I Brake for Hunky Heroes: Inspirations and Perils of Driving behind an Erotic Romance Writer

By Kate Deveaux (Guest Blogger)

Inspiration. It’s what gives all of us writers that extra oomph. The gusto to put hands to keyboard, to start frantically typing as fast as we can; lest we lose that fleeting moment where idea meets clarity, and the words just flow on the page.

For me, it’s that thrilling feeling when I first start a new book. The characters and plot are carrying on in my head like a movie being played on a big screen and I’m just trying to write it down as fast as I can — wishing there was movie theatre fresh-popped popcorn with lots of butter! But there’s not, and besides it would only get stuck in the keyboard. Of course, after the initial rush of excitement, with a chunk of text down on the page, there is always a break in the inspiration. Just like in music, a reprieve of sorts and I am forced to re-group and try to focus again. Over the years, I have found several ways to re-kindle inspiration when it wanes on a project.

Setting: For me, setting is probably one of the biggest sources of inspiration. I’m a very visual and sensory person who loves jotting down details, the more sensual the better. I can see it, taste it, and smell it. It could be a crowded tube station in the muggy August heat with the crush of the passengers close together, the hum of the engines, the scent of fumes, and the silk blouse that clings to the heroine’s skin. Or the inspiration could be the blistering hot sun on the Caribbean Sea, the sparkle of the turquoise water, as a seventy-foot sailboat cuts across the surface, and my hero and heroine on board for sexy mayhem — alone at sea. Or it could be the jagged cliffs of Capri, the lemon scented air mingled with the salty Mediterranean, with it’s hillside town, villas imbedded in the rock, that inspires me to write what goes on in in that small village — behind bedroom doors, or on moonlit terraces, or in secluded corners at the neighborhood bistro.

For example, in one of my books, Academy of Love, it was Equestrian Hunt Country Virginia and the ivy-clad all girls’ boarding school (yes, it’s true, I attended one myself for years) that inspired me to write an erotic romance novel. That majestic setting, turned seductive by night, was perfect for the hero and heroine to be reunited after years apart. In another book, The Butler Did It, the heroine’s lofty mansion in the Miami sky provided just the right crisp sizzle to spice up her deepest sexual fantasies. If can see, smell, and taste the moment, then I hope, so can my reader.

Characters: Characters for me can be very inspiring, especially when I begin to develop one or two personality traits or quirks. For me, developing the physical and emotional elements is almost like meeting someone new for the first time, especially if he’s a super hunky hero. Frequently, these types of inspirations come at the worst time — while in the doctor’s waiting room, or in a long line up at the grocery store, or worse yet, while I’m driving! I can’t get home fast enough to jot it all down before it falls out of my brain. It can be quite heady writing those first few words between the hero and heroine, it’s often enough to inspire me to write and quickly! Those heroes always have me at “Hello.”

WIPs: An unlikely source of inspiration for me can come from neglected WIP’s. Like many working writers these days, we are all super busy. We have to balance writing with promotion, with editing deadlines, and still get dinner on the table, in an attempt to have some semblance of a normal life — for those who live amongst us that aren’t writers and don’t brake for hunky heroes.

One of the things I found the hardest in my career is having to abandon a WIP that I am deep into. Before I was a published author, the focus was all on the WIP. Nowadays, the WIP often gets thrown casually to one side, while a new manuscript with a deadline takes precedence. Sort of like trading one lover for another. So where’s the inspiration in that you think?

Well, every once in a while I have a moment, when I’m re reading some WIP placed on the back burner, and in re-reading it, I actually get a moment when I think, “Wow, that chapter was really good, or that line was really great, or I can’t believe I wrote that.” Granted, it doesn’t happen that often, but when it does, there’s not a better feeling. It inspires me to keep on writing every time it happens. We won’t discuss any of the other times, when I blurt out loud, “What was I thinking?” and shake my head and immediately get out the big red pen. That’s definitely not inspirational, but I’m sure many authors can relate!

