Fictional Menages vs REAL Menages

By A.J. Llewellyn

We romance authors know what's hot. Our publishers let us know and so do the top ten lists at every romance publishing house. Some authors defy the trending genres and sell their pants off regardless of what is considered currently "hot".
Some authors jump on the new, glowing tide with mixed results.
Menages is hot. Paranormal menages, even better. Some are frankly ludicrous...even frightening.
What kind of a REAL menages involves one women and say three, or even four men where the guys don't touch each other? That's not a menages it's a gang bang and in reality would make for one sore woman.
I am gay and I write gay menages. I have also written two books with men and women (My Hawaiian Song of Love, Quartetto) the latter of which featured three men and a woman.
In romance writing parlance it was a M/M/M/F which indicates the men get it on. I've noticed a new genre cropping up: M/F/M which signifies the girl gets lucky with the guys but the guys don't get lucky with each other.
Now, I've talked to many friends who are het and who swing. They tell me in real life, this is possible. However, in real life, the fantasy acted out in reality is often one man and two women. For a guy, for example, who wants to see his wife taken by a hot, hung stranger, he might sit by and watch and join in...but not every single day.
I have a friend who wanted to swing and she and her husband went to a sex club. Her sex partner was apparently a very free and easy guy who grabbed her husband and as she said to me, "he got my husband ready for me. It was a total turn on."
"For you or for him?" I asked her.
"for me...and later on, he admitted he was taken by surprise, but he liked it. Would we do it again? I don't know. He wants another woman with me, but I'm not interested."
As for three or four men taking on a woman and not even getting near each other, I am told, and as I suspected, it is highly improbable.
My friend Leslie who performs in and directs straight porn tells me that when she and her hubby play with others, some guys love the feel of another man's cock, especially when it's just been inside the woman they're playing with.
"My husband is great for playtime with other women, but would never touch another man," she told me last night.
I asked her about a scene in a book I described to her, one that I had just read where three men took turns having sex with the woman. I found it unbelievable that they placidly took turns er...enjoying her and nothing else was going on.
"That sounds like a damned dreary party," she said. "I can't imagine that happening."
Leslie is heavily involved in the swinger scene and has shot a couple of orgies for camera.
"What you are describing is an orgy and is borderline gang rape," she said. "If it goes on for hours and the chick is spent and still the guys are doing her...in real life, she'd be in a lot of pain. Besides, Ive been in a real orgy and there is nothing like them. There is an urgency...a pure picnic of pleasure. It would take at least two women to entertain a few guys. I'm a porn actress and I wouldn't want to take on three or four guys on my own. I mean, come on."
So I am curious.
Why do you think this genre is now hot to the point of being a little...er, ridiculous? Maybe they're written for women by women who have a fetish for being the center of attention, but is it even remotely realistic?
Or am I the one who's eating crazy pie? I'd really value your thoughts.

On a personal note, the gorgeous and talented author Leah Braemel asked me to guest blog today.Please stop by & comment for the chance to win 2 of my books! http://tinyurl.com/yaquuxx

Aloha oe,

A.J.

Will we ever be equal?

I'm in the home stretch on a big charity anthology project I've been working on with fellow editor Lara Zielinsky along with the author members of my lesbian writer's group, SapphicPlanet, and loveyoudivine. Looking over the final manuscript last night really got me to thinking and some of the thoughts weren't very happy ones, I muct admit. (That's what I get for deep thinking when my hormones are raging)
Anyway, there is all this talk about equality. Not just marriage equality, though that is a huge subject, especially with the fight going on in California to lift the ban on gay marriage. Coincidentally, or not, that is the charity we are raising money for with the anthology. All Proceeds from the To Love and To Cherish book will go to Marriage Equality. Are we ever going to get there?
It seems like we all struggle to get ahead, taking ten steps forward only to take fifty steps back. Where does all the prejudice come from? Why the need to assign everyone a title? We fight over color, gender, orientation, kink, civil rights, taxes,....etc, need I go on? We focus so much damn time on what's wrong with the world that we don't take any time to reflect on what's right. We're too caught up in the moment and what's next on our agenda to appreciate all that we have. So today I'm going to stop and smell the roses and be thankful for my three great children, the fact that I have a job, my grandad turned 90 yesterday, (whooo hooo go grandadddy!) and I have a vehicle and a roof over my head. I have friends online I talk with every day that provide me with a constant source of support and encouragement and I have a family I love that loves me back, even though they don't always approve of what I do. ^_^
Have a great day everyone. I'm going to do my best to enjoy it. I'm not even upset that I'm at work.
Beth
http://www.bethwylde.com/
http://www.sapphicplanet.com/

When the Characters Just Won't Cooperate

Sheila Stewart had some awesome advice for writer's block. But what if the problem is more than that? What if, say, you're faced with a hero who goes all silent and broody on you? What's an author to do?

