Who Are You Trying to Kid?

by Danillo Rizzuti/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

      When I first let it be known that I was writing erotic romance, I got my fair share of comments about me writing porn.  I put up with that long enough.  Erotica is NOT PORN!!!  I write characters who use explicit language in and out of the bedroom.  I describe what my characters see, feel and taste when they are with their partner or partners.  I write the way I talk and I do swear, sometimes a hell of a lot.  The intent is to give let the reader experience the whole thing with the characters...as if they were one of them.  
      If you want "darn," "heck," "whoopy," or "shoot," you need to look elsewhere. If you want flowery language that's vague or only hints at what is going on under the sheets, then you have found the wrong author.  
      I'm not knocking those kind of romances.  I read enough of them over the years and enjoyed them immensely, but I prefer the more explicit and graphic novels now.  I enjoy how reading and writing those scenes makes me feel about myself and my love life with my Muse.  I know for a fact there are more people like me out there than not.  I just find it funny that people deny it.
      For example, on my Goodreads profile, one woman commented on the page for For the Love of Quinn with "no thanks."  No thanks?  No one offered it up to her as a recommended read. She found it on a search and decided that she had to make her opinion known.  Funny thing is, her profile is private.  Makes me wonder if she is a closet erotica fan but doesn't want members of her family or church group to know that she is.  My advice for her is to keep to her "preferred" book list and leave mine alone.
      I have had people recommend books and movies to me that I didn't feel I would enjoy so I never read them or watched them.  There are a few that I did and regretted it, and then there were some that were fantastic surprises. 
      So how about keeping an open mind when it comes to erotic romance.  If it's not your cup of tea, then so be it.  Just don't get on your holier than thou soap box and claim that what I write is porn or smut especially if you've never even got past the cover.  You take the time to read it and then say you didn't like it, well then fine.  At least you gave it a chance.  
      I have my adult disclaimer on both of my blogs for a reason.  If anyone is searching the Web and found it by accident, you will be told do not go any further if you are not over 18.  That alone should be a clue to you to leave if you are not into that or if your kids are hanging around you when you are online.  Why the hell would you open the site up?  The responsibility lies with you.  I warned you and you chose to enter.  Don't complain about my explicit photos or videos. Don't complain about my explicit book excerpts or my language.  You entered at your own risk.  It's all on you.

Honeymoon Lovers Piyaphon/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

      That being said, for those of you who enjoy what I post here and on my other blog Behind Closed Doors, keep coming back.  I'll keep posting my stuff and that of my fellow authors.  We'll all get to know each other better and pick up some hot reads for our book wish lists.  If you know someone who would like what we post here, send them on over.  They are all welcome here!


Until next time my friends!  

Interview with guest author Rose Anderson!

Hello everyone!  A good friend and fellow author Natasha Blackthorne interviewed me not too long ago and she had the most fascinating questions.  They really made me think as a writer and a reader.  I found I wanted to know the answers to these questions from other authors as well.  Which brings us to our guest author today.  I am excited to welcome to Not Enough Time in the Day, author Rose Anderson.  




Rose, what types of characters appeal to you the most and why?
First off Tammy, I’d like to say thank you for having me.

Above all, I like writing well-rounded or well-appointed characters who wear masks. I suppose it was growing up with movies like Zorro, The Count of Monte Cristo, or the Scarlet Pimpernel, even Batman to some degree. We have these wealthy playboy-type men who outwardly have no substance whatsoever, are cads, or just generally disinterested in the serious events around them. But in truth, they’re driven men to fight injustices, or right wrongs. As a reader I find a character with a dual identity to be very compelling. As a writer, I love the challenge of creating what is essentially two personas within the framework of the one. 

Why do they appeal to me? The thought of the reader knowing the secret before the hero or heroine does appeals to me because it makes for a very convoluted story by adding another layer of depth. The story has to move forward of course, but when you’re hiding a truth such as this, the storyline is enhanced. One of the best romance stories of this sort, in my opinion, is Kathleen Woodiwiss’ A Rose in Winter. 

I have found that there is a lot of me in the characters that I write.  Do you find the same?  

Like me, my characters are always socially responsible. They have a great sense of right and wrong, and are compassionate. Since I appreciate wit and intelligence, they tend to be witty and smart. From this very same personality bank, I also create really crafty, really bad, bad guys. I’ll go so far as to say they become the counterpoint to all that is good about me. The few bad guys I’ve created possess evil genius along the lines of Sherlock Holmes’ nemesis Professor Moriarty. And it all comes out of my head. LOL I wonder what that means? 

