Romance or Porn?
By Cindy Spencer Pape

First of all, I’d like to thank Delilah for having me here today. I’m with her at Romanticon, but I promise I’ll try to sneak in for a few minutes tonight to reply to comments!

So, about that porn business…

Oddly, I don’t particularly object to the word porn. After all, one woman’s porn is another woman’s romance. It’s just a word. Sticks and stones, remember? Except that words can and do hurt, of course. But when your teenaged son introduces you to his buddies by saying, “This is my mom, she writes porn,” the word quickly loses any sting. My kid is bragging, you understand. He’s horribly proud of my success, even while not wanting to read a word of my “chick books.”

My books range from steamy to heavily erotic. I’m in a position to be open about that. My husband’s career is secure, my sons are too old to care and young enough to be impressed when they see a book with mom’s name on it. I could care less what my neighbors think, and my relatives gave up on me a long time ago. So what you see is what you get. If you buy an Ellora’s Cave Exotika or “Quickie,” you’re gonna get a lot of sex and a fairly light plot. That’s the nature of the beast. The names alone should tip you off. On the other hand, if you buy one of my Carina Press or Cerridwen Press books, you get a complex paranormal romance with a moderate dose of smoldering sex. And that’s how it’s labeled. Take the hint—all of the books are rated by their publishers. And if you’re still not sure, I’ve happily answered emails of the people who have asked. I want the readers to be happy—I’m never going to steer someone to read a book that will make them uncomfortable. But hot doesn’t mean poorly written. I agonize over each and every sentence of a Quickie as much as I do one of my “Spicy” cowboy stories for the Wild Rose Press.

E-publishing lends itself to hotter, more explicit literature. People like buying their super sexy stuff on-line. No disapproving sales clerk shaking a finger, and a lot of towns don’t have a store that will even carry the really steamy stories. As the song (click here to see a video that will make you laugh your ass off, if you have a sense of humor about this sort of thing) says, “The internet is for porn.” That’s a fact of life. In the world of e-books, hotter sells better. And I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m in this business to hopefully make a living some day.

So I write what the market demands. Does that make me pornographer? Depends on your definition. Does that make me a slut? My husband only wishes. I call myself a romance author, and tell people I write very steamy books. I refuse to write anything that degrades women or men, or is just sex for sex’s sake. Even in my quickies, you’re going to find an HEA, limited though it may be due to space. Humans (or vampires, werewolves, gargoyles, etc.) are sexual creatures, and sex IS a big part of romance. I have no problem taking you behind the bedroom doors. If you don’t care for that in a story, I have some lovely friends who write sweet romances, and I’ll be happy to send you to their web sites.

So, on that note, this week I have two new releases out: Motor City Witch, from Carina Press is a paranormal romance with a few hot sex scenes. (Click here for more information.) Just for Jess, from Ellora’s Cave Exotika, on the other hand, is HOT! One female vampire, three sexy males and a private island retreat. Oh, yeah, this one isn’t for the faint of heart. If you like your romance to sizzle, though, check this one out:

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Just for Jess
Immortal Cravings, Book Three

Vampire Jessamy Maitland is a classic workaholic, until her friends team up to buy her a weekend with the incredibly sexy vampire Dermott McMahon on his luxurious private island. Dermott is determined to get Jess to kick back and relax, so he’s enlisted the help of three lion shifter friends.

Jess finds herself faced with three days of no phone, no computer and four sexy, horny males, all determined to wait on her hand and foot and show her a scorching good time. Naked. Together. In ways she’s never imagined. With those odds, what’s a vampire to do? There’s nothing for it but take them up on their offer and discover that sometimes it’s okay to play.

The name of yesterday’s winner is at the bottom of this post!

This will be my last post until I’m back from Romanticon. I have the following authors lined up to keep you company while I’m gone:

Oct 7 – Vella Munn
Oct 8 – Cari Quinn
Oct 9 – Cathryn Cade
Oct 10 – Cindy Spencer Pape
Oct 11 – Vivi Andrews

Have I mentioned how nuts my life’s been this past couple of weeks? My daughter has moved back home and I have two little ones underfoot. It’s quite an adjustment. I’ve had too little sleep, too much noise (who knew I’d become that grumpy hermit?). Heck, EC’s big party weekend will seem like a restful vacation after this.