Let me tell you what not to do--Don't write the story the way you think it should go. That only irritates the little bast...brat and he'll get all pouty and go off to sulk in a corner. Then, when he's finally in the mood to cooperate, he'll casually mention that, "oh, those four chapters you wrote aren't going to work, because I'm going to do this."

How do I know this? Very simple. It's called the Halsey Syndrome in my house. Doesn't matter if it's Jacob, Bryce or Mike. Doesn't matter if the character is male or female. Doesn't matter if they're a Halsey or not. I am an author plagued by tempermental, opinionated, stubburn characters who refuse to spill all the good stuff until they're damned good and ready too.

How do I deal with this? I write. I write what I think should happen and then have to scrap two, three, four chapters of work because the characters snort and guffaw and chortle--"I'd never do something like that!" So it's back to the computer and the golden delete key. (I'm serious--I've contemplated gilding my delete key due to the overuse it gets)

Why am I complaining about this? I should be happy the characters communicate at all, right? Wrong. I love my characters. I think they're wonderful people with fascinating stories to tell. But they are the most closed mouthed, tight-fisted little bastards I've ever come across. No hints about what they're thinking until I've written something and they don't like it. Then a plethora of visuals and information at the most inopportune times--the middle of my class when I have to demonstrate a function on the computer and all my characters want me to do is write some long winded argument or dialogue, or heaven forbid a love scene. No matter what anyone has told me, there is no way a person can comfortably or creatively write a love scene when she's got 500 5 through 13 year-olds running around the building, apt to walk in and ask, "Whatcha doin'?" at the most critical moment.

So, for me, it isn't a case of writer's block that tends to throw me off my game. It's persnickety, stubborn, opinionated characters who have their own ideas about what I'm supposed to be writing.

For now, I guess I can live with that. But I'm looking to renegotiate these terms, if I can ever get the bloody creatures to sit still long enough.

Have a great day.

Guest blog -- Shiela Stewart

Everyone welcome guest blogger Shiela Stewart!

Writer’s block

These two words bring terror to every author. Any author who tells you he or she has never felt writers block is either a genius or lying. We have all experienced it at some time in some form or another. Have you ever sat down to write and find yourself staring at the screen for several minutes? Sure you have, but for most, those few seconds or minutes pass and the story continues. For those unfortunate authors where the minutes tick on to hours, days, month, it’s terrifying.

What do you do when the words just won’t come, when the story simply won’t progress, when the characters are silent?

First tip:

Do not throw your computer or laptop out the window. This electronic writing tool has done nothing wrong, why make it suffer. You do not want to be known as a computer killer.

Don’t give up: I know it’s frustrating, believe me I know. I’ve been in that boat where the words refuse to flow. But refused to give up. I love my job too much to walk away from it. So just be patient.

Now, for some “Do’s”.

Put it out of your mind. Walk away, give yourself a few days and don’t think about what you can’t do. The more you dwell on your lack of creations the worse it will be. Spend some time outside. Fresh air can be a great brain de-clogger.

Watch a good movie. Sometimes watching a movie can jar loose the brain fog. It’s worked for me, especially watching a really bad movie. I come out of it thinking, “Hell, I can do better than that.” Then I sit down and prove myself right.

Read. Books are great motivators and help stir your own creative juices.

Find a project to take your mind off of your woes. It can be anything at all. Crotchet or knit a blanket for your kids, parents, siblings, or the guy next door who keeps giving you that sexy twinkle. Or, if knitting and crocheting aren’t your forte, try gardening. If you’re a guy, work on a car, go hang out with your buddies or try the recommended remedy for stress that my hubby loves. Video games. Just make sure they have a lot of gun fire, destruction and swearing. J

Maybe try redecorating your home. It works for me. Sometimes placing your creativity in a different direction temporarily can help jar the story loose that’s plugged in your brain. But think before painting the walls in your house bright yellow with black stripes or lime green with orange flowers. That is just so wrong.

