Showing posts with label Vonna Harper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vonna Harper. Show all posts

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Why Bondage Turns Readers On (#bondage #bdsm #99cents)

Taken and Trained cover

By Vonna Harper (Guest Blogger)

The next thing Lacey knew, the man was helping her out of the car. Her knees started to buckle, prompting her to grip his arm. “Where are we?” she asked.

It doesn’t matter. Look around. What do you see?”

It was daylight. She didnt recognize their surroundings but with him so close, she dismissed the question of where hed taken her. She was fully awakeand wearing sandals shed never seen.

I have on shoes.” Was that what he’d wanted her to say?

Yes, you do because you’re going to be walking. Now, before we get going, I want you to tell me about your latest dream or fantasy or whatever you’re inclined to call it. Were you restrained?”

Even with her nightshirt on, she felt more vulnerable than she ever had. “What does that—”

You were. That’s why you’re having trouble answering me.” He’d backed away after her legs were under her but now stepped close. He indicated the car’s open trunk. “What I need to get things started is in there, but I have to know whether I’ll be using rope or cuffs.”

Rope or cuffs? She opened her mouth but couldn’t think of anything to say. Darn it, Fantasies Unlimited should have given her an instruction manual or something, at least a general outline of what to expect. She was a cautious woman—all except for her imagination.

Rope or cuffs?” he repeated.

His sharp tone alarmed her so much she started to slide back. Shaking his head, he grabbed her shoulders and forced her up against his superior strength. “I prefer rope but what gets you off?”

He wanted and deserved an answer. After all, she’d set this—this crazy nonsense in motion. Why couldn’t she speak?

Im not a patient man.With that, he spun her away from him, clamped a hand over the back of her neck, and forced her to lean over so far she had to widen her stance to keep from falling. Instead of trying to resist, she stared at the space between her new sandals.Lets see if this loosens your tongue.He flipped up her nightshirts hem, exposing her buttocks, and planted a sharp blow on her ass. She stumbled forward a little and tried to straighten. The pressure on her neck continued.

Hey! What are you—”

Getting a response from you and leaving you with no doubt that we aren’t playing games.” He swatted her a second time. “You want to explore what it means to be a submissive. The sooner we get to it the better. Now—” The third blow might have knocked her to her knees if he hadn’t switched his hold from the back of her neck to around her waist. “I asked you a question. What’s your preference?”

To not be spanked. However, despite her silent protest, there was something erotic about being manhandled. Not testing his willingness to let her straighten, which he might not, she let his arm support her. Not thinking about her exposed buttocks was impossible. Any second now he might discipline her some more. He was probably looking at her ass, maybe admiring the red marks he was responsible for.

Ropes,” she admitted and spilled what she remembered of her last fantasy.

I wrote that. The scene appears in my erotic romance Taken And Trained which is currently on sale for only 99 cents! Just go here:


Although it’s far from my first story dealing with bondage, I'm still amazed by the direction my writing has taken.

Back when I was writing conventional romance, it would have never occurred to me there might be a market for the kinkier aspects of sex, let alone that readers would be hungry for fantasies I'd kept to myself.

Just goes to show how little I knew.

Why was I so naïve? So repressed?

A lot of finger pointing can be aimed at none other than Sigmund Freud who in 1908 maintained, "A happy person never fantasizes, only a dissatisfied one." (Say what?) The man studied S & M for over twenty years, maintaining that the practice was pathological and tied into unresolved issues of dominance and subservience traceable back to childhood. Therapists who worshiped at Freud's feet incorporated his conclusions into their practices.

Fortunately the tide has changed. Erotica and erotic romance books have become extremely popular. I don’t have an exact count, but I’m sure I’ve written more than forty such stories.

Back to the question of why BDSM and bondage stories have become so lucrative, for the answers, I turned to those diggers into the human psychic, psychologists.

Roy F. Baumeister pointed out that today's culture places more demands on people than any time in history. "That stress makes forgetting who you are an appealing escape." Fantasy sex slaves want to imagine shedding their own identity with its autonomy and responsibility and submit to the will of another.”

