The Joys of Research

By Beth Wylde (Guest Blogger)

What do you do when your fantasies go beyond what people around you consider normal? Who do you turn to for information on spanking and wax play when you live in the middle of redneck hell in the dead center of the Bible belt in BFE? Questions like these are things some author’s face every day. It's hard being a writer, and even tougher when you write in genres that a lot of people still sneer at.

I know erotica is selling better now than it ever has been and GLBTQ stories are rapidly gaining in popularity and acceptance, but in my town openly admitting interest in either of these subjects is likely to get you hurt. I don’t see that attitude changing anytime soon. Knowing where to turn for those tiny details you aren’t sure of is key to writing believable and plausible stories. I’ve never been shy. (loud, hyper, sometimes annoying – those terms all fit but I’ve never once been called timid. I’m extroverted to a fault!) This is where quality research comes into play. Remember there are no stupid questions.

I know that sounds nerdy. You’re probably shaking your head already, thinking “Research, ewww. How can that be enjoyable?” Well maybe you aren’t looking in the right kinds of places to get your information. ;)

When I write a story I want my take on the topic to be as realistic as possible. Hence my first trip to a play party four years ago in DC. (probably not the gentlest introduction to the lifestyle but definitely an eye opening evening and a whole lot of fun!!) They day started off gently as a fetish flea where kink and fetish vendors filled the area to pimp their wares. Then night rolled around and the toys came out.

I’ve been interested in and a fan of BDSM stories for quite some time (long before I should have been reading that type of content) but when I finally decided I wanted to write one I had no idea who to turn to for information. I had no way to know if what I’d been reading was a true interpretation of events or a load of bullshit. I could have tried to fake my way through a story and hope for the best but I didn’t want to do that. (Posers make me ill) I wanted readers who picked up my book (kinksters or newbies alike) to not only be entertained by my writing but to also enjoy scenes that were as true to life as possible. This is where the research angle comes into play.

I started out online actually contacting some of my favorite BDSM authors and asking for advice. I figured I’d go directly to the source. The worst they could say was no or ignore me entirely. I’m no stranger to that. LOL I was super shocked when quite a few of them returned my emails and even offered links and resources to real people and groups in the know about BDSM.

I chatted with those that had direct knowledge of the lifestyle and asked for references. I found a few groups within driving range that put together monthly munches and held demos. I met a wonderful submissive who offered to critique my story for accuracy. (Dee Dee, you rock!)

Then I decided it was actually time to visit a club. At first I was nervous as hell. Worrying over what I’d find inside. Praying they’d be nothing like a night spent in a regular nightclub being manhandled and treated like a piece of meat being sold at the market. (The lack of this type of atmosphere is one reasons I love to go to the gay clubs and it was amazingly refreshing to attend and see how receptive the BDSM club is to newbies and how strict rules are in place so everyone enjoys their evening. No groping or grabbing and no drunken idiots. You can’t beat that!)

I’d rented and watched a fair amount of actual BDSM and fetish porn, even a few instructional books and videos. I attended a munch and a few demos but none of that prepared me for a party in the BIG city. There is a big difference between a small local, private club and a huge converted warehouse in the middle of downtown Washington. The equipment alone is enough to make even the staunchest fetish aficionado weep tears of joy. I saw scenes that were beyond my wildest dreams and some things I never thought would turn me on left me hotter than a fireworks display on the fourth of July.

Now I have quite a few published BDSM and fetish themed stories under my belt but that doesn’t mean the research has stopped. I love learning new things and I’m constantly finding new toys or types of play that get my motor running. Education of any type is a gift and when research is this much fun I hope to be learning new things long into the future.

You can check out several of my kink themed stories in my newest release, Women Gone Wylde. I’d love to know if all my hard work and research paid off. The book is a personal anthology of all my favorite Sapphic stories rolled into one tidy print book. The cover is also freaking HOT too! Of the nine stories in the book several carry a fetish or BDSM theme. There’s spanking, strap-ons, fantasies come to life, tattoo fetish, and phone sex, just to name a few.

Jean Roberta from Erotica Revealed gave the book two thumbs up. She wrote "This is the kind of book that makes you want to take it under the covers and read by flashlight, almost hoping to be caught in the act."

