smile every time?

Don't you want something pretty?

Helios' Travels

I have a new Etsy store!

Come on over and check out my one of a kind, hand painted fans over at the Linda Mercury Store!

Sweet, tasty love

As I daydream about my Weapons Dealer Woman, I wonder what kind of man would love her. Of course, her clients would attempt to seduce her - after all, wouldn't you expect your lover to give you an incredible discount on your order for a gross of Super Seekrit High Powered Killing Thing?

But that's not love - it certainly can be funny, and perhaps fun, but I don't think she'd enjoy getting laid, not paid.

True love comes when someone sees your essence - the person you have the potential to be if you had enough courage. What would he see in this woman who had already sold her soul for revenge? What would she see in him?

I think he's going to be pretty compromised himself. Perhaps he'd be on the opposite side of the law - sort of. Perhaps he'd be her competitor.

And couldn't you just see these two violent and dangerous people meeting in the local coffeehouse and getting to know each other over a couple of decaffeinated lattes?

Coffee dates amongst the corrupt and wealthy! Now there's a situation for my angry girl.

Down the rabbit hole

Ever since I posted my weapons dealer thoughts, I've been obsessed with the concept of a woman who deals arms. I haven't done any research into the world, I haven't looked at anything, but I keep going over and over what would drive a woman to an extreme career.

I followed my strange brain into this new character. While I was eating breakfast today, I jotted down her Goal, Motivation, and Conflict (previously here). I don't know what she would look like, what her name may be, or anything else. I was just playing with what kind of toll this would take on someone.

Character: Female Arms Dealer

Goal: Death.
Now, goals are supposed to be concrete, instead of vague. I mean, really - death? That's guaranteed for everybody. So I thought about it and decided she would want to destroy Warlord X. I think she'd start off wanting to kill him, but her character arc could be that she'd rather take away what he most loved (power? His drug fields? His alligator farm? Who knows yet?)

Motivation: Revenge
At first I thought she would want to avenge the deaths of her parents/family (shades of Melina Havelock from For Your Eyes Only). It's a pretty good idea, but I didn't want to get too trite. Perhaps Warlord X destroyed the school or hospital she worked at and she had to use a handgun to escape the devastation. Or someone she loved was ruined beyond healing by his actions.


Conflict: Stymied by agents of the law
This felt a bit weak to me at first, but it certainly introduces the hero! A hot, serious anti-terrorist guy? An agent from Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms? Her pissed off ex-boyfriend?

Sounds like a cool story, doesn't it?

Why I don't need to use illegal mood-altering substances.

This is an example of a random afternoon conversation in the Charming-Mercury household.

Me, arms full of clean laundry. I shout downstairs. "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an arms dealer?"

The Charming Man in the kitchen. "No."

Pause.

The Charming Man. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Me, standing over the bannister, holding clean sheets.  "I just wonder if it would be a good career. You never run out of market. It's recession-proof. There is always new stock being developed and you don't have to pay for the R&D."

The Charming Man, being logical.  "I doubt you'd like your clientele much. And you'd have to learn about guns."

Me: "Yeah, that would be far too much work. I certainly couldn't make a living off of selling pointy sticks."

***

But now I'm stuck wondering what kind of person goes into the arms trade? The stereotype is that of a selfish, thoughtless person. Would he or she be redeemable? What motivates them to enter this job? Why deal in the business of war at all?

And this is why I don't do drugs. I think like this all the time. :)

Things I love: Part IV

Fresh, sweet, juicy peaches.

They taste like love. :)

Things I love: Part III

I love Nike of Samothrace. Even with no head and no arms, she is the very image of a powerful woman. In postcards and pictures on the Internet, she is eye-catching. In person, she is life changing.

Things I love: II

The most important love object in my life:

The Charming Man, here with my Charming Mother in Law.

Things I love.

The first year after a big loss is not the most pleasant time of one's life. But there are things that can make getting through the day much easier.

For me, that involves looking around at the world and seeing things I love. And in honor of today, here is the first thing I love.

This is the back of my National Coming Out Day t-shirt. Check that date out!

I love National Coming Out Day. Today is the day to celebrate who you really are. It's doesn't matter if you are a nervous heterosexual, today you can accept that it's ok that you are straight and and maybe realize that GLBTQ people aren't scary at all! 

Come out of the closet. There is a lovely big world out there.

Well, I'm home.

It's been a poignant couple of weeks. There has been a lot of crying, hugging, and sharing but still, I am incredibly fatigued and numb. So yeah, no writing going on.

In addition to the loss of my grandmother, I learned that my family of birth doesn't read my blog. It didn't surprise me - I've always been the oddball of the bunch (and that's pretty darn odd, considering our bunch). But it did sting.

I'm trying to soothe that sting. The best thing I've come up with is that I am free to say whatever the hell I want here. I could write about my intimate secrets - well, ok, not that I *want* to say that much about my private life, but I *could*!

My grandmother believed in me. The Charming Man and my family of choice believes in me. And that goes a long way towards making the world a better place.

Death and other realities

My maternal grandmother passed away early this morning.  She was 94.

