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Oh Heck! E-rotica or E-romance?

June 15, 2011 by in category The Write Life by Rebecca Forster tagged as , , , ,

by Rebecca Forster

Oh, that word erotica. Written, it looks naked and naughty; spoken it sounds enticing and exciting. Close your eyes and – well, only you know what images it conjures up. Which brings us to the topic of the day: When it comes to sexy books, where do both reader and writer draw the line between erotica and steamy romances?

The Editor/Publisher: Normally, this is not a topic I would have visited but a few things have caught my eye in the last few years. First, erotica started being pulled into the mainstream of my local bookstore. Second, category romance became more inventive and definitely steamier. Finally, the advent of E-books and independent publishing allows more sexually explicit material do be read in utter privacy. Think of your Kindle or Nook as the new brown paper wrapper and there’s lots to put inside. Nookbooks (Barnes & Noble) offers 7,718 books defined as erotica; Kindle (Amazon), 24,901 (as of this writing). One online publisher reports that 12% of his offerings are listed as erotica but, in all instances, romance inventory is far greater.

That still left me curious as to the blurring of the line between erotica and steamy romance. Audrey LeFehr who edits books for Kensington’s Aphrodisia imprint as well as other genres was very clear about what she looks for. There are no ‘romance rules’ in erotica (one woman, one man, commitment no matter how steamy the sex). Rather erotica explores the boundaries of a woman’s sexual satisfaction without being depressing, degrading or seriously frightening. This could include same sex or multiple lovers.

The Erotic Author:
The reason an author decides to write erotica are basic: a burning story line, creative expression, pushing the boundaries of their art.- not to mention that the adult entertainment market is huge and there is money to be made.

Locklyn Swallow, author of numerous shorts including her most recent Love By Disguise, admits money was her initial motivation and her objectives have been met. While not making her a millionaire, the return on her short stories, published for digital download and reasonably priced, has been greater than expected.

I.M.Beckett, a pseudonym for a traditionally published author, saw erotica as a challenge after reading a classic erotic novel. According to Beckett, there was an extraordinary beauty that came from linking life and death to sexual encounters with an emphasis on writing style, not just sexual description. The Traveler: An Erotic Journey (part I) is a nod to noir erotica.

Victoria Hawke, a newcomer to the erotic scene with her Wet, Wild &Wacky, 3 sexy shorts that have a wonderful, tongue in cheek energy, liked that erotica offered a greater range for readers. With erotica, there are not tonal rules that need to be adhered to as in traditional genre writing.

All three met their original objectives but then went on to say that, as authors, the genre allowed them to grow in ways they never expected. Erotic readers, they believe, don’t just want to be sexual voyeurs. These readers also want to be invested in character and plot. Short or long, erotica must deliver on all traditional literary levels and then one more – the sexual narrative.

The Reader:Recently, I saw a reader on an Amazon Kindle thread apologize for being an avid romance reader. That doesn’t happen very often any more. The days of being embarrassed about enjoying a romantic reading experience are just about over. Not so for erotica.

There were some erotica threads on the boards but no one answered my query about why erotica was a genre of choice. Surprising? No. Erotica is, perhaps, the most personal of all reading choices. As with all genres, there is a range within erotica that will blur the lines. What one person calls erotica, another will deem a hot romance and yet someone else will swear it crosses the line to pornography. Then again, isn’t it the same for mainstream genres? What some call literature, others dismiss as commercial fiction.

Bottom line, E-books have brought both erotic readers and authors out of the shadows. I for one will be curious to see what the future brings for this genre. Will it bend toward true E-rotica or will it somehow be embraced and engulfed by E-romance? One thing is for certain, as ownership of e-readers grows erotica options will find ever broader distribution. It will be up readers to determine how successful this genre – like all genres – will be.

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Between the Lines with Louisa Bacio

June 6, 2011 by in category Interviews tagged as , ,
Interview conducted by Brenda Parrish


The following article was first printed in the June 2011 Orange Blossom, the newsletter for Orange County Romance Writers. Permission granted to reprint or forward with proper credit to author and newsletter.

In addition to writing, working as an editor for magazines and publishers, Louisa Bacio teaches college classes in writing and popular culture. Bacio lives in Southern California with her adoring husband, two wonderful and challenging daughters and a houseful of pets.