The book is available at CreateSpace as well as all your other favorite on-line bookstores. Just a reminder thatbuying direct always helps the author out more when it comes to royalties. ^_^

If you’d like a signed copy you can email me at b.wylde [at] yahoo.com

I had special www.bethwylde.com beach tote bags made up for the GCLS convention last month and still have about 10 left. If you order a copy of the antho direct from me I will include a tote bag for free. (Choice of black or bright green while supplies last but you must mention this post on Lisabet’s blog to get the free bag. I might even toss in a few extra goodies too. I love giving away free stuff!!)

Copies are $15 each and shipping in the US normally runs $5. If you want to purchase more than one copy let me know and I will combine shipping as much as possible. Books make great presents and I’ll be glad to personalize them if needed or desired.

A huge thanks to Lisabet for letting me be a guest here today. Stay Wylde everyone,

Beth

http://www.bethwylde.com

Excerpt (from "Saddle Up")

By the time I walked back behind the stadium Amanda was gone. I’m not sure what bothered me the most, the fact that she was missing or that she’d taken my favorite hat with her.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” I’d let my hormones get away with me. “At my age I should know better than to think with my pussy.”

I followed the path around the back towards the parking lot where my truck was parked, passing by the smaller barn where the horses and calves were housed while they awaited their turns in the ring. Now it seemed eerily quiet. Something strange caught my eye so I abandoned my intended destination and headed cautiously into the barn. What I found was infinitely more interesting then anything I could have expected.

Amanda was in the back, near where they kept all the food for the horses, laid out on a hay bale with my hat over her face and her little skirt down around her ankles. Her little white panties were caught on her knees and she had both hands between her legs, one working away on her clit as her other jammed three fingers deep inside her pussy. The sight was truly inspiring, and had me hotter than a mare in season, but it was her words that left me no doubt as to who she was fantasizing about.

“Oh shit. Please Sammy. Please fuck me! Suck my clit. Harder.”

My earlier doubts about her sexual orientation vanished completely. As I watched she spread her legs as far as the panties would allow, pinching and smacking her clit as her other hand began to pump in and out wildly. “Now Samantha, now. I’m going to come.”

It seemed cruel to make her jill off by herself when she could have the real thing. I made it to the back of the barn faster than I’d taken down the calf earlier, pulling my Stetson off her face so I could look her in the eyes. The minute we made eye contact she fell over the edge, screaming and creaming her satisfaction. I gave her a minute to regain her wits before starting up a conversation by taking a second to put my hat back on. It smelled like vanilla and wildflowers, a scent I knew I’d associate with Amanda from now on.

“Looks like you took real good care of my hat for me. Maybe I should thank you properly."

Bio: Author Beth Wylde writes what she likes to read, which includes a little bit of everything. Her books range in theme from paranormal to contemporary and in pairings from lesbian erotica to straight m/f as well as menage and beyond.

When she isn’t writing she can still be found in front of her computer either plotting, chatting or working on promo. Her first story was published in 2006 and her reviews have been top notch, including a FAR recommended read in October of 08.

Some of her most recent awards include, The Romance Erotica Connection (REC) 2007 & 2008 F/F Author of the Year, REC’s Best Gay short story of 2008 (co written with Cassandra Gold) and she is up for the GLBT author of 2008 award from Love Romances Cafe (LRC) as well as several nominations in the P&E polls.

Beth loves to chat online and can be reached via IM or email at b.wylde [at] yahoo.com. You can also find examples of her work at her website www.bethwylde.com or join her busy yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bethwylde/

She also runs a yahoo group for published and aspiring authors of lesbian stories and works hard to maintain her les-lit database. For info on either of these projects email Beth directly.

The database and author website can be found at: http://sapphicplanet.tripod.com/ and http://www.sapphicplanet.com.

Keep an eye out for more new releases plus news of signings and appearances by Beth in the near future.

Cover for Wild About That Thing

Greetings! Just popping in to share my latest cover from Total-E-Bound.

Ta da!

