The Allure of Passion

You Know You Want Them…

2009-07-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yeah…we said it. You know you wanna read some of those steamy titles from Erotique Press this summer. Play our sexy scavenger hunt, and you'll be enjoying those delicious titles on of a flash drive before your end-of-summer barbeque. Here's how.

Below, you'll find a list of our current Erotique Press authors (and a friends of ours!). Visit the website we send you to and briefly answer a question or perform an action.

Then, pick your five favorite books from our catalog to download on your flash drive if you win! You'll find our titles at http://www.echelonpress.com/ . Choose any of our selections from Erin O'Riordan, Zander Vyne, Angela Lee, Anabel Blue, Lois Bonde, Sarah Storme, or Candy Caine!

After you complete each piece of the scavenger hunt & pick your books, type your answers up in the body of your email to us (submissions@erotiquepress.com). Submit it to us no later than July 29 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

All entries that are complete and accurate will be put into a drawing to be held on August 3, 2009. One winner will receive a flash drive of their five favorite stories!

1. Visit (and follow!) Erin O'Riordan on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ErinORiordan Who has a "Stupid band name, great song"?

2. Read "The Hothouse," a post on Zander Vyne's blog at http://zandervyne.blogspot.com/ What fruit does Beth give Alan?

3. Go to Angela Lee's blog at http://alnaughtyandnice.blogspot.com/ Read "All-day Tease." At what time does the last phone call occur?

4. Visit Anabel Blue's blog at http://anabelblue.blogspot.com/ Leave a comment for her on the "Swimming Nekkid" post.

5. How many hearts did Lois Bonde's story get on her review? Find out at http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/hotbytesbonde.htm

6. Read an interview with Sarah Storme on Fallen Angels Review at http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/Interviews/2005/May05-Amanda-SarahStorme.htm What is one way she spends her free time?

7. Where did Candy Caine go on her road trip? http://www.candycainescorner.blogspot.com/

8. What is the featured product of the day on the blog for our friends at www.sextoys.com? Find it at http://blog.sextoys.com/

9. Friend us on Facebook and write something! http://www.facebook.com/erotiquepress

10. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/erotiquepress and tweet us the way you best like to spend a lazy day.

The Importance of Being Lazy

2009-07-17T09:38:00.001-07:00

I have mornings—much like this morning, actually—where the snooze button and I become naughty acquaintances. She likes it when I feel my way around her. Sometimes I give her a caress, rubbing my hand over her to beg for another nine minutes of peace. Sometimes I give her a lazy swat and demand it from her. She digs it. That's how we roll.

But there comes a time when she or I have had enough of our game, and I stare up at the ceiling, nestled under the delicious coolness of Egyptian cotton sheets. Then comes the choice: get up for work or laze about all day? Maybe I'll mull this over for a bit and psych myself up for a day of work, or maybe I'll claim the day for myself.

On days like that, the ones I claim for myself, I refuse to rush. I'll start the day with a very long, very hot shower, and reach one dripping, wet hand out to select scented soap or gel (I have a thing for them!). It's hot here now, so I'll pick something summery…maybe Satsuma? Perfect. I'll take my time finishing and dressing before leaving the house. Sometimes lazy days don't happen at home.

My day out of the house will start with a few hours of browsing at the nearest bookstore. This is the only place I find any joy in shopping. I get a lot of pleasure out of just browsing…touching the books, appreciating their cover art, opening them to random pages to see if the words sweep me into their poetic cocoon. If they do, well…I'm not shy. I'll sit on the floor in the aisle and relish them for a bit. Then, I'll move on until I find JUST the right one…one with mermaid lore or the science of snowflakes or how to write a poem in perfect iambic pentameter.

After I've satisfied my inner geek with a book I can use for research for some type of poem or story I'm crafting, I'm off to a favorite coffee shop or café for a little writing time. I'll buy one of those yummy coffee drinks and settle into the hot seat, a place I can watch all the folks heading in and out. I'll take out my Uni-ball Signo and my red, hard-covered notebook with the Indian design on it, then open to the first pristine page. I love the connection I have with my work when I write it directly on the paper, in my very own handwriting. I'll smooth the page and start the half-dream process I have with the first draft of a story that I hope will have its own bits of magic.

There will be times I stop writing and just enjoy watching the patrons around me. If I'm lucky, an attractive stranger on his lunch break or on a coffee run will come in. Maybe I'll like how he holds the door for someone to go ahead of him or like that he keeps his drink order simple or like the uniform he wears. I'll try to catch his eye, and if I do, I'll cock my head to the side just a bit and smile up at him. And if I'm very lucky, he'll smile back and say hi as he walks past. Those little flirts get my heart racing, and I'll grin to myself, satisfied, and slip back into my own fantasy world unfolding on the paper before me.

When it's time to leave…when I'm close to over-staying my welcome at the café or when my hand starts to ache…I'll be relaxed and feel satisfied by the time I get home. Then, if I'm ambitious, I walk down to the beach near my house. Or maybe I'll stay lazy and curl up with the book on the couch. Soon enough, it will be time to wrap myself in the comfort of cool, soft sheets. And maybe, I'll indulge in a fantasy about the stranger in the café where I get to end my day the same way it began: with a bit of caressing or a few lazy swats. Maybe.

Indulge on your lazy day. BUY OUR BOOKS HERE!
Read great articles & post on our Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/erotiquepress
Get your Tweet on with us at http://twitter.com/ErotiquePress

Luxuriously Lazy

2009-07-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

There are days when you simply can’t imagine doing anything past getting out of bed. Now, if I had my choice, I’d spend the day in bed. But sometimes you have to get up. But in anticipation of my lazy mood, my lover would bring me breakfast in bed. Being the considerate mate that he is, he would definitely stay to help me clean my plate. I mean seriously, who wants to feed themselves fresh strawberries and blueberries.

And what happens if I dribble a bit of OJ down my chin? I can’t be expected to handle such a crisis on my own. It would be much more effective if my lover were to gently slide his warm tongue along the curve of my chin to lick the errant line of juice.

Fine, I can’t stay in bed all day, so I force myself out of bed and head for the shower. We’ll call my lover M.

M lays a towel on the counter for me and steps into the stream of scorching water behind me. As I stand facing the wall, the spray of warmth cascades down m face and drips along my shoulders, sending a shiver along my spine that is simply delicious. He moves in close and slowly slips his arms around me, caressing me in all the spots that I love to be touched. Hips lips brush against my neck and I actually tremble from the way it affects me. I lean back against him and let his fingers wander where they will, kneading and pinching, tweaking and teasing. My eyelids slowly slip down and I feel my body physically sigh with the total feeling of ecstasy.

As the water begins to cool, I shiver from the loss of warmth. M fills his palm with the silky gel, scented with vanilla and honey. He begins at my toes and meticulously rubs the satiny foam against my skin, lathering and massaging every single quivering inch of my body. AS the water turn dangerously cold, he splashes the water against me, rinsing the soap and teasing me with soft kisses before wrapping his arms around me. Quickly he turns the water off and wraps a large fluffy warm towel around my body and leads me back to the bedroom.

Once he has me propped back up in bed, he hands me my iPod and disappears. Some time later he returns with a tray of food fit for a queen. All my favorite foods, comfort foods. While I read on my iPod and graze the contents of the tray, M fills his hands with lotion and begins to massage my foot. As he rubs his thumbs against my flesh, it thrills me how the lotion makes his hands slick, giving his fingers an erotic intensity that leaves me nearly breathless. I don’t know when it happens, but I fall asleep as he continues to rub up my calves.

When I awake several hours later, there is a cup of tea and a note that says, “I love you.” I call for him as I realize it is nearly time to go to bed for the night.

He comes in and I watch him strip down to the beautiful nakedness that I truly admire. I sigh as he slips under the covers next to me and pulls me close against him and whispers goodnight as his hands begin another sensual journey.

(c)Karen L. Syed

Bring Me Some Water

2009-07-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

It is instinctive, even elemental. Ripe, red strawberries make us hungry; the animal in us craves the fruit. The curve of a hip, the arch of a smile, the nearness of another's body heat makes us aware of our sexual desire. The blue waters of the oasis make us thirsty.

Like all living things, we need water to live. Our bodies are largely made of it. Two thirds of the surface of the planet is covered by it. We need it, cannot live for long without it. But what IS it about water that brings us so much pleasure?

Perhaps it is the way water cleanses. When we come home, tired and dirty with the dust of our day's journey, bathing refreshes it. It is a private act, a sensual one, and a not-so-secretly seductive one. How did King David spot Bathsheeba? She was bathing on the roof, and he instantly knew he had to have her. What sells so many copies of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue each year? We can see beautiful women's bodies anywhere, but the aquatic settings--the wet sand, the surf, the palm trees--give an extra, special allure. Don't believe me, ladies? Type "beach photos" and your favorite male celeb's name into your search engine and see for yourselves. Hugh Jackman wet is more fun than Hugh Jackman dry.

In the world's oldest tales, waters are personified, the seas are Neptune or Poseidon. To the Yoruba people, the sea is the goddess Yemaya. A Catholic church on Key West is named Mary Star of the Sea. The sea could be mother, lover, or monster.

Water is sacred; there is more than one kind of holy water. Throughout Europe, nearly every river, stream, fountain and well was once dedicated to a god or goddess, nymph, or fairy. You had to ask permission to drink, or to water your horse. You don't want to anger the fairies, and woe to you if you come across a nymph or a goddess bathing.

Water is also the home of the merfolk, the undersea people who sometimes fall in love with us land-dwellers. Hans Christian Anderson's Little Mermaid did. (Can you hear the opening notes of "Kiss the Girl?" in the back of your mind?) So did the French fairy noblewoman Melusine. The love between a mermaid or merman and one of us average joes and josephines has captured the human imagination for centuries. Modern writers of paranormal erotica have given the old fairy tales many new and fascinating twists.

Or maybe we love water because it is simply beautiful. It reflects the sky and the sun; its waves create psychedelic patterns from the clouds. Sometimes blue, sometimes the color of a blazing sunset, it can also be still and clear, quiet and calming. Flowing, it makes music to our ears. Water is romantic, and as refreshing as a melting popsicle on a hot July night.

Bomb Pop by Erin ORiordan: Buy the Book

What's your fantasy?

2009-07-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.
~Dr. Seuss

Fantasies. Yeah. We all have them. Today, mine is being on a secluded beach somewhere, in a hammock. It's about 85 and breezy, with not a drop of humidity. I'm debating on whether or not I'm too lazy to walk over the hot sand for a swim, but I'm enjoying how it feels to drift in between dozing and that lazy half-awake feeling that washes over me. I smell like coconut suntan lotion. There is a little drink in a hollowed out pineapple next to me, and I might take a drink, or I might just lick the salt off my lips from the sea air. And up the beach a bit, I see a tall, dark-haired man walking toward me, ankle deep in the water that is lapping at the shore line.

So it begins. The fantasy, that is. We all know our realities of writing checks, folding laundry, sitting in rush-hour traffic. And those things are fine…that's how we survive our day-to-day stuff. But we need fantasy; we crave it. So maybe I'll retreat into my own personal fantasies. Or maybe I'll read erotica.

When I read erotica, I like to imagine someone completely new. I very rarely ever imagine a celebrity or someone I might know because I like the fantasy of it. So in my mind, I can make up the mysterious stranger in my daydream or imagine the hot doctor or bartender I read about in an erotic story. And even more than imaging who it is, I like imagining the sensations: the way my breath catches in my chest when the dark-haired stranger finally approaches my hammock, the way the sun beats down on me, the way his skin would feel under my fingertips as I trace the arch of his lower back.

When I read erotica, I also like that I get to visit someone else's fantasy. Do things I wouldn’t imagine doing, meet people I wouldn’t imagine meeting, go places I wouldn't imagine going. I relish in the author's creativity and enjoy their sensual nature. Maybe it will spark a few fantasies of my own.

Tomorrow, I will likely find something delicious to read. But for now, I'm going to get back to my real life, my work…and try very hard not to think of the way the swim trunks hang on my dark-haired fantasy man's hips or the first thing he says as he approaches my hammock. I said try. I am human, after all…

Indulge your fantasies. BUY OUR BOOKS HERE!
Read cool stuff on our Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/erotiquepress
Get your Tweet on with us at http://twitter.com/ErotiquePress

Who do you like to read about in your erotic romances? by Lois Bonde

2009-07-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

She had to finish the article, but she couldn't concentrate. She could hear the plumber working in the bath behind her. Now there was a man she would like to do more than read about.

Okay, back to the article: Who? Who?

The farmer who couldn't keep his hands off his wife, so he fired them?
The male nurse who made the patient without disturbing the bed?

He dropped a wrench into his bag of tools, and she jumped. Relax and think.

The fellow who lost his girl friend because he forgot where he laid her?
The frustrated musician who's flute went flat right in the middle of "My Fair Lady"?
The coffee bean that wouldn't try a new position because he preferred the old grind?

She heard the water turn on. She hoped he ran it a good long time to make sure the drain worked. A picture of him naked in her shower flashed into her mind.

The article. The article.
The diaphram who aspired to be a midnight trampoline?
The sleepy guy who couldn't stay awake for a second?
The high salaried movie producer who was always trying to make a little extra (She was a blonde.)?

The water turned off.

The truck driver who broke his arm when he pulled out to avoid a child and fell off the sofa?
The deliveryman who was late to the third floor because he got a little behind on the second?

She didn't hear him walk up behind her.

"The shower works fine."

Startled, she sat up straight. He was so close that her shoulder pressed against him. He grew hard under the pressure. She turned slowly and discovered he was naked. Drops of water glistened all over his body.

"It works very well," she noted.

The article was all wrong so far. Not the farmer, not the musician, not even the movie producer.

The plumber.

Buy Lois Bonde's latest release, Doctor on Call, at http://www.echelonpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_55_60&products_id=145&zenid=8d3f0e603ef051e7efd7507bb72653a6

Visit her on the web at http://home.roadrunner.com/~topromances/lois_bonde/index.htm

Erotic Romance: More Than Just Thrusts and Beats

2009-06-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

One of Ms. Anabel’s gentlemen friends is really into video sex. She hesitates to use the “P” word, because it offends many. Still, it’s fairly hard-core porn and she sometimes thinks it would work well as sex education material. Someone mentioned “insert Tab A into Slot B” and, well, that’s basically it, accompanying by hard-thumping sex music, each thrust timed to each beat, of course. Story? Ha!

But Etienne has a couple of DVD’s that Anabel actually likes. They are the ones with a story. They usually start out with a couple locking eyes across the room at a party, and the She of them starts having trouble with her date, they argue, and she takes off into the night on the beach. Then the He of the story notices, and slips out the back door in pursuit.

The He is sympathetic, and attentive. The ocean breeze is blowing, he offers his jacket, but the She doesn’t wear it for long because he has enticed her into a little mini-orgy on the sand. Oh yeah, She points those 4 inch clear Lucite stilettos toward the starry sky and next thing you know, Slot B is welcoming Tab A. Music is more dreamy, and kisses more passionate, less violent. Afterward, newly bonded couple is seen walking in the dawn light, romantic, sated, all shades of afterglow. He is carrying her killer shoes, she is again wearing his sexy jacket.

Why does Anabel prefer this video over the others? Story. Emotion. Beginning, middle, satisfying end. This is erotic romance.

Etienne humors Anabel by playing this video first. While he prefers the “let’s get it on” momentum of the aforementioned play-by-play discs, he understands her need for substance and plot. Because, after all, Anabel is a woman whose sexual power is channeled through, and heightened by, emotion.

Love, Anabel

--who hopes your nights are filled with more than just slots and tabs...

Anabel Blue is the author of SEX LIBRIS, new from Erotique Press, where Sex in the Library has never been this much fun! BUY IT NOW for a quick, steamy read!

What gets you hot?

Defining Erotica

2009-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

What's the difference between erotica, erotic romance, and romance? I'm asked this question a lot. It used to trip me up, but I've learned quite a bit over the past twelve years of writing romance and erotic romance. (I also write erotica under other names, but that's for another time.) So let me see if I can share what I've learned.

We all know about romance, right? Romance is fiction focused primarily on the relationship and romantic love between two people. No matter what else the story contains (sci-fi, vampires, suspense, space travel, etc.), it must follow the couple through great conflict and conflict resolution, and must have an emotionally satisfying and generally optimistic ending. That's why we read it, isn't it? Not all our relationships in real life will make it through those terrifying crises, but we know the couple we're following in a romance will. Somehow.

Erotica is fiction (or non-fiction!) meant to be sexually arousing. I've had people ask me what distinguishes erotica from pornography. For me, erotica has to offer an emotional connection with the characters--a story. In general, women want to connect emotionally with the characters they read about. (Not always, of course. This is just a general statement.) Inserting tab A into slot B is pornography. Needing, aching to insert tab A into slot B is erotica. (I'm not suggesting that pornography is always a bad thing, mind you.)

So, that leaves erotic romance: sexually stimulating literature about a growing relationship with an emotionally satisfying ending. Easy, right? But where do you draw the line between spicy romance and erotic romance? Much of it has to do with language and detail. If you want to be aroused but are easily offended by "four-letter words," then stick with spicy romance. However, the line is more like a fuzzy zone these days, and I don't spend a lot of time worrying about the difference when I'm writing. My characters decide the level of detail and what kind of language they will use. (If they don't have minds of their own, they aren't worth writing about.)

We need examples, don't we? OK. This is the beginning of a chapter from Carved in Stone, my latest release from Erotique Press:

******
Barely giving Lizabeth a chance to respond, Jeremy forced her mouth open again. His hand moved from her ribs to her back and then under her blouse.

She shuddered as he touched her skin, burning a path around her midriff. Then his hand moved up to the side of her bra and he caressed her breast through nylon. She pressed herself against him.

The knowledge that she'd aroused him fired her further and she rubbed her hip against the bulge in his jeans. For a moment, she thought he would take her right there in the yard.

She wouldn't have stopped him.

"Wait," he whispered, pulling his mouth away from her again. He slid his hand out from under her blouse.

"Why?"

"Christ, I'm not going to ravish you out here."

She looked up, stunned by the desire in his eyes that perfectly reflected her own.

Jeremy pushed the hair back from her face. "I work better indoors."

******
Is it spicy romance, erotic romance, or erotica? There's no way of telling with just this information. (You can be fairly sure it isn't "sweet romance" where sex is only hinted at, if that. In fact, I'll guarantee it isn't "sweet.") What gives it away is what follows.

Curious? I hope so. I really enjoyed writing the story of Jeremy and Lizabeth, set on the steamy Gulf coast of Mississippi. Jeremy is a stoic artist who carves stone, and Lizabeth is his unwitting model. When they get together, sparks fly!

