Do I have your attention? Good. Because I’m not talking about what you think I am. No. Instead, I’m addressing the commitment that may exist between you and your reading choices. Are you married to a certain genre? Devoted to a specific line? Since this is the Blaze Authors blog, it’s a pretty good bet that you’re a series reader. But are you faithful to only Blaze? Or do you stray every now and again and sample other genres? Pick the enticing novels up in shadowy bookstores, fondle them, hold them close, inhale their stories like a musky, forbidden scent?

I guess what I’m really asking is have you considered cheating on Blaze with our girl Sofie Metropolis?

Sofie is our sassy Greek-American series character, budding P.I. and Queens girl. She’s starred in several of books so far, with the fourth title, WORKING STIFF, now available everywhere in paperback. She has a wacky Greek family; a sometimes insufferable but always adorable male Jack Russell terrier named Muffy who is both her roommate and sidekick; and so far she’s gotten herself into more trouble than she can get out of…especially in the love department with the presence of two men in her life that tempt and frustrate her no end: the hot, mysterious bounty hunter Jake Porter, and the sexy, mouthwatering Greek baker Dino Antonopoulos.

If you enjoy our Blazes, I’d like to encourage you to give Sofie Metropolis a try. At the very least, she’ll keep you entertained between our steamier titles. At most…well, she just may persuade you to expand your reading interests and turn your single act of infidelity into a full-blown affair!

Come on: take a walk on the wild side – Greek style!

To make things a little more interesting, we’re offering up copies of the first three titles in the series – SOFIE METROPOLIS, DIRTY LAUNDRY and FOUL PLAY – to one lucky poster at day’s end. All you need do to qualify is say ‘hi!’ Good luck!

Writing sex often gets mistaken for writing love in a lot of articles and workshops — a love scene and a sex scene are not the same thing, though they can overlap, obviously. Love scenes imply a certain emotional commitment has been made, and I think people tend to see the love scene as more acceptable than the sex scene for that reason. For those of us who write erotic romance, we often write sex that happens before love. While the we know these two characters are meant to be together, and that they will have their HEA, they will fall into bed (or into a closet or onto a table, or whatever)–a lot–before they fall in love.

Writing good sex isn’t easy, and it intimidates a lot of new writers. I assume we all know the sex should be relevant to the story–and that there should BE a story–and the plot, so what I am talking about here, is how to best approach the actual writing of sex itself (just to be clear). So I thought I would see what advice was out there for writing sex.

One of the most available and reproduced articles I found was this one, by Steve Almond, who offers 12 “rules” for writing sex. I liked all of them except rules 6 and 9, which I didn’t agree with at all. People’s sexual experience is wide and varied — we simply can’t make these assumptions about how fast climax happens, or slow, or if it happens at all. And we should consider all three scenarios when we’re writing sex.

I also disagree with him on not “using the rude words” — and in fact, I don’t find sexual words rude. I like to use all the words at my disposal, and many times my characters like using them, too. And maybe his characters would never talk to each other during sex, or announce their pleasure, what they like, or what they want, but that doesn’t mean that’s a general rule. Lots of people love dirty talk — it’s the basis of an entire phone sex industry, right?

Another resource is an entire book on the subject, Elizabeth Benedict’s The Joy of Writing Sex, and it gets some good reviews online, though I haven’t read it, but it looks like it might be a good resource for those looking for advice on writing sex. If anyone has read it, please let us know what you think.

This is also a fun discussion, if you have time to read through it.

I’ve always thought that the key thing to keep in mind if you are writing sex is that everyone’s sexual experiences are different, and in that difference, you have a broad range of what can happen. No two people ever have sex or think about sex in the same way, and that gives writers a lot to work with. There are no limits — almost.

Here is my own list of tips for writing sex:

1) Beware of the “ick factor.” In general, you can assume anything dangerous, violent, insulting or demented, anything which would make most reasonable, open-minded people back away, will qualify as “ick.”

2) Beware of being too tame. Keeping the “ick” factor in mind, don’t be afraid of the kink, and use whatever words you need to make it happen.

3) Make sure the sex in your book is true to the character having it, as you have described them. If they are experienced or a virgin, or have various kinds of backstories, make sure the sex is consistent.

4) Beware of falling into a rut. Characters in different books should have their own sex lives, not the same sex as characters in the last three books. What do these people like? what makes them unique?