Wild About That Thing is a M/F/M ménage story set in a New York City blues club. Two things are important to Ruby Jones: her teenage son and her struggling club, the Crossroads Blues Bar. Her love life comes as a distant third, despite the efforts of Zeke Chambers to convince her otherwise. Zeke's the lead singer in her house band, a devoted friend, and an occasional lover. He can drive her wild with desire, but can't get her to make a commitment. Deserted by her cheating ex-husband, Ruby's determined she's going to make it on her own. She's hot-blooded like her bluesman daddy, happy to satisfy her physical cravings, but she's not about to let any man into her heart.

The stranger who takes the stage on the Crossroads open mike night upsets the delicate balance in Ruby's world. Remy Saint-Michel inspires irrational, irresistible lust as well as inexplicable sympathy. Overwhelmed, confused, guilty and worried about her prized independence, Ruby decides that the only way to deal with her two lovers is to push them both away. Zeke and Remy, though, have other ideas.

Wild About That Thing will be released as part of the Treble anthology in September, and as a stand-alone title soon after. Want an excerpt? Just click here!

The Love of a Lifetime

By Lynne Connolly (Guest Blogger)

Coffee and tea and even hot chocolate are so ubiquitous to our world that we hardly think about it. But it wasn’t always that way.

Coffee and tea were introduced into England in the mid seventeenth century. Legend has it that it was popularised by the queen of Charles II, Catherine of Braganza, who brought her tea drinking ways from her native Portugal. Whatever, it soon became extremely popular and it’s never lost its appeal.

But they didn’t just take to it because it was “nice.” It was a welcome way of imbibing water safely. We tend to forget that until mid Victorian times, it just wasn’t safe to drink water. It carried bacteria, and while our ancestors didn’t know about them, they knew the results. Drinking water made you ill. There were two main ways of making it safe. You could boil it or you could brew, distill or use it in the fermentation process. That explains why wells containing safe water were so precious and carefully guarded, too.

Boiled water tastes horrible. There’s no way anyone would want to live on that, and the flavouring doesn’t really help a lot. So most people, men, women and children, drank beer. The usual everyday beer, known as “small beer” wasn’t very alcoholic, but was an acceptable drink. In the West country, they liked cider. In Scotland, they made beer from barley. Whatever was available. Strictly ale, because beer has to have hops in it, but it wasn’t very long before the hop industry got under way and oast houses were opening hither and yon. Distilled water, plus a few extra ingredients led to spirits, brandy and gin for the most part (whisky came in later, in the Victorian age), and fortified wine like port and sherry.

But isn’t it nice to sit with a hot drink on a cold day? Our ancestors, for the most part, didn’t do this. That is, until coffee, tea and chocolate (as a drink) came in. Coffee houses soon sprang up around the culture. Men only establishments, apart from the women who might serve in them, they were open to anyone who looked respectable. They opened in major cities in competition with the inns, and soon started to specialise, especially in London. They became places of business, and soon men engaged in certain aspects of business congregated in specific coffee houses. Lloyds was for shipping and insurance. The Cocoa-Tree was popular with Tories and Jacobites (later it became a private gambling club). Will’s Coffee house on the corner of Bow Street collected writers. Dryden’s chair was kept there.

At home, women took to tea drinking. Tea sets were delicate, precious objects, and until the late eighteenth century, teacups, or tea-dishes, as they were known, didn’t have handles. They were held by their broad bases instead. Porcelain was delicate and precious, and it was a measure of your gentility as to whether you dared to pour in the hot tea before you added the milk, because the porcelain cracked and broke. If you could afford to, you would put the tea in first.

As the dinner hour was pushed back and the gap between breakfast and dinner became wider, the need for a mid-afternoon snack increased, and so ladies would hold salons where they served tea and delicacies. Some of these became the centre of literary and even political excellence, with famous hostesses like Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu presiding over a distinguished group of poets, playwrights and novelists.

Later, tea and coffee became important weapons in the armoury of the nonconformist teetotaller. It became possible to eschew alcohol altogether, and some of the most famous coffee and tea companies in the world were begun by Quakers or nonconformists who wanted to either limit the amount of alcohol imbibed, especially by the lower classes, or cut it out altogether. Out of this came one of the most important developments womankind has ever known: chocolate bars. First produced by Fry, they were seen as an interesting addition to the drinking sort chocolate. The company, founded by a particularly prominent Quaker family from the Shoreditch Community, also saw the bars as a good way of keeping chocolate in less than hygienic situations. By this time, the first half of the nineteenth century, tea and coffee were seen as part of everyday life, no longer luxuries, and had supplanted small beer as the usual drink of all classes, from the cobbler to the King.

