Sxx BLOG: Stormie Kent

Showing posts with label Stormie Kent. Show all posts

Monday, April 1, 2013

Better Late Than Never

I completely forgot what day it was! I’m here now and in honor of my new freshly signed Ellora’s Cave ebook contract I’m going to feature my other two EC ebooks today.

First up,

BLURB

Camryn is taken captive after Earth is invaded by hostile aliens. She is sold as an exotic, an expensive sex slave. Camryn is willing to do anything to survive and escape captivity. That includes convincing her master that she enjoys his touch. Then she is purchased by the sexy warrior Venn. Now she must convince herselfthat she can resist a male whose every caress ignites a passion she has never known.

Venn is an empathic and hyper-sensitive tribal lord from planet Ordan. He has never owned a slave, yet he cannot resist the beautiful Earth woman. She teases his heightened senses and pushes past the control he has over his emotions. Venn struggles to own Camryn’s body with scorching sex and a firm hand. And when his possession of her body is complete, he’ll try to claim her soul.

EXCERPT

The following excerpt is for those readers who are 18 and over only.

He crowded her back and she watched in the mirror. He was dressed for meetings in a black dress coat, crisp white shirt and fitted black pants. The contrast of her nude body pressed against his fully clothed form made her press back against him to feel the pleasure of the smooth material against her hot skin.

“I didn’t tell you to move, sweet.” He stepped back.

She groaned. Her eyes clashed with his in the mirror.

“What’s with the restraint?” she asked.

“I know you like it when I hold you down, but I wanted to use my hands today. And you did say it would take chains to keep you in one place,” he replied.

She remained as still as possible and he watched her for a while before moving behind her once more. She wanted to think she would resist him, but she couldn’t. When he got like this, he wasn’t going to be put off and she liked how he handled her too much. She liked that he took all the passion and barbarian in himself and locked it down, only for it to emerge again once he’d made her mindless. She knew it was there, just sitting under the surface of his skin. She could see it in the way his smile didn’t match the fire in his eyes.

He gathered her hair in one hand and wrapped it once around his hand. He pulled her head gently to the side. She curled her toes into the carpet so she wouldn’t move.

His other hand came up, but only one finger trailed her throat from her hairline to her shoulder. His mouth followed and his cool hair swung forward and trailed over her arm and breast. He did the same thing over and over again to the back of her neck and then transferred her hair to his other hand and worked the same magic on the other side of her neck. He tugged harder on her hair and the pleasure shot straight to her cunt.

He stepped beside her and leaned forward, raining kisses on her chin and neck. Then he turned her loose completely. She whimpered.

“Keep your eyes on your face and body in the mirror,” he said, lacing his voice with command.

She stared into his eyes in the mirror. Then she lowered her gaze to her own face. Her eyes were slumberous. Her bottom lip was swollen where she’d bitten it in concentration and she was flushed.

“Beautiful,” he said.

***** ***** *****

And released earlier this year,

BLURB

Niki is captured by hostile aliens after Earth is invaded. Once a soldier, she is now a slave. She is sold to the highest bidder, and then lost in a game of cards to a tall Ordanian spaceship captain, who claims to have been sent to rescue her. They work together to survive the dangers of the United Universe, while Niki battles her desire for the only man to ever enflame her mind, body and soul.

Captain Rhine’s mission is to reunite the Earth woman with her family. Outmaneuvering beast shifters and a crazed stalker are the very least he is willing to do to keep her by his side. Her touch ignites his passion. Her scent drives his lust. Her strength eases his soul even as she challenges him every step of the way. In the end, Rhine understands, the biggest battle is for her heart.

EXCERPT

The following excerpt is for those readers who are 18 and over only.

He pushed a button on the captain chair controls and turned to Niki. He stood. He observed her tense body and intense expression. She gazed back at him. Hostile was too mild for this woman.

“What?” she asked.

His next move wasn’t going to make her any more docile. Before he could think too much about it, he snatched her from her seat and cradled her in his arms. He ran his hands over her back as he made sure to slide her along his front.

“What the hell are you doing? There isn’t time for you to feel me up, you perv.”

She pushed against his chest. Her struggles to free herself helped accomplish his goal and enflame his senses at the same time. Her full breasts pressed and jiggled against him as he clutched her ample ass. It was enough to make him forget his true purpose.