So for me, inspiration comes from many places: conversations overheard at crowded coffee shops, the scrolling headline on the local news, the baggage carousel at a busy airport, or a hunky hero darting out in front of my car. That of course if the very best kind. As an erotic romance writer, I brake for Hunky Heroes, wouldn’t you?

Thank you so much Lisabet for hosting me on your awesome blog! It is a pleasure to share some of my inspirations and also my newest release, The Butler Did It.

Readers - leave a comment (including your email address) and you could win a fabulous, limited release notebook featuring my wonderful cover.

http://www.cafepress.com/totalebound.847296456

Blurb

Sparks fly when Vi Martin hires Clarkson Dale, a professional butler for her swanky Miami retreat. Work turns to play when they break all the rules.
Vi Martin, successful multi-millionaire businesswoman, is in for a surprise when the domestic agency sends her a new butler for her swanky Miami penthouse. Drop dead gorgeous Clarkson Dale is the consummate professional butler…until he meets his new employer. The sparks fly and their attraction is undeniable when they break all the rules. She knows it’s wrong to have sex with the hired help but the woman is used to getting what she wants and she can’t resist temptation.

Clarkson is conflicted by his professional role and his flagrant attraction to Vi. They strike a compromise, work is work and play is play. Strictly professional by day and all bets are off at night when they explore their fantasies. Vi likes it when a man takes control and she’s open to new experiences. Clarkson has just the man for the job. Michel, Vi’s personal chef, has other talents, and joins Clarkson and Vi in exploring her deeper sexual tastes. Clarkson takes control of a night of passion and guides Michel on how to properly pleasure their employer. Michel has no problem rising to the occasion.

Excerpt

Vivienne Martin heard the door chime echo across her vast penthouse. She put the phone down and impatiently called for Marie to answer it. The bell chimed again but still no Marie. Just where had her maid got to? And how was Vi supposed to get any work done around here if she had to answer both the phone and door at the same time? A reminder of just why she had let the agency know she was desperate for a butler for her new sprawling Miami retreat. Exasperated, she left her office, her Ferragamo spiked heels clicking as she strode quickly across the marble foyer.

Smoothing her skirt, she opened the front door widely and smiled.

"Ms. Martin?" Clarkson asked, with surprise.

"And you are?" she asked of the hunky well-dressed man before her. Damn the media, he was probably a reporter looking for the newest scoop on her Miami retreat.

"Clarkson Dale," he stammered slightly, his eyes lingering on her silk blouse, unbuttoned to reveal ample cleavage. "The agency sent me. You requested a butler."

"Clarkson, last name or first?" she said crisply, relieved that he was the new butler. He could deal with the snooping press from now on—he was tall enough and built well enough to take them on.

He just stared at her. He probably wasn’t used to an employer answering her own door. That made two of them. "Clarkson, first name, madam," he said politely.

"Madam," she snorted, and she saw a smile flicker across his chiselled face. "No one’s ever called me that. Now come on, Clarkson, I don’t have all day to stand here. The sooner you get to work the better. I’ll give you a quick tour—I don’t know where Maria got to. She’s the maid and she should really show you around, but I guess I’ll have to."

"Yes, madam," he said, following her into the lavishly decorated surroundings.

"Vivienne," she said, "but I prefer you address me Ms. Vi. Definitely not madam."

"Of course, Ms. Vi."

She glanced back to catch him eyeing the sashay of her pencil skirt. It was one of her own designs and she was well aware that it accentuated her pert ass. But she also knew that as a professional butler, he knew better than to think of his employer in anything but a professional sense.
 
The Butler Did it is currently available as part of the At Your Service anthology


Buy link: http://bit.ly/16SgyiI

It will be released as a standalone story by Total-E-Bound soon!