And for me, coffee and tea led to the longest love affair of my life. When I was nine years old, we did a project on coffee and tea. It included production and manufacture. We started with a slide show, always a treat in our school, and I watched, enraptured, when they put up a print of a coffee house, the one I’ve put above. Right then and there I saw the place of my dreams, I saw a world I wanted to enter and I was desperate to know more about it, experience it, be part of it. I wanted a time machine, and I knew I’d been born in the wrong century.

Later, I learned better. I could live in the eighteenth century, but there are some things I’d find it very hard to live without. The vote, for instance. Still, at that exact moment, I fell deeply and irrevocably in love with the eighteenth century. Later, when I went to university, I deliberately chose Tudor history, not Georgian, because I didn’t want the magic to die. It was my secret. But the passion never died, never went away and today it’s as strong as ever. So strong that I write books set in the middle of that glorious time, and every time a new book comes out about that era, I buy it. I’m more passionate about the mid Georgian period, the 1750’s, than I am about the Regency, so I write books set then.

I can’t see it ever stopping.

Bio: Lynne Connolly lives in England with her family and her mews, a cat called Jack. She spends her time writing and filling her collection of doll’s houses. After acceptance by her first publisher she hasn’t looked back. She has over 40 books out, and plans for more. She writes in the paranormal romance, contemporary romance and historical romance genres and she likes to add a lot of steam!

She writes for Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, Loose-Id Publishing, Total E-bound, Champagne Publishing, Uncial Press and Awe-Struck Books.

Where you can find Lynne:

Newsletter group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lynneconnolly/join

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lynneconnolly

Email: lynneconnollyuk [at] yahoo.co.uk

Website: http://lynneconnolly.com

Blogs:

http://goodbadandunread.com

http://historicalromanceuk.blogspot.com

Publishers:

Total-E-Bound: http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=146

Ellora’s Cave: http://www.jasminejade.com/m-332-lynne-connolly.aspx

Samhain Publishing: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/lynne-connolly-pa-79.html

Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/Our-Authors/Lynne-Connolly/

Cat Shifters and Sunbathers - My July Newsletter!

Welcome! Thanks for taking time off from your sun-bathing, swimming, barbecues and other summer fun to check out my latest news. With free reads, contests and lots more, I hope you'll find it's worth a few minutes.

New and Upcoming Releases

No new releases this month, but I've gotten word that Total-E-Bound has accepted my paranormal novella Hot Spell for release in November. By that time, we'll need a sizzling story set during a heat wave! I'll be posting a blurb and excerpt soon.

Probably my biggest news this month is the fact that my extra-terrestrial ménage tale, Bodies of Light got a five cherryreview from Whipped Cream and then was voted Book of the Week. Part of the prize was a free book video from GoddessFish Promotions. Check it out! I really love the music.

In her review, Clematis wrote:

What a wonderfully refreshing and original sci-fi erotic romance. My only complaint would be that I finished it -- I wanted to keep on reading!...New to Lisabet Sarai's work, I was pleasantly surprised and am full of nothing but praise for Bodies of Light.

You can read the whole review here

I've been working on the edits for my novella Wild About That Thing, which will be released in September as part of the Treble anthology. This is a realistic contemporary tale about a single mother struggling against the odds to fulfill her dream. Have you read the excerpt yet? The story's full of my favorite blues tunes -- not to mention some of my favorite sexual fantasies.

Last, but hardly least, I recently learned that my story "Clean Slate" will be included in the anthology Best Lesbian Romance 2012, put together by awarding winning author and editor Radclyffe. I think this will be coming out in November of 2011.

Other News

I'm blogging on July 20th at K.D. Grace's place, talking about "the story behind the story" of my BDSM romance The Understudy. It's not exactly a true tale, but it borrows a good deal from my own history. I'm also blogging today as usual at Hitting the Hot Spot on the topic of naked recreation. Seems like a good topic for summer! Drop by and say hello!

I've put my article from Savvy Authors up in the For Authors section of my website. If you missed my essay "What Comes Next? Building Suspense and Avoiding Predictability", you can find it here.

