Interview with Swinging Games’ Jennifer Andrews

Today Midnight Seductions is interviewing Jennifer Andrews, heroine of Adriana Kraft’s Swinging Games series at Extasy Books. With eight books already released and more on the way, Jen is having a blast, and we’re glad she took a moment away from her adventures to give us this candid up-close-and-personal interview.

Midnight Seductions: What makes you special enough to be the heroine of not just a book but an entire series?

Jen: I’m not all that special, really – there must be lots of women out there just like me. Maybe they’re just keeping quiet about it. I’m a happily married bisexual woman who is having the time of my life with my husband in the swing lifestyle.

Midnight Seductions: Really? Have you always known you were bi?

Jen: No, I’m a late bloomer. I’m in my early fifties now, married to Brett for over twenty five years, and once our kids were out of the house we started spicing up our sex life with some sexy videos created by women for women. I discovered that watching women having sex with each other was a big turn-on for me, and that helped me put together some feelings I’d barely thought about before. It didn’t take me long to own that I was sexually attracted to women as well as men. Pretty quickly I figured out that the attraction alone meant I was bisexual – but what could I do about that, as a married woman in love with my husband?

Midnight Seductions: What happened next?

Jen: One of our hot videos hinted at the swing lifestyle. I had no idea it really existed, but we started doing some on-line research and joined a couple sites. I was amazed how normal some of the people sounded! Brett and I started chatting with some other couples on line and finally decided to take the plunge – you can find that story in Swinging Games: Anticipation. It’s unbelievable how erotic it can be just imagining another couple in bed with you!

Midnight Seductions: Tell us about your most current adventure.

Jen: I’m so excited about our latest development – we’ve just formed a threesome, with a woman my age who’s recently widowed. She found us on line at one of our lifestyle websites. We got together briefly in Book Seven, Dare to Adventure, but she got called away to take care of her parents. Book Eight, Pushing the Limits, opens with some hot three-way phone sex – I’d never tried that before the lifestyle, either. What an amazing way to fill my bi-fantasies and share the spice with my husband!

Midnight Seductions: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Jen: Hmm, that’s a tough one. I’ll be nearly sixty – I’ve met lots of people in the lifestyle even older, so I hope I’m still playing, for one thing. I do think staying sexually active helps keep me young at heart!

Midnight Seductions: Tell us a little bit about your author. Where can we find more of their works?

Jen: Actually my author is two people, a husband/wife team writing under the pen name Adriana Kraft. They have over twenty-five published erotic romance books at Extasy Books, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, Love You Divine and Logical Lust. You can find their books on their website, http://adrianakraft.wordpress.com, and their blog is http://adrianakraft.wordpress.com/blog (I know, those are long url’s, but their website is under construction, so these links will take you straight to their pages).

Midnight Seductions: Does your author ever try to take over the story? And how do you deal with it?

Jen: That’s inevitable, I think! But I’m very patient with them. They’ve had to take time to really get to know me and Brett. If they start writing something that’s not right for us, we just don’t cooperate, and they have to pull back and sort it out before moving on. Swinging Games: Anticipation is an example of that – they dropped in on my life before I was really ready to start the adventure, so they had to write the prequel first!

Midnight Seductions: Are you happy with the way people perceive you?

Jen: Readers and people who know me personally, yes – I’m playful, secure in myself, generous and warm hearted (oh, and adventurous, of course), and I think people in my inner circle appreciate me. I get tired of stereotypes about bisexuals, so I’m never happy when I run into those. Sometimes I wish I could be real so I could join my authors in their activism for my causes!

Midnight Seductions: If you could offer your author advice, what would it be?

Jen: Truly? I hope they keep tabs on all my adventures so I can share my fun times with readers. And I hope they never forget to follow their dreams.

Naked Guys: Good, Bad or Ugly? (Part Deux) by EM Lynley

Time to revisit one of my favorite topics: male nudity in films. 


I recently spent a pleasant Christmas holiday with one of my favorite people, author Cat Grant. I must admit that our choice of Blu-Ray films to watch might have been influenced by the degree of male nudity. At least we have the excuse "it's part of our job" of writing gay erotic romance. 


