Midnight Seductions

Anyone out there

2015-09-05T19:09:00.001-04:00

I’m a little late in posting a blog. I’ve had the flu and didn’t feel up to writing anything. Today, I feel better and thought I’d post something. Lately, I’ve noticed there haven’t been any comments making me wonder if anyone out there is reading the blogs. I’d sure love to hear one way or another if anyone is interested in hearing what’s happening in my life as well as the few authors that continue to post blogs on MSA.

For the past year, I’ve been self-publishing my work and it’s a slow process, but I am making some royalties. Last week I started a new ménage called End of the Line, but had to take a few days off because of the flu. My story originates in New Orleans and my main character winds up in North Dakota accepting a job offer.

The story will have many twists and turns as Cassidy begins teaching in North Dakota. While on her way to her job one morning, an unexpected storm develops and the weather creates a life threatening happening for many of the motorists caught in a blizzard on their commute.

Cassidy’s salvation comes when two handsome strangers rescues her in the nick of time. What develops between them is a sensual union you won’t want to miss.

That’s about it for my blog today. If anyone has any comments, feel free to post them.

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Preordering e-books.

2015-08-03T18:06:00.001-04:00

I believe it’s getting harder to sell books. The competition is fierce on the different sites. There are so many authors competing for a sale on Amazon, Are, Barnes and Noble and the many other sites. Even promoting doesn’t guarantee many sales.

Smashwords sent an e-mail to me requesting that I put my next book up on preorder to increase sales. They said that I should upload the story ten days before release date. I’ve never tried this before, but the way they talked, it works.

What I like about Smashwords is they distribute the book to so many sites without me having to do it. All I have to do is upload one error free copy of my book, a cover, blurb and excerpt and they do the rest.

I’ll find out after the ten day period is up if this works out. If it’s successful, I’ll be using their method from now on.

How many have heard of placing their books up for preorder? I’m not sure if Amazon or any of the other sites do this. They’ve never let me know like Smashwords did a month ago.

This is the latest book I've written and placed on preorder. The books is called Stranded in Paradise. I’m placing a blurb and excerpt along with the cover. The book is a romance, erotica, fiction filled with suspense.

Stranded in Paradise

Blurb

Nick Torrez and his three friends are thrown overboard while on his fishing boat. He doesn’t have any idea what’s happened to his friends, but he winds up on a small island with two beautiful women taking care of him once he reaches land. The two women meet all his needs in more ways than one. Nick isn’t sure he wants to be rescued as his thoughts continually return to his dark skinned beauties.

Excerpt

Off to the east, Nick caught a glimpse of what he thought looked green. Maybe he was hallucinating from the heat with nothing to eat or drink for the last few days.

This was the direction the birds flew, so he kept on rowing until he felt his arms ready to give out. The aches and pains didn’t stop him in trying to reach his destination.

As he drew closer, he did see trees and greenery. It looked as if he had finally found a safe haven. But maybe it wasn’t a safe haven. His mind felt jumbled as he saw what looked like an island with a small beach of white sand.

Nick couldn’t move his arms any longer and slumped down into the bottom of the boat hoping the waves washed him ashore. He felt his mind going blank as a darkness swept over him.

Awakening, he felt a cold cloth wiping his face and someone holding something to his lips for him to drink. He drank greedily, but whoever was holding the soothing water, pulled back to let him know to take his time.

Nick glanced up to see two young native women hovering over him. They had dark skin with dark hair trailing down their backs. Both had on skimpy clothing showing a tantalizing view of their dark skinned beauty and shapely figures. He silently wondered if he had died out in the ocean and gone to heaven, but the image of the women persisted and he realized he had made it to land.

Right then the two looked so beautiful. Nick’s addled thoughts rambled believing he had never seen such beauty before, but maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Maybe he thought they were beautiful because they were saving him. Either way he didn’t care. He had someone to take care of him in his time of need and they were beautiful to him.

2015-07-02T08:57:00.001-04:00

I’m posting a little early. Instead of the third, I’ll post today since I have plans for the Fourth of July weekend.

Allromanceebooks is setting up a new site for readers to use tablets or mobile phones to download e-books. I’m posting the information below for anyone interested in checking out the new venue at allromanceebooks.

All Romance® eBooks releases a shiny, new site for mobile phones and tablets!

AllRomance.com, the largest online bookstore specializing in the sale of digital romance, has launched d a new, responsive platform that will give our 480,000+ registered readers with smart-phones and tablets the opportunity to browse, buy, download, review, rate, and gift all the romance they need from all the publishers they love--24 hours a day/7 days a week.

_____________________________________________________________

Please visit www.allromance.com/mobile to view and bookmark the new, mobile site.

For your convenience, we've created an introductory post with navigation tips.

The mobile site offers customers the ability to view featured books, best sellers, deals, trending titles, and an array of recommended reads based on each buyers individual purchasing history. Readers can search using a combination of category, title, author, publisher, series name, and tags. Search results can then be further sorted by bestselling, top rated, recently added, length, title, heat level, price, and discounts.

Purchases can be made with the click of a mouse or the touch of a link using All Romance’s secure “Buy Now” option, or users can elect to pay with Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, or their available eBook Bucks��"the company’s in-store currency. Books are then immediately delivered to the buyer’s online library where they can be gifted or downloaded for viewing. Books in the library can be sorted by purchased date, published date, title, or author. There’s even an archive function to help readers distinguish between the books in their virtual to be read pile or on their keeper shelf from those that will remain in the stacks. Those who like to maintain a wish list will be able to do that too. And, those who need a little extra help will be able to access troubleshooting tips and initiate support requests directly from their device.

# # #

As an All Romance customer, you are receiving this email about an important change to the manner in which you will access your account on mobile devices and tablets. If you wish to unsubscribe and close your account, email Audrey.Sharpe@allromanceebooks.com with a deactivation request. If you wish to update your profile/email address, log in to AllRomance.com or OmniLit.com and select the profile link.

303 Main Street #186 | 1-800-478-8976 | Safety Harbor | FL | 34695

I’m also spreading my wings and trying a historical romance set just after the Civil war. It should be out in a couple of months. I’m still deciding on a title and will post it later.

Mary Suzanne

Alien Children

Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, Suspense, Science Fiction, Paranormal

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.blio.com

Apple.com

Itunes.com

http://www.bookstore.sony.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com

Smashwords.com

#AReMobile

Here’s a blurb from my latest Alien Children.

Alien Children

Blurb

Kacy Jergens abduction in her youth shuts her memory down to not remembering the alien encounter. Haunting thoughts fill her mind but the experience eludes her. When she meets Rafe Johanson and their relationship becomes steamy, she slowly remembers the abduction. While on a romantic weekend at a cabin with Rafe, the space craft returns and takes her captive again. She discovers the aliens want to use her to procreate with their species and develop a human/alien child.

"This book was delicious!" Dirty Dining -- #mmromance @dreamspinners

2015-07-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

5 stars: THIS BOOK WAS DELICIOUS!! Beginning to end, I adored the heck out of the absolutely sexy, filthy, fun kinky book. -- V. Rundell (full review)

Order at Amazon | Order at Dreamspinner | Order at All Romance

Excerpt

Jeremy’s lab work kept him so busy he didn’t have time to think about Brice during the days. But at night it was a different matter. Even though Brice had made it clear he thought of Jeremy as more than an object to display, he still couldn’t wipe away the unexpected sense of humiliation when Brice spun him around to show him off to the other men. It gnawed at him, day and night.

