You'll notice that there are a few things missing on the blog. Unfortunately my server where all the images etc are stored (along with most things Anne Douglas) bit the dust, and it seems that the host company isn't being as prompt as I'd hoped about restoring the server and its backup.
Once things are back to normal the blog will be also (and possibly, my sanity).
AnneD
Nov 30, 2008
Nov 27, 2008
Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen things I'm thankful for
1. My family. My hubby and children are the best of course. They have their moments but they support me. My sisters, my husband's family, my aunt. They are all good for me and to me.
2. My pets. One neurotic dog who thinks I'm wonderful. A spaz kitten who plays fetch. And a Diva Kitty who allows me to serve her. Yep, I know who really rules the house.
3. My friends. I have the greatest. Starting with the hubby who is my bestest friend. I have both real life friends and people I've met online. And I can't imagine my life without them.
4. That I Heart NY: Body Shots is done! Whoo hooo. 48K and it just needs some shaping up.
5. My editor. She helps to make my writing better.
6. Loose Id. They gave me my first shot and have helped me spread my wings.
7. That I have edits on Settler's Mine: The Wolf. I'm looking forward to this one releasing.
8. My I-phone. Yes, I joined the ranks of the technological. I like that I can do email when I'm waiting for the kids to do something.
9. Books. Especially good ones. I'm not sure what I'd do if I didn't read. Reading allows me to visit so many different places. And meet so many different people.
10. Snoopy. And the rest of the Peanuts gang. You gotta love the Snoopy dance.
11. Sherrilyn Kenyon. She allowed people to play in her worlds with fanfiction.
12. My writing. I went through a period once where I didn't write much. I wasn't a happy person.
13. The people who've passed on but made me who I am. My father helped me to appreciate what I have and also humor. My mother encouraged my talents. My grandmother was a big influence. I only wish they could have seen what I'm becoming.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
1. My family. My hubby and children are the best of course. They have their moments but they support me. My sisters, my husband's family, my aunt. They are all good for me and to me.
2. My pets. One neurotic dog who thinks I'm wonderful. A spaz kitten who plays fetch. And a Diva Kitty who allows me to serve her. Yep, I know who really rules the house.
3. My friends. I have the greatest. Starting with the hubby who is my bestest friend. I have both real life friends and people I've met online. And I can't imagine my life without them.
4. That I Heart NY: Body Shots is done! Whoo hooo. 48K and it just needs some shaping up.
5. My editor. She helps to make my writing better.
6. Loose Id. They gave me my first shot and have helped me spread my wings.
7. That I have edits on Settler's Mine: The Wolf. I'm looking forward to this one releasing.
8. My I-phone. Yes, I joined the ranks of the technological. I like that I can do email when I'm waiting for the kids to do something.
9. Books. Especially good ones. I'm not sure what I'd do if I didn't read. Reading allows me to visit so many different places. And meet so many different people.
10. Snoopy. And the rest of the Peanuts gang. You gotta love the Snoopy dance.
11. Sherrilyn Kenyon. She allowed people to play in her worlds with fanfiction.
12. My writing. I went through a period once where I didn't write much. I wasn't a happy person.
13. The people who've passed on but made me who I am. My father helped me to appreciate what I have and also humor. My mother encouraged my talents. My grandmother was a big influence. I only wish they could have seen what I'm becoming.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
Nov 23, 2008
Bobby Michaels : The Realities of Sex and Romance from the Gay Man's perspective
This is the first time I've blogged here and since I wanted to be interesting, I've decided to give you my views on an issue which seems to be very controversial among romance readers but, for the life of me, I can't understand why.
It's this issue about whether or not a writer of M/M romance is male or female. I think the issue, for me, boils down to how good is the writing. Does it move me? Am I turned on by it? Does it hold my interest? Do I like/love the characters?
These are all the questions I ask myself about any book I read. And it doesn't matter what sex the writer is. If I can answer yes to all four of those questions then it's a good book.
