Roxy's Flog Blog

Cover Art for Sacred Secrets!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:34:25 PDT

I woke up this morning to cover art in my email and let me tell you ... there is no better way to start the day!! As many of you know, Sacred Secrets was previously published as an ebook at Liquid Silver Books. Now it is coming out at Lyrical Press as both an ebook and a print release!

So I'm very excited...

Here is the much anticipated cover!
I hope to have release dates soon:)

Nothing To Hide...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:27:00 PDT

A friend sent me this in my email earier this week and this is the first chance I've had to share it...

This first video is the commerceial for New Zealand Air, watch careful there are some surprises hidden there...

And the second video is a behind the scenes look at the making of the commerial...

Hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did!

Midnight Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:43:56 PDT

At midnight we went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince...
As always there were scenes I wished had been expanded on...scenes I thought went too long...but I enjoyed it thoroughly none the less as an Addition-To the book. No one should judge the work solely by this one movie...

Here's the trailer if you haven't seen it yet...

Pleasant surprises:
The depth in which Tom Felton portrayed Draco Malfoy. Read an article about his role and the man(yes, over the years all of the boys in this film have become men.)

Tom Felton definitely steals the show as far as character growth. I wish I could say that about the rest of the ensemble...but perhaps that wasn't the fault of their acting ability but a weakness of the script because there was plenty of grit in the book to have gained inspiration from...

Secretary WIP Done!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:53:54 PDT

I am throwing confetti and doing the happy dance. The story even has a tentative title "Recession Crazy" though I'll assume it will be shortened in editing...

I can honestly say this was the hardest story I've ever written. Thank Goddess, it is done...even emailed to my editor. Whew!

And just in time to review score for Sacred Secrets...since my editor at Lyrical wants it back asap as well.

It's Sunday night and I haven't seen the light of day...gonna go catch some twilight and play with the dogs:) I know Jazzi is more than ready! Me too!

Some Days...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:37:22 PDT

Some days writing is work...take today. I'd rather be playing but I 5K to write before tomorrow ends, meaning wrap up the secretary story...tie all the loose ends, give it a happily ever after...or at least I'm happy for today ending.

But hubby is home...and I don't want to write.
Pout.

I wish I would have stayed up Thursday night and finished it while ideas were coming at me by the thousands...oh well...too late for should have's. I need to just sit my ass in a chair and do it!

Maybe after dinner and another glass of wine...
Maybe after we snuggle a little longer...
Maybe.

Blogging at SexPressions Today

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:58:42 PDT

I hope you will join me at SexPressions today where I will be posting about FETISH.

Calling Out My Demon

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:08:25 PDT

Whew, I had no idea I was emotionally on edge about my current WIP, the yet titled secretary story. Yesterday, I was brainstorming with hubby about what I can do to kick the secretary novel up a notch...and eyyyow! The stuff that came to the surface made my blood BOIL...not in a good way...in an angry way.

Anything that stirs up that kind of emotion has to be written because a writer's best friend is intense emotion: anger, fear, hate, love, lust, envy, jealousy.

Raw, undiluted emotion is scary stuff and in the writer's world, separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls. No one wants to face their darkest fears, their losses, their inner demon on a good day, but to purposely poke those demons to make them rise even closer to the surface of thought so that the demon drives the thought--only a real masochist, or a writer--would force themselves through such torment.

My family is used to coming into the office by now and finding me slumped over the computer sobbing...and typing as fast as my fingers can move. I've learned that the scenes that make me ache or cringe or want to run screaming into the night are the scenes my readers write me about, saying they've been inexplicably "moved" "touched" or "in some way changed."

I've also learned from my critique partner that when I cheat and edge around an emotionally touchy idea it is obvious (maybe only to her since we can see right through each others writing, just sometimes not our own) She'll call and say, "You cheesed that scene so bad." And I'll take a fresh look and say "Yeah, yeah I did"

Fixing those scenes takes opening up...finding the pain inside...and harnessing it.

