The Amazon Tale...Is Not Necessarily The Dominatrix Tale

I wish that I had some notable, classicaly reference for introduction to the mythos (and perhaps probability) of the female warrior. I would love to go into depth about being inspired by Valkyries, the female Gladiators of ancient rome or even Joan of Arc, but honestly, I was inspired by the Conan Universe, mainly by Red Sonja ( Brigitte Nielsen), Conan's mother, Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and of course Zula (Grace Jones). When I was a wee kid, back in the early eighties, I saw those women on the screen and I was like...Hells Yeah. They were all females that could not only hold their own against and with Conan, but they did so without dripping sexuality. None were drop dead gorgeous and they all seemed flawed and somewhat harsh at times.
Born into a matriarchy, I would look at my mother and easily imagine her with a giant broadsword or a battle axe or war hammer in hand. I imagine one in my hand (especially at work). From the time I was introduced to the Conan Universe (movies, comics, graphic novels) I have yearned to write stories about female warriors, not with agility or speed, but with physical power. And from such a need, Freya arose. In "A Guardian's Desire," she is a wrecking ball and yes some what of a wreck. She went against a demon of a beast and nearly lost her life. From that defeat, she realizes that she is more than just an instrument of destruction. Of course, she learns that through not only a saucy, handsome Beta but also through his overbearing hulk of an Alpha. Still all of that knowledge doesn't weaken her and it doesn't take away from her love of combat or her position as a warrior woman.
I rarely write about females, but that is not a bias from me, it's just slightly more personal. I never want to write about a female needing to be saved, or needing to be protected. I can be over critical, jealous or even sceptical of many depictions of female characters. Yet, the female warrior, covered in dirt, blood, moody and just as grissled as I can be in the morning before coffee...well I can deal with that. I want my female characters to be able to fight beside their males...just like in the Conan Universe :D and Freya loves to fight!

Hello, my name is Jessica Freely, and I am an M/M addict

I’m thrilled that my first story for Loose Id, Virgin, is available today. Click here for more info on the book. So far it’s been delightful working with all the LI staff and I hope to get feedback from readers too. Don’t hesitate to drop me a line at jessicafreely@gmail.com, or stop by my own blog, friskbiskit.com.

I discovered m/m romance about eight years ago, in the form of slash fanfiction, and I’ve been writing and reading it in one form or another (slash, yaoi, m/m) ever since. I adore this genre. I’ve done a lot of thinking about its specific appeal for me and my reasons are myriad and complex, so I’m just going to focus on one of my favorite aspects today: the emotional interplay between the male leads.

In the absence of a male/female power dynamic, we have the opportunity to see two characters interact in a neutral milieu. Though power imbalance may be a part of the relationship, it is not inherent. The default setting is a partnership of equals. It’s the perfect stage upon which to enact a drama of contrasting character traits. There are no prescribed roles to reject or embrace, just two people with problems.

One of the things I love best in m/m is when the two heroes have strengths and insecurities that balance one another, and which enable each man to help the other overcome his challenges. That’s why in Virgin, Blake, a hustler, is the perfect match for Joam, a virgin.

At the start of the story, Joam’s desperation over when and if he will ever have the opportunity to express his sexuality takes center stage. Of course at the time, he has no idea that larger issues are at stake, but you’ll have to read the story to find out about those. *grin*

Having a character who is a virgin, but doesn’t want to be, is an enormous boon to an author, by the way. There is so much tension built into every encounter with the love interest. Does he like me? Is he gay? Will I finally get to have sex with a real life man? In Virgin, Joam watches Blake like a hawk, scrutinizing every nuance of body language for answers to these questions. And of course he’s nervous about getting it right, not to mention burdened with self-consciousness and concerns about his attractiveness.

In contrast, Blake has plenty of confidence in his sexual skills, but he’s forgotten what it feels like to make love with someone who cares about him, and that’s Joam’s gift to him. All of this is played out across a backdrop of sorcery in a small rural town. Between the two of them, Joam and Blake are able to prevail against evil, whereas on their own, it seems unlikely either of them would have survived.

If Virgin had been about a man and a woman, the emphasis of the emotional issues would be different. Whether the female character was the virgin or the whore, there would be a cultural weight to that fact that would have to be dealt with, if only to be rejected. I’m not knocking heterosexual romance. I think m/m and het each do their own thing very well. Obviously, there are a lot of stories of importance and profound emotional impact that can only be enacted between a woman and a man. As a matter of taste, I tend to be more interested in the ones that can’t.

What do you think?

Law's Deliverance is out!

We are so excited! Law's Deliverance is set in the same world as Ingram's Charm but isn't a sequel.

The blurb: Law's been urged to get a sex slave by many before he weds the "right" woman of royalty, but he's never thought about actually doing it. Until he sees Larissa sashay across the stage. She's angry, spunky, and beautiful. Before he knows what he's doing, he's bid on her. And won her.

Larissa's not happy to be won. She's not a sex slave and has no intention of doing what Law or anyone else wants. She soon comes to learn she's been bought by the Prince of Bergogia. Only being royalty has him in as many chains as a slave. With luck, a little hot, heady sex will win him over, and he'll let her go.

Larissa's plan backfires, and Law's more interested than ever. And so is she. But Law can't keep her forever on the side and she can't be his bride. Will Larissa be Law's downfall or his deliverance?

Read on for an excerpt after the More.

“Interesting coloring.” A man tugged on a lock of Larissa’s hair that rested on a shoulder. “Too bad her hair is so short.” Disgust was clear in his voice as he moved on to another woman on display.

Larissa shook her head to clear it of the fog the drugs induced. The slave manager had given her something to make her lethargic. Weakness weighed her body down. Yet the bastard still kept her bound. The only saving grace was that the drug masked the pain from the injuries he’d given her upon arrival. She’d need a healing sleep soon to tend to her injuries, but the dose had managed to put off the urge by controlling the pain.

Nausea rolled in her stomach. Even weak, Larissa tried to remain calm. She’d never known such shame. She wanted to snarl and snap. What she wouldn’t give to claw the ugly bastard again even if it cost her another beating. A nervous laugh bubbled up. They might beat her anyway, so what did it matter? Nothing could be worse than what she’d already gone through. Only it probably would get worse.