But the loneliness each night as Jeremy wondered what Brice was doing served as a powerful reminder that the emotional attachment he’d developed hadn’t changed as a result of Brice’s single moment of insensitivity. Nothing would keep him from keeping their Saturday date. He dressed with particular care to his appearance and headed for the city.

He’d been to the Java Café before, but he’d forgotten how bad the delays on the N-Judah line were, and the longer the ride took, the worse his stomach knotted. Finally, he arrived and glanced in the window, knowing how much it would hurt if Brice wasn’t there. The clock on the wall told him he was ten minutes late. The coffee shop buzzed with activity. People who had just been to the beach had the rosy-red glow from the brisk salty breezes that washed over Ocean Beach in the afternoon.

His gaze went from table to table. Then his heart trembled when he spotted Brice in the far corner. A nearly empty glass of tea sat in front of him. He wore a tan zip-up jacket, and he had the fresh windswept look, chestnut hair mussed. It was the look of someone who would be right at home at the helm of a sailboat skimming across the waves, heading out to sea under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Brice had come. He really wanted Jeremy, wanted something besides what they had at the club. Excitement made him race inside, and the look of joy on Brice’s face as he spotted Jeremy, meant he’d made the right decision.

Brice stood and pulled Jeremy to him and planted a definitive kiss on his lips. It stayed tame, but no one in the place could doubt Brice’s feelings. Certainly not Jeremy. He let himself be swept up in the moment.

When they separated, Jeremy noticed the creases around Brice’s bloodshot eyes, mostly from the same sleeplessness plaguing Jeremy.

“I didn’t think you’d—” they both began, then self-consciously stopped and sat down.

Jeremy didn’t want to rehash their last meeting. Instead, he said, “You promised me a romantic walk on the beach and a beautiful sunset.”

Obvious relief flooded Brice’s face. “If the clouds cooperate. But I can’t guarantee the sunset won’t be more than a red glow.”

“I won’t hold the weather against you.” Heavy fog typified this westernmost part of San Francisco. Even in the summer, there were days the locals never saw the sun.

“Let’s go.” Brice stood and put some cash on the table before threading his arm around Jeremy’s.

They crossed the street, heading into the strong breeze coming off the ocean. Little billows of sand blew across the Great Highway as they made their way to the beach. It was a lovely day, or at least it was to Jeremy. They strolled hand in hand, Brice stopping practically every ten feet to kiss him. On Jeremy’s romance scale of one to ten, it hit eleven.

Kids flying kites raced past, and a few windsurfers in wetsuits braved the elements for the last waves of the day. When they reached the end of the beach near the zoo, Jeremy didn’t want to start back. He was too happy here and now.

Streaks of pink, orange, and red spilled across the sky as they made their way along the beach. The families and surfers had left, replaced by others strolling and enjoying the evening spectacle in the sky. Soon the evening fog would take over again, but for now it was clear and beautiful.

“You’re cold.” Brice stopped walking and pulled his jacket off.

“I’m fine.” Jeremy hadn’t even noticed the wind had picked up until now. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, but it wasn’t particularly warm. He dug in his messenger bag for a jacket and found only a dark blue Cal sweatshirt.

“You’re shivering. That’s not enough. The jacket’s warmer.” Brice took the sweatshirt and tugged the bag off Jeremy’s shoulder. Then he helped him into the tan jacket. It had a thin lining of something incredibly warm. The fabric was smooth and felt wonderful. Like all of Brice’s clothes, it was high quality and probably cost what Jeremy earned in a week.

“Thanks. What about you?”

Brice pulled the sweatshirt over his head. Jeremy reached up to draw hair out of Brice’s eyes, and Brice grabbed his hand and brought it to his mouth for a sweet kiss. “I’m perfect. That jacket looks good on you.”

“Really?” Jeremy had never paid much attention to his own clothes. Not many grad students did, especially in the sciences. It had never been an issue before. Now he was suddenly conscious of how much separated his life from Brice’s.

“Yeah. Now let’s get moving. I’m famished.” Brice took hold of Jeremy’s hand and tugged him along as they broke into a slow jog. With the wind whipping across his face and the sand soft beneath his feet, he found the sprint exhilarating. His heart was pounding, and he was a little winded when Brice slowed down. “It’s a block from the beach. Let’s cross.”

“Good. Now I’m starving too.” Jeremy’s words came out between short breaths.

“God, you sound so damn sexy when you’re breathless. Gives me chills.”

“I told you not to give me your jacket.”

“That’s not the kind of chills I meant.” Brice put an arm around Jeremy’s waist as they waited to cross the Great Highway. When the light changed, Jeremy pulled Brice into a run, even though they had plenty of time to cross the six lanes.

Blurb

Jeremy Linden’s a PhD student researching an HIV vaccine. He’s always short of money, and when biotech startup PharmaTek reduces funding for his fellowship, he’s tempted to take a job at a men’s dining club as a serving boy. The uniforms are skimpy, and he’s expected to remove an item of clothing after each course. He can handle that, but he soon discovers there’s more on the menu here than fine cuisine. How far will he go to pay his tuition, and will money get in the way when he realizes he’s interested in more from one of his gentlemen?

Brice Martin is an attorney for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. When he’s asked to take a client to the infamous Dinner Club, he finds himself unexpectedly turned on by the atmosphere and especially by his server, Remy. He senses there’s more to the sexy young man than meets the eye. The paradox fascinates him, and he can’t get enough of Remy.

Their relationship quickly extends beyond the club and sex. But the trust and affection they’ve worked to achieve may crumble when Jeremy discovers Brice’s VC firm is the one that pulled the plug on PharmaTek—and Jeremy’s research grant.

About EM Lynley

EM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. A Rainbow Award winner and EPIC finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever.

She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.

She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others.

Visit her online

Website – Blog – Free Reads — Facebook – Twitter – Newsletter — Pinterest

Win a real precious gem in the 24-Karat Conspiracy giveaway #mmromance @dreamspinners

2015-06-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

24-Karat Conspiracy is here!

"Lynley captures her men’s excitement, vulnerability and fear …[her] character and relationship building is brilliant." —Inked Rainbow Reviews

24-Karat Conspiracy is Book 4 in the Precious Gems Series, but I’ve been planning this book since I wrote Italian Ice in 2011. This installment in the series is truly Reed’s story. You’ll learn things about him I’ve had to keep under my hat for ages, and I’m thrilled and relieved to be able to share them with you now.

Excerpt

“You remember that plane crash in Turkey at the end of last month? With Shelton Matthews on board?”

Reed gave Tom his full attention now. “Sure.”

“What hasn’t been in the papers is that the cargo consisted of a few things that used to be on display in the Iraq National Museum.”

“You’re fucking kidding me. After this many years?”

“We didn’t get that juicy tidbit from Interpol until last week. We’ve got surveillance on Matthews’ home in upstate New York, and I’ve got two guys from the New York field office scheduled to go in as insurance appraisers, but they don’t have your expertise.”

This could be the case of a lifetime. Tens of thousands of objects were still unaccounted for after the looting of the museum during the US invasion back in 2003. Then again, Matthews might only have amassed a pile of junk from Saddam’s vulgar palace. They wouldn’t know until they did a thorough search.

Reed waited too long to reply.