This is not to say that there are not differences between male and female writers. One of the things that I notice about male/male romance written by women is that it takes too long to get to the sex. Women evidently like a slow approach and a build up to sex. Males, for the most part, could care less about waiting. Their biological imperative says, "Get it now! And, if there's time and energy, get it again!"
One of the things that bothers me about female authors is that it is obvious that many of them do no research into what they're writing about. Let me say this clearly for all of you out there:
MASTURBATION IS SOMETHING YOU DO ALONE -- NOT WITH YOUR LOVER!
If masturbation happens it is usually part of pre-play. Sometimes, it happens at the end because the male cannot get off any other way. But in that case, it is something the male does himself not usually something his partner does for him. Mutual masturbation is play. It is not an end in itself. Males quickly move on from it to oral or anal sex (or both).
There are males who are VERY into masturbation, but that is a fetish not the way most males have sex. Some of these guys are into something called "EDGING". No, this has nothing to do with your lawn and a Weed Wacker. This is where I guide masturbates for hours and hours bringing himself close -- just to the edge of coming -- sometimes a dozen or more times before finally letting go and coming -- usually with a high volume of sperm and, take it from me, a lot of pain in his groin afterwards. Some guys do like to jack another guy off or have somebody jack them off but this usually happens as a type of experiment not the usual way they have sex.
As to getting fucked, unless you know what you're doing, or the fucker does it inordinate amount of work getting the anal muscles to relax, the first time it's probably going to be very painful for the bottom, at least at the start. If you've never taken something that big up inside you, trust me -- it hurts! And, strangely enough, the pain is all around the anal opening -- not inside. Hear me clearly on this point: YOU CANNOT FEEL SOMEONE CUM INSIDE YOU! The people who usually make this mistake are gay male writers. I guess they are people who have never been fucked or they would know better. You can feel the cock spasm as the guy shoots his load but you cannot feel the warm cum hitting the walls of your colon. It would be really nice if you could, but the body just ain't made that way.
One thing that might surprise you, and this is one of my arguments that gay sex is perfectly "natural" -- there are more nerve endings around the anal opening then there are around the head of the penis. The potential for pleasure is enormous. That is why my personal favorite activity -- rimming -- may not be every male's favorite thing to do, but they sure love having it done!
All it takes to learn how males like to have sex with other males is to go to any porn websites and watch it.
One thing I really hate to write and, luckily, because I write romance I rarely have to -- are three ways. First of all, in my own experience, they rarely work. Two of the guys are always more attracted to each other than a third, and the third feels left out. The only time it has really worked for me is with two lovers. I'm getting off on them, and they're getting off on having somebody different in the mix. You have to understand that there's a tremendous difference between romance novels and real life. This is true even though I've had countless e-mails from readers who obviously cannot separate fantasy from reality. I've even received e-mails addressed to my characters! No matter how much to males love each other, no matter how much they care, it is hard, if not impossible, to sustain the excitement of the early sex in the relationship. Each couple has to find a way to deal with this. Either by opening the relationship and allowing sex with other people or keeping the relationship closed to just the two of them which often times spells the doom of the relationship.
The one question that the two partners have to answer is what did they mean by the word "Fidelity"? Is it physical? Or emotional? Is it truly that important for your partner to stay physically faithful to you? Or is the real importance being emotionally faithful -- not loving anyone but you. After all, it's not like you're male lover is going to come home pregnant with somebody else's kid for you to raise. They might come home with some kind of a disease but that has nothing to do with how they feel about you. That has more to do with an awful lot of irresponsibility on their part. That, of course, should make you question whether you want to be in a relationship with this person or not.
When I read this to my friend Dawn (Kate Steele) she told me I was "killing romance". Like I said, I'm talking about reality here NOT romance.
