Favorite TV Moms – Game Of Thrones
I’m a huge fan of Game Of Thrones so I thought it fitting that I choose my favorite moms from this TV show. There shouldn’t be any spoilers but if you haven’t yet seen ANY of the episodes and you plan to, you might want to skip this blog post.
There are quite a few kick butt moms in this show but my favorite, hands down, is
Cersei Lannister
Cersei isn’t a ‘nice’ woman (I doubt ‘nice’ women would last long in this brutal world). She murders, schemes, betrays. Her lover is seen as taboo in many cultures (though not in Egyptian culture – grins). She’s ambitious, determined to be in control of not only her household but the world. She uses her beauty, her sex appeal and her position of power (first as the Queen and then as the Queen’s mom) to benefit herself.
And her children.
For all of Cersei’s faults, there is NO doubt in anyone’s mind that she would kill or die for her children, all of her children, not only the heir. When she’s parted from her children, she worries. When her children are threatened, she goes all momma bear on them, ready to wage war. And lord help the man who harms one of her children. He is a dead man walking. She WILL get her vengeance and that vengeance won’t be pretty.
I love that Cersei is a strong warrior mom. She’s not sitting at home, baking cookies and rocking children to sleep (that is admirable in the real world but in the fictional world, I cheer for a more active mom). She is waging war, standing beside the powerful men in her family. Cersei shows that it is okay for a mom to be sexual and still be a great mom.
Daenerys Targaryen
I have to also mention Daenerys. She isn’t a mom of human babies. Like me, she didn’t have that opportunity (and I think this is one of the reasons why I love her so much). Unlike me, she’s a mom to DRAGONS. Yes, she represents moms of fur babies everywhere (or in this case, scaley babies).
It is clear to everyone that Daenerys loves her dragons. She protects them when they’re young, feeds them, suffers separation pains when they become older (moody teenage dragons – grins). Her dragons are part of her family (as any pet lover would agree).
Who are your favorite TV moms?
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Guest Post | 2 Comments »
Favorite Book Mom – Billionaires Have Mothers Too
Mother’s Day is on Sunday (in North America) so this week, I thought I’d talk about mothers in my erotic romances, in movies, on TV, and of course, about my own dear wonderful mom.
Most of my characters have mothers (my androids have manufacturers or creators – grins). Yes, even Blaine, the billionaire hero of He Watches Me, has a mom. These moms might not be mentioned during stories but they are part of the characters. Even heroines whose mothers died or left while they were young are influenced by their mothers.
In some stories, mothers are key to the plot. In Breaking All The Rules, Nate, the Ice man hero, has a complicated relationship with his mother. This relationship has defined how Nate views himself and how he views love. He DOES love his mother. That’s why he tries so hard to maintain a connection with her, even if this connection is based on money. But their relationship is very complex, often perceived as cold, and it’s not-at-all comfortable.
In contrast, Camille, the heroine, has a very comfortable, openly loving, warm relationship with her hippie mom. We never actually meet Camille’s mom during Breaking All The Rules but her presence is everywhere. Her paintings hang on the walls. The rainbow-colored bedspread Camille uses was crafted by her mom. They are very different people yet the love and respect is undeniable.
In some stories, the heroines become moms. I don’t have any heroines who are moms at the beginning of their romances. My awesome hubby and I were never blessed with children so I don’t feel comfortable writing about heroines with children. But I do remember the absolute joy we felt when we thought we’d be parents. Many of my heroines feel that same joy at the end of their romances. I can’t think of a better way to end some stories than with a baby, especially when the tough guy heroes turn to mush.
Do you like reading about moms in romance?
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Favorite Book Mom – Billionaires Have Mothers Too
Whose Story Is It?
When I was solely a reader, I thought erotic romances were stories about two people (or more, if they were ménages), that the stories belonged to both the heroes and the heroines equally. Many times, the stories were written from both points of view so the characters must share the story, right?