Which do you prefer to read, romance, erotic romance, or erotica? Or are you like me—someone who enjoys them all? Are you into paranormal erotica (hinting at my other identity), or contemporary erotic romance? We authors really want to know. We love to share our stories with you, and we want you to enjoy them.

Carved in Stone is closer to erotic romance than anything else. Just so you know.

Happy, spicy reading!

The Hot and Cold of It

2009-06-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

Everything seems to be heightened in summer. Heightened excitement, since we are finally able to enjoy our favorite summer activities, like watching the fireworks on the fourth of July. Heightened anticipation of what can happen on a sultry summer night. Heightened senses, like savoring the taste of local watermelon or inhaling the scent of coconut suntan lotion.

And for that reason, we seem to feel things a lot more. We can feel every grain of sand beneath our feet, feel every breeze that wraps around our body as we lay in the hammock, feel every degree of the heat as we bake in the mid-day sun. Those sensations are even further heightened when they are placed with a sensation that is opposite, like stepping from a warm concrete sidewalk onto soft, dewy grass.

Hands down, my favorite juxtaposition of sensations is the sweltering summer heat and a cold ice cube. The heat bears down on you in a way you feel no other time of year, so just a hint of the ice is pure pleasure. And it's even better when you can play with a partner.

If you are a bit tentative, play with the ice cube in your mouth first. Take it out, trace your cold tongue along his lips, then lean in for a shocking kiss. Or leave it in your mouth and blow a chilly breeze across his warmed skin. Where you do that is up to you.

And the sensations can get even more intense. Let the ice start to melt between your finger tips, then drip it on your partner's skin, allowing the freezing drops to make their way down the nape of her neck, across his chest, or over her stomach. And when you see you have their attention--and you can see the anticipation in their eyes--pop the ice cube back in your mouth. Alternate dragging it between your teeth, blowing cold air over their skin, and licking a trail of icy goodness with your frozen tongue as they recline in the sun.

Don't underestimate the power of rubbing it over your own skin as they watch, either. There is nothing wrong with a little sensation for yourself while getting your partner's attention, which you are guaranteed to do while playing with an ice cube.

Just relax, enjoy, and have fun. Relish this sexy season we are beginning. Summer is all too short, too fleeting...but this early on, you still have a choice what you take from it: either sensual memories or a pocket full of sand. I'm going to opt for the memories.

Get your summer even hotter with our erotica. BUY OUR BOOKS at http://www.erotiquepress.com
Add us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/erotiquepress
Wanna tweet with Erotique Press? Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ErotiquePress

"Steamy and very erotic..."

2009-06-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah. That's what I'm talkin' bout. Danielle at Coffee Time Romance also has this to say about SEX LIBRIS: "so hot that I am surprised it did not singe my fingertips" and isn't that the goal?

You can burn your own fingertips for just $1.13 at Erotique Press! Give SEX LIBRIS by Anabel Blue a read--you know you want to...

Love,

Anabel
http://anabelblue.blogspot.com

2009-06-17T00:05:00.001-07:00

They say in spring, a young man's fancy turns to love. So what happens the following season?

Will he act on that fancy? Oh, please do, you may be thinking. Summer is the real time of the mating dance. Spring may bring the renewal of life and all things verdant, but summer is the time for preening. All the ladies in their shape-hugging sheath dresses, the skimpy tops, the shortest shorts, the string bikinis and the gauzy wraps. All the guys in their unbuttoned shirts, faded cut-offs, tank tops, and hip-hugging swim suits.

Or let's think about a fancy occasion like a wedding, where she can wear her sleeveless, strapless, scantiest cocktail dress, and he can deck himself out in a cool suit with the tie that will come loose before the evening is over, and the jacket that will be draped over the nearest chair, the better to show off that slim, belted waist.

And at the end of all this posturing? One can hope that the mating dance is completed: he, taking the time to slip that dress from her shoulders, nuzzling the soft, smooth skin of her neck and growing intoxicated with her scent; she, unbuttoning that shirt and sliding it free of his pants, unbuckling the belt and loosening the top button before slowly, longingly undoing that zipper. And both of them sweetly touching, stroking, exploring until they can't wait any longer and their lips meet in a tease, a caress, to be followed by the sort of deep kiss that takes their breath and pulls them into that final embrace.

Sigh. I love summer, with the heat and the rhythms that go from easy and casual to pulsing and driven. Seduction in the shape of the mouth around a strawberry. Passion in the lips that open to accept a taste of a frozen cherry confection, the tongue slipping easily down the length of it to catch every melting drip.

Hmmm. I think I'll go see if hubby is up for a summer snack.

For more heat, check out my latest story, Bedroom Tiger! Buy it now at:
http://www.echelonpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_55_60&products_id=148

Sole Seduction

2009-06-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, this post is going up late, and I am overwriting someone else, but I was scheduled for yesterday and I missed it due to sore feet. No kidding. Being a new diabetic, I have been informed of the risks my feet are facing. How in the hell is this sexy you ask? Well, as my dietitian and diabetes specialist informed me, "This is how you make diabetes sexy, and get foreplay from your spouse." You simply make foot health a team sport.

The feet, tender little things that they are, take a lot of stress during the day. They get you from place to place, things get dropped on them, and they get abused by table and chair legs galore. No wonder they need such tender loving care.

My husband is wonderful, truly. He checks my feet for me now, every day. He starts with my toes, inspecting each one while he gently rubs and massages. He is very good with his thumbs so I am particularly pleased when he uses the pads of his thumbs to push upward from the tip of my toes to the top of my foot. Once he gives the all clear, the fun really begins.

A little bit of Tree Hut Shea Body Butter, Almond & Honey and it's on!

Using the palms of his hands, he kneads the soles of my feet, paying close attention to the balls, while the tips of his other fingers caress the top with long, hard, strokes. That's the part that starts me going.

Once he gets to the arch of my foot, he puts those glorious thumbs back into action as he rubs and strokes, and kneads each and every bare spot. By this point, my eyes are closed and I am in heaven. He works his way up each side of my ankles, inside and out, careful not to press too hard or squeeze too tight, until he gets to wherever it is he is going that night.

I am truly blessed to have such a man in my life, a man who is so in tune with each part of my body, including my feet. A man who not only cares for my health condition, but is willing to do this thing that gives me such pleasure.

The pleasures are often simple, but extreme in satisfaction.

Do you have a simple pleasure that involves your feet? Do you pay enough attention to your feet? Share with us!

Soleful Sensuality

2009-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just me, but I think feet can be one of the most sensual parts of body. Yes, I mean sensual in a sexual way—which can most certainly be fun!—but also sensual in the way of just awakening the senses or giving physical sensation. Not that the two are ever really independent of each other…sometimes awakening the senses is also awakening the whole body, which is an important part of sexuality, too.

Take, for example, being at the beach in the summer. The very first thing I do when I arrive is remove my shoes. Granted, I am barefoot as much as I can be each day, but there is something delicious about removing my shoes and walking through the sand. At first, it's hot, and the heat immediately warms my feet, but the sand can also be soft and powdery, offering resistance, wrapping around my foot like a warm massage. After I drop my towel, water, and sunscreen in a quiet area, I immediately head for the shoreline. There is a line on the beach where the waves have hit the shore, and in a matter of a single step, I leave the hot, soft sand and step into the cool, wet sand. My feet leave perfect footprint that wash away as the water comes in, removing any trace that one bit of earth has ever been touched by humans. I walk to the water, go in ankle deep at first, judging the temperature of the water, relishing the chill that washes through me when the water is cold on a summer day. A wave comes in, soaking me to my calves, and when it recedes, the water is drawn out of the sand, and I sink in, just a little. Then, when I'm done swimming, after I've kicked about in the waves and ridden them out, I head back to my towel and dig my toes in the hot sand again, loving the grittiness of grains stuck to my wet feet.

There are so many sensations we get from our feet from slipping on those fuzzy socks in the winter, from playing outside in the rain in the mud, from stimulation we receive from a great soak before a pedicure. Just don't get me started on foot massages. We could end up being here for hours.

Enjoy a little erotica on the beach. BUY OUR BOOKS at http://www.erotiquepress.com
Add us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/erotiquepress
Need a mid-day fix of Erotique Press? Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ErotiquePress

2009-06-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

What could one add about feet after Lois's wonderful blog entry? As I sit and ponder that perplexing thought, I realize that I hardly ever think about feet unless I'm writing a scene in one of my stories focusing on a man with a foot fetish.

Why, you might be asking yourself. Aside from finding my feet useful because they firmly root me to the ground when I stand, they often cause me a great deal of grief--especially when I need to buy new shoes. According to statistics, the average shoe size for women today is 8-9.
I have become quite intimate with this fact. There are tons of boxes with large sizes underneath the shoe displays. When I look for my size, which is a 6, I can usually locate a single box. Inside there is usually one shoe. The other one is on diplay getting shopworn. Stores don't stock too many small sizes and if you come later in the season, you're out of luck.

I actually am lucky when I consider my husband's predicament. He has to order shoes from a special store because he wears a size 12AAA. I guess we were meant for each other.

Candy Caine
OOPS!
Christmas With a Stranger
Devil or Angel

Consider the Lowly Female Foot from Lois Bonde

2009-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Consider the lowly female foot.

It gets walked all over and that does nothing for its reputation.
It puts on beautiful high heels and we wonder why it complains.
It gets decorated with polish and then we hide it most often.
It demands good care and cleaning or it raises a stink.
It works hard and wears skin out only to have it sanded off.
It kicks soccer balls for kids' practice and stands in lines for hours without thanks.
It tiptoes bare to check on an ill child and walks fussy babies so everyone else can sleep and all it gets is cold.
It gets toes stubbed though it never deserved such punishment.
It is stepped on enough to grow larger throughout life without any appreciation.
It shows through holes in socks and gets rewarded with blisters.
It leans to the side in worn out shoes and then gets criticized and hurt for leaning.
Its real size is constricted to be more attractive, no matter what her height.

Yes, consider the lowly female foot.

It walks on cloud nine when the right man smiles.
It gets you into his arms at a run when you see him.
It signals other parts of the body to react wet and wild when it is massaged and rubbed with lotion after a long day.
It provides an erotic view when you're reclining and he lifts it.
It can curl around his legs to rub and encourage and direct.
It keeps us grounded but lets us soar to fulfill our life's dreams.

Buy Lois Bonde's latest releases at http://www.echelonpress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=12&zenid=57420837763b2c9db3549f9b2f4be2df

Visit her on the web at http://home.roadrunner.com/~topromances/lois_bonde/index.htm

Free Shipping on Great Books!

2009-06-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

Tired of reading the same old books? We've got your solution. Our Summer Saving Daze is just what you need to add some sizzle to your summertime reading.

For SEVEN days only, buy any THREE paperbacks and you'll get FREE SHIPPING.

Wanna be a big hit with your friends? Share this coupon with them and let them enjoy the savings as well. At Echelon, our #1 goal is to keep you reading happy!

Certain other restrictions may apply. Please see below for other details.
The coupon is valid between 06/03/2009 and 06/10/2010
Coupon Code: SD-FreeShip

The Hottest Technology!

2009-06-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

At Erotique Press, we love meeting great people who are open-minded, sexy, and funny. Thanks to Twitter, we get the opportunity to chat with new folks we might not otherwise run in to, simply due to geography. Technology is making our world deliciously smaller, and with regards to technology, this week on our blog, we had decided to talk about technology and sexuality. With that in mind, we decided to interview one of our favorite new people, Mina, who owns adult web sites.

When I first tweeted with Mina, I just liked how witty she was. Then, of course, I had to go to her blog. The blog is sexy and really interesting, but what made me smile was when she wrote things like, "We’re a real-life 30-something couple from Montreal, Canada, who each own various porn sites and love exhibiting our desire for each other and erotica itself to the internet. Aside from how we felt about each other when we met, we knew our goals and work would blend perfectly together and we support each other any way we can" and "As I’ve said many times before, getting naked on the internet is the least of what I do—I’m not a paid model, I’m a web mistress." That being said, Mina is a knock-out and is very good at all the portions of her job! I just knew she'd be a great interview for our blog. Here is what she wrote.

Erotique Press: Please describe what a typical day looks like.

Mina: A typical day in my world:

* 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.—Wake. One cat yells at me for a half hour because she can; the other rolls around prettily for attention. My boyfriend, Joe, and I grunt at each other, trade a kiss, and I breakfast on three coffees and a half a pack of cigarettes. At my desk until about 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. blogging, answering email, compiling galleries or rendering video for updates, checking stats, or building promo content. Twittering way too often throughout.
* Monday - Wednesday afternoons—Lunch, shower, dress, do whatever housework might be necessary or say "to hell with it" and step out with a girlfriend for shopping or coffee. Think about supper and sometimes even cook some.
* Thursday - Sunday (when Joe is home to work on own sites)—Could shoot content for my own sites (and have sex…we almost always have sex in the afternoons); he's my photographer as well as the photographer for his own work. Could go back to my office to work some more while he shoots models for his own sites, then wander out to interview one if he needs me to. Could just have sex. Could run errands, visit family, go for a walk....these days are rather liquid.
* Most evenings—Dinner (my cooking, Joe's cooking, or we order out). Movies (we watch an assload of movies). Lately, watching the NHL Playoffs! Could step out with a girlfriend myself. We could be out as a couple with our own friends or visiting family. Very rarely will I be in my office in the evenings, although I will frequently check my cams, email, and Twitter.
* 10:00 p.m. – midnight—Watch the news (we're love the news), off to bed, where I'll read until I'm sleepy, and Joe will conk out with a movie and an earplug on his laptop.

My days are rather rigidly scheduled, but for me, working from home requires strict time management, or I can't get anything done.

EP: Your website says that you have 12 webcams in your home. Was it hard to get used to having so much exposure? Are there ever times you wish you had more privacy?

Mina: At first, I was definitely really aware of them but also very excited by them. I'd wanted spycams in my home for years and was just thrilled when it finally happened. I never felt self-conscious really but felt that I should almost "try" to be "interesting." I got over that and relaxed very quickly though, especially once feedback began to roll in about how much my site members enjoyed being able to watch me do the simplest things. However, to this day, I almost unconsciously "maximize" the view whenever possible—standing in a certain spot in a room, being properly turned toward a camera, making sure the lights are on when they need to be, etc.—all almost unconsciously.

Now, I'm so used to them, that even with the sound on (most evenings EST after we no longer have to worry about drop-ins or the phone), I hardly notice them at all. I'll often have to pause a second to try to remember if the sound is on or not.

I never feel I've "given up" my privacy, more as though friends are watching over me or spending the day with me. A lot of my site members have been with me for literally years and years, and many have actually become friends, and when we've got something fun going on (either because we're having sex, or shooting, or just had a funny moment), I always enjoy the thought that they've seen it, am proud of it, and hope they were entertained.

For those very few times I actually do have to take a private moment (which is pretty much only for the most dire/disgusting of personal situations: an argument with Joe, or if I'm crying or using the bathroom—hey, we all do these things right? LOL. I just can't feel comfortable yet sharing those things with the world.), I simply disconnect that cam for the duration of the event. I was very clear from day 1 that if I needed to shut the spycams down for any reason (which is also if we have visitors that include children), I will do so with no hesitation. My house, my rules. My site members have always shown total respect for that, and they trust me to re-connect as soon as I'm able to again.

EP: The models on your blog look very different. What distinguishes them as beautiful?

Mina: My standards of beauty...well, really, here I have to say "we" because they're Joe's for his sites—but we both feel the same, and this is why he asked these women to pose...are more based on personality and how a person projects and presents herself. Personality and sensuality will always come through and will always be a factor in someone's attractiveness.

We also feel that every woman is beautiful because of her individuality, because of what's different about her. The standard cookie-cutter visual image of beauty can be very sexy, sure....for about five minutes. Then, we start looking for personality, a sense of humour, and how she presents and projects herself. A sexy look does not always accurately indicate sensuality. Without personality and intelligence to back it, the most gorgeous person in the world could well be the most boring. Sexuality comes from within. And whoever has it knows how to wear it and project it. Whoever doesn't, can't, and looks alone are not enough.

EP: Do you read erotic fiction? What types of erotic stories do you prefer?

Mina: I'm a raging horror fan, so I don't always read as much "pure" erotica as I'd like, but when I do, I find I'm most entertained by group sex and gangbang scenarios, based around strong women who know what they want, with lots of explicit imagery. The dirtier, then better.

EP: When you are not working, how do you explore romance and sensuality?

Mina: Because my work provides such a great outlet for fantasy and exploration, in the last couple of years, I've actually found my sex life becoming more simplistic. I'm internalizing more...Joe and I are very quiet and low-key about it. Lots of eye contact...a very slow build up of sexual tension that moves to action with almost no need for discussion, verbalizing, or anything at all. It's almost psychic. We both just seem to "know" when it should happen and without words know what the other person wants but, at same time, are rather greedy about doing what we want. We use each other thoughtlessly but with perfect trust.

EP: How do you have spend a day off?

Mina: I rarely actually take full days off. Every day begins with at least two hours at my desk, even Sundays. But on the few days I actually do consciously decide to get out of the office and stay out, it could be lots of things:

* spring, summer, or fall (we can't STAND winter and hate to go out in it) go to a public park, wander around, go for a hike, or if it really IS summer, to the local nude beach and just relax in the sun. Or go for a drive, looking for secluded spots to shoot just for fun, for creativity's sake as opposed to because we "need" content, and to have sex. We love outdoor sex.
* have sex
* spend the day with family
* hit the local video store and buy too many dvds
* more rarely, I'll spend the entire day on the couch with Joe watching movies, but it's actually really difficult for me to sit down during the day. I'm always go, go, go and can never get out of the house enough.
* even more rarely, I'll wait till Joe's at work, then spend the day on the couch by myself, gluttonously consuming horror movies

For great blogs and to see Mina in action, make sure you visit one of her sites!

Watch Mina at http://smokingmina.com and http://xxxmina.com

Follow Mina's blog at http://smokingmina.com/blog/

Catch Mina on Twitter at http://twitter.com/minasmusings

TechnoRotica

2009-06-03T05:05:00.000-07:00

The Internet has opened up a whole new erotic world to all of us. To seek out great erotic books, art, and films, people were once relegated to back alleys, seedy book stores and smoke-filled stag parties…and chances are, no “girls” were allowed in the boys’ club. Readers who truly appreciated great erotica had to be satisfied with a handful of “classics,” such as the stories of the masterful Anais Nin and the bawdier works of D. H. Lawrence.