Cat, about Velvet Goldmine: "Ewan MacGregor jumps around completely naked."
Me: "That's up next, then."
Ewan didn't disappoint. In fact, I'm not sure he's been in a film where he didn't show it all off.


We may also have paused and replayed scenes of other films with VPL, but let's get back on topic...


There's a film I can't wait to see: Magic Mike, with some of Hollywood's hunkiest actors playing male strippers (Joe Manganello, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer and Channing Tatum). Of course, that's not likely to have anyone take it all off, which is a damn shame.


What do you think of male nudity in films? After seeing so many breasts, I'd like to see way more dicks in flicks than we usually get in the US.

I'm asking in the name of research. I'm not talking about porn films, because we expect it, but about mainstream films that aren't necessarily about sex, or just about sex.

In the US, there isn't much of it. I recall the furor over "naked" Richard Gere when American Gigolo came out (oops, I may be giving away my generation here), then being pretty damn disappointed. All that over practically nothing, yet it was such a big deal at the time!

In Europe, you can find a lot more penises in films, in scenes were nudity is natural or makes sense, and not for the shock or comedy factor that it's often used in American films. Shame on films like Bruno and Borat that use it to make everyone uncomfortable.

Naked men should be sexy!!

Why all the fuss? We've had naked women in films for decades, showing off their assets, bouncing around and luring straight men into movie theatres. But the double standard continues for men.

Playgirl magazine never had the success of Playboy? Is it because women don't like looking at naked guys, or they won't admit it? Or they're too afraid to buy the mag?

Did anyone else notice the irony that in The Full Monty we never actually get to see the full monty? In Watchmen, we have Dr. Manhattan and his bouncing blue bits, and that got plenty of backlash. Why? Probably because it didn't really fit into the rest of the film. Sure it makes sense in some of the scenes, but overall to me it should have been an all-or-nothing issue. Either he's always naked or he never is. The way it was done negated the value of his nudity.

Remember Dante's Cove, that gay/paranormal Canadian TV show that was so cheesy, but made up for it with plenty of dicks in season one? Then they cut way back on the nudity. What was up ( or not) with that?

What are the best recent films to find some good-looking nude men? Feel free to post a link to a screen shot if you want.

I'd definitely like to hear from the guys out there as well, what you think of the double standard? Are gay men tired of seeing boobs and not dicks in mainstream films? Are straight guys worried their ladies might start comparing you to the guy in the film? It's not like we haven't seen other dicks!

So, what's your opinion?

EM Lynley writes gay erotic romance. Her latest release is "A Christmas Bonus" available from Amazon, All Romance eBooks and Ravenous Romance. Read an excerpt. Visit her online at emlynley.com or on Facebook.


Alec Compton's dream job at a Wall Street investment firm is on the line if he can't close a make-or-break takeover deal by the end of the year.

The buyer is none other than world-renowned billionaire and corporate raider Brant Linton, recently named one of the hottest and most eligible gay businessmen. Electricity crackles at their first meeting, and Alec's thoughts drift far from business, despite his distaste for Brant's business practices.

When Brant takes off early to spend Christmas with his sister's family on the exclusive French Polynesian island of Taha'a, Alec has no choice but to follow if he wants to get Brant to sign on the dotted line. But Brant's sister has forbidden him from conducting business during the holidays and Alec must masquerade as Brant's boyfriend.

Then business turns into pleasure, but neither Brant nor Alec know whether the other is there for the deal, or for something more personal in EM Lynley's sizzling holiday novella A CHRISTMAS BONUS.

QUIRKY SAYINGS

Idioms

I've always found idioms or colloquialisms, or if you prefer quirky sayings interesting. Take 'Crazy as a Bedbug'. From the first word we know it's referring to some form of craziness. It could be a person, a slogan, a scheme or even a law, but it's crazy. Where did this saying come from? Is it very old? I know it's been around for awhile.