Ummm…no. Once I started seriously (or semi-seriously as I’m never truly serious about anything – grins) studying and writing romances, I discovered that almost every story belongs to either the hero or the heroine, not to both characters. One character drives most of the action.
Just as it is difficult to have two people steering the same car, it is as challenging having two characters steer the same story. One character often takes the lead, stealing much of the focus.
In The Seen Trilogy (He Watches Me, He Touches Me, He Claims Me), the story is about Anna. She has the biggest emotional issues, takes the biggest emotional risks, changes the most. Sure, Blaine has issues (there’s a reason why romance heroes start stories as bachelors) but his issues tie into Anna’s.
In Breaking All The Rules, even though the story is told from Camille’s point of view, the story belongs to Nate. He changes the most during the story. His issues are the greatest. He has the most to lose.
I’m a pantser (a writer who writes by the seat of her pants, without any plot) but I usually know whose story I’m writing before I type the first sentence. The story belongs to the character who has to change, evolve, grow the most to achieve her or his happy ever after. Yes, the most messed up character gets the most page time. (laughs) Just like in real life, the drama mammas steal all of our attention.
Looking back at your favorite romances, which characters dominated the pages? Whose stories are they?
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Whose Story Is It?
Mother’s Day Chaos On AvonRomance.com
May 11th is Mother’s Day in North America.
To celebrate, we’ve planned a fun-filled week and we invite all reading, reviewing, and blogging buddies to play along!
Each day has a different topic
May 5th – Favorite Book Mom
May 6th – Favorite TV Mom
May 7th – You Choose The Topic (perhaps this is a favorite mom tip, mom quote, mom moment, mom-friendly recipe, Mother’s Day present, etc.)
May 8th – Favorite Movie Mom
May 9th – Favorite Real Life Mom
Let’s cause some chaos on AvonRomance.com!
Topics: Guest Post | Comments Off on Mother’s Day Chaos On AvonRomance.com
Seasons In The Sun
Yes, I’m singing that classic Terry Jacks’ song, Seasons In The Sun. (grins) My mom would play that song when I was a little trooper.
The season in which a writer sets a story plays an important role. A story set in winter has a different tone than a story set in summer. Winter is viewed as being dark and cold, sometimes grim. Summer is hot and sunny, a happier, more carefree season. Spring is a season of renewal, of fresh starts, of hope. Fall or autumn is associated with school, getting back to work, harvest.
I have stories set in all of the seasons but my favorite is definitely summer. As I often write about exhibitionism and voyeurism, summer gives me more flexibility. Few people run around naked in the dead of winter (except for Prism, the streaking fairy in Clothing Optional Christmas – grins). Setting a story in summer allows my characters more freedom.
Some reading buddies have asked me why I set Breaking All The Rules in summer. Nate, the hero, is known as the Ice Man. Wouldn’t it make more sense to set this story in winter? Nate would be in his element then.
And that’s the problem. In order to open his heart to Camille, Nate has to change. He’ll only change if he becomes uncomfortable. He has to be taken out of his element, to be put at a disadvantage.
Another reason Breaking All The Rules is set in summer is Camille’s connection to the Earth. Her parents are hippies. She grew up on a commune, growing her own herbs and vegetables. When she’s stressed (and falling in love with Nate does cause Camille stress), she seeks a link to Mother Earth. She digs her bare toes into the soil. She gets her fingers and feet dirty. For Nate to truly understand Camille, he has to see this connection.
I also often wonder if Camille would have pushed Nate so hard in the middle of winter. She is definitely solar powered. It energizes her. She needs this energy when she seduces her Ice Man.
I couldn’t tell this love story in any other season.
Do you prefer to read stories set in a certain season? Which season and why?
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Seasons In The Sun
The Wedding Planner
I re-watched The Wedding Planner on Saturday. This 2001 Romantic Comedy starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey is one of my favorite movies for a number of reasons.