And I'm talking about this because I have some worries about what I and the rest of the authors who write male/male romance are doing. Yes, we're providing entertainment to those who want to read this type of thing but we are all so, perhaps inadvertently, setting up models of how male/male romances should be. Oftentimes, these models bear no resemblance to reality but young gay males reading them don't know that. We're talking here about a group of males who are just about the most romantic people on earth. They begin to believe that in order to have "THE RELATIONSHIP" that they have dreamed of all their lives, they need to find an alpha male, fall head over heels in love at first sight, and spend the rest of their lives desiring no one else but him so that we can have the required HEA. And how many people get that? One in a million? One in 10 million? One in 100 million? But I've known too many of these guys who spend their entire lives looking for just that and ending up old and alone. At least, the women who read these stories are safe from this. After all, if she has even a modicum of common sense, she knows the last thing she'd ever want is some relationship with a gay male. At least, let's hope so.
Just to make sure that I haven't given you the wrong impression, I love male/male romance written by women. I am often surprised and gratified at how well they get it right. I could never come that close if I ever was crazy enough to try and write a lesbian romance.
So I guess at this point, you might be wondering, given my already stated reservations, why I write male/male romance at all. That's very simple. From my earliest age I was given one piece of advice about writing: "Write what you know." I have been attracted to males since I was probably three or four years old. That's over 50 years. If I don't know these beautiful, nasty, egotistical, muscular, masculine, childish, childlike, angry, confused, horny, intelligent, stupid, loving, protecting, caring entities by now -- I never will. What I write are my own deepest desires and fantasies knowing full well that there is no chance on God's green earth that I am ever going to find fulfilment of them. But it's really fun to try and create your own perfect fantasy and share it with other people. I truly hope that someday I could meet a man who could make me ditch the fantasies because I no longer need them. A man who would love, unconditionally, a crazy mixed up writer who down deep inside still believes in Love.
BOBBY MICHAELS
It's this issue about whether or not a writer of M/M romance is male or female. I think the issue, for me, boils down to how good is the writing. Does it move me? Am I turned on by it? Does it hold my interest? Do I like/love the characters?
These are all the questions I ask myself about any book I read. And it doesn't matter what sex the writer is. If I can answer yes to all four of those questions then it's a good book.
This is not to say that there are not differences between male and female writers. One of the things that I notice about male/male romance written by women is that it takes too long to get to the sex. Women evidently like a slow approach and a build up to sex. Males, for the most part, could care less about waiting. Their biological imperative says, "Get it now! And, if there's time and energy, get it again!"
One of the things that bothers me about female authors is that it is obvious that many of them do no research into what they're writing about. Let me say this clearly for all of you out there:
MASTURBATION IS SOMETHING YOU DO ALONE -- NOT WITH YOUR LOVER!
If masturbation happens it is usually part of pre-play. Sometimes, it happens at the end because the male cannot get off any other way. But in that case, it is something the male does himself not usually something his partner does for him. Mutual masturbation is play. It is not an end in itself. Males quickly move on from it to oral or anal sex (or both).
There are males who are VERY into masturbation, but that is a fetish not the way most males have sex. Some of these guys are into something called "EDGING". No, this has nothing to do with your lawn and a Weed Wacker. This is where I guide masturbates for hours and hours bringing himself close -- just to the edge of coming -- sometimes a dozen or more times before finally letting go and coming -- usually with a high volume of sperm and, take it from me, a lot of pain in his groin afterwards. Some guys do like to jack another guy off or have somebody jack them off but this usually happens as a type of experiment not the usual way they have sex.
As to getting fucked, unless you know what you're doing, or the fucker does it inordinate amount of work getting the anal muscles to relax, the first time it's probably going to be very painful for the bottom, at least at the start. If you've never taken something that big up inside you, trust me -- it hurts! And, strangely enough, the pain is all around the anal opening -- not inside. Hear me clearly on this point: YOU CANNOT FEEL SOMEONE CUM INSIDE YOU! The people who usually make this mistake are gay male writers. I guess they are people who have never been fucked or they would know better. You can feel the cock spasm as the guy shoots his load but you cannot feel the warm cum hitting the walls of your colon. It would be really nice if you could, but the body just ain't made that way.