According to Ethel Person, author of By Force of Fantasy, 44 percent of men imagine dominating a partner. Other studies concluded that 51 percent of women mentally placed themselves on the receiving end of forced sex. Leitenberg and Henning concur, adding that, "Women who find submission fantasies sexually arousing are very clear that they have no wish to be raped in reality," Women zero in on "the personal or emotional characteristics of the partner," even if the sex partner is a mysterious stranger, abductor, or dominatrix.

Strassberg and Lockerd reported that women who fantasize about being submissive have more positive attitudes about sex. Pelletier and Herold agreed, adding that such women feel less sexually guilty and more open to a variety of sexual experiences.

That, in part, is what makes BDSM, S&M, and spanking stories so popular—readers can safely read about living on the wild side.

Not quite what you had in mind? Too bad.” He didn’t sound at all sorry or sympathetic, just making a comment. “In case you’ve missed the obvious, I’m now directing everything. And you, you’re going to do what I want.”

No!” Where had that come from?

A sharp slap to her buttocks made her gasp. When she tried to aim a sideways kick at him, he slapped her again, harder this time. She couldn’t understand why she was testing him. Did she think she could peel off his layers this way?

Yes, damn it! I don’t have to but I’m going to spell things out. You’ve been having a hell of a lot of fun mentally exploring this capture and bondage thing, the dom/sub exchange, endlessly debating whether it’s something you’d like to get into. Because you’re who you are, you’ve been trying to figure out how to safely and financially explore the possibilities without taking that final leap. I’d say I appreciate that it worked out so that I’m part of your exploration, but there isn’t much I’m appreciative of beyond being alive.” He briefly fell silent. “I’m here. That’s the only thing you need to concern yourself with for the foreseeable future.” He made his point by repeatedly striking her ass.

You—ow—ow!” She didn’t have to see her buttocks to know they carried his palm print.

More spelling out. You’re done ordering men, either real or imagined, around. The prosecutor the world believes you are no longer exists. To state the obvious, the shoe’s now on the other foot.”

I don’t understand,” she said, trying to grasp everything he was telling her. She prided herself on being a quick learner and being a decent judge of people, but what could she do with his admission that he didn’t care about much except being alive? She wasn’t going to antagonize him, at least not deliberately. Damn, but he could seriously spank and why was her pussy becoming wet?

Exactly.” Pulling her to a halt via his hold on her hair, he began massaging the sensitive flesh he’d just punished. Her heart continued to race from a combination of excitement, anticipation, and apprehension, but there was no denying that his manipulation of her ass felt good.

Exactly what?” she finally managed to ask when she was capable of thinking again.

Hmm, his hands felt so good….

That you don’t fully understand what’s taken place. I could give you a long and boring explanation of exactly how Fantasies Unlimited operates, but for the present, it pleases me to keep you somewhat in the dark. That way, I’ll always be at least one step ahead of you.” After giving her ass a light pat, he ran the side of his hand along the furrow between her bottom cheeks. Gasping, she stood on her toes. “A few pointers. I’m a bastard. I take pride in wearing the label. Also, there’s nothing make-believe or watered down about the education you’re about to receive.” Leaning close, he glided a nail over her labia. “Playacting bores the shit out of me.”

Oh, lord, what an unnerving sensation! No matter how much she fought to ignore what he was doing to her, she leaned forward a little and widened her stance, increasing his access to her private parts. A bastard, was he? Bored by playacting. She panted. With just a few touches he had her hot and wet and ready to fuck.

(Another excerpt from Taken andTrained)
The above leads to the question of how far erotica writers can push the boundaries. A study conducted by Eileen Zurbriggen and reported on in Journal of Sex Research (2004) indicates that as long as certain components remain, the sky may be the limit. Women are more likely than men to fantasize about submission and while men's fantasies focused on their and their partners' desires and pleasure, women tended to focus on their own. Such fantasies provide women with a safe place to let go. In the secret places of our minds, everything becomes about us.
I don't really want to be tied down, but I'm having a ball dreaming up scenarios and putting the results on paper.

As Ph.D. Cheryl Renaud said, "while bondage may be painful, thinking about it never hurt anyone."

Leitenberg agrees. "Sexual fantasy is a natural part of being human. It's pleasurable. So why not fantasize?"

Why not indeed?