Your wish is my command. Last month, in an entry to my "Story Suggestions" contest, one reader asked for a cat shifter story. You'll find the result, "Cat Toy", up on my free reads page. This is the first chapter of what will probably be a longer work. I hope you like it. I'm centering my contest this month on the story. You have a chance to win your own toy - or something else sexy and sensual!

"Quarantine" is up to about 35K. Unfortunately, my evil day job has been stealing a lot of my writing time. Actually, that's not fair - I love my day job. But I am getting a bit frustrated that it's taking me so long to tell Dylan's and Rafe's story.

Contests!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Bodies contest. Most respondents had fairly specific preferences when it came to male characters, but quite a few told me that the body type of the female character didn't matter nearly as much. One person wrote "It's refreshing to read of women who are curvy". Another commented "The women I'm not as picky about because I usually replace her with myself anyway in my mind." "Variety" and "please, not perfect" were other common sentiments. Since I rarely write unbelievably gorgeous characters, I was reassured!

Congratulations to Melissa, who was my randomly selected winner! She won a copy of my "Best Book of the Week" Bodies of Light.

My contest this month is a bit different. The prize is a $25 gift certificate from sex toy emporium EdenFantasys. If you're not into sex toys, EdenFantasys also sells lingerie, videos and DVDs, and lots of sexy books, including many of written by or including stories by me.

Kayla from EdenFantasys contacted me a few weeks ago, offering to sponsor my monthly contest, if I'd say a few words about their site. When I asked Kayla what she wanted me to write, she left that totally up to me. So I spent some time browsing around - more time than I'd planned, in fact, because, to be honest, I was having a great time.

I discovered that EdenFantasys is not just a woman-friendly, sex-positive adult products vendor. It seems to be a true community. They have an active set of forums (I had to tear myself away from the BDSM topics!), reviews by real people offering honest opinions, member workshops (I saw one listed on cake-decorating!), an interactive book club (who just happened to be discussing a book that includes one of my stories - obviously they have excellent taste!), and much more. My sampling suggested that the community is large, active, knowledgeable and generally articulate. After half an hour or so exploring, my reaction was, "Wow! A place to connect with kindred spirits. I've got to join!" My second reaction was, "Oh no, another Internet venue to suck up my scarce time!"

I decided to join anyway.

So - what do you need to do in order to win this gift certificate? First, read my new story, "Cat Toy". Then send me an email, to contest [at] lisabetsarai.com, with the subject line "Toys". In your email, tell me what you think should happen in the next chapter. That's all there is to it! Around August 15th, I'll randomly pick one email to receive the prize. And a hearty thanks to EdenFantasys for their generosity!

Lisabet's Pick of the Month

My Pick for July is Amy Valenti's blog. Amy's newly pubbed with Total-E-Bound, and judging by her fast but frequent posts, seems to have boundless energy. Check out her bizarre burlesque image posted a few days ago!

Islands, Waterfalls, and Hot Men from Down Under

By Cassandre Dayne (Guest Blogger)

What is it about the water, whether it’s the ocean, a lake or a crisp cool swimming pool that is such a delicious aphrodisiac? I don’t know about you but I love seeing sun-kissed men lounging on a towel, their carved bodies kissed by the sun. Yummy. Doesn’t the thought of slipping behind a waterfall into a hidden cove and stripping down naked turn you on? One of my greatest fantasies is having a ménage with two hot men that have nothing on their minds but pleasuring me in a tropical location.

What is the wildest thing you’ve ever done with a lover during an island vacation? Have you have snuck into the pool very late at night and allowed him to tease you relentlessly with his naked body? Can you imagine lying on a soft towel, your legs curled up as he licks your heated skin with his tongue, tracing lazy circles up and down the length of your tummy as you gaze into the star lit sky? How about trying the hot tub, slipping inside naked to ride him hard and fast against the tile wall?