She opened her eyes and surveyed the room. Seven other women occupied the space. Unlike her, all but one of the others were free to move about. She turned her gaze on the other bound woman.

While Larissa stood bound in a spread-eagle fashion, the other woman had had her hands pulled down between her parted thighs. She rested with her face and shoulders flat on the platform that held her up for display. The woman’s hands and ankles were strapped together, leaving her ass high in the air with her pussy clearly exposed.

The scene when she’d first arrived had been mind-boggling. The woman had submitted to being tied up without a protest. Had simply submitted. The slaver had showed off how easily the Delicant had acquiesced to being bound by overdoing the bindings. She was bound more than any of them, yet hadn’t resisted at all.

Larissa had wanted to pitch a fit, but the drug she’d been given had made her mouth too dry to scream.

The woman had to be more uncomfortable than she was. Still, no one would know by looking. The woman didn’t make a peep.

Larissa didn’t understand how Delicants thought. She’d never encountered sex slaves before.

A shiver hit her spine when the slave manager returned with soldiers. How had her life come to this? To be sold at a slave auction? What she wouldn't give to be back on the freighter waiting for the engines to need something repaired. If only she’d not been captured and taken to this brutal place where the chance to escape seemed nonexistent.

Tears burned her eyes and she blinked them away. As a child, she’d learned tears did no good.

When she opened her eyes, an older, gray-haired Zonmoor stood in front of her. The emblem on his uniform stated he was a general of the Rendorian Universal Police force. She hated the hairy bastard on sight.

The Zonmoor smiled, exposing even teeth, which caused the muscles in her thighs to quiver. The smile didn’t fool her. Though dizziness buzzed in her head, she forced her gaze to hold the cold amber one staring her down. Sweat beaded in her clenched palms.

She bared her fangs, only earning another twist of his mouth.

When he walked a slow circle around her, the loathing knotted in her belly was replaced with fear. The big Zonmoor could hurt her badly. The young humanoid corporal beside him got little of her attention. The young soldier probably feared the general as much as she did.

You’d have to be of noble birth not to fear his position.

Once the amber-eyed cretin was done with his examination, he turned to the slave manager. “Juice her up.”

“No!” The declaration was out before she could stop the burst of temper. Drugs used to enhance sexual response were readily available. Delicant or not, sexual pleasure drove many cultures. How easy it was to bring about a desired effect, regardless of an individual’s willingness.

It was a wonder she’d not been pumped with an aphrodisiac upon her capture. On top of what she’d been given to keep her tame…

“No, you bastards!” Again she showed her fangs.

The young humanoid snickered, moving closer to her side.

She bit back a prayer. There were no gods going to help her. No gods had cared for her kind since the wars of her childhood. Wars had destroyed everything she’d known.

After a nod, the manager left them. The general stalked to the two nearest Delicants. He instructed one to get on her hands and knees. Even though she complied, the bastard still forced her lower with a palm.

The woman now braced herself while crouched on her small platform.

“You.” The Zonmoor crooked a finger to another Delicant. Once the redhead was at his side, he encouraged her to brace herself over the first Delicant in the same position.

Larissa clenched her teeth as the general pulled out his wide cock. Roughly he repositioned the women so he could fuck them both. He shoved his rigid length first into one pussy, then the other. He gave each Delicant a few strokes before moving to the other.

She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to watch. Still, she could hear the corporal’s quickened breathing. Otherwise the humanoid hadn’t shifted.

The prick of her vein being punctured got her attention. She hadn’t heard his return. At the fluid flowing into her vein, she hissed, attempting to jerk away. “It’s probably better for you to be drugged anyway.” The slaver smiled. “We want the animals in the crowd to smell you.”

Her body strained taut as her blood continued to heat.

He looked at one of the other traders, who commented, “With the potions, there’s probably no need to bind her feet.”

“I still say we should,” another one offered.

Already, delicious sensations coiled hotly in her lower regions. Her breasts swelled. Her nipples stood out, begging for attention. Any attention.

Yes, her body would be dripping for the animals in attendance. She moaned.

The Zonmoor growled, and she watched as his load was sprayed over the exposed asses of the Delicants.

An exquisite pulse beat to life in her clit. Her head swam with a growing desire she had no control over. The muscles in her arms strained with the accelerated tension in her body. She tried to think past the need. How long would the drug keep hold of her? Thankfully, the second drug already had overridden the weakness in her bones.

Ignoring her, the general stuffed his cock back in his pants and moved to his corporal’s side. “Take one.”

“Now wait a minute…” The slave manager’s protest died at the look from the general.

Disgust twisted her lips. Just as she’d assumed, only a nobleman would stand up to a general. And even then it needed to be one of high birth, or he’d wind up sentenced to a mine somewhere.

The corporal chose the bound Delicant. This time, the woman was noisy as the soldier pushed his way into her body.

The general laughed when the younger man spilled his load in a matter of heartbeats.

“He’ll pay for the use of the slave.” The manager folded his arms. “As general, you can have freebies. Your men can’t.”

Once the corporal had his clothes in order, the Zonmoor grasped him by the shoulder. “Yes, the corporal will pay. And dearly.” The General nipped the younger man’s neck. “One month of his ass bent over my desk should make us even.”

A protest was swallowed by the slave manager.

Coward.

The corporal closed his eyes as a flush crawled up his face.

Coward.

Though at that moment, Larissa wished to be in his shoes and wanted to die from the fantasy. Her sex wasn’t moist, but wet. She could feel desire pooling from her center. A craving of intense need nearly consumed her from within. She wanted what the other women had been given, what the corporal was sure to get. And the need sickened her.

“Now, General, if you’re through playing, customers will be arriving.” The manager rubbed his hands together. “It’s rumored Alawn de Berg is here today.”

The Zonmoor bared his canines. “Who said I wasn’t bidding?”

Hot Topic - Heroines with more to love

If you've read any of my books you'll know that I'm a fan of the plus sized heroine. That means size 14 and above, not the Hollywood ideal that a size 10 is plus sized.