He caught her wrist before her palm connected with his nose.

He spun her away quickly. “I needed my scent to be fresh on you.”

She watched him through slit lids. He forced his eyes from her heaving breasts and focused on what was important. Her wide leg stance and fisted hands. He knew how fast she was. She wasn’t as quick as him, but she could do a lot of damage if he happened to be distracted, which he was. He sidestepped her first pass, moving away from the fist that almost struck his jaw. His right hand deflected her side kick and he used his left hand to grab her arm and jerk her around so that her back was flush against his front.

He crushed both her arms to her sides and jerked her away from anything she could gain leverage from with her feet. He couldn’t resist pressing his face to the crook of her neck and inhaling. Somehow their little sparring session was arousing him more than it angered him. He jerked his face back quickly as she turned her head to bite him.

“Calm down. You will be among strong hypersensitives who won’t believe I own a level one exotic and haven’t touched her.”

“Warn me next time, asshole. I don’t like surprises and I definitely don’t want to be manhandled.”

He leaned close to her ear and spoke softly. “You lie.” Her nipples were hard against his arms and the sweet spice of her pussy clouded his judgment. His cock pressed against her back. Her struggles stroked him nicely. “You call me Sir in alien company.”

Want more? Click the link for another excerpt.

Happy Reading!

Stormie Kent

Friday, March 1, 2013

What Happens After the Aliens Invade? or Worldbuilding

When I was writing Battling Rapture, I needed the scenery to not only say something about the futuristic world my heroine lived in after Earth is invaded by aliens, but also about Niki, my heroine. Niki is resourceful, hostile, guarded and dangerous. What kind of environment would show her to advantage? In a world devastated by alien destruction, how could I use the environment to show her strength?

I open with her standing in the rubble of a hospital. Why? As she gazes out on what is hopeless, she is also gathering what she can from the wreckage, ensuring she and the people around her survive. This character’s entire life has felt like the gaping hole she stares out of in the hospital, yet she keeps going. What type of strength does moving forward take when all around there is only desolation? The excerpt below is just a glimpse of Niki before she meets her hero. I hope you enjoy it.

BLURB

EXCERPT

The following excerpt is for those readers who are 18 and over only.

She filled bags with medicines, needles and bandages. She saw a pile of hospital gowns and shoved those in too. She had a little of everything loaded into the packs, including soap, hospital toothbrushes and sheets. Their third salvage mission might be their last. The next time they came, the entire place could be vaporized. This was the only city for miles which still contained the original architecture and infrastructure—even if it was in ruins.

She walked to the gaping hole in the wall. Craters dotted the landscape. Some were filled with buildings, others with vehicles. The building across from her had the top two floors collapsed in. All the windows were blown out. She looked down. Movement caught her eye, and she quickly hid behind what was left of a pillar. She carefully peered down again and relaxed when she noticed it was only a pack of stray dogs.

At least it isn’t a lion or tiger from the zoo.

She heard a whistle, and then a man stepped into the doorway.

“You ready, Niki?” Antoine said.

“Yes, let’s get these down to the wagons and go get the others. I hope they found baby formula and ammunition.”

Dragging the heavy packs down the emergency exit stairwell was slow work. When they reached the ER entrance, they began loading the bags in the carts.

“I wish I knew how the aliens track us when we use cars and trucks. This would be so much easier without the horse and cart,” Antoine said.

“Just be happy we don’t have to hike back up the mountain with this stuff on our backs or pulling it behind us on a makeshift gurney.” She was slightly out of breath. Some of the bags she’d packed weighed more than she did. She pulled her gun from her hip. “You steer the cart. I’ll be lookout.”

There were four teams spread out all over the city. They needed to pick them up and make it back to the mountain by late afternoon without stumbling onto an alien hunting party.

She scanned the rubble for dead bodies. They tried to burn them when they could. If not, the animals—well, it was better if they burned the bodies. She refocused. She had a job to do. To make it back to camp safely, they all needed to use their heads, stay sharp and work as a team.

Their survival depended on it.