How are they not like you?

How they’re not like me?  Well, they’re not shy and held down by immobilizing shyness like I’ve been my entire life. They play instruments I never learned, gone places I’ve never been, done things, had careers and experiences I’ve only dreamed of. And they do it with panache!

Do you find that you write stories with recurring themes? If so, why do you think you are drawn to these kind of core issues?

I’m very detail oriented so I love the challenge of making impossible concepts possible and implausible scenarios plausible. As far as core issues go, I really enjoy writing conflicts. Especially battles between good and evil or where right triumphs over wrong. To me that’s the best thing about creating literary worlds. Authors have control over weighty issues and are able to change negative situations to positive outcomes. The real world doesn’t always allow for that. Freud might say I had a god complex. <grin> It’s a heady thing though. I get frustrated by things -- environmental issues, political garbage, societal woes and ills. In my fictional worlds, I can virtually eliminate them. So I do. 

Now let's switch gears a bit.  As a reader, what kinds of fiction interest you?

I enjoy historical fiction and historical romance. I really love the evocative potential of history for details: sights and smells, clothing and accoutrements, mores and attitudes, language and outlooks. I especially enjoy time travel stories where the hero/heroine is thrust into these foreign scenarios and must adapt. I also enjoy mysteries.

Who are some of your favorite authors and why do you think they appeal so much to you?

All-time favorites are the ones who write in rich detail. Like I mentioned above, I’m very detail oriented. Giving me details for my mind to extrapolate with is like handing me individual paints for one of those paint by number canvases. I find the richer the detail, the better read for me, because I can fully immerse my senses in the story. Authors who’ve given me the paints with which to see their story’s world are Michael Crichton, Ken Follett, Diana Gabaldon, Kathleen Woodiwiss, JK Rowling, Sue Monk Kidd, Jane Leopold Quinn, and Alice Walker. I’ll read anything they write because I know I’m in for a cerebral treat.

Who is your favorite all time hero? Why do they resonate so well with you?

Outside the family of men in my four-year-in-the-making, yet-to-be-published, series, I’d have to say it would be one James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser (Outlander). Jamie is by far the hero I love the most, though in a pinch I’d take Anthony Mallory (Tender Rebel), and Christopher Seton (A Rose in Winter).  :)  To me Jamie is the perfect hero, he’s strong and brave, kind and compassionate, sexy as all hell, and sensitive and tender like a little boy on the inside. I love that in my heroes. It makes them very real to me.

Thank you so much for sharing with us today, Rose!  How can readers and fellow authors connect with you online?

I’m just about everywhere in my quest to become a known author. Here are several of my links. I’d love to hear from you.

My blog: http://calliopeswritingtablet.com/

My page at my publisher's site: Siren-Bookstrand_RoseAnderson   

My book trailers:  MusesWritingTablet

Yes I tweet, let's be friends! @roseanderson_  (notice the _  at the end) 

And we can be friends here too! Google+ Circles (I'm not on Facebook)

You’ll also find my many small satellite blogs on various author sites. My books can be found at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Books-a-Million and dozens of online booksellers too.

Guest author Kellie Kamryn discusses the L word

The “L” Word

So, you think the romance writer is going to talk about love, don’t you? I suppose in a way I am because I love to LAUGH. That’s right – the “L” word I’m talking about today is LAUGHTER!

 The first time I recall really making someone laugh was when I was thirteen. My fellow gymnasts and I were at a dinner hosted after one of our competitions. A song came on, there was a dinner roll, I made a joke, people laughed. So, my memory has holes in it, but what I remember is one of my friends telling me I was funny. For a kid with low self-esteem that was an awesome feeling to be able to make someone laugh with what I said. Over the years, I sharpened that skill – okay at times I’m sure I was just obnoxious – but when my friends and I spent 25 hours a week in a chalky, smelly gym, sweating our asses off, flipping around the place, a sense of humor could get you through the toughest training session.

In high school, I remember being so tired that laughter was really the bright spot in my day. At lunch, my friends and I would always find ways to amuse each other. These little things are what I fondly recall – the laughter. Do I even remember what we laughed about? No. I just know we laughed.