I wrote my stories with these heroines for a specific reason -- I'm writing what I want to read. Real women - no I'm not saying fat is 'real', just that a sz 14 is more realistic for the average woman than a size 4 or 6 - meeting real men who fall in love with them just as they are. Outside of Chicklit - where, face it, they usually get 'skinny' to get their ideal guy - it's damn hard to find women of size battling the bad guys, solving the crimes and saving the day. I like to write stories about women doing exactly that. (Well, saving the day maybe, suspense and crime drama storylines seem to be eluding me at the moment).

Why am I rambling on about heroines with more to love? The ladies over at Smart Bitches, of course! They had an interesting topic up over the weekend: The Plus Size Heroine - the one who's well adjusted. A topic near and dear to my heart.

Frankly, no woman is ever happy about her shape. If there's not too much, there's not enough. If the weight is right, the proportions are not. It webbles, it wobbles, and horror of all horrors... it all falls down! It's universal - fat, thin or in between. Seriously.

As a plus sized woman I don't want to read the 'I'm so fat, and he's my gorgeous gym instructor and he will only love me when I'm thin' story line. I also don't want to read the story that is 'my life is so bad because I'm fat' or the 'I'm fat so I don't deserve any better' either.

I want to read stories with kickarse heroines who save the day, who worry about all the same things every woman worries about and finds a lover who thinks a bit of junk in the trunk (or hood in my case) is just what he needs keeping him warm on a cold winters night. NOT A STORY ABOUT A FAT WOMAN.

There is a difference. A really fricking huge one (no pun intended). Confidence.

People don't like to read about size 4 Mary Sue whining her little head off about not being pretty enough, and they sure don't like reading about Mary Sue's size 18 sister Debbie Sue whining about not being skinny enough. But they do love reading stories about women who have confidence, who get on with doing what they have to to succeed/live to fight another day/beat the bad guy/save the world -- so why not have that woman be a size 18, or 16, or 20? Make your heroines as diverse as the world live in, embrace all the different sizes and colors of women the world over. Variety is the spice of life!

Romance novels are a fantasy, an escape, it's said. Well my fantasy includes a size 18/20 woman, in some kick arse, sexy as hell 3 inch heels beating the fuck out of a bad guys goolies (with the aforesaid heels), before reapplying her lipstick and making out with the hunky geek neighbour who's in absolute awe of the beautiful Amazon next door - not one of the Olsen twins on a 'fat day'.

What do you all think about Heroines - and Heroes for that matter - that don't meet the societal norms of what everyone should look like? Love em, hate em, don't really care?

PS... how much do I love Loose Id that they have a separate Full Figured Heroine Category!!

The things we do for love

No, I hadn't forgotten I was supposed to blog here. But it's been quite a week. Blood Lines 5: Bitter Love released. I'm so excited about this story. I had a ball writing it, and Amaretto is just awesome.

I'm always amazed by the things we do for the kidlets. DH went out tonight to find TV Guide because it has those 3D glasses for the concert movie premiere this weekend with Hannah Montana. Yeah, Hannah Montana. The DH was thrilled to be buying that magazine LOL.

In Bitter Love, one thing Amaretto does for Leif is scratch his nose. *G* did you think I was going to say something else? It's a strange moment but a rather touching one.

So what's the oddest things you've ever done to keep someone happy?

Mechele Armstrong
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com

Wednesdays Words - Hot Flash Fiction!

Hot to Trot Flash Fiction from Loose Id authors and readers... what can you do in 100-250 words?

Going Up, Going Down - Heavenly Bodies

I have a confession to make.

I'm a publishing virgin.

Yes, you read that correctly. "Heavenly Bodies," which is featured in the anthology Going Up, Going Down, is my very first published story.

And yes, I am beyond excited.

This story was so much fun to write, and the entire March Madness contest was a blast.

Enough about me, though, let's get to the story.


Samantha Beasley's life is great. She has a job she loves performing stand up comedy, a house she recently bought and a brand new Prius sitting in her garage. Too bad that life is over due to a blender malfunction that left her dead and standing in front of the Pearly Gates -- and an angel so hot he should be a male Victoria's Secret model.

Adam's sent back to earth to protect Samantha and keep her from dying again. His plan of action? Keep her locked up in her house -- and away from all blenders -- for the next twelve hours. Samantha has a different plan: teach the angel a few new tricks, and make heaven a place on earth.


Want to read more? Visit my website, where I have an excerpt up. OR you can just head on over to Loose Id.

Happy reading!

-Renae

Blood Lines Bitter Love

Blood Lines Bitter Love released from Loose Id today! I'm so excited about this one. Amaretto was a lot of fun to write. Here's the blurb:

Amaretto is out for a night on the town, a little dinner, a little dancing, maybe a little getting lucky...until he gets a stake in the back. Good thing he really is a vampire.

After getting knocked out by his prey, the would-be vampire hunter, Leif comes to...tied up and at the sexy vampire's mercy. His wannabe slayer days are over. Now he's got no choice but to team up with Amaretto and catch the rogue vampire terrorizing his city.

Soon, their nights are spent pursuing the killer and building sexual tension between them. Leif can't be attracted to a vampire, can he? The sex is hot and there's definitely something there, but Amaretto's not into forevers. Still, he's never been so tempted to try something long term as he is with Leif. When Leif takes off and gets himself into trouble with the killer, who's all too human, it's up to Amaretto to figure out how to save him and whether he can find a love that's never bitter, only sweet.

An excerpt follows under More.
Grasping the man’s head tighter so he couldn’t move away, Amaretto sunk his fangs into his fleshy bicep. The man’s non-muscular arms lent to the best place to feed from this angle.

The man squirmed but continued to buck his hips, lost in the swells of his orgasm.

Life giving nourishment fell into Amaretto’s mouth. His senses hummed with the feeling of feeding. The allure of the blood.

The smell of garlic increased.

Shit, were they near a pizzeria? Shouldn’t it be closed this time of night?

He stilled as pitter sounds entered his range of hearing. Listened over the rush of the feed. Had he heard a soft footstep? No, he would have smelled a human approaching. His sense of smell often kept him in the know more than his sight.

Pain exploded in his back. “Gahhhh.” He let go of Bud to turn. His hands went to the center of the pain to find an arrow. Holy shit.