Preorder: 17^th June
Prerelease: 1^st July
General release: 29^th July

About Kate

KATE DEVEAUX is a contemporary, erotic romance writer and die-hard romantic. It was after reading Jane Eyre in high school, that she became hooked on the idea of writing about romance, excitement and drama. Kate has been penning stories, from the sensual to the sinfully sexy, ever since!

In addition to red hot romance, Kate's fictional stories explore the dynamics of why relationships do or don’t work, the choices people make, family dramas and the unexpected events that set everyday life on its head. She is currently busy completing two erotic romance novels and one contemporary romance novel for release in 2013 —each filled with sexy romance, heroines who are no shrinking violets and heroes who make your heart skip a beat


A former wedding planner, Kate has always been "in love" with love! She was inspired to transition from writing racy short stories to full length manuscripts after meeting other authors in the romance world at industry workshops, conferences and events. Now a full-time contemporary romance novelist, Kate is a member of Savvy Author, Romance Writers of America (RWA) as well as their erotic romance chapter, Passionate Ink. Born in London, England, Kate has lived in both the U.K. and the U.S and she is a graduate of the University of Alberta in Canada. She and her husband currently reside in Arizona. When she’s not writing or reading, Kate can be found on the tennis court—yes, there’s even "love" in that game too!



Please visit Kate at:
Website: www.katedeveaux.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kate-Deveaux/349294291841235?fref=ts,
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KateDeveaux 
Buy link:  Total E-Bound: http://bit.ly/16SgyiI

In Service to the Senses

By Demelza Hart (Guest Blogger)

Thanks so much, Lisabet, for having me over at your blog. As I still feel like a relative newbie to the whole publishing world, I thought I’d give a little insight into what brought me into it.

To be honest, I still expect the whole notion of me writing erotic romance and erotica to be revealed as a complete fantasy, as a bizarre dream life from which I will soon awaken. Not because it’s something I’m ashamed of or in denial about, far from it, but because it’s something that had never occurred to me five years ago and which has taken me completely by surprise. It was one of those things ‘other people did’.

I have loved and been nourished by the erotic writing of so many authors since my sexual stirrings as an adolescent, and I have always loved writing myself, but it was a bizarre combination of circumstance and fortune which set me on the path I’m now following and adoring, as, I’m sure, is the case for many.

I’ll confess – I say confess, as I know to some the genre I’m about to name has some sinful connotations – my first foray into writing (beyond the meagre things I’d produced for my job) was fan fiction.  I stumbled upon some beautifully written fan fiction entirely by chance while trawling the internet for something else entirely one day. I don’t consider myself a ‘fan’ at all, but certain characters and their erotic dynamics interested me instantly. But it was the ease of posting fan fiction and the instant feedback received which gave me the motivation to write something myself and place it in the public domain, something which, back then, I would not have had the self-belief to dare with conventional publishing.

After devouring a few outstanding stories (yes, they do exist in fan fiction), I thought, ‘You know what, I think I could have a go at this.’ So I did. I formed my ever-vivid sexual imagination into words and posted a story. To my astonishment and delight people really loved it. The genuine, large and eloquent response to my writing – character and dialogue driven, appealing to the mind and senses, exploring what drives people to have sex and how it informs their life decisions … plus a lot of belly-churning erotica – was extraordinary and surprising and I’m still very humbled and thankful to the readers of my fan fiction.

I remained in that comfortable world for a few years. I still thought of it as something intensely personal, something I did largely as a form of therapy. I was going through a difficult personal time; I had young kids; I was unable to go out as much as I wanted; there were work and personal pressures – writing erotica was my outlet, my release. The words, ideas and situations flowed quickly and easily and provided me with a deep personal satisfaction (now now, that’s not what I meant … entirely.)