This is the second death for The Charming Man and I in one month.

I'm numb with grief. My grandmother gave me my love of history and my love of writing. She was the only one who seemed happy that I chose history as my major and pursued that love to an MA. She was the one who inspired me to study the Ancient World and the Middle East. She also gave me my love of romantic stories.

Everything that swirls around a death - the rituals, the services, the pain, the bizarre family in-jokes, the potential for the eruption of uncomfortable truths - creates a sense of drama and mystery. Life is sharper, fiercer, and more precious than ever.

Someday, I will write a gentle, historical romance story for her.

Thank you, Grandma, for loving me. You never gave up on me.

Moving Slowly.

Last Friday, I visited the Tao of Tea in the Lan Su Chinese Garden. I drank chrysanthemum tea (good for sore throats and allergies), ate steamed dumplings, and then reveled in moon cakes. Moon cakes are a secret obsession of mine.

Outside in the Garden proper, two people were moving through Tai Chi forms. One was a tiny Chinese woman wearing a loose fitting pink martial arts uniform. The second was an older Chinese man who had been playing music for us in the Teahouse.

Tai Chi can be done quickly. But it is usually seen with slow, graceful movements

There is something truly beautiful about moving slowly. I'm always in a rush - afraid to miss anything before death comes for me. This fear drives me to exhaustion - I don't write fast enough, I don't dance enough, I don't give enough to my loved ones. It has ruled me all my life.

The idea of going slowly, of every move being clear and deliberate - is alien to me. I cannot slow down, no matter how much it hurts me.

But the Tai Chi artists outside in the sun- their movements were focused, strong, and deliberate. Somehow, they are getting to where ever it is they are going without fuss or bustle.

What would happen if I slowed down? Just the thought of it fills me with panic.

That panic is a good sign of something I need to try.  Does going slow tie in with my idea of Dare to be Average? Could there be a way to be ambitious without being tense?

I think it's a worthy experiment.

Writing and alcohol

Vino Vixens, 2929 SE Powell Blvd.

Last week, I visited Vino Vixens Wine Bar. A good friend of mine is a bartender there. Between his encouragement, glasses of Monte Velho Portuguese White Wine, and delicious grilled cheese, I was able to get myself back on track.

I really tied one on that afternoon. For me, that means TWO glasses of wine, instead of one. Yeah, I know. Writer's Gone Wild, right here, baby!

I rarely drink. I drink alcohol and write even more rarely (I usually prefer a nice hot chai). On the occasions that I do combine the two, I receive sudden insights into the Lost Generation and their love affair with the lovely booze.

It can silence those endless litanies of your inadequacies.

It can make you feel more relaxed.

It can make you feel like a genius.

However, booze means I can barely read my handwriting. It gives me nasty, sucky headaches. It's expensive. And to top it off, I really love my liver and my brain. So I'll take the gift of grape and yeast, but not revisit it anytime soon.

With all apologies to Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Eliot, and Dos Passos, I'll avoid their creative elixir and write like a romance writer - unstoppable, alive, and with all my faculties.

Now these are some SHOES!

Vivienne Westwood Bondage Boots!

Whose fantasies are they?

When I told my fellow writers that I was posting my characters' sexual fantasies, they said, "I can't believe you are sharing your sexual fantasies with the world!"

I was startled. These postings haven't been my fantasies. They are the heated imaginings of imaginary people.

"But doesn't that make them yours?" I can hear you asking. The answer is, not really. Oh, of course, every character a writer discovers has elements of that character inside of the. Like Sophia, I am very organized and often overwhelmed by the dominant personalities in my family of birth as well as in my family of choice. Like Celeste, I love flamboyant clothing and have trouble believing that people will help me. And for my delicious hero, Gabriel, I, too, am afraid of my temper. Like Zane, I have vast ambitions.

But they aren't all me. These characters also have elements of people I've met, other fictional characters I've read, and experiences I've heard from others.

For example, I have never fantasized about sex on a horse. (My poor back! The horse's poor back!) Then where did this idea come from?

Back in 1990, Laura Kinsale wrote her groundbreaking Prince of Midnight.  (Thank heavens it has been re-issued. Read it! It's brilliant)

The final love scene between Leigh (the heroine) and S.T. (the hero) is one of the most passionate, intimate love scenes I'd ever read. Let me repeat. This was in 1990. Over twenty years is a long time remember one love scene in one book that I read once.  I cannot forget the visuals of the sunlight in the riding ring where S.T. was practicing his horsemanship, how he coaxed Leigh onto the horse and onto his lap.

I will point out, I read a LOT.

The memory of that fictional encounter inspired me. Can *I* write a love scene worthy of the gifted Ms. Kinsale? Can I pull out the emotion, the passion, the emotional connection between those two very different people that Laura did? Can I express the pleasure that she so skillfully wrote?

Like I said. I have vast ambitions. If I'm going to challenge myself, I'm going to do it big.

Whose fantasies are they? I hope the ones I write will be yours, too.

