Northwest Perks

Kristine Grayson

When people hear that I live in the Pacific Northwest, they assume I came for the rain. I did come for the weather—I was raised in Northern Wisconsin where the summers hit 90 degrees and the winters could go to minus 30 (without wind-chill). So living in a temperate climate truly appealed to me.

But everyone assumes writers stay indoors, and rain keeps them there. Naw. In fact, I like the rain. It’s usually warm, and I take a daily walk, rain or shine.

What brought me to the Pacific Northwest were other writers. Science fiction and mystery writers Damon Knight and Kate Wilhelm lived in Eugene, Oregon. After my future husband Dean Wesley Smith and I visited them while on a trip looking for neutral territory to live, we thought Eugene might be a good environment. Lots of writers lived nearby. Even more moved to the city later.

Ultimately, Eugene wasn’t to our taste. We moved to the Oregon Coast, where even more writers live. From Jean Auel to some playwrights whose work you know, but whose names you never heard of, writers flock to this place. And even more show up to visit. Just last week, two bestselling mystery writers dropped in unannounced.

We have a weekly lunch for professional writers only, and anywhere from ten to twenty writers attend. We keep up with the industry and we gossip about cats. What else would writers do?

But I have to admit that one thing I love about the coast is its quiet. I do get a lot done, primarily because there isn’t a lot to do here. We have seven movie theaters, a summer concert series, and that’s about it. The beach appeals, but everything else in town shuts down around 9 p.m.

I can’t get distracted because there’s nothing to distract me. And except when I’ve finished a book and want to Party!!!, I like it that way. At those times, I visit places like Los Angeles, where my latest novel, Charming Blue, is set. I get some business done, I see friends, and I do lots and lots of things you can’t do on the Oregon Coast.

Then I come home, climb into my little office, and make things up—rain or shine.

Charming Blue

Fates #8

Giveaway Time: 

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What’s With the Spanking?
by Patricia Green

Sometimes, when I’m talking about my writing to people who are open-minded, I describe my current projects as “spanking romance.” I haven’t always worked with strong spanking themes, but I am now, and it hearkens back to my early reading of historical romance from the ’70s and ’80s, when spanking was much more commonplace in mainstream works. I’ve always enjoyed romance stories with plucky heroines who sometimes overstep and need a bit of a OTK (over the knee) reminding to mind their manners. That may make me a little odd to some, and it certainly gets titters and odd looks from people. Occasionally, it’s a conversation stopper. But, the fact is, it’s a sub-genre that has a steady, elite (skeptics might say small), readership.

A close friend also has an interest in spanking stories, and he was enthusiastic about a few spanking fiction sites he found on the ‘net. I was between projects at the time, so checked into them. The one I found most enjoyable was Blushing Books [link: http://www.blushingbooks.com]. I looked through what they had to offer, bought a few delicious-looking books, and checked out their sister site The Woodshed [http://www.herwoodshed.com]. I was enraptured by what I found at this duo of delectable sites. It made me want to write for them. So I did!

In traditional historical romance from the 20^th century, there were often situations where the heroine needed a few swats to get her attention or make a point regarding her safety or behavior. It often drew the hero and heroine closer together, and had a sexy component (though those early books didn’t really fall into an “erotic” category, they were pretty titillating). Spanking was used to emphasize that a woman had a place in the world (historically) and she ought to remember it. I didn’t mind the sexism then, and I don’t mind it now.

In current, contemporary romance, spanking isn’t prevalent. It kind of got lost in the rise of feminism and über-heroines. Nothing wrong with that, times change. But it does make those of us with an interest in spanking romance search for resources beyond the Big Six publishing houses and their desire for political correctness.

Enter Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels by E L James and an interesting spanking scene therein. A scene that has a lot of otherwise thoroughly modern women quaking in their lust. I can’t speculate where that is going to lead us, but based on the enormous popularity of the Fifty Shades trilogy, I’m guessing you’ll see a few more spankings in contemporary romance novels on your supermarket shelves very soon.

Trends in publishing are fascinating, and the spanking trope is only one. It’s one that I’m happy to take advantage of and, of course, I’m hoping that it’s on the upswing. I’m unlikely to hit the author lottery like Ms. James, but if I can entertain a broader spectrum of readers, I’ll be a happy camper.

Title:  Liv’s Journey:  Book 1

 In the Journey Family Series

Author:  Patricia Green

Publisher: Blushing Books Publications    .

Length:  115 pgs

Sub-Genres:  Erotic, Spanking, Romance

Liv’s Journey /- Blushing Books –
http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=687

Amazon –
http://www.amazon.com/Livs-Journey-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B007RQIN9K/ref=sr_1_1

BLURB:

Trey likes to spank and he makes that pretty clear early in their acquaintance by spanking Liv during a walk among the pecan trees. It turns out that Liv likes it, but he holds some back as a reward to be given at a more appropriate time.

Not long after they meet, Liv finds out that spanking isn’t always fun—she gets mouthy and disrespectful in front of some of Trey’s friends, and he takes her out to his truck to teach her some manners. Unfortunately, while he’s spanking her, a paparazzo snaps a photo of her bare-bottomed and face turned toward the camera as she’s being spanked.

Liv is mortified and sure that her career will be over if that photo gets published. Trey feels guilty for putting her in that position, not to mention that his commanding officer is displeased with his behavior. They simply must get the rights to the picture so that it can’t be published.

Title:  Ace-High Flush:  Book 2

 In the Journey Family Series

Author:  Patricia Green

Publisher: Blushing Books Publications    .

Length:  106 pgs

Sub-Genres:  Erotic, Spanking, Romance

Ace-High Flush/ – Blushing Books –

http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=717

Amazon –
http://www.amazon.com/Ace-High-Flush-Journey-Series-ebook/dp/B0082PLBBC/ref=la_B002RCB0IK_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1336943982&sr=1-11

BLURB:

Gabriella Appleby is a struggling young, large-size model who can’t quite behave. She tries, but sometimes telling the truth just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do. Making foolish choices also seems to be high on her list of to-do items.

Ace Journey is interested in Gabby, and cares about her enough to want to make an indelible impression on her. No one has taught her to behave, and he figures he’s the man to do it. Although their New York/New Jersey rendezvous takes him out of his natural element, his ranch in Texas, he’s smart and capable, and more than a match for the city streets.

Gabby wants Ace, and Ace wants Gabby. Unfortunately, her errors in judgment lead them to a fork in the road where they must part. Miserable about it, they find that an unlikely matchmaker—billionaire Jonny Chow—steps in to show them just how much they mean to each other.

Title:  Spanking Her Highness:  Book 3

 In the Journey Family Series

Author:  Patricia Green

Publisher: Blushing Books Publications    .

Length:  105 pgs

Sub-Genres:  Erotic, Spanking, Romance

Spanking Her Highness/ – Blushing Books –
http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=779

Amazon –
http://www.amazon.com/Spanking-Highness-Journey-Series-ebook/dp/B008RI7ZM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1343838212&sr=1-1

BLURB:

It’s another Journey Family story, with all the warm fannies that entails.

Queenie Journey has a trust problem. Her ex-husband left a bad taste in her mouth, and now she’s afraid of making emotional attachments to a man. Even a man like her neighbor, the handsome Will Mazie. She’s determined to keep him at arm’s length.

Will spent many years as a screenwriter in Hollywood, and yet always yearned to be a rancher. He chose Texas because of its friendly residents. Except for his new neighbor, Queenie, who seems to have a big chip on her shoulder where he’s concerned.

Getting her rump tanned by Will helps Queenie find her manners, and Will soon falls for the feisty blonde. Circumstances keep getting in the way, and yet they can’t keep themselves away from each other. Maybe they aren’t meant to.

Title: Deuce’s Dancer  :  Book 4

 In the Journey Family Series

Author:  Patricia Green

Publisher: Blushing Books Publications    .

Length:  110 pgs

Sub-Genres:  Erotic, Spanking, Romance

Deuce’s Dancer /- Blushing Books –

http://www.blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=789

Amazon –
http://www.amazon.com/Deuces-Dancer-Journey-Series-ebook/dp/B008X5YXBQ/ref=sr_1_1

BLURB:

The next day was spent wind-surfing followed by lazing at the beach until the sun went down. She and Deuce took a boat tour of the nearby reef at sunset, and discussed politics and religion. They had both in common, but they found points on which they differed and it made for a lively conversation. They kissed several times, and Pilar’s breasts firmed and her nipples got hard as pebbles under his fingers.

Though Deuce made it very clear that he desired her, that he found her attractive and sexy, he didn’t push hard. He was watching her closely, like a jaguar, waiting for the moment that she couldn’t stand keeping him away any longer. It was a scary and thrilling thought to consider sleeping with him with no commitment and no future. In this case, what happened in Jamaica would stay in Jamaica.

EXCERPT #1:

Excerpt from Liv’s Journey by Patricia Green

At first, there was a cool breeze on her bare bottom, as the pecan trees shielded her from the harsh sun. Birds chirped incessantly; it seemed like all the birds in the world came to Texas in the spring. Trey’s thighs under her belly were warm and hard and there was a growing lump against her left hip where his excited cock lay tucked into his jeans. As his hand passed over her bottom, Trey hummed softly. It was a sound of pleasure, a calm sound, a controlled sound.

Liv’s heart beat faster, knowing what that sound presaged. The humiliation of being bare-assed and over his lap was nothing compared to what was to come.

The sharp retort of the strap on her butt cheeks silenced the birds entirely. Some flew away in fright. And it hurt, but Liv gasped not out of pain but surprise at the sudden smack. Even knowing that it was to come, the exact moment it fell was always one second before it was expected. The first blow was still echoing through her mind when there was a second, third, and fourth. Heat blossomed over her rear and a sharp sting became a bright bloom. She moaned as the count rose above ten, and she couldn’t help but squirm.

“Still, angel.” His free hand pressed down on her back to keep her steady. She couldn’t do it herself. Her body wanted to wriggle away from the pain. Or, parts of it did. Some parts, the parts that sometimes wouldn’t heed her better judgment, got wet and slick and very ready for the reward Trey would share with her.

As the count reached twenty-two, tears began to stream from Liv’s eyes and her moans became sobs. She wanted this spanking, she knew she both needed and deserved it. Tears would cleanse any lingering feelings of guilt over poor behavior and her reward for taking her punishment would be hot, hotter than her flaming ass.

Liv lost count after twenty-five blows from the strap. She knew her bottom would be striped and fiery red. She’d seen it in the mirror after times like this. Perversely, she wore those stripes like a badge for the day or two they lingered. She’d earned her pleasure. She’d paid for her transgressions. Conflict was over and only sweet contentment remained.

Crying freely, she sobbed and sniffled as the spanking stopped. Trey’s big, hot hand glided over her stinging behind reverently, and sometimes a finger would trace one of the welts left by the strap.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice thick and watery.

His fingers slipped between her legs and found her pool of excitement. Her hot face got hotter. “You gonna be a good girl now and mind when I’m tellin’ you to do what you know you should?”

“It’s a habit…”

“A habit we need to get you over or you’ll be miserable, Liv.”

His fingers dipped deeper into her pussy and explored a little. A wave of pure desire washed through Liv’s belly.

“Yeah,” she agreed, though her mind was on those fingers. They retreated slightly and slid toward her swollen clit. “Please. Trey. Please.”

She could hear the smile in his voice as he responded. “Please what?”

The last of her tears dripped onto the leaf-strewn ground. “Please, fuck me.”

He rolled her over on his lap and pressed her face against his broad chest. “You’ll have to wait until after.”

“After! But that’s hours from now!”

“Yup.”

She looked up into his face, hoping for a teasing look in his brown eyes. The crinkles at the corners told her that he was smiling, even before she noticed his grin. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“Trey!”

He slid his hand up her torso and cupped a full breast, his thumb flicking over her nipple as it pressed against her bra and thin cotton blouse.

“You’re being mean.”

“Maybe.”

She growled her frustration and squirmed, her bottom hot and itchy against his denim. One more try. “Please?”

“Nope. After.”

Trey did things in his own time, and in his own way. Liv was usually happy about that; she trusted him after all they’d been through. So she’d wait for her reward. After wasn’t so far away.

BOOK TRAILERS:

Journey Family series – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH7Hkl9a5cg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Having begun her writing career at the tender age of seven by publishing a poem in a children’s magazine, Ms. Green has spent many years at typewriter and keyboard. She’s the author of 14 published projects (13 ebooks; and one out-of-print traditional book).

Ms. Green resides in the Washington DC area, is married to her best friend, and is the mother of twin daughters.

She is a member of EPIC, the Erotic Author’s Association, and Erotica Readers and Writers Association.

Website: http://www.patriciagreenbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Patricia.Green.Romance

Twitter:  @PatriciaIGreen

Google+:  http://gplus.to/PatriciaGreen

Tour Wide Giveaway: 

3 Blushing Books Giftcards

1st place is a $30

2nd $10

3rd $10

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Take Me To Your Planet
— or —
Writing Futuristic Romances
by: Myra Nour

Do you want to zoom away in a spaceship? Or be captured by a hunky alien? Perhaps your fantasy is to be whisked off to a far future society, where all diseases have been eliminated? Or maybe you’d prefer a society closely aligned with Earth’s medieval period-complete with warriors, sword fighting, and castles.

No matter how diverse all these different ideas seem, they all have one theme in common-they can all be found in futuristic romances.

Do you need to be an astronaut or have been abducted by aliens to write about other worlds? Certainly not! Studying the masters of s/f and fantasy for style is a great start. Look at the various ways the masters handle their worlds, such as: Issac Asimov’s technical expertise, Poul Anderson’s humorous touch, Andre Norton’s magic, or Robert E. Howard’s dark/magical adventures.

One aspect you need to consider is how hard you want the science to be in your story. In other words, do you like writing technical information with lots of details about the future society? Or do you prefer to concentrate on the characters/storyline and have softer science? For example, in Love’s Captive, the society I created is based on the Medieval system. It’s something I’m interested in, and I don’t care to read or write hard science fiction.

If you choose to go with hard science-you better have your facts straight or fans will call you on it. Study articles or books on science facts, recent discoveries, and future ideas. Maybe you can gleam something to incorporate into your story.

A good way to get the feel for what you want to write is to study your favorite authors style. There’s a reason you like their books-so study their works and see if you can incorporate some of their style into your work. Of course you must find your own writing voice, but imitation is the best kind of flattery. And there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. If you love Dara Joy’s Alpha males and the s/f plus fantasy elements she infuses into her stories, then perhaps that style would work well for you too.

Articles are a great resource in helping you seek information, check your facts, or maybe give you ideas. A good site where interesting articles can be found about different aspects of writing s/f romance stories, are at Science Fiction Romance. www.sfronline.com

I discovered several intriguing articles, such as Creating Believable Aliens, Worldbuilding, and Cursing in Alien Tongues. I think these would be worth a good “looksee”.

The different terms you hear in connection with the genre may confuse you. Is your book s/f romance, fantasy romance, or futuristic romance? Don’t worry about it. Write your story first. Later you can consider how to classify it. Friends can help by giving you feedback. Also, critique partners and writing groups can give their two cents worth. Ultimately your publisher will assign the subgenre they feel is appropriate for your work.

Now, write that exciting book!

Heart of a Dragon

Volarn Chronicles:  Book 2

Author:  Myra Nour

Publisher:  New Concepts Publishing.

Length:  514 pages

Sub-Genres:  Sci-Fi

BUY LINKS:

Amazon  |  B&N 

BLURB:

Can Eric, a tough, handsome Green Beret from Earth, convince Kasha, the stubborn warrior princess of Volarn, that he loves her? Not before they experience adventure in the haunted wastelands, discover a baby dragon, and explore the hot, sensual side of their relationship.

Travel back to Volarn for more magical romance and new adventure with King Rhamus’s sister, Kasha, and Olga’s brother, Eric. If you loved Love’s Captive, be enchanted with Volarn Chronicles Book Two. Find out what secret makes Kasha run from love. Follow the characters’ fox and hound game of love, as each pushes the other to their limits, climaxing in a daring rescue that changes everything. Be warned, this book is filled with humor and love that knows no bounds. And an adorable, goofy dragon that will win your heart, so that you will be asking “How do I adopt a dragon of my own!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m optimistic; happy unless something really bad happens; a good listener and friend. My best compliment came from a friend who said I was a ‘Steel Magnolias’. She thought I was kind and gentle when she met me, but then found out the difficulties I’ve had in my life, and added a “backbone of steel” to that assessment.

I was an LPN for a total of 8 years; became interested in the mind more than the body, and helped put myself through college working as a nurse. Graduated cume laude with a BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling. Until several months before I graduated with my BA, when I met Simon, I was a single mother of two small children.

I worked odd jobs until I landed my first job working in my college area – as a social worker for physically and sexually abused children. Then, I found my nitch, as a college counselor. Loved it! Spent the rest of my career in this area, except for 3 years when I taught Psychology and Sociology at a local college. Loved this even more!!

My Simon has been very supportive about the whole writing process. We both agreed that when our financial circumstances would allow, that I’d quit work and write full-time, and that happened in 1998. I’ve been very lucky. After 24 years of working in a profession that helped people, I am able to do something for myself – writing.

Website: http://www.myranour.net/author/myra.php 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/myranour?ref=ts

Tour Wide Giveaway: 

Ebook of Heart of  the Dragon

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