What about girls

Contrary to what some may believe, I do like writing about women. Just because most of my stories are about gay or bisexual men doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading or writing about straight romance anymore. To me, it's just romance. It's two -- or more -- people figuring out how to be together and having amazing sex. That's what I enjoy.

So why haven't I written more about girls? Not sure, to be honest. Most of the ideas that've come to me have been about men, lately. Could be because of the company I keep. Most of my best friends these days are writers of m/m. When everyone's talking about guys, you tend to think of guys more. There's also the fact that one of my better known series, Heaven Sent, and its sequel series Indigo Knights, are about guys. That's a lot of books right there. Plus, more of my vocal fans are into m/m so those are the requests I hear most. I'm mercenary enough to want to at least try and give my readers what they want. They're the ones buying after all, right?

But back to the girls. I'm one, so naturally I imagine myself as a heroine in many a story. Being me, I also imagine myself as a hero in many a story, but it's certainly easier to play the girl's role. I know that body, after all. No matter how hard I try, I still can only imagine personal penile wonders. Despite the plethora of straight romance available, I still think that m/f is worth telling. I like to think that I have a different take on girls, just like I have a different take on guys. Every author does. I enjoy my girls and, yes, most of my girls not only enjoy guys but enjoy (or end up enjoying) guys with guys. So maybe there's a tiny bit of Mary Sue in there, with me getting my kicks through my heroines. Is there anything wrong with that? That's part of the fun of creation, is it not?

My next book coming out, Toys for Good Girls, is m/f. The book previous to it, Reindeer Games, is m/m. I'm not at all sure what pairing a next book might have. Like in my Dark Elves series, the elves in my version of Santa's Village aren't much caught up in gender issues. They'll have sex with either gender, based on personal preference rather than any pressure from their society. It's a rather nice concept that I really wish applied to real life. Perhaps that's why I've used it for both of my elves series.

Do I expect all my readers to read all my books, regardless of pairing? Not at all. I can respect a reader's choice to only read m/f or m/m. It comes down to personal preference and there's nothing wrong with that. Am I sad when I write a book in a series that causes some readers to not read the entire series? Sure, but them's the breaks. I try to include all that's necessary to enjoy a book within the book itself. I can't always succeed in that, especially if a book is deep within a series, but I do try.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I'm going to continue to write women. And men. And different pairings. Hell, perv that I am, I've even got ideas about critters that can't be considered male or female. I try to write what I enjoy and enjoy what I write and I like variety. I would encourage anyone to do the same. Who knows? There may be a book of a pairing you don't usually enjoy that would blow your mind because the journey of the characters is just that good.

Chivalry vs Efficiency

Is chivalry dead? And should it be?

I’m all for chivalry… or at least, basic common courtesy, which, like common sense, is none too common. However, there’s one place where it drives me absolutely nuts. Nuts, I tell you! There are six floors in my building at work. Yes, I’m lazy enough to take the elevator. I get out at the 3rd floor. There’s a bunch of guys who, even if they’re at the elevator first, will stand aside and let us females on the elevator. Now, I guess it is certainly courteous, but pointless. Not like holding the door open for someone. As long as you’re not muscling your way to the front, we women are perfectly capable of waiting our turn.

So, these guys -- I think we need to call them nice but dumb. Why do they let women on first? And these guys will often let EVERYONE on first, not just women. Honestly, it’s so not necessary -- especially when they’re going to the top floor! The problem is when you let everyone get on first, you get on last and you’re IN THE WAY when I want to get out. Seriously. These guys are first in line for the elevator, and know they’re going to the top floor. Just get in the f**king elevator. I’d be a lot more appreciative of the efficiency than you letting me get on first, because IT MAKES NO SENSE!

I guess if my boat was sinking, I might be more than happy to get first dibs on the life raft, and perhaps the whole elevator thing is merely training for a tragedy that may never happen, but I ride that elevator every day, and bite back sarcastic comments every day. I may never have to worry about that sinking ship.

Then again, courtesy is so rare these days, I suppose I should give them a sticker for passing Chivalry 101. The world would likely be a poorer place if efficiency completely took the place of chivalry, so I shall continue to bite my tongue.

KC Burn

Gender bias

From time to time I run across acrid commentary about women writing male male romance or straight men writing gay love stories, or the arrogance of men writing romance between a man and woman.

Seriously? Why on earth would anyone think one gender had a great claim to expertise in writing craft as applied to any particular genre?

History offers many example of women being discriminated against. Here's where I get really confused. I would have guessed our own history of oppression, prejudice, and discrimination would have made women more sensitive and less tolerant to this kind of injustice. Reading commentary written by women, vilifying men who dare to think they can capture romance on the page, dismays me.

Are those women railing against male authored romance unaware of D.H. Laurence, T.S. Eliot, Leo Tolstoy, and William Shakespeare?

Practicing gender bias makes no sense. Thankfully the vast majority of readers are too smart to be bothered by an author's gender or sexual orientation or race or any other irrelevant label.

Right? Uh, you all aren't prejudiced against men writing romance are you?

The OHMYGODIHAVEABLOGDUE post

Uh....

So let's just go totally for fun and totally wacky.

Here's a picture. Give me the first line of the story you would write about this picture. Type it right into the comment section.  And then I'll randomly pick a winner and the winner can pick a title from my backlist. Any title.

When You Need a Laugh

After a really long week, I’m in the mood to share something light and fun. The following are Twitter hashtags and users who occasionally give me a laugh or share an interesting fact or quote. Even if you aren’t on Twitter, you can still click on the links and check them out. I’ve included a sampling of tweets with each hashtag or Twitter user listed below.

(For those of you who are not familiar with a hashtag, it’s a way for users to search and follow themed content across all tweets by using the # symbol to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet.)


#FiveWordsAfterSex

• Note to self: Buy batteries (via @TweakerTweets)
   
• I can't feel my legs (via @Brownskin_Mo)
   
• Round four in the shower (via @Arii_B_SoReal)
   
• Guess you're not Gay (via @Treehousecasino) 

@OMGFactsSex

• Despite conventional wisdom, men are actually more romantic than women! --- http://ow.ly/6J0pE
   
• An identical twin has 20-50% chance of being gay if the other is
   
• People have had sex 'on' the Moon! How so? -- http://t.co/BpTYPTjk
   
• Men's testosterones levels rise by 45.7% after 7 days of not ejaculating! Details -- http://t.co/Ab7Szmy9
   
• 34% of men admitted that they told lies to have sex

#sexquote

• Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. - Rodney Dangerfield (via @Regeene)
   
• Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand. - Woody Allen (via @Regeene)
   
• Sex is like air; it's not important unless you aren't getting any. (via @MeghanJade)

#WorstPickUpLines

• I like your clothes, I bed they'd look even better on my bedroom floor (via @387wagner)
   
• girl I know yo feet hurt cause you been runnin through my mind all night! (via @FromLA_France)
   
• Do you like clocks? (Yes.) Put two hands and a face on this. (Point down) (via @SindeeDanger)
   
• Are my undies showing? Answer: "No." You: "Would you like them to? (via @The_WunderKind)

Do you have a hashtag or user you follow that gives you a good laugh?