Sit down with a pad and paper and jot down why you’re having trouble getting the story to flow. You may just find it’s something easily remedied.

Get some sleep. Lack of sleep will make your brain sluggish. Take a nap, and try to get at least eight hours a night.

Exercise. Okay, who threw that pen at me? I know, who wants to exercise but it can help brain flow. I’m not talking buying yourself a Bow Flex or joining the gym and sweating until you drop. It can be as easy as taking a walk or doing some jumping jacks.

Try writing out of sequence. If you have some ideas for later on in the book but you’re stuck on chapter three and you just can’t seem to get past it, write the part that’s begging to be written. There is no law that says a book has to be written in order. If you have the ending already in your mind, then write it down. If chapter twelve is begging to spring forth, jot it down. It could very well jar loose the rest of brain and Chapter three might just come to you.

Work on more than one project at a time. For some authors, this works. If you’re stuck in one novel, switch to another.

Get together with other authors and have a gab session about your book. Talk about what you want from it, why you’re stuck. They may have some good ideas that will help you knock your brain back in gear. Or simply have a good cry because you need to. Whatever works.

Also, what is your work space like? If the chair you sit in is too uncomfortable, you may be having trouble concentrating on the task at hand. Same thing can apply for having a chair that is too comfy. If sitting in your chair brings to mind a nice nap rather than a hot story then I suggest a change in furniture. Is your work area cluttered? Often the mind can’t concentrate if the work area is too busy.

Writers block is no fun but there are ways of remedying it. You feel like a failure, like you’ll never be able to write another sentence never mind another book. But this too shall pass. I know it’s scary but like I said, the more you dwell on it, the worse it will be.

And if all else fails, grab a bottle of wine and get drunk. J What the hell, right? And who knows what ideas might come to you in your drunken stupor. J

Shiela Stewart
www.shielasbooks.ca

Authors Bio

Raised on a rural farm in Saskatchewan, Shiela Stewart relied on her vivid imagination to fill her days. Never did she realize that her need to tell a story would someday lead to becoming a published romance author. In the fall of two thousand and six, Shiela published her very first book and hasn’t stopped since.

When not writing, Shiela spends time with the love of her life, William and their three children. She has a strong affection for animals which is evident in the four cats, one dog, three turtles, two finch birds and four fish she owns. Some of her passions aside from writing are drawing and painting and proudly displays her artwork in murals in her home.

Her favorite time of day is sunset and loves to stargaze.

Check out the Darkness series at www.breathlesspress.com

Guest Blogger -- Ericka Scott!

Please welcome guest blogger Ericka Scott.

Happy Birthday Mr. Poe

Although this is a few days late, I’d like to lift a glass of cognac and wish happy birthday to a great writer and an even greater misunderstood man, the master of the macabre, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe.

I was saddened to hear that for the first time since 1949, the mysterious Poe Toaster did not show up at the Westminster Church, Poe’s final resting place, to place three roses and a half-bottle of cognac as a tribute to the inventor of the detective fiction genre. The identity of the toaster and the meaning of his tributes are unknown, and Poe aficionados seem content to leave it that way. Perhaps it’s because Edgar Allan Poe’s own death in 1849 was as mysterious as any story he penned: the circumstances leading up to it are uncertain and the cause of his death is disputed.

What is known is that on September 27^th, he stepped off a boat into the city streets of Baltimore and vanished. There are anecdotal accounts of his whereabouts, but none have been substantiated. Then, on October 3^rd he reappeared outside Ryan's Tavern, a polling place, in great distress, wearing clothes that were not his own and unable to coherently explain what had happened to him. He died on October 7^th, 1849, with the cipher of those missing days unsolved.

Poe left a mark on literary fiction that will never be erased, but his influence is felt in other areas of the hard sciences as well. His prose poem, Eureka, included a cosmological theory that presaged the big bang by 80 years. It also presented the first plausible solution to Olbers’ paradox, which poses the question of why the night sky is black. Poe also had a keen interest in cryptography. In The Gold-Bug, he incorporated ciphers into the story. Later, William Friedman, America’s foremost cryptographer, cited The Gold-Bug as the story that first influenced his interest in ciphers – interest he put to use in solving Japan’s PURPLE code during World War II.