1. There Are No Bad People
Both Steve, Matthew McConaughey’s character, and Mary, Jennifer Lopez’s character, are involved with other people yet these other people aren’t nasty or mean or undeserving of love. Mary genuinely likes Fran, Steve’s fiancée. She doesn’t fight with her, doesn’t say anything negative about her. There’s a mutual admiration and respect.
As reading and writing buddies know, I truly believe in women supporting other women. Many of my heroines have close female friends (Anna, Kat, and Camille, the heroines of He Watches Me, Flashes Of Me, and Breaking All The Rules, become best friends). Yes, there are some bad women in my stories but there are some bad men also. It takes skill to create a tension-filled story cast with nice people.
2. Both The Hero And The Heroine Are Imperfect
Mary doesn’t win the guy because she’s perfect. She wins the guy because they were meant to be together, her imperfections making her perfect for him. She’s a control freak and a bit obsessive. He’s a bit too casual about everything. She gives him structure. He teaches her to unwind.
I don’t write about perfect people. Perfect people are boring. My characters are rebels (Camille from Breaking All The Rules), rigid rule-setters (Nate from Breaking All The Rules), reality avoiders (Kat from Flashes Of Me), and obsessive cleaners (Bee from Sinful Rewards, releasing in July). These faults make them interesting.
3. There Are Some Great Quiet Moments
Romance, for me, isn’t the grand gestures or the roses or the poetic lines. It is when Steve gently, casually brushes the hair away from Mary’s face, when he kneels beside her as she’s lying on the couch, putting them both on the same level, when he sits beside her as they watch the movies in the park, neither of them needing to speak. I could picture him doing these things fifty years from now.
I like showing readers a slice of what the future might hold for couples. Years from now, Nate and Camille will be making dinner, dancing to music as their curry cooks. Kat will be sitting in Henley’s lap, watching surveillance footage with him. Blaine will be touching Anna under the tabletop at an important business dinner.
4. Not Everyone Is Paired Up At The End Of The Movie
The Wedding Planner has a happy romantic ending but it isn’t a happy romantic ending for everyone, only for Steve and Mary. It would have been so easy for the Director to pair everyone up, to force a happy ending for everyone, but that would have been, IMHO, cheesy and unrealistic.
I love to see everyone happy also so it is very challenging for me NOT to pair all of my characters up at the end of stories. It kills me that Yen, Camille’s boss, is alone. She deserves happiness also. But it would take an entire book dedicated to her to make that happy ending happen.
Have you watched The Wedding Planner? What did you enjoy about this movie?
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Reviews | Comments Off on The Wedding Planner
Titles, Covers and Blurbs, Oh My
As we’re waiting to see the cover for Alien Tryst, my May 7th SciFi Erotic Romance novella releasing from Ellora’s Cave (I can’t WAIT – I LOVE seeing covers), I thought we’d talk about titles, covers and blurbs.
Publishers are responsible for titles, covers and blurbs. Some publishers don’t involve writers AT ALL in these decisions. These writers see their final titles, covers and blurbs when readers do. That’s why many writers haunt Amazon. (We also haunt Amazon because we obsess over rankings and reviews.-Grins)
I’m very fortunate because my publishers consult with me on all three. I submit my manuscripts with a working title. If my publisher likes this title, we keep it. If they don’t like it, they’ll ask me for more possible titles. I usually send ten titles for them to choose from. If they don’t like these titles, I’ll send them more. This is why I never mention my manuscripts’ titles before I receive a contract.
When I submit a manuscript, I also include a possible blurb in the query email. My publishers usually use this blurb as a base for the final blurb. They’ll often send the blurb to me before they post it on Amazon, B&N, ARe, etc. I act as quality control (ensuring names are spelled right, etc).