Yesterday, I outlined the scene, then backed away -- I need to be alone with my demon awhile to pull up the kind of emotion I need to write the scene. Cheesing out is not an option. Today I'm digging deep and hoping the scene flows easily.

Feminist vs Romance Conversation Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:49:17 PDT

In 1970, feminist Germaine Greer claimed (reading romance novels) and I assume writing them) enslaved women, encouraging them to cherish "the chains of their bondage." Always controversial, Greer has had an inspirational career writing such novels as The Female Eunuch, in which she argued women do not realise how much men hate them, and how much they are taught to hate themselves.

Wow, have we come a long way.
At least, as women we are now encouraged to love ourselves and empower ourselves.

As a response to this difference, an article,Scholarly Writers Empower Romance, declares romance as a genre empowers women.

I'm not sure if romance is empowering women, but I do think women are now empowered enough that we don't need anyone telling us how we have to look, act, or think to be a feminist. We're not ashamed of what we read anymore than we're not ashamed of sliding into a dress or heels for special occasions.

A scientific study was conducted by Laurie Rudman and Julie Phelan of Rutgers University who found that romance and feminism are not in direct conflict. And may actually improve heterosexual relationships.

Which makes me ask, what about bisexual or homosexual relationships? Were individuals who identify other than heterosexual not studied? Or is there not enough LGBT-romance on the market for them to feel a study was practical?

Hmmmm.

I'm hopeful. It seems that gay material is becoming more and more available in response to public buying response. With my first F/F having gained a publisher, I can only be hopeful that it is a sign, that the market is opening for lesbian and bisexual female romance.
Now, if I can just get the word out so that all of my bisexual and lesbian friends will BUY, BUY, BUY ensuring my publisher (Samhain Publishing) is happy with the results! One thing for certain, I'll keep you posted.

Erotica on hold for Black Lace and Nexus at Virgin

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:06:24 PDT

Supposedly, Virgin Books will release a statement about their decision not to add books in the Black Lace and Nexus erotica imprints in 2010 later today. Rumor has been flying since Friday and various posts have been popping up all over but as of Monday, the authors at Black Lace and Nexus had not been formally notified; although Virgin Books' managing director, John Sadler has been quoted as saying: "As part of our strategic planning for 2010 we will be prioritising our rapidly growing non-fiction list and as such have decided not to add to our erotica list for that year."

Now that's getting the cart before the horse a bit.
Especially considering in times of recession people reach for escapism as an outlet, reading and watching more television/movies. Typically, we also boink like bunnies to escape our woes...so maybe this hold on erotica is really a ploy to curb a population explosion over the next few years...

I know...my humor sucks.
This is dreadful news from a major contributor for the erotica industry and I hope it resolves itself soon.

In a sigh of relief for me, this news could explain my rejection letter dated two weeks ago which asked me to submit new material at a later date. (I do hate those rejection letters that begin "I love your style of writing (writing voice etc) however...") especially following a good response to a query + sample letter that earned me a full manuscript request...

Oh well...keep plugging away...US publishers are still acquiring:)

Remembering Great Men...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:27:31 PDT

Perhaps I am not using the correct word in the title of this post. Great may not be adequate in either case, one man so loved, one man so hated.

Tomorrow, millions will be watching Michale Jackson's memorial. It will be live streamed, it will be televised, and I for one will be tuned in to watch. I almost feel guilty about that. I would almost prefer to remember the man as he was onstage.

Sir Hotness and I have rarely ever disagreed, I found out the day Michael died that we disagree on how we choose to remember him. I won't apologize for loving Michael Jackson's music. I won't apologize for thinking he was a musical genius.