Poe also lives on in popular culture, making fictional appearances in books and movies, where he typically plays a mad genius or tormented artist. The latest, a one-man play starring Jeffrey Combs, portrays Poe – warts and all.

Yes, Poe had his faults, namely being a caustic reviewer and literary critic. Even after his death, those who had felt the pain of his prussic acid filled pen, got their revenge by besmirching his reputation in "official" biographies, adding yet another layer of misdirection in the attempt to find out who Poe really was.

As a writer of Seductive Suspense, I will go on record saying I abhor unanswered questions and unsolved mysteries. Perhaps this why, in my work in progress tentatively titled, Nevermore, I endeavor to shed a little fictional light on those final days of Poe’s life. I’d like to think that with his love of the macabre, he would appreciate his role in a story filled with magick, mystery, mayhem and zombies(!)

I’d like to thank the wonderful writers at Midnight Seductions for this chance to share a little of the research I’ve been doing for my latest book. I hope you’ve learned a little more about the mysterious Mr. Poe. For even more information, check out the online Poe Museum at http://www.poemuseum.org/

Ericka Scott is a multi-published, bestselling author of seductive suspense. Her latest book, Crisscross, is the story of a psychic, a skeptic, and a serial killer. It is available at Write Words, Inc., Fictionwise, and OmniLit. You can get a behind the scenes look at her writing and zany family on her blog at http://erickascott.blogspot.com. She also loves friends, so come friend her at http://myspace.com/erickascott or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ericka.scott. You can find out more about her books at www.erickascott.com

Ericka Scott

Seductive Suspense

www.erickascott.com

Dress UP for Masturbation

Does the idea of sensual dress arouse you? I bet it does. Does it excite you to put on your loveliest, sexiest pair of panties, wear a garter, stockings and cute bra in anticipation of sex? How about when you’re alone? Does it feel erotic to wear lingerie when you masturbate?

It does for me. Even as a cross dresser I will spend the time to throw on my thigh highs, favorite g-string or boyshort panties and a cute top all just for the sake of fantasy and pleasing myself. Sure it takes a few more moments to get ready for something that normally happens in the nude.

From a mental perspective, the feel of those clothes reminds us that we’re doing something special, often for someone else. But why not do something special for ourselves? Why not take the time to treat our bodies as the loving temples of sex we are? I’m not suggesting we spend large amounts of time in the bathroom prepping for that one event (though why not?) but at least take the time to treat ourselves well.

With me, masturbation can quickly grow into a routine and the way my mind works sexually is if I don’t change up the pattern every so often, mix up the fantasy, or explore something different, I get bored and it just becomes another thing on the “to do” list. Get groceries, clean, write, edit, masturbate, do laundry…make the bed, walk the dog, etc. Just one more chore.

Masturbation is healthy for us and if we’ve dedicated the entire month of May to it, why not spice things up by putting on our sexy lingerie that we spent good money on while we play just for ourselves? There is even an entire month dedicated to Masturbation! Why not spice it up with lingerie?

Some of you have seen me shopping for intimate apparel on twitter or facebook and it’s become a habit of mine to look for what turns me on. The clothes have to really look good on me as I am since I’m not a woman but a fetishist. I spent a lot of time denying myself sexual pleasure when I first began my sexual career but now use masturbation as a way to really see what I like and don’t like. The fantasies are numerous, the way I treat myself dressed in my finest lingerie feels erotic against my skin. Yes I’m a man, but I’m also a sensualist. I enjoy touch, different sensations. That’s why I’m into BDSM (at least partially) and enjoy the Lifestyle when I can.

Oh yeah, the clothes are great inspiration for writing too!

I value myself, think I’m attractive and I look good dressed up. Or so I’m told by two submissives, two dominants and a few other close friends. So how about you? Would you spend the time to throw on your sexiest, most daring undergarments while you play with yourself?

Guest blog -- Gracen Miller

Everyone welcome guest blogger Gracen Miller!