For the cover, I’ll fill out a cover request form either formally or informally. I’ll share information such as what the characters look like, the tone of the story (it was a dark and stormy night – grins), previous covers in the series (so all of the covers have the same look), and anything that I feel is key to the story. For example: Camille, the heroine of Breaking All The Rules, has green hair so I wanted green on the cover. Pink factors heavily in Flashes Of Me, which is why that cover is pink.
Sometimes I’ll see the cover before it is posted publicly. Sometimes I don’t. This depends on how close the release date is. There’s no time to redo the cover for Alien Tryst if we wish the story to release on May 7th. Unless something goes terribly wrong, the first cover I see for Alien Tryst will be the cover we use.
This is why choosing a publisher isn’t a casual task. Writers trust publishers with their titles, their covers, their blurbs, the three things readers see first.
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Titles, Covers and Blurbs, Oh My
Keeping Stories Simple
The first romance story I ever completed writing was a 150,000 word, 500 page Regency romance called The Dragon Duke’s Protector. This story incorporated every plot you could ever imagine. There was a secret baby, a spy ring, a lady disguised as a governess, a self-made, half-Asian scarred bastard son of a Duke who somehow inherited the title, a haunted castle, a wicked stepmother and a wicked butler and a wicked maid and a wicked yet beautiful rival. There were pirates, missing gold, and murdered parents. You name the Regency plot. It was in there.
It was also a horrendous mess. My dear wonderful hubby often tells me if I ever become famous, he’ll rescue The Dragon Duke’s Protector from its place under the bed and have it published. But that’s a joke. This story will never see the light of day.
It was a first story and I made a very common first story mistake, a mistake I see in numerous contest entries while judging. I made the story too complicated, thinking I was being clever, thinking that complicated was a good thing.
Complicated is a bad thing, especially in romance. Every complication, every additional plotline or character or setting takes our attention away from the true reason we’re reading the story. We’re reading for the romance.
Of course, things should happen. No one wants to read a story about a couple drinking tea. But the focus of the story should always be on the romantic couple (or more if the story is a ménage). Every scene, every setting, every subplot, every secondary character should support the romance.
This is challenging to accomplish. Creating simple stories isn’t easy. Look at ballroom dancing. The professionals make it appear so effortless, as though anyone could do it, yet it has taken years, decades of hard work to create this illusion. A well-crafted romance is similar. It appears easy yet is dang difficult and never foolproof (This is why 1 star reviews happen. Some stories don’t work.).
I write a quick, messy, bare bones first draft of a story and then usually spend three or four drafts simplifying the story. Can I eliminate characters, making one character do the job of three? Do I have to change settings? Can I return to a setting I’ve already created? Does that oh-so-clever subplot serve the romance or should it be eliminated? Is my hero or heroine too complex? Can I reduce the heroine’s emotional baggage from twenty large trunks to one or two carryon pieces? All of this returns the focus to the romance, where it should be.
How do you simplify your stories?
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: Writing Tips | Comments Off on Keeping Stories Simple
Staying Fresh As A Reader
I’m at Delilah Devlin’s online home today, talking about how to stay fresh as a reader.
http://www.delilahdevlin.com/blog/2014/04/21/cynthia-sax-staying-fresh-as-a-reader/
Here’s a snippet…
Camille, the heroine of Breaking All The Rules, prides herself on not doing anything anyone expects her to do. She’s a green-haired, pierced, tattooed rebel, living by her own rules. I love her spontaneity.
This do anything, try anything attitude isn’t merely fun. It’s healthy also. Scientific studies show that new experiences keep brains fresh, active, young. Gaming companies market programs designed to give us these new experiences. I prefer to get my new experiences between the virtual pages of a great story.
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: New Releases | Comments Off on Staying Fresh As A Reader
Bunny Car
My dear wonderful hubby spotted this cute bunny car parked on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Chicago is where the characters of Sinful Rewards (the 12 novella serial releasing from Avon) live. I love Chicago!
Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.
Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.
Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.
Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.
Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY
Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html
Topics: New Releases | Comments Off on Bunny Car
