The Morning After {smile}

Did you see the post on the Erotique blog yesterday about the great ladies of the silver screen - Mae West being only one of them. Go there and see for yourself - Anabel defines a kiss using these stars - WTG Anabel. Erotique Press
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What do romance & passion mean to erotica authors? Romance? Passion?
Fervor, ardor, obsession, infatuation, excitement, enthusiasm, zeal, craze, delight, eagerness, devotion, dedication, all these words may appear somewhere in a romance authors repertoire.

Romance to different people probably means the same thing. A love story. That story may be complicated or enhanced by mystery, suspense, thriller, intrigue, adventure. It may be anything from the old fashioned sweet love affair between consenting adults. Or, for more modern tastes and reasons, it could be ménage trois or a same sex relationship. Anything is, tastefully, open to exploration. You can be sure it will be entertaining and the plot that carries the story will be well thought out and inclusive.

Passion can and does include many things. A desire to please, an ardor that grows from kiss to physical intimacy by degrees.

No, erotic romance is not all about sex. AND Yes, erotic romance is all about sex, but with a plot, a story that the sex fits into. – An erotic romance novel is a romance novel. A romance novel is no different from any other novel in its basic structure. It demands conflict; an arcing plot with subplots often woven in; well-developed protagonists and possibly antagonists, each with their own goals and motivations; and a setting your readers can visualize. These are all the fundamentals of any good story. The genre’s trademark is sexual tension/pressure. And because it is an erotic romance it also requires sex.

Passion can be how someone feels about their career. I have a passionate urge to create compelling fiction. My passion is writing. Or, it can mean the heat of the moment in a sexual encounter. Passion then, is in the mind of the beholder.

According to Alison Kent “…women make love because they are emotionally involved; men make love to determine if they want to become emotionally involved.”

Looking for passion – read any of the Erotique authors – be sure to bring a tall cool drink and maybe even a fan – or just a willing partner. {smile}
A valentine read is good no matter what time of year so why not pick up a short love story Valentine Express (http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-ve.htm )
awaits – and if you hurry you can get the Valentine Bundle
(http://www.cricket-sawyer.com ) on sale from the author Cricket Sawyer.

Nathan and Cyan - Valentine's Day Romance

What would my characters do on Valentine's Day?

Nathan and Cyan are an unusual couple. They went to fetch their property from across the country from their other lives only to wind up nearly picked up by a tornado.

They seem to get caught up in the most unlikely and passionate interchanges possible. Could a barn fire and subsequent rescue be a Valentine sortéé or would they prefer to find their passion explode on the dance floor of the set for Dirty Dancing?

I think a roller coaster ride could be in order. I would imagine Cyan would find that just dangerous enough to give her libido a kick in the wherever. Once you read the story, I’m sure you will wonder where Blue Interlude will take you next. Watch for it coming soon from Erotique.
Dark Thunder Buy link
http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-dt.htm
www.cricket-sawyer.com
http://cricketshearth.blogspot.com
www.cricketsawyerinfo.com
Valentine Express Buy Link
http://www.erotiquepress.com/direct/buy-erp-cs-ve.htm
Jeff’s words: Rule Number One: To be successful selling books, or anything for that matter, is to have a desire to succeed.

Rule Number Two: Go out and do it.

What to do on Valentine's Day?

1. Perfectly R mantic things to do on Valentine's Day
Go for a long walk. It doesn’t matter where you live there is something in the motion of a long walk that brings you closer together. Hold hands if you like, or not. You will find the silence or the quiet conversation as you walk will bring out thoughts you haven’t expressed, perhaps for a long time. The rhythm of footsteps is kin to meditation. Try it, you might like it.
http://www.cricket-sawyer.com

K Celeste is here only one more day! Come Talk!

Advice for aspiring writers – Three words: Patience, Perseverance and Politeness.
The one word I would eliminate from the English Language is – ABUSE (in any form)
My family and friends are very supportive of my writing and have read everything I’ve written. They’re eager to offer suggestions and commentary and many times they have been spot on. Outsiders see things writers miss or don’t see in their own work.

19. What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? What made you think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’

When my youngest son was ten, he became fascinated with Native American lore, particularly Cheyenne dog soldiers. We checked out everything from the library pertaining to the subject and I listened for hour upon hour about their customs, their beliefs and . . . their brutality, courage and honor. At some point, I figured, hey, I should put all those hours to good use and write a book about the Dog Soldiers, thus Where The Rain Is Made.

19. If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who
would it be? And Why?

Harper Lee. I’d pick her brain and find out just how in heck she created Jem, Scout and Atticus. What a marvelous writer. The first time I read To Kill A Mockingbird, I could feel my trousers scrape along that barbed fence, smell the hot, southern air and taste the prejudice. I knew then I would be a writer one day.

20. What is your all time favorite book?

Two, and they are entirely different. One I mentioned above and the other good old standby I read over and over is a romance from the 1980’s called Windflower by a husband and wife team called Laura London. So many times I’ve been reading that book in the middle of the night and laughing. Again, their scenes are so descriptive and I feel as though I’m there, digging out the sea water in the small skiff so I don’t drown. Today, their writing would probably not be acceptable – too much purple prose, but what an experience to read the way they write.

21. What advice would you give aspiring writers today?

Be patient, persevere and pay attention to everything in the market. Listen to your gut while you’re writing. Pretend the character is standing over your shoulder. Ask, would he really say that? Would she really do that? You’ll know the answer.

Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed it. From now until the end of February, I’m hosting a contest. Go to my web site and e-mail me the name of the heroine from Sojourn With A Stranger (subject of e-mail should say “Contest”). On March 1st, I’ll draw a winner for a free download of your choice.
I hope you enjoy my new releases.