This has to give you some wicked ideas about your next vacation. Now imagine if there was a little game involved in which you and a girlfriend decided to kick up the heat and seduce not one but two men in a very safe club where you don’t have to worry about holding anything back. Would you allow a naughty little taste and throw all your inhibitions to the wind? Come on ladies, imagine the first stunning blond with shoulder length hair and light blue eyes and the dimple in his chin and the first taste as you brush your lips across his. Close your eyes and imagine the second yummy man. He’s six foot something and a half with broad shoulders and long raven hair. Reach out and touch them. Do you feel how hard their thick shafts are, throbbing in hunger for you? Hmmm…

Now imagine for just a minute that you are on vacation with a girlfriend soothing a broken heart and she decides to kick up the heat suggesting a very wicked game of tasting not just one but two men at the same time and the first girl that can achieve the naughty prize has all her expenses paid by the other? No worries – this secluded island hot spot requires health tests so you can play all you want. What kind of flavor would you select if you had your choice? I’m a woman that craves all flavors from French vanilla to chocolate and everything in between and for me, add a snazzy and very sexy accent and I am drooling. Particular for me I love the men from down under. I was lucky enough to have a muse for my upcoming release, Taming Paradise. He’s from New Zealand and not only helped me understand the HUGE difference in men from Australia and from New Zealand but took the time to teach me the absolutely gorgeous Maori language which I sparkled throughout the naughty piece.

By the way, these types of clubs truly exist and I have used the concept of Hedonism – probably the most famous club in several stories. I think we all love a heated fantasy and perhaps something we may never have the nerve to try but the thought is tasty indeed. Think about it, a hot island club with perfect cerulean waters, a crisp sky two sexy men from down under and you throwing your inhibitions aside. Could you do it? I think it’s something we all crave – men and women alike.

Thought I’d give you a naughty taste of my upcoming release in which that very game is played in an effort to sooth a broken heart. Taming Paradise is a HOT summer read with two hot men with wicked New Zealand accents, one island destination and a woman that is determined to find her way. And trust me ladies…she finds ore than that. Take a taste.

Would running away to a lush island soothe your broken heart?

BLURB

Shannon Myers had it with men. Finding her fiancé, Randolph, in bed with a naughty blond vixen half her age did little for her self-esteem and despair settled in. Incensed, her best friend, Amy, whisked her way to a Caribbean island and a well known Hedonistic spot so that she could recover while convincing her to have a wicked fling of her own. Developing a naughty game titled Taming Paradise, the first one that bedded not one but two stunning hunks would win. Her spirit crushed, Shannon refused until she took one look at New Zealanders, Brandon and his rough-hewn friend Kyle and knew that two young studs just might be her ticket to a slice of happiness. Instantly the nights turned saucy as Brandon introduced her to a very kinky society, where all things scandalous were on the menu.

Shannon found herself falling hard, until she realized that he was none other than Randolph’s son and she was embroiled in a ruse that included releasing her inner most secret and very erotic cravings they had shared together years before. Racing back to the states, she was determined to put the experience behind her. However Brandon wasn’t playing a game. He had been in love with her for years and the moment he found out about his father’s behavior, he was determined to win her heart. It took nefarious planning, a surprise visit from Randolph and a series of truths to finally convince her to take a chance with a young man that stilled her heart and filled her every desire.

EXCERPT

Shannon frowned and glanced across the shimmering pool, reflecting the iridescent gold of the late morning sun. Several of the young male guests preened and obviously hungered for company. Somehow the vision curled Shannon’s stomach, yet she had to admit, the yummies were hot and she was in need. These boys are half your age. Shivering, Shannon envisioned their naked bodies. As she licked her lips, her pussy tingled from the lascivious thoughts. Chastising herself, she growled remembering she came to the gorgeous island for respite and recovery, not fresh prey.

“They are half our age to be exact and who the hell cares?” Amy said as if reading Shannon’s thoughts. “My God Shannon, we came down here for sun, drinks, relaxation and some kinky sex and not necessarily in that order. Come on girl.”

“Correction, you ran away with me to the Caymans as my best friend to help me wallow in my misery.“

“Oh Christ woman. You need to get laid! You need wild steamy sex with not just one but two hunky males and I think I know how to make that happen.”

“Please say that a little louder so everyone at the pool can hear you!” Granted, Shannon hadn’t had sex since she found out Randolph had cheated on her with a water nymph or so she liked to call the twenty something spicy bottled blonde with fake boobs. She remembered seeing the vixen riding her man like a stallion in heat, naked except for a dangling gold necklace. The woman, hell the girl was half her age and the damning event refused to leave her mind. That had been almost six months ago.

Amy glanced over at her as she swirled her drink. “All right, I’ve had enough of this pouting shit. We’re in a place that could only be described as a slice of heaven and you’ve done nothing but think about that freaking asshole you dated for far too long. I’m taking matters into my own hands, and girlfriend, you will not say no to me or I’ll find a way to make you suffer.”

Shannon grimaced and shook her head. Amy might be right but Shannon still stung from being pushed aside for a younger version. She glanced at her finger, rubbed a thin line where the engagement ring used to be and watched Amy saunter toward the bar. If anyone could get her out of her ridiculous doldrums, Amy, the buxom redhead who had been her best friend for years just might be able to. There was no doubt Shannon wanted to live again, but the thought of having sex with a stranger was sinful. Salacious. But the shameless thought did indeed sizzle her cunt.

“Here we go. You’re going to love this.” Amy handed her a pineapple filed with vibrantly colored straws.

“What is this?” Shannon asked as she raised her eyebrow.

“This is a naughty girl game called Taming Paradise and it’s one I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Taming Paradise? That sounds like something I wouldn’t do and you know it.”

Amy grinned and suckled her finger. “Well, how about this, you play lest I publish your diary over the internet.”

“You wouldn’t!”

Amy cocked her hip, tipped her glasses and gave Shannon a saucy grin. “Try me.”

Shannon growled and climbed out of the lounge chair. “What do you want me to do?”

“Short straws. The one that picks the shortest straw has to select not one but two of these fine hunky stud muffins. The fun part is you have to seduce both of the breathtaking hunks at the same time or face spending the remainder of the trip inside the hotel room. Of course you can do the nasty in the pool this afternoon for an appetizer and we’ll allow that to count as points.”

“What? Are you insane?” Shannon crossed her arms under her breasts and stared at her friend.

“You heard me, girl. Two men, at least one wild night of erotic sex and um…oh yes, the selection has to be made in the next fifteen minutes.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind? Ever hear of diseases and all of the rest that goes with something this crazy?” Thoughts of going home with something contagious ran through Shannon’s mind.

“’Scuse me, everyone goes through the physical screenings in order to be able to play. These delicious, horny men are completely safe.”

“Tests can be wrong.”

BIO: I started writing stories and poems before I knew how to ride a bike and proceeded onto novels by age eleven. By the time I was an early teenager, I’d written fifteen novels. As early adulthood, college and life settled in; writing was placed on the back burner but never forgotten entirely. One delicious night I was suddenly awakened by the rampant fantasies and untold stories of characters that flowed through my dreams every night and filtered into my daylight hours. That was the final straw and I decided I had to write again.

I write highly erotic romance stories and novels in the contemporary, science fiction and paranormal flavors. Currently I have seven erotic romance novels published with Rebel Ink Press and several more under contract. They include, Treats in a Plain Brown Wrapper, Her Sinful Long Legs, Revving Her Wild Engines, Shadows of Panic and Wicked Desire, Wicked Wager Among Friends - Tales from Lucifer’s Lair – the first in a series, Breakfast Eye Candy, and my first m/m piece just released titled Game Over. My first full two length novels will be released in August and September titled Truth, Dare or Dangerous Intent and Deception, Domination & Hunted Desire.

I also recently contracted with Naughty Nights Press and have an upcoming cougar piece this July titled Spankdown.

In addition, as my alter ego Bethany Halle, I am the host of two blog talk radio shows with Robin Falls Red River Radio. The Fire of Fantasy & Darkness airs every other month highlighting writers and other artists in the fantasy, science fiction and paranormal genres. Dare to Take the Plunge also airs every other month featuring writers, publishers, cover artists and reviewers in the erotic romance genre. I’m also is a weekly/monthly contributor to Naughty Nights Press and Queer Online Magazine.

I was a Passionate Ink finalist for their Passionate Plume contest with Treats in a Plain Brown Wrapper and have received several four and five star reviews for her work.

You can reach me on my website which hosts my blog and email address at http://www.cassandredayne.com

Tell me, can you dare to take the plunge and enjoy a touch of the wicked?