Bud retched behind him. “Fuck man. You’ve been shot.”

“No shit.” Way to state the obvious. Pain burned down Amaretto’s back.

A man stepped out of the shadows holding a crossbow. Armed with another arrow, he aimed it at Amaretto’s chest. “Demon of destruction. I will send you back to hell where you belong.” He motioned to Bud. “I saved you. Now get the hell out of here or face my bow.” He wore a necklace that looked like flower bulbs. The smell of garlic increased to overpowering as he stalked closer.

Bud didn’t think twice about staying. “Sorry man.” He jumped in his car and sped off at high speed, almost running up on the curb in his haste to get away.

So much for the rest of his meal. Or a heroic lay. Would he call the cops to rescue? Unlikely, but it did mean whatever he was going to do, Amaretto better do it fast. He yanked on the arrow, but he couldn’t remove it without some leverage. Not to mention, right now it plugged the hole, keeping him from bleeding out. Loss of blood from this wound wouldn’t kill him but the blood loss would weaken him. He’d have to have a full meal or a healing sleep at some point soon. Adrenaline would keep him going for now. Long enough to deal with the bow wielder. “What in shit’s name are you doing?”

The man moved forward with the bow. “Slaying you.”

All he’d wanted was a meal and maybe a fuck. Now he’d been shot it the back. Amaretto shook his head. What bad luck to come out tonight. The story of his life. “You’re nuts.” Did the man think his name was Buffy? He sure as hell didn’t look like Sarah Michelle Gellar. Or Kristy Swanson. And this wasn’t some script written by Joss Whedon. Amaretto would have to teach this imbecile a lesson. Before he encountered a vampire who wasn’t as civilized as Amaretto and considered being shot in the back fighting words.

“And you’re a vampire. That I will send back to hell. For killing my people.”

A nutjob that knew what Amaretto was. Great. “I don’t kill, asshole. Will you now… Look out!” He pointed with a shaky finger, and horror punctuated his face.

The man turned, and Amaretto tackled him. Lucky thing the man must not watch many horror movies. What on earth did he think he was doing?

They struggled over the crossbow. Amaretto would win, but he tried not to hurt the crazed lunatic. “You interrupted me. From a good fuck.” And a meal but he wouldn’t go there.

“From killing. You demon seed. You’d have drained him.” The lithe man moved like a slippery eel trying to evade Amaretto.

“Shit. I told you I don’t kill.” He never had. He tired of the fight. Maybe a little hurt would help him put this man in his place. He wrestled the bow away with ease and slapped the man upside the head with the weapon. Another hit thwacked upside his head for good measure.

The man went unconscious with one final curse.

Amaretto stared as the man slumped down.

Now what was he supposed to do?
* * * * *
Amaretto rubbed his back, which ached a little, though the wound had already knitted over. He looked at the arrow he’d pulled out. Looked like something from an old cowboy movie. It was nothing like real arrows from history. Or at least the history Amaretto had lived.

He’d managed to stop the bleeding from his back without too much trouble. A fresh delivery of emergency blood from his blood bank contact had been delivered, so he should be okay, despite the blood he’d lost.

He took another sip of blood from a coffee mug. He preferred fresh, warm blood taken directly from the source, but he’d do what needed to be done. He always had. Should have heated his meal up but hadn’t taken the time as he kept an ear out for his attacker to wake up. Maybe later he’d warm some and have a feast.

Since he’d been denied much of a feed and now couldn’t go hunting.

He walked out into the living room of the spacious rental house to check on the reason he couldn’t go hunting and hadn’t taken time to heat his meal.

Blondie’s head still hung down to his chest. He was tied to a chair.

Amaretto had plucked off the garlic strand before hauling him back to his house where he’d promptly tied the man up. Luckily, he didn’t live too far away from the club and had no neighbors on either side. The rental house he lived in rested on a less traveled side street, too. The better not to hear Blondie scream for help. Which he would, once he woke up and saw who had secured him.

Amaretto couldn’t leave him out there in the world. Not without some cold, hard facts. If Blondie encountered a vampire who killed for food, this Buffy wannabee would be toast. Humans couldn’t kill vampires. The man wouldn’t have a chance and would get picked off like a lice in someone’s hair.

What drove a man to shoot someone he thought was a vampire? Not exactly a typical human. How the hell had he found Amaretto and decided he was a vampire? Not that Amaretto took extraordinary care to conceal himself, but he did take some to keep his nature secret.

He looked at the man’s face. A slight grizzle of whiskers grew on the angelic looking visage. He had what others called a baby face. Probably looked years younger than he was. He was slender but his muscles were rock hard. And having carried him for several blocks, Amaretto could say he was solid. Unruly blond curls spiked up from his head. His full lips looked red against his pale skin. An earring glinted from one ear. A long gothic cross necklace hung around his neck where it had been tucked behind the garlic. He dressed in all black from his button down shirt to his jeans to his boots.

Amaretto took another sip of blood as he continued to peruse the man who’d shot him. His cock sprang to life. He blinked, looking down into his drink. “Oh. no.” A spike of desire ran up his spine.

An adrenaline rush had to be causing this arousal. No way he could be attracted to Blondie, a man who’d shot him in the back.

Only that was a crock of shit. And Amaretto knew it.

As a man, Amaretto had swung both ways. As a vampire, he’d doubly swung even higher with his lusts. It didn’t take much for his attraction to heighten.

Look at Bud.

He looked at Blondie again. Blew out a deep breath. The man wasn’t gorgeous but it was the flaws that set him apart. That made his looks extraordinary. The divot on his chin. The too wide nose. His rough hands that had bitten down finger nails.

Amaretto’s beast rose up with a decidedly snappish flair to tell him to claim the man and do it now. His heart rate tripled, as did his breathing.

His first good look at the man almost brought him to his knees.

Yeah, attraction to Blondie would go over well. He’d already gotten one arrow in the back. Try to take him and he’d probably end up with an arrow in more sensitive parts of his anatomy.

The man’s eyes blinked under his lids.

