By Ashe Barker (Guest Blogger)
I just spent a happy half hour or so
signing some swag for an event I’m at next week. Easy enough work,
not rocket science and it makes a change from edits. Except it’s
not, I have to really concentrate because when I sign things as an
author I’m not signing my real name. I have to remember who I am.
It’s a whole other identity.
I know this is common to a lot of
authors, many of us – the majority I suspect though I’ve never
tried to check – write under a different name. Some under several
names. I call that ambitious, and impressive. So far I’ve just
stuck to one pen-name, and that gives me enough to think about.
For example, although I have separate
email addresses for my two personas, I only have one phone. Ashe
Barker doesn’t get that many calls, but it has caused confusion
from time to time. My local paper wanted to interview me, they called
back twice before we all realised what was going on.
I have to keep my Facebook and twitter
accounts very separate, and the two Wordpress blogs I run. One is for
Ashe Barker in all her decadent glory, the other is for the parish
council in the village where I live. The elderly ladies down at the
church social probably don’t want to be treated to spanking
excerpts or a discussion on the joys of figging. Or perhaps they do –
I’m not especially familiar with the going-on down at the church
social. Best not to risk it though.
Most people I know, my family, friends,
colleagues who I work with a lot are aware that I’m an author of
erotic romance. It raises an eyebrow or two sometimes, but has never
caused me any problems so it wouldn’t be a major disaster to mix up
my identities. It would be messy though, so I try not to.
The question of identity is one of the
dilemmas faced by Freya Stone, heroine in my current trilogy The
Hardest Word.
This is the story of a submissive who
is mute following a childhood illness. Her attempts to negotiate with
Doms have not gone well, and safe words are a real problem. In
desperation she attempts to purchase the services of experienced Dom
Nick Hardisty, whose blistering reaction makes it clear he is not for
sale. He does agree to help her though, but on his terms not hers.
However the silent little submissive is
hiding a secret. She won the lottery. The Euro-millions lottery. It
was a rollover week and there was only one winning ticket. Nick knows
she won some money, her fancy car and posh apartment give that much
away, but he assumes she blew the lot straight away. As time goes on
and their relationship develops, Freya finds it harder and harder to
conceal her other identity. The sexy sub who strips and drops to her
knees on command is also a multi-millionaire, an entrepreneur wanting
to build her business empire and with the means to do just that. She
even owns a racehorse. Freya’s forgotten why she ever kept all this
from Nick, but as time goes on the truth becomes harder and harder to
reveal. And when, inevitably, it does all come out, the results are
explosive.
The third book in the series, Hard
Choices, went on general release on 6 June. To
celebrate, I’m offering a free ebook from the series to one lucky
winner. Just leave me a comment below. Have you any stories to tell
about mistaken identity? Or perhaps you have some advice for Freya on
how she might tell Nick the truth? Did you ever pretend to be someone
or something you’re not?
A winner of the giveaway will be
selected at random next Wednesday, the 18th of June, and he or she can pick any book from the series.
I’d be delighted to know what you
think of Freya, and of Nick – we authors thrive on feedback. I can
be found on my
blog, and on the Totally
Bound site. I’m on Facebook,
and twitter
and I’m on Pinterest
too, and Goodreads
Here’s the series blurb:
The Hardest
Word charts the sensual journey of Freya North and Nick Hardisty.
Unable to speak since early childhood Freya’s fortunes change
dramatically when she finds herself holding the winning Euromillions
Lottery ticket. Over forty million pounds richer, she still can’t
buy the one thing she really wants—a skilled Master to train her in
the fine art of submission.
Her first ill-fated approach to Nick Hardisty, a Dom who comes highly recommended, earns her a punishment spanking at his BDSM club. From the outset Nick is able to find ways around and beyond Freya’s communication issues to release her innermost submissive instincts. Fascinated, intrigued, and hopelessly attracted to Freya, Nick does agree to train her, but on his terms not hers.
Freya moves into his home for one month. The deal is total obedience, and absolute submission. But while her body, and her emotions, are an open book, she doesn’t reveal to him the true extent of her wealth.
As their relationship develops and deepens, how long can Freya keep her secret from the powerful Dom who insists on total honesty from her in every respect? As her two separate lives threaten to collide, Freya is torn between the stern Master she has come to adore, and the opportunities her wealth provides, to grow into the strong, independent woman she longs to become.
Her first ill-fated approach to Nick Hardisty, a Dom who comes highly recommended, earns her a punishment spanking at his BDSM club. From the outset Nick is able to find ways around and beyond Freya’s communication issues to release her innermost submissive instincts. Fascinated, intrigued, and hopelessly attracted to Freya, Nick does agree to train her, but on his terms not hers.