I’m attracted to people with a sense of humor. All of my friends have a great sense of humor. My soon-to-be ex-husband could tell a joke that would make me bust a gut laughing. Even though, we couldn’t save the marriage, there are times I’ll remember just because we did share a few laughs. And in a future mate, a sense of humor is required. (As are nice eyes and a nice ass. There are other things but those 3 are what I can check out right away :P)

In the last few months, as I’ve journeyed into the world as a single mother, a sense of humor has helped me get through the times when the tears threaten to fall non-stop. Thankfully, I have friends who know how to make me laugh and I’ve learned to call them when I’m at my lowest. Laughter is good for your soul, it’s good for your health, and good for your state of mind. Life is so serious some times that we need to lighten up every now and again!

The first of my books to come out this year was Monkeys, Sex and Other Birthday Surprises. It’s a hilarious, raunchy romp about a couple who meets on-line, and then is tricked into meeting in person. I laughed while writing it, and from what readers have said so far they’ve laughed reading it. I wanted to write a piece where the couple wasn’t perfect, the circumstances were far from ideal, but they got through the mishaps with humor. I believe I succeeded, lol

In all of my books, you can see my sense of humor. In Going for Gold, Grant and Teena tease each other. In Pleasure Island, Chelsea and Jake muddle through being single again, and in my upcoming release Rebound, Claire and Justin share banter as only couples can who have been estranged and are now trying to find their way back together.  

So, let me ask you something – when is the last time you laughed? Do you remember the last good belly laugh that grabbed hold and made your sides ache? If not, why not? Get your friends together for a giggle! Tell some dirty jokes! Look up a joke sight on-line. How about you comment below and share with me the last thing that made you laugh or tell me a joke. I’ve got a prize for you if you do.

And while you’re thinking about that I’ve got some lovely covers for you to look at, and then you can visit me on facebook www.facebook.com/KellieKamryn , or on twitter @KellieKamryn or at my website www.kelliekamryn.com

Thanks for letting me take over your blog for a day Tammy!

Pleasure Island: Chelsea Hunter didn't come to the resort looking for sex. Jake Davis intends to change her mind. Will they be able to turn up the heat, or will their visit to Pleasure Island leave them cold?

Going for Gold:

It was an office Christmas party filled with sexual tension. Gymnastics coach Grant Howard couldn’t keep his eyes off the newly-hired cheerleader coach. And sultry Teena Adams felt the same way, the “rah-rah-rahs” she felt were cheers of unbridled lust. From punch and cookies to sexual escapades gym apparatus, you’ll never look at Christmas parties or a trampoline the same way again. It’s winner-take-all, when lovers are Going forGold.

Monkeys,Sex and Other Birthday Surprises:

Missy Harder is reluctant to ruin a good thing and meet with her on-line lover, Sam Kentley, in person. Sam is dying to see if the connection they have is real. Humiliated in front of Sam by her brother’s pet capuchin at her surprise birthday party, she wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when Sam refuses to leave her to her misery, they both learn that humor will get you through anything, and sometimes great sex and love sneak up on you when you least expect it. 

Rebound:

An award-winning choreographer must face the only man she’s ever loved then lost when they are teamed up to work together at a gymnastics camp for Olympic hopefuls.

Welcome our guest today: author Natasha Blackthorne

Bio: Natasha always was a daydreamer who told herself stories of love and romance set in other times and places for her own pleasure. Eventually her story worlds became so real, they demanded to be brought out of the world of imagination and onto the page. It gives her great joy to finally share them with you. She hopes you enjoy her story world.

She is married to her own hero and they share they life with a very quirky calico cat. She is a total history nerd who loves to read. She enjoys literature, romance, psychology, and bits of everything else. She has a BA in History and she especially enjoys studying social history and biography and this is where most of her story ideas come from. She likes to know her characters from the bones outward, the air they breathed, the food they ate, the thoughts and social movements and morals that were influencing them in their times. She also enjoys reading psychology and sociology and literature and enjoys listening to music from many different genres.

Natasha joins us here today to give us some insight into the world she has created with the Carte Blanche novellas.  The first is Grey's Lady and is available now.  The second is due out December 26, 2011.  