The man’s even breathing had become more ragged in the last few seconds. His heartbeat had elevated. While Amaretto had been checking out the stranger, the stranger had come to. “You can stop pretending. I know you’re awake.”

The man opened his lids slowly to reveal grayish, blue eyes. His mouth curled into a sneer, lips drawing tight. “Go to hell.”

“You already tried to send me there. It didn’t work.” Such bravado from a human. The man had some fear. But he did well to mask his emotions. He also did well to block Amaretto from his thoughts. He couldn’t sense anything in the man’s mind. How unusual. That had never happened with a human before.

The man stared sullenly at him.

He was a brave little shit, that was for sure. “What made you think I’m a vampire? Why shoot me?”

No answer. Only a glare.

Amaretto sighed and turned back toward the kitchen, taking a sip from his mug. That had gone as expected. The man wouldn’t talk now. Give him a few days. Then, he’d be vocalizing whatever Amaretto wanted to hear.

Which begged the question, how long was he going to keep the man?

Hot Topic: Happy for now?

Today's Topic:

The happy for now ending...

A growing number of romance novels have been released with a happy for now ending instead of the tried and true happily ever after most readers have come to expect from the genre. Do you think this type of ending acceptable?

Author Interview: Jane Leopold Quinn

Author Name: Jane Leopold Quinn
Year started writing for LI: 2007
Titles: Home to Stay, Ancient Ties
Web Page: www.janeleopoldquinn.com

What genre do you write in, and why? :
m/f contemporary, time travel, suspense, Western – all erotic. I have written an m/f/m ménage though.

How much time do you spend writing every week? :
I’m one of the lucky ones who made the decision to quit the day job and write full time. So I write every day 9 am to 2 or 3 pm. Some, maybe too much of that time is spent on e-mails, some time on promotion, but it’s all writing related.

What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) :
I wrote a Western. Then I wrote another Western. They were teaching experiences. Ancient Ties, my time travel to Roman Britain, was the third thing I wrote and the first published. Maybe it’s true that the first ms is Sophomore year, the second is Junior year, and the third is Senior year and Graduation.

How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories?
If they turn me on so much that I have to leave the room , then I know I’ve done my job well. Or I become so lost in the scene that I’m writing that I sometimes “wake up” and don’t realize how much time has passed.
Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? :
Sure, between past and present relationships, they’ve been tested.

Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? :
No.

What one word best describes your toy collection? :
Sparse.

Favourite candy while writing? :
None, really. I don’t snack, but I also don’t have anything in the house except hard, fruit flavored candies.

Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :
I just wrote a short story that is an m/f/m ménage. The title came from an e-mail from someone on the LI Community loop. She asked for some ménage titles. Me, being me, thought she was actually looking for a title, so I provided the title “His, Hers & His.” She was looking for books to read. Okay, not my first embarrassment and certainly not my last. But, now I had a title for myself. The plot came from a “Dr. Phil” show where a woman met men on an internet site called sugardaddy.com. There you go.

What inspires you to write? :
An idea sparks in my mind, then I build characters around that, then the plot unfolds. It all starts with the spark. All it needs to be is a few words I hear on TV or a sight I see on the street or just a fantasy.

What music inspires your writing? :
The popular tenors, sometimes music from “my day” -- the 60s.

Plotter or a Pantser? :
Both. Sometimes I pants it for a couple of chapters, then if I feel I have something viable, I plot it out in a grid. A shorter ms may be pantsed, but a longer novel length will always be plotted.

Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :
No pets.

What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :
Probably the first few times I told people that I write erotic romance. I was kind of sheepish about it. You can’t be that way. People will say, “Oh, you write dirty books.” You have to project confidence. I started to calmly respond, “No, I write love stores.” That usually proves that I’m serious about what I write and cuts off their water.

Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :
You mean your writing location or the scene’s location? If it’s the writing location, probably trying to write erotic romance at my desk at work as a legal secretary is pretty challenging. It’s a no-go. If it’s the scene’s location, that would probably be either a shower or a stopped elevator.


When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :
Except for vacations out of town, I write almost every day. Sometimes I do get stuck, but I recover in a day or two. Sometimes you just have to walk away to let your mind relax.


The Personal stuff:


Any outrageous liaisons in your past?
Oh, yeah!!

Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :
Unusual to me, maybe not to another person -- a sailboat in the Bahamas.

What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? :
Since the last two questions don’t relate to my hubby, I’ll say in this answer, that the most romantic meal was our first date. It wasn’t the food, it was the conversation. Neither one of us wanted it to end.

What kind of books do you read for fun? :
Mostly other romance books. Sometimes mysteries.

Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :
Nooooo.

If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :
“It’s all really about love.”

Soulmates? Do you believe? :
Yes. And actually I believe in more than one soulmate in a lifetime.

Sex with anyone famous? :
Noooo. But ask my husband. He’s had sex with me.

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :
Cake and pie. Pepsi, but I wouldn’t turn down Coke. Hot coffee, iced tea.

Diversify, Diversify

In my sometime role as Mentor-to-the-Future-Stars, I'm frequently asked to make judgement calls on a variety of publishing career issues. If I had to condense all my advice into one word it would be: Diversify. There are three distinct areas in which I think a canny writer will diversify her/his resources. You will find different viewpoints on this, but this is what works for me -- speaking as someone who has been writing and publishing successfully for over a decade.

I) Try different things. I'm not saying write a bunch of crap you don't enjoy just for the money, I'm saying don't be afraid to try something new, to push yourself out of your comfort zone. It'll make you a stronger writer -- and you'll find new readers. I write strictly in the M/M sub-genre -- usually within a mystery or romantic suspense framework, but this last year I've branched out and started writing action-adventure. And guess what? I really enjoyed it. It was fun and fresh, and we all need to keep it fun and fresh. Last month I pushed myself a little further and wrote my first romance with an anti-hero protagonist. Sure, one or two readers were a little uncomfortable with Mark Hardwicke, the narrator of I Spy Something Bloody but mostly what I'm hearing is it's the best thing I've done with the exception of the Adrien English series.




II) Try different formats. Electronic publishing offers everything from flash fiction to full-size novels. Try your hand at these different art forms. Sure, you're going to be better at some than others -- and you'll want to know your strengths and weaknesses -- but don't be afraid to try anything and everything. The more you write, the more you hear from readers, the better you get.