One thing that might surprise you, and this is one of my arguments that gay sex is perfectly "natural" -- there are more nerve endings around the anal opening then there are around the head of the penis. The potential for pleasure is enormous. That is why my personal favorite activity -- rimming -- may not be every male's favorite thing to do, but they sure love having it done!
All it takes to learn how males like to have sex with other males is to go to any porn websites and watch it.
One thing I really hate to write and, luckily, because I write romance I rarely have to -- are three ways. First of all, in my own experience, they rarely work. Two of the guys are always more attracted to each other than a third, and the third feels left out. The only time it has really worked for me is with two lovers. I'm getting off on them, and they're getting off on having somebody different in the mix. You have to understand that there's a tremendous difference between romance novels and real life. This is true even though I've had countless e-mails from readers who obviously cannot separate fantasy from reality. I've even received e-mails addressed to my characters! No matter how much to males love each other, no matter how much they care, it is hard, if not impossible, to sustain the excitement of the early sex in the relationship. Each couple has to find a way to deal with this. Either by opening the relationship and allowing sex with other people or keeping the relationship closed to just the two of them which often times spells the doom of the relationship.
The one question that the two partners have to answer is what did they mean by the word "Fidelity"? Is it physical? Or emotional? Is it truly that important for your partner to stay physically faithful to you? Or is the real importance being emotionally faithful -- not loving anyone but you. After all, it's not like you're male lover is going to come home pregnant with somebody else's kid for you to raise. They might come home with some kind of a disease but that has nothing to do with how they feel about you. That has more to do with an awful lot of irresponsibility on their part. That, of course, should make you question whether you want to be in a relationship with this person or not.
When I read this to my friend Dawn (Kate Steele) she told me I was "killing romance". Like I said, I'm talking about reality here NOT romance.
And I'm talking about this because I have some worries about what I and the rest of the authors who write male/male romance are doing. Yes, we're providing entertainment to those who want to read this type of thing but we are all so, perhaps inadvertently, setting up models of how male/male romances should be. Oftentimes, these models bear no resemblance to reality but young gay males reading them don't know that. We're talking here about a group of males who are just about the most romantic people on earth. They begin to believe that in order to have "THE RELATIONSHIP" that they have dreamed of all their lives, they need to find an alpha male, fall head over heels in love at first sight, and spend the rest of their lives desiring no one else but him so that we can have the required HEA. And how many people get that? One in a million? One in 10 million? One in 100 million? But I've known too many of these guys who spend their entire lives looking for just that and ending up old and alone. At least, the women who read these stories are safe from this. After all, if she has even a modicum of common sense, she knows the last thing she'd ever want is some relationship with a gay male. At least, let's hope so.
Just to make sure that I haven't given you the wrong impression, I love male/male romance written by women. I am often surprised and gratified at how well they get it right. I could never come that close if I ever was crazy enough to try and write a lesbian romance.
So I guess at this point, you might be wondering, given my already stated reservations, why I write male/male romance at all. That's very simple. From my earliest age I was given one piece of advice about writing: "Write what you know." I have been attracted to males since I was probably three or four years old. That's over 50 years. If I don't know these beautiful, nasty, egotistical, muscular, masculine, childish, childlike, angry, confused, horny, intelligent, stupid, loving, protecting, caring entities by now -- I never will. What I write are my own deepest desires and fantasies knowing full well that there is no chance on God's green earth that I am ever going to find fulfilment of them. But it's really fun to try and create your own perfect fantasy and share it with other people. I truly hope that someday I could meet a man who could make me ditch the fantasies because I no longer need them. A man who would love, unconditionally, a crazy mixed up writer who down deep inside still believes in Love.