There is another man who died today (at the age of 93) who may sooner be forgotten but who left an equally large, if terrible, fingerprint on our society. Robert McNamara, often heralded as the architect of the Vietnam War. See the TimesOnline obituary.
Read a 2004 interview with Doug Saunders

I heard a rebroadcast of an NPR radio interview with him this morning and felt how hard it has been for him to deal with the events of that war and the events caused by that war. However, even facing old age and pending death, i don't believe he ever repented for his role in the Vietnam War. He didn't see a need to. Did he say, "I'm sorry?" sure, but he'd immediately follow his apology with "Please understand" ... "Regrettable" ... and excuses. Always saying, "We need to learn a lesson..."

I think he honestly believed that the Vietnam War was necessary. He made decisions at the time based on intel which led him to belief communist Asia and World War (nuclear) War was eminent if Vietnam wasn't helped and he saw the US role in Vietnam as "helping" much as our soldiers now are helping Iraq.

He felt so strongly about trying to share what lessons he felt should be gleaned from Vietnam that he wrote an autobiography: In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam

I was so enthralled listening to him that I have found my "Beach Book" for when we go to Florida in a few weeks for summer vaca.

Many will agree with me, many will disagree with me but this week we say a final farewell to two men who helped shape the United States as we know it. Two Great Men.

Horror Down There...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:22:16 PDT

No, I'm not talking about the dust bunnies under the bed...the other down there...

You know I've had forty-odd years to grow completely comfortable with my nether region. I can say that I love my clitoris. I love my clit so much I play with it every day...

But there was a day long ago. I think I was twenty-one. And I was flipping through a copy of Hustler with some friends and one of those friends pointed out that one of the model's rim was exceptionally dark...

I was shocked, I'd never considered that the skin around my anus might be anything other than the pleasing shade of pale cream or rosy pink that the rest of my body is. I'd always assumed my butt hole was the same color as my nipples...I mean, seriously, you'd think, right? And I'd never looked before...

I was assured by my friends that it was indeed tan...they volunteered to hold a mirror, but mortified by the prospect I declined and raced home to hold my own mirror in the privacy of my bathroom.

Oh my god!
Mortal embarrassment. Tan not rosy pink. Forget cunnilingus in the daylight ever again. I vowed no one would ever see my parts again...

Thankfully, I met a guy who after a few full-on dark sessions demanded on seeing my labia because he thought it felt beautiful. Eventually I admitted that I was embarrassed about the darker pigment around my anus. He needed proof and upon embarrassing reveal, assured me that he thought my anus was hot. So hot he insisted on rimming it right there in full-spectrum overhead lighting.

Thank goddess I was born when I was because what if I'd had the option of anal bleaching? I might have gotten a little lightening with my Brazilian...and I wouldn't have experienced my first rimming. (I highly recommend that experience so if you've never been licked there...find someone to do it for you asap)

There are so many options available now...to beautify the horrors of what is not beautiful enough down there. Anal bleaching. Labia nipping and tucking. Hood reduction. Oh, and this one. Hymen replacement.

Seriously, I was reading an article about a woman who had her virginity restored for the sixth time...

Do I really want to relive my "first time" enough to have surgery to ensure I bleed when I have sex? Not a chance. I was recently talking to some friends about this...because believe it or not the surgery is "in."

We unanimously agreed "no way" but one of the still single women at the table admitted that if her fiance wanted to break her hymen on their wedding night she would do it for him...

Really?
No. No. NO!

I am so happy that I have grown to love my body just the way it is because there are just too many options available for fixing what others might see as the horrors down there but I just see as beautiful!

Happy Fourth of July

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:00:06 PDT

Reaper Cover Art

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:30:12 PDT

I think it's an awesome cover for my paranormal romance coming soon to Liquid Silver Books. What do you think?

Sex Stuff...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:54:42 PDT

I think I need to make Susan my official (unpaid) but dearly loved research assistant...she doesn't realize it but she keeps sending me these great emails and well, one link leads to another and before you know it...I've discovered something I can share here.

I can also share tidbits with the family as we sit around enjoying family dinner. Like tonight following my daughter's recent announcement she was quiting her job because she couldn't stand working one more night with that bitch (co-worker)...I kept telling her the chick just needed to get laid...and tonight I had proof. I think she should laminate it and stick the info next to the time clock...