Hi, everyone! *waves* I’m Gracen Miller and Cassandra Gold has been good enough to let me blog with you all today! Thanks for having me. It’s such a pleasure and an honor to be here. I’m a mother of two very active boys, ages 12 and 8, both are TaeKwonDo Grand Champions, so I have my own little personal bodyguards everywhere I go. I’ve been married 18 years to my college sweetheart and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone…well, okay, maybe I’d trade him for Jensen Ackles or Hugh Jackman, but certainly no one else! LOL

I wanted to write something fun and creative, so I hope you all enjoy what I prepared…

Genies! Other names for Genies are Jinn and Djinn. They date back to Islam and pre-Islamic Arabian folklore and they were thought to be either good or evil. According to Wikipedia, Genies are mentioned in the Qur’an and in Islam Satan was the iconic genie that refused to bow to Adam when ordered to do so by Allah.

Okay, enough of the history lesson. When I say Genies I think of the show I Dream of Jeannie—a classic, right?—and Charmed, the episode where Phoebe was tricked into trading places with an evil Genie. Brought to mind is even the Supernatural episode where Dean Winchester is trapped by an evil Djinn (genie), the Genie creating an alternate life in his mind, while the Genie slowly drinks his victim’s blood.

So, I got to thinking…what if I found a Genie bottle? What would I ask for? World peace is a great response, but I wanted to go further, be a little more shallow and self-serving. :D

Imagine for a moment…

Sea salt clung in her nostrils. The moon full and bright, emitting silver beams, as she walked hand-in-hand with her love, with sandals dangling from the fingers of her other hand. The cool surf rolled in and washed over their feet, spraying their shorts and legs, before receding back out. She looked at the man beside her and smiled, happiness swelling her heart, and counting herself damn lucky to have him in her life.

The wind whipped her hair into her face. As she tucked the wild locks behind an ear, she stubbed her toe and stumbled, her love catching her before she fell. Intrigued, they retraced their steps and discover the neck of a bottle protruding from the wet-compacted beach. Together, they scooped sand aside, the turf assisting as it rolled in and crashed around them. Soon, the bottle bursts free of its sandy cage. She held it up into the moonlight, spinning it between her fingers, and watched the prismatic winks of light catch on the silver beams. Captivated, they hurried back to their room to get a better look at their midnight find.

In the fluorescent light, the bottle is a smoky shade, swirling a rainbow of colors within its murky tint. The stopper appears seamless against the rainbow hued glass.

“Beautiful,” she mutters, thinking it’s nothing at all like the pink I Dream of Jeannie bottle. Unsure what she expected, she just knew this wasn’t it. As if lulled by the bottle, she can’t rip her eyes off the shiny, smooth texture, but is transfixed by the coalescing rainbow that seems to expand and move about within the bottle as if alive.

A compulsion to fondle the glass overwhelms her and before she’s aware of what she plans, she reaches out and caresses the cool glass. The stopper pops like a champagne cork, wrenching gasps from both of them. A smoky mist exits the bottle and transforms into a hunky god of a man, bare ripped abs that lead into muscular legs hugged by a pair of denims. God, how she envies those denims! Eyes as blue as the Caribbean ocean centers on her, as a sly smile toys with the edges his sexy lips, promising all sorts of fleshy delights. Face flaming from the rush of desire she fans herself.

“I will grant you three wishes. Make them count.” His voice is dark and smooth, a bit exotic, like expensive liquor, and it washes over her as potent as any spirits going down. Excitement and desire riot through her nervous system as the stares at the modern day looking Genie.

And then he asks the first of his life altering questions, “What is your first wish?”

My three wishes…

1. Happiness and Health — For my family (me included of course). Those are my first thoughts. But is that one wish or two? And does each person count as a wish? If so, I’m screwed because I’ve used up all, plus some, of my three wishes. LOL

2. Financial security — That would be so nice not having to worry about how to spread the income between the bills. And in this economy who doesn’t fantasize about financial security? It might not make me happy, but I think it would certainly make me less worrisome or stressed.

3. Best sellers! I’m making a huge assumption here, but I’m guessing mostly all writers would want their books to be published and become best sellers instantly! Right? LOL ;-)

Okay, so those were my first three wishes I came up with. If I had time to think about it, I might alter some of these, but I answered off the top of my head.

I challenge you to come up with your perfect three wishes? There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. Have some fun! What would you ask for?

~~~~~

To find out more about my latest release, Elfin Blood: https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=67

Where you can find me on the web:

Website: www.gracenmiller.com

MLM Blog: http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com/ (I blog every Friday here)

WTR Blog: http://wickedthornandroses.blogspot.com/ (I blog every Saturday here)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GracenMiller

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.miller?ref=profile