                                                                 Grey's Lady buy link

Grey’s Lady is the story of a wealthy New York merchant prince, Grey Sexton, who falls for a poor but beautiful young seductress, Beth McConnell. Yet, for all their social and economical differences, at their most basic level, Beth and Grey are very similar. This is a story that explores how these similarities threaten to tear them apart before love can overcome the fear of being vulnerable.

Both suffered isolation and emotional neglect in childhood. The product of an adulterous affair, Beth grew up in the home of her late mother’s employer. Separated from her half-siblings and kept at an emotional distance, she felt lost and alone. At age eighteen, she was seduced and betrayed by a trusted wealthy gentleman. After this, she left her benefactress’s home, went to live with her half-siblings and help them in their struggling shop. Yet, she still feels out of place.

Grey grew up in an upper-class household, a privileged only son, heir to Sexton Shipping, one of the fledging nation’s largest mercantile fleets. Grey’s father was a stern businessman who did not understand his daydreaming, intellectually curious son. A child in this position might take solace in a closer relationship with his mother. However, Grey’s mother was chronically ill and unable to bear his childish energy. She kept to her chambers and died while he was still quite young. Later at age nineteen, Grey engaged in an emotionally scarring experience with a slightly older woman, something that is not covered in Grey’s Lady. All of these backstory issues and more are explored in more depth in the sequel, White Lace and Promises, which is scheduled for release Dec. 26, 2011.

In contrast, the focus of Grey’s Lady is on the immediate interaction between two wounded and self-protective people who feel an overpowering attraction to each other but who do not want to admit it to themselves or the other. Beth and Grey have unique insight into the experiences of each other and can offer each other understanding and sympathy that others could not. Yet past experience works against them. Both are conditioned to fear emotional exposure and to deny their own need for love. They both use sex to gain temporary, conditional intimacy while keeping their true selves distant from their lovers. Grey uses his wealth and sexual skill to keep his mistresses dependent on him and to gain their adoration and admiration.

Beth exploits her unusual silver blonde beauty to entice gentlemen into brief, purely sexual encounters. It took her a long time to get over the hurt and frustrated desire she suffered when her first lover betrayed her. She enjoys a sense of control being the one who makes the choice to seduce. She always picks handsome, wealthy gentlemen and she delights in turning the tables by leaving her lovers burning for her. It’s a way for her to maintain the illusion of power in relationships with gentlemen who are far above her in wealth and social position.

Both Beth and Grey employ rationalization to prevent these conditional relationships from growing into something deeper. Grey puts his business life up as an impregnable wall between himself and those around him. He's overly responsible. He tells himself he cannot give extensively of his time and energy because of the responsibility and demands of his position.  As the owner of Sexton Shipping, too many people depend on him to make the right decisions at the right times. If he allowed himself to be too distracted by fluttering lashes and the crinkle of muslin, the whole world would come undone.

Beth cites the very real fear that her secret erotic life may be discovered. Her older brother is very protective. Because of their mother's fall into adultery, he is very sensitive about the virtue of the women in his household. He might decide to engage in an affair of honor. Additionally, her young and impressionable nieces might try to emulate her example. Her childhood benefactress might suffer disappointment and shame and feel to blame for Beth’s bad behavior as an adult. For this reason, Beth tells herself, if she limits her clandestine sexual encounters to once then her risks for discovery are greatly decreased.

For Grey and Beth, these excuses are just that, excuses. Neither of them wants a real relationship with the opposite sex. This internal struggle, between the desire for the other and the fear of exposing themselves to possible hurt, results in a powerful external struggle. Grey’s increasing sense of possessiveness for this elusive and enigmatic young woman bewilders him. He holds firm to his old patterns, determined to gain her long-term commitment as his mistress. He tries to gain control over Beth with his wealth and sexual skill. Beth is equally determined to seduce and conquer Grey. Unable to forget him after their initial encounter, her answer is to indulge her desires for Grey until she’s sated. Then she plans to leave while he still wants her.

She resolves to be the winner yet so does he. However, neither can gain supremacy over the other. Can these two wounded, self-protected people find the inner courage needed to lower their defenses long enough to let the other know they feel something more than lust? Or will their fears and need to control tear them apart?

Coming Soon: December 26, 2011

Available now!

Find Natasha: Author Site | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Shelfari | Facebook |

Read the first chapter of Grey's Lady 

                       HERE

Join Natasha over at Behind Closed Doors where she gets temptress Beth McConnell to open up and tell a bit of her story in her own words.