BOBBY MICHAELS
Gay For You
If you've read m/m, you've likely read at least one of these stories. There's this guy who thinks he's straight, been living as straight, then he meets Mr. Right and lo, the angels of buttsecks visit and--aaaaahhhhhhh!--he's no longer straight. There are variations to the theme. Sometimes he continues to see himself as not gay and only sleeps with Mr. Right because... well, he's Mr. Right. More often he embraces his new found sexuality and wonders what he ever saw in the penis-less sex. Many times, especially these days, there's a paranormal reason to the story. See, our hero doesn't know he's a witch/wereanimal/demonspawn but when he meets Mr. Right, all that changes. He's still not gay, you see (well, sometimes), but now that he's met his mate... well, what can you do?
I've heard lately that many people don't like the "gay for you" stories. It's completely understandable. It is kind of hard to believe when you look at things from a logical real life perspective. How many grown men just suddenly find out that they're gay because they meet the right guy? How many are happy about it? Realistically speaking, a guy should have an inkling that he's gay, even if he's in denial. And if he is in denial, suddenly having it thrust in his face probably isn't going to turn out pretty.
Well, I'm guilty of writing gay for you and I have to say that I like it. I've got 5 GFY heros: Tyler from Heaven, Darien from Faith, Kyle from Snagged, Aaron from Tech Support and now Scott from Unicorn. (and what is it with me and 1 word titles anyway?). I, personally, like the dynamic. I think it's the sappy romantic in me. Or maybe it's the yaoi fan. I like the meeting of Mr. Right and BLAM, an attraction that can't be denied. Of course, look at the Mr. Rights: Johnnie, Chris, Seth, Ki and Jack? Dang, I'd go gay for them if I was a guy. And I will fully admit that I rarely deal with all the implications. All of my guys go through their period of angst then end up pretty happy with their Mr. Rights. But then, I write fantasy. An idealized world, a world that I can control. A world where even if someone is messed up, love and lots and lots of hot sex can conquer all.
As with all my writing, I write about what CAN be, not necessarily about what is.Nov 21, 2008
Top Ten Reasons Books Are Better Than Sex
This was stolen from a yahoo group I belong to. It was too good not to share. :)
Top Ten Reasons Books Are Better Than Sex
10. With books, it's socially acceptable to read both men and women.
9. A book never has to ask "Was it good for you?" --- and then lie and say it was.
8. You don't have to shower after reading a book.
7. The pope says you can have books before marriage.
6. You don't have to get a book drunk first.
5. Books last longer than three minutes.
4. If you don't like what you see between the covers, you can toss it aside and find another book right away.
3. With books, length isn't important.
2. A book can make you sick, but not the kind of sick that requires a trip to the clinic.
1. You can have a new book every night, and they don't get jealous.
Top Ten Reasons Books Are Better Than Sex
10. With books, it's socially acceptable to read both men and women.
9. A book never has to ask "Was it good for you?" --- and then lie and say it was.
8. You don't have to shower after reading a book.
7. The pope says you can have books before marriage.
6. You don't have to get a book drunk first.
5. Books last longer than three minutes.
4. If you don't like what you see between the covers, you can toss it aside and find another book right away.
3. With books, length isn't important.
2. A book can make you sick, but not the kind of sick that requires a trip to the clinic.
1. You can have a new book every night, and they don't get jealous.
Nov 20, 2008
Beta Readers Needed!
Hey guys,
I'm working on the final (thank...goodness) edits for submission to my editor and was in a conundrum regarding the opening three (3) for a manuscript entitled To Dance with Demon. Therefore, I've created a poll to help me choose the best chapter, which would really draw the reader in.
So, if you have time, I have Chapter A & Chapter B posted on the scribesunleashed yahoo group until Thursday, December 4 to help garner feedback. So, if you have time to spare can you help a girl out and cast your vote!