5) Switch it up. Use different locations, positions, toys, kinds of sex, etc. Have your characters explore and surprise each other. If you don’t know about something, do your research. (Online, or otherwise, it’s up to you).

6) Have fun! Don’t be afraid of the humorous, awkward, or sticky moment in a book. On this note, make sure your logistics work, be clear in your physical descriptions, i.e., This Side Up, etc.

7) Don’t make a public service announcement out of your sex scene. i.e., birth control, STDs. Smart characters will act responsibly, and should, but there are a lot of ways to work around this without dampening passion or spontaneity.

8 ) Be clear on what the sex is about. Even if it’s not about love, be aware what emotions are in play. For more on this, I wrote this blog on Sexual Motivation that people seemed to like.

9) Remember (and this comes in handy when people mistake your characters’ sex lives for YOURS), This is about your characters, not you. Once an editor wrote me a line edit “Is this really sexy?” I thought about it, and could only say, “It is for her.” To me, the heroine was clearly enjoying herself. Readers seemed to agree.

10) What do you find sexy? If you can communicate that, it will probably be sexy for your readers, too. Likewise, don’t write anything you are uncomfortable with, because once it’s on that page, it’s there for good.

So what would you add to the list, as a reader or writer? What makes the sex really great to read, and to write? What have been some of your favorite sexual moments in books? Share your ideas, thoughts, and I’ll send out a book to two lucky winners at the end of the day.

Have you ever had that moment when you just won’t do it.?  It doesn’t matter what it is, you just aren’t going to do it.  In fact, it is probably more than one thing, and you’re not going to do any of them.  I’m in a refusal stage right now.  I’m just not going to go over my revisions again.  I’m just not going to clean the fracking house.  I’m just not not not going to do anything but play www.pogo.com.  So there.

So…my question to you…what time waster do you look to when you’re just not going to do anything? 

Currently, I’m playing computer monopoly.  I’m not even going to post this blog, I’m sending it to my assistant to post it.   I have also watched an entire weekend of Xena, Warrior Princess.  (And, I’m not going to look up the exact punctuation of that title either!) 

 

Note from Jade’s devoted assistant: Jade will be returning to her revisions shortly. Just as soon as I disable her pogo account. Again.

There’s nothing quite like the Blues to cuddle up next to on a cool, cloudy day like today. Such passion. Such longing. The music not only encourages daydreaming and wistful sighs and sentimental journeys, it requires them.

Click on image to watch a great video representation of A Sunday Kind of Love

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The genre also exemplies the emotions we strive to achieve in each and every of our Blazes. Whether it be the lighter songs like Ain’t Misbehavin’ or Love Me or Leave Me for our more comedic endeavors (and that’s relatively speaking, because both of these selections also have a dark side that I love jumping into with both feet creatively), or the heavier pieces like Trouble in Mind or You Don’t Know What Love Is for our more emotionally driven stories, we can always rely on the Blues to help set the right tone. Especially the ladies of the Blues. While Billie Holiday tends to be a little too dark (I end up getting pulled into her story instead of the one she’s trying to tell, although it could be argued that they’re one and the same), Etta James, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and even more modern songstresses Norah Jones and Joss Stone transport you to a rich pit of emotion just begging to be mined.

So on this Sunday, we invite you to take a musical ride with us and see if you’re not equally as moved!

Visit us at www.toricarrington.net (this month’s on-line drawing is for a Greek Pastry Sampler to celebrate the sale of the next two hardcovers in our Sofie Metropolis series), www.sofiemetro.com, www.facebook.com/toricarrington, www.myspace.com/toricarrington and www.twitter.com/toricarrington.

A lot of discussion goes into what makes a great Blaze hero. A discussion I particularly like.

A quick search of our own Blaze blog reveals a gold mine! Joann Rock talks about how heroes are made here.

Lori Borrill wrote about Favorite Heros here.

Karen Foley talks about how much she likes a hero in a uniform here.

And be sure to check out where Jillian Burns talks about a favorite topic of mine, bad boys, here and Nancy Warren shares what makes a man sexy here.

Now what about those Blaze heroines? I decided to ask a few author friends what makes a great Blaze heroine.

Julie Kenner said, “To me, the great thing about a Blaze heroine is that she can be anything-she can have a strong personality, a great career, and an unabashed sense of her own sensuality. But she doesn’t have to have all of them. Maybe she’s confident in the boardroom and shy around men. Maybe she’s a flirt, but fears commitment. The point being that a Blaze heroine is like the women we know, women you could imagine hanging out with. And, yeah, they can be just a little bit larger than life.”