Happy reading!
K. Celeste Bryan
kcelestebryan@aol.com
http://www.kcelestebryan.com
http://katskwipsandrants.blogspot.com/ (Kat’s Kwips and Rants Blog)
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It’s been great fun having you here these few short days. I hope you will plan on coming back often. Please be sure to visit as your new books are released. We’ll be waiting.
Thanks for your time and your wonderful answers to some hard questions.

www.cricket-sawyer.com

Celeste is Reading --What?

On my To-Be-Read list: The Serpent Prince and The Bookseller’s Daughter, then I’ll have to hit the Internet and see what else I can order. I generally read two books alternately and write in between.

(pssst…do you have a title she should read? Why not leave a comment on the blog and tell her what it is?)

Authors I like: Louise Burton, Julia Quinn, Jacquie D’Alessandro.

12. How do you write? Are you a pantser or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?

I’m a rather unconventional writer. I plan the story in my head for months, every scene, every conversation between the characters until I know them inside and out. I need to know how they would react to a situation, whether or not they would actually say what I write down. Then I begin a scene, and most often it’s not Chapter One, but ends up somewhere in the middle of the book. From there, I work backward or foreword if called for. I never outline and don’t use note cards. It just doesn’t work for me.

13. How do you choose your characters' names?

Telephone books, baby books, and from the credit roll at the end of movies. If I see a name that grabs me, I write it down in a file. Somehow, one of them will match my character to a tee.

14. Do you write with music playing? If so, is the music likely to be songs with lyrics or only instrumentals?

I like to write when it’s quiet. Music distracts me.

15. What is the coolest thing about being an author?

Working for myself and not having a boss to tell me, “Get back to work.” I love the freedom writing offers. If I want to walk through the flower garden or play with the dog for half an hour, who’s to tell me I can’t?

16. What has surprised you about being a published author?

That people e-mail me and tell me how much they loved one of my books. I still can’t get over this. I love my books, but hey, I’m a little biased, so I don’t expect other people to fall in love with the story or the characters. It’s so nice when they do.

17. What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Read, sleep and garden. And then sleep some more.

18. What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

Least: That one must be very disciplined and rigid in order to meet deadlines, keep promises and keep writing to make a living. It’s a never-ending cycle. And promoting is my least favorite. I think about all the hours I could be writing my next book.

I think that means you like the writing the most – and you prove that by how prolific you are. Tomorrow we’ll ask you for some advice we can use if we decide to follow your footsteps.
Happy reading!
K. Celeste Bryan
kcelestebryan@aol.com
http://www.kcelestebryan.com
http://katskwipsandrants.blogspot.com/ (Kat’s Kwips and Rants Blog)

We've only got Celeste here with us for one more day. Please get your questions to her quickly so that she will read them in time to answer them before she leaves. She is a very busy author and we are lucky to have the time to chat with her. So come speak up - Maybe I can convince her to let us read a chapter of one of her current books. Shout out if you like that idea. = )

K. Celeste Bryan - Author of Where the Rain is Made

Today and for the next four days we will have as our special guest and featured author K. Celeste Bryan. She is a wealth of information and inspiration. So without further adieu lets find out about K. Celeste.

Where do you call home Celeste?

I live on a lake in Minnesota and love the outdoors (excluding winters). I’m an avid reader of historical and fantasy and write full-time. I have a penchant for soy candles, natural soaps and stationary of any color, type and size. My loveable furry companion goes by the name of Emma LaPounce and was rescued last year from the local animal shelter -- hours before they were about to put her down. Yes, my other penchant is for animals, particularly those who have been neglected and abandoned. And, oh yes, I have a super-penchant for my three children.

1. So, now that we know a little about you, what is your typical day like?

Most days, you’ll find me sitting at my computer praying my muse is in a creative mood. There’s a fat kitty on my lap and a big dog curled up at my feet, but I wouldn’t trade one minute of my writer’s life.

2. You have two books out right now. Tell us a little about them.

Thank you for asking.

Where The Rain Is Made is a time-travel, shapeshifter. Ethan Gray is a curator at a museum in his every day life, but in his other life he travels back in time to help his beloved People, the Cheyenne. When he kidnaps Francesca and her brother during a raid, he bites off a little more than he can chew, so to speak.

*Tomorrow we'll tell you about the other one {grin}*

3. When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published?

I have written in one form or another most of my adult life. I started researching histories of pioneers in America and then joined the US Web Historical Sketches site. I was fascinated by the stories about out industrious ancestors and soon, the “what ifs” surfaced and full-length novels took flight. I began writing historical fiction and then branched into romance.


4. How many stories did you finish before you were published?

I was very blessed to be accepted by a medium-sized publisher for my first book. When my contract ran out, I submitted some novels I’d been working on for two years, and they were accepted. I now write for New Concepts Publishing and The Wild Rose Press, wonderful publishers.


5. How did you break into publishing?

Oh, I knew nothing about it, but had written a story and my cousin asked me every day to read the next Chapter. When it was complete, she encouraged me to send it in. I had no idea where to send so I bought a copy of Writer’s Digest and sent it to several publishers. One didn’t take romance and the other bought it.

6. What inspired you to write romance?

When I realized how many women read romance. Romance accounts for a majority of the sales in the book industry. And, of course, I love writing about dashing heroes and sassy heroines.
Happy reading!
K. Celeste Bryan
kcelestebryan@aol.com
http://www.kcelestebryan.com
http://katskwipsandrants.blogspot.com/ (Kat’s Kwips and Rants Blog)

Come back tomorrow to find out more about K. Celeste Bryan – her other publishers – why she writes what she does and so much more….Secrets we’ll uncover for you!
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