The comments and questions I received were pushing me towards publication. But, like a lot of things in life, I needed someone to give me that final push. I knew I had tons of original characters and stories in me, but – I acknowledge – I can often use a kick up the arse. One of the very few friends who knew about my writing told me of an erotica writing competition with Xcite Books. That was the impetus I needed. I didn’t hesitate. I wrote a story; it became one of five winners and was published (“Swept Away” in the Escape to Erotica anthology). After that I jumped on every call for subs going and have been very lucky so far to have had acceptances for every anthology to which I’ve submitted. It ain’t goin’ to last, I know! I’ve just signed the contract on a trilogy with Xcite Books that I’m thrilled about and find the ideas are now brimming. I need to be tough on myself and limit my writing to one thing at a time. I’ve got too many WIPs floating around at the moment.

As much as I love writing short, steamy, sexually focused stories, I adore developing character and motivation in longer novellas and novels. I suppose my focus is on need: the need for fulfilment, the need for devotion and attention, and the need to give in return. Need drives our attraction – we are attracted to different kinds of people based on our own particular needs. I enjoy exploring the need for the illicit. I find it hard to write a sex scene between two people who have the moral and social consent to do so. I’m attracted by age differences, social inequalities, clashes in hierarchy: those situations which society deems to be inappropriate but which human need often ignores.

My new release, In Service to the Senses, plays on the notion of extreme social differences. It’s set in a grand house in Edwardian times, at the height of British class inequality. Lady Isabella, Countess of Atherton, is stuck in a loveless marriage to a bullying and brutish husband. Frustration and isolation have led to her extreme need. Her husband’s valet, Edward Marham, satisfies those needs amply. But their relationship develops beyond the merely physical, and their emotional need for each other soon becomes apparent. Edward only wants to see her happy, and is content to share her with the new footman, Fred. Isobel increasingly finds physical and emotional fulfillment through a person who is not deemed by society to be her equal. But Edward’s needs seem to mean he will leave for America. Can they live without each other?

In this extract, a haughty Isabella confronts the cocky Edward after finding him in a forbidden part of the house. This scene highlights the complex dynamic between them. After Edward has told of his desire to break free from a life of service, and Isabella has expressed her consternation at how someone of his social status will achieve this, she questions him.

***

“You intend to sleep your way to the top, do you?”

“Well…” The smirk deepened and he took a sauntering step towards her, letting his eyes linger on her supple breasts. “It’s worked so far.”

She slapped him. She hit him so hard, square across the face, that the sound resonated off the high windows of the Long Gallery like a pistol shot. But Edward’s face showed only momentary shock, shock which quickly turned to ferocious intent. He brought his hand up as fast as lightning to grip her across the chin, his fingers and thumb digging into her tender skin. Her eyes widened in alarm as he moved in, heated and malevolent.

“Oh no, my lady.” He leant down, his eyes searing into hers, his hot, sweet breath dangerous against her lips. “You love yer fury, don’t you? You crave all that rage and passion. You might live in this grand house with all yer fine clothes and yer fine pretences, but inside you’re as hollow as a shrivelled nut shell. You need me to shake up yer stagnant, grey little life. And you don’t want to lose it. You can’t bear the thought of me leaving you all alone with that great stinking bastard you call a husband. You wanted to see what it was like, didn’t you? The sting on yer palm when you strike.” With that he spun her around with brute force. “Lean on the desk. Palms flat on it.”

“Not here. Damn you, Marham. Someone will see.”

“They’re finished here for the day. Now shut yer mouth and wait.”

He threw her skirts up over her hips, revealing a naked backside—she wore no drawers at his behest. And he made her wait. For long moments, minutes even, he simply stood in silence while she lay before him, hands flat on the table, her rump exposed, waiting for his touch. …

“Edward…”

***

In Service to the Senses is on general release from Total-E-Bound on 7th June as part of the At Your Service anthology. It will be available for pre-order as a stand-alone story on 14th June.

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2139





About Demelza

Demelza lives in England with her husband and two children. She works full time and, when not being a mum, sings, acts, reads, writes and discusses life, love and lust with friends. She’d love to get to know you through facebook -www.facebook.com/demelza.hart.3

Twitter - https://twitter.com/DemelzaHart

and her blog - http://demelzahart.wordpress.com/