*****

Stormie

Friday, February 1, 2013

Last Chance to Win on the Battling Rapture Blog Tour

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

Book Length: Novel

Genre: Futuristic Erotic Romance

Release Date: January 18, 2013

Buy Links:
Ellora’s Cave Amazon ARe
Author Info:

Website Blog

Twitter Facebook

I decided to end the blog tour for my new EC release, Battling Rapture, right here on Sweet N Sexy Divas. Today is the last day to leave a comment to enter my contest. Here are the details:

Every eligible comment along my blog tour will be entered to win. All those who enter a positive comment here between now and 11:59 p.m. Eastern (USA) on February 1, 2013 will be entered in a drawing for a $20 Amazon eGiftcard. You must leave a valid email address in the comments to be entered. The winner will be announced the night of February 2, 2013 on my blog, http://stormiekent.wordpress.com.

Now, on to the steamy stuff.

BLURB

EXCERPT

The following excerpt is for those readers who are 18 and over only.

He leaned over her. His stomach muscles bunched and rolled above her. She opened her mouth, barely stopping her tongue from peeking out and tasting him. She looked up instead. He wrapped the rope around her wrists, apparently finding it easy to manipulate the thick cord. He fastened the other end around the top horizontal solid bar of the headboard.

He ran his hands softly over her inner arms. She shivered. She tensed as he grabbed her face a little more roughly. She looked into his eyes. Anticipation wound tightly within her. What would he do next?

“You have two dresses in my bag, correct?” he asked close to her mouth.

She hesitated. He squeezed her face a little tighter.

“Yes.” She stared him in the eye.

“Good.” He let her go. He moved down so that he sat between her legs, which had opened despite her desire not to appear too eager. His cock rested against the juncture of her legs. She could feel its mass through the layers of her skirt and leggings.

He sat back, grabbed her bodice and ripped it straight down the middle. She gasped. Shock held her still for a moment. Then her pussy gushed. This was just wrong. The man had tied her to a bed and literally ripped her top off and she was creaming her panties. Her head fell back and she tugged on the ties around her wrists. She was secured tightly.

Her attention snapped back to Rhine as she felt two large hands cup her breasts. They teased, squeezed and rolled her tits and she enjoyed every minute of it.

“Found some new toys.” She panted and suppressed a groan.

“Mine,” he said. He stared at her breasts hungrily. He slid down her body.

“I don’t know about—” She gasped as he sucked her right nipple into his mouth. Her eyes rolled up into her head for a moment.

“Okay, you can borrow them for a while.” If he kept up the delicious suction, she’d be begging him to try it a little lower in no time.

Want more? Click the link for another excerpt.

Happy Reading!

Stormie Kent

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2013! To all of the Sweet N Sexy Diva family and readers I hope you have happiness, health and wealth in the upcoming year. I also wish you you all so much fun the cops have to be called at least once.

This new year I have a new release on January 18, 2013 from Ellora's Cave Publishing. Here is the cover and blurb for Battling Rapture.

Blurb
Niki is captured by hostile aliens after Earth is invaded. Once a soldier, she is now a slave. She is sold to the highest bidder, and then lost in a game of cards to a tall Ordanian spaceship captain, who claims to have been sent to rescue her. They work together to survive the dangers of the United Universe, while Niki battles her desire for the only man to ever enflame her mind, body and soul.

Stormie

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Nasty Girl

I've been searching for a theme for a contemporary story. I don't write much in the contemporary category. Not anymore. I used to write little short-shorts when I was married. They were definitely NOT romance. My ex used to ask me if I would change my name if I published them. *blink*

I heard an old song lately that put me in the erotica frame of mind. Nasty Girl, by Vanity 6. At first I just sang along and danced. (Insert my embarrassed pre-teen and teenager yelling "Mom, no.") I just laughed. I was having fun. I knew all the lyrics, even if I'd been only six when the song released in 1982.

Then I realized Nasty Girl is a song about a woman seeking sexual liberation. The hook says:

Tonight, I'm living in a fantasy.
My own little nasty world.
Tonight, don't you want to come with me?
Do you think I'm a nasty girl?

Vanity sings to an imaginary man in the song. She won't tell him her name. (stranger sex) She wants him to play her game and be mysterious. (role play) She wants a man to have sex with her wherever she wants. (public sex, exhibitionism, voyeurism) Half-way through the video she appears wearing a black teddy, black tuxedo jacket and a pair of black knee-high, heeled boots. (too many fetishes to list)

My mind is racing with the possibilities. I don't know if the story will be erotic romance or erotica. All I know is, it has to be HOT.