Meanwhile, if you leave a comment with your email, I will enter you into a drawing for a free copy of Her Red Corset


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Spanking 101

By Vonna Harper (Guest Blogger)

Okay, it's time for me to come clean and admit that before I wrote my first spanking erotica story, I didn't understand the appeal. However, publishers like Blushing Books and Stormy Nights have a large, loyal following and are doing very well. So well in fact that some of their books like Shelly Douglas‘ Safe in His Hands, D. W. Collins’ Katarina’s Strict Daddy, and Joannie Kay's The Problem With Jordan have reached best seller status.

That's what caught my attention. Holy cow, stories about spanking and being spanked are hot! Hmm. Guess I'd better take a look at what all the excitement is about. You see, I've been writing and selling erotica and erotic romance for years with more and more of my stories revolving around BDSM or more specifically capture/bondage. I figured spanking themes won't be that different.

Well yes. And no. As a disclaimer, spanking stories are as varied as the other erotic genres but thanks to my admittedly limited research, I've determined that many of them fall into the father figure/little girl theme. In contrast, at least my BDSM stories are harder edged sometimes with dubious consent. In contrast (and please correct me if I'm wrong), the majority of female characters who are on the receiving end of spanking love being disciplined. Oh they might resist at first but before long they realize the man in their lives is disciplining their rear ends for their own good.

I have a problem with that. Don't get me wrong. If basic power exchange works for both writers and readers, go for it! If you're into headstrong young women who need a lesson in how to conduct themselves, that's fine.

However, I need more. More motivation, more at stake, more something. Maybe it's coming from capture/bondage but I can't convince my heroines to lift up their skirts and bend over the heroes lap simply because a man tells them to. They resist, not because they're headstrong, but because something deeper is at stake. They have issues. Heck, all of my characters have issues. In fact, I have a psychologist on retainer to make sure none of my characters go off the deep end.

Let me give an example of what I'm talking about. In my brand spanking new release from Stormy Nights called Taming His Mate, I pit characters from two warring and primitive tribes against each other. I chose the tribal setting so I could make up my own rules and conventions. That way it hopefully makes sense that my hero Sabin has been given the task of capturing and mating with a female from another tribe because that tribe's females are fleet of foot. Sabin's tribe needs to revitalize their bloodline if they're going to survive. Needless to say, Kahsha will do everything she can to escape the man who has tied her up. (Yep, the whole bondage thing.) She could care less about his agenda and tries with all her might not to let his hunky body get to her. She wants to be free. He wants to keep her with him—and to tame her, starting with reddening her rump. Of course that gets her attention which is the whole point of the story.

Bottom line (sorry about that), you're going to see a lot more spanking stories from me but I won't be writing about feisty females and no-nonsense males. Hopefully I'll be upping the odds—even to having survival at stake.



Speaking of Taming His Mate, here's the blurb.

Sabin, the greatest hunter of his tribe, was given a simple task by the elders of his people: capture a healthy, fertile woman of the plains, tame her, and then claim her as his mate. The capturing part proves easy enough, and soon a beautiful, spirited female is bound, helpless, and awaiting his intimate attentions. But taming her will prove more difficult.

Believing herself too swift and intelligent to ever fall prey to any creature, let alone a man from another tribe, Kahsha is shocked when she’s caught by a powerful, handsome hunter. Soon she has been stripped bare, spanked hard, and brought to the edge of climax only to be denied. Yet despite her blushing cheeks and burning bottom, she aches for more.

Though she hungers desperately to be taken long and hard, Sabin will not make her his until she submits herself utterly. Kahsha knows that before long she will have no choice but to yield to her body’s demands, but will she survive the shame when she finally begs for him to claim her?

And here’s an excerpt:

Watching her, the stranger moved his free hand to his water pouch. He tried to untie it, but the knot refused to give way. She imagined walking up to him and taking over the chore. Her fingers would slide over his flesh and absorb his warmth, press past flesh to reach muscle and learn not just how strong he was, but what it took to bring his cock to life.

There. She’d done it again. Thought about this stranger in ways she never had about Rafi.

Unexpected movement jerked her out of the dangerous place her mind had slipped into. He’d released the spear in preparation for using both hands so he could untie his water pouch. However, as the pouch fell to the ground, she noted that his weight was now distributed equally on both legs.

You lie!” she blurted.