Koko Brown
I'm working on the final (thank...goodness) edits for submission to my editor and was in a conundrum regarding the opening three (3) for a manuscript entitled To Dance with Demon. Therefore, I've created a poll to help me choose the best chapter, which would really draw the reader in.
So, if you have time, I have Chapter A & Chapter B posted on the scribesunleashed yahoo group until Thursday, December 4 to help garner feedback. So, if you have time to spare can you help a girl out and cast your vote!
Koko Brown
Nov 14, 2008
Loose-Id Authors Join Up To Create Scribes Unleashed
I usually don't post on the Loose-Id Author Blog because I never feel I have anything worth sharing.
But today is a different story!
I just couldn't contain my excitment; therefore, I wanted to let the readers know that three of Loose-Id's authors (Sapphire Blue, Koko Brown, and Tuesday Morrigan) have ganged up with Taige Crenshaw and Aliyah Burke to bring our readers (and potential readers), an Author group like no other!
Scribes Unleashed is a group of writers who are opening the doors to their readers and allowing them an up close and personal view into the lives of five authors who hail from all walks of life. As members of our chat group, readers will receive all the juicy details of our current and upcoming projects, they will have the opportunity to ask us questions, maybe name a book or two or simply participate in one of our weekly hot topics of discussion.
To celebrate this collaboration, we are having our World Premiere Party tonight from 6pm to midnight and everyone's invited! To attend, simply go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scribesunleashed.
I promise you won't be sorry you dropped in! We have a whole list of activities planned from fun trivia questions, games, scavenger hunts, guest authors, doorbusting door prizes, and more than four dozen free downloads/autographed copies you can win just by showing up!
So, I hope I will see you all there if not tonight, possibly in the future! For more information regarding the authors of Scribes Unleashed go to our official website http://www.scribesunleashed.com/
But today is a different story!
I just couldn't contain my excitment; therefore, I wanted to let the readers know that three of Loose-Id's authors (Sapphire Blue, Koko Brown, and Tuesday Morrigan) have ganged up with Taige Crenshaw and Aliyah Burke to bring our readers (and potential readers), an Author group like no other!
Scribes Unleashed is a group of writers who are opening the doors to their readers and allowing them an up close and personal view into the lives of five authors who hail from all walks of life. As members of our chat group, readers will receive all the juicy details of our current and upcoming projects, they will have the opportunity to ask us questions, maybe name a book or two or simply participate in one of our weekly hot topics of discussion.
To celebrate this collaboration, we are having our World Premiere Party tonight from 6pm to midnight and everyone's invited! To attend, simply go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scribesunleashed.
I promise you won't be sorry you dropped in! We have a whole list of activities planned from fun trivia questions, games, scavenger hunts, guest authors, doorbusting door prizes, and more than four dozen free downloads/autographed copies you can win just by showing up!
So, I hope I will see you all there if not tonight, possibly in the future! For more information regarding the authors of Scribes Unleashed go to our official website http://www.scribesunleashed.com/
Nov 11, 2008
New Release from Author Michelle Cary
Dumped by another boyfriend, Sophie Green decides it's time to make some changes in her life. Since her relationships have left her sexually frustrated, she concludes her horrible encounters with men must mean she's doing something wrong. Obviously, a weekend of uninhibited sex is the answer to her problem, isn't it? Sophie turns to roommate and friend Logan Rutledge for help.
Logan's had a thing for Sophie for years, but a 'hands off' promise to her brother caused him to steer clear. Until now. The mere thought of another man pleasuring Sophie has Logan putting not only his friendship, but his heart, on the line to help her. He knows he can never be the husband/father figure she's looking for, but if its no-holds barred sex she wants then he's her man.
Agreeing to keep their tryst from her brother, Logan whisks Sophie away for a romantic weekend at the beach. Recruiting their friend Reese, Logan introduces Sophie to a hedonistic new world, complete with silk scarves for bondage and fruit as foreplay. When an accident threatens Sophie's life, Logan realizes how much he wants their relationship to be more than one clandestine encounter. Keeping their secret from her brother is one thing, convincing Sophie he's Mr. Right is another.
