A few weeks ago I went to lunch with a few writers, and guess what, we were talking writing. Some of them wrote mainstream romance for years (one long time Harlequin author among them) and how they were turning to Christian/Inspirational romance. I asked why…out of curiosity. I had noticed quite a few authors I knew doing the same and I just assumed that they were 1) very religious, or 2) the market is hot. Neither were the answers to my question. They struggled writing sex scenes.

I find this incredible, especially today. I went out to write, but I wrote a mere paragraph. I sat and stared at the page before me and didn’t know where to go with it. Was it a sex scene? No. Quite frankly, if it was a sex scene, I wouldn’t be stuck as to what to write. This along with the disaster in Panama City back in March–trying to search my idea files in my head on the fly while talking to a Kensington Brava editor. Everything I had was way too hot for Brava. It was a hint. Mari, you write erotic, not sensual.

Being able to write a believable sex scene…I worked on doing that for years. I honed in on it, and now it comes easier than the rest. A lot easier. Unbelievable.

What am I going to do about that scene? I am going to plod through it. It may be crap, but I can always go back and rewrite it. The funny part is, it is the scene that leads into the following sex scene. LOL I am actually looking forward to that. I got a few ideas I want to use.

I walked the erotica shelves at the Books a Million, taking in possible inspiration for my lagging scene. (Should I mention they had all the Ellora’s Cave books from Pocket–EXCEPT Royal Bondage?) I didn’t get inspired, not that I didn’t pause to look through all the Aphrodisias they had out. (Yes, a few of yours were there, Dev.) I was looking at the HEAT books, etc. I didn’t buy anything though, I have several books at home still unread.(Why are there so many anthologies? Novels were definitely outnumbered.)

So here I am, at home with several books next to me to inspire me. What are they?

The Firefighter – Susan Lyons, PJ Mellor, Alyssa Brooks (Kensington Aphrodisia)

Single White Submissive – Madeline Oh, Jennifer Dunne, Dominique Adair (Ellora’s Cave)

Submission – Cherie Feather (Berkley HEAT)

Possession – Devyn Quinn (Kensington Aphrodisia)

and

Royal Bondage – Samantha Winston, Delilah Devlin & me (Ellora’s Cave/Pocket Books)

Not looking for sex scene inspiration, but just flipping through the books help me write other scenes too. I don’t know why.

I do like reading through Scorpion King again. I still can’t believe I wrote that. I remember cramming to get it written. I need to do that more often–the cramming to write. I do my best work when rushing to get done. (Edits were incredibly light for it.) Why, I don’t know. Not that I LIKE to rush…

Hmmm…been a while since posting an excerpt. Here’s some of Scorpion King, a quick sex scene.

She stretched her hand up to his face and traced his jaw with her fingertips. “I’m better now that you are here.”

For a moment, he hesitated. It was only a split second of internal struggle that reflected within his eyes before he captured her lips in a sudden kiss.

The tender meeting of lips quickly flamed to a hungry passion as they began to pull at each other’s clothes. Fabric ripped away from heated flesh then Naiya was naked and free to feel him against her. He was the only man she wanted in her bed. Never had a man excited her so quickly, so completely.

Doubts fled her mind and heart as his hands held her firmly to his body, and she sank into ecstasy as his hands molded her, studied her—consumed her.

She threaded her fingers through his hair, deepening their kiss, and a moan escaped his throat, low and primal. His tongue dove into her mouth, sliding along hers in a mating dance that was ancient and entirely instinctual. Her breasts pressing against his hard chest ached as his skin rubbed against her nipples. They hardened into ripe berries, throbbing for him to hold them in his hands and suckle their tight tips.

Suddenly he picked her up, his hands under her buttocks, and he backed them to a nearby wall. Her back against the cool surface was in stark contrast to the hot man pressing into her.

He kissed her hard, possessive and controlling. She liked it—and wanted more.