Speaking of hot, here is the cover for my new ebook, coming soon from Ellora's Cave. The cover for Battling Rapture, was created by the fabulous Syneca. Battling Rapture isn't a contemporary story, but I think the cover and the story are five alarm.

Are there any songs that inspire you to be naughty? Give me a title and the image(s) that come to your mind.
I also won't be upset if you let me know you love my cover as much as I do. I wish it were in my hands so I could stroke Ryan (cover model) and call him "my precious". Excuse me while I go fan myself.

Stormie
http://www.stormiekent.com/

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Wishy-Washy Heroine

I'm going to complain a bit here. I don't want to, but...

I recently purchased two ebooks by the same author. I really wanted to read the third book, but I like to read a series in order. I did not purchase the first because it had a vampire hero, and I'm off vampires right now. (Yes, you can read too many vampire stories.)

So, as you can see from my anal description of my book buying practices, I had to read the second book before the one I really wanted to read. Sigh. The book was great! Everything I love, suspense, fantastic locations, futuristic, and paranormal flavor. There was also a hunky alpha male desperately in love with the heroine.

So what was the problem? The heroine was completely unworthy. I don't want to call her TSTL, but she was too wishy-washy. Did the heroine love the hero or not? I can't take pages of inner dialogue and action where the heroine is jerking the guy around because she doesn't like something she thought was adorable in the last chapter.

She was too undecided and it ruined it for me. In my mind she couldn't be trusted. It wasn't about conflict, there was enough in the plot and she didn't have to declare herself in love so early. I don't mean simple romance novel hero-heroine give and take. She didn't seem to like him even when he redeemed himself, for her!

She also put him in danger with her unworthiness. If she couldn't have his back when he had hers, she was untrustworthy. At a certain point in a romance novel, especially an action filled one, the hero and heroine are a team. They may grumble a bit, but they come to each others rescue. She turned her back on him when he really needed her. I began skimming her parts. I didn't care when she was in danger ( I know, harsh.)

The heroine in the third book was much better. The untrustworthy heroine was in the book as well, though. She was back to her old tricks, too. Sigh.

I know what you're thinking. "But Stormie, you kept reading the book!" I had to. Really, the rest of the book was awesome.

So, what do you think? Have you come across this type of heroine before? Leave a comment and we'll grumble together.

Stormie
Website
Blog

Monday, October 1, 2012

Broken Heart

Recently, someone close to me set me on a month long binge of indignation and righteous fury.

It was accidental really. I was speaking with this friend about the ideas rolling around in my head, which I had lined up for the next set of books I wanted to write. All my friend gave me was a raised eyebrow, and a short sentence that asked if I was going to continue to write material which might be offensive to our religion.

Um, yeah. I am. I don't find what I write offensive. I am not forcing anyone to read what I write. As a matter of fact, I don't tell many of my family and friends I am an author because I don't want them to feel any obligation to my books. I have a specific niche. I'm okay with the knowledge that everyone doesn't like or approve of it. I write what I like to read, and hope others, with like minds, enjoy it too.

For about three weeks I forgot that.

I wrestled with my friend's eyebrow raise, and short censorious sentence. I was hurt, and angry by turns, all without saying anything to my friend. The worst part is, I didn't write. I write for enjoyment, but also to ward off depression. Outside of my children, writing is my life. It brings me joy. So, for those three weeks, I felt like I had a broken heart.

Finally, I snapped out of it. I came to grips with the fact that my friend was coming from a difference space and set of experiences. She definitely didn't mean for me to end up obsessing over her innocent comment for so long.

I won't stop writing; even if I stop selling what I write. I can't. I've been doing it since I was a young child. Plus, what would I do with all the voices in my head? It gets very uncomfortable if I don't let the dominant ones out. All those characters start to pile up.

What makes you feel alive? What makes you feel like you? What couldn't you live without?

Stormie
http://www.stormiekent.com

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Emotions Part 3: Fear

By Stormie Kent

As writers, we are constantly trying to portray character emotions correctly. I’ve discussed romantic love and anger in previous posts. I want to explore fear today.

What are the emotions that a human being may experience?

According to W. Gerrod Parrot (2001), there are six primary emotions (love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness and fear) which are then comprised of secondary and tertiary emotions. These secondary and tertiary emotions are more specific in scope. For example, the secondary emotions for fear are horror and nervousness. The tertiary emotions for fear/horror are shock, terror, panic, hysteria, alarm and mortification. All of these secondary and tertiary emotions stem from fear. (Click on the highlighted link for a chart.)