Freya moves into his home for one month. The deal is total obedience, and absolute submission. But while her body, and her emotions, are an open book, she doesn’t reveal to him the true extent of her wealth.
As their relationship develops and deepens, how long can Freya keep her secret from the powerful Dom who insists on total honesty from her in every respect? As her two separate lives threaten to collide, Freya is torn between the stern Master she has come to adore, and the opportunities her wealth provides, to grow into the strong, independent woman she longs to become.
And here’s
an excerpt from Hard Choices:
“I’ve
managed to keep my hands off you so far. That won’t last much
longer. And when I touch you, it won’t be just about helping you in
and out of the bath. You do understand that, don’t you?”
These
are the words I’ve been waiting for. My response—I arch my back
to shove my breasts above the layer of soapy suds floating on the
surface of the water, my wordless invitation as plain as I can make
it.
He
gets my message and leans in to nuzzle my neck as he trails the
fingers of his left hand across my shoulder then down towards my
breast. He uses his middle finger to make a circular pattern in the
soapy water on the underside of the soft mound before slowly tracing
the outline of my areola. I gasp and stiffen as the familiar tingle
connects my breasts to my groin, then I relax as he takes my nipple
in his fingers and caresses it lightly. His touch is all about
arousal, almost a form of worship as he strokes my breasts
reverentially. His right hand joins in the fun, and he presses my
breasts together, the nipples now swollen and stiff, pebbling under
his careful ministrations.
“How
long is it since you had an orgasm, Freya?” His words are soft,
murmured into my ear.
I
shrug, although I know exactly how long. It was that morning, the
horrible day he asked me to scene with Dan and eventually ejected me
from his house. That day, which started so beautifully—if you
discount my failed attempt to master caning. That day that started
with a lovely, erotic spanking then an intense orgasm, and ended in
total disaster for me. So yes, I do remember. It might as well be
tattooed onto the inside of my eyelids, the image is so vivid.
“By
my reckoning it’s about two weeks. Unless you’ve been playing any
games of your own while you’ve been away from here. Have you,
Freya?”
Current
Dom or not, I know I can’t evade a direct question from Nick. I
shake my head.
“But
you were at the club. No one there take your fancy? I know you had
offers.”
Christ,
he would. And if he’s been monitoring my movements he must know
that I didn’t scene with anyone. Still, I shake my head.
“What
about a little DIY action at home? I know you’re a randy little
slut, I can’t believe you’ve been going without for a fortnight.”
Well,
I have. And even if I hadn’t I’m not sure that makes me a slut.
But this conversation is getting beyond what I can manage with one
hand or nods and shakes of my head. I try to sit up, intending to get
out of the bath, but his arm tightens around me.
“Stay
there. I intend to end your little self-imposed famine now, Freya, if
you want me to. Do you? Do you want me to make you come, my sexy
little slut?”
I
may not be his submissive, or so he says, but he’s giving a fair
imitation of a Dom right now. I decide I must be a slut after all,
and go with it. I nod as I relax back into his arms. He kisses my ear
before reaching down with his left hand to slip it between my legs.
He eases his way through my folds to find my entrance then circles
slowly, his fingertip just inside my pussy. I turn my face towards
his, subconsciously seeking his lips. He brushes his mouth over mine
then deepens the kiss, plunging his tongue into my mouth at the same
time as he thrusts two fingers deep into my cunt. I thrust my hips
upwards out of the water to meet his hand, gyrating my body
to increase the friction. He adds a third finger, and the motion of
his hand quickens as he sets up an insistent rhythm.
For
a moment I recall the ‘rules’ of our most recent such encounters,
but surely none of that applies now. He said he’d make me come, and
I’m taking him up on that offer. Now. It doesn’t take long before
my pussy starts to clench around his fingers, and I
reach up behind my head to tunnel my fingers through his hair.
I’m writhing in the water, squeezing my inner muscles hard as I
hurtle towards my climax. It hits me hard, and I jerk violently,
knocking my sore arm in the process. I feel it, it hurts, but
nothing’s going to derail this fabulous experience. I seem to have
waited so long to feel his hands on me, in me again, as I shiver and
tingle and soar through my orgasm.
As
the tremors recede I sink back into the bath, before lying motionless
at last but his hands are still on me. His fingers remain buried deep
inside me, the other hand caressing my swollen nipples. He lifts his
head, breaking the kiss at last, and I’m looking into his deep grey
eyes. I smile, nervous suddenly. Have I done something wrong? I’m
not certain of our ground rules anymore.