Whirling away from the enemy, she sent energy to her legs. At the same time, she yanked the water bladders off her neck and threw them aside. One stride, two. She was nearly up to antelope speed, escaping him, soon to be—

Something sharp struck her left shoulder blade. An insect? Not slowing, she swiped at it but whatever it was remained lodged in her skin, not hurting really. Her skin there started to feel warmer than the rest of her. Within seconds, the still-growing heat spread out and slid down her spine and arms. A few seconds later her legs caught fire. Fear rocked her. She tried to pull out whatever had struck her, only to discover she could no longer lift her arms. Instead of planting one sure foot after another on the ground, she started to stumble.

Help me! Someone help me!

Whether she’d deliberately slowed so she could better control her movements or speed had been stolen from her, she couldn’t tell. Her head was becoming heavier with every beat of her heart, and she couldn’t feel her feet. Could barely think.

The flat ground became a mountain, impossibly steep. She trudged, leaning forward like an old woman who’d forgotten how her knees worked. No longer able to send a message to her hips, she stopped and looked around in confusion.

Then she pitched forward like a just-killed bird.


About Vonna

Vonna Harper has been writing from childhood and no longer has any other marketable skills. From the day she read her first erotic romance, she knew that's what she wanted to do—forever. She has been published by many of the major erotic publishers and has self –published some pretty edgy stuff.


Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Forbidden Fantasies -- Her Submission, by Vonna Harper




Kaci lives alone, dreams alone. Her traumatic past is behind her, her future faced one day at a time. Her nights are filled with fantasies of dark erotica about being under a shadowy master’s control. but no one will ever know.

Then she’s spotted by a scarred dominant who understands the look, smell, and taste of submissive need. Reno wants her and what Reno wants, he kidnaps.

Her Submission examines the appeal of capture fantasies complete with forced submission, power and weakness, strength and vulnerability, being owned and used. And ultimately—sexual fulfillment.

Her Submission and the other stories in the Carnal series aren't romance. They are intended for a mature audience and are fiction in all ways.

Excerpt

Chiding herself for not grabbing a flashlight, she pondered calling out for Bob, but late as it was, those in the nearby RVs might be asleep. Hoping she wouldn’t stub one or more of her toes, she put down the tool bag and headed for what she hoped was the front door.

Ma—am?”

She stopped and turned in the direction the male voice had come from. “Yes?”

Whoever it was didn’t respond. Near as she could tell, the man was near the rear of the deeply shadowed RV. He was probably looking at the hookups.

Do you have a flashlight?” she asked. “Sorry, I forgot mine.”

I’ve got—I think I have…”

He didn’t sound particularly elderly, just addled. Taking each step slow, she closed in on what she guessed was the side of the RV. She stretched out her hand, touched metal. Mindful of the angry waiting-for-a-shower wife, she didn’t speak. As she recalled, a number of closely bunched pine trees were at the back of this space, contributing to the lack of visibility.

Where are you?” she whispered. “My tools—I’ll have to go back—“

A form materialized, startling her. She sensed more than saw a human shape. Years of watching her back kicked in. No one was going to defend her, if she needed defending. She was on her own. She turned toward the shape, folded her fingers into a fist.

Then something slammed into her and knocked her backward onto the ground. Her head slammed against hard earth. A hand clamped over her mouth. A weight settled over her, knees grinding against her forearms and preventing her from lifting them. The man—that much she was certain—grabbed her hair and turned her head to the side with one hand while still gagging her with the other. The way his body rested on her chest, she couldn’t draw a decent breath. Much longer and she’d pass out. Terror lanced her, making it nearly impossible for her to think.

Maybe her attacker knew what she was experiencing because he let go of her hair and mouth. Before she could get her act together, something wide and sticky pressed against her lips. She tried to shake it off, but he stayed with her, hauling her head off the ground and wrapping the gag around her head. He wasn’t content with one wrap. By the time he was done, he’d looped her head a total of three times.

Step one,” he muttered.

Her heart hammered so she thought it might burst, and when he climbed off her and flipped her onto her belly, she did little more than try to squirm away. He grunted and pulled her arms behind her until her wrists were crisscrossed one over the other.

The splinted pieces of her mind came back together, and she bucked, screaming impotently into the gag. Again he sat on her and held her down, still holding her wrists in place with one large hand. This man knew exactly what he was doing.

A little risky,” he continued in the same low tone, “but I need to feel alive.”