What are specific physiological responses associated with each major emotion?

Fear: It is one of the emotions people dislike, yet fear has kept our species alive. Fear, like other emotions, involves a biochemical response to an event, and our interpretation of it. Many of us have heard of the fight or flight response. When we perceive danger our bodies prepare to defend or run away. This reaction was crucial to our ancestor’s survival.

Fear shows up in the body through sweating, spiked adrenaline and amplified heart rate. Initially, we experience an event that is potentially physical dangerous or dangerous to our well-being. The amygdala is responsible for sending the message that we are frightened to our autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls the body’s involuntary actions. It regulates heart rate, and allows the blood vessels to widen or narrow.

This is why our heart rate and blood pressure increase when we are scared. Our breathing quickens. Adrenaline and cortisol are released into our systems. Blood even flows away from the heart, and to our limbs, so that we can react more quickly to danger. Our ability to reason is impaired because the amygdala is sending the fear response to the autonomic nervous system. Many people have the feeling that time slows or feel as if everything is happening in slow motion. Our brains are trying to assess, and catalogue the possible danger we are facing.

Some people become addicted to the adrenaline high they get from their body’s biochemical reaction to fear. Who loves the giant drop on a roller coaster or a really good horror movie? Other people see the biochemical response to fear as something to be completely avoided. Phobias are an extension of this abhorrence of fear’s biochemical reactions, and how they feel in the body.

Now, what about your characters? If you read last month’s post on anger, you will notice the two emotions share some characteristics. Is this why when we are scared we can become violent? If your character is attacked by a vampire (not the nice, romantic kind) will they run or fight?

What scares you? What does fear feel like as it courses through your body? I would love to hear from you on the subject.

Stormie

http://www.stormiekent.com

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Emotion Part 2

Photos.com

By Stormie Kent

This is part two of the emotion series. To read the first post click here.

As writers, we are constantly trying to portray character emotions correctly. In an attempt to do this, I’ve jumped into the world of human emotion. There are many theorists and theories about the subject. In the interest of time, and word management, I’ve chosen the human emotion theory of Professor W. Gerrod Parrott, to start my journey.

What are the emotions that a human being may experience?

According to W. Gerrod Parrot (2001), there are six primary emotions (love, joy, surprise, anger, sadness and fear) which are then comprised of secondary and tertiary emotions. These secondary and tertiary emotions are more specific in scope. For example, the secondary emotions for anger are irritation, exasperation, rage, disgust, envy and torment. The tertiary emotions for anger/rage are some emotions you might expect like anger, fury, and wrath. The tertiary emotions for anger/rage also contain more nuanced emotions like bitterness, scorn and resentment. All of these secondary and tertiary emotions stem from anger. (Click on the highlighted link for a chart.)

What are specific physiological responses associated with each major emotion?

I will discuss anger today.

Anger: In response to an event, the amygdala in our brains initiates a fight or flight response in our bodies. Our interpretation of the event helps determine the emotion. Let's try it out.

I’m spunky character, A. My ex-husband confronts me in my office, and informs me that, in a hostile takeover, he now controls the company my great-great-grandfather built during the Reconstruction Era. I could be sad, but I think I'll save sad for later. I'm angry. What’s going on in my body?

According to Harry Mills, Ph.D., initially, anger makes my body tense. Then a rush of energy floods my system, thanks to the neurotransmitter chemical ,catecholamine. I am ready to protect myself from any immediate danger. (Unless my ex is violent or enjoys tossing around paper-weights and staplers, this is unnecessary.)

While catecholamine is rushing through my system, my heart races, my blood pressure rises and my breathing becomes more rapid. Just in case I need to defend myself, blood enters my limbs, and causes my face to flush. My attention is totally focused on my nemesis. Let’s call him Evil Ex-husband.

By this time, the neurotransmitters and hormones, adrenaline and noradrenaline trigger arousal in my body. It causes me to remain angry with my ex for days, and probably fuels the actions that lead to great internal and external conflict.

What do I look like as I face down Evil Ex-husband? If I have a poker face, my features are smooth and blank. Unfortunately, I’m a hot-head. My eyebrows pull down and in, making a crease between them. My eyes narrow and lock onto Evil Ex-husband. My nostrils flair, and my lips tighten. I square my body, and ball up my fists.