Here's a few more to scratch your head about:

• Smart as a whip — a whip?
• Hairbrained idea
• Bun in the oven
• Keep on truckin'
• Flummox the lummox — I have no idea what this is a substitute for.
• Jump right on it
• Break a leg
• Shake a leg
• Keep your nose to the grindstone — man that's gotta hurt.
• Cat's pajamas — did cats ever wear pajamas?
• Bee's knees — bees have knees?
• Get the lead out
• Gnat's eyebrow
• Dumb as a box of socks—well we have smart as a whip and dumb as box of socks
• Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
• Is the Pope Catholic?
• Only one oar in the water
• Not playing with a full deck
• You can't outthink someone who doesn't think
• Can of worms — going fishing?
• Doubting Thomas
• Chip on his shoulder
• An arm and a leg
• At the drop of a hat
• Barking up the wrong tree
• Cock and bull story
• Let's cut to the chase
• Devil's advocate
• All your eggs in one basket
• Dead ringer
• Eighty-six
• Drive me up the wall
• Dry run
• Rags to riches
• Beating around the bush
• Graveyard shift — lookout for the ghosts
• Head over heels
• In the buff
• Kick the bucket
• Kitty corner
• Stiff one — drink that is J
• Let sleeping dogs lie
• On the fence
• Over the top
• Raining Cats and Dogs
• Under the weather
• When pigs fly
• Til the cows come home
• Whole nine yards
• Last straw
• Spitting image
• Ducks in a row

That's enough for now. As you can see, some idioms are in such common use we think of them more like vocabulary. How about you. Can you share any clever idioms with us?

In case any of you are interested, here are my latest releases, Hollywood Witches and Going Deep. Both are on sale at Amazon or All Romance:

Buy Link

All Romance

Amazon.com

Buy Link All Romance

Amazon.com

Stress Relief

Life can be stressful, that's a given. Work, kids, dinancial issues, illness...the list goes on and on. Some jobs can and have to be done under extreme duress. It's the nature of the beast, but for me writing is not one of those. Stress absolutely destroys my creativity. When I'm really stressed I can't write and when I don;t write my stress just increases. It's a vicious cycle.
Now I'm not writing this post in search of pity but ideas.
We all have bad days. Sometimes we have a bad week even but I seem to be having a bad month, and then some. When the highlight of the last 30 days or so is making sure that my grandad's DNR order is in place I know I've hit a really rough patch in my life. I've tried all the old standbys I normally use to relax and now of them are working. I need some downtime desperately. So i want to know what you do to chill out. What sure fire cures do you have for finding relaxation even at the ugliest of times. I'm proclaming today national destress day. Let's get those ideas posted. Maybe lots of people will discover new ways to bring a little downtime into their lives. Lord knows I could use some.
Beth

A New Year and a New Start!

It's a beautiful new year! I promised myself that I wouldn't make any New Year's resolutions. So I didn't.  Really, I didn't!  But things seem to have remodeled themselves around me anyway, regardless of my intentions.

The new gym in town opened (which I have been waiting for since we moved here six months ago)... so I joined yesterday. It's the only gym in town and it looks pretty usable.

I started with a two new publishers last year (Razor's Edge Press and Changeling Press). I ended up with a short erotica release for REP and a Christmas short for Changeling.  Plus, I ended up with lots of little plot bunnies running around.  

I grabbed several of those little plot bunnies and squeezed out their guts onto the computer.  So now the first part of my new year is pretty full of new releases.  Brand new, never-seen-before erotic, romantic fun.

December, 2011:  White Hot Christmas: Christmas Stalkings (Changeling Press)

January, 2012:  Protect and Serve: Shifting Forces (Changeling Press)

February, 2012: Foxy: Grin and Bear It (Changeling Press)

March, 2012: Protect and Serve: Shifting Focus (Changeling Press)

April, 2012:  B R E A T H E !!  LOL

May, 2012: Protect and Serve: Shifting Heat (Changeling Press)

Yeah. That's the first part of my new year.  Coming out of a pretty rough couple of years after my accident, it feels REALLY good to be writing again. I think the year 2012 is looking pretty nice so far... what do you think?

Cassidy

______________________________________________________

Here's a little bit about my upcoming release on January 27, 2012 at Changeling Press: (isn't that cover HOT?)