Fantasies for all: Part four

One's most coveted 'secret material' is sure to portray the subjects most unspeakable tragedies and regrets. Sexual fantasies are the lemonade we made of the most bitter fruit. Susie Bright's Journal: What I Know About Osama Bin Laden's Porn Stash. May 26, 2011

When I explored my characters' sexual fantasies - the liaison du cheval, the group sex, the enthusiastic blowjob - I learned their deepest issues.

Celeste dreams of a family of lovers - so that she will "never go hungry again". After her beloved Henry died, she was agonizingly alone. Her family didn't think to give their independent aunt support, so she was desperate for touch, warmth, and comfort. If she were surrounded by others who love her, she would never be in that place again.

Gabriel believes a blowjob - not an unusual sexual act at all - could unseat his tight emotional control. He fears what would happen if he were to give himself over to pleasure, both on a psychic and physical level.

Sophia, my pretty librarian, was overwhelmed by her passionate, fiery family. Her appetites for attention and exotic sex reveals her need to make her own stamp on the world.

And I never would have known these things if I hadn't asked them what made them wet and hard.

What do your fantasies reveal about your bitter fruit?

Fantasies for all: Part three

Hello again! I'm back and ready to write again. It's time to return to my characters' sexual fantasies and see what they reveal.

My Mentor character is Celeste Barros. She is  flamboyant and sexual, as well as a sorceress of great power. I based her on Mae West in She Done Him Wrong.  Love of diamonds included. :)

Celeste's Anytime, Anything, Anywhere Fantasy: At one point, Celeste lost her great love, a man named Henry. She would give anything to make love to her beloved Henry again. This fantasy keeps her safe from finding and losing love again, but - it makes her vulnerable to the bad guy's machinations!

Her With Conditions Fantasy: She wants to be deeply entwined with someone she loves, but she would only do it with the condition that she never lose love again.

Her In Fantasy Only Fantasy: She kept throwing all sorts of cheeky ideas at me, such as making love on a luxuriously decorated stage while Brian May played a guitar solo. Which sounded really hot to me, but I knew she was trying to distract me from her deepest secrets. So I persevered in learning about her. Celeste finally gave up the goods.

Fittingly enough, it incorporated her exhibitionist tendencies along with her tender heart. Her inner fantasy is to have a household of lovers around her, keeping her warm, loved, and sexually satisfied.

Here's to seeing if I can find a way to give Celeste what she needs!

Death in the Family

The Charming Man's step-father died yesterday from cancer. Things are going to be complicated for a few days.

Fantasies for all: Part two

I continued with my experiments on building character by exploring their sexual fantasies. And it was *fun*! I highly recommend this game.

My hero, Gabriel Rector, is a bit of a tight ass. He's Mr. Under Control for a good reason - he sees dead people. And he fears that some day his visions will destroy his sanity.

His fantasies are the only place where he safely experiences loss of control.

• Gabriel's Anytime, Anyplace fantasy: This one surprised me - Gabe would give his left arm for a woman to perform enthusiastic fellatio on him. A woman who wants to lick and suck as though she can't get enough of him - she would place her hands on his ass and set the pace until she makes him explode. 
• Gabriel's With Reservations fantasy: Gabe is a bit of a geek. And what geek doesn't dream of being a young Dick Grayson as Robin being sexually initiated by a slinky and confident Catwoman? And then turning the tables on her until she is a panting, wet, begging kitty-cat? But there is no way he could even bring up a dream like that without being sure that his partner wouldn't laugh.
• Gabriel's No Way in Hell: This one is so forbidden because it feeds on both his need to control and be out of control. It's a variant on a gangbang - three men on one woman, tying her up, fucking her, and everyone cumming as much as possible. That is waaayy to scary for Mr. Buttoned Up from Oklahoma.

What do you think? Are there any differences between figuring out a man's sexual fantasy versus a woman's?

Fantasies for all: Part one

My heroine in my latest work in progress is Sophia Barros, a Portuguese-American woman who lives in the Seattle area. At the beginning of the book, she has an earthy but unexplored sensuality. When I got into her erotic mind, this is what I found. 

1. Sophia's Make It Real Anytime, Anyplace, No Reservations At All Fantasy.

     She wants a lover who would hold her and kiss her passionately in public. Tongue for bonus points. And ass grabbing. When she's feeling particularly bold, she imagines them engaging in frottage (that is commonly called dry-humping or grinding). 

I was pleased to find this fantasy inside of my heroine. This tells me she is willing to take risks. So I dug a little further.

2. Sophia's Make It Real ONLY Under Certain Conditions Fantasy.

    She wants to be in control. As a grade school librarian, she is at the mercy of administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Sophia wants to take a man and use him as she wants.

My girl surprised me with this one. But it was nothing compared to what she thought should be kept only in her mind.


3. Sophia's No Way, Only in My Mind, It Could Never Work Fantasies:
    My little minx wants to be the only girl in the middle of three men! All those mouths, cocks, and hands working over her body. And from there, she went on to imagine lovemaking on top of a horse - the movement of the animal forcing her lover's penis inside of her harder and harder.


Well! I was amazed to find what she kept tightly under wraps. I now know just want kind of challenges I'm going to throw her way. I think Sophia is in for more of an adventure than she could ever imagine.