This began to change in the 1970s, when porn movies such as Behind the Green Door, The Devil In Miss Jones, and Deep Throat were considered somewhat mainstream and shown in “respectable” theaters. The invention of the VCR brought erotic viewing into the home, though the best place to see a decent selection of erotic titles was the back room of the video store, behind the “adults only” curtain. God forbid your mailman or your mother-in-law should catch you coming out from that curtain!

Then came the Internet, which delivers the very good, the bad and the ugly to readers, viewers and listeners in the privacy of our own…wherever, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. For lovers of the written word, there are a number of quality erotica sites available to non-subscribers, totally free. Among my favorites are www.theeroticwoman.com and www.oystersandchocolate.com. More specific sites cater to a wide range of tastes, from lesbian/gay/bisexual/transsexual to sites that appeal in interests in “pony play” (yep, one of you dresses up like and acts like a horse) to clown porn. Fans of television series and movies even get together to write “slash” fiction about their favorite characters and share it on the World Wide Web. If you can imagine it, there’s probably an erotica site out there about it.

In books, erotic fiction is a “hot” publishing trend, though people still tend to be “closet” readers. The advent of the e-book makes quality erotic books available quickly and easily…and the prices are extremely reasonable, especially compared to a new paperback from a chain bookstore. And you can get an e-book without even leaving home! You can also carry it around with you on devices like Amazon’s Kindle, making the erotic e-book portable. Just don’t get too carried away on your morning commute.

Great e-books from both established and upcoming erotica writers can be found on Amazon, on sites like AllRomanceEBooks.com, and of course, publishers’ websites like Erotique Press.

The Internet also makes person-to-person contact easier. From tame matchmaker websites like eHarmony to websites designed for one-night hook-ups, the Internet allows us to meet people we might never encounter by chance. Sometimes this can go remarkably well. Of course, it can also go quite badly. After a recent high-profile killing linked to its “Erotic Services” section, CraigsList.org discontinued taking “Erotic Services” ads. They do, however, continue to take ads for “Adult Services.” Some consider this a form of prostitution, with massage parlors promising customers a rub-down with a “happy ending.” Others contend Craig’s List is merely providing an entrepreneur with willing, and satisfied, customers, and that people who want these services will find them with or without technological help.

Even if you’re not the type to seek out specifically “erotic” websites, though, technological spices to add to your sex life are at the palm of your hand, or a social networking site away.

We’re now used to cell phones that do a whole lot more than make mere phone calls. Any cell worth its bill has a camera phone, and it didn’t take long for cell phone users to invent sexting, or sending sexually explicit photos to one another by camera phone. True, sexting is a terrible idea for the under-18 crowd, and it’s a bad idea to send a sexy photo to someone who might not want to receive it. But between consenting adults, a lunchtime photo of your breasts taken in the bathroom might be just the thing your boyfriend needs to get through his work day. And if he sends you back a partially nude shot of his cute little bum, so much the better.

Facebook doesn’t allow explicit photos…no nipples, for example. It does, however, leave the window wide open for creative, erotically-charged photos, provocative postings, and naughty applications. Want to flirt? Send the guy or girl a “lollipop request,” and they get a notification asking them if they’d like to lick your lollipop. Send your horny guy or lesbian friends a photo from the “Girls Kiss Girls” gift app, and they receive a steamy pixilated kiss. Even the ubiquitous Superpoke! app boasts a few flirty phrases. Just remember, those FB apps get posted where your friends and, possibly, family will see them, so you may want to think twice before friending Grandma, lest she see you’ve just flung thongs at 21 people.

The possibilities of techno-erotica are as numerous as the stars in the sky, or the fantasies in your risqué little brains.

Erin O’Riordan
www.aeess.com
Look for the orally-fixated schoolgirl fantasy “Bomb Pop,” coming soon from Erotique Press!

On The Fly!

2009-06-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Good morning, mes amies! I am on the run, as usual, and wanted to check in to see how everyone's doing today... I'm thinking about sex and technology, and aside from the usual, I can't see anything interesting enough to blog about. I mean, sex is as old as humanity; man and woman have never needed anything to make it happen, right?

Sure, there are all kinds of electronic devices and toys (see past blog about same); there are definitely chemical innovations, ranging from the almighty "pill" to his-and-hers lubricants, all brought to us by modern innovations through technology. But still...

That magic, that human chemistry that creates all the buzz and excitement and, dare I say? Ecstasy! We just don't really require much else, now do we!?

Off to seduce a prince or two. Will check in later...

Love,

Anabel
http://anabelblue.blogspot.com

What? Sex in the Library? Are you Kidding?
SEX LIBRIS from Erotique Press! Buy it here.

Where do you like to do it?

2009-05-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

I have a question, but you’ll have to read down a ways to reach it. If I weren’t long-winded, all of my novels would be memos.

I love to read and write about specific places. To me, setting–when done correctly–is a major story element. I’ve written two historical romances for Echelon Press set in Louisiana that couldn’t have been set anywhere else (Just Kiss Me and Bayou Rhapsody). Something about living with the humidity, mosquitoes, and marsh gives people a different sense of humor. Ah, wait…perhaps it’s the effect setting has on characters that makes it interesting, or maybe it’s the kind of characters you find in certain places that does it. In Carve in Stone, the fact that Lizabeth grew up in the South defines her every move, and makes Jeremy initially despise her. Of course, he finally comes around, if you'll pardon the pun.

Another aspect of writing on the Gulf Coast is the hurricanes. Having lived through a few, I can't help but write about them. The fear and excitement tends to draw people together.

I’m currently reading the first Guido Brunetti mystery by Donna Leon, and enjoying the descriptions of Venice. But it’s more than just description. The author inserts the flavor of Venice into her writing. Without Venetian society and government, Guido’s life would be too easy and probably boring. Instead, we share his frustrations and revel in his joys. And speaking of Louisiana (we were, remember?), if you haven’t read any of James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux books, you’re missing the most amazingly accurate portrayal of southeast Louisiana ever written. He even gets the dialect right, him. (Sorry– that’s my Cajun heritage sneaking out.)

I promised a question, and I have one (or two). Do you have a favorite setting? Or do you like variety when you read? Are you sold on small town life with all its ups and downs, or is it the big city for you? Is there one setting you’d love to read about that you never have? I’d appreciate your feedback. I don’t know where my next book will be set. Well, except that one story will be on another planet–I’ve never done that before. I’m hoping someone will give me a new place to consider so I can start planning a vacation.

Happy reading to you all! I hope your summer is off to an extraordinarily spicy start.

Toys, Tea, and Female Bonding

2009-05-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

It was bitter cold that November night, and honestly, I was hesitant. Toy parties? I was a little skeptical. Not that I didn't love toys…whether single or in a relationship, I'd always found them fun and interesting and a healthy part of one's sexuality. The thing was, I was used to shopping for them alone or with my partner. The idea of being with other people—strangers, no less—for such a party was a little embarrassing. So when I pulled into the driveway of an acquaintance's house and saw a few of my friends already mixing with some ladies I hadn't met yet, I took a deep breath and sat in the car for a minute before heading inside.

Typical of ladies who entertain, there was plenty of wine, tea, and fancy little snacks on dainty china platters. We introduced ourselves and began to get to get to know each other in the dining room before our hostess ushered us into the living room for the presentation. Products were out, displayed in much the same fashion as the merchandise I'd seen displayed at other parties that sold plastic dishes or stone baking pans. But this, my friends, was anything but typical.

We were all nervous at first, I think. And that might have actually helped us get over any bits of shyness, knowing most of us felt the same way. Nervous giggling was about all we heard as our presenter talked for the first ten minutes. Then, products began to get passed around. We got to taste things, try things, and touch all the goodies as they got went around the room. Soon, we'd all loosened up and were like old friends, joking and laughing…because hey, if you can't joke around when you have a vibrator in your hand in a room full of people, then when CAN you joke around?

I think what I'll always remember about the night, besides the one discussion that was deliciously scientific about pheromones, is how it was ok to just be myself there. To feel comfortable not only with the friends I came with but with strangers who were just like me: remarkably average and just a little bit unsure. To know that other folks in my very small town had private lives and were brave enough to celebrate them with a group of like-minded women. Even better, being able to have these kinds of conversations with the friends I went with opened up a course of dialogue that we are still able to continue today. And strengthening friendships, no matter where, is always worth it.

Relax and enjoy a little erotica. BUY OUR BOOKS at http://www.erotiquepress.com
Need a mid-day fix of Erotique Press? Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ErotiquePress

Playtime With and Without Toys

2009-05-20T00:01:00.000-07:00

When I was first told that my blog topic this week was "Toys", I actually laughed in delight. My mind started churning with possibilities -where do I go with this? And then I hit the wall. Where DO I go with this? How rhapsodic can I wax about a vibrating dildo that hasn't already been, well, done? I'm not keen on flavored oils (they give me a stomach ache) and even though I find them intriguing, my husband and favorite research partner would not bother with candy pants unless they were made of chocolate actually molded onto me. Ahem.

When in doubt, do research. I have pored over toy catalogs, checking out glossy pictures of everything from toy whips to stimulating gels, masks to exotic costumes, and while I giggled over some of the displays, they really didn't get me all tingly. Well, not enough to make a difference!

That's about when I realized I'm actually a pretty basic person. I don't need hot wax or costumes. I don't need thirty candles blazing away in front of the mirror. I'm a simple gal - I like silk neckties. (For more on the feel of a good silk necktie, check out my story School Ties at Erotique Press http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-al-st.htm

I also really like whipped cream. Mmmm. Are you beginning to catch my drift?

So maybe actual toys aren't my cup of tea. Or path to passion. As a writer, though, I will admit a weakness for books. Books with titles like The Joy of Sex, How to Please a Man/Woman, 101 Nights of Pleasure. Nothing like a little light reading to get the juices flowing.

And lately I've been noticing the advent of board games. Kind of like Monopoly for the bedroom. Some of the little squares you can land on -oooooh. Suggestions to nibble this, or stroke that, massage a little, or squeeze and tweak a lot. What a delightful thought! Throw a couple of neckties and a dollop of whipped cream into the mix, and I'm a happy camper!

Um, speaking of camping... Have you ever considered what you can do with bungee cords and four tent stakes?

My newest story, Bedroom Tiger, will be available at Erotique Press! Can I say, Coming Soon???

Get Your Italian On! at Isn't It Romantic?

2009-05-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

My debut full-length novel, BELTANE, is spotlighted on the English/Italian bilingual website Isn't It Romantic? at http://romancebooks.splinder.com/. Stop by and get your Italian on!

Erin O'Riordan
Author of Bomb Pop, coming soon to Erotique Press
Home: www.aeess.com
Blog: www.erinoriordan.blogspot.com

Sex Toys?

2009-05-18T01:06:00.000-07:00

I had to ask myself whatever do I know that I could relate to you about "Sex Toys?" Well certainly by and away the very best one I know of - is the picture above. There can be no better stimulation than a man with a body that knows how to use it. (well, in my case anyway, not accounting for other partner preferences)

That doesn't make me right and you wrong if you chose otherwise - while I realize some may not have a partner at all for whatever reason, there are plenty of diversions that you may purchase at any store with adult toys. Some quite amusing, others interesting and probably worth exploring. There always are the parties (similar to tupperware parties) you may be familiar with that are simply for purchasing toys to suit everyone's tastes)

The essence of passion is what your mind wraps around whatever toy you prefer. For instance, would you believe that cooking spaghetti sauce could influence your passion and bring life to your romance? Your passion? Rush over to Erotique Press and grab a copy of Valentine Express and you may think differently.

If you want to delve into the realm of Sex Toys - check out Dark Knight - where Cricket takes you on a tour of the many ways to enjoy, experiment and crank up and experience your passion renewed.

I have begun a new story - how creating a meal that can cook up a passion surpassed by anything else you do - You may see excerpts of Christmas Cioppino in earlier posts on this blog - keep your eyes open for it - guaranteed it will wet your appetite for more than good Seafood.

If you'd like to know more follow me on Twitter or FaceBook

The BEST Toys for Playtime!

2009-05-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

Twitter has become a part of our daily routine here at Erotique Press, and through this wonderful social networking tool, we get to meet all sorts of fun, interesting folks. One of my favorite Twitter people to follow is Bill Turner, Research Analyst for sextoys.com. His posts are witty, and I love the links he posts to the company blog, which is both sexy and educational. So as our blog begins a week-long discussion about toys, I thought Bill would be a great person to interview to kick off the fun! Here's what he had to say.

Erotique Press: How would you summarize your company philosophy?

Sextoys.com: Sextoys.com is committed to promoting sexual health and well being through the addition of sex toys to people's sexual repertoires. In simpler English, we want people to enjoy healthy, fun sensual time with toys that can improve the fun that they have. We spend time researching toys and aspects of sexual health to pass along information people can use to improve their experience.

A big part of what we do is dedicated to education. We provide helpful information on our blog, in Google Knowledge and in other forums around the internet. We are currently working on bringing a complete Guide to Sex Toys to our main website, with question and answer options for users. We believe that providing information to consumers is central to what we do, and are committed to giving people all information, good and bad.

EP: How do you cater to female clients? Male clients? New clients who may not have much experience purchasing items?

STC: In many cases, we don't make distinctions. For instance, a toy designed for anal play can be used by either gender. A vibrator that stimulates a clitoris could just as easily be used for perineum massages. That said, we try to separate some products using sex toys for men and sex toys for women categories. We also have a category for couples, highlighting products that would be great for partnered play time.

We try to be balanced in our information as well. We present information relevant to women, men and couples. In fact, one of our most read blog posts relates to improving male orgasm, without the use of chemical supplements. Our research staff, experts team and blog team are diverse and specialized. We all work to find information that is useful to the widest range of people.

We do love beginners. Beginners are the people who can have the MOST fun with the right information. Many people grew up in a world where sex toys were relegated to shops in the parts of town that were considered taboo. Now, you can buy a vibrator at a local drug store in many cases. Society has come a long way toward understanding that these products aren't about porn, but sexual health.

We have an entire category set up for beginners, and we provide an Ask An Expert link on our site, which allows people to anonymously ask anything they want to know. This allows people to ask questions they may think "sound dumb," but we find that many questions are absolutely cogent and are the types of questions that save people from making bad mistakes. In the near future, we'll have our 24/7 telephone support group live, so users can pick up the phone and ask a question on the spot.

Our goal is to have every customer, regardless of gender or experience level, completely comfortable with their toy selection and equipped with the information to get the most from their play.

EP: What is your best selling item?

STC: That's actually a hard one. We have a best seller list that reflects best sellers over the last year, but as new items get hot, those become temporary best sellers. In terms of sheer volume, the Waterproof Jack Rabbit is the best. Because we sell it in 3 different styles, they all land in the top 5. If you add their numbers together, they are far and away the highest selling toy on our site.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Sex and the City…

EP: What would you recommend as a "starter" novelty?

STC: I strongly recommend a finger, a hand, or a partner's finger, hand or tongue. People laugh when I say that, but the fact is that knowing what sensation stimulates you, and where, is nine tenths of the work in choosing the right sex toy. It is useless to buy a clitoral stimulator, if you feel the most intense pleasure from G-spot stimulation and vice versa. And I could go on with examples demonstrating this, but I think the point is clear.

We carry a complete line of toys for beginners, and we also have many vibrators and dildos that are great for beginners. I always suggest starting with a simple toy, learning what feels great and working from there. And if any beginners are reading this, I strongly urge you to get into the habit of purchasing and using silicone, glass and hard plastic toys. These are the most hygienic, easy to clean and safest toys on the market. They are also usually the highest quality, so while you may pay more in the beginning, you'll spend a great deal less replacing broken or worn out toys.

EP: What was the most interesting/funny experience you've had related to your job?

STC: For funny, you can read all about my toy testing adventures in the blog. I once accidentally shot a masturbator quite a distance. Interesting would have to be the research. I am constantly learning new information. And applying the information to an educational context is challenging and fun. I work hard to get the details a consumer would want, and then pass them along to help people with their decision making.

EP: Please discuss the Sunday Sex Toy Review on your blog.

STC: Well, I wouldn't call it a religious experience, but some might! The Sunday Sex Toy Review is a sex positive, variety features collection of posts. We've interviewed Metis Black of Tantus, Shaye Saldana of LELO, Desiree Duffie of Topco Sales and Keith Caggiano of Screaming O, Ginger Leigh does her Sunday Wishes (and on April 12, she announced her $1,000 Sex toy wish list giveaway), and we feature useful information on toys, sexuality and news.

We have fun with the Review and readers give us great feedback on it. If it continues to grow, it might eventually become its own entity, separate from the blog. We have great interviews upcoming with sex toy experts and sexologists, so check it out each Sunday. You never know what you'll learn or who you'll discover.

Buy great products at http://www.sextoys.com

Follow sextoys.com's blog at http://blog.sextoys.com

Catch Bill on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sextoysDOTcom

Christmas Cioppino continued

2009-05-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Part 3
Bonita turned on the television to relieve her seeming obsession with sex. What was with her today? Bradley certainly had satisfied her last night, and yet it only made her hunger for more.

The news broadcaster was adding background voice to the picture on the screen. A capsized fishing boat, Coast Guard life boats and crews battling waves to reach swimmers bobbing like buoys on the frigid dark, ominous water illuminated only by floodlights from the Coast Guard and the television news crews.

Bonita’s heart sank as she became wrapped in the adventure unfolding on the screen.
“This was the scene two hours ago as the Coast Guard received a nine one one call. Pirates had once again…”

Bonita’s mind went blank as a piece of wreckage floated into view. The camera drew in, a close up of the letters on the fragmented, bobbing piece of ship—the camera panned closer "mas … Cio…." The crisp red letters she had helped Bradley paint on the bow of their boat floated across the screen.

Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach, her stomach squeezed a knot. She couldn't believe her eyes, she wouldn't believe what she thought she was seeing...

Hope vanished

Buy my book at http://erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-dt.htm
View my blog at www.cricket-sawyer.com
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cricket2

You Say It Like It's A Bad Thing...

2009-05-06T11:03:00.001-07:00

Something changed. Maybe it's my new perfume. Maybe it's the way I curl my hair. Or maybe, just maybe, it's my attitude. I can't seem to put my finger on it. It's just that I seemed to wake up a few weeks ago, and suddenly, the men asking me out were younger. Twentysomethings. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The last time I went out with someone who was in their mid-20s was when I was in my early 20s…which seems like just a few days ago. But in the last month or so, I've gotten more requests for "hanging out" from men in this age bracket than in the last ten years combined. Not that I accept many of these offers, but it is quite flattering, none the less.