“The items in the plane crash included two solid gold Babylonian goblets. Part of a set of six. I’d like you on the team to find the other four.”

“You think Matthews has them?” Reed’s belly tingled with excitement. The expanding frown on Trent’s face meant he’d noticed. Reed moved out of Trent’s range of vision.

“If not, he’s been looking for them. He’s not the sort to leave a set incomplete.”

Reed shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Hell yeah. I’m on my way in.” He turned and spotted Trent holding his mother’s evening wrap. His gut twisted again as Trent glanced over. “Hang on a couple of minutes, okay?”

Reed stepped back into the living room. “It’s White, my boss. There’s a case he needs me for….”

“A holiday-related crime?” Trent asked, with just enough acid that Reed felt it like he’d been burned.

Laura wrung her hands and turned a worried gaze to Reed. “Oh, Reed, please be careful. I’m going to worry about you the whole time. I don’t think I can go to dinner if you’re about to do something dangerous.” She turned to Trent. “Let’s change the plans for another night.” She grasped at Reed’s arm, the tight grip telegraphing concern.

Reed hadn’t expected that reaction from her. The fear in her eyes cut through him like a rusty blade, far more painfully than Trent’s anger. He’d expected to disappoint her, but even that felt wrong right now. He was touched by her concern.

“Tom, can you manage without me? We’ve got plans, and unless it’s absolutely necessary….”

“Do I have the right number?” White asked, though his chuckle had lost its earlier mirth.

“Yeah. But, is there any way this can wait a few days?” Reed couldn’t believe the words had come out of his mouth.

“Seriously?”

Reed guessed they had. “Yeah. Till after Christmas? Don’t insurance companies get Christmas off?”

It was White’s turn for a long pause. Reed was tempted to recant, but White spoke before he had the chance. “Yes. That’ll be fine. Come in on the twenty-sixth, and you should be back the following day. Will that suit?”

“Yeah. The twenty-sixth works better.”

“I’ll e-mail you the travel arrangements, and we can do the briefing on the plane.”

“Thanks. And Merry Christmas.”

He smiled down at Laura, who looked relieved; then he took the wrap from Trent and helped Laura into it.

Trent came up behind Reed, whispered “I love you” into his ear, and slipped a hand around his waist in a quick embrace.

######

But wait, there’s more

Win this gorgeous (semi) precious stone: a lapis lazuli pendant!

When you read the book, you'll see why I chose lapis.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here’s more about 24-Karat Conspiracy by EM Lynley

Love is the only gold

Former Ranger turned FBI agent Reed Acton faces his biggest challenge yet: a Christmas visit from partner Trent Copeland’s parents. He’s less equipped to handle hugs and holidays than the Taliban or international art thieves. When he’s assigned to track down a set of gold Babylonian artifacts looted from the Iraqi National Museum after the fall of Baghdad, things start to look up.

This time, Trent’s part of the mission, which takes them to exotic Istanbul. The crowded streets and labyrinthine markets fascinate Trent, but soon murder is on their trail. The investigation continues as Reed goes undercover at a US Army base, with Trent masquerading as his spouse. Surprisingly, fastidious and ever-fashionable Trent fits into base life right away and soon takes one of the suspects’ wives under his wing when domestic abuse rears its head.

Their faux marriage leads Reed to appreciate Trent in ways he never expected, strengthening their bond—until Reed has to confront the worst demons from his past: his relationship with his estranged family.

You can (pre)order this book at Amazon, Dreamspinner Press and All Romance

Read an extended excerpt at my website.

Please check out the rest of the Precious Gems Series at Amazon, Dreamspinner, All Romance, or your favorite bookseller.

About EM Lynley

EM Lynley writes gay romance with a touch of mystery and suspense. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. A Rainbow Award winner and EPIC finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she'd rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.

She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others.

Visit her online Website – Blog – Free Reads — Facebook – Twitter – Newsletter — Pinterest

Audio Books

2015-06-02T14:15:00.001-04:00

My new release is an audio narrated from my e-book Just Not Into Me. The audio is now on the market for sale through iTuines.com, Amazon.com and Audible.com.

Bayer Kane is narrating the audio and he does a tremendous job putting just the right inflections into the scenes taking place in the story. Romance Divine LLC is the publisher contracting the e-book audio for publication.

Below I’ve placed a short description of Just Not Into Me and a copy of the cover. I have thirteen other audios for sale at the three sites and am hoping this one will sell as well.

Does anyone reading this have any e-books that were narrated into audio and are for sale on the different sites? Is so, how are the sales doing compared to the e-book?

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Click on the link below cover for a sample listen to Just Not Into Me.

Now Available.

Just Not Into Me

JUST NOT INTO ME

Written by Mary Suzanne

Narrated by Bayer Kane

A Romance Divine LLC Audio Book Production

Available at Amazon.com, Audible.com and iTunes

Case O’Brien wanted nothing more than a relationship, someone to care about – and someone to care about him. Could colleague Rob Nelson be that special someone? Were their Master/slave games only that – games? Or will this turn out to be the real thing? Case needs to find out if Rob is the one, or if he is Just Not Into Me.

__._,_.___

Posted by: "Mary Suzanne" <mwriter42@msn.com>

BDSM

2015-05-03T08:41:00.002-04:00

I’m going in a new direction in my writing. In the last few months I’ve tried to find out what the market is for BDSM either male or female involved in the scenario. The first book I self-published was Chain’s & Leather Equal Pleasure which included males as my characters.

The second title is Punish Me also a BDSM includes hetero and females as my characters. I’m waiting to see how this book is accepted on the market.

My first book Chain’s & Leather Equal Pleasure has begun to sell after only a few weeks on the different sites. I’m hoping I get the same results for the second book (Punish Me) published a few days ago.

This is a new step for me, but I’m going to continue to write this scenario and see how it plays out; sales or popularity for this genre.

I’m including a blurb, cover and where to purchase the above titles in my blog. Do you believe there’s a market for BDSM or is it a passing phase?

Mary Suzanne

Gay, Erotic, Contemporary, BDSM, Male/Male, Romance

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.blio.com

Apple.com

Itunes.com

http://www.bookstore.sony.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com

Smashwords.com

Blub

Aiden Sinclair wins an art scholarship to a prestigious college in Chicago. He is gay and needs space away from his small hometown where all eyes usually watch his every move. His traits of bondage and discipline wouldn’t have been accepted by his straight laced friends. The chance to spread his wings was offered to him and he gladly accepted a new way of life so that he didn’t have to hide his gay sexuality.

Mary Suzanne

BDSM, Erotica, Romance, Lesbian, Hetero

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.blio.com

Apple.com

Itunes.com

http://www.bookstore.sony.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com

Smashwords.com

Blurb

Jamie found the world of BDSM to her liking. Her friend Josie hosted parties once a week introducing Jamie and Rob to the delight of punishment by using leather straps or belts to enhance sexual gratification in the bedroom afterwards. Jamie finds Rob cheating on her and moves in with Josie changing her romantic scenario to a new direction and partner.

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Updates In The World Of Elizabeth Black

2015-04-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Not much going on in my writing life at the moment. I've been busy submitting "Alex Craig Has A Threesome" to agents. So far, no bites. I beef up "Full Moon Fever", and then go through the same agent process with that book. So, mostly I've been trying to find an agent for the past month or so.