And then he lowered her over his cock, sliding up inside her in one thrust. She yelped as she took in his massive size deeply. She held on to his shoulders as he moved in and out, her back rocking against the wall for support. She wrapped her legs about him and he continued to guide her ride over his cock.

With each push into her channel the world swayed before her eyes. Colors seemed to mix together in a kaleidoscope across her vision. She entered a surreal place where there was no concept of anything but the joining of her body to Drake’s. There was nothing beyond the two of them.

His hands held her steady against the wall as his rhythm increased in tempo. His cock grew in size within her sheath and she moaned at the perfection of their fit. Her juices flowed and the sound of his cock diving through her wetness accompanied the slap of their skin with each push, with every plunge into her depths.

He broke the kiss and nestled his face against the crook of her neck. Like a vampire searching for his lover’s nourishment, he bit down as his climax overtook him.

The pain of his love bite was nothing compared to the glory of the orgasm that swept over her senses. Her vagina clenched his penis within her, and she screamed in delight as the hot spray of his cum shot against her cervix.

Her nether muscles tightened about him in rhythmic spasms as she rode out her first climax and straight into a second. This time, she felt every inch of his cock stab into her with every beat of her heart.

Oh thank you for finding this, Annmarie! This is too funny. And true. The erogenous zones of a woman, they must be paid attention to.

Seven! Seven! Seven!

Still working on the new scene today. Should get done that portion today.

Nearly done Black Orchid, a book I bought this past weekend at BAM. Wow. It’s hot, but… Damn, this reminds me a lot of Opal Carew’s Swing. There’s body fluid flowing all over the place.You name it, this book has it: m/f, m/m, m/m/f, f/f, m/f/f/m, etc. At one point the heroine has to “try out” 5 new staff members of the club, one right after another. At the part I’m on, she is getting punished by one of the two men she lives with at the club for having a 4 way without permission. The hardest part for me is the multiple partners (and without any protection). This heroine has done everyone in this club–and is always ready for more. Honestly, I’m having trouble getting past the all the fluids flowing…

Although there are a few chuckle moments in the book. It is amazing how many times the clitoris “peeked from beneath its protective hood”. That phrase must be in there about 200 times. All right already. I get it.

Next book on my list to read…Exit to Eden. Just got a copy yesterday. The cashier giggled and said with an evil grin, “This is good.”  While that did make me laugh she continued, “I wouldn’t normally suggest this book to many people, but you…”

Wow. She read my stuff. LOL (Yeah, she knew who I was.)

I’m going out today to work on this scene. Can’t seem to focus at home, so I’m going out. Probably Grassroots. Since The Bookshelf moved the tables and chairs into a closed off area, it feels too claustrophobic in there.

Had an epiphany on the treadmill today. I came up with an idea to add to a sex scene in this book. It was so good, I stumbled and nearly fell off the treadmill. LOL No, I didn’t fall, but I did laugh. In fact I kept giggling through my workout. Pretty sure the chick on the next treadmill was wondering what was so funny.

Yeah. I crack myself up. Still.

I posed pictures I took on my Facebook page. Feel free to go and take a look. Dana was the main one taking pictures. I about wanted to shoot her for taking pictures of me trying to talk to Megan Records from Kensington Books. As if it wasn’t bad enough I was dressed down to drive all day…  At least I had the zombie shirt on, which was a hit.

Once on the road, the mind was churning. I was asked to send a proposal for something new. I was going through my ideas I know I had started, but none seem to fit. I totally have to think of something new…something paranormal…something…zombie?

Okay, how the HELL can a zombie be a hero? I think zombies, I think Shaun of the Dead. Seriously. But zombies are the up and coming thing apparently. Er…if I write zombies, they’re getting heads cut off, not hero material.

So what can I write that’s new? Fresh? Has major  mainstream appeal for single title?

Hmm.

Meanwhile I came up with the opening lines to a novella I want to write for EC’s Exotika line. Can’t say what it is, but Dana (one of my chapter pals) bust out laughing in the van. Going to go with the “voice” of the horny heroine for it. (I got so many hits for that little joke, it’s crazy. Everyone seemed to love it.) Oh, Exotika is EC’s “no romance necessary” line. Good thing, this heroine isn’t interested in love, she just wants sexual satisfaction.