Lori Borrill added, “I think a good Blaze heroine is one who takes chances. She may not start out having embraced her inner strength, but by the time her story ends, she’s dug deep and found the courage to go after what she wants.”

Candace Havens talks about a heroine’s attitude. “To me a great Blaze Babe is a strong, fiesty woman who takes the world, and her men, on her terms.”

I’m giving Alison Kent the last word. “A Blaze heroine is SMART: Sexy, Mindful, Accomplished, Resourceful, Together.”

By the way, if you want to keep reading about the Blaze heroine, check out Tawny Weber’s recent blog or Bonnie Edwards’ here.

I’m heading out to Los Angeles for the TCA (TV Critics Press Tour). It’s a cool event where TV critics from all over the U.S. and Canada convene to do interviews with the stars, producers and writers of the shows for the new TV season. If someone was looking for trends this year, it would be a little difficult. The shows are all over the map. There are paranormal ones like Vampire Diaries (CW) and Eastwick (ABC), and action-adventure like Human Target (Fox, with the very hot Mark Valley. Yummers) and Spartacus: Blood and Sand with Lucy Lawless and Andy Whitfield. There are new dramas with everyone from Julianne Margulies and Dylan McDermott to Shiri Appleby (Life UneXpected, CW).

Some of the people I’m excited about talking to are David Tennant (Dr. Who), Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Alex O’Loughlin (Formerly of Moonlight, now on Three Rivers), Chris O’Donnell, Linda Hunt, Joss Whedon, Joseph Fiennes, Alan Alda, Jimmy Smits (Just talked to him, but can never get enough), the gang from The Office, the gang from Fringe, Lie to Me and GLEE and so many more you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. I come home from these things with hundreds of interviews.

We sit in through panels, attend parties thrown by the various cable and broadcast networks, and we work our butts off. I know it sounds glam, but there are long days and it gets to the point where you’re like, “Oh, look, there’s Tom Hanks.” And you turn back to your conversation.

If you’re interested in keeping up, I’ll bet on Twitter (twitter.com/candacehavens) and Facebook and I’ll be trying to blog daily on livejournal. You can get to all of those through my website on www.candacehavens.com. I even ask questions that my fellow tweeters and facebook friends ask.

While I’m doing this I will also being working on my revisions for TAKE ME IF YOU DARE, my new Blaze. I begged for these revisions, and while they are scaring the beejezus out of me, my editor Kathryn, is making it a much stronger book.

So life will be a little insane for the next few weeks, but when I stop and thing about it, my life pretty much stays that way. I’ve sort of learned to live with the chaos.

If you’re interested in any of the new shows let me know here, or keep up with me on one of my social media hangouts. I would like to know your favorite TV shows now, the returning ones, and if any of the ads for the new ones are interesting to you. Tell me. I really want to know.

My first Blaze is on the stands! Whoo hoo! I was looking forward to its release because the number one question I’m asked is, “Where do you get your ideas?” and this time, I’ve got an easy answer. Naturally, no one has asked me that about this book. But the month is young.

UNDRESSED is four stories about couples who overhear conversations in the dressing rooms sharing a wall between a bridal salon and a tux rental shop. The idea for the book came from shopping for a wedding dress with my sister, who got married last year. You would not believe some of the conversations we overheard in the fitting rooms. At one point, I wondered what would happen if the grooms could hear their brides and future mothers-in-law talking . . . and a book was born.

I made up the conversations in the book. The real ones were too unbelievable. A lot of what happens in real life is too unbelievable to use in a book.

For example, at my sister’s wedding last May, I, as matron of honor, am standing next to her, listening as the minister preaches about marriage before the nitty gritty of exchanging vows and rings.

Now, what’s the classic cliché here? The missing ring, of course.

Yes. A horrible, awful, terrible feeling goes through me as I realize that I don’t have the ring. It’s on the table in the bride’s dressing room.

As I am thinking of how I can sneak off the dais and retrieve the ring without anyone noticing, I am also thinking that I could never use this in a book because it’s such a cliché. I turn to the other bridesmaid and mouth, “I don’t have the ring.”

She smiles and mouths back, “I have the ring.”