In the acceptances front, a publisher who will go unnamed for now accepted my short Snow White story "Black As Ebony, White As Snow" for publication. My short Christmas story "In The Doghouse" will appear in a Holiday anthology, obviously at the end of the year.

In the meantime, buy my books and enjoy the spring!

Elizabeth Black - Blog and Web Site

http://elizabethablack.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth Black - Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethablack

Elizabeth Black - Twitter

http://twitter.com/ElizabethABlack

Elizabeth Black - Amazon Author Page

https://www.amazon.com/author/elizabethblack

Easter week.

2015-04-03T09:21:00.001-04:00

Wow, I almost forgot to blog today. With all the preparations for the Easter weekend, it slipped my mind. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend whether it's taking the kiddies on egg hunts, or worshipping in the church of your choice.

I will have family over for dinner on Sunday This is the tradition on all holidays at our home . Again, I hope you all enjoy your family time together. Sorry about the brevity of the blog, but life seems to get in the way at times.

Keep Safe in all you do until next month.

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Mary Suzanne

Winter Blues

2015-03-04T10:05:00.001-05:00

I’m beginning to get cabin fever with the winter months lasting so long. The weather has been so bad across the nation; it seems that spring followed by summer is a long way off. Last night we got another four inches of snow blocking our drive and causing multiple wrecks on the nearby Interstate.

Usually in the summer months, everyone complains about the heat, but this year, I believe I’ll enjoy whatever temperatures arrive during the summer months for our area. You can always go inside and cool off in the air conditioning.

There’s one positive thing about being cooped up in the house. It gives me time to write and that’s what I’ve been up to for the last month. I started a sequel to a book I wrote some time ago. The book I originally wrote was titled Bittersweet Memories and I dove in to write the sequel. If the weather persists in keeping me indoors, I’ll have the finished product out soon.

I’m wondering how other authors deal with wintry climates. Does being indoors help a writer produce more or does it cause restlessness in keeping your thought process from putting down a compelling plot?

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Mary Suzanne

Action/Thriller, Romance, Suspense, Erotic, Fiction

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.blio.com

Apple.com

Itunes.com

http://www.bookstore.sony.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com

Smashwords.com

Blurb

Shawna lived on the edge where danger lurked at every corner. Her Indian ancestry helped her as a private investigator. Not only was her life filled with danger, but also an element of intrigue over what she would find at the end of her search. Her love life with Levi gave her passion and satisfaction, but when it came to a commitment from him, she still waited impatiently to hear those four little words. Will you marry me?

Erotic Fairy Tales For Friday The 13th

2015-02-13T11:14:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday the 13th! I'm at Madeleine Shade's fairy tale blog today. She's covering my two erotic fairy tales - "Trouble In Thigh High Boots" (erotic Puss In Boots) and "Climbing Her Tower" (erotic Rapunzel). Don't forget those two books are now available at AllRomanceEBooks.

http://shadyladyfairytales.com/2015/02/13/fairy-tale-friday-two-tales-of-seduction-by-elizabeth-black/

I'm working on some new erotic fairy tales I plan to self-publish as a collection. Stories that will appear in the book are based on Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Pied Piper, The Little Mermaid, and more! Expect the book mid-year, and keep an eye here and on my Facebook page for updates.

Elizabeth Black - Facebook

Romance is in the air.

2015-02-03T08:41:00.002-05:00

A very special day is only a little over a week away. Valentine’s Day is a day of romance named for a Christian martyr that dates back to the 5^th century, but has origins with the Roman holiday Lupercalia.

Most lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day by exchanging gifts, becoming engaged or plan weddings for the romantic day on February 14^th. Romance is in the air surrounding this special day for anyone in love.

There are five films I recommend to watch with someone you love on Valentine’s Day. They are, An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, When Harry met Sally, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, Sleepless in Seattle, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, Love Actually, Hugh Grant and Kiera Knightly and my favorite of all time is The Notebooks starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. If you don’t watch all of the films I listed, be sure and catch The Notebook.

Usually, it is the male that buys the gifts, but in the last few years, the female purchases something for her significant other to show her love.

My question to anyone reading my post is how do you celebrate Valentine’s Day and do you make it a holiday to remember?

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Here’s a copy of the cover and blurb of my latest project Danger Lurks: Apache Eye 2. Also where to purchase the book.

Mary Suzanne

Action/Thriller, Romance, Suspense, Erotic, Fiction

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.allromanceebooks.com

http://www.barnes&noble.com

itunes.com

http://www.bookstore.sony.com

http:www.kobobooks.com

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com

Smashwords.com

http://www.blio.com

Apple.com

Blurb

Winner of the "name my next book" title contest

2015-01-19T19:40:00.000-05:00

It's official. I have a winner. The contest deadline ended December 15th and I received over 200 entries. It's been a rough process going through and picking out just one title but tonight my publisher and I made the final decision.

A huge congratulations to Lindsay Henry for her winning entry.
My new collection, due out in May from Desert Palm Press, will be titled.....Wylde About Her.

A huge thank you to everyone who entered. I got some truly amazing suggestions. Look for the cover art reveal soon.
Beth
www.bethwylde.com

Lindsay will receive an advanced signed copy of the collection, a personal dedication in the book and a $20 Amazon gift certificate!

Holiday Greetings

2015-01-03T08:22:00.003-05:00

I want to wish everyone a Happy New year. It seems as if 2014 passed quickly and in a way, I’m glad it’s over. There was too much turmoil and violence marking the year in our country as well as other countries. My only hope is that 2015 will bring more peace and lead our country in a new direction.

Our family all gathered for Christmas, and I of course was nominated to bake the turkey and dressing. We had a wonderful time exchanging presents and gave thanks for our health. I hope everyone reading this had a joyous Christmas and we’ll find happiness and peace in the New Year.

Self-publishing has kept me busy this year. Today, I uploaded another of my books titled Strangers in the Mist. I’m hoping with the holidays over, we can get back to advertising and selling our e-books.

I hope everyone has a safe and prosperous New Year. The same wish is for all to stay healthy and to show patience in stressful situations.

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Below I’ve posted a copy of my book cover and a blurb. Also there’s a list of sites where you can find Stranger’s in the Mist.

Mary Suzanne

Contemporary, Romance, Erotic

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.blio.com

Apple.com

Itunes.com

http://www.bookstore.sony.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

http://www.diesel-ebooks.com

Smashwords.com

Blurb

Mattie was out for a jog one afternoon in the wooded area near her home. She notices the dark clouds overhead and runs for shelter in an old shack she spotted just at the edge of the forest. When she reaches the building, she glances out the window and is shocked by the scene unfolding. Three people are dancing in an au natural state around a raging bonfire. Is she imaging things or did she really see the strangers in the mist cavorting in the rain?

Time to Get Dirty! Dirty Dining Pre-Order #Giveaway (#gayromance @dreamspinners) –

2014-12-24T16:00:00.000-05:00

One of the most joyful experiences as an author (for me, at least) is knowing my book has the perfect cover. It’s not as easy as you might think. I’m not an artist and I generally have a difficult time conveying my vision to the cover artist. So I was absolutely delighted to discover this gorgeous photograph on Deviant Art. It perfectly illustrates my main character Jeremy Linden (my deceptively attractive geek) and the precise tone of Dirty Dining. In fact, Jeremy spends a lot of time in those little white shorts, until he takes them off. Check out the excerpt below to find out just what I’m talking about.

