What is sexy? You’d think a Blaze author would be able to answer this question. After all, our series bills our stories as red-hot reads, and all the authors aim to fulfill that promise. On the surface, we can all answer the “what is sexy” question, but what I find interesting about the question is that we would answer it in all different ways.

Whereas we all agree—basically—on what is scary or what is sad, there is a lot more wiggle room when we try to pin down what’s funny or what’s sexy. I think that’s why dark, serious artwork (film/books) more often receives critical acclaim. Critics from all walks can agree on what makes for a poignant premise. But our funny bone—like our sense of sexy—is more individual. I think that makes it tougher to write a film/play/book with a fun or sexy premise that receives glowing reviews. Just ask Shakespeare. His tragedies are the most critically lauded and frequently produced while his brilliant comedies require more work to successfully appeal to audiences. And even when they are well done, not everyone appreciates the nuanced humor that occasionally was very relevant to the era.

So writing sexy is a tough thing to do and have universal appeal. Sure, sexy can mean explicit sex. But not always. Consider the film version of The Age of Innocence. One of the hottest scenes involves the unbuttoning of a glove. It’s been sixteen years since I’ve seen the movie, and trust me, the glove stays with you. On the other hand, I also find something like The Thomas Crown Affair sexy, with more overt love scenes and a strong focus on physical desire. But sexy is in the eye of the beholder. My husband thought The Age of Innocence was a snooze and the New York Times Review called The Thomas Crown Affair “an allegedly steamy love story … proof that sex can be in the head.”

How, then, does a Blaze writer ensure a sexy story for a red-hot read? I’m asking you. What elements make a book (or a movie!) sexy in your opinion? Is it the characters? The situation? The play of repressed emotion as in the quiet sexiness of Age of Innocence? Or love scenes early and often?

***Visit with me on the boards today and I’ll give on random poster a copy of my new Blaze, the universally acknowledged sexy Sliding Into Home.***