Now, normally, I love the ruggedness of an older man, love how they are often careful and quick-witted and are already on the path they want their life to take. But there is a certain charm to the younger man that makes them hard to resist. When I was a younger woman, guys that age paid me little mind, and honestly, their charm made me nervous. Now, seated perfectly in the middle of my 30s, it amuses me. So, in honor of the 20somethings who entertain and delight me, I've composed a list with a few of my friends that highlight the best things about men from ages 24-29.

5. Their language. I'm a word geek, as you all have figured out by now. And sometimes, I heard words and phrases that crack me up. And other times, I hear things that I have to go look up to understand. For example, I heard the word "puma" when discussing older woman/younger man relationships with a 20something man. When asked what this meant, he sent me a link to a definition that read, "a hot girl between the age of 25-35, 35-45 is a cougar, 45 and above is a saber tooth." I learned something new, which also just happened to make me laugh.

4. They want to know what you have to say. My one girlfriend said that the younger man she dated asked her opinion on lots of things and looked for her guidance. But she's a smarty, anyway…and I think they were wise to look to her.

3. Less baggage. They have been in fewer relationships, which means fewer FAILED relationships. They haven't yet started carrying that with them, and it is nice to not have to tote ashes of ex-girlfriends on your dates.

2. Things are still new to them. There are foods they haven't tasted, places they haven't been, and experiences they haven't yet had. That is exciting. And to be the woman who introduces those things to them is special.

1. They get the you out of your comfort zone. Ok. So admit it. There are times when you feel stuck in a rut. But date a younger guy—one who is impulsive and high energy—and who knows where your evening could head? You could end up dropping everything to hit a club or take a road trip. And even if you did this stuff when you were in your 20s, there is something delicious about trying those spontaneous things again.

You will notice, of course, that I left out an obvious benefit most women stated when asked about dating a man in his 20s, but I'm sure you can figure it out if you use your imagination a little bit. An entire blog could be written about that alone. Or so I've heard.

So, until Mr. Right-for-Me sweeps me off my feet, I think I'm going to just relax and enjoy these men who make me laugh and make me crazy, regardless of their age. And if they just happen to be a 24-year-old with perfect skin who doesn't understand when I am being sarcastic, then so be it. Checking my sarcasm at the door might be a good thing. At least for a few dates, anyway.

Relax and enjoy a little erotica. BUY OUR BOOKS at http://www.erotiquepress.com

Need a mid-day fix of Erotique Press? Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ErotiquePress

Dream Big

2009-05-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt
So dream large, dream often, and put into action those things you desire. Dare to be romantic, dare to love - DREAM!
Cricket
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com
Follow me on Twitter

Christmas Cioppino continued

2009-04-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

CHRISTMAS CIOPPINO (Continued)
By Cricket Sawyer © 2009

Absent mindedly Bonita stirred the simmering broth. Then she set the timer for ten minutes. Oh, the things they could do with ten minutes of time — the commercial about the pizza delivery taking ten minutes caused a smile to cross her face—if only Bradley was here instead of out in that fishing boat. The times he spent out on the Christmas Cioppino was his livelihood and the reason their Christmas Eve always included the meal of its name sake.

But, she worried about him. The seas had become increasingly dangerous as economic conditions worsened and pirates raided, looted, and killed to feed their own needs. Bradley’s life was always on the edge.

Lately, several boats loaded with Cuban refugees had become the front for pirates. Maybe Mexican refuges had gotten the message that averting a border crossing by taking to the high seas was even more dangerous then their previous route was. Pirates cared little about the lives of those they used. Men, women even children didn’t seem to faze them as families died. Human beings only meant a means to their selfish ends. They cared even less for them then they cared for the men skippering and working those boats they robbed. A clue should be the refugees themselves. Didn’t they usually head for Florida’s shores? Why would they risk their lives in treacherous seas in over loaded boats to go farther than they needed to?

Bonita’s sense of justice, her dislike for the abuse of those powerless to protect themselves, flared. Anger replaced the passionate thoughts of Bradley and her.

Becoming a Port Authority Office helped her bring some weight to help those less fortunate, but not nearly as heavy a handed clout as she wanted to wield. If anything happened to Bradley, she would be ready to take a little vigilante revenge on the shores of California’s coast line.

The timer’s jolting jangle snapped her back to the hearty fare she was preparing and the preparation for the Christmas decorating they would engage in this evening. The traditional tree decorating party provided a much needed respite from the daily charge of eking a living from the over worked waters they combed daily. Absent mindedly Bonita stirred two cups of dry red wine into the boiling mixture, reheating it to the boiling point. She watched as ripples of heat echoed outward from the center eruption, the same ripples that touched every inch of her body as Bradley’s climax mimicked her own, exploding into ripples of pleasure moving outward from her center, dissipating at the edge to be rekindled in her center with the next thrust of his mast of pleasure, pouring over her in heated waves of thick, aromatic smells of lust reaching fruition. Feeling the flow of their love boiling inside her, she drew her attention to the large kettle before her on the stove. She carefully poured the boiling sauce over the prepared fish and crab and waited for it to return to boiling.

Buy my book at http://erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-dt.htm
View my blog at www.cricket-sawyer.com
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cricket2

Fancy Pants

2009-04-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

I want to say it started innocently enough, but that might just be a lie. It started with ulterior motives. In an attempt to change my dating karma a while ago, I started replacing the regular old underwear with the good stuff. Out went the white cotton standards; in came the plunges, the demis, the balconettes…the boy shorts, the hipsters, the cheekies. My thought was that if I felt gorgeous underneath, I'd start dating like a fiend again. That I'd have a most delicious little secret.

And I thought it was just me until a week or so ago. I met a girlfriend of mine for dinner. But, she informed me as she slid into the seat across from me, she had to go shopping for underwear. That night. After dinner. There was a date with a hottie to be had, and preparations were necessary. It wasn't exactly that she planned to show them, she explained as she folded the napkin in her lap, but she just felt powerful in them.

It's no surprise, of course, that Victoria's Secret, Fredericks, and Cacique have made billions of dollars pedaling satin and lace and bows as a prequel to sex. But were these pretty, feminine things only to be used when you knew you could hook up or make love? I contended no, given that wasn't what I used them for, or apparently, what my friends used them for. But it did make me start wondering who exactly these items were being purchased for. Was it for the boyfriend or husband, who may or may not notice? Or was it for us, for the women who were wearing them?

At least in my case, it's just for me. These days, it's not so much about changing my dating karma...it's that I like wearing pretty things. Now, it's just to know that—in the middle of a day packed full of meetings and deadlines and rush-hour traffic—I have spent a few minutes on myself to pick out something beautiful that helps me remember that I'm still girly and feminine. And if my delicious little secret helps me feel confident, if it makes me smile when I straighten a strap, then so be it.

Want to know what all the sexy heroines are wearing? BUY OUR BOOKS at http://www.erotiquepress.com

Need a mid-day fix of Erotique Press? Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ErotiquePress

Chrismas Cioppino - A Love Story

2009-04-14T04:52:00.000-07:00

by Cricket Sawyer

(excerpted from chapter one)

Preparing the broth for the Cioppino infused her thoughts of the sizzling passion Aaron had brought into her life. Noel drizzled the oil into the pan. As she chopped the green pepper its pungent odor reminded her of his after shave as he devoured her mouth with his. He enveloped her lips with his warm passionate kiss as he forced his tongue between her teeth exploring her mouth.

Reluctantly, Noel jerked her mind back to the task at hand. Guest would be expecting Cioppino not her obsession with Aaron’s muscled body and amorous tales of her passion and lust for him.
She scraped the chopped pepper into the pan and picked up the onion and began to reduce it to a diced white mound. As her mind transmuted the lingering strength of the onion into the strength of Aaron’s arms as he lifted her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom. Her muscles contracted in her vagina with the heat of the memories of Aaron bringing her wave after wave of orgasms.

Noel stirred the sizzling vegetable mix adding the reserved clam liquid and the crab she had cracked out of its home. Red tomatoes and tomato juice as red as the heat of the passion that blazed in her groin tugging at the memories of Aaron’s shaft sliding in and out of her juices. Her pleasure dampened her panties now as she remembered him devouring her inch by inch.

It took all her strength to break away from the memory and search the spice rack. Salt, basil, anything to get her mind off Aaron’s body and back to cooking. Bay leaf, garlic, the garlic bulb one lump of cloves needed to be divided. Cloves, balls separated by the shaft like stem. Her mind refused to obey her call to erase the lust in exchange for the recipe she tried to follow, even though she had cooked Cioppino almost as often as Christmas came and went. Why did cooking always boil with innuendos of making love. Perhaps, because she loved to cook and Aaron definitely loved to eat. They fueled each others needs and likes.

Watch for this continuing story to unfold again April 28--it's always Christmas when you're in love. So many delicious surprises.
If you are so inclined, a friend has a book that can help you if you're a writer to "Spice up Your Writing! Write to Entice." by Billie A Williams

Until next time--visit Cricket at her own blog at Cricket's Hearth
Hugz
Cricket

Flirting at the Intersection of Smart and Sexy

2009-04-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently sent me an article from CNN that explained why women found men who were funny attractive. Part of it, the article explained, was that "Over the course of history, women actively look for signs that their man is intelligent, and…the ability to actively judge the situation and pull off a joke and make [one] laugh is an intelligent feat" ("Why Funny Guys Get The Babes," retrieved from CNNhealth.com on April 11, 2009). I have to say…I agreed with that. Killer blue eyes and dark hair take my breath away, but a man who is smart? Yeah. Now THAT is hot!

I set forth this morning to find an article that was similar, that explained why men would be more attracted to women who were also smart. So I googled it, yahooed it, and generally researched it into the ground. And the results? Women are just as guilty as men of making the two concepts independent of each other. And while I worship my inner dork—the one who researches flirting online instead of in person, who thinks her "grammar ninja" t-shirt is hysterically funny—I took offense that sexy and smart are still being presented as mutually exclusive. Why can't smart be hot for women, too? So, I enlisted the help of a few friends to compile a list of ideas for those of us who want to flirt and be sexy while embracing our Geek Goddess.

1. Make eyeglasses your friend. Embrace their necessity, as squinting to read something is rarely sexy. Have a conversation with a hottie where you tilt your head down just a bit and look over the glasses, flashing your gorgeous eyes at him. Take your glasses off and touch your fingers on your face near your eyes (this will get him to focus on how lovely they are!), then slowly put them back on. Or, take them off to think. And while you are thinking, tap the earpiece on your lips (which will make him pay attention to how much he'd like to kiss them).

2. Use that book in your hand to your advantage. If it's a popular title or a really interesting read, you've opened yourself up to a conversation about it, as long as you look up once in a while to smile. Or better yet, take the initiative and start the conversation yourself.

3. Work the piece of jewelry with an intriguing story behind it. A bold, funky piece of jewelry draws a lot of attention. For example, last spring I went to a jewelry making class and learned to make cuts in the focal stone, which turned out really cool. When I wear it, people usually notice it and sometimes start talking to me about it, and I already have a great story because I made it. And if you have no story, don’t forget the art of letting your fingers run over your necklace or brush against your neckline while you are talking to your hottie. It's called autoerotic touching, and according to the experts, it works quite well. Own it.

4. Ponytails CAN be sexy. They can be swept softly back, worn with heavy bangs, or adorned with cute pins or barrettes and actually look kinda pretty (and can remain a functioning staple for smart chicks). I'm guessing the old hair toss flirt trick still can work with a ponytail. And most certainly, we can still preen with a ponytail, which is a classic type of flirting that says, "Hey, here I am…making myself look gorgeous…notice me!" Brush a rogue strand of hair off your face or smooth your hair back.

5. Be confident. I know LOTS of women who are both smart and sexy…only they don't know how amazing they are. One of the sexiest things we can ever wear is an air of confidence, of assurance that we know who we are. Straighten those shoulders and look the world in the eye. Know that you are witty enough to make them laugh and keep them engaged.

Finally, try to remember that most men like smart women. While a great rack or legs that go on for miles might initially attract them, the really great guys want someone who can hold a conversation, who can keep things interesting, and who can use their wit and humor. It just never hurts to throw a bit of flirting in now and then.

Looking for a sexy, smart read? BUY OUR BOOKS at http://www.erotiquepress.com

Join Bridget Midway at the Charm City Fetish Fair

2009-04-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Join Bridget Midway at the Phaze Books table on Saturday, April 4th from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the first annual Charm City Fetish Fair. The event will be held at the Ramada Inn Hotel at Arundel Mills; 7253 Parkway Drive in Hanover, Maryland. She'll be signing print copies of Love My Way, Fascination Street, Original Sin and Phaze Fantasies - Volume I. For more information on this event, go to http://www.charmcityfetishfair.com/site/

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com
Bridget~an erotica author who never goes~Midway

Sex and Tsunamis

2009-04-03T08:33:00.000-07:00

by Anabel Blue

Many years ago, I lived with a guy in a guesthouse on a big estate. I won't say how long ago, but the fact that we had a waterbed should give you a clue.

We liked our bed. It was heated, had padded side rails and a beautiful handmade quilt on top given to him by his grandmother. I have two, very vivid memories about this bed.

The first happened around the holidays, when this particular gentleman and I were having problems. On the verge of a breakup, actually. We went to a Christmas party thrown by my employer, and I proceeded to get totally blitzed on scotch. Yeah! Me! Only 20-something, swigging the hardstuff like it was water. I ended up on the restaurant's bathroom floor inside a locked stall. A girlfriend crawled under and dragged me out.

Somehow, my guy loaded me into the back of someone's van and took me home. I lay on that damned waterbed for two and a half days, sicker than all get out. It's a wonder I didn't die from all that alcohol poisoning. And if I moved, even the slightest muscle, that bed would swish and roll and amplify my nausea tenfold. Great memory, huh?

The other thing I remember is sex and tsunamis. Ever had sex on a non-baffled waterbed? (Baffled has nothing to do with confusion; it's just a waterbed construction with lots of "walls" inside to help control movement of water.) This was a big old bag of water. The rhythm of intimacy really got the waves going, and with them, the sound. Waterbeds, you understand, have to be "burped" periodically to get out the small bubbles that form. An unburped bed can be, well, quite noisy. I think that's enough of a visual for now.

Today, my noisy-sex-bugaboo is the electric blanket controllers that hang on the corners of the headboard. Must tether those suckers down somehow before someone takes a fatal blow to the head.

Love, Anabel

Anabel Blue is the author of POWER PLAY from Erotique Press. Visit Anabel in The Blue Room!

Are Witches Real? Are They Fodder for a Romantic Suspense?

2009-04-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Well even if they aren't wouldn't it be interesting to incorporate one into your writing. The first trial for witchcraft in America (1648 sources tell me) was for Margaret Jones in Charlestown, Connecticut. Do you know what prompted her execution for witchcraft? There were several reasons here are 4...Think about them as you read them
1. whoever she touched with any affection or displeasure were taken with deafness, or vomiting or other violent pains or sickness.

2. She was a practicing psychic and her medicines that she confessed to using were harmless - like aniseed, liquors etc. Yet they had extraordinary violent effects on her victims (er) patients.

3. She told those who refused her psychic powers that they would never completely heal if they didn't --it was beyond comprehension of others even physicians or surgeons how this worked for her but it did. [the power of the mind is awesome]

4. Some things she foretold came to pass, other things she told to some secretly about that she could have no way of knowing were true or became true.

Now for a bit of do do do do (hear that suspense music) On the same day and hour she was executed for being a witch, "a very great tempest blew down many trees and etc. at Connecticut." Now that is spooky. But imagine the story you could build around someone like her - be it love story, romantic suspense, or paranormal romantic suspense.

"Promotion is not a sprint but a marathon...you start training slowly and build up steam." Writer's Guild Newsletter.

Follow me on Twitter.
Cricket
Dark Thunder, paranormal inter-racial Romantic Suspense

Wearing Sexy

2009-03-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

I commented yesterday on Twitter that I had found my own private shoe hell. This past weekend, the last of my regular dress shoes I wear every day fell apart. Definitely not my best look. So, in a moment of inspiration, I decided to buy a few pairs sexy shoes instead of my normal, practical ones. And let me tell you…they are hot. Kitten-heeled, open-toed, strappy…I ran the gambit. They just look beautiful, and they require a perfectly manicured foot. And I think I have a bit more wiggle in my walk. Sexy.

But what I failed to remember is that such beauty comes at a price; comfort is sacrificed. Is it worth it? I posed that very question. Out of the responses I received, every last one of them said sexy shoes are worth it. Which led me to think, what else are we wearing that is sexy for the sake of being sexy?

Chances are, you have a piece of clothing, a pair of shoes, or an accessory that makes you feel like a goddess, that you wear simply for the fact that you know you are amazing in it. The little black dress, a tank top, and even a man's shirt can be hot…as long as you feel great when it's on.

I'm reminded of an afternoon I spent with a girlfriend. We had gone to a jewelry making class and were working on necklaces. I remember her sitting there, talking nonchalantly that she liked to make big, bold pieces because she felt really sexy when she was wearing only the jewelry. I'm sure I paraphrased her too concisely, but that was the gist of it. I can totally imagine feeling powerful and conquering my target if I was properly adorned.

In the scheme of things, I don't suppose it doesn't much matter what we wear, so long as we feel beautiful and confident in it. And that we smile. That just might be the sexiest thing any of us could ever wear.

Want to see what the sexiest characters in our books are wearing? Buy a download at www.erotiquepress.com

A Perfect Day

2009-03-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

The wind is howling outside my window.

The smell from wild fires burning in the desert is carried far and wide.

The mountains in the distance are in a smokey fog.

A perfect day to stay indoors and write an erotic romance.

And a perfect day for you to read one too.

But then I guess every day is!

Googling a great kiss

2009-03-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm into researching for my blogs, as you have already guessed. So when I was moved to write another one for our site, I started thinking about kissing. And let me tell you, there are some fun websites out there dedicated to the art of kissing! I had no idea how many ways there were to explore—and more importantly, have fun—during a lip lock. Let me share a few that I liked best.

The Altoid kiss. You know that cool, tingly feeling you get when you pop an Altoid into your mouth? Imagine leaning in for a kiss from your beau and feeling that. Then, take a deep breath. Repeat.

The ice cube kiss. Even colder than the Altoid kiss. It involves holding a cube in your mouth until it is deliciously cold, then planting one on your partner that will send shivers down his spine. Not that you don't already.

The palm kiss. This is easily one of my old favorites. Kissing can be a sensual thing when it's done in an unexpected spot. Grab his hand, and gently turn it over until his palm is facing you. Plant a kiss right in the center. Or try the inside of his wrist. Or anywhere else the mood strikes you.