Pre-order and be entered to win $50 Amazon Gift Certificate
(email your purchase receipt to em@emlynley.com)

25% off until December 25

Order eBook | Order Paperback

Release Date ~ January 19

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Photo: Ronaldo Gutierrez

Blurb

Jeremy Linden’s a PhD student researching an HIV vaccine. He’s always short of money, and when biotech startup PharmaTek reduces funding for his fellowship, he’s tempted to take a job at a men’s dining club as a serving boy. The uniforms are skimpy, and he’s expected to remove an item of clothing after each course. He can handle that, but he soon discovers there’s more on the menu here than fine cuisine. How far will he go to pay his tuition, and will money get in the way when he realizes he’s interested in more from one of his gentlemen?

Brice Martin is an attorney for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. When he’s asked to take a client to the infamous Dinner Club, he finds himself unexpectedly turned on by the atmosphere and especially by his server, Remy. He senses there’s more to the sexy young man than meets the eye. The paradox fascinates him, and he can’t get enough of Remy.

Their relationship quickly extends beyond the club and sex. But the trust and affection they’ve worked to achieve may crumble when Jeremy discovers Brice’s VC firm is the one that pulled the plug on PharmaTek—and Jeremy’s research grant.

Excerpt

“Everyone, this is Jeremy.” Thomas introduced him to the other guys who would be working as serving boys at the Dinner Club that night, including one Jeremy recognized from the gym.

“Hi, Jeremy,” they said in chorus.

One slim blond guy with long bangs came up and gave him a not-very-subtle once-over and, before Jeremy could stop him, pulled his shirt out of his jeans far enough to get a good look at Jeremy’s abs. “Very nice.”

“Just chill, Kit.” Another guy shook his head and tugged Kit away. “You’ll scare him off before dinner even starts.”

Jeremy wasn’t thrilled with the grabby hands and hoped his client—whoever it might be—wouldn’t take liberties the way his fellow serving boys did.

“Let me give you tonight’s assignments.” Thomas spoke up to get their attention over the ensuing chatter. Jeremy was glad since he noticed some of it was speculation about him.

“Please let me have Mr. Gray.” Kit sashayed up to Thomas and tried to pull the clipboard out of his hand. The same law-abiding guy pulled him back.

“Sorry, Kit. You’ve got Mr. Yellow.”

“Oh, not so bad. I didn’t know he was coming tonight.” Kit grinned. “Or at least he will be,” he added in a singsong that had the others laughing.

“We’ve one new client, Mr. Green.”

“Let me have him!” It was another guy.

“Sorry, Rand, I think you’re a bit too much for him. I can’t have any of you scaring him off either. I think Jeremy will serve Mr. Green.” Thomas nodded at Jeremy. “He seems a little shy, so maybe you two will be a good match.”

“Okay.” Jeremy wasn’t sure if he’d been insulted or given an easy task. So far no one here seemed shy. But he needed to learn the ropes and figure out precisely what was expected of him as a serving boy.

Thomas gave out the rest of the assignments. Each client had a color-coded name, reminding Jeremy of the Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs. He hoped like hell tonight wouldn’t end up the same way, with everyone dead or wishing they were.

Once Thomas left, one of the guys came up to Jeremy. “I’m Rand. Been here the longest, so I’ll walk you through your duties. And if you’re not sure what to do, just ask me.”

“Okay.”

“First here’s your costume.” Rand handed Jeremy a box. “Open it up.”

Jeremy opened up the flaps and pulled out the flimsy pieces. Some thin filmy fabric, gold cord and not much else. “This is a costume?”

“Yeah. Every dinner has a theme. We’re Greek slave boys tonight. Tonight’s dinner has six courses, and there are six items in each costume. You take one off after you serve each course.”

Jeremy swallowed. Well, Thomas had told him he’d be taking his clothes off. He hadn’t realized quite how this would work, but it seemed easy enough. “That’s it?”

“You let your gentleman choose which piece you remove.”

“Then I take it off, right?”

“Yeah. Or if you let the gentleman do it, you get paid more.”

“Just taking clothes off? No one’s going to put their hands on me or request a lap dance or expect me to suck them off?”

Kit giggled in the background. “Only if you want to, pecan pie. And you may want to.”

Rand shook his head. “You only do what you want. If your guy asks for something, you can say no. You aren’t allowed to offer anything, or we can get in trouble for soliciting sex. There’s a menu—coded of course—and the gentlemen can ‘order’ something extra. You just let yours know which menu items are available.”

About the Author

EM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. A Rainbow Award winner and EPIC finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she’d rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.

She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others.

Visit her online Website – Blog – Free Reads – Facebook – Twitter – Newsletter – Pinterest

Email: em@emlynley.com

Word Counts - Today: 0 | December: 0 | 2014: 0

Sun, Sand, Sex, Christmas on Taha'a -- New Release!

2014-12-24T12:31:00.000-05:00

A Christmas Bonus

Holiday Novella by EM Lynley

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Under the Polynesian sun, business turns to pleasure. This is one Christmas Bonus you deserve to give yourself this year.

I’m thrilled to announce the release of the brand new 2nd edition of A Christmas Bonus (35k novella)

What happens when business turns pleasurable?

Alec Compton’s dream job at a Wall Street investment firm is on the line if he can’t close a make-or-break takeover deal by the end of the year.

The buyer is none other than world-renowned billionaire and corporate raider Brant Linton, recently named one of the hottest and most eligible gay businessmen. Electricity crackles at their first meeting, and Alec’s thoughts drift far from business, despite his distaste for Brant’s business practices.
When Brant takes off early to spend Christmas with his sister’s family on the exclusive French Polynesian island of Taha’a, Alec has no choice but to follow if he wants to get Brant to sign on the dotted line. But Brant’s sister has forbidden him from conducting business during the holidays and Alec must masquerade as Brant’s boyfriend lest she find out what they’re really up to.
Then business turns into pleasure, but neither Brant nor Alec know whether the other is there for the deal, or for something more personal, in EM Lynley’s sizzling holiday novella A CHRISTMAS BONUS.

Just in time for the holidays. Whether you’re enduring yet another snowstorm or subzero temps, or whether you spend the holidays in the balmy Southern hemisphere, you won’t have another Christmas like this.

I’m trying something new this time around, and this novella is only available from Amazon and can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited.

The second edition includes an additional 5000 words from the 2010 first edition.

Grab your copy today!

About the Author

EM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. She loves books where the hero gets the guy and the loving is 11 on a scale of 10. A Rainbow Award winner and EPIC finalist, EM has worked in high finance, high tech, and in the wine industry, though she’d rather be writing hot, romantic man-on-man action. She spent 10 years as an economist and financial analyst, including a year as a White House Staff Economist, but only because all the intern positions were filled. Tired of boring herself and others with dry business reports and articles, her creative muse is back and naughtier than ever. She has lived and worked in London, Tokyo and Washington, D.C., but the San Francisco Bay Area is home for now.

She is the author of Sex, Lies & Wedding Bells, the Precious Gems series from Dreamspinner Press, and the Rewriting History series starring a sexy jewel thief, among others.

Visit her online Website – Blog – Free Reads – Facebook – Twitter –

Newsletter – Pinterest

Email: em@emlynley.com

Winding Down 2014

2014-12-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Black writes in a wide variety of genres including erotica, erotic romance, and dark fiction. She lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and four cats. Visit her web site, her Facebookpage, and her Amazon Author Page.