CHECK OUT MORE OF MY WORK AT www.michellecary.com
BUY SOPHIE'S SECRET NOW AT LOOSE-ID
Nov 9, 2008
Itchy Feet
I don't know what my problem is. Well, maybe I do. I'm about 1/3 of the way through a story I owe to Kensington Aphrodisia, but instead of burying myself in it and grinning like the happy camper I usually am, I'm restless. The Aphrodisia project is full length as in 80.000 words which means it'll take a couple of months to go from the back of my brain to my editor. And because I'm incapable of working on more than one project at a time, this untitled sucker insists on taking up all of my brain. But I have a short attention span. I want to be done with it because this, that, and the other thing keeps poking at me demanding to be written.
That's what I love about the shorter length novellas I do for Loose ID. I can dive into a tightly written focused story, milk it for all its worth, then dust off my hands and cast around for yet another single focus story.
Case in Point, Midnight Soldier which will come out sometime this month, takes place in a 24 hour period and has a single setting, a Veterans cemetary. Except for a couple of walk-on parts in a single scene, my hero and heroine are everything. There's one focus, a 'dead' soldier being given a second chance at life and the woman who makes that possible. Yes they have backgrounds, families, lives, loves and hates, but in no more than 20,000 words all that has to be compressed. It's a bit daunting and exciting at the same time. I'm only keeping one or two balls in the air instead of the who knows how many that are essential to filling 80,000 words.
The other reason my feet are itchy these days. I live in southern Oregon which means the foggy weather has descended. Enough already! I'm ready for spring.
Vonna
Nov 3, 2008
Buying Habits
There has been some interesting commentary just the last week or so about eBooks/eReaders and if they will or will not be the final nail in the coffin of book sales. Jane of Dear Author makes some great points in the debate.
Which lead me to wonder: Do you, as a reader of eBooks, purchase less or more in this particular format, and do you succumb to impulse buys the same way you might do in a bricks and mortar store?
Nov 1, 2008
Author Interview: Mima
Author Name: Mima
Year started writing for LI: 2008
Titles: In Service
Web Page: www.mimawithin.com
What genre do you write in, and why? : scifi, fantasy, paranormal: I read to escape, and I write for the same reason. Magic, more men than I could ever handle, and amazing adventure are what pleases my imagination.
How much time do you spend writing every week? : If I want to sleep (and sometimes the book is more important) about 10 hours. I’m a children’s librarian, so my wonderful day job takes precedence.
What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) : A girl who could transport herself from castle to castle through paintings. I was 10. It was beautifully written, but there was no conflict. My editors still occasionally tell me the same thing…
How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? : Is there emotion? Do they make me hot? Are they different from every other scene in the rest of the book?
Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? : Never.
Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? : Yes. In terms of sex, writing, and publishing. I find it very patronizing, but then I’m sure that was their intent.
What one word best describes your toy collection? : Varied. Also, just like with cat toys, sometimes it’s not the store bought ones that work best.
Favourite candy while writing? :Bottlecaps, Smarties, Spree
Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :I have no idea where some of these ideas come from. But I read and watch movies a lot. So inspiration can come from spinning someone else’s great idea into a unique twist. I don’t consider that stealing.
What inspires you to write? :The voices in my head won’t shut up. Plus, reading disappointing stories. Not the really bad ones, the ones that were almost good. “I could fix this story,” I think, and my fingers itch.
What music inspires your writing? :I must write in silence.
Plotter or a Pantser? :Pantster
Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :Rarely, my lap.
What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :Telling my mother.
Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :My computer with my husband walking back and forth behind me. Freaks me out.
When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :Days of contemplation and teeth-grinding.
The Personal stuff:
Any outrageous liaisons in your past? None.
Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :The library (as a student not a professional, thank you.)