She didn’t know what he was talking about, didn’t want to care, but her survival might depend on learning everything she could about her abductor. She wanted to fight. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to struggle, but he weighed a lot more than she did and all that weight was holding her down. With her arms wrenched behind her, she stood no chance of pulling them loose. She knew because she kept trying.

He was doing something, moving to the side a little and shifting his weight slightly. She bent her knees in an attempt to slam her heels into his back. No matter how much she strained, however, she couldn’t put enough force behind the effort to make any difference.

His chuckle chilled her.

Not the smartest thing you’ve ever done as you’ll find out. Now to prepare you for transport.”

Book Links:




Vonna Harper Links:



Bio

What prompts a mild-mannered mostly law abiding woman to write erotica and erotic romance, a lot revolving around BDSM and capture/bondage? Is it the complex issue of taking or giving up control?

Vonna Harper doesn't know and she has given up trying to find the answer. It's enough that many readers are drawn to what some call the dark side. All she asks is that readers understand she writes fiction--a brand of fiction she finds fascinating.

Vonna has lost count of the number of books, novellas, and short stories she's written. What she has no doubt of, it's a hell of a ride.


Saturday, March 8, 2014

Why Bondage Turns Me and My Readers On

By Vonna Harper (Guest Blogger)


He took a slow step toward her. “First things first. Getting rid of your clothes.”

Suddenly angry, she stood her ground. “What? No. That can’t be the first thing.”

The beginning of a cool smile lifted his lips only to be replaced by something dark. “It’s what I say it is. Either you strip or I do it for you.”

Excitement lanced her. Damn it yes, this was what she’d signed up for—even if it killed her.

I read the rules,” she countered. “You aren’t supposed to do anything I disapprove of.”

Oh you’ll approve. And you’ll keep everything that happens here to yourself.”

On edge, she took in everything she could of the man standing between her and freedom. There was something primal about him. A cave-like depth. When he was on the island, this man did what he wanted to. He had no concern for the consequences because there weren’t going to be any, maybe no interest in her beyond getting her to submit to him.

Why wouldn’t I tell anyone?” she finally thought to ask.

You’ll understand, eventually.”

Nothing was going like she’d told herself it would. Emotionally off balance, she curled her toes in an attempt to keep from bolting.

All right,” she said. “Show me.”

His attention flicked to the window to his right. For a moment she swore she was looking at a predator instead of a human. This creature would stalk and capture and control.

She was still trying to shake off the crazy thought when he charged. He grabbed her around the waist and pushed her back and off her feet. She landed on her ass on the couch.

What the hell!” She reached for his neck but he flipped her so she was sprawled the length of the couch on her belly and planted his knee against the base of her spine.

More disbelieving than terrified, she wrenched her head to the side so she could breathe. He was so close she saw only a blur. His weight bore down on her making it impossible for her to do more than flex her knees. Her right arm was caught between her body and the couch back but maybe, if she tried hard enough, she could grab his cock with her left and inflict—

Too-big fingers clamped around her left wrist and wrenched her arm behind her. Despite her struggles, he captured her other wrist and brought it back as well.

Pay attention.” Moist breath dampened the back of her neck. “It’ll make what comes after easier to accept.”

She wasn’t his play toy! Determined to regain use of her arms, she strained to free them.

So you like to fight do you? Fine with me. The thing is, I always win.”

Bucking and kicking, she put all her strength into trying to get him off her. The couch was so soft she felt as if she was sinking into it. As her muscles started trembling, she’d come to the not too brilliant conclusion that he was taunting her.
He placed one wrist over the other so he could control them with a single hand. She debated trying to dig her nails into his thigh but he’d probably make her pay for it.

Pay for it. A captive’s punishment.

****

I wrote that. The scene appears in my ebook Taking Her Down available at such sites as Amazon. http://tinyurl.com/m2g8olf Although it’s hardly my first story dealing with bondage, I'm still amazed by the direction my writing has taken, still exploring my fascination with one of erotica's most popular subjects.
Back when I was writing conventional romance, it would have never occurred to me that there might be a market for the kinkier aspects of sex, let alone that readers would be hungry for fantasies I'd kept to myself.

Just goes to show how little I knew.

Why was I so naïve? So repressed?