Now, granted, there were a few really bizarre and funny ones I found, such as acting like a cat, purring and rubbing against him before kissing him. And while my first reaction was to think how silly that was, I began to think that it is part of the fun. Being silly can create memorable moments, too…if you are with the right person…someone who appreciates a good joke and loves to laugh. And after the laugh, you can always scoop him into your arms and plant a good one on him.

I remain a strong supporter of the tease kiss. The one where you lean in, so close that you can feel each others breath on your lips. Then, you lean in just a bit further, making that last bit of an advance, before pulling back. No kiss. This one is guaranteed to make them crazy and pull you back for a proper lip-lock.

I'm looking for the perfect kiss. And I guess I'm willing to use Google to help me find ideas. But when it comes to a great kiss, nothing will ever beat primary, face-to-face research.

The first FIVE people to tell us about their perfect kiss will get a FREE PDF download of POWER PLAY by Anabel Blue. After you post your comment, send your e-mail address to admin@echelonpress.com.

Wanna read about great kisses? Buy a download at www.erotiquepress.com

Join Bridget Midway at The Leather Flea Market and Play Party!

2009-03-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Join me, Bridget Midway, Saturday, March 14th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Crucible club at 1816 Half Street, South West, Washington, D.C. for their bi-annual Leather Flea Market and Play Party. I'll be at the Phaze Books table on the upper level and signing copies of Love My Way, Fascination Street and Original Sin. For more information on this event, go to http://www.the-crucible.com/LFandP18.htm

Hope to see you there!

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Sweet Romance

2009-03-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

In honor of Valentine's Day having come and gone, and spring imminent even with winter still hanging around, Angela is going to put aside her usual naughty behavior and spend a little time talking about romance. After all, it's romance that gets us where we all want to go, isn't it? But the definitions of romance are as varied as there are couples in the throes of it. So let's chat.

Sometimes romance has nothing to do with fancy dinners, expensive wine, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, or candles at the table. Yes, yes…these trappings can be very important for setting a mood. That's understood. But when you get right down to it, isn't the flush of romance–that wave of emotion that causes your heart to flutter and turn over when he looks at you, the giddy way you feel when he smiles from across the room, how your pulse races when he touches your hand or traces a finger down your face–the real magic in attraction?

Remember that cute boy at school and how it felt when he actually talked to you for the first time? I think the point of romance, at least for me, is to bring back that heady schoolgirl rush I felt every time my hopeful brown eyes met his mischievous blue ones when he looked up from his desk. I want romance to make me feel head-over-heels giggly when he says my name.

Lucky for me, my husband still triggers that reaction. Not all the time, of course: we aren't newlyweds any longer. But there is something to be said for a man who puts his arms around me when I've had a bad day at work. I love the way his eyes smile at me when I have good news to share with him. And no one can tell me that watching him pick up his newborn baby for the first time didn't make my heart melt.

No, I don't need him to court me with that fancy dinner and the candles, at least not all the time. Sometimes romance is just curling up next to him on the sofa, resting my head in that space between his neck and shoulder where I fit perfectly, and sharing his warmth while he reads and I doze off against him. So maybe tomorrow night we'll wrestle each other into a hot and wild frenzy. Tonight, a simple kiss and affectionate squeeze make up the pinnacle of true romance.

(But for Naughty Angela, read my story, School Ties! Buy it here: http://erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-al-st.htm)

Sex in Public Places- Would You...?

2009-03-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

I'm a certifiable movie nut. And I (usually) have an uncanny memory for scenes that impress me one way or another. There was a scene in Woody Allen's 1972 film "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask", a sex-spoof made up of 7 segments. One of those segments, subtitled "Why Do Some Women Have Trouble Reaching An Orgasm", which is Allen's spoof on Italian filmmaking, ala Federico Fellini. The segment follows an Italian couple (played by Allen and his by then ex Louise Lasser) ad they go from place to place, having sex, in public. It almost makes you nervous to watch, hoping they don't get caught. They are seen in an art gallery, a salon, on the balcony overlooking a grand evening party, and under the table at a fancy restaurant. (All goes well until a couple is seated for dinner at the table.)

The "worst" I've personally done is have sex in a public park in broad daylight. Well, under a blanket, not really an "all-the-way" kind of sex, but let's just say it was a mutually satisfying afternoon.

In my upcoming Erotique short "Sex Libris", a couple of college students get off in the campus library. Oops! Did I give it all away? Not by a long shot. You'll have to read it!

How about you? Where's the most shocking place you've succumbed to the pleasures of the flesh?

Anabel Blue is the author of POWER PLAY from Erotique Press. Visit her at www.anabelblue.com, or her blog at http://anabelblue.blogspot.com. Coming soon: SEX LIBRIS!

Making things hotter for you!

2009-03-06T11:21:00.000-08:00

As the publisher, it is my job to make your shopping experience as pleasurable as possible. If you look at what we offer, you will see that we have some hot little stories.

In an effort to keep your eyes glued to us, we are in the process of revamping the web site and store for Erotique. What we would like to know is what can we do to make shopping at Erotique more satisfying for you.

Any one who offers a valid suggestion (making everything free is not valid) will receive a FREE PDF download of their choice from Erotique. So tell us what you think and read for free.

And don't forget to follow us so you can keep up with what's hot.

Once you have posted your comment, send an e-mail to admin@echelonpress.com
Subject: FREE HOT READ

Karen Syed, President
Echelon Press/Erotique

Come…Sit…Stay: Commanding Ways to Lure Him Back to Bed

2009-02-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

It's still February. And here, where I live, February is usually a month of tumultuous weather. One day, we have a 60-degree heat wave; the next, we are buckling down, bracing for a snow. Those snowy days are the days I love. There is something about that cold that make me want to stay in bed, wrapped in delicious flannel sheets and a down comforter, my leg draped over the leg of the man who knows all sorts of ways to keep me hot, regardless the temperature is outside.

But sometimes, when we least desire it, reality robs of us this pleasure. The alarm rings, and eventually, one has to stop slapping the snooze button and make a break for the frosty world outside of the blankets. And when your partner gets out of bed to dress for work, and you are able to remain, there is a bit of emptiness, of longing, as your hand runs over the vacant side of the bed. While I understand the importance of being responsible and getting to work on time, I think we need just a little more time in our lives to spend in bed. Together.

If you are likeminded, I recommend luring him back to bed. But how? I pondered this question, and I came up with few ideas, but I only knew what would lure ME back to bed. So, I decided to do a bit of research—for scientific purposes, mind you—and posed this question to several male acquaintances. What would their women need to do to get them to come back to bed once they've already gotten up?

The men I asked were very upfront, and the answers were pretty diverse. A few said a come-and-get-me look seemed to be all it would take. I got romantic responses, such as whispering a few sweet nothings. I got direct responses, such as pulling him down and ravaging him. I got sultry responses, like pulling the sheets over to just expose a thigh or a bit of cleavage. But perhaps my favorite response was, "Lingerie is always nice. But turn on the Speed Channel or Bassmaster Classic."

I'm quite willing to slide on a negligee and give my best take-me-now glance to get him to come back to the comfort of the bed on icy February morning. We don't have enough of those moments, the kind we remember as being special and tender. Those are the moments that keep us warm through the rest of the year. But let's leave ESPN out of it.

Love and Marriage

2009-02-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

I recently had a conversation with a gal, a stranger no less, in a grocery store line. We stood together, waiting to cash out, both of us reading the tabloids. She mumbled something about, "If people paid more attention to how they felt in their heart than between their legs, more marriages might work out."

This gave me pause to think. I stood for a minute, not sure if I should respond, then deciding to take the bait.

"Yeah, I said, every relationship I had when I was younger was all about the sex for everyone but me. I spent so much time trying to please them, that they ended up not liking me."

She looked at me kinda funny, then laughed. "Yeah, I was looking for the guy who could drive me wild. Too bad they all drove me insane."

I nodded, agreeing. As I walked away, I started to think about this. Is mind-boggling sex worth giving up the warmth and comfort of the emotional connection?

In reading, we generally look for the perfect combination of both. We want to feel good, but we also want to feel good! Isn't it possble to have both? And if not, which one is more important?

If we give so much of ourselves to please physically, do we lose the ability to please emotionally?

Does it matter in erotic fiction if there is emotional pleasure, or does that fall into the romance category?

©Karen Syed aka Alexis Hart

Contemporary Romance

Click cover to purchase

Dogs are so smart!

2009-02-18T12:10:00.001-08:00

Thought for the Day

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can't eat it or play with it,
Just pee on it and walk away.

Am I right? I thought so. {grin}

The Morning After {smile}

2009-02-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

What do romance & passion mean to erotica authors? Romance? Passion?
Fervor, ardor, obsession, infatuation, excitement, enthusiasm, zeal, craze, delight, eagerness, devotion, dedication, all these words may appear somewhere in a romance authors repertoire.

Romance to different people probably means the same thing. A love story. That story may be complicated or enhanced by mystery, suspense, thriller, intrigue, adventure. It may be anything from the old fashioned sweet love affair between consenting adults. Or, for more modern tastes and reasons, it could be ménage trois or a same sex relationship. Anything is, tastefully, open to exploration. You can be sure it will be entertaining and the plot that carries the story will be well thought out and inclusive.

Passion can and does include many things. A desire to please, an ardor that grows from kiss to physical intimacy by degrees.

No, erotic romance is not all about sex.AND Yes, erotic romance is all about sex but with a plot. – An erotic romance novel is a romance novel. A romance novel is no different from any other novel in its basic structure. It demands conflict; an arcing plot with subplots often woven in; well-developed protagonists and possibly antagonists, each with their own goals and motivations; and a setting your readers can visualize. These are all the fundamentals of any good story. The genre’s trademark is sexual tension/pressure. And because it is an erotic romance it also requires sex.

Passion can be how someone feels about their career. I have a passionate urge to create compelling fiction. My passion is writing. Or, it can mean the heat of the moment in a sexual encounter. Passion then, is in the mind of the beholder.

According to Alison Kent “…women make love because they are emotionally involved; men make love to determine if they want to become emotionally involved.”

Looking for passion – read any of the Erotique authors – be sure to bring a tall cool drink and maybe even a fan – or just a willing partner. {smile}
A valentine read is good no matter what time of year so why not pick up a short love story Valentine Express (http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-ve.htm )
awaits – and if you hurry you can get the Valentine Bundle
( http://www.cricket-sawyer.com ) on sale from the author Cricket Sawyer.

Talk About Kissing!

2009-02-14T13:37:00.001-08:00

by Anabel Blue

"Kissing power is stronger than will power." So said Abigail Van Buren, "Dear Abby" to most. OMG, does that mean if I kiss my hubby every time I crave a chocolate bar, I'll lose weight??

"I have found men who didn't know how to kiss. I've always found time to teach them." Did Mae West have it right, or not? And doesn't that just epitomize the sassy bombshell who exuded sexual tension at every curvy move?

"Her lips on his could tell him better than all her stumbling words." Ah, Margaret Mitchell. She may have been a tiny, prim looking little lady, but she knew how to steam up a car window!

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." Amen to Ingrid Bergman, who clearly knew the difference.

Go forth and create kisses to quote about! Happy Valentine's Day!

Anabel Blue is the author of POWER PLAY from Erotique Press. Visit Anabel at her website!

Nathan and Cyan - Valentine's Day Romance

2009-02-14T07:03:00.000-08:00

What would my characters do on Valentine's Day?

Nathan and Cyan are an unusual couple. They went to fetch their property from across the country from their other lives only to wind up nearly picked up by a tornado. They seem to get caught up in the most unlikely and passionate interchanges possible.

Could a barn fire and subsequent rescue be a Valentine sortéé or would they prefer to find their passion explode on the dance floor of the set for Dirty Dancing?

I think a roller coaster ride could be in order. I would imagine Cyan would find that just dangerous enough to give her libido a kick in the wherever.

Once you read the story, I’m sure you will wonder where Blue Interlude will take you next. Watch for it coming soon from Erotique.
Dark Thunder Buy link
http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-dt.htm
www.cricket-sawyer.com
http://cricketshearth.blogspot.com
www.cricketsawyerinfo.com
Valentine Express Buy Link
http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-ve.htm
Jeff’s words: Rule Number One: To be successful selling books, or anything for that matter, is to have a desire to succeed.

Rule Number Two: Go out and do it.

Valentiine's Day - What to do?

2009-02-13T19:31:00.000-08:00

1. Perfectly Romantic things to do on Valentine's Day
Go for a long walk. It doesn’t matter where you live there is something in the motion of a long walk that brings you closer together. Hold hands if you like, or not. You will find the silence or the quiet conversation as you walk will bring out thoughts you haven’t expressed, perhaps for a long time. The rhythm of footsteps is kin to meditation. Try it, you might like it.
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

Romance, Erotic, or Christian...

2009-02-13T08:39:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be for couples, but if you are a writer – why not give yourself a gift or ask your significant other to buy that in lieu of chocolates. Guaranteed these books will not add to your waist line. They just might give you some new ideas, for both writing and personal use. {grin} Below you will find some from my arsenal. I have shelves and shelves of how to books.

I was perusing my writing romance books for a writer’s group I founded and host once a month in my home. These writers are in various stages of discovering they want to write. Some haven’t decided what genre yet, some write sermons, or lesson plans and want to do more. Some are into genealogy and creative non-fiction, yet there are those who want to write mystery, suspense, plays, screen plays, Young Adult, Thriller and yes even romance. While most of these books would be appropriate for all of them. I think I would have to keep those below that deal with the erotic to myself. They are all full of good methods for writing however – so don’t shy away from a how to book just because it isn’t your genre.
I have found I learn from every manual I read.

How to Write Romance for the New Markets, by Kathryn Falk
Writing the Christian Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin
Writing Romances, A Handbook by the Romance Writers of America, Edited by Rita Gallagher, and Rita Clay Estrada
Writing a romance novel for Dummies by Leslie Wainger
The Easy Way to Write Romance, by Rob Parnell
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to: Getting Your Romance Published, by Julie Beard
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance, by Alison Kent
Secret Sexual Positions, Ancient Techniques for Modern Lover’s by Kenneth Ray Stubbs, Ph D
Extraordinary Sex Now, by Dr. Sandra R Scantling
The Bald-Headed Hermit and the Artichoke, an Erotic Thesaurus. By A.D. Peterkin.
“Entertaining and very funny,” says Hustler Magazine.
Just so you know A. D. Peterkin is a Toronto psychiatrist and journalist. Kind of makes you wonder what beat he covers.
But if you are bored with the trite and over-used check this book out.
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

The Boyfriend Application

2009-02-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

I recently had dinner with a friend of mine. She, too, is looking for the right partner. And so are a number of her friends. As we sat waiting for dinner to finish in the oven, she—I'll call her L—casually mentioned a conversation that she had with a friend about finding a mate. They were both apparently tired of dating duds, and they came up with an idea that shocked me. The Boyfriend Application.

Initially, I just laughed. It was amusing. Just what, exactly, would be on such a document? I had to know.

L proceeded to show me the applications she and her friend came up with. There were practical questions, such as, "Are you currently employed?" There were funny questions, such as, "Are you jealous of small appliances?" And there were a few that were kind of out there, such as "Interpret this picture" with an image of barbed wire. My personal favorite was demonstrated the applicant's intellect. It was simply "Solve this equation," which was followed by a picture similar to this:

When I was done laughing, I thought about the practicality of this. L told me that maybe this would be handed out after chatting with someone initially but before getting too "datey." This way, the guys who were not quite what the gals were looking for could be weeded out, saving endless amounts of time and effort and lots of bad dates. Sounded good. Most of us have a very limited amount of time in which to socialize, and really, why not streamline the process?

But then, I had a moment of resignation at the thought that dating had become a job instead of the enjoyable, crazy, ridiculous, and thrilling adventure it was supposed to be. That while we would be able to save time and a bit of heartache, we were loosing the opportunity for surprises and for the occasional outlandish story of a date-gone-wrong. That maybe the romance was sacrificed in the name of practicality. Was I ready to turn my search for love into a streamlined chore?

As good as this idea might be, I don't think it is quite for me. I'm a bit of a romantic, and I'm willing to roll the dice on a man because things like a goofy sense of humor and a charming, crooked smile are things I'd never be able to see on an application. And it's those bits that make all the bad dates in the world worth continuing the search.

Happy First Day of LOVE Month!

2009-02-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

How great is that? A whole month dedicated to amour. Amour, and more is what you’ll find at Erotique Press. So take a few moments to check out the new titles at www.erotiquepress.com. You won’t be sorry. You’ll find three new wonderful tales of passion and sensuality. Just the ticket to get you primed for Valentine’s Day.

My story The Drive-In is steamy romp in the backseat of the hero’s car on a double-date. It’s amazing what people can do with limited space, and a lot of motivation. Check it out.

I want to thank my dear friend, Lanna St. Claire for the kind words in her blog post here yesterday! What a great endorsement! You’re a peach, L. As Lanna said, her new story My Sexy Valentine is up and ready for purchase, as well as Valentine Express by Cricket Sawyer. Don’t miss any of them.

"If you want to feel the heat,
move to the back seat."

Until next time,
Belle Sloane***

Press Release for "My Sexy Valentine" and "The Drive In"

2009-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

Hi! I wanted to send out a note to everyone letting you know that my newest story "My Sexy Valentine" is now available for purchase at erotiquepress.com. Below is the direct link to purchase it:

"My Sexy Valentine" by Lanna St. Claire:

"Veronica had little hope for Valentine's Day. She was sure that, once again, she would be passed by. Instead, her day begins with a romantic gift from a secret admirer, and the surprises keep coming. But what should she make of them, and should she dare hope they are from the man she dreams about during board meetings? With the delivery of the last sexy package, she waits to see if Cupid is finally delivering her real-life dream come true!"
http://erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-lsc-msv.htm

I also want to let you know of "The Drive In" a story written by my dear friend Belle. I am proud to be sharing the shotlight with her this month on erotiquepress. Please join me in supporting her!

"The Drive In" by Belle Sloan:

"When Rob returns home from college for summer break, he’s talked into double dating to the drive-in with his old buddy, Steve. Once there, Steve leaves to get the snacks, and the steamy performance begins. This performance isn't on the screen, but in the backseat of the car, staring their dates. Rob joins the hot cast and becomes the star of the show!"

http://erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-bs-tdi.htm

Please help Belle and I make this Valentines Day a sales a success!!!

Wishing you a life filled with passion and love!
Lanna St. Claire

Nociception

2009-01-29T06:48:00.000-08:00

Nociception

Any idea what that word means? I didn’t either when I first saw it in my morning reading. The Intellectual Devotional by David S. Kidder and Noah D Oppenheim.