Protect and Serve: Shifting Forces

by Cassidy McKay

~ Sometimes, the only way to have it all is by Shifting Forces 
(M/M/F erotic urban fantasy/suspense/menage)

Aurora Monroe has detailed plans for her life -- and not one of them includes being barefoot, pregnant and under the thumbs of two decidedly alpha males. But what's a girl to do when she has two sexy shifters both trying to claim mating rights?

When two paranormals on opposite sides of the war save an injured human, they unintentionally mark her as their wife. Bonded by blood, fire and passion, the gryphon and phoenix shifters do everything they can to keep their new human mate safe.

Getting her to go along with the plan is a different matter. She has no intention of following their orders. Found in defiance of both human laws and paranormal traditions, the battle for their rights turns into a fight for their lives.

Sex between a human and her two shifters can be spectacular, but is it worth risking everything for a chance at forever?

______________________________________________

You can read an excerpt on my website: http://cassidymckay.com/shifting_forces.html

And on January 27th, 2012, the book is available at Changeling Press!

New Year's Resolutions: overrated, easily broken, or highly inspiring?

Depending on how you approach your goals for the new year, the idea of resolutions can either be overrated, easily broken, or highly inspiring. New year for a lot of people psychologically means a fresh start, a chance to do something new! Use that energy to channel your best and possible self to get yourself on track towards whatever goals you wish to make, then make them!

Here, I'll cite mine as an example:
1) Continue working on my to-do lists daily to keep myself on track for appointments, tasks, and errands
2) Manage my time better so I can fit more things in a single day
3) Spend less time socializing and more time GETTING THINGS DONE
4) Write at least 1000 words daily
5) Exercise six days a week
6) Lose the remaining 5-10 lbs
7) Reduce my overhead so that in 12-18 months, I can be self employed with one of my second jobs

Okay...now that is a LOT...lol! If you have a list like this, find a few goals on it that will help you with the rest and focus on those.

What are some of yours for the new year? SHARE! Do you have a list longer than mine? Do you think I'm insane? TELL ME! :D



Love & Magic,
Adrianne
www.adriannebrennan.com

What if you could have All You Ever Wanted?

My most recent release, All I Ever Wanted, is about a man who gets a sexual partner who is everything he's ever wanted. Think about it. What if you could get a partner that was absolutely everything you'd ever wanted. You want foreplay- boom, you got it. You want a kiss in that certain special place that drives you wild- done! Of course there could be too much of a good thing....but then again, maybe not.

I'm not afraid to ask for what I want and I hope you all aren't either. Decide what your perfect sexual partner would do, say and act like during the act. Then go tell your significant other. It really is that easy. Now I'm not saying your vanilla guy or gal will instantly be into spanking or that the mam/woman who puts your nipple rings on will let you try it on him or her one day, but hey, communication is key!

Here's more about All I Ever Wanted:
Buy Link: http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?products_id=1155

Excerpt:

I exempted myself from their droll company, and made my way in the direction of the slutty dressed temptress who boldness excited me. My eyes devoured every inch from her hot pink top all the way down to her too–tight, black skirt. Oh, yes baby, gaudy to the max. Half way across the room our eyes locked. What a twinkle. Don’t look away, I begged with silent longing. Her hands waved back and forth as she stepped away from the bluebloods, touching each of them on the shoulder as she moved. Touch me, touch me, I pleaded. How long had it taken this angel to stuff her folds into that stifling outfit? And next time would she let me help her? Every lewd action I planned to take against her formed into a plan before we ever spoke.

“Hey. I’m Mandy. Want to dance? Get a drink?” A red headed bimbo, perfect teeth and make up, slid up beside me, drunk as a skunk. I noticed a wink my way from Mr. Hizeman.

“No thanks. I’m meeting a friend over there.” I attempted to walk away quietly but she wouldn’t give up. I pointed to my dream girl. “She’s waiting for me.”

“That cow? What would you want with her? I can make your dreams come true, soldier.” She moved my hand to her ass. My destination girl’s eyebrows rose in question.