His
answering smile dispels any concerns. “Christ, Freya, your orgasms
are so fucking beautiful. I really will need to do that again
sometime very soon. Will that be all right with you?”
I
nod, and he smiles again, straightening now as he finally slides his
fingers from my pussy, trailing them across my clit as he watches the
reaction in my eyes.
He
winks at me. “Ah yes, very soon. Now, your water’s going cold.
Let’s finish rinsing your hair and get you dried off.”
Author Bio:
Until 2010 I was a director of a
regeneration company in Leeds, in the UK, before becoming convinced
there must be more to life. So I left, and at last I’ve been able
to realise my dream of writing erotic romance. I’ve been an avid
reader of fiction for many years, erotic and other genres, and I
still love reading historical and contemporary romances – the
hotter the better. But now I have a good excuse for my guilty
pleasure – research.
In my own writing I tend to draw on
settings and anecdotes from my own experience to lend colour, detail
and realism to my plots and characters. An incident here, a chance
remark there, a bizarre event or quirky character, any of these can
spark a story idea. But ultimately my tales of love, challenge,
resilience and compassion are the conjurings of my own lurid and
smutty imagination.
When not writing – which is not very
often these days - my time is divided between my role as resident
taxi driver for my teenage daughter, and caring for a menagerie of
dogs, rabbits, tortoises. And most recently a very grumpy cockatiel.
I’m a rural parish councillor, and I’m passionate about evolving
rural traditions and values to suit twenty first century lifestyles.
I write for Totally Bound and now have
twelve titles on general release, with several more in the pipeline.
I’ve completed a fourth trilogy in the Black Combe ‘family’
which is due for release later this year. I also have a ‘May to
September’ style novella out and a short story in the Paramour
collection, as well as a stand-alone novel in the ‘What’s Her
secret?’ imprint. Another short story in the Jolly Rogered
anthology is due for publication in July 2014.
I have a pile of story ideas still to
work through, and keep thinking of new ones at the most unlikely
moments, so you can expect to see a lot more from me.
Buy Links:
You can get your hands on The
Hardest Word trilogy from all the usual
places:
12 comments:
Welcome back to Beyond Romance, Ashe! I know very well the confusion of trying to keep the two identities separate. Every time I do something online, I have to ask myself - am I logged in as Lisabet? Or as Elizabeth? Because Facebook and Google are dying to make those connections, and if they do, I'm in big trouble!
Yeah, what Lisabet said. I'm still very separate and trying to keep it that way. I'm almost ready to reveal my other half to my real life Facebook friends and family, but still concerned it will impact my job. Good for you for, Ashe, for coming out. Sounds like a tasty book! I love that the heroine gets to be the one with money.
I don't know why Facebook and Google have any say in how many different accounts you have. Each account is separate and should not affect the other in an way.
I loved the excerpt from The Hardest Word. What an amazing idea. A mute sub. I can't wait to read more and see how Freya communicates with Nick.
Thank you also for the great giveaway.
orelukjp0 at gmail dot com
This trilogy has been beckoning me for a while. As soon as I have a steady income, I'm sure to grab the other two books. :)
I've reached a kind of truce between my two names. I've decided I'm not going to advertise it at this time, but I'd like to in the future, depending on where I end up job-wise. However, I'm also not going to hide it. There's too much overlap between my writing groups and friends and readers, and I really can't maintain more than one Facebook profile. I only hide it because OTHER people think I should be ashamed of it anyway, not because I am. Still trying to figure out how much I want that to control me.
I'm Jean Valjean!
(Okay, I couldn't resist.)
Great post. It totally resonates. Thanks so much for sharing.
Looking forward to this one. Thanks for the giveaway.
I'm new to the pen name game, so it should be interesting to see what happens :) Thanks for the giveaway.
penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
I've read the other two books in the trilogy and I can't wait to see what happens because quite honestly I couldn't believe how Hard Lessons ended. The answer to your question to your question is yes - I have definitely pretended to be someone else. I never take it to far but boy, do I enjoy doing it! Thanks for having a giveaway.
No stories to share
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Now I can download all three - read them back to back!
I'm in a constant state of identity crisis. Not only my author's pen name, I have an anonymous pen name for my personal blog where I discuss 'the other' me. I'm starting to forget my real name some days!
Congrats on the trilogy.
The only person I have ever been mistaken for is my mom. Especially over the phone. But that's about it. You're a new to me author, but these sound great. Thank you for sharing your craft with the world.
devynsmom95@yahoo.com
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