We all have them. Those sexual fantasies that get you hot when you close your eyes and let your imagination fly. I used to think there was something wrong with me when I became aroused while I imagined a faceless man tying me up and touching me. Or when I fantasized about more than one set of hands on me, more than one mouth pleasuring me.
Then I discovered erotic romance, and I will be forever grateful. It wasn’t just me! Other women had fantasies too, and even if we never wanted to live out those fantasies in real life, we could read about them. I could write about them! And while I’ll never experience all my fantasies for real, my sex life with my husband quickly became better and more inventive. And I give all the credit to erotic romance.
I can let my imagination run wild. I can live out any fantasy I desire. There’s such freedom in that. We don’t need to be ashamed or embarrassed. We can enjoy our fantasies, feel safe as we use them in our imagination, use them for our own pleasure.
But some people do want to live out their fantasies, and sometimes they NEED to. That was the idea behind my new series, Paolo’s Playhouse. An exclusive club with playrooms designed for any fantasy. In each of the four stories in the series, the couples are at a crossroad, and while the sex is hot, the emotions are intense. For I believe in erotic romance, the characters and their emotions are as important, if not more important, than the hot, kinky sex.
The first story, Flaunt It, released from Samhain on Aug 30th.
When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every a laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.
Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?
Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…
The second story in the series, Risk It, takes place in the playroom on the other side of the two-way mirror. It will release Nov 15th.
On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.
Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.
Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.
When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.
Let’s talk about the fantasies. First there’s exhibitionism in Flaunt It. Then voyeurism in Risk It. February will see the release of Birthday Girl, which has a ménage and a bit of BDSM. The final story, Plaything, scheduled in May, deals more strongly with BDSM. I did mention I’ve had that bondage fantasy going on for years.
So is anyone out there willing to admit to their own fantasies? What kind of stories do you like to fantasize about? I plan to be writing erotic romance for a long, long time and I’d love to play with your fantasies too.
Thanks to Delilah for having me as her guest today!
Really, who doesn’t? But, when I’m writing, that seems to be a major sticking point for my muse. The hero. He has to be perfect. Not for me, of course—some of the heroes I’ve written wouldn’t make it a month with me—but for my heroine. So what is it that makes a good hero?
In Ravenborne, I needed someone the heroine, Saraphina Raven, could trust. That was crucial. Sara had grown up a piece of power in a political game of chess. And potential mates had always been more interested in her family’s power and money than her. It was just a fact of life. One she didn’t fully appreciate, though, until raiders murdered her family and destroyed their keep.
Second to trust was loyalty. She needed someone who was loyal to her above anything and anyone else. In a world filled with conceded, power-hungry families, this was a definite problem.
And lastly, she really needed a champion. In the seven years that followed the raid, she’d fought all her battles alone. Sure, she’d made some friends along the way, but none that could help her with the challenges life continued to throw at her. And she really needs help, even if she believes she can do it all on her own.
So is Kavin Hunter the man for the job? Being the King’s Right, he’s already sworn his loyalty to the crown. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s the brother of the bastard she’d been betrothed to. But he does have a couple things going for him. Sara does trust him. And the pesky man insists on fighting her battles, even the ones she wishes he’d stay out of.
It’s not much but, in a game where the pieces are stacked against them, it might just be enough to give them a fighting chance.
So what about you, have you ever had to hunt for specific characteristics when looking for your hero? I’m giving away a download of Ravenborne to someone who answers. Just leave your hero requirement(s) and your e-mail address in the comments for a chance to win.
And, just in case you were curious, mine was loyalty. I needed someone who’d always be on my side. And yes, I found him. We’ll be celebrating our fourteenth anniversary this November.
I’ll keep it simple today. I’m off for a few hours with the ladies of the family. We’re going “antiquing”—just a nice word for lookin’ at a bunch of junk. It’s an excuse to get out of the house for a few hours, and some of us (me!) are a little restless after being chained to a desk for a week. I promise I won’t be away from my keyboard for long. And I’ll be sure to keep my eyes out for something fun or odd for a giveaway. 🙂
In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a question…
If you could have 50 pounds of anything other than money, what would you want?
I want to thank Delilah for having me on her blog today. It’s really an honor. Most people don’t want a reviewer on their blog much less having them talk about reviews.
Okay, right to it…a little background about myself. I live in East Texas, raised in Dallas, married with one son in 1st grade and I work an EDJ. I review for Night Owl Reviews, The Romance Studio and The Forbidden Bookshelf. I also have a review blog that I update semi-regularly. Why the information about me? To let you know, that I’m a real person, with a real life and real everyday issues. I’m not a god, a fairy, or an ogre. I bleed just like you do. Why the dramatics about me? I have some things that I want to talk to you about reviewing and what goes through my mind when I’m reading a book for review.
1. I get to pick the books that I review. Bet you didn’t know that? Well, I do and I choose books/authors/publishers that I normally don’t read or know much about. I pick books that are way out of my comfort zone. When I decided to review, I decided that I wouldn’t read books or authors that I was comfortable with. In the year that I began reviewing, I have found authors, genres and publishers that I seek out on a regular basis. I have been given books to review from authors for my blog and again, I follow the same guidelines if I was reviewing it for one of the sites that I review for.
2. When I review a book, I look for the following: plot (does it hold my interest?), characters (do I even like them?), flow (am I having to start and stop all the time?) and lastly, did the characters connect emotionally and was it believable?