I go limp with relief. She discreetly hands it to me and I stick it on my thumb. Moments later, I hear, “May I have the rings?” And that’s when I go for cliché number two–the stuck wedding ring.

I’d been working with the flowers and my hands–and thumb–were sticky from florist’s tape. Since by now I was holding the bride’s bouquet as well as mine, I tried to slide the ring off my thumb with the fingers of the same hand. There was no sliding. The ceremony pauses as the minister waits for me to give him the ring. My sister thinks I’m joking. Finally, I pass off a bouquet and use my other hand to remove the ring because I’m afraid it’ll suddenly become unstuck and go shooting across the dais.

You’d never believe that in a book. I didn’t believe it as it was happening. But I can use the idea, if I make up something more convincing and less like real life.

It’s June! What are your wedding stories?

Good morning, Isabel Sharpe here, from Wi(ll-it-ever-be-spring?)sconsin. On the 15th of each month I’ll be providing a Blaze-appropriate recipe for your enjoyment, everything from mood-brightening cocktails to tantalizing appetizers to hot main dishes and happy-after sweet endings, because as a devoted foodie, I believe when it comes to pleasures of the body, eating and drinking are right up there with . . . you know.

Today’s recipe is about celebration: of our Blaze blog’s first month, of Harlequin’s 60th anniversary, and of course, of love and everything wonderful about it, especially the naughty bits. What better way to celebrate than with champagne, my very favorite indulgence? I’m one of those people who sees athletes spraying the stuff around the locker room and thinks, “God, I hope that’s cheap Asti.”

On my refrigerator I have a comic strip: Man comes up to the bar and says, “A bottle of your very best champagne!” The bartender asks, “What’s the occasion?” and the man says, “Thirst.” That’s my kind of thinking. When I grow up I want to be able to have a bottle of the “good stuff” in my refrigerator at all times for when the mood strikes. Until then I have to be content with a bottle of the “okay stuff” in my basement.

In this recipe, the champagne is mixed with pomegranate juice flavored with orange and ginger. Don’t bother buying expensive champagne when you’re mixing, but don’t buy garbage either. Domaine Ste. Michelle, made in Washington State, is my current favorite lower-priced sparkling wine (if it doesn’t come from the Champagne region in France, it can’t be called champagne.).

Epicurious.com will allow me to post the link, but not reproduce the recipe

Isabel’s tips: Mix the non-champagne ingredients together rather than measuring them individually in each glass, and try using only a tablespoon of the mixture first, unless you like your drinks sweet (I don’t) in which case use a couple.

Enjoy!

Isabel

P.S. I’m sending this for posting early because I’ll be on a road trip with my kids on the 15th. I will do everything possible to find wireless Internet so I can check in during the day, but can’t promise. So apologies ahead of time if I don’t respond to comments right away!

Hello! First off, let me say there’s absolutely no pressure in being the first author to post on our very sexy and beautiful Blaze Blog. I mean, I’m not going to let the fact that I’m one of the newest additions to the Blaze Babes intimidate me or anything. ::Smile::

I will tell you that I’m excited to be in such wonderful company. Many of my favorite authors are Blaze Babes, and it’s honestly like being a part of the coolest sorority on campus. The one where they look like perfectly respectable girls on the outside, but they know how to get down and dirty and have a really good time. Their writing is stellar, and they tell such incredible stories.

Since I am new to the gang, I’ll tell you that I come from the world of paranormal romance. The “Charmed & Dangerous series,” “The Demon King and I” and the upcoming July release “Dragons Prefer Blondes,” are some of my books. My new Blaze, which doesn’t have a title yet and comes out in February 2010, is a whole new world for me to explore. One with spies and intrigue, that I’m so excited about, it’s hard to sleep at night.

While writing it I actually fell for my hero, Jackson, in a big way. I told my husband that if Jackson showed up on my doorstep tomorrow, I was packing my bags. Seriously hot. I’m not kidding. I’ve loved the heroes in all my previous books, but I wasn’t in their heads like I was Jackson. I want to have his babies.

I want to know about your favorite heroes. Who sends your heart racing? They can be from film, television and books. What is it about them that makes you feel that way? Are you more of an Edward (Twilight) lover, an Indiana Jones type or Jason Bourne? Um, Mr. Darcy, anyone? I kind of adore all them for different reasons. So tell me. I really want to know.

Candy Havens
www.candacehavens.com