A lot of finger pointing can be aimed at none other than Sigmund Freud who in 1908 maintained, "A happy person never fantasizes, only a dissatisfied one." (Say what?) The man studied S & M for over twenty years, maintaining that the practice was pathological and tied into unresolved issues of dominance and subservience traceable back to childhood. (Of course he would) Therapists who worshiped at Freud's feet incorporated his conclusions into their practices.

Fortunately the tide has changed. In her groundbreaking book My Secret Garden, Nancy Friday shared women's private sexual fantasies with readers. Once considered outspoken, graphic, and taboo-shattering, the book has become a classic study of female sexuality. 
 
Back to the question of why BDSM and bondage stories have become lucrative. For the answers, I turned to those diggers into the human psychic, psychologists. 
 
Roy F. Baumeister pointed out that today's culture places more demands on people than any time in history. "That stress makes forgetting who you are an appealing escape." Fantasy sex slaves want to imagine shedding their own identity with its autonomy and responsibility and submit to the will of another.

Harold Leitenberg and Kris Henning reported that conservatives have as many fantasies as liberals. Another study concluded that nearly half of conservative Christians believe sexual fantasies are unacceptable or morally flawed. (Talk about conflict!) Leitenberg reports that one person in four feels guilt about their fantasies. 
 
According to Ethel Person, author of By Force of Fantasy, 44 percent of men imagine dominating a partner. Other studies concluded that 51 percent of women placed themselves on the receiving end of forced sex. Leitenberg and Henning concur, adding that, "Women who find submission fantasies sexually arousing are very clear that they have no wish to be raped in reality," Women zero in on "the personal or emotional characteristics of the partner," even if the sex partner is a mysterious stranger, abductor, or dominatrix.

Strassberg and Lockerd reported that women who fantasize about being submissive have more positive attitudes about sex. Pelletier and Herold agreed, adding that such women feel less sexually guilty and more open to a variety of sexual experiences.

****
A form materialized, startling her. She sensed more than saw a human shape. Years of watching her back kicked in. She turned toward the shape, folded her fingers into a fist.
Then something slammed into her and knocked her backward onto the ground. Her head slammed against hard earth. A hand clamped over her mouth. A weight settled over her, knees grinding against her forearms and preventing her from lifting them. The man—that much she was certain—grabbed her hair and turned her head to the side while still gagging her. The way his body rested on her chest, she couldn’t draw a decent breath. Terror lanced her, making it nearly impossible for her to think.

Maybe her attacker knew what she was experiencing because he let go of her hair and mouth. Before she could get her act together, something wide and sticky pressed against her lips. She tried to shake it off, but he stayed with her, hauling her head off the ground and wrapping the gag around her head. He wasn’t content with one wrap. By the time he was done, he’d looped her head a total of three times.

Step one,” he muttered.

Her heart hammered so she thought it might burst, and when he climbed off her and flipped her onto her belly, she did little more than try to squirm away. He grunted and pulled her arms behind her until her wrists were crisscrossed.

The splinted pieces of her mind came back together, and she bucked, screaming impotently into the gag. Again he sat on her and held her down, holding her wrists in place with one large hand.

A little risky,” he continued in the same low tone, “but I need to feel alive.”

Every fiber of her being screamed at her to struggle, but he weighed a lot more than she did and all that weight was holding her down. With her arms wrenched behind her, she stood no chance of pulling them loose. .

He moved to the side a little and shifted his weight slightly. She bent her knees in an attempt to slam her heels into his back. No matter how much she strained, however, she couldn’t put enough force behind the effort to make any difference.

His chuckle chilled her.

Not the smartest thing you’ve ever done as you’ll find out. Now to prepare you for transport.”

From my Her Submission: http://tinyurl.com/kdjfxpg

The above leads to the question of how far erotica writers can push the boundaries. A study conducted by Eileen Zurbriggen and reported on in Journal of Sex Research (2004) indicates that as long as certain components remain, the sky may be the limit. Women are more likely than men to fantasize about submission and while men's fantasies focused on their and their partners' desires and pleasure, women tended to focus on their own. Such fantasizes provide women with a safe place to let go. In the secret places of our minds, everything becomes about us.

I don't really want to be tied down, but I'm having a ball dreaming up scenarios and putting the results on paper.

As Ph.D. Cheryl Renaud said, "while bondage may be painful, thinking about it never hurt anyone."