Anyway here it is:
We’ve all heard it before, whether you work in a Fortune500 company or waited tables at a restaurant. There’s always an uptight guy or girl who’s defensive, paranoid, over-stressed and nitpicky. And someone– maybe you’re too polite– but someone says, “That guy (or girl) soooo needs to get laid.”

Yep, there is scientific proof we're happier and more productive on the job when we're getting regular sex. Read about it here.

Like I said, one link led to another...

Valuable life lesson: If you are going to announce that you masturbate at work, make certain your Twitter name isn't your real name. Case in point as found on MySexProfessor.com

BTW you can follow My Sex Professor on Twitter...you can also follow me on Twitter:)

Not Sure I'm A Fan Yet...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:01:08 PDT

Sunday night has once again become a television night, thanks to HBO. First up, True Blood, and I admit to being a hard core addict. Don't even think about coming between me and the television while it is airing...the result would be bad.

A new show debuted this last Sunday night, directly following Sookie and Bill, called HUNG. It's about Ray (Thomas Jane) a well-endowed high-school teacher forced by debt to become a gigolo. I'm not sure I'm going to be a big fan. The side kick, a poet and past lover, Tanya, played by Jane Addams, is thus far my favorite character. She's a little flaky, skinny, and is fairly cheeky.

So here's my problem...if HBO would have made the story about a female teacher, trying to survive the economic times, doing the dirty for money on the side, it wouldn't be a show. In this country a female sex worker is still seen as the dredge of society; but twist that plot and make it a male teacher with a big dick and suddenly it's marketable. Yep, I'm having issues...

Will I watch Episode Two? Yep, if only to see where this train wreck is heading. I hope it surprises and delights me. I'm not counting on it though. If you didn't see it, here's a link to what TIME had to say, courtesy of an email from Susan.

And if you don't have HBO but you want to see what the fuss is about:
Watch True Blood Season Two (rent season One first -- its on video) at:
www.watchtrueblood.org
Watch Hung's premier episode for free at: www.watchhungonline.org

Did Anyone See This?

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:39:07 PDT

I want to thank Xandra Gregory for bringingt o my attention this article in the Washington Post: all about Loose-Id. Here's the link.

This week I will be working on my Secretary tale...at least through Wednesday since Thursday I pick up hubby at the airport:) in time for the holiday.

Mmm Yummy Eyecandy

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:01:02 PDT

Eye Candy for the Weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:01:12 PDT

Hope you have a wonderful weekend:)
I'm off to play with my hubby who is home for the weekend...yay

Healing The World Through Sex Toys...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:13 PDT

I'm taking a break from tooting my own horn to bring your attention to a site I stumbled across: Mominatrix, Banging Out Sex Advice who is holding a survey today titled: Sexual favors for a Father's Day Gift -- hot or not?

I know, really, how do I find these sites?

Anyway, aside from a few articles that were amusing, a few that bordered on eww, or eek, which for me is saying something, I ran across her article, Heal The World Through Sex Toys, the idea may or may not eek you out. After some flat humor about the economy and the viability of affording a new dildo (possibly stealing the PB&J from your kids mouth) **hey, she said it, not me** she finally got to the point of the article which was a push for Sex Toys for Kids.

Get your mind out of the gutter, people.

Sex Toys for Kids was started by a parent who wanted to make a difference for kids in Malipampang, Phillipines, Sex Toys for Kids uses commissions from a group of popular sex shops, including Babeland (a Mominatrix fave) to help provide elementary aged children with an education. Instead of collecting donations, the site asks you to shop via their links which allows your store to track your purchase and give anywhere from 7% to 30% of it to Sex Toys for Kids.

I admit, I eeked at their company name. However, after going to their site and reading their tagline: "An educated child, another and another...can make a difference. Not only for them but also for the people around them." I was nodding in agreement.