Also...speaking of different formats, print and ebook audiences are not necessarily the same. Male readers, for example, still typically buy mostly in print from brick and mortar booksellers. Not all successful ebooks translate into viable print projects, but it's certainly worth considering. Break into print by submitting to anthologies -- watch for submission requests from the big houses in your genre

III) Try different publishers. I'm not saying try every fly-by-night operation that opens up a website. Pick your publishers carefully. You want a publisher with a good track record -- that means stability and good word-of-mouth from both readers and other writers. You want a company that turns out a quality product. Remember, you're looking for a longterm partner in your writing career. That means you need a publisher who is at least as interested in your success and happiness as they are in their own bottom line. When you find that partner, do your part to keep the relationship healthy, but never put all your eggs in one basket. Different publishing houses have different reading lists. There will always be some crossover: M/M readers will often buy primarily from two or three houses but distrust smaller, lesser publishers until they've established some kind of track record. Your job as a writer is to get readers so addicted to your work that they'll follow you and your brand of fiction anywhere, regardless of where you publish -- but that doesn't happen overnight. It takes time and a lot of work -- and a lot of writing.

Wednesdays Words - Hot Flash Fiction!

Hot to Trot Flash fiction from the authors and readers of Loose Id.

What can you do in 100-250 words?

Hot Topic: M/M vs. F/F

Today's Topic:

M/M vs. F/F

There seems to be a flood of authors writing M/M romance these days, and yet there are still quite a few epublishers who won't accept F/F love stories. Why do you think that is?

First Time Here

Whew, I'm here! Okay, truth is, I've been awake and semi alert for hours, but its Sunday and I started off by being lazy. Then I decided to weed the garden before it got too hot. Of course, following that, shower time. There's something incredibly grounding about having a garden. I don't grow a lot of different things and the main course is always tomatoes, real home-tasting tomatoes, not those plastic things the stores--

Okay, back on task here. As I said in my title, I haven't blogged at Loose Ends before. This bugs me because I blog elsewhere and love writing for Loose ID. How I slipped off I don't know, but I'm ready to try to make up for lost time.

First, isn't the cover for Galen's Pet a killer!!! I love it, love the colors, the hunky male body. Have to laugh a bit at all the rope around my heroine's torso. One thing for sure, she's not going anywhere Galen doesn't want her to go. For those of you who've read other Vonna Harper erotica, you know I focus a lot on bondage and there's no doubt of that in this cover. I don't consider my work BDSM although it often gets that label. I keep thinking I can write about women (always the women, never the men) who get off on pain, but that's not a place I personally can relate to and so far I can't get my characters to take that leap. But bondage and capture, ah yes, now there's a great fantasy! Don't want it in real life because then I won't be able to weed the garden and the gophers will probably take over, but stratigically-placed rope and loss of freedom in the hands of the hunkiest hunk on the planet, siigh! Now you're talking.

Gzz, I can't believe how scattered I am. My initial plan was to focus on my editor. In my opinion, editors are the unsung heroes of the writing biz. My Loose ID editor is Ann Curtis, a woman I've never met but desperately love. She's a blast to work with. IMO, her greatest skill is her ability to zero in on the flaws in my writing and coming up with the exact right solution. Granted, probably because I've been writing fiction since dirt was new, I know a lot about this gig. But I don't know a writer who won't admit that they're so close to their characters and plot that they can't see the whole forest for the trees. That's where skillful editors earn their keep. Ann hasn't bought everything I've sent her, and that's no fun, but the once or twice when she didn't, in retrospect I had to admit she was right.

In contrast, the stories she has approved, well that's where the real fun is. She strokes what needs to be strokeds. She's upfront and fun. We speak a kind of writing shorthand which says to me that we're on the same page. She's gone to bat for me with a copy editor and when the release date for Galen's Pet was kicked way up, she rolled up her sleeves and handled her end of things like a pro.Last week I sent her something that's been languishing with another publisher, asking her opinion. She zeroed in on exactly what I did. Now the ball's back in my court to live up to her expectations. I'm looking forward to that because Ann, my partner with Loose ID believes in me.

Yes, that's what it all boils down to for a writer, an editor who believes in us. Ann, this one's for you.

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

Author Interview: Barbra Novac

Author Name: Barbra Novac
Year started writing for LI: 2008
Titles: Double Crossed
Web Page: www.barbranovac.com



What genre do you write in, and why? :

This novel is contemporary suspense and the sex style is BDSM. I will probably stay with these for a while, though I will try ménage instead of BDSM next. I like to write about modern women. I’m a feminist, and I like to think and challenge my way through contemporary issues for women.


How much time do you spend writing every week? :

I write at least an hour every day. (Writers write. If I’m not writing, I’m not a writer)


What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) :

A woman who purchased socks in a bazaar and got home and found that they didn’t match. She decided to keep them anyway, fantasizing that a woman just like her purchased the other mis-matched pair, and that they both wear them together having never met.


How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? :

My partner reads them, but I have some on line editor friends that read for me and give me honest feedback.


Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? :
Yes.

Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? :
Yes.

What one word best describes your toy collection? : Extensive.

Favourite candy while writing? :
(sob) I’m off sweets. I eat almonds to quell the cravings.

Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :
From other writers and their stories. From ‘strange but true’ new articles.

What inspires you to write? :
Women. Who they are, what they are, what they think and what’s behind what they think. They are the last great undiscovered frontier.

What music inspires your writing? :
Whatever I think my heroine would listen to, or music to suit the mood I’m looking for.

Plotter or a Panster? :
A little from column A and a little from column B. I really need a plot and the better its worked out the better I feel, but I always seem to change it when I’m in the thick of the work.

Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :
I don’t have a cat, but that’s a cute idea. Maybe I should get one.

What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? : My partner wanting to know if this stuff happened to me for real before we met or not.


Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :
A train.

When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :
I am one of those discipline freaks who want to just work through it. Even if the writing is shocking, and needs to be thrown out, I will write rather than not. If I am straggling around and can’t find my feet, I tend to search for a short story comp or something short term to work toward to get me back into the grove again. My partner is a writer and we find that technique works for both of us.


The Personal stuff:

Any outrageous liaisons in your past?
Yes.

Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :
In a small cage.

What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? :
Takeaway pizza, naked, on my boyfriends bed in the early days, when we couldn’t stop sex long enough to get food for ourselves, and had to have it delivered.

What kind of books do you read for fun? :
Romance, erotica, mystery fiction. I really like erotica and old/historical erotica.

Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :
My life USED to be like my stories, but I have settled down now. My fantasies are like my stories – yes!

Soulmates? Do you believe? : yes

Sex with anyone famous? :
Yes. I dated a man with his own TV show in New Zealand for a while.
One of my ex lovers was heavily pursued by Nicole Kidman (before she was married to her current husband of course) while we were lovers. We weren’t exclusive, and he could go with her, but he wasn’t very attracted to her. I took that as an affirmation! Oh, and Keanu Reeves hit on me in a bar once, but I was with someone and got myself out of there REAL FAST! I’m not a cheater. I seem to meet a lot of famous people. It just happens to me.

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :
Both cake and pie when I can have sugar.
Neither coke nor pepsi
Both tea and coffee depending on my mood.

When authors get desperate...

They start writing on the walls... or the windows at least:


While I downloaded the trial version of Scrivener (for Mac users), and although it does have some nice functions, I still couldn't see my way over the wall I'd written myself up to. I thought I'd take Lena Austin's advice and get a whiteboard and take a look at the B I G picture, but big whiteboards are expensive! (Yes, you can get cheap and nasty, but I have an addiction to expensive.)

So... desperate times call for desperate measures.

Hubby was not impressed... until I told him it was a whiteboard pen :)

Oh, and I did get the big picture. YAY!! Now on to getting that sequel written!

Wednesdays Words - Hot Flash Fiction!

Hot to Trot Flash fiction from the authors and readers of Loose Id.

What can you do in 100-250 words?

Double Crossed Available NOW!

Hi there everyone,

This is my first book for Loose Id and my first book all together.

I had a great time writing it. It's a dark novel, set in Australia, In Sydney's Kings Cross, which is our 'famous' red light district. (every large city has one, don't they?)

By setting it in the red light district, I had lots of opportunities to explore some different kinds of sexual lifestyles. There’s a couple who love each other, but play with others (as long as their partner is present) a party in a BDSM brothel, a play optional social that goes really wild, masturbation in the booths in the back of sex shops, and plenty of other tasty bits and pieces.

I wanted to capture the positive spirit of Kings Cross. It’s an icon these days, a place where artists and bohemians have always gathered. Even a famous witch lived there for a while - I found out in my research.

But of course, even though I keep The Cross a fun and positive place, my characters have to encounter a great deal of trouble – not the least of which comes through from their own internal world.

I get to look at the possibility of BDSM as an agent for therapy as well as an agent for change. Marianne (protagonist) finds that playing that game can be freeing sexually, but also it can remove chains that wrap up the mind.

If you'd like to find out more, Visit Loose Id and pick up a copy of the book. There's an excerpt there and more info on the novel.

If you'd like to find out more about me, and check out a launch competition I am running, stop on by at

www.barbranovac.com or http://blog.barbranovac.com

Have a great day!

Barbra

Hot Topic: Spit or Swallow

Today's Topic:

Spit or Swallow?

When was the last time you read an intimate scene in an erotic romance novel when the woman/man spit instead of swallowed? Personally, I can't remember the last time. Why do you think that is?

Loose Ends: Author Interview: Marie A. Roy

Loose Ends: Author Interview: Marie A. Roy

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Author Interview: Marie A. Roy

Author Name: Marie A. Roy
Year started writing for LI: 2007
Titles: Canterville: Book One – The Dead Speak
Web Page: www.freewebs.com/mariearoy


What genre do you write in, and why? :

Erotic fiction, erotic romance fiction, contemporary romance, mysteries and forensic thrillers.

I like putting on many hats! I write the contemporaries, mysteries and forensic thrillers under my name Marie A. Roy . I also write erotic fiction under the names of Collette Thomas and Zara Dominique. I feel I acquire a slightly different persona when I write under various names. Each one has its own website. http://www.freewebs.com/mariearoy for Marie A. Roy; http://www.freewebs.com/collettethomas for Collette Thomas and http://www.freewebs.com/zaradominique for Zara Dominique.


How much time do you spend writing every week? :

I am able to stay home at this stage in my life after working in corporate for many years. Consequently, I spend every day 24/7 and even night writing. I have several projects in the works now and devote time to all of them each and every day.


What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) :

Actually the first story I wrote I’m sure was in elementary school. My parents had this shiny black Royal typewriter. One summer we actually lugged that thing along with the beach towels, beach blankets and other paraphernalia families bring with them when the rent a cottage by the shore. In the evenings after a day on the beach I would type out my stories that usually involved dogs and horses.

How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? :

If you’re not squirming in your seat, and thinking about that significant other in your life, or simply feeling certain feelings, then the scene needs to be worked on, tweaked some more until it does. And then it has to flow while producing those sparks that tell you it’s working!

Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? :

Let’s say I fantasize about them and from that point I can pretty much tell if it’s working!


Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? :

Not yet!


What one word best describes your toy collection? :

I have a large box in the back of my closet. Let’s say one word to describe it ….or two….”very interesting!”


Favourite candy while writing? :

Right now beside my computer I have a box of Dark Chocolate Hershey’s Truffles. I bought this for myself. What made me choose this box? This line on the back:

“To best enjoy these exquisite morsels, bite down gently and allow the center to liquefy in your mouth. Use your tongue to swirl the melting chocolate across all surfaces of your mouth, noticing the early flavors, smoothness, mouthfeel, finish and lingering notes”

I thought I was reading the back blurb of an erotic romance novel. .


Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :

Let’s say while sitting across from a funeral director while my sister and I dealt with getting funeral arrangements completed for both of my parents--not a good time for us. Yet, weeks later I decided to develop a character whose profession involved assisting families with their deceased loved ones. This produced an endless array of possibilities for this characters who I feel is three dimensional in that both good and evil resides in him. He’s one who has gotten in touch with that dark side of himself that many may deny exists. And then the entire plot has revolved around that premise, in fact an entire town where both good and evil reside, and the underlying battle that continues. This of course starts with Book One – The Dead Speak of my CANTERVILLE Series. Book One is like driving into a town, meeting the inhabitants, and then discovering things aren’t quite what they appear.


What inspires you to write? :

Ideas are always coming to me no matter where I am. There are so many stories out there waiting to be told. My most recent one evolved into a sequel where my characters are now involved in the adult movie making business…and two of the characters (both males) are starting to realize there is a strong attraction to each other.

What music inspires your writing? :

Everything from anything of Celine Dion’s, or Josh Groben’s songs to the PussyCat Dolls’ Don’t Cha, to Charles Barkley’s Crazy, or Gwen Stefani’s Sweet Escape, to Frank Sinatra’s Summer Wind and Lisa Minelli’s New York, New York, and a bit of classical thrown in-- Beethoven’s Sonatas, which in my former life I used to play on the piano.

Plotter or a Panster? :

I will plot out the story for a time, then I become a panster in that I let it flow from my brain, and then I revert back to being a plotter so that in the end the story comes together naturally and seamlessly.

Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :

In memory of Sammie who joined Misty, Tabitha and Spunky at the Rainbow Bridge this past October 19, 2007, I would have to say I miss him terribly. He would sit here by my side. Periodically, I would pick him up, and he would look at me, and gently touch my cheek with his paw. He and I battled his diabetes for one year before it took its toll. I had him for fifteen years, and he was my best friend. I have his ashes on my shelf along with his photo.

What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :

Forgetting to remove my signature line when emailing to certain people I don’t particularly want to know about my “other” life. For instance two very nice people who are quite involved in the church, retired from teaching, etc. To my horror I sent them an email and realized the signature line read: Hot Sex with a Stranger: A Case of Mistaken Identity and Appetite for Lust.

Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :

Just recently …and it was inside a stalled elevator….


When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :

I leave my office and go work out! I find while on a treadmill or an elliptical bike thought flow increases in that I’m getting the blood and oxygen to my brain, not to mention a shot of endorphins. I truly believe that helps! Suddenly, all sorts of scenarios start to rise and I can’t wait to get back to the computer to rework the scene that had me fleeing from it in the first place.

The Personal stuff:

Any outrageous liaisons in your past?

Someday I will tell all…but when I do it will be under the name of Anonymous! And yes there have been a few!


Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :

I think for now I’ll keep that to myself.


What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? :

Pizza! It was my first date with my late husband. He was so good looking, and he had just started teaching. It was back in the late 60’s and all the girls thought he looked like Dustin Hoffman in the Graduate. Since that first date we never went out with anyone else, married and stayed together until his passing in 2002 for 33 years. Next month we would have celebrated out 39th wedding anniversary.

What kind of books do you read for fun? :

I enjoy reading erotic romance, contemporaries and of course forensic thrillers. Also, being the health nut that I am I enjoy books on healthy living, physical fitness, and healthy cooking. I’m always trying new recipes that will add to my overall health which in turns keeps those brain cells alive and well. Creating erotic fantasies can take a lot of energy!

Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :

Don’t I wish! I have fantasies galore and my characters get to live them out!

If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :

Love and Sex makes the world go around and around and around!”

Soulmates? Do you believe? :

Yes! I am fortunate that I had a soul mate for all those years. I’m not sure at this point I’ll find it again. I’m kind of like Kendra Bettencourt, the M.E. in my Canterville Series who dates but is not ready to get “emotionally” involved with anyone.

Sex with anyone famous? :

A girl can only wish and fantasize!!!!

Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :

Blueberry pie! I don’t drink soda so have no preference for either. I love tea especially Chamomile and Blueberry!

Wednesdays Words - Hot Flash Fiction!

Hot to Trot Flash fiction from the authors and readers of Loose Id.

What can you do in 100-250 words?

Hypnotic Hannah Available Now!

Hi Everyone,





Sneaking in at the end of the day, thanks to Amanda adding me!



Hypnotic Hannah is my 4th book with Loose Id. It's actually the first erotic non-romance Loose Id has released. There are romances for the secondary characters and a happy/upbeat ending if not a HEA....



This book let me dabble in something I just love...the world of psychics, sensitives, and those who can tap into that sixth sense. Hypnosis is a powerful tool for therapy but of course they're not really using it for that;) It's a bit bdsm and a bit para. It contains m/m, m/f, m/m/f, f/f, menage and more...well just read the warning....it's got a lot of fun sex and a very positive vibe.

It was important to me, in this book, to include the feel of being sexually liberated. Our own inhibitions and fears of rejection or disapproval keep us from connecting with others in the truly fulfilling way we should. Not that everyone needs an orgy but making a move on someone who is a friend can be scarier than hitting on a stranger. Those are the angles I got to explore in Hypnotic Hannah!



Here's the excerpt link: http://www.loose-id.com/CDHyHaex.aspx
Here's the Link: http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=737

Hope you'll give some erotica a try!! or check out my other stuff at http://www.cheryldragon.com/ plenty of erotic romance there!



Thanks & I'm glad to be a part of this blog

Team Player

My latest release is available today at Loose Id
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=729

This story actually pre-dates my Dark Elves series. It was something I started to write back when I thought that contemporary was a better way to go than fantasy. I tried my hand at something more "realistic". Of course, with me, even my realistic pieces don't turn out that way. One For The Team isn't an exception. I mean, come on. Four guys? And when I started the story it was five. I ended up combining two of them into one for the sake of my own sanity!

This one contains one of my lost loves too. Softball. I miss it. I played from about the time I was 8 to when I was 17. Had a blast. Tried to play on the work team for a few years but I'm twice+ heavier than I was when I was a kid and after I hurt myself badly that last year, I gave up. But softball and baseball are my favorite sports so it's cool to have a story out with a female character who enjoys the same.

For those among my readers who like m/m, I'll warn you now, there is no male on male contact in this one. However, the cps got my brain going on a possible sequel to link up two of them, so we'll see what happens with that.

Anyway, One For The Team is a light romp that I hope readers will find entertaining!