I’m up typing this at 6:54 AM because I’m getting one the rugrats ready for school. We’ll be standing at the end of the drive in about ten minutes, waiting for the bus. It’s her first day in a new school, and she’s understandably nervous. “Will they like me?” “Does my hair look funny?” I didn’t have to tell her to brush her teeth—she did it by herself because she didn’t want her breath to stink. How do I know? She asked me to smell it. *sigh*

The littlest one is the creature who causes me the most lost sleep. She doesn’t have a schedule. And she wants to sit on my lap all the time. Guess I’m built for comfort.

So, I’m back from the bus. She didn’t seem all that nervous when she boarded. Hopefully, she’ll have nothing but wonderful experiences today so that she’ll look forward to going again tomorrow.

Back to that contest… Did y’all enjoy the excerpt? Hope so. I stayed with my cousin in Seattle last year and thought his quaint little house with it’s shared back alley would work well for a peeping Tom story. Not that Garrett wanted to be that man, but he really couldn’t help himself. Jayne was relentless.

The winner of the free download is…Jennifer! Congrats, Jennifer, and be sure to send me an email so I know where you want that book sent!

If you haven’t checked out my Coming Soon page in a while, there’s some new stuff. I think you’ll like what’s coming. See ya Tuesday!

Squee! Checking the stats is a true obsession—and so enjoyable—because when I see news like this, I know someone who’s never read me before has just picked up my book. Because I know everyone here already has, yeah?

To those new converts, thanks and welcome!

Pleasing Sir:

Four Sworn:

Okay, enough listening to me brag! Let’s do something fun. Here’s a “getting-to-know-you” question:

If you could bring to life any fictional character from a book or movie,
whom would you choose?

It’s been a while, but maybe that’s because I haven’t felt very “in the zone” as a writer—what with illness and family crises going on all around me.

However, this past week I got my mojo back. I read through the final typeset galley of Ravished by a Viking this week, and I loved the story. It’s brash, sexy, has high adventure(sea serpents, battles, spaceships)… Okay, you get the idea. It’s gonna be fun!

I finished revising the crap out of the opening for the second Viking book and it feels “right” now. I couldn’t have explained why it didn’t before until a crit partner of mine, Rachel, told me what didn’t work for her. Thank you, thank you, Rachel!!

Also, yesterday I met with a couple of my closest friends to do a first run through of the entries I’ve received thus far for the Girls Who Bite anthology. I have received 32 entries to date. I know the bulk will come closer to the deadline and I wanted to get a jumpstart so I’m not reading myself blind at the very last moment. We read, talked about problems with some of the entries (I’ll be asking some folks for revisions), and ate lots of pizza. (It was an all-nighter, so I’m actually sitting at my friend’s breakfast table writing this. :))

Did I mention that I have three projects due to editors on the exact same date? Yup, on December 1st (which I am calling D-Day), I have Viking-2, Girls Who Bite and a Nocturne Bite all coming due. I have to move out smartly and with a razor-focus for the next two months. And expect me to grow increasingly nuts and panicky the closer the end time comes. My family is already preparing the barricades.

Next week is not going to be a big writing week. On Thursday, I will drive to Little Rock where I’ll meet up with Shayla Kersten to catch a plane to Ohio. Ellora’s Cave Romanticon is going to be so much fun! And after having to miss Lora Leigh’s big party because I was sick, I am ready to have twice as much fun!

Have a terrific week. I’ll have some great guests holding down the fort on my blog while I’m gone. Make them welcome! Toodles for now! ~DD

One contest ends today, and two lucky winners have already been chosen! Don’t miss your last chance to win!
1) The newsletter contest (see September 16th’s blog for the details) continues through today!!
2) See the bottom of this posting for Tuesday’s winner announcment!
3) See yesterday’s post’s comments for Lacy’s winner announcement!

I need a 12-step program. Seriously!

Yesterday, I was updating my 2010 publication list adding things that just crept up. When I’d finished, I took a long look and realized I’m completely nuts. My sister and I teach an annual free class through Rose’s Colored Glasses called Write 50 Books a Year! When we put it together, the title was completely tongue in cheek, but now…?