3. When writing a review, I don’t give out spoilers, the ending, the conflict, nor do I give out plot points. I will however, talk about what I did like about the book and what I didn’t. I hate when book review blogs from individuals give you a dissertation on the book. I mean, why buy the book in the first place? The blog already told you everything that you needed to now and more. This is becoming more and more commonplace with so many people reviewing books on their blogs and it really pisses me off. I have books on my Nook that I bought that sadly, I’ll probably never read because of it. Grrr…
4. Also, if you get a bad review, just remember, its only ONE reviewer’s opinion. Some people are going to love your stuff and some won’t love it. Reviewing is subjective and therefore, should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, if the review is snarky and/or down right rude and mean, please, please let the review coordinator/owner know. That should not be tolerated at all. That does happen and it puts all reviewers in a bad light.
5. Lastly, why do I review? I review because I love to read. Period. Some reviewers crave the power they have over an author but for me that’s the wrong reason to review. I review for the simple pleasure of reading and then telling people why I liked it.
If you’re an author, tell me some of your experiences good or bad with reviewers. No names, please. If you’re a reader, what do you look for in a review? I’ve listed below links to where I review to check me out. I look forward to hearing from you.
It’s making the film festival circuit now, but when I can I get my hands on the DVD? And how timely! My story “Dr. Mullaley’s Cure” from Carnal Machines covered just this topic!
I was thinking of inspiration. As an author ideas come from a variety of things. Anything can spark an idea that can be put into a novel. Let me share with you the inner working of what is behind two ideas I came up with for books I am working on that are both part of the same series.
Idea Spark 1- Candy Craving
One day I had this huge craving. A strong craving for candy. I’m not a big candy eater. I can go years without eating any. Also I’m not into chocolate. Shocking. I do eat chocolate ever so often but when I crave it is for something else. I know you chocoholics out there are wondering what candy I am craving if not the all-wonderful chocolate.
Okay I will admit it. I am a caramelolic. Yes caramel is one of my fav candy. That nice sweet caramel is calling me. It is a siren call that I have been resisting but I am longing. Badly. Of course because of how much I am craving I have an idea come to me. A candy idea. An idea of someone who makes sweets for a candy shop and what happens when their craving takes on the sweetest temptation. LOL.
My craving morphed into a story idea.
Idea Spark 2 – Fro Affair
Sometime last year I was on my way home when I passed this woman who was sporting a slamming Afro hairstyle. The woman’s fro was big, high and poufy. I think it was a wig but it was so good I couldn’t tell. She was also sporting the clothing to go with the fro. She looked fierce. People were turning and looking at her. Me included. People were complimenting her on her look. Like any good diva she said thank you graciously and kept strutting. As I watched the woman stepping looking cool and fierce my mind was racing.
That day as I walked home I thought of the Fro. The idea took shape for a book with a woman in a fierce fro and clothes to match.
A fro brought so much more than viewing pleasure. It brought an inspiration.
Making the ideas into a story
The two ideas I had I worked into a series I am working on. In book two of my series there is a candy shop that the hero and heroine of the book frequent. They both have a sweet tooth. The candy shop owner will eventually have his own story and get to fulfill the idea spark I had from craving candy.
In the series I will use the fro idea for a supper club where the main characters go to. The owner of the super club will be getting her own book. I will be writing in a sixties theme night using my afro idea spark. 🙂
Inspirations for ideas are all around. Taking something that happens in the everyday life then using it create a concept is a fun thing to do. The unexpected can lead to so much more. Any little thing can give you an idea spark, which will be your concept for the next book.
Hmmm….now, I’m having a candy craving. Off to get some caramel my favorite candy to fill my craving. Yummy.
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Taige Crenshaw is a multi-published author with books available at Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Total-E-Bound. Taige has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroine’s, and sexy hero’s. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels. You can find out more about Taige at her website: https://www.taigecrenshaw.com or blog: https://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog.
Power of Instinct—A woman does whatever is necessary to protect the man who is hers but once he finds out he goes with his instincts and makes her his.
Psst! Be sure to enter your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post!
I’m back from the land of cowboys! I still have to unpack, wash laundry, download pics and catch up on email, but I’m not going anywhere for a while! Thanks to all my wonderful guests who kept this blog hoppin’ with fun excerpts, contests and snippets of their wisdom.
I have a contest winner to announce today. I’ll do so at the bottom of this post, but just a reminder to you all— Be sure to check tomorrow’s post for the new contest details I’ll post. And if you don’t have a long attention span, I have a one-day-only giveaway happenin’ on the Girls Who Bite website. Be sure to jump over there AFTER you’ve read through the rest of this post!
September will be an extremely busy month for me. I have books coming! Girls Who Bite and A Four-Gone Conclusion. Amazon’s already shipping GWB—so you can order it today! A Four-Gone Conclusion is available for pre-order. Just click on the covers to place your orders.
I also have a story coming from Ellora’s Cave, a vamp story set in New Orleans that’s one part of a two-person anthology with Paisley Smith. I’ll have more details to share later. But Bitten in the Big Easy is the start to a very hot new series!
There will be tons of shiny new excerpts, prizes, etc., because you know I can’t talk about new stories without wanting to make a party of it!
In the meantime, my Little Lizard Boy has found a new master. The winner is…June M! June, congrats, and send me an email with your snail mail address!
So finally, here’s the poll. Place your vote for what you might like to win. This is your contest and I aim to please. It’s in my DNA to please. Ahem.
What would you like to see offered as a contest prize for the next round?
A signed and autographed book, reader's choice? (38%, 10 Votes)
A grab-bag of things from Memphis, including Elvis memorabilia? (27%, 7 Votes)
A pretty fairy journal? (27%, 7 Votes)
A fairy ornament to hang on a holiday tree? (8%, 2 Votes)
When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every a laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone. 
On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.
I was thinking of inspiration. As an author ideas come from a variety of things. Anything can spark an idea that can be put into a novel. Let me share with you the inner working of what is behind two ideas I came up with for books I am working on that are both part of the same series.
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