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Q: You are a “digital first” author and are helping to usher in a new era in books.  It’s an exciting time.  Can you elaborate on your own experiences with reading ebooks?  When did you start, what device(s) do you use? What do you see are the advantages to ebooks over traditional books? Etc.

A: I come from a traditional print background, working for newspapers and magazines. My degree is in journalism, and I continue to value holding a magazine and looking at the latest styles on the beach. All that said, ereaders and books are extremely convenient and portable. I’ve read ebooks via .pdfs on the computer, and also own a Kindle and an iPad. When I travel, it’s fantastic to bring one reader, and when you finish a book, you can simply purchase and download another. No more lugging around five books for a weeklong trip. For the most part, the ebooks also are less expensive. There have been a few occasions, though, where authors such as Stephen King come out with a new book available in hardback, and then it’s not released as an ebook for a few months later (ugh!). And, the most recent one, I could purchase for $9.99 as an ebook, or something like $10.01 as a hardback delivered via Amazon on the day of release. I chose the hardback. Also, I have the Kindle app on my iPhone. If I’m out at a doctor’s appointment and have a long wait – then I can bring up my book and it’ll sync to the latest place I was reading at home.

Are there negatives? For some reason, paragraph or scene breaks can be off in an ebook format, so I sometimes need to shift more mentally. Also, I don’t trust myself reading the ebook in a precarious position, such as in the bathtub or the spa. Finally, those pesky airlines make you turn off your electronic devices on take-off and landing, so I usually bring a magazine or paperback then.

Q:  Is the publication process much different in e-publishing than it is with traditional publishing?  Is there an advantage to the author/reader in epub over traditional pub?

A: From what I know, the books come out much quicker via electronic publishing. I know people with book contracts, and the release is scheduled for a year to 18 months out. Hello! I know that when I turn in a book, depending upon the editing process, it’ll be out in a month to six weeks. A negative to that, though, is that you don’t get all that lead time, and submit the cover and galley for reviews to coincide with the release. I looked once and RT Magazine wanted books something like six months before release – probably won’t happen with my electronic publisher.

Q: You have a fascinating set-up for your new book.  You associate three types of characters in an intimate relationship that are usually at odds with one another.  How did you generate that idea and what were your challenges in trying to make it work?

A: My publisher requested an erotic paranormal, and I immediately thought: “What’s the ultimate fantasy” Well, you get both – the vampire and the werewolf. You don’t have to decide and choose between one or the other. Now that might not be everyone’s fantasy but it played into my ‘writing’ fantasy quite well. Further, my agent asked how I would make the vampire and werewolf stand each other – and why not? 

 Challenge set, and the imagination took over.

Q: What tools do you use when plotting out your novel?  Can you give us an outline of your process?

A: For those who are plotter, you’re going to be disappointed. I’m a pantster. I’ve got a good idea of where I want the story to go, and a number of the scenes that will be included, but I don’t outline or plot the book. And, I don’t write in consecutive order. Instead, the writing flows depending upon mood. Feeling bad one day? All right, then I’ll tackle the more emotional, gritty scenes. Feeling all lovey-dovey? Then it’s time to hit the romantic scenes. Rather than constraining myself with an A to B to C structure line, I write what feels natural.

Sound good? Afterward, I print the entire novel and use a three-ring binder to move chapters around, fill in spaces, etc. The front and back of the manuscript get written on. Amazing how it all comes together at the end.

Q: How about promotion?  How does an epublisher do promotion differently from a traditional publisher?

 A: Differences don’t separate between an epublisher and a traditional publisher, but also between publishing houses themselves. Ravenous Romance sends books out to reviewers and also arranges some ads. I’m not privy to knowing all of their marketing plans, but I have come across some ads for The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A New Orleans Threesome in All-Romance Ebooks, and I didn’t purchase them!

I am also an editor for the new boutique cross-platform publisher Entangled Publishing. They have a dedicated marketing staff and recently hired a professional in branding to work with the authors and editors in establishing their niches in the marketplace. Since I’m more behind-the-scenes with the business end, I can see the steps being taken.

Finally, the support network among authors within the industry is tremendous. My agent Saritza Hernandez, with the L. Perkins Agency, set up a loop with her authors, and we cross-promote, and the same thing happens with Ravenous authors and those that I’ve met on sites such as Savvy Authors, and of course locally such as our OCC/RWA chapter.

Q: What advice would you like to give to an aspiring author?