Leitenberg agrees. "Sexual fantasy is a natural part of being human. It's pleasurable. So why not fantasize?"

Why not indeed?

Share your thoughts about bondage and forced submission in fiction by leaving a comment, and I'll enter you in a drawing for a PDF copy of Taking Her Down. Don't forget to include an email address so I can contact you if you win!  


Saturday, August 21, 2010

An Erotic Juggling Act

By Vonna Harper (Guest Blogger)

A few minutes before sitting down to write this blog, I finished the rough draft of a sex scene. Bet you think I'm fanning myself and eager to get back to the editing.

Think again. Psst, don't tell anyone but writing erotica is damn hard work, especially the sex part. As someone who has written well over 30 books, novellas, and shorties since jumping onboard the erotica bandwagon, I know what I'm up against as soon as my characters walk into the bedroom. (A correction: my characters are more likely to be in the woods than a bedroom but you get the idea) Because I strive to make each sex scene representative of my characters, there's no plugging in a scene I wrote in the past. Each one has to stand on its own and satisfy my readers.

Does writing about intercourse satisfy me? I'm shaking my head as I write this because not long ago I was much too modest to reveal all, but since I started this subject, I have no choice but to finish. Of course I become emotionally and physically involved in what my characters are doing—why do you think I keep that fan nearby? But no way is the experience of writing a sex scene the same as reading one.

First and maybe foremost, I have to keep body parts straight. Because I only write m/f, at least I don't need to track more than four arms and four legs. Just thinking about a crowd scene makes my head spin. I need to keep track of what clothes are where, (years ago I wrote a lovemaking scene for a category romance publisher. If not for my critique partners' eagle eyes, my heroine would have removed her bra three times) what the lighting's like, the temperature, whether I packed a blanket so even though my characters are in the wilderness, they aren't going to wind up with a rash or bug bites.

How do I go from point A which is the moment of setting eyes on each other to point Z where man and woman can't do anything but pant? Here's where I have to orchestrate the dance that's foreplay. Who takes the dominant role, who the more submissive one or are they equals? Who makes the first move, who the second, and how are they carried out? (The scene I just finished included a first for me—a recliner) When or if is the condom pulled out and put on? Are clothes slowly peeled off or ripped? Whose hands are doing what to who? Where are the legs?

That's just the physical aspect. Equally important is the emotional component. Where are my characters in terms of their relationship? Is this act a quickie or the ultimate in commitment? Because I can't develop characters without burdening them with emotional baggage, I have to keep that baggage in mind. If the hero is afraid he's going to shape-shift, that's going to impact his performance. Maybe (I write a lot of capture and bondage) he has to take his captive/lover back to his war chief. Can he shove that responsibility to the back of his mind while getting it on? As a captive, can my heroine forget her lot in life and embrace pleasure? Is she hung up on wanting back her freedom or surrendering to her submissive nature and will that dilemma cool her libido?

As if those considerations aren't enough, I have to keep an eye on word choice and sentence structure. I don't want to pound a word or words into the ground until readers become sick of them. Sentences need to be shaken up and turned around for variety. I write for Kensington Aphrodisia, Ellora's Cave, Samhain, and Loose-Id and they have slightly different requirements and ways of handling edits. One publisher is fine with certain descriptions and terms, another not so much. Yep, there's another layer to the juggling act.

Hmm. It sounds if I'm complaining when I'm not. After all, there's nothing I'd rather be doing to pay the bills. I love writing, love writing erotica. At the same time, like every career, writing is a profession. No publisher will have anything to do with me if I don't bring my job skills to the table. It's quite a juggling act.

Right now I have two releases hot off the presses so to speak. Available in print is Falcon's Captive with Aphrodisia. Whitewater Hunter is an ebook with Ellora's Cave. In addition, I've just released my first Kindle only novella called Wilderness Night. (A great price BTW if you have a Kindle)

I'd tell you what's in the pipeline and about the novella I sold last week and the hot, hot, hot cover I just got a sneak peak of, but I can't keep all that straight. That's why I'm obsessive about keeping my web site up to date. It has become my cheat-sheet.

Before I wander off to tackle some writing contest submissions I've agreed to judge, does anyone want to comment on my confession?

~ Vonna Harper

www.VonnaHarper.com