Speaking of sexual satisfaction, before driving home after dropping off everyone, I went to BAM. I picked out 2 books and went up to the check out at the coffee counter. She looks at the books and says something about liking to relax with a romance now and again. I laughed and said, “Sweetheart, those are not romances.” She started laughing and turned beet red…and got really chatty, rambling. Heh. Oh, they were some Black Lace books. Definitely not romance.

Word about Virgin’s Black Lace submissions: I couldn’t find any word when or if they will open back up to submissions for new novels. Seems odd they stopped when the erotic fiction wave is so strong.

Best place to find listing of publishers of erotic fiction, always check the Erotica Readers and Writers Association. They are always up to date on calls for submissions, developing anthologies, etc. I think a good alternative to Black Lace may be Cleis Press. Saw their stuff in BAM, which is a definite plus to me.

I will say, I’m tired. Exhausted actually.

This post was inspired by Shelley Munro’s post on her blog. My favorite in the list?

…if you’re gonna make me have anal sex, please, please, please give me some lube.

Amen to that.

I’m going to do a twist on the letter to the author, but from the erotic romance heroine. As we know, sex is always on her mind…so her requests should be too.

——–

Dear Author,

I love you. Of course I do. You sit and work, creating stories for me to come alive, especially in the bedroom. I appear as different women, but essentially, I am you. Oh yes, and you know it. You live through me like I do through you. But you know, there are a few things I want you to consider when writing, just concepts to keep in mind during my sexual adventures:

1. If your going to write a scene with some sort of sex toy, can you not make the torture go on for 15 pages? I mean, I’m human, and I will have to come way before the 15th page in the scene. Just keep in mind, I can have multiple orgasms, so spread them out.

2. Always include cunnilingus in your books. I love it, you love it, so don’t skip it. ‘Nuff said.

3. That goes for sucking cock too.

4. If the hero ties me up, don’t leave me there for hours. I have to eat and use the bathroom a some point.

5. If you want me in a menage, I want two men at once. No gay men. I want ‘em hot and hard for me.

6. I like all kinds of men–and they don’t have to be hairless. I like a bit of hair on the chest among other places. The only guys who have smooth chests are swimmers or models. And we all know, a lot of models aren’t hot and hard for women.

7. That goes for my pussy too. Shaved, hairless pussy…itchy. Keep it neat and the pussy will be happy. Okay, neat and well loved will make the pussy–and me–very, very happy.

8. And finally, I agree–lube is definitely needed in backdoor lovin’. Chances are it is not my first time doing it, so there will be lube in my nightstand–right next to all my sex toys. Hey, I’m no angel.

Sincerely,

Your horny heroine

Spending the day doing some more rewrites. I have to clean a little too. And do laundry. Ugh. Why can’t that stuff wait until I’m finished?

Anyway, I’m half way through the book. I added to a scene yesterday and amused myself. Yes, I crack myself up. But you know, if I don’t enjoy it, readers won’t either.

So I am keeping it short this morning here. AM is off at a PTA conference and her book signing in Joliet. I have a feeling it will be interesting.

She went out to a country western bar last night with her pal Misia, and I was told this morning that we HAVE TO go to this bar next month when I visit. It’s called Saddle Up. Apparently it isn’t all country hick inside. She posted about it on her blog.

The bar is one of several destinations she’s got planned for my visit. Among them is also an adult store, Lovers Lane. Misia is excited to go as she can’t get AM to take her, but she knows I will. I can just see the three of us checking out the toys. heh heh

Okay in looking at the Lovers Lane site, I saw a “doggie style strap“. Since when does that position need a strap?

Wow. I see that *I* am about to get an education… LOL

Hmm. Wonder if they got a remote controlled egg? LOLOLOL!!! (Watch the video below to see what I’m referring to. It’s this kind of stuff that makes me crack up.)