A: Keep pushing yourself, and don’t give up. Now that I’ve published two books, and have contracts for three more, my husband likes to remind me of those nights where I cried because I would ‘never finish a book, and never be published.’

Also, enjoy those baby steps of progress – celebrate each moment of validation. And finally, rely upon those wacky, author-friends of yours, who do understand what it feels like, and what you’re going through. We can relate like no other.

Q: What’s up next for you? What are you working on?

A: My next book is within the Sex University ‘universe,’ which  means it’s a loose sequel to my first novel. One of the main characters is Officer Margaret ‘Marge’ Neil, who was briefly introduced in the first book. As I wrote about Maggie – she’s transforming – in Physical Education, I knew that there was much more to her character. It should be out mid-summer. And then in the fall, I’ll be releasing book 2 in The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf series, and readers will fall in love with Trevor’s sister, Silver, who’ll be coming into her own as a female werewolf. There are not enough kick-ass female werewolves in the world!  

 

Along with The Vampire, The Witch and the Werewolf, Louisa’s debut novel Physical Education is available through Ravenous Romance, and Amazon.  Check out the latest happenings via her blog http://louisabacio.blogspot.com

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Writing Fight/Action Scenes

May 30, 2011 by in category Lyon's Lair tagged as , , , ,

by Jennifer Lyon 
I never thought I’d be forced to do this, but here it is…
I might actually have to thank my brothers. All these years, I have credited my parents and my sister for giving me my love of reading that led to writing. But more and more, reviewers are bringing up the fight and actions scenes in my books. I have a writer friend who sends me her fight scenes to critique…and you get the point.
So how is it I can write fight and actions scenes when I have not taken a single martial arts class in my life?
Because the first years of my life were practically on the job training. One of my earliest memories is seeing my older brother do a flying jump, snapping a kick in mid air, and break a board held by my other brother. I can still hear the crack that board made.
A few years later, one of my brothers went on to become a black belt, and he co-owned a karate studio with a friend. I remember being in the studio one day, I was about eight or nine years old, and watching him and the friend spar. It was terrifying and exhilarating. I remember the long wall of mirrors and the blue mat, the pungent smell of sweat and male, the sounds of flesh hitting flesh, the shouts and grunts, and how fast it all moved.
And most amazing of all, the expression in their eyes when they saw a weakness in their opponent then planned and executed a strike—all at lightning speed!
It’s all vivid and tactile in my memory.
And that’s exactly how a fight scene, or any action scene, should read in a book. It must be vivid and present…not distant and vague. The reader wants to see and feel with the point of view character. Here are some of my tips:
Establish point of view and stay there. This character is going to show your reader everything. It will anchor your reader into the scene and help them “see” everything that’s happening. And the same time, it should be revealing more about your character too. This is an example from NIGHT MAGIC:
Phoenix sprinted around the side of the building, followed the blood trail of the witch to a ladder on the side of the church and started climbing.
It was an A-line roof two stories up. Damn, he wasn’t a fan of heights. Why couldn’t people do their business on the ground? Hell. He grabbed the edge of the roof and silently hauled himself up to the wickedly slanted top. The tiles were slick, and he had to lay flat on the slope to keep from sliding off. He looked around while digging his fingers into the raised edges of the tiles.
In this snippet, first tension is building because there’s going to be a fight on an A line roof—someone is going to fall off, it’s only logical. But as we’re in Phoenix’s head, we’re learning about his fear of heights. And notice that while he mentally gripes, his fear doesn’t stop him.
Never use passive writing in a fight scene (and I can think of a time when I broke my own rule!). Passive writing of Phoenix keeping a woman protected behind his back while fighting his attackers: “In an instant, the rogue was on the ground.”
Yawn. A more active version:
He didn’t want to move and expose the woman. He ripped off his chain, snapped it around the knife hand, and jerked. The rogue fell to the ground, and Phoenix flipped his knife to stab the blade through the rogue’s back—
Choreograph the scene. Draw out the setting and all your characters on paper. It helps you build a visual in your head and then you know where everybody in the scenes is. And more importantly, what they are doing. You must keep track of everyone through your point of view character’s eye. That way you don’t start out with five people in a fight and two just fade away never to be seeing or heard from again. Drawing it out really helps—even with my stick figure drawings!
Action/fight scenes must be building your plot, otherwise they are just filler. Readers recognize filler. Make your action scenes work for you. Gratuitous fight scenes are as boring as gratuitous sex scenes.
Fast paced writing. This is the place for shorter sentences and carefully chosen description. In this example Phoenix spots the rogues and a woman, and goes after them into an alley. This is the entire description of the alley:
The cool air was blighted by the combined stench of rotting food, copper, and urine. Scanning the narrow street lined with weak light that spilled from the street-lights and buildings, he looked left and spotted the tops of the rogues’ heads on the other side of the blue Dumpster.
Just enough to set the scene, give the reader of visual. And notice we get the visual as Phoenix is looking for his prey. Fight scenes should be tight, clean writing using only the words you need.
And that’s all I can think of at the moment. Except to say thank you to my brothers!
Okay now for a little promo: Romantic Times gives SINFUL MAGIC, out May 31st, a 4 ½ HOT and said:
The power of undying love truly shines through here, adding plenty of emotion to an otherwise dark and action-packed adventure. Another Lyon triumph!
SINFUL MAGIC hits the shelves on May 31st, I hope you’ll pick up a copy!
Jennifer Lyon always wanted to be a witch. When her witch-powers didn’t materialize, she turned to creating magic in her books. NIGHT MAGIC and SINFUL MAGIC are the third and fourth books in an enchanting, passionate and supernatural series. 