-----

I love this time of year. It's a time for baking, putting up the tree, getting out the menorah, and playing holiday music on the radio. I haven't been writing much but I have taken an assessment of my year. All in all, it was a good one.

It's good to take a yearly assessment to see if you reached your goals, or achieved ones you hadn't planned on. As my readers know, I write both erotic romances and dark fiction. I either published or saw accepted six short stories this year – three romances and three dark ones. I also succeeded in getting my first short story accepted by Cleis Press. I've been trying to get into Cleis for years, and I finally succeeded. Here's a list:

Dreadful Dissonance – dark fiction

Asphodel – dark fiction

Infection – dark fiction

Longing – erotic romance

Sleep Well, My Love – erotic m/m romance

Like A Breath Of Ocean Blue – erotic lesbian romance

Three of my novels are currently sitting at either publishers or agents waiting for an acceptance. Two are erotic romances and one is a family saga/thriller.

I didn't get into all the anthologies I had wanted to get into, but I'm satisfied with how I did. My goals for 2015 are to get at least six short stories published (either horror or romance, doesn't matter as long as I have a minimum of six), find a home for those novels, do more radio shows, and self-publish my new book of erotic fairy tales. That list doesn't sound like much, but it's actually more than enough.

So that was my 2014. Many publishers are closed for submissions for the season, and I'm taking full advantage. There are a couple of anthology calls due by the end of January so I'll try to whip us something for them. Look for more fiction from me in 2015. Happy holidays!

Holidays

2014-12-03T08:57:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving has ended for another year. Before the Thanksgiving week, most businesses already had Christmas trees and other decorations filling their stores. I do love Christmas, but I don’t feel we should start the holiday this early.

It seems Halloween had just passed when communities were already decorating the posts on the main streets of town with lighted angels and other brightly lit ornaments. In my opinion, I would like holidays separated so we can enjoy one at a time.

Maybe it’s the store owners that are pushing the holidays forward to sell more products. If so, they should take stock and realize how the person feels that are buying those products.

Recently, I walked through a store and stood in line to pay for my purchases. Two women ahead of me were talking about how early everything was put out for Christmas. They must have felt like I did wanting to enjoy each holiday instead of jumping into the next one too soon.

My question to anyone reading this post. Do you enjoy every holiday overlapping the next one, or would you rather have each one separated so they could be celebrated one at a time?

Now for a little promoting. My next book will be wrapped up soon. The tentative title is Demons Outlaw Gang and should be out next month. My book is self-published and will be available at Amazon.com Kindle Books, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Smashwords distributes to Apple, iTunes, Kobo to name a few. So keep Demons Outlaw Gang in mind and watch for its release.

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Title contest for new collection

2014-11-21T10:54:00.000-05:00

It’s official, I have signed a contract with Desert Palm Publishing to publish my newest collection of lesbian erotica. Now I need your help. I have to come up with a title. I’ve got ideas but nothing that has really excited me so I’m turning to you for inspiration. There’s only one guideline. The title has to use my last name in it (Wylde) That’s it. Simple right?

Women Gone Wylde was the title of my first collection and I want to continue the trend by using my name. Here’s the contest details and a list of what the winner gets.

Starting today, November 21st and running through December 15th at midnight Eastern time, I am accepting submissions for title ideas for my newest lesbian erotica collection to be published in May of 2015 by DPP.
You must use the word Wylde somewhere in the title. Send me your ideas, as many as you would like, and I’ll announce the winner after the deadline in December has ended. Email your suggestions to b.wylde@yahoo.com and feel free to spread the word about the contest to anyone you think might be interested.

The winner gets an autographed advanced copy of the book, plus a dedication inside for picking the winning title, and a $20 Amazon gift certificate.

Send me those ideas!!!! I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with. Be sure to include your email so I can notify the winner and get your information for the dedication, gift certificate and advanced signed copy.
Beth
http://www.bethwylde.com

Halloween

2014-11-03T08:36:00.000-05:00

We just celebrated Halloween; one of my favorite holidays. This year it was a little cool, but the weather didn’t stop the neighborhood kids from making a path to my door. I love to see the different costumes; especially the ones that are put together by parents. Some of them are so original.

On Halloween night we had vampires, Cinderella’s, rock stars, hobo’s to name a few. One that caught my attention was a clown with a bright red nose that squeaked when the little boy tweaked it.

When my two children were in grade school, one wanted a costume from a store and the other wanted me to make his for the school celebration. I can say the homemade costume usually won or came in second or third, but this didn’t stop my youngest from still wanting something bought from a store.

He thought what I concocted looked a little strange and he wouldn’t be caught wearing it, but dismissed the fact that the homemade outfit always made it to the final judging and usually won. LOL

I’ve always loved the spooky holiday. It makes me feel good to give out treats to the little ones at my door. But today, with so much violence, a parent has to make sure they know the houses they’re taking their young ones to for safety reasons.

How many out there like this time of the year and Halloween? Do you usually make your own costumes or buy them already made from a store?

My Halloween book Messages From the Grave is now out and can be found at: www.romancedivine.com

http://www.allromanceebooks.com

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.Bookstrand.com

Format: E-book

Publication Date: 10 October 2014

Blurb:

Riley Yates' hobby is turning into an obsession, one that may change the course of his life. Intrigued by the idea of recording paranormal voices from the beyond, he spends his time visiting gravesites and analyzing the recordings on his computer. Can he really be hearing a voice from the grave? Will his obsession ruin the life he'd planned with his fiancée, Melissa? What does a person do, when confronted with Messages From the Grave?

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Is bigger really better???

2014-10-20T10:52:00.000-04:00

I'm not talking about that. Get your minds out of the gutter people. LOL

Today I'm talking about story size. There are all different options now a days with the advent of ebooks. You don't have to buy a novel length drama. There are shorts and super shorts and novellas and everything else in between. I like short stories myself. They are more of a challenge plus I'm often limited on computer time and stopping in the middle of an important place kills my momentum and I have to always go back and read from the beginning before I can go further. When you are looking at a story of 40 or 50 thousand words that can be a real problem.

I can read through the beginning of a short pretty quick and get myself back on track. I also like the fact that I have a limited amount of words to use (most sub calls put a minimum and maximum of what they will accept) so i have to flesh out a story and the characters and i only have a specific amount of words in which to accomplish that feat. I also have to find space to fit in the sex and make it meaningful. There has to be a reason for the sexual encounter. It has to fit in with the story. It can;t just be a long gratuitous sex scene. That's not erotica that's porn and most calls for subs will turn stories like that down flat. It's a delicate line that you have to balance just right.

As a reader i also prefer short stories. Something i can finish in a short sitting otherwise I get deeply involved and i get mean when i have to leave a book in the midst of something major happening. That's why I normally read or write late at night after everyone has gone to bed. Less chance of interruption that way.

So, what type of story to you prefer to read or write and why?
Beth
www.bethwylde.com

Tuesday's Tales - Free Reads

2014-10-13T07:14:00.001-04:00

Elizabeth Black here. After about a year of no activity on my part, I'm back to doing "Tuesday's Tales", a fun writing exercise I discovered on Facebook. The gist of it is that writers write a brief story based on a weekly prompt. This week's prompt is "letter". My story for this week is up now, but it officially goes live at midnight tonight for Tuesday morning.

Most of the stories are between Eric and his sweetie. Eric takes her on all sorts of wacky adventures, chock full of sex most of the time. He's always in some sort of trouble. And that makes him all the more endearing.

Feel free to visit my "Tuesday's Tales" label on my blog and read all the stories.

Tuesday's Tales - FREE READS

Also, go to the "Tuesday's Tales" web site to read stories written by other authors. It's best to do this tomorrow so you may catch the latest batch of stories.

Tuesday's Tales - main web site

Enjoy!

2014-10-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

Keeping facts straight

While writing a short story or novel, it is wise to do research if you’re delving into history or want to bring in a location where the characters play and live.

I decide on an era for my story and location before finding the information on line. If I’ve visited the place I want to write about I find that is an added bonus. No research is required.

Some writers will jump into a story with inaccurate facts. If a reader is vigilant, they will notice that something is off when describing a section of the country or city where the story’s based.

As you study the facts to put into your writing, I find it’s interesting to discover something new about a past era or a current day scenario. While doing this, I’m getting a free history lesson in the process.

Once you find what you need to incorporate into the plot, it’s usually smooth sailing from then on. The story begins to unfold centering on a landscape or an old treasure of history from a past generation or of a current day.

My main intention is to give the readers true facts about what they are reading even though these facts are brought into a story written in a fiction genre.

I have a story coming out in the middle of October called Messages From the Grave. It is based in New York and switches scenarios to Colorado. With the different locations, I wrote a little history about both places hoping to give the reader an insight into the landscapes and things of interest pertaining to them.

Do readers enjoy reading about different locales, or is the main focus on the story for them?

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com

Messages From the Grave

Mary Suzanne

Title: Messages From the Grave

www.romancedivine.com

http://www.allromanceebooks.com

http://www.barnes&noble.com

http://www.kobobooks.com

Amazon.com Kindle Books

http://www.Bookstrand.com

Format: E-book

Publication Date: 10 October 2014

ISBN: 978-1-939010-57-5

Author: Mary Suzanne

Format: E-Book

Length: 8,625 words PDF = 55 pp

Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance. Erotic

Blurb:

Forbidden Fruit - blog tour - Beth interviewing Jean Roberta

2014-09-18T18:12:00.000-04:00

For my blog post this month I'm crossposting my interview with Jean Roberta, who is one of the authors with a story in the Forbidden Fruit anthology. You can find the whole blog tour listing here:
http://www.cheyenneblue.com/
This interview is also crossposted on my own personal blog at:
http://bethwylde.wordpress.com/
Keep an eye out for a new feature at my blog too, hopefully starting this Sunday. I'm doing a 'month in the life of' feature. Small daily postings of what I'm working on and what's going on in both my personal and professional life since I'm going through some major life events and changes. Feel free to visit and leave comments. Now for Jean's interview.

Forbidden Fruit Questions

1. 1. Do you write only lesbian erotica? If not, what else do you write?

About half the stories I write are lesbian erotica, and this is the kind of writing that comes closest to my lived experience.

The rest of my erotic stories are heterosexual or bisexual. And a few are male/male. Some of my stories are not sexually explicit. For example, one of my recently-published stories, “A Bridge to the Other Side,” is told by a teenage girl in 1965; she has psychic ability and is able to channel a ghost from the American Civil War. She also has a hopeless crush on her history teacher, a very closeted gay man whose lover was killed in the U.S. war in Vietnam. This story was published in Issue 6 of Glitterwolf, a LGBT magazine from England.

I write regular posts for two blogs: the Erotic Readers and Writers Association (www.erotica-readers.blogspot.com) and the ten-writer blog “Oh Get a Grip” (www.ohgetagrip.blogspot.com).

I’ve taught first-year English classes in a Canadian university for the past 25 years, and some of my writing is scholarly non-fiction. In 2001, I gave a brief talk on the history of erotica and censorship, and my notes for this evolved into a talk on censorship that was televised when I was a guest speaker in a bookstore. I also have an article in an anthology on teaching vampire literature, and I co-edited a book based on a local queer faculty presentation series.

From 2008-2010, I had a monthly column on the website of the Erotic Readers and Writers Association on the politics of sex. I called it “Sex Is All Metaphors.” Eventually, my column was cut, but by then, I had written 25 pieces. These are now available as an ebook, Sex Is All Metaphors (www.eroticanthology.com) and the proceeds raise funds for an anti-censorship organization.

I’m tech-challenged, but luckily, a young man I know designed my website as a favour, and it lists most of my publications. It’s here: www.JeanRoberta.com

2. 2. What is your favorite genre and pairing to write and why?

Lesbian (or f/f) erotica never loses its charm for me! In my experience, gender roles are less rigid in a queer context than in the heterosexual mainstream, and sex between women—even when it doesn’t involve a long-term commitment—shows that women don’t absolutely need men for anything. (I have nothing against female/male sex based on mutual choice.)

3. 3. What is a typical writing day like for you?

Unfortunately, I can rarely afford to spend a whole day on freelance writing, much as I would like to! While I’m teaching, my writing can’t usually be a priority, but when a deadline is looming up, I sometimes put everything else aside to finish a story. Last week, I spent most of a day working on my first steampunk story to send in for a call-for-submissions. I was in my cozy office at the university, and was totally in the zone until my wife/spouse phoned at the end of her workday. (We’ve been legally married since October 2010.)

4. 4. Do you prefer to write short stories or longer works and why?

Good question! I’ve had over 100 erotic stories published in print anthologies, and I love the shortness of short stories. They can be written in a few days, they are less complex than novels, and they are usually accepted or rejected within six months (at most) of being submitted. For these reasons, I can’t foresee ever giving up writing short stories. However, longer works allow for characters and situations to be more fully developed. I’ve written several longer works that are no longer in print, plus my historical novella, The Flight of the Black Swan (Lethe Press), currently available in several formats and soon to be released as an audiobook.

I plan to retire from teaching within ten years. When I have more time for writing, I expect to focus more on longer works.

5. 5. Tell me about your story in Forbidden Fruit and give us an excerpt please.

The theme of “forbidden fruit” intrigues me because I suspect that most lesbians have had at least one “unwise” encounter. When I first “came out” in a fairly small community, I was intrigued by the variety of women I met in the local queer bar, including some who sported prison tattoos. I realized then that even when lesbians have little else in common, lust is the great leveler. My story, “Shelter,” is about two women who first met in elementary school, and even then, they came from different worlds. Here is the opening scene:

----------------------------------------

I didn’t intend to open my door for anyone at 1:00 a.m., but I couldn’t resist looking through the peep-hole to see who was there.

Cheekbones, long nose, full lips, short dark hair, direct gaze, evil grin. Unmistakably Renee Sharp.

I opened my apartment door before I could stop myself. “You can’t stay here,” I told her, stepping back to let her in.

She accepted my unspoken invitation. “It’s good to see you too, Anna baby. I thought about you while I was away.” A year in prison hadn’t deprived her of energy. What was sex like in the joint? I didn’t want to think about it, but I wanted to know.

The woman was leaner than I remembered, more compact. She could take me down. I knew I should call the police, but I couldn’t do it.