Plus, according to their site, 20% of a $25. purchase goes to ST4K. Which translates to (in their economy and again quoted from the ST4K site): "...enough to send a child to school and give him/her ten to twenty pisos allowance to eat and snack while attending school for one to two weeks."

Sex Toys For Kids has partnered with: Ashleys Sex Toys, Babeland, Discreet Romance, Eden Fantasys, and Good Vibrations.

All I'm saying is, the next time you need the next drop dead gorgeous, top of the line, 24-setting dual vibrator, check one of these companies first. 'Cause if you are going to lay out $200. for all the bells and whistles (and a silent motor) maybe $40. of that should go toward a kid in need.

Throwing More Confetti!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:23:01 PDT

Yesterday, I received another acceptance letter in my email! This time from Samhain for my F/F working title piece Porn Star. (The title of which I've been asked to change to something else. Which is okay. I'm not necessarily attached to the title.)

Honestly, I'd given up. They'd had it for awhile (since August 2008) and I'd made revisions (around Christmas) and resubmitted with no word.

I was worried to the point of querying a few other publishers to see if they'd like to see it and got the same standard reply...not really interested in F/F because it doesn't sell as well.

You will notice the photo I attached to this post, a M/F/F menage...which even though the story is not a menage, the blonde in the middle (my pornstar) is in love with both a man and a woman. I swear, my friend Susan must have some psychic connection because this photo was in my email this morning when I woke up:) And it is perfect.

Well, readers...
I hope you help me prove the critiques of female bisexual and lesbian erotic romance wrong! I know there is an audience! I know there is. So, it's going to be up to us to get the word out! Who's with me?

Prodigal Slave is Coming Soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:49:05 PDT

I am soooo excited!
Prodical Slave is coming!

Woot! Throwing confetti!

I know, I know...I'm overly anxious and it will be months before edits are done and cover art and...and...and...

I'm pacing the floor like a 1950's dad waiting outside the delivery room.

Thankfully, I am not the only one who is excited. My critique partner, Xandra Gregory, (who incidentally has Jolly Rogered coming out at LSB soon) is equally excited. She is the one who has prodded me over the years to finish the story with the red bustier...

And this morning I woke up to a wonderful email from a friend, Susan, who sent me a group of photos from Morgana Femme Couture's LiveJournal. The corset for todays post came from her collection:)

So here's an excerpt (Chapter One):

Prodigal Slave - Ch 1

PRODIGAL SLAVE Coming Soon to LSB!

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:59:09 PDT

Whew! Signed the contract, filled out the cover art form...

I am sooo excited to announce that Prodigal Slave is coming to LSB!

I can't even tell you how long I have been working on this book...years...forever it was known only as The Red Corset Story because it began as a short story, evolved into a novella, and just kept growing. It is at 45K right now but after edits I can assume it will be 50K. I always add more during edits...

Here is the quick blurb:

Prodigal Slave
by Roxy Harte
45k BDSM, M/F, M/M, MMF Rom

Recently divorced paralegal extraordinaire and soccer mom, Charlotte Sullivan, has a secret past life that has just returned to haunt her in the form of a red bustier that arrives perfectly gift wrapped in time for her birthday. With it is a summons from her once Master Francois Rene de Hart, “Come to me.”

With her twin teenage daughters in Europe for the summer with her parents, she finds herself with the perfect opportunity to relive her youth with a man she once loved, but can her heart survive the temptation of the man a second time around? Pure lust awaits a mere train ride away but does she dare make a journey that she fears may break more than her heart this second time around?

Added surprise awaits when she meets Francois’s lover Pierre-Louis and discovers she can only be truly reunited with her Master if she learns to love the other man.

I'm not sure why I love this book so much, or the characters, but it probably has to do with where I was in my life when it began. I was starting over after a marriage of fifteen years and wanted to rediscover who I really was after what I was seeing as my mispent youth trying to be something I wasn't. I wanted time back, I started longing for all of the "what might have beens" if I had just followed a different path...