     
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A Fantasy Life by Janet Quinn Cornelow

May 28, 2011 by in category A Fantasy Life by Janet Cornelow tagged as ,

I have decided to put Wild Honey up at Amazon on Kindle. I can do this myself since I own the e-book rights. The paperback is already there, but I have no way of checking if it is selling.

Debra Holland is the one who convinced me to do this and I have a chapter of her book, Wild Montana Sky, in the back of my book. She has a copy of the first chapter of Wild Honey in one of her books. A little advertising going on there.

I figure since I cannot sell the book again, I would post it myself. Debra has been doing well with hers. I am waiting for the formatted copy to come back in the next day or two so I can get it up.

If this works, I may put up my children’s book. Of course, I have to come up with a cover for it. I owned the cover for Wild Honey. I have found it is extremely hard to sell children’s books. Harder than adult books.

I have not done much writing. I have six classes I am teaching online at the moment and way too many papers to grade.

I also have become a grandmother, something I was beginning to think I would be too old to enjoy when it happened. My middle son Michael and his wife Jessi had Isabella Ruth three weeks ago. Of course I think she is the most wonderful thing in the world. In the looks department, she takes after her daddy. Irish genes can be really strong. However, she is a much better baby than he ever was. She is happy and sleeps at night.

She is contemplating the world.

Of course Chewbaca, my dog and my baby, is not quite certain what he thinks about her. When she started to cry the other day, he got very upset and wanted to examine her. I think he thought something was wrong and he needed to be involved in helping her.

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Reader Events Rock!

May 6, 2011 by in category Events, Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Reading tagged as , ,

by Linda O Johnston

I just returned home from a trip east to attend three wonderful events for readers and writers.

The first was Malice Domestic, for fans and writers of traditional, cozy mysteries. I did my first Malice Go Round, which is speed-dating for fans. Lots of authors in groups of two visit about 20 tables packed with fans and told them all about their respective series in two minutes or less each. Exhausting! But definitely fun.

I attended panels and meetings and dinners at Malice, and was also on a panel called Tales with Tails with other authors whose stories involve animals. It was all delightful!

Then it was time to head for Oakmont, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh, for the Festival of Mystery presented annually by the Mystery Lovers Bookshop.

Before the actual Festival was the librarians’ tea. It was really enjoyable meeting librarians and book club members there–with lots of goodies to eat, too. My mouth was usually too busy chatting to eat much, though.

And the Festival? What an amazing event! About 50 authors were delightfully swarmed by lots of fans in book-buying mode. We got to introduce ourselves and chat with readers and sign a bunch of books, and all this in a town that’s out of the mainstream–which means that many people had to come a distance to attend.

Didn’t hurt that I still have family in Pittsburgh. I got to see my father and aunt while I was there.

So now I’m looking forward even more to RWA National. How about you?













Have you read the new Lauren Vancouver, Pet Rescuer series? The first book BEAGLEMANIA was released in March 2011. It’s a spin-off from the Kendra series, and Lauren was introduced in HOWL DEADLY.

Linda O. Johnston
http://www.lindaojohnston.com/
http://www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com/

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