Nociception is the perception of pain. Simple huh? It’s essential to human’s survival.
Children are born every so often that have, what is called, a congenital insensitivity to pain and anhydrosis (CIPA). These children seldom live past the age of twenty-five simply because they don’t feel pain. If they survive the stage of teething without biting off their own fingers or something worse, they still are not out of the woods. They don’t know when they’ve injured themselves or have an infection that is eating them up.

We should be thankful for the sensation of pain. Seems like an odd thing, but it is essential as you can see from this one example.

The brain has a pain matrix that sorts out the intensity, location, duration and type of pain. This matrix is called anterior cingulated cortex. The funny thing about this brain center is it doesn’t distinguish between physical pain and emotional pain. This matrix responds equally to a broken leg or a broken heart.

So then, if I follow this logic (there’s that word again) a person could die from a broken heart. I used this emotional context in my mystery suspense novel The Pink Lady Slipper. The mother of the protagonist died from extreme fear. Emotional reaction can be as deadly as actual physical harm. I researched if it was possible to die from extreme fear at this time. I found it was. Amazing!

If all that follows as true, then there is truth to the clichés “Act as if,” “Fake it until you make it,” See it, believe it, achieve it,” wouldn’t you say?

BUY NOW! The Pink Lady Slipper
Billie A Williams
www.billiewilliams.com
http://printedwords.blogspot.com
http://Cricketshearth.blogspot.com

What is Gothic?

2009-01-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

What do you see? I think of pictures of KISS or The Bat Man's Cave or some other dark and scary thing -- Yet in the late 1100's and early 1200's it meant enlightenment. It meant the opening up to the sunlight and color,of churches and those structures meant to honor the rulers it meant letting in the light. They would build outer walls on huge pillars and enclose them but the windows were huge stain glass features to let in color and light.

It wasn't until the 18th century when in fiction Gothic became associated with grotesque and mysterious in literature.

It wasn't until the 1980's when music and dress were the dark Gothic - music such as Siouxie and the Banshees created an almost evil darkness that became associated with looking Goth in vogue with some.

What do you think when you think Gothic?

The book I'm reading The Intellectual Devotional by David S. Kidder & Noah D. Oppenheim and it certainly does spark your imagination, your curiosity and your wonder about what you believe and what is truth.

Dark Thunder Buy link
http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-dt.htm
www.cricket-sawyer.com
http://cricketshearth.blogspot.com
www.cricketsawyerinfo.com
Valentine Express Buy Link
http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-ve.htm

My Sexy Valentine

2009-01-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share the cover art for my latest story to be published on erotique.com. It will be released soon to celebrate Valentine's Day. I will post the direct link to order "My Sexy Valentine" as soon as it is available. I guarantee this will help get you "in the mood" and possibly even give you some ideas to spice up your holiday!

Lanna St. Claire

Invitation

2009-01-24T11:03:00.000-08:00

I would like to send a personal invitation to all of the authors of Erotique. I have a personal blog site where I post weekly messages and make announcements of upcoming stories being published with Erotique. My good friend Belle (who also has her stories published there) and I have begun making announcements for each other on our blogs of upcoming stories. I would love to extend the same opportunity to other authors with this group and exchange information and links to new stories. We could list each others information, links and such and help with cross promotion.

If anyone is interested please let me know. If you would like to send me an email you can do so at lannastclaire@amorous.com. You can also visit my blog site at lannasamorousmusings.blogspot.com.

I look forward to hearing from people!

Get a huge 60% Rebate on Bridget Midway's titles on Fictionwise!

2009-01-24T08:16:00.000-08:00

FINALS DAYS: The Two Trillion Word March with 60% Micropay Rebates!!

Fictionwise passed the "one trillion words served" mark recently and now we want to jump start our march to two trillion! Now through Sunday, January 25th, all Fictionwise eBooks have a 60% Micropay Rebate when buying with a credit card or PayPal. Don’t miss out on this unprecedented offer! Micropay rebates can be used to buy more eBooks. Build your eBook library today. And don’t forget, if you buy your secure eBooks in eReader format, you earn an additional 5% rebate on top of the 60%!

To find my books, go to http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/bridgetmidwayeBooks.htm?cache

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Rediscovering a Lost Libido

2009-01-22T15:44:00.001-08:00

After reading an ariticle in the newspaper about women rediscovering thier lost libido with the controversial use of testosterone, I decided to write the following letter to the editor of the paper.

In view of the fact that testosterone treatment for post-menopausal women is controversial and lacks long-term studies, I’d like to suggest a much easier and more pleasant way to boost a woman’s libido, whether she’s post-menopausal or not. According to psychologists, unlike men, who are aroused by visual stimuli, women are aroused by emotional stimuli, which can be derived from the written word. Reading good erotic stories that are written by women for women can be extremely arousing. When we create interesting characters and put them in erotic situations, the stories are written specifically to make our readers squirm in their seats with desire. There are dozens of erotic publishers who sell either books in print or ebooks to be read on the Internet. For Valentines Day, it might be prudent for men to add women’s erotica to their holiday shopping list along with the usual flowers and candy.

I would love to hear your comments.

Cat Lovington

Romance, Affection, and Lap Dances

2009-01-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I got to thinking about expressions of affection. The flowers, the candy, the going out to dinner…sure, they're great. But what has always impressed me was creativity. I want to feel special a few days of the year (hopefully, not just on major holidays!), and in general, I'm much more impressed with creativity and thoughtfulness than I am with something expensive.

All this thought about romance made me wonder what a man might really like for Valentine's Day. Do they really want flowers or candy or dinner out? Or do they, just like us, want moments of when their partner is creative and thoughtful? And it occurred to me that maybe some do. But what would be creative? What would be just…what…he…wants?

And then it hit me. A stripper.

Now, before you get up in arms about this, I'm talking about you. You, laced up in a pretty package, ripe for the unwrapping. What could possibly be better?

With this in mind, I started talking to a few male friends. I asked these guys if their girlfriends or wives had ever done a strip tease for them. The guys whose partners had done a strip tease for them loved it, which is not at all surprising. But during the course of these very interesting conversations, there were a few things that did surprise me. None of these women were stacked; instead, they were average or fuller figured. None of these women were 20; in fact, one lady I heard of was over 50. The hottest thing for these guys was that their partners made an effort to be sexy, to surprise them, and to make them happy. To me, that's what this romance stuff is all about!

So how exactly does one go about doing this? I wondered. I started doing a bit of research on stripping, reading web articles and books. The most important thing all of these resources said was that you needed to awaken your inner goddess…the one who flirts, who teases, who remembers—despite work and kids and laundry and dishes—that she is sexy. That she's desirable. That her body is powerful and beautiful.

Of course, I'm not saying that any of us need to hang upside down on a pole, with strobe lights and a smoke machine. But, if you set the mood just right, you can have a fun, sexy evening with very little preparation.

First, you'll need to set the mood. Maybe you are a romantic who would love soft candle light; maybe you are an exhibitionist who would revel in a brightly lit room. Choose music which appeals to you and pulses through your body. And get him comfortable in a chair with a great view of your show.

Dress to impress. Few of us have model's bodies, but all of us do have at least a few beautiful assets. Instead of trying to camouflage your faults, focus on drawing attention to the parts that you (and your partner) love. Accentuate all those bits he loves to look at.

The most important part of the strip tease is the tease. Don't just undress for him; make it tantalizing and provocative. Take your time…the slower, the better! He might just love the anticipation. And make him keep his hand to himself (although you should feel free to let your own hands roam over your body!).

Finally, remember that this is supposed to be fun. It's ok to look him in the eye, to smile, to laugh, to joke around. Don't worry about having the moves or the body of a professional. I am pretty sure that once the music begins and your clothes start coming off, you won't hear a single complaint.

Rejections - Celebrations?

2009-01-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's hard to keep in mind that one person's trash is another person's treasure. Here are 12 reasons to keep on keeping on!
CELEBRATION OF REJECTION
From the pages of, How to Get a Literary Agent by Michael Larsen

1. 112 Books Louis L’Amour though he received rejections. He received 200 rejections before he sold his first novel. During the last forty years Bantam has shipped nearly three hundred million of his one hundred twelve books, making him their biggest-selling author.
2. 600+ rejection slips wall paper Jack London’s home.
3. 774 rejection slips for John Creasy who went on to publish under 13 pseudonyms 564 books
4. 14 rejected Pearl S Buck finally published The Good Earth
5. 20 rejections didn’t stop Jonathan Livingston Seagull’s publication and you know how famous it became, written by Richard Bach
6. 40 rejections before she sold her first book didn’t stop Mary Higgins Clark
7. 200 rejections Roots by Alex Haley was published.
8. 15 publishers and 30 agents rejected John Grisham’s A Time to Kill before it was finally published.
9. 375 publishers rejected naked in Deccan over seven years before the Baltimore Sun deemed it a classic.
10. Dr Seuss – 24 in his file of rejections before his first books was published
11. 8 years after the novel Steps won the National Book Award, Jerzy Kosinski allowed it to be send out again with a name change to 13 agents and 14 publishers – all of them rejected it, including Random House, which originally published it. Proves the plight of new writers trying to get recognition or a publishing contract.
12. The New Yorker rejected a short story by Saul Bellow after he won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

So there you have it. Don’t let a little pile of rejections stop you from persevering in your desire to be a published author. The three P’s of getting published Polish, Persist, Persevere.

Better Book Cover

2009-01-11T18:15:00.001-08:00

I received an email from a friend of mine suggesting that this might be better cover art for my holiday e-story, "Santa's Coming."

Did I ever tell you that you are never too old to sit on Santa's lap? I wonder which mall he was at.

Blindfolds

2009-01-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, lovers! Today's topic is blindfolds. If that triggers childhood memories of Blind Man's Bluff or picking up a stick and whacking at a piñata, I am here to alter your perception just a tiny bit. Yes, blindfolds are part and parcel of some childhood games. Adult games, too!

Think using a blindfold is a bit over the top? Then think about expressions of love and the actions that lead to lovemaking itself. Do you close your eyes when you kiss? How about when you hold the person you love? Do you make love in the dark or do you prefer some light? If you really think about it for a moment, perhaps a blindfold makes sense as a way to deepen, or heighten, an already intimate and pleasurable act.

Taking the visual out of the experience brings our other senses to the forefront. Imagine that you are making love to your man and that you are wearing a blindfold. He is kissing you. What does he taste like? Are his lips soft? If he strokes you, how do his fingers and hands feel? Are there calluses on his fingers from the work he performs every day? Is he using the palms of his hands as well? And if you touch him, does his skin whisper under your finger tips? Is it smooth or rough? Is his hair coarse or fine? And can you perceive his growing excitement by touch? By sound? Maybe even by smell or taste?

In the movie Nine 1/2 Weeks, Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger play a blindfold game involving taste, as he feeds her all kinds of different foods that she can't see. In The Three Musketeers, an adult game of Blind Man's Bluff enables Faye Dunaway to seduce Simon Ward.

So what will you do with the game? Why not splurge and use a designer scarf or necktie? Enjoy the feel of silk as your lover ties it over your eyes, and then guess where he will touch you first. Or next. Will he make you wait? Will he tease you with a feather, or perhaps apply lotion to his fingers first? Anticipating the unanticipated caress can bring the most delightful shivers you can imagine.

Great Expectations?

2009-01-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. Albert Einstein said that. I’m not especially mathematically or scientifically inclined, nor am I prone to reading material on said topics, but I happened upon this quote. There was something inherently beautiful about it. More impressive were his sensitivity and romanticism. They surprised me. They moved me. And his words forced me to rethink the idea I had of him. I stopped thinking of him as just a science guy and thought maybe he was also someone who was maybe a bit romantic, too.

Lately, a lot of my ideas have been challenged. For example, I’m a single girl, and I’ve had this idea in mind of what men are looking for. I assumed that men were looking for the thin, busty blonde, who radiated confidence and sexuality. That is what they seem to admire, if you believe the cover of most of the men’s magazines…or beer commercials…or pretty much anything else marketed to the American male. And sure, there are a lot of men who would be happy to out take that kind of girl and fall madly in love with her ethereal beauty. I punished my faults and cursed myself for not living up to this ideal while getting irritated that this was what men wanted.

But this isn’t necessarily what men want. What I’ve noticed is that my faults matter so much more to me then they do to prospective suitors. To one person, the fullness of my hips and bottom were very feminine. To another, my bout of nerves at our first meeting on a blind date was wicked sexy. And to another, well, when we talked after going out a few times, he said didn’t remember me being all that plus size. It wasn’t that they were holding me to that unrealistic standard…it wasn’t that they couldn’t see what was good in me. It was that I expected these men, these nice guys, to want me to be something different than I was...and in reality, they liked who I was right then, at the moment when we smiled at each other.

Maybe this is a great way to start the new year…not with unrealistic expectations or goals that will fall by the wayside by February 1. Maybe 2009 will be more about being open and accepting with what already is than trying to change what doesn’t need changed. If I’m lucky, maybe I will find a few beautiful experiences of my own.

Direct Link to "Best Christmas Eve Ever"

2008-12-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah/Yule with your loved ones. I had a nice peaceful one at home surrounded by my pets who showered me with undivided attention and love!

Thank you so much to those who have ordered my new story through Erotique and given me such positive feedback. You have no idea how much your support means to me.

I have been able to access a direct link to order my story so you don't have to go through so many steps to do it. All you have to do is click on the link below and it will take you right to the page to make your order.

http://erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-lsc-bcee.htm

Much love,
Lanna St. Claire

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-23T16:48:00.000-08:00

Whether you've been a good girl--or a deliciously bad one--I can guarantee that something in our new holiday lineup of short stories will light your fires this season. Whether you're dreaming of an interracial love story with a strong heroine, imagining the big package you want to recieve at a holiday toy party, or envisioning Santa sliding down YOUR chimney, Erotique Press has the perfect story for you! Download one (or all three!), and get ready to fog up your frosted window panes!

Keep an eye out for the next set of sexy releases to start your new year right.

Sexy Santas

2008-12-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all

from Cat Lovington

The Best Christmas Eve Ever is now available

2008-12-20T13:26:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope that this holiday season finds you surrounded by love and everything you desire. I wanted to send out a quick notice to let you know that "The Best Christmas Eve Ever" is now available on erotique press. The cost is $2.50 to download the story and you can easily do it from a link on the website. There are a few options to make it easy for you.

Thank you again to my wonderful friends who have supported me and given me more encouragement than I ever dreamed through this process. My life is filled with love and dreams come true because of you!

To access "The Best Christmas Eve Ever" go to:http://www.erotiquepress.com/

From my heart to yours,
Lanna St. Claire

Comparison and Contrast: Music and Writing

2008-12-19T11:06:00.000-08:00

What is Music Anyway? What is Writing Anyway?

In the Intellectual Devotional by David S Kidder & Noah D Oppenheim we are given a lot of food for thought. One thing they say is that Music has a pattern where noise only has sound. I’m afraid that could define Heavy Metal for me. Noise, loud and busy that has no rhyme or reason for being. Sorry Heavy Metal fans, it just doesn’t translate for me.

Kidder and Oppenheim say the basics of music compared to noise have to do with
Pitch —How high or low a sound is to the ear;
Scale—a stepwise arrangement of pitches;
Key—which is an arrangement or system of pitches usually based on one of the major or minor scales.

Simple isn’t it? The Ghost Music of Vaudeville by Billie A Williams as a mystery has a similar basic set up. Pitch: how intense (high) or relaxed (low) the action
Scale: an arrangement of pitches that take us from each paragraph with a beginning, middle and end, to each chapter with its beginning, middle and end; to the book as a whole with a beginning, middle and end.
Key: That is a little harder, but I think of it as all the system of pitches – the paragraph, page, chapter, and book according to one of the Major (genre) or Minor (sub-genre) scales –genre and sub-genres of the mystery from cozy, procedural, true crime, or hard boiled. Dark Thunder is the edgy counter part of mystery/suspense. It has the same type of connection to pitch, scale, and key though.

Therefore, everything in writing the mystery/suspense can be reduced or elevated to its musical counter part. Our culture influences our pitch, scale, and keys whether that is in writing or in music. Extremes may abound even while the rules are followed. For instance music in India compared to the music here in the west such as opera, rock, country. Or, compare the Native American Drum, to the drum of modern rock – they are nowhere in the same playing field – the Native American Drum is spiritual, the rock drum is entertainment. Both, however, are entertainment and in some circles could be called spiritual.

Music and writing are both creative processes. Whether we use pitch, scale, and key or whether we use some other method to join the parts into a complete whole – they compliment each other, and I believe they embody each other.

It is said that we each “march to our different drummer,” and I believe that is as true in creating fiction as it is in creating music.

Sing Loudly, Write Like The Wind and enjoy the rhythm you create.
Cricket

Bridget Midway's Midway Lowdown newsletter now posted!

2008-12-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

Find out what fan favorite is now in print and available on Amazon.com. What's the new toy this month from Bridget's sex shop? And read an exclusive excerpt from Corporate Needs, the third book in the Corporate series! To read the newsletter, join the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midway_lowdown/ This is not a chatters list.

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Looking for an Appropriate Gift?

2008-12-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

You have to admit these are perfect gifts - Books that is - The printed word will never go out of style for any gift giving reason.

--
Two pertinent lists from Jessica James, author of Shades of Gray, posted on Amazon:

Top Five Reasons Why Guys Should Give Books as Gifts

5: She can't connect with a new sweater like she can with a book.
4: Hey guys, they're easy to wrap!
3: They come in all sizes, shapes and colors--what could be easier?
2: It's cheaper than a romantic getaway but can produce the same result.
1: Books are gifts of love and joy--and can create everlasting memories.

Top Five Reasons Why Girls Should Give Books as Gifts:

5: They're easy to store--on coffeetables, bookshelves, nightstands or countertops.
4: They never go bad no matter how long they're stored--and they can be used quickly or savored over time.
3: Books can teach, educate, entertain--and distract him from football.
2: It's a small investment that can return dividends for life.
1: Books are the perfect gift of enjoyment that don't require him to leave his chair.

[Thanks to Traci A. Lower.]
Billie

Teh Best Christmas Eve Ever

2008-12-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

Hello!

I wanted to share with everyone the cover art for "The Best Christmas Eve Ever". I was so excited to see it finished! It's very sexy and fun and does a good job of presenting the "mood" of the story. We are finishing everything up and it will be available very soon on erotique. This could be a nice little "stocking stuffer" for friends, family and anyone else you might want to send a fun little "hint" to. I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it!

Here is the the "teaser" on the back cover.....

When Kristina accepted an invitation from her best friend Andrea to attend a “Tickle My Heart” party on Christmas Eve…she had no idea what she was in for. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever expected to see one of Santa’s helpers wrapped up in such a gorgeous package of a man. Christmas Eve would never be the same!