In the seconds in takes all of these chemical and physical responses to happen, I can choose to completely loose it, and smack him, or my prefrontal cortex (responsible for judgment) can inject a note of reason. I can show him the door. Then, I can run for my lawyers.

What other physical reactions have you noticed go hand and hand with anger? I really look forward to hearing from you. I had fun reading your responses to Emotion Part 1: Love.

Stormie

http://www.stormiekent.com

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Emotion Part 1

By Stormie Kent

Character emotions are sometimes hard to get exactly right. Emotions and feelings can be subjective and culturally based. Even gender can determine how a character might respond emotionally to a comment or situation. Then there is the entire show the reader, don’t tell the reader portion of writing a story. As an author I thought it would be wise to do some research on human emotion. Mainly I wanted to understand 1) what are the emotions a human being may experience and 2) if there were specific physiological responses to certain emotions that were universal.

Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew. This blog post will be in several parts for just this reason.

What are the emotions that a human being may experience?

There is some scientific debate on the subject. Most theorists have a short list of what they call primary or basic emotions. Their lists can range from two emotions to eleven or more. These theorists believe that as we experience events we may combine one or two emotions to create emotions beyond basic joy and anger. For example, according to certain theorists, anger plus disgust equals contempt.

What are specific physiological responses associated with each major emotion?

This is where the real research began. The information I found focused on classifying emotions or the study of facial expressions. I will discuss romantic love today.

RomanticLove: With emotion we realize that we are responding to stimuli – in this case - the object of our affection. We see and interact with someone and suddenly there is an attraction, longing, and maybe lust. We have assessed this person unconsciously through sight, sound, smell, touch and maybe taste if we are lucky. Our bodies, those wonderful machines, will begin to use those handy neurotransmitters adrenaline, serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, vasopressin and testosterone to lure us in for a night or a lifetime.

But what does love feel like in our bodies? Initially, adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin take over and we may feel sweaty, light headed, and preoccupied with the other person. Our hearts race, our mouths may become dry when our love interest is near. We have too much energy and we can’t sleep. We may feel lust. We are deep in attraction.

Oxytocin and vasopressin take over if the bond is strong. We are urged to cherish and protect. These hormones keep the physiological effects we experienced in the attraction and lust phase going when we see our partner. After twenty years our heart still races, our eyes still dilate, we still want to touch. We think about our partner with worry and affection if we are away from each other too long. We are in love.

Well, at least our characters are in love. What other physical reactions have you noticed go hand and hand with romantic love?

Stormie

http://www.stormiekent.com

Friday, June 1, 2012

I Confess...

A while ago a blogger at SNSD asked readers if they skipped sex scenes in romance novels. While reading a good story by an excellent erotic romance writer last weekend I realized something. I am an erotic romance author and sometimes I skip sex scenes. Well, I skim not skip.

I’d never thought about it before. I knew I skimmed some of the love scenes in non-erotic romance. I don’t always like euphemisms for sex acts but I don’t want to miss any character development that might happen during a love scene. Last weekend I realized I also skim sex scenes in erotic romance. I asked myself why.

After some soul searching and too much introspection for the weekend, I finally figured it out. The story may be gripping yet sometimes I am just not into the sex I am reading about. It isn’t personal and it doesn’t ruin the entire book for me.

Maybe that day I have a stomach ache and food sex is too much for me to take. No drizzled chocolate for me. Or it’s Monday and ménage is off the menu. I know it’s silly but sometimes I get to a sex scene and realize I don’t care for the content…that day.

What about you? Do you read, skim or skip?

Stormie

http://www.stormiekent.com

Enslaved in Desire blurb:

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Happy April Fool's Day!

Courtesy Photos.com

April Fool’s Day supposedly began in 1582 when King Charles IX of France adopted the Gregorian calendar and changed the new year to January 1. News traveled slowly in the 16^th century and some didn’t get the royal decree, forgot the new year began on January 1 or refused to acknowledge the change. Other people made fun of them by giving them silly gifts or inviting them to fake parties. The people being pranked were called “poisson d’avril” or “April fish.”

I’m not really a prank kind of person. I sometimes think they can be cruel. While I was trying to think of a post for today I realized something important. I have been pranking myself for the last month.