“You don’t have to call the cops, girlfriend. I’m not here to steal your stuff or hurt you in any way. Unless—“ She let her sentence hang in the air while she looked down from my eyes to the thin cotton nightshirt that barely covered my naked breasts. I could feel my nipples jiggling with my breathing, and I buttoned my cardigan from top to bottom. Renee snickered.

“You don’t really want the cops to know I’m here, Anna. No one has to know you ever met me. In the morning I’ll be gone like a wet dream.”

“Renee,” I started.

“Friends call me Razor.” She pulled five chocolate-brown Canadian hundred-dollar bills out of the frayed pocket of her denim jacket and laid them on my hall table.

Oh my god. I still wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted from me, but she obviously thought I was for sale.

------------------------------------------------

The next stop on the Forbidden Fruit blog tour is Laila Blake http://www.lailablake.com/blog/who is interviewing Cheyenne Blue.

Leave a comment on any post in the Forbidden Fruitblog tour to be entered into a random draw to win one of these great prizes. Prizes include a paperback copy of Girls Who Score, lesbiansports erotica edited by Ily Goyanes, Best Lesbian Romance 2011edited by Radclyffe, an ebook of Ladylit’s first lesbian anthology Anything She Wants, and a bundle of three mini-anthologies from Ladylit: Sweat, A Christmas to Remember and Bossy. All of these titles contain some stories written by the fabulous contributors to Forbidden Fruit: stories of unwise lesbian desire. You must include an email address in your comment to be entered into the draw.

Forbidden Fruit: stories of unwise lesbian desire is available direct from the publisher, Ladylit (http://www.ladylit.com/books/forbidden-fruit/) or from Amazon, Smashwords, and other good retailers of ebooks. Check out http://www.ladylit.com/books/forbidden-fruit/ for all purchasing information.

Thanks,

Beth

Popular Books v. "Literature"

2014-09-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

There's another one of those endless, obnoxious Facebook memes making the rounds. List 10 of the books that have changed your life, greatly influenced you, were most memorable for you, yadda yadda yadda.

Nearly everyone I saw listed books they probably haven't read since they were in high school. I'll admit I was guilty of doing that. I listed "Siddhartha", "The Catcher In The Rye", "The Bible", and "The Art Of War". Your friends read your list and talk about how much you have in common because you've read some of the same books. Yup, you and your Facebook friend both read "Crime and Punishment" because Mrs. Naugahyde or Sister Mary Dogface ordered you to read it for English Lit. class. Your Facebook friend feels your pain. Then you bond and sing "Kumbaya".

Alexis Kleinman saw those lists and cried "bullshit"! She wrote "This exercise is just one humblebrag after another. "I'm just trying to keep up with my friends! This is what everyone's doing!" you say as you look up a the top 100 best novels of all time and write down the ones from that list that you've read. You're just trying to make yourself feel smarter and make everyone else feel dumb."

I don't agree with her last statement. I think it's more the case that you don't want your Facebook friends to learn the last book you read and loved was "The Davinci Code".

Here is Alexis's list of books that people are reading in Real Life:

1. Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

2. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

3. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

4. The Phantom Tollbooth

5. The Hunger Games

6. Fifty Shades Of Grey

7. Gossip Girl

8. A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One

9. The Lord Of The Rings

10. Where The Sidewalk Ends

There's nothing wrong with liking popular books even if some think they "dumb down" the world. I've read plenty of them and they taste delicious.

In light of this article, I've changed my list of books that have greatly influenced me. Here is my REAL list:

1. Everyone Poops 

2. Snape/Mary Sue fanfic (all of it) 

3. A Sale Of Two Titties

4. Harry Potter and the Amazing, Wonderful Royalty Check

5. How To Write Good

6. Fancy Coffins To Make Yourself 

7. Every Dad Is A Good Lover  

8. Scouts In Bondage 

9. The Beginners Guide To Sex In The Afterlife 

10. Why Cats Paint

(The first and the last five are real books.)

Oh, and just so you know, the book I'm currently reading is George R. R. Martin's "A Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book One". And I'm loving every second of it.

--__--__--

Here's where to find me on the web:

Elizabeth Black - Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/elizabethablack

Elizabeth Black - Twitter

http://twitter.com/ElizabethABlack

Elizabeth Black - Amazon Author Page

https://www.amazon.com/author/elizabethblack

Midnight Seductions

Anyone out there

Preordering e-books.

"This book was delicious!" Dirty Dining -- #mmromance @dreamspinners

5 stars: THIS BOOK WAS DELICIOUS!! Beginning to end, I adored the heck out of the absolutely sexy, filthy, fun kinky book. -- V. Rundell (full review)

Excerpt

Blurb

About EM Lynley

Win a real precious gem in the 24-Karat Conspiracy giveaway #mmromance @dreamspinners

24-Karat Conspiracy is here!

"Lynley captures her men’s excitement, vulnerability and fear …[her] character and relationship building is brilliant." —Inked Rainbow Reviews

Excerpt

But wait, there’s more

Win this gorgeous (semi) precious stone: a lapis lazuli pendant!

When you read the book, you'll see why I chose lapis.

Here’s more about 24-Karat Conspiracy by EM Lynley

Love is the only gold

You can (pre)order this book at Amazon, Dreamspinner Press and All Romance

Read an extended excerpt at my website.

About EM Lynley

Audio Books

BDSM

Updates In The World Of Elizabeth Black

Easter week.

Winter Blues

Erotic Fairy Tales For Friday The 13th

Romance is in the air.

Winner of the "name my next book" title contest

Holiday Greetings

Time to Get Dirty! Dirty Dining Pre-Order #Giveaway (#gayromance @dreamspinners) –

Release Date ~ January 19

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Photo: Ronaldo Gutierrez

Blurb

Their relationship quickly extends beyond the club and sex. But the trust and affection they’ve worked to achieve may crumble when Jeremy discovers Brice’s VC firm is the one that pulled the plug on PharmaTek—and Jeremy’s research grant.

Excerpt

About the Author

Visit her online Website – Blog – Free Reads – Facebook – Twitter – Newsletter – Pinterest

Email: em@emlynley.com

Sun, Sand, Sex, Christmas on Taha'a -- New Release!

A Christmas Bonus

Holiday Novella by EM Lynley

Under the Polynesian sun, business turns to pleasure. This is one Christmas Bonus you deserve to give yourself this year.

I’m thrilled to announce the release of the brand new 2nd edition of A Christmas Bonus (35k novella)

What happens when business turns pleasurable?

Alec Compton’s dream job at a Wall Street investment firm is on the line if he can’t close a make-or-break takeover deal by the end of the year.

Then business turns into pleasure, but neither Brant nor Alec know whether the other is there for the deal, or for something more personal, in EM Lynley’s sizzling holiday novella A CHRISTMAS BONUS.

Just in time for the holidays. Whether you’re enduring yet another snowstorm or subzero temps, or whether you spend the holidays in the balmy Southern hemisphere, you won’t have another Christmas like this.

I’m trying something new this time around, and this novella is only available from Amazon and can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited.

The second edition includes an additional 5000 words from the 2010 first edition.

Grab your copy today!

About the Author

Visit her online Website – Blog – Free Reads – Facebook – Twitter –

Newsletter – Pinterest

Email: em@emlynley.com

Winding Down 2014

Holidays

Title contest for new collection

Halloween

Is bigger really better???

Tuesday's Tales - Free Reads

Forbidden Fruit - blog tour - Beth interviewing Jean Roberta

Popular Books v. "Literature"