What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? : The half-cooked stew in the woods of the Adirondacks after my husband had proposed on a mountaintop.
What kind of books do you read for fun? :Romance or romantic elements in absolutely any genre. Some hardcore BDSM squicks me out…
Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :The emotions of my stories sometimes come directly from real-life, down to the dialogue. My written fantasies are way more outrageous than my real fantasies I explore with my husband. I think for many women the fantasies that get them hot on the page aren’t things they really crave in life. And that’s healthy.
If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :I already have it. “Librarians do it better between the covers.”
Soulmates? Do you believe? :No.
Sex with anyone famous? :Whaaaa? Ewww. Oh, you mean, as a fantasy? Viggo, Vin Diesel, Hugh Jackman.
Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :Cake, neither, green tea.
Year started writing for LI: 2008
Titles: In Service
Web Page: www.mimawithin.com
What genre do you write in, and why? : scifi, fantasy, paranormal: I read to escape, and I write for the same reason. Magic, more men than I could ever handle, and amazing adventure are what pleases my imagination.
How much time do you spend writing every week? : If I want to sleep (and sometimes the book is more important) about 10 hours. I’m a children’s librarian, so my wonderful day job takes precedence.
What was the first story you ever wrote about? (not nec. first published story) : A girl who could transport herself from castle to castle through paintings. I was 10. It was beautifully written, but there was no conflict. My editors still occasionally tell me the same thing…
How do you judge the effectiveness of the sensual scenes in your stories? : Is there emotion? Do they make me hot? Are they different from every other scene in the rest of the book?
Do you ever try out the sexual positions you write to make sure of accuracy? : Never.
Ever been told, Um...sweetie, that's not how it works? : Yes. In terms of sex, writing, and publishing. I find it very patronizing, but then I’m sure that was their intent.
What one word best describes your toy collection? : Varied. Also, just like with cat toys, sometimes it’s not the store bought ones that work best.
Favourite candy while writing? :Bottlecaps, Smarties, Spree
Where did your most unusual plot idea come from? :I have no idea where some of these ideas come from. But I read and watch movies a lot. So inspiration can come from spinning someone else’s great idea into a unique twist. I don’t consider that stealing.
What inspires you to write? :The voices in my head won’t shut up. Plus, reading disappointing stories. Not the really bad ones, the ones that were almost good. “I could fix this story,” I think, and my fingers itch.
What music inspires your writing? :I must write in silence.
Plotter or a Pantser? :Pantster
Does your cat insist on sitting on your keyboard like mine does? :Rarely, my lap.
What is your most embarrassing moment as an erotic romance author? :Telling my mother.
Most challenging place you've ever written a spicy scene? :My computer with my husband walking back and forth behind me. Freaks me out.
When you get stuck, how do you find your way back to the writing? :Days of contemplation and teeth-grinding.
The Personal stuff:
Any outrageous liaisons in your past? None.
Where's the most unusual place you ever managed to have sex? :The library (as a student not a professional, thank you.)
What was the most romantic meal you've eaten? : The half-cooked stew in the woods of the Adirondacks after my husband had proposed on a mountaintop.
What kind of books do you read for fun? :Romance or romantic elements in absolutely any genre. Some hardcore BDSM squicks me out…
Is your real life anything like your stories? What about your fantasies? :The emotions of my stories sometimes come directly from real-life, down to the dialogue. My written fantasies are way more outrageous than my real fantasies I explore with my husband. I think for many women the fantasies that get them hot on the page aren’t things they really crave in life. And that’s healthy.
If you were to make a bumper sticker for your car that had to relate to erotic romance, what would it say? :I already have it. “Librarians do it better between the covers.”
Soulmates? Do you believe? :No.
Sex with anyone famous? :Whaaaa? Ewww. Oh, you mean, as a fantasy? Viggo, Vin Diesel, Hugh Jackman.
Cake or Pie? Coke or Pepsi? Tea or Coffee? :Cake, neither, green tea.
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