I have been ill lately and I haven’t had much energy. I go to the everyday job (EDJ), take care of the kid’s activities, run errands for the family and either work excessively at night on the EDJ or fall into a hopeless drained sleep. Needless to say, I haven’t had much time for writing. And of course the negative self talk started.

“I’m a slacker.”

“I’ll never write again.”

“I won’t ever finish my revisions.”

You get the idea. I became progressively more down as the weeks passed and I couldn’t find the energy or the time to write. I began to believe the negative self talk. I’d fooled myself. That kind of thinking couldn’t continue. You see, finishing my ebook, Enslaved in Desire, carried me through one of the most painful times in my life. I was happy when circumstances said I shouldn't have been. Only the birth of my children made me happier.

So, today I have decided to take a note from those “April fish” and begin my new year on April 1^st. So here are my resolutions:

1. When my body needs rest: sleep.

2. Write a little even when I think I don’t have the time. (Why, because I love it and don’t like the quality of my life without it.)

3. Tell my negative self talk to take a hike.

Could you use a new year restart? Go pre 16^thcentury and begin again on April 1^st.

Stormie

http://www.stormiekent.com

Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Top Five Hero Requirements

Photo courtesy of Photos.com

I read romance not just to identify with the plucky heroine but also to fall in love with the hero. Most of us read to escape into other lives and worlds. I like to do my escaping with a hunk. Spaceship captain, investment banker, cowboy, soldier, barbarian or duke I find I enjoy them the most when they follow five basic guidelines.

1. He is physically impressive. I don’t mean facial features though I won’t turn my nose up at a beautiful man. The first book I remember stealing, cough, I mean borrowing, at age fourteen from an aunt, was Julie Garwood’s The Prize. The hero, Baron Royce, had a significant facial scar. All the heroes I wrote that year were disfigured in some way.

By physically impressive I just mean that I like a large man. I like muscles whether they are sleek or bulky. Sure he needs to be able to lift a drink to his mouth and have a neck but other than that, I’m flexible (no pun intended). I sometimes watch wrestling with the mute on. I’m just saying. (I shrug here in a carefree manner.)

2. He can kick ass and frequently does. Even if he doesn’t, he could. I am the daughter of a Marine. I rode past soldiers engaged in hot, sweaty, physical fitness on the way to the commissary during puberty. Enough said.

3. He has a kind and gentle side. I like this in a hero even if the heroine is the only one who truly gets to see it. I like my heroes to be alphas and let’s face it, alphas can be pricks sometimes. It’s good to dial down the testosterone every once in a while.

4. He’s dominant in the bedroom.Sigh. I write erotic romance. I really have closed a book or skipped over the love scenes if they were just a bit too vanilla. I like a little bite with my sex. I don’t write the hard stuff. I’ve read comments where my work is affectionately called intense. I subscribe to the “don’t like it, don’t look” school of romance.

5. He loves and desires the heroine above everything else in his life. The hero would do anything to keep her emotionally and physically well. He would also do anything to keep her with him. I get antsy when the hero walks away from the heroine. Even if he thinks he needs to leave, I don’t want him to actually be able to do it.

Here is an excerpt from my eBook, Enslaved in Desire, that shows some of the sexual tension between my hero Venn and my heroine Camryn. It gives you a little taste of number 4.

The following excerpt is for those readers who are 18 and over only.

“I didn’t tell you to move, sweet.” He stepped back.

She groaned. Her eyes clashed with his in the mirror.

“What’s with the restraint?” she asked.

“I know you like it when I hold you down, but I wanted to use my hands today. And you did say it would take chains to keep you in one place,” he replied.

He gathered her hair in one hand and wrapped it once around his hand. He pulled her head gently to the side. She curled her toes into the carpet so she wouldn’t move.

He stepped beside her and leaned forward, raining kisses on her chin and neck. Then he turned her loose completely. She whimpered.

“Keep your eyes on your face and body in the mirror,” he said, lacing his voice with command.

She stared into his eyes in the mirror. Then she lowered her gaze to her own face. Her eyes were slumberous. Her bottom lip was swollen where she’d bitten it in concentration and she was flushed.

“Beautiful,” he said.

***** ***** *****

So what are your requirements in a hero or heroine? Do you have any deal breakers? Are you attracted to one type of hero more than others? Leave a comment and let me know.

Stormie

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook