I'm working on a book write now with 3 (count 'em... three) heroes. It's been an adventure to write. What kind of woman would put up with three men? Good question. If a menage is perfect, are three perfect-er? :-)
An even more important question, can three men steal one woman's heart? Or will she end up with just one of them? Since this is still in the writing stage, we'll see.
What say you?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
What Makes Menage Marvelous?
Rather than write some ultra witty post this month, I'm going to let you tell me what it is about a menage romance that makes your heart (among other parts) flutter? Why do you read them? What makes them enjoyable?
Authors, why do you write menage?
Tell me before May 1st. ;) One lucky comment leaver will win a book from my backlist, winner's choice. BTW, don't forget to "follow" our blog and check out our ad this month at smartbitchestrashybooks.com Visit my blog for an additional contest.
Authors, why do you write menage?
Tell me before May 1st. ;) One lucky comment leaver will win a book from my backlist, winner's choice. BTW, don't forget to "follow" our blog and check out our ad this month at smartbitchestrashybooks.com Visit my blog for an additional contest.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Is it Harder?
Today I want to talk about emotional involvement. In a traditional romance the emotional involvement is between the reader and the heroine and hero. But in a menage you have one extra body...could be hero could be heroine.
For my books it's hero. So does have that one extra guy make it easier or harder to get emotionally involved in the story? For me the answer is no. I see more of the hero. Not just how he is with the heroine but how he is with his friend. Often men will act one way with their significant other and one way around the boys. When a hero can capture me and hold onto my heart while dealing with both situations then I'm hooked.
In Making Mischief my new menage...the heroes are brothers. They both love the same woman, who is a handful let me tell ya. But the interact with each other in a way that endears them to me. Both show their brotherly love by showing the sacrifices they are willing to make to ensure their siblings happiness. Being a giver...and one of four children this is important to me. And also helps me empathize with them.
I would love to hear about what helps or hurts you become emotionally involved in a story when we're talking menage.
Leila
For my books it's hero. So does have that one extra guy make it easier or harder to get emotionally involved in the story? For me the answer is no. I see more of the hero. Not just how he is with the heroine but how he is with his friend. Often men will act one way with their significant other and one way around the boys. When a hero can capture me and hold onto my heart while dealing with both situations then I'm hooked.
In Making Mischief my new menage...the heroes are brothers. They both love the same woman, who is a handful let me tell ya. But the interact with each other in a way that endears them to me. Both show their brotherly love by showing the sacrifices they are willing to make to ensure their siblings happiness. Being a giver...and one of four children this is important to me. And also helps me empathize with them.
I would love to hear about what helps or hurts you become emotionally involved in a story when we're talking menage.
Leila
Thursday, March 5, 2009
First Lines by Anya Bast
We have a very special guest today... you might recognize the name. Anya Bast. Does that ring a bell? I knew it would. Since I knew Anya would be posting, I cheated and didn't post anything on the 1st. Psst...Anya has a hot menage out right now. ~ Selena
Hi all – Thanks so much to Leila & Selena for inviting me to guest blog today!
My name is Anya Bast and I'm the author of over twenty five published works of fiction, mostly of them paranormal and most of them scorching hot. I write for Berkley Sensation, Harlequin Spice and Samhain, among other houses.
Today I thought I'd talk about that critical first line. I love writing that very first line of a novel. Actually, I obsess over them, rewriting them several times before I end up with the final version.
The first line is the first impression the reader gets of your work while they're standing in the bookstore deciding whether or not to buy your book. It's pretty important! It needs to hook the reader and make them want to read on. Your objective is to intrigue the reader, make them wonder what's going on and why.
If you can accomplish that much, then it's your job in the next few paragraphs to dig that hook in a bit deeper and add a dash of emotion, make the reader care about one of characters enough to invest even further.
Here is a sampling of some of the first lines from my books…
1. He looked like sin and seemed like salvation. Salvation for her sluggish libido, anyway. (Witch Fire, June 5, 2007 — Berkley Sensation)
2. How to Catch a Warlock 101. Isabelle could teach that class. (Witch Blood, March 4, 2008 — Berkley Sensation)
3.) Twenty years as a daaeman's handmaiden had prepared Claire for many things, but not this. Nothing could've prepared her for this. (Witch Heart, January 6, 2009 – Berkley Sensation)
4.) Sarafina might've been named for the angels, but she'd always known one day she'd end up in hell. (Witch Fury, June 2, 2009 – Berkley Sensation)
5). Alejandro leaned against the bar and watched the crush of dancers gyrate to the pounding beat in the Blood Spot. Lights flashed through the dark interior of the building, periodically illuminating bodies clad in almost nothing. (The Darkest Kiss, October 2008 — Berkley Heat)
6). The brown-haired businessman beside Cassidy at the roulette wheel held up a chip. “Kiss it for luck?” He gave her smarmy grin and a slow head-to-toe perusal. (The Deal, What Happens in Vegas…. May 2008 — Harlequin Spice)
I guess the reason I feel so strongly about my own first lines is because that's usually how I judge whether or not I'll buy someone else's book. My purchasing test goes something like this if the name on the spine is someone unfamiliar to me:
How about you? What are your buying criteria when you encounter an intriguing book at the bookstore by an author you've never heard of? Some people pay attention to the cover quotes, others have a complicated test of flipping through the book at every forty pages or so and reading.
And how about those first lines?
If you're an author, I invite you to share some of your opening gambits in the comments. If you're a reader, what's your buying criteria and do first lines figure into them? Got any fav first lines you'd like to share from anything you've read lately?
I'll give away an autographed copy of my latest release, Witch Heart, to one commenter.
Hi all – Thanks so much to Leila & Selena for inviting me to guest blog today!
My name is Anya Bast and I'm the author of over twenty five published works of fiction, mostly of them paranormal and most of them scorching hot. I write for Berkley Sensation, Harlequin Spice and Samhain, among other houses.
Today I thought I'd talk about that critical first line. I love writing that very first line of a novel. Actually, I obsess over them, rewriting them several times before I end up with the final version.
The first line is the first impression the reader gets of your work while they're standing in the bookstore deciding whether or not to buy your book. It's pretty important! It needs to hook the reader and make them want to read on. Your objective is to intrigue the reader, make them wonder what's going on and why.
If you can accomplish that much, then it's your job in the next few paragraphs to dig that hook in a bit deeper and add a dash of emotion, make the reader care about one of characters enough to invest even further.
Here is a sampling of some of the first lines from my books…
1. He looked like sin and seemed like salvation. Salvation for her sluggish libido, anyway. (Witch Fire, June 5, 2007 — Berkley Sensation)
2. How to Catch a Warlock 101. Isabelle could teach that class. (Witch Blood, March 4, 2008 — Berkley Sensation)
3.) Twenty years as a daaeman's handmaiden had prepared Claire for many things, but not this. Nothing could've prepared her for this. (Witch Heart, January 6, 2009 – Berkley Sensation)
4.) Sarafina might've been named for the angels, but she'd always known one day she'd end up in hell. (Witch Fury, June 2, 2009 – Berkley Sensation)
5). Alejandro leaned against the bar and watched the crush of dancers gyrate to the pounding beat in the Blood Spot. Lights flashed through the dark interior of the building, periodically illuminating bodies clad in almost nothing. (The Darkest Kiss, October 2008 — Berkley Heat)
6). The brown-haired businessman beside Cassidy at the roulette wheel held up a chip. “Kiss it for luck?” He gave her smarmy grin and a slow head-to-toe perusal. (The Deal, What Happens in Vegas…. May 2008 — Harlequin Spice)
I guess the reason I feel so strongly about my own first lines is because that's usually how I judge whether or not I'll buy someone else's book. My purchasing test goes something like this if the name on the spine is someone unfamiliar to me:
- Cover art…yeah, I'm shallow. ;) A good cover will get me to investigate a book further. Doesn't mean I'll buy it, just give it a closer look.
- Back blurb – Does it sound like "my kind" of book? My kind of book invariably being something of the paranormal or fantastical nature.
- First line – Does it catch me?
How about you? What are your buying criteria when you encounter an intriguing book at the bookstore by an author you've never heard of? Some people pay attention to the cover quotes, others have a complicated test of flipping through the book at every forty pages or so and reading.
And how about those first lines?
If you're an author, I invite you to share some of your opening gambits in the comments. If you're a reader, what's your buying criteria and do first lines figure into them? Got any fav first lines you'd like to share from anything you've read lately?
I'll give away an autographed copy of my latest release, Witch Heart, to one commenter.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Double the Trouble....Or Double the Fun?
You know when I write about two men and one woman I always wonder...in real life would it be double the trouble or double the fun?
I mean most of us with one significant other know that there are good days and there are bad days...With two men does that mean you have more bad and more good? Is the headache too much to risk for the reward?
In the menage book I am writing right now called, Irish Creme, the reward definitely is worth it. She needs them to help with a particular problem and they are willing to help at a price...good thing it's a price she wants to pay :D
But that's the question for today...married, or if you have a boyfriend...hell if you've ever had a boyfriend. Do you think having two of lovers around constantly would be worth it?
I mean most of us with one significant other know that there are good days and there are bad days...With two men does that mean you have more bad and more good? Is the headache too much to risk for the reward?
In the menage book I am writing right now called, Irish Creme, the reward definitely is worth it. She needs them to help with a particular problem and they are willing to help at a price...good thing it's a price she wants to pay :D
But that's the question for today...married, or if you have a boyfriend...hell if you've ever had a boyfriend. Do you think having two of lovers around constantly would be worth it?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Just Plain
What do you call 4 sultry erotic romance authors? Just Plain Wicked.
Check out the new group blog I’m a part of, we’re launching February 13th. So consider this your heads up. And be sure to stop by on the 13th. You might as well go ahead and bookmark the link because you know you’ll be coming back often.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
A Winning Combo
When it comes to a menage you have a few options. For the purposes of most romance novels you'll find either 2 men and a woman or 2 woman and a man between the covers... er, between the sheets.
If you're new to the genre, you're in for an eye opening and sensuous experience. Menage is all about pleasure. In romance, it's also about the romantic relationship between the characters. Our characters don't hop into bed with each other for no reason other than attraction.
In a romantic menage you'll find a level of deep emotion and respect. There's a deep desire between the characters and together, nowhere else, they'll find the ultimate pleasure.
As you explore our genre, be it in our books or in others, note the combination of characters. Sometimes you'll find two alpha males fighting over a woman they both adore. Sometimes you'll find two men who desire each other, yet welcome a woman into the fold.
What do you prefer?
In the biz we call the combinations MMF for a male, male, female combo; MFM for a male, female, male combo; FFM for a female, female, male combo; and FMF for a female, male, female combo.
If you're new to the genre, you're in for an eye opening and sensuous experience. Menage is all about pleasure. In romance, it's also about the romantic relationship between the characters. Our characters don't hop into bed with each other for no reason other than attraction.
In a romantic menage you'll find a level of deep emotion and respect. There's a deep desire between the characters and together, nowhere else, they'll find the ultimate pleasure.
As you explore our genre, be it in our books or in others, note the combination of characters. Sometimes you'll find two alpha males fighting over a woman they both adore. Sometimes you'll find two men who desire each other, yet welcome a woman into the fold.
What do you prefer?
In the biz we call the combinations MMF for a male, male, female combo; MFM for a male, female, male combo; FFM for a female, female, male combo; and FMF for a female, male, female combo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