Here's to a VERY Happy Holiday!
Lanna St. Claire

Goodbye Turkey, Hello Chocolate!!

2008-12-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

Now that Turkey Day is over can we please get back to chocolate?!

There is a product sold to warm in the microwave for dipping strawberries, etc.

Well... if you take that (not too hot please) and spread it on your breasts, it makes a chocolate bra that can be eaten off in nice crunchy pieces. It's not at all sticky and messy like body paint. This firms up and is yummy! Neat!

Lois Bonde

Thanks for the Memories

2008-11-30T16:31:00.000-08:00

I hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. As usual, the delicious aroma of roasting turkey wafting through the house took me back to the innocent days of my youth and the amazing sex education I received at my uncle’s knee.

Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound quite right. It’s not as if Uncle Bart intentionally provided me with an education a French courtesan might envy, he had no idea that I made a habit of hiding unnoticed under the huge dining room table after Thanksgiving dinner, eavesdropping shamelessly as he regaled the sophisticated, adult family members and assorted worldly guests with tales of his international adventures and misadventures of kinkiest kind. Apparently, being a sailor, then eventually graduating to captain of a freighter that sailed the seven seas, had opened the lust filled doors of golden opportunity for him to explore a wide variety of global sexual mores.

Listening to Uncle Bart’s red-blooded escapades was akin to taking a crash course in sexual sociology. No wonder this educational holiday tradition was carried over for many years. If memory serves me right, the enthralled diners remained rapt throughout the entire dissertation, often encouraging Uncle Bart to exceed the boundaries of good taste by indulging them with his bold narratives that sounded more like erotic fantasy than fact.

Uncle Bart’s overt masculinity, well-favored looks, and his superb ability to tell a story were surly a gift from the gods. Like a sorcerer, he captivated his audience with words and images spun from the most colorful strands of pure erotica that held them fast. Other than witnessing my older cousin, Freddie, stroking the protuberance jutting from the front of his corduroy trousers and Aunt Emily’s constant squirming, from where I sat under the table it was difficult to tell if the stories caused anyone to be disturbed or embarrassed. It didn’t embarrass me because at the time I had no idea what in the world he was talking about.

But, apparently, for some reason that I can’t even begin to explain, his stories of passion, lust and exotic debaucheries were indelibly printed on the cortex that influenced my long-term-memory. Try as I might, I could not erase the sexually graphic images his tales conjured up. According to Uncle Bart, he had done it all and was more than willing to share his extraordinary knowledge of foreign promiscuity and vigorously passionate affairs.

The elocution of Uncle Bart’s prose was so descriptive, to this very day, I can’t hear the word fellatio with out conjuring up the image of full, red lips gliding over an impressive penis that stands at attention like a wooden soldier, illuminated only by the flickering flames from an earthen hearth somewhere near the coast of Somalia.

Perhaps, if you’d like, I’ll share some of Uncle Bart’s darkest secrets and indiscretions, which may be built on a foundation of truth or steeped in unbridled creativity, lies and innuendo. I am, after all, a writer of erotic fiction.

Santa's Coming

2008-11-23T16:09:00.001-08:00

Hi Happy Readers,

The holidays will soon be upon us and to make the season all the merrier, Santa's Coming. This was such a fun story to write, I truly hope you all enjoy reading it.

Be patient, Santa's Coming very soon.

Have a Purrrfect holiday . . . Cat Lovington

http://erotiquepress.com/index.htm

Prolific Writers - Are You One?

2008-11-20T11:26:00.000-08:00

So you think you write a lot — How many books have you written? As a reader, how many books do you read a month?

Barbara Cartland, who my college Women’s Lit Instructor disliked intensely, wrote a stunning 723 books and made the Guinness Book of World Records for her efforts. She wrote a novel in one or two weeks. The critics say she actually didn’t write them she dictated them to her secretaries and they typed them up. I beg to differ with them. It was her creative genius that dreamt them up in the first place. If she hadn’t dictated them would each of her secretaries have written a best seller and had them published?

I take issue with the big name authors who have an understudy of sorts write from their outline and create a book for the named author. I see James Patterson and a few others are finally listing those as co-authors on the covers of their books. But now does that make them author of those books or the co-author? Who gets to count coup – will Patterson have 300 books because of their efforts or will he let them count those as their own?

Isaac Asimov wrote over 200 books, by himself – he then, in my humble opinion, especially with all the special issues Sci Fi authors face, was a prolific writer.

Georges Simenon wrote 400 books each book took him eleven straight days of writing. I’m sure he took food breaks and a nap break here and there – but that’s profound. Imagine fellow NaNoWriMo authors if you could write a novel in 30 days, why not one in eleven days?
How many words a day would that be? Approximately 4,500 words a day. Hey you could do that couldn’t you? {smile}

So write like the wind, read like a Tsunami and perhaps you will earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for your effort. After NaNoWriMo I’m sure many of you are thinking you deserve at least that commendation. I am proud of those of you who tried, even if you didn’t finish. And I am doubly proud of those who did – included in that my own daughter who finished her novel at just under 54,000 words ahead of the deadline. GO BECKIE!
www.cricket-sawyer.com

When an Author Looks Back

2008-11-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

The books we wrote before may color our opinions of our younger self - or -

When an author re-reads something they have written long ago it’s sometimes very disconcerting, at least I thought so. I thought I was the only one who looked at my once written, even once published books and thought, oh my good gracious how could I have let that go as a publishable piece? I don’t feel so bad any more after reading this from Aldous Huxley (Brave New World 1932 among other novels) This was in the revised/republished 1946 edition of Brave New World. “…Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment….”

He goes on more eloquently but it boils down to what we both feel after pouring over the short comings of a novel written at a younger more inexperienced time in an attempt to patch a faulty piece into a perfect masterpiece. That particular piece having missed that mark the first time around—should be repaired to a place where growth had taken me. To spend time trying to mend the artistic sins committed by that different person, the person I was then—is surely vain and futile. Its defect may be part of its charm.

I could rewrite the whole book as an older, perhaps wiser, other person. What might happen then though is I probably would get rid not only of some of the faults of the story, but also rid it of some of its merits as it originally possessed them.

So, resisting the temptation to wallow in artistic remorse, I leave well and ill alone and move on to ‘next’ with what I have learned and am able to create in my next novel, with much thanks to Aldous Huxley for making me feel less alone and imperfect.

Cricket Sawyer

www.cricket-sawyer.com
www.erotiquepress.com

Exercise: The Reluctant I

2008-11-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

In the picture my Mom is in the forefront, my Aunt Lois is pointing to the cake. Mom's birthday, but they shared the same birthday two years apart.

I sat there listening to her always with the phrases for everything. A quote, a song title, a bible verse, pulled as if from a small box in her mind. This time it was essential that her directive be avoided (not that it was known then.)

"Brags a good bargain, but hold on is a lot better," she said.

"Then how do you propose a writer will sell his/her work? No one can promote what another has written as well as the author. It's his/her baby, birthed with no fewer labor pains than the birth of a human infant. It seems weird to internalize that phrase and know now that one size, or in this case, one phrase, does not fit all.

Years after her death her phrases pop up as rules of life. Life is not a box of little ticker tape answers to every questions, though a lot of those do strike home with a ring of truth. Following, hanging on her every word helped to raise a lemming, a self-conscious, fearful individual with a couple dozen successes that many have never had, and yet that success feels like an embarrassment. It shouldn't.

Not all her phrases affected life that same way. Expressing the way her grandfather began a story - a phrase she repeated often, began a story created for my only Young Adult Historical novel. Watch For the Raven was born from her phrase, "When Tag was a pup, and turkey's chewed tobaccy."
Her phrases in all fairness did guide and still do.

We stood, the five of us, at her coffin during her wake, the final time we were able to talk with her and reminisced those phrases and funny fax paus she emotionally rendered throughout our growing years. "I'll slap my face against the back of your hand," was meant to be an admonition to my brother for inappropriate actions and words that we no longer remembered. We did remember watching our dad try to repress the laughter lighting up his mahogany eyes, the twitch in his lips that threatened to curve in a smile. Five faces suppressed the laughter only until she caught her mis-spoken words.

Laughter, hearty and long, followed as the tension in the room dissolved in fits of laughter, as it was as we swayed, arm-in-arm, remembering--the good, the bad and the hilarious--

And now alone, I think of perhaps the only wrong phrase, at least for me, that she ever insisted was law. Perhaps, she was right, but never for her daughter, the multi-published, award-winning author who needs to promote herself to sell her books. What would she say knowing about the Erotic Romantic Suspense titles written by me?

Perhaps there is a way to brag without boasting, is that what she meant? Be proud but not too proud? Be verbal, interesting, social, outgoing, be discovered by your talent, not what you say on your own behalf. If only it was possible to ask her for clarification, if only she had lingered as long as her phrases have. If only she had stayed until I had my first book published--then maybe it would have been different. Maybe then she would have said,"You deserve to be proud and brag," perhaps...
(This post sprung from an exercise in the book The 3 A.M. Epiphany. The use of I was permitted but only twice and it had to be a first person narrative.)

Introduction

2008-11-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I am new to this blog....my name is Lanna St. Claire. I am very excited to have the opportunity to join this community!

I have a blog spot of my own called Lanna's Amorous Musings at http://lannasamorousmusings.blogspot.com/. I invite everyone to come take a look at it.
Please feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly at lannastclaire@amorous.com.

I look forward to hearing from everyone!
Lanna St. Claire

A Book is...

2008-11-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

Lasts longer than a fruitcake, is cheaper than a flat screen monitor or television and more fun than a partridge in a pear tree. So why not give some one an exciting romp through the pages of a well written romantic suspense like -- well perhaps -- If I may...Dark Thunder by Cricket Sawyer ISBN 1-59080-597-6 or 978-1-59080-597-8 - available wherever they sell good books.
Published by Erotique Press. {smile}
You can also visit www.cricket-sawyer.com
if you're interested in some free reads and more.

Bridget Midway's Midway Lowdown newsletter now posted!

2008-11-10T08:13:00.000-08:00

I said what in that interview? Bridget Midway has a contest going on now? Wait! What books are no longer going to be offered soon? For answers to these questions and more, join my newsletter group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midway_lowdown/

This is not a chatters list.

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Holiday Romance

2008-11-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

What holidays spring to mind when thinking of romance? Valentine's Day? Of course. New Year's Eve? Sure. Anniversaries? Absolutely.

I contend, however, that romance doesn't have to be limited to these days of the year. In the flurry of time that elapses between Halloween and taking down the Christmas tree, there are so many opportunities to take time to be romantic with your partner.

Take our next upcoming holiday, for example. Thanksgiving can be a wonderful time set for romance. How, you might ask, is that possible when the in-laws are coming for dinner and you have a pasty white 12-pound frozen bird carcass that somehow has to come out looking like a Norman Rockwell painting?

I think the trick here is just making time for each other. And yes, it can be done! Try some of these things.

1. Plan a simple breakfast in bed for Thanksgiving morning. A fruit parfait, croissants, and maybe a mimosa might make a simple breakfast for two enticing, or at least give you an excuse to stay in bed a bit longer!

2. Plan dessert for after the company leaves. Share a bit of pumpkin pie and LOTS of whipped cream (you decide where it goes!)

3. Forget all the hustle and bustle of the holiday. Go away for a long weekend. Trust me...you will enjoy the time together more than leftover turkey sandwiches!

At the very least, light some candles and curl up on the sofa to unwind a bit. You, and your very special relationship, deserve some attention!

Check out a new Bridget Midway interview!

2008-10-20T14:55:00.001-07:00

Genesis Press author Andrea Jackson interviewed me on her blog! Check it out!

http://pbdiva.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/meet-the-author-bridget-midway/

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Don't Wait For Your Ship to Come in Swim out to it!

2008-10-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

In my morning reading today I came across this quote by Jonathan Winters: "If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it."
There was another a day or too earlier that said something, "Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." Abraham Lincoln.

In other words, the only thing that will create success, or create that book you've been waiting to write, or create some other printed words you dream to have written, is ACTION. There is no way around it if you don't put your butt in a chair and write - you will never publish a word. You need to banish all fear of failing, of making a mistake -- mistakes are the lessons of life.

This Frank and Ernest cartoon strip says it all. Frank is at the counter at an employment office he has a long long sheet of paper he is apparently reading from to the guy who is taking his application. The caption says--"I don't have any formal education so I brought you a list of the mistakes I've learned from."

Feel the fear and do it anyway is almost a buzz word nowadays, but it's absolute truth. Do not be afraid of mistakes, no one is perfect. Perfectionism will stall you in your tracks. Not that you should adopt a careless, reckless, not-give-a-darn attitude. You should do the best that you can do with what you have at this very moment and let the rest happen.

"You can never learn less; you can only learn more. The reason I know so much is because I have made so many mistakes," says Buckminster Fuller (a mathematician and philosopher who never graduated from college but received 46 honorary doctorates.

Imagine!
Write Like The Wind
Billie/Cricket
Dark Thunder - www.cricket-sawyer.com
Erotique Press
ISBN 1-59080-597-6
978-1-59080-597-8
see the video trailer at http://YouTube.com/basbleu43

Halloween, dating, and the combination of the two

2008-10-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

As I sat talking with my girl friend, I’ll call her Wren, we chatted happily about Halloween and perhaps a bit cynically about dating and romance. I told her about the story idea I had for writing a paranormal romance story. Soon, Wren and I were engaged in a conversation about this topic, and thus started my list of the top five perils of dating the undead and other creatures of the night.

5. YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO PAY. When we hear stories about Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, and ghosts, they are sometimes sexy, and they are always mysterious. But when was the last time you heard about any of these guys holding a job? As far as I know, they had a limited skill set and kept odd hours, so there are probably few opportunities. No job, no money. So guess who will always have to pick up the tab when you go out to dinner?

4. BAD BREATH. Zombies have cravings for brains, werewolves lust for fresh meat, and vampires’ thirst for blood. I don’t associate these things with fresh, minty breath. I have never seen a movie where one of these folks stopped to brush, floss, and gargle. Perhaps they should add fresh parsley, peppermint, and ginger to their diet for some natural freshening. Otherwise, you should keep a tin of Altoids in your purse.

3. THEY ARE UNRELIABLE. Think about the stories you’ve heard. Werewolves appear only during the full moon, vampires appear when they need to feed, and ghosts appear during hauntings. Where will they be when you have a holiday dinner or wedding to attend? When will you know when to expect them to pick you up to go dancing? Who will you be able to talk to when you’ve had a bad day at the office? (PS-Ghosts have no pockets for cell phones, so you can forget chatting and text messaging!).

2. IT IS NO GOOD WHEN THEY WANT TO EAT…ER…MEET YOUR FAMILY. Relationships have a natural progression. You meet, you go on a date. You date, then you get into a relationship. Once you are in a serious relationship, you meet each others’ families. You could never be sure of your werewolf, zombie, or vampire boyfriend’s motives for meeting your family. Are they happily involved with you and can’t wait to get to know the important people in your life, or are they searching for their next meal?

1. NO HEARTBEAT = NO BLOOD FLOW. Now, this sounds like not so much of a big deal, until you consider the necessity of blood flow and proper circulation for “things” to function properly. And ladies, they really do need to function properly. No amount of little blue pills will fix this problem. Trust me.

So perhaps this reduces the amount of hotties in the dating pool, but that is ok with me. I’d be happy to trade some of the romance associated with vampires in exchange for an average male with a heartbeat and a day job. It might not be so exciting, but I’ll always be sure that he is nibbling on my neck for the right reasons.

Red Shoes

2008-10-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember watching "Red Shoe Diaries"? - It was a Showtime series, starring David Duchovny as a sort of narrator, who was usually walking down railroad tracks with his dog. He had a letter in his hand, and he would begin by reading "Dear Red Shoes..." Following would be an erotic, short, sensual story often centering on a young woman's (or man's) sexual awakening or unrequited love. Mood music, nudity, sometimes a bit of humor. The show would end with another glimpse of Duchovny looking pensive at the outcome or fate of the story's protagonist.

What I find interesting about this bit of TV history is that Duchovny, who went on to star in the popular "X-Files" as an alien-UFO-ghost hunter, landed back in Showtime's "Californication", now in its second year on the tube. This program, which has been boycotted and criticized in some countries for its explicit nature, garnered Golden Globe nominations for both the show and Duchovny.

(Maybe there is nothing coincidental about Duchovny's return to the hot-and-bothered sect; in August, the actor checked himself into a rehab center for sex addiction!)

Still, those old (early 90's) episodes of Red Shoe remind me of some of the great short erotica being turned out by today's new legion of ebook authors! I know they've inspired me...

Impending Release

2008-09-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, now. I didn't mean it that way.

Okay, maybe I did.

I'm really excited about the impending release of my next book, Carved in Stone. It's coincidentally coming out during hurricane season; a hurricane plays a fairly major role. The story is set on the Mississippi Gulf coast, where I spent a great deal of time when I was growing up in New Orleans. And the hurricane scenes drew on my experiences living through Betsy, many years ago.

I think it's interesting the way life goes in circles, or, more accurately, spirals (I'm an engineer -- there's a big difference between circles and spirals). I was the first Erotique Press author published (Rescued by Laura Rose is mine!) a few years back. Since that time, I've had quite a few books out from Echelon Press LLC, Five Star, Zumaya Publications, and now from Kensington and Silhouette, where I write as Lydia Parks. But Carved in Stone was only the second book I sold. (Don't worry, it has been much edited since then!) In a way, it feels like I'm coming home.

I hope you enjoy the story. I'll be giving away a signed copy on my Newsletter, so feel free to sign up. The winner is drawn at random from the members.

I look forward to participating in the Allure of Passion blog. If you have questions, please ask! In case you don't know, we writers love to talk about our books and writing.

Sarah

Want to get your name in lights?

2008-09-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

This could be your chance. The EPPIEs - sponsored by EPIC is looking for the next great ebook - check out the contest - hurry time is drawing near to close.
Cricket

Time Sensitive material:

Of interest to authors who are published electronically. Please distribute to your membership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

EPPIE Contest in Full Swing to Highlight Excellence in ePublishing

Worldwide–September 16, 2008—EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, proudly announces the annual EPPIE contest. This is the premier contest in the book industry that celebrates the outstanding achievements of electronic books by authors and publishers. The EPPIE Awards have been given annually since the first EPIC conference to recognize outstanding achievement in ePublishing. The contest deadline for entries is October 4, 2008 at Midnight CST.

Categories are judged by volunteers, the largest percentage of which are members of EPIC, an organization consisting of electronically published authors and industry professionals. Guest judges, all of whom are either published authors or publishing professionals, are used only as deemed necessary by the EPPIE Chair/Committee.