I shook my head vehemently back and forth. “If you were a man I’d punch the living daylights out of you. I haven’t even met her and I already know she’s more woman than you’ll ever be.” I jerked away from the simpleton and she fell face down on the floor. Several guests ran to her rescue throwing a few insults my way as they helped her stand. All that mattered was closing the gap between where I stood and the striking vision before me.

Hidden Mickeys and Astro Burgers

By A.J. Llewellyn

As a kid growing up in Australia I fell in love with Hollywood...old Hollywood and pined for it from afar. When my father sent me to LA to stay with a woman he was dating and I began to attend school here, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I tasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the first time. I baked brownies with my adopted siblings and best of all, the stores were open really, really late every single day AND we had a real Christmas tree!

I couldn't believe it when my dad and his paramour broke up. I think I was more heart-broken than she was.

I couldn't wait to come back here and live my life in Hollywood. And I did.

I have a strong passion for Hawaii and travel there at every opportunity but my life in LA sometimes seems...mundane, until I get out of town visitors.

Now that my friend and fellow author Serena Yates is visiting me I have creaked open the box that locked my Hollywood dreams.

It's been fun showing her the LA I know and love. What I have realized is how wonderful all of California really is. I've been dismayed to see so many changes, particularly in Ojai, a town of cowboys and orange groves. I am shocked it's now all high-end wine bars and uppity clothing boutiques. Even the once-grungy dive bar, The Hub, has had a lick or two of high-gloss paint.

But we still have our Hidden Mickeys, and I was pleased to discover, Astro Burgers.

For those who don't know, Hidden Mickeys are a secret passion for us Angelinos. The pic above was taken in Disneyland and is an air vent in one of the saloons on Main Street. The Hidden Mickey inside was is only part of the inside joke...the real Hidden Mickey is the cut-out ears on the front panel.

These little gems are all over LA...and people are obsessed with them.

Me, I'm just glad some things don't change. Not every piece of our precious celluloid paradise has been, to quote Joni Mitchell, paved over and turned into a parking lot.

I've enjoyed showing Serena the Brady Bunch house and some of my favorite little pockets of LA. Showing her these little treasures has made me fall in love with my home town again.

That in itself is a Hidden Mickey...one I didn't expect. Love is like that. Living in a place for a long time is like an enduring marriage that becomes very comfortable but not especially exciting.

An unexpected outside influence can shine a light on how lucky you really are and for that, I am grateful.

So thank you, Serena, and Mr. Walt Disney. You both have a piece of my heart.

Aloha oe,

A.J.

A guide for women to follow with health issues.

Inside Track To Love
Blurb


Teri loves to work on race cars learning her skills from her brothers back home in Indiana. When Pete Schaeffer stops at the garage where she’s working, he offers her a job on the spot to travel with him to his business in Illinois. She accepts his offer with one thing in mind. To compete in the Nascar race later in the year at the track near Pete’s garage. Pete assigns Teri Kelly O’Brien’s car to maintain, but tells her to keep a low profile because Kelly is very choosy about who works on his machines. Little does Teri know that once she meets Kelly O’Brien, her life turns into turmoil. Keeping her identity a secret is hard to do after she discovers she’s fallen for Kelly. What will happen when Kelly discovers her deception? Will he forgive and forget?

Available @ http://www.extasybooks.com/. An erotic contemporary romance.

Thank goodness the holidays are over. I breathe a sigh of relief that I’ve gotten through the madness, not only in my own home, but the stores, as well.


I could dedicate this blog about New Year’s resolutions, but why? None of us keep them anyway. So today, I’m offering some sound advice to every woman out there.

Below is a blog for women dealing with health issues. Be sure and read the entire blog to find out if this could help you.

Important Women's Health Issue:
* Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
* Do you suffer from shyness?
* Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
* Do you suffer exhaustion from the day to day grind?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas
Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.
Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas.
Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.
Side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Incarceration
- Erotic lustfulness
- Loss of motor control
- Loss of clothing
- Loss of money
- Loss of virginity
- Table dancing
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- And a desire to sing Karaoke
WARNINGS:

* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Please share this with other women who may need Margaritas.

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com/
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Check out http://www.myromancestory.com for a feature at bottom of page on Mary Suzanne