With Prodigal Slave, I allowed Charlotte to revisit her past by returning to her Master, a man she left when she married a man she hoped to find "normal" with. House, Dog, picket fence, 2.5 children...and she was happy...she loved her life. Post-divorce, after her teen daughter's graduation from high school and the impending empty nest...she started to realize how hum-drum and sexless her normal life had become.

And then her Master of two decades before summoned her, calling her the slave name he'd given her so long ago: Cassiopeia.

And if that wasn't enough of a world shaker...
I had to add in her Master's other lover: Pierre-Louis.

I loved writing this story. It's real life, not fantasy. It explores what happens when you are both a loving mother...and a kinky, sensual woman...trying to keep your life separated into nice tidy compartments...and all that emotion that comes to the surface when your worlds suddenly collide and you can't just hide the truth any more.

I hope all of my readers love reading this story as much as I loved writing it.

Yeah, I Wrote My Senator...and My Governor

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:02:53 PDT

So, I can't even say it's a rare thing that I wrote my senator...or my governor ...so, it's not like a big announcement or anything that I wrote him...again.

I only mention it because to my readers who live in Ohio, I want to get the word out that Ohio's libraries are in crisis, following Governor Ted Strickland's press conference Friday to outline his plan to balance the budget. One of the highlights of the press conference was the governor's vow to support expanded gambling within the state, something he had long been against. Hidden away within the proposal, however, was an outline calling for a 50 percent reduction in state funding to Ohio's libraries. This is his answer to a projected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall over the next two years.

Is anyone out there still buying that our country is in the grip of a major recession? And the answer is to cut the money going to the one free source of family entertainment our country offers??? I don't know about anyone else but the summer reading program at my public library saved my ass more than one summer when I was broke and facing bored kids. Its a tradition my oldest daughter is following, taking my granddaughters to the Summer Reading program in her town.

I can't believe a 50% cut has been proposed during this time in our countries history which will undoubtedly be written about in the future as being the worst economic crisis since the great depression. Even before hard times hit for the nation, I had a few years of my own personal hard times where I relied on the public library; so I can easily believe media reports that, "Libraries have seen an increase in use - from higher levels of foot traffic to increasing demands for computers - and have become a lifeline for many of Ohio's unemployed and under-employed hoping to apply for unemployment, benefits, and even new jobs."

It isn't too late. The cuts are not set in stone. Please, if you live in Ohio...write your representative!
Contact Gov. Strickland

Solstice/Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:28:18 PDT

Today is Summer Solstice
And Father's Day

So, Blessed Solstice and to the father's reading, enjoy your day!

Hoping this series isn't a total disappointment...
Merlin on NBC tonight

Today I am helping Sir Hotness do laundry and pack...then its off to Chicago for him.
Yesterday I laid in the sun, working on my tan for the Florida vaca we are planning...and I got so sunburned. OUCH!

Monday, its back to work on the secretary WIP...hoping to wrap it up in the next two weeks. Cross fingers!

The Cougar is "In"

noreply@blogger.com (Roxy Harte) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:26:12 PDT

I snorted when I saw there was a reality show much like the Bachelorette but starring a COUGAR (read older woman)

Now, there is The Proposal starring Sandra Bullock (who is 44 btw and her 90% nude shot made me realize I really need a personal trainer)

I saw the Proposal today with two of my daughters. Personally, I love the older woman, younger man theme. Probably has something to do with my suddenly finding myself in the position of suddenly being older than every hot guy or gal I take notice of. Okay, so I'm going off on a tangent here but I find this totally shocking. I'm not sure when it happened, or how I never noticed before, but suddenly I am older. The only thing I can think of as an explanation is that I've never been a big fan of mirrors...those pesky laughlines just crept in around my eyes and I didn't notice...really. Okay, tangent over...

The cougar is "in" it seems...
Except in romantic fiction.

I love to find novels where the heroine is 40+
I really love when the hero is slightly younger...
But they are rare gems.

I'm thinking my next book is going to be older woman/younger man...I may not find a publisher but it seems fun:)