This is the list. The last few items in red are still to be published this year. The rest are out. Granted, some are short stories (the Cleis stories) and some are repackaged anthologies that didn’t require new pages, but still!

1. 01/12/10 – LONE STAR LOVERS: UNFORGIVEN (Samhain)
2. 02/07/10 – LOVE IN BLOOM (Samhain)
3. 02/17/10 – FUN WITH DICK AND JAYNE (Ellora’s Cave)
4. 03/01/10 – MISS ADDIE’S GARDEN, New Love Stories Magazine
5. 03/24/10 – BAD, BAD GIRLFRIEND (Ellora’s Cave)
6. 04/28/10 – FIRST KNIGHT (Ellora’s Cave)
7. 05/01/10 – STONE’S EMBRACE, Captive Souls anthology (Samhain)
8. 06/01/10 – THE OUT-OF-TOWNER, Girl Crush anthology (Cleis Press)
9. 06/14/10 – WARLORD’S DESTINY, individual reissue (Ellora’s Cave)
10. 06/18/10 – UN,DEUX, TROIS, MENAGE! anthology (Ellora’s Cave)
11. 06/23/10 – VEILED ALLIANCE anthology (Ellora’s Cave)
12. 07/01/10 – THE OBEDIENT WIFE, Fairy Tale Lust anthology (Cleis Press)
13. 08/01/10 – THE WEEKEND, Lesbian Lust anthology (Cleis Press)
14. 08/13/10 – RED STILLETOS anthology (Ellora’s Cave)
15. 08/17/10 – TEXTILE FREE (Smashwords)
16. 08/31/10 – PLEASING SIR (Kindle, Smashwords)
17. 09/07/10 – LONE STAR LOVERS: FOUR SWORN (Samhain)
18. 09/21/10 – DARKNESS CAPTURED (Avon Red)
19. 10/27/10 – A LONG HOWL GOOD NIGHT (Ellora’s Cave)
20. 11/01/10 – COWBOY FEVER anthology (Samhain)
21. 11/01/10 – THE MORNING RIDE, Passion: Erotic Romance for Women anthology (Cleis Press)
22. 11/23/10 – LONE STAR LOVERS: BREAKING LEATHER (Samhain)

And I wonder why I’m tired all the time. Tomorrow, I’ll post a sneak peek of A Long Howl Good Night since I’m pretty sure I haven’t mentioned it here before!

The winner of the free copy of Sleeping With The Enemy is…Lynn M! Lynn, contact me directly to let me know where you want the file emailed!

Two contests end today! Don’t miss your last chances to win!
1) The newsletter contest (see September 16th’s blog for the details) continues until the tomorrow!!
2) Yesterday’s winner will be announced tomorrow!
3) **BONUS! See details about Lacy’s contest below!

Welcome today’s guest, Lacy Danes! ~DD

The new fall TV season is upon us. I have eagerly been awaiting several of my favorite series premieres. I typically don’t watch TV but wait until a well talked about show comes out on DVD and then watch the entire season. If I get hooked, then I continue watching until I am caught up to date. Sometimes I start watching a show at its scheduled time, but usually my life takes over and I have to wait until it comes out on DVD the next fall.

Series I currently am watching on DVD:
Mad Men Season 1
The Vampire Diaries Season 1
Charmed Season 3

Series I have completed the DVDs and have to wait until new DVDs come out or watch live:
Bones
The Good Wife

I have also completed several other past series:
The X files
Buffy
Angel

So I am curious, what are some of your favorite shows? And are you optimistic for any new shows coming out this fall?

To celebrate the Fall and the release of so many great stories, including my short Harlequin SPICE Brief DECENT EXPOSURE, at the end of today I will pick one reply to this post for a chance to win one of my books.

Happy Fall,
Lacy

I prefer some manly fluff—under the arms, across the chest—but the eyes have it here. So what if he shaves everything? Maybe he really is a swimmer and doesn’t want all the fur slowing him down. Maybe his girlfriend doesn’t like the friction against her own skin. Maybe he really is as young as he looks and he hasn’t grown any yet. I’ll forgive him. If he trained those pretty eyes on me, I’d be tongue-tied and blushing. And doesn’t he kinda look a little like a young Tom Cruise—when he was still charmingly cheeky?

Happy Monday! 😉