Member of:

Virginia Romance Writers

Romance Writers of America

Passionate Ink

EPIC

ARRA – Australian Romance Readers Association

CONTACT ME:

http://www.cassandredayne.com

http://cassandredayne.wordpress.com/

cassandredayne [at] gmail [dot] com

http://twitter.com/bethanyhalle

FIND MY NAUGHTIES AT:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cassandre+Dayne

Seven Common Blogging Mistakes

Okay, I've been blogging now for - what? more than three years. In addition to Beyond Romance and my group blog Oh Get A Grip, I do guest appearances on quite a few other blogs. I also make a point of visiting and commenting on blogs created by fellow authors, whenever I have the time.

Blogging is a powerful marketing tool (as well as a lot of fun). However, I've seen a number of authors who shoot themselves in the metaphorical foot with their blogs.

Here are the top seven blogging mistakes that I've observed (in no particular order). As usual, this should be viewed only as my opinion. "Your mileage may vary".

1. Failing to put your name in your blog header: A headline on a recent list post drew me over to an author's blog. The blog owner wasn't someone I knew well. I wanted to address her personally in my comment, but when I looked around on her blog, I couldn't find her name! If you view your blog as a marketing tool, get your name up there, front and center, where readers can't miss it!

2. Not updating regularly: You don't have to have a new post every day. In fact, I think it's more effective to leave each post up for a couple of days, to give people a chance to see it. However, if readers hop over to your blog and discover the same top post as you had two weeks ago, they aren't going to come back.

3. Overloading your blog with promo: Clearly you want to use your blog as a marketing medium, to announce releases, awards, contests, etc., and to whet your readers' appetites. However, readers aren't likely to interact much if you serve up a steady diet of nothing but blurbs and excerpts. The strength of a blog is the readers' ability to talk back - to be able to start a conversation with your readers and help them get to know you. Thus, posts about a variety of topics, topics that really engage readers, work better than straight promo.

4. Using your blog like Twitter: I recently visited a blog where each post was no more than a short paragraph, an announcement of some event or a link to some other location. Personally, I don't think this sort of post is effective. You have the space to expound a bit on subjects near and dear to your heart. Use it!

5. Loading your blog page down with multimedia: I'm sure not everyone will agree with me about this, but I avoid blogs where sidebars are full of videos, animation, slide shows, dozens of images, and so on. I have an old computer and a less-than-lightning-speed Internet connection. Busy pages like that slow my browser to a crawl. It's frustrating and unpleasant. It's great that we can include images and even video in blog posts, but I at least consider a blog to be primarily a written medium. Just my opinion.

6. Making graphical design choices that reduce readability: I've seen blogs that use 8 point fonts and others that use 20 point fonts. Both make reading really difficult. I've seen black backgrounds with gray text, and pink backgrounds with neon orange text. Oh, my head aches just from the memory! Remember, too, that not everyone will access your blog on a big screen. My laptop has 1024 pixel resolution. Lots of blogs I visit use more than this space and don't adjust gracefully to a smaller screen. As a result, I see garbled layouts or some of the content gets cut off. Lest you think that I'm just an old fogey still in the dark ages (though I may be), I should mention that many of my readers have commented on their slow (dial-up!) Internet or old computers.

7. Posting entries with spelling, grammar or formatting errors: Oh, my! What does it say about you as an author, if your posts are riddled with errors? Obviously we all depend on our editors to find those nasty typos and grammaticos in our books, but still, your blog is an advertisement for your writing skill. If you're dyslexic, or you know you're weak in spelling or grammar, have someone proofread your articles before you put them online. When I read a post by an author who punctuates incorrectly, misspells common words, uses sentence fragments, and so on, I tend to mentally cross that author off my "to read" list.

Formatting can be a problem, at least with some blogging platforms. Blogger lets you preview your post, but the final result does not necessarily look identical to what you see when you're doing the writing. The only solution I've found is to check each post after it actually appears on the blog, looking out for things like breaks in the middle of paragraphs, garbage characters, unexpected changes in font, and so on.

I've found that blogging serves as an excellent marketing activity. However, if you make the mistakes above, I think you are undermining your own efforts. I might not be typical. Some readers might not pay attention to these problems. But I wouldn't bet on it!

Richelle Mead's Got Nothin' on Me: Succubus Erotica

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