The First Round Judging delivers our EPPIE Finalists, whose works are forwarded to a second panel of judges before the winners of our thirty categories are selected. Winners from each judged category are announced at the EPIC conference's gala award ceremony, taking place at the annual EPICon Convention, taking place March 5-8, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

EPIC is also the proud sponsor of the QUASAR/ARIANA Awards for excellence in graphic cover art for eBooks.

For contest guidelines, please visit http://www.epicauthors.com/eppierules2009.html

Electronically Published Internet Connection
Contact: Karen L. Syed, EPIC Publicity Coordinator
9735 Country Meadows Lane 1D, Laurel, MD 20723
410-878-7113 (v) 410-988-2864 (f)
erevolution.epic@gmail.com
www.epicauthors.com

Tornados, hurricanes, and Dark Thunder

2008-09-16T17:47:00.001-07:00

Release Date: August 2008
Title: Dark Thunder
Author: Cricket Sawyer
ISBN: 978-1-59080-597-8 (1-59080-597-6)
Genre: Erotic Suspense (Erotiqué Press)
Pages: 228
Price: Price $12.99 US $14.99 CAN

This summer has been weather intense. Dark storm clouds on the horizon signify danger, the potential for intense storms. In a novel these same storm clouds signify danger of another sort. Dark Thunder is about more than just the noise of an impending storm. It is not a fluffy romance. It is a knife-edged tale of desperation, passion and yes, even perversion that strikes with lightening-like intensity at the heart of our comfort zone and reverberates across the fiber of our being thundering through the atmosphere of our status quo, ordered world.

Distribution:
Echelon Direct
Ingram Book Co.
Partner Book Dist.
Follett Library Services
Brodart Co.
Amazon.com
Fictionwise.com

Blurb:
Jumping from the frying pan and into the fire, Cyan regrets her move too late. When she trades a loveless marriage for lust and passion, she discovers that Derian, her dark-eyed prince, has turned into the prince of evil, manipulating and controlling.

The hypnotic control of his demon talents steal her heart and make her a slave to his blazing obsession and insatiable appetite for sex, but her willpower wilts under the heat of his lovemaking. Finally, after finding some balance, things once again turn chaotic when her friend, Derian's cousin, is murdered. The dark prince once again returns, and hell-bent on revenge, embarks on a manhunt, determined for justice, despite Cyan’s attempts to stop him. Where will the taste for vengeance end in a land where nothing is as it seems, and love isn’t enough to fulfill all the appetites of a raven warrior?

Bio:
Cricket Sawyer has written several novels, many short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction articles, and won poetry contests for her erotic poetry. Her stories have been published in various e-zines and newsletters, both in print and online. Her favorite genres are Romance with an edge, a hint of paranormal, and lots of sizzling suspense. In her spare time she reads, writes, plays piano, gardens, knits, crochets, and quilts. For almost nine months out of the year she shovels the snow northern Wisconsin is usually buried under, a delight for snowmobilers and skiers. Living somewhere without the four seasons is unthinkable. She lives with her husband in the small village of Amberg where the winters are cold and long perfect for curling up in front of a fireplace with a good book, but the people are warm and friendly all year round.

Check it out - be careful though - it is intense.
Cricket

First dates

2008-09-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

I gave up dating for a while. A long while. So long, in fact, that I actually had to do math to figure out when the last date was. It was a little scary to me that I let that much time lapse.

It was even scarier when I was asked out on my first date in that long. But I accepted, despite my bout of nerves. And then I realized that my list of things to worry about had just grown exponentially. Solitude was easy: it was dating that was hard. So the night of the date, my thoughts raced.

* Is my outfit too slutty? Is it slutty enough?
* Do I shave my legs or not? Shaving them might seem eager to show them off...not shaving them is inviting the accidental touch under the table when he feels two days worth of stubble.
* Will he be fun, or should I have an escape plan...just in case?
* I met him when I had a few drinks with the girls. Will he still be cute without dim lighting and a vodka & cranberry?
* Does all the food on this menu have marinara sauce? Because my just-slutty-enough outfit is not red and will show EVERY lost droplet that falls off my noodles.

But once I met him, once he sat across from me at the restaurant, I forgot all those things. He was just one of those nice guys who would probably compliment me if I was wearing a potato sack, who would laugh with me if I spilled pasta down said potato sack, who would never try to play grab ass & could care less if I shaved my legs on the first date, and who acted just as pleasant and looked exactly the same as the night I met him.

I was comfortable taking a walk on a nature trail with him afterwards. He was smart in a quiet way, and once I found that out (and being the knowledge junkie that I am) I urged him to explain the grasses and weeds and flowers that bloomed wild along the trail. He told me about growing up on a farm, about places he traveled for work, about the weirdest kinds of foods he'd ever tried. And I think, perhaps, he was a bit nervous, too.

In an ideal world, we get flawless first dates that lead to a heated makeout session on the bench seat of his pickup...just like when we were teenagers. But I will embrace my nervous butterflies and the victory I feel after eating Italian food without dropping a single bit of marinara on myself. I'll be patient and hope that the hot makeout comes on a second date, the one where I actually do shave my legs and know that I won't want an escape route.

Bridget Midway's Midway Lowdown newsletter now posted!

2008-09-01T16:45:00.001-07:00

Bridget in a BDSM club? What new segment in her newsletter did she start? And what beloved Bridget Midway novel will be available in print soon? All of those answers and more are in her Midway Lowdown newsletter. Be sure to join her newsletter group for exclusive excerpts, news, and book tour information. Plus, she's running a contest. A random group member is picked picked each month to win a special prize, anything from a free download to autographed books to gifts mailed to you!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midway_lowdown/

This is strictly a newsletter group, not a chatters list.

Stay sexy,
BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

I vote for chocolate covered ants with

2008-08-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

perhaps oysters on the side? Well of all the things that are supposed to be edible - and good for you - and ahem! 'other' things I think chocolate is my best bet. Now Dark Thunder was released this month and I polled the characters -
Cyan said pepper is hot and it makes her hotter
Derian said anything that doesn't eat him first -- well he hedged on that he said sometimes eating him can be a good thing -- then he said he's game if any woman is.
Then in came Sharee - now there is a woman who prefers ceremony before anything - so even chocolate should be presented with ceremony and flair - .
Dark Thunder - that would be Derian -- you know what they are saying - well here try this on:
This summer has been weather intense. Dark storm clouds on the horizon signify danger, the potential for heavy storms. In a novel these same storm clouds signify danger of another sort. Dark Thunder is a knife-edged tale of desperation, passion and yes even perversion that strikes with lightening-like intensity at the heart of our comfort zone and reverberates across the fiber of our being, thundering through the atmosphere of our status quo, ordered world.
Pick up a copy and see what you would eat to satisfy your needs.
Cricket

Hot or Not?

2008-08-25T10:58:00.001-07:00

I would be willing to do quite a bit in the name of love. Or romance. Or, yes, passion. I would be willing to defy convention, put aside opinions, and open my mind up to whatever possibilities I might find before me. I think I'm open minded. But I have my limits, as I suppose we all do. So where do I draw the line?

Well, recently, I was doing a bit of research on aphrodisiacs. Some researchers believe that they are stimulants, while others chalk their reputations up to mere old wives tales. What was on the list?

There were a few old standbys, which we've all heard of. And yes, most of us are willing to try. I'd rank them as HOT.

1. Chocolate - Find me a woman who can resist chocolate. No scientific evidence needed here.
2. Strawberries - Sweet, tasty, and potentially a lot of fun, especially given the introduction of whipped cream.
3. Oysters - I don't eat them, but I've heard first-hand accounts of the effects.

So what is on my NOT list? What would I refuse to consume in the name of passion? Let me tell you.

1. Atta laevigata - A leaf-cutter ant found in South America. Known for their strong mandibles. The good news is that they are low in saturated fat.
2. Turtle eggs - Yeah. I'm sure they are delicacies in some countries, but I can't get past the image of the pets we used to keep as kids.
3. Spanish fly - First, it is a bug. Second, it can "cause painful urination, fever, and sometimes bloody discharge." I'm no expert, but those seem like mood killers.

Any surprises for me on the list? A few...

1. Kelp - I never thought of seaweed as sexy...but hey...mermaids are hot, right?
2. Chili peppers - They release endorphins. They make us feel good.
3. Pine nuts - Apparently, they are high in zinc, which helps male potency. So the story goes.

I guess the point isn't whether these are scientifically proven to help improve mood but whether or not we believe that they do. And if we think we're hot, ready, and willing...then I'm betting we are!

Bridget Midway's book signing events in Winston-Salem, NC

2008-08-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

Please join me. I'll be doing a mini-book tour there.

Friday, September 5th
12 - 1:30 p.m. - Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center at 1110 E. 7th Street in Winston-Salem, NC 27101

3:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Carver School Road Library Branch at 4915 Lansing Road in Winston-Salem, NC 27105

7 - 9 p.m. - Body & Soul Bookstore at 545 N. Trade Street in Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Saturday, September 6th
2 p.m. - ? Charlotte Library at 1230 Alleghany Street in Charlotte, NC 28208

At each event, I'll be doing a discussion on the publishing business, where I'm at in it, and where I see myself in the future, along with doing book signings and giveaways. I'll be signing both my Crystal B. Bright stuff and my Bridget Midway stuff including CORPORATE SEDUCTION and CORPORATE DESIRES, FASCINATION STREET and WHAT WHITE BOYZ WANT.

I hope I see you there!

Crystal / BridgeT
www.CrystalBrightWriter.com
www.BridgetMidway.com

Old-fashioned love in a high-tech world

2008-08-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit that I am addicted to my iPod, I snap pictures constantly with my digital camera, and I had a virtual meltdown the day I left my cell phone at home. Gadgets and technology are a part of who I am these days. Like almost everyone else, I have a hectic lifestyle that is made infinitely easier by the use of technology. My main form of communication with friends is email, followed in a close second by cell phone calls and the miracle of text messaging. Although I’ve kicked my instant messaging habit, I still find pleasure of an occasional chat in my pajamas with 20 strangers in a room online.

But in a world where we never have to meet, where we can coexist by scarcely uttering a word to each other, I’m a sucker for old-fashioned romance.

Not that I haven’t met a beau or two on a personals website or in a chat room. In fact, they can be a great way for a single, working woman to connect with someone outside of going to a bar or concert…places too loud and impersonal to get to know someone.

But I can remember one instance in particular. I had been dating a wonderful, caring man that I had met through an online personal. We had been seeing each other off and on for a little more than a year. During that time, we emailed, we exchanged digital pictures when the mood struck us, and I called on my cell phone when I had a bit of time to chat.

Despite our high-tech relationship, one defining moment came at Christmas. It wasn’t the gift. It was more important. I can remember the way my heart caught in my throat when he gave me a card with a handwritten note inside it. I almost cried at the sentiment, written in his own beautifully manicured script. Me, an overbooked, laptop-toting professional with a slightly cynical side, choked up over a note. I carried the card with me long after the holiday was over, kept pristine inside my hard-cover journal to make sure it stayed neat, dry, and as precious as the moment I took it out of its envelope.

I guess I realized that it is those take-your-breath away moments where I find the most romance. Nothing compares to the heat of someone’s breath on your lips before you kiss. Or surge of excitement when they knock on your door after a too-long absence. Or the instant you realize you have been holding hands for a while, but you can’t seem to remember reaching for each other. Those are the moments I use to define romance. And in those moments, those moments where love reaches inside me and makes my heart ache from being so complete, so full, there isn’t a cell phone charger or modem in sight.

DARK THUNDER (On Sale Now)

2008-08-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Jumping from the frying pan and into the fire, Cyan regrets her move too late. When she trades a loveless marriage for lust and passion, she discovers that Derian, her dark-eyed prince, has turned into the prince of evil, manipulating and controlling.

The hypnotic control of his demon talents steal her heart and make her a slave to his blazing obsession and insatiable appetite for sex, but her willpower wilts under the heat of his lovemaking.

Finally, after finding some balance, things once again turn chaotic when her friend, Derian's cousin, is murdered. The dark prince once again returns, and hell-bent on revenge, embarks on a manhunt, determined for justice, despite Cyan’s attempts to stop him. Where will the taste for vengeance end in a land where nothing is as it seems, and love isn’t enough to fulfill all the appetites of a raven warrior?

Bio:
Cricket Sawyer has written several novels, many short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction articles, and won poetry contests for her erotic poetry. Her stories have been published in various e-zines and newsletters, both in print and online. Her favorite genres are Romance with an edge, a hint of paranormal, and lots of sizzling suspense.

In her spare time she reads, writes, play piano, gardens, knits, crochets, and quilts. For almost nine months out of the year she shovels the snow northern Wisconsin is usually buried under, a delight for snowmobilers and skiers. Living somewhere without the four seasons is unthinkable. She lives with her husband in the small village of Amberg where the winters are cold and long perfect for curling up in front of a fireplace with a good book, but the people are warm and friendly all year round.

Title: Dark Thunder
Author: Cricket Sawyer
ISBN: 978-1-59080-597-8
Genre: Erotic Suspense (Erotiqué Press)
Pages: 228
Price: $12.99 US $14.99 CAN

Retail Outlets:
Echelon Direct
Amazon.com
Fictionwise.com
All Romance eBooks

Bridget Midway's newsletter posted

2008-08-03T17:46:00.001-07:00

What Bridget Midway title got 4 Stars from Romantic Times BOOK Reviews magazine? Which author made Bridget come up with a Top Ten list of why this author is so great? And what converted Bridget to becoming an M/M fan? Get those answers and an exclusive excerpt from Woman In Chains in her Midway Lowdown newsletter just posted! To read the newsletter, join the group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midway_lowdown/ This is not a chatters list!

Stay sexy,
BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Kiss Me, Baby!

2008-07-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Who's got the most kissable mouth you can picture? The guy you never got to take to Prom? Your college sweetheart? Maybe, oh, Eric Bana?

How about your current lover? When your lips meet, do you still lose your breath? Get weak in the knees? Feel that delicious little tingle… down there? If not, don't lose heart. And don't trade in your current lover, at least not just for a slightly deficient lip lock. Just do what Angela does!

First of all, I always remember that a kiss should be the prelude to a celebration of passion. Hopefully, a noisy, rambunctious, nerve-jolting joining, but hey, sweet and loving is just as good. With that in mind, when I kiss, I focus my entire being in that simple action. Picture: our eyes meet, we move closer, and then our lips make that first contact. Oooh, soft. Warm. Sweet. I savor the sensation and then move on to…

…the "push." I put a little pressure into the next kiss to make sure my partner knows I mean business! There is a series of kisses, each one more ardent than the last. Before long, one or both of us is opening to the other. And then what? Here's my suggestion: do NOT automatically go for the open-mouth-deep-kiss action. Heck no, I want to be a tease! I kiss and pull away. I move to deepen the next kiss and then change my mind. He tries to touch his tongue to mine and I move back, keeping it chaste, teasing him with just the smallest hint of my tongue against his. He gets impatient, entwines his fingers into my hair to pull me closer and then… But wait. I'm getting ahead of myself here.

"You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss," according to songwriter Herman Hupfeld But is it? Maybe, if we're talking about a simple peck on Grandma's cheek at Thanksgiving, or a way to say congratulations in the reception line of your niece's wedding.

I think I prefer the definition at the Free Dictionary. It says: To touch or caress with the lips as an expression of affection, greeting, respect, or amorousness. Now, that's much closer to what I had in mind, especially the words "caress" and "amorousness."

* * *

For twelve years, Angela Lee lived the life of an innocent schoolgirl who obediently attended classes every day in her plaid uniform. But maybe there was something about those patent leather shoes she insisted on wearing… Always interested in a good story, both for reading and in writing, Angela's own works took a turn for the sensual after discovering a man willing to experiment with any fantasy she could conceive of. "I married him," Angela says, "so I could continue my research in depth. Somehow, he doesn't seem to mind." You can learn more about her at her MySpace site.

Don't miss Angela's debut eBook download, SCHOOL TIES, available at All Romance eBooks.

Bridget Midway's book signing event - 07/20/2008

2008-07-19T16:37:00.000-07:00

Join erotica author Bridget Midway on Sunday, July 20th from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waldenbooks store inside of Greenbrier Mall at 1401 Greenbrier Parkway for a book signing event. She'll be signing What White Boyz Want, Fascination Street, Original Sin and Corporate Seduction at the signing. And the first few readers who buy my books will receive special prizes! You don't want to miss it!

Stay sexy,

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Hot Spot: Bridget Midway

2008-07-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

Erotiqué Hot Spot
Bridget Midway

Erotiqué: What kind of a child were you? Shy? Outgoing? Flamboyant?

Bridget: I was and still am very shy, believe it or not. I’m not very outgoing in front of strangers. It takes a lot to draw me out. But with my friends, I’m a total goofball.

Erotiqué: How did you find your way to writing erotic fiction?

Bridget: An author friend of mine, Laura Bacchi, was in my local writing group and after winning a writing contest with an erotica publisher, she encouraged me to submit work. So I punched up the sensuality in a work that had been recently rejected by a magazine and it got accepted. From that point, I’ve been published by more than 10 different publishers. What can I say? Sex sells!

Erotiqué: What is your greatest source of inspiration for writing your stories?

Bridget: Dreams, newspaper articles, Internet stories, friends, family, TV shows, people on the street. I’m always keeping my eyes and ears open and I grab inspiration from everywhere.

Erotiqué: Do you ever find yourself in need of mood enhancements? What kind do you use?

Bridget: Oh yeah. I’ll admit it. If I’m not feeling that special umph to write a hot scene, I’ll break out a porn DVD. Sometimes I’ll watch it just for new positions.

Erotiqué: What can readers expect from any of your stories?

Bridget: I’m hoping that my readers know to expect the unexpected. I know. A complete oxymoron. Since I write multicultural romance, my readers know that I write a romance with an interracial couple where race is not an issue. It would be great if interracial romances became the norm instead of its own special subgenre. But while it is, I’ll keep writing them so long as fans keep reading them.

Quick Facts:
Author Name: Bridget Midway
Web Address: www.BridgetMidway.com
MySpace Address: http://www.myspace.com/bridgetmidway
Blog Address: http://www.bridgetmidway.blogspot.com

Bridget Midway is the author of the following eBooks from Erotiqué Press.

Three most recent short stories:

"Sodom and Gomorrah"
"Silly Fears"
"Public Domain"

Three most recent books:

What White Boyz Want – “Bitter Ball” – Parker Publishing
Corporate Desires – MS Fiction
Original Sin– Phaze Books