WAIT! I’m writing a book!

I’m sure you’ve read about writer’s block and how authors try to get around it before. But sometimes trouble comes unexpectedly.
As most readers will have worked out from my books, I love summer, the hot weather, the beach, and walking through national parks. For some years I’ve enjoyed swimming at a local, large Aquatic Center. One day as I was swimming up and down in my lane (the slow lane, sadly, not the fast lane, or even the medium lane), I started thinking that an Aquatic Center would be a mighty fine place to meet Mr. Right. After all, there are plenty of brawny, naked chests, quite a lot of young, good-looking, ultra-fit life guards, and lots of sweaty, delicious muscles in the gym. The only surprising part of my decision was that I hadn’t thought of doing it long ago.
So I started writing the “Wet and Willing” series right there and then (in my head) as I swam. I expected it to be a paranormal series, as I’d been writing a lot of paranormal stories at that time, but the characters stayed firmly fixed in the here and now, showing no unusual abilities, remaining stolidly contemporary. Hey, that’s okay. Half the time I just take dictation from demanding characters anyway.
But then the unthinkable happened. The management of the Aquatic Center announced it was closing so they could undertake a major upgrade, and all the members had to find somewhere else to exercise for the eighteen months construction would take.
WAIT!! Just wait a minute. You can’t close the Aquatic Center! I’m in the middle of writing a series of books!!! Eighteen months! The readers would kill me if I took eighteen months off in the middle of a book!
Fortunately for my peace of mind, we were given passes to another Aquatic Center, a little farther away, but just as big and exciting. So the series, “Wet and Willing” was written.
Each of these books is a complete story in itself, but previous characters return for cameo appearances in later books.
And I’m still there every week, slowly making my way up and down the slow lane, getting inspiration from hunky life guards, and fit exercising men.

The “Wet and Willing” series is MMF ménage and available from http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown

Book 1: “Woman in Hot Water”. Blurb:
Unemployed and homeless, Kendra gets a job at the local Aquatic Center. Her new boss, Osborne, is very yummy, but he’s partnered to Jordan. When she’s offered a threesome with two such delicious men, how can she say no? And with so many opportunities to see their semi-naked bodies, being a good girl is not that easy either. Fun on the waterslide, a hot time in the sauna, slick, gleaming muscles in the gym...
When Jordan deduces that Kendra is sleeping in her car, the men ask her to stay in their guest room. She’s hesitant, but allows them to persuade her. Despite the best sex of her life, Kendra is determined to move into an apartment of her own as soon as possible, so she goes house-hunting. The men don’t like either of the places she chooses. She can’t risk losing her job but values her independence too.
Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/woman-in-hot-water

Book 2: "Cold Woman, Hot Men". Blurb:
Melusine Carmichael mistakes the plunge pool at the Aquatic Center for a regular pool and almost drowns with the sudden shock of the icy-cold water. While underwater she hears a voice calling her "Melly," a name she never uses. Yehudi and Arlington are nearby in the sauna and rescue her, using their personal body heat and the sauna to warm her up. They keep in contact with her via Facebook, and finally convince her to let them teach her to swim.
But Mel hears the voice again and worries that they’re stalking her, so she cuts contact with them. Yehudi and Arlington try everything to see her and she prevents them, so they meet her parents after their swimming class. They learn about the voice saying "Melly" and that someone is stalking her.
But who is it? And how can they get Mel to spend time with them again so they can convince her of their innocence?
Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/cold-woman-hot-men

Book 3: “Small Woman, Big Trouble”. Blurb:
Deb Steele hikes through a Water Authority reservation. But houses are being built on one section of it, and she can’t get home. She phones Kai Cole, and he and Harry Anders come to get her. While she’s waiting for them, her cell phone battery dies and a young man turns up on an electric scooter. When he realizes she’s quite alone, he plans to sexually assault her. She escapes from him just as Kai and Harry arrive.
Kai worries about how he can protect Deborah if this man is following her, and Harry suggests they learn karate. Kai decides the only way their beginning threesome relationship can progress further is if they all move in together.
But, as Deb is leaving work late that evening, the attacker jumps her once again. Why is he after her? How can the men protect her? And will they ever have enough time to build their friendship into a genuine relationship?
Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/small-woman-big-trouble

Berengaria Brown
http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

Sunshine Yellow Days and Popping His Cherry

I'm so excited about "The Paint Store Boys". I love these men and their stories. "Sunshine Yellow Days" is still sitting there on the best seller list looking so purty I could scream, beside famous authors like Sophie Oak and Lynn Hagen (inset fangirl squee here).

Edward Robinson is a failure, nervous, frightened, bullied, and unemployed. Basil King, a flamboyantly gay interior designer, sees the man behind the pain. He has designs on Ed. Basil is one of the owners of The Paint Store, along with Cuthbert, Roland, and Max, and he offers Ed a job there. As Ed settles in and enjoys the work, Basil invites him out to a gay bar for a drink.

Ed has tried so hard to fit in, to be invisible, to be ignored. Someone who looks and dresses as outrageously as Basil, yet without being hated, is an inspiration to him. Not that he could ever look or act like that. But maybe working for Basil and his friends will help him get some self-confidence so he can begin to reclaim his life and his self-respect. When Basil wants to date him he can’t believe anyone would care for a person like him. But he accepts the date anyway.

http://www.bookstrand.com/sunshine-yellow-days

And now book 2 "Popping His Cherry" is out!
Builder Max Hall and Detective Nicholas O’Hare have a wonderful night together after the court case between The Paint Store and serial pest Mitchall. But then they’re both very busy at work, and Max doesn’t answer Nick’s calls. Is their romance over before it really began? Max had admitted to Nick that this was his first gay romance. Max was adamant that he’d gradually realized he wasn’t attracted to women and craved the rougher, tougher love of another man. Was he lying? Was all his talk about wanting to have his male cherry popped just talk, and once he’d had the experience he’d decided to revert to loving a woman? Had Max just used Nick? Nick thought there was genuine love between them, but if so, why isn’t Max answering his cell phone anymore?

http://www.bookstrand.com/popping-his-cherry

Berengaria Brown
http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

You can’t close the Aquatic Center. I’m writing a book!

As most readers will have worked out from my books, I love summer, the hot weather, the beach, and walking through national parks. For some years I’ve enjoyed swimming at a local, large Aquatic Center. One day as I was swimming up and down in my lane (the slow lane, sadly, not the fast lane, or even the medium lane), I started thinking that an Aquatic Center would be a mighty fine place to meet Mr. Right. After all, there’s plenty of brawny, naked chests, quite a lot of young, good-looking, ultra-fit life guards, and lots of sweaty, delicious muscles in the gym. The only surprising part of my decision was that I hadn’t thought of doing it long ago.

So I started writing the “Wet and Willing” series right there and then (in my head) as I swam. I expected it to be a paranormal series, as I’ve been writing a lot of paranormal stories lately, but the characters stayed firmly fixed in the here and now, showing no unusual abilities, remaining stolidly contemporary. Hey, that’s okay. Half the time I just take dictation from demanding characters anyway.

But then the unthinkable happened. The management of the Aquatic Center announced it was closing so they could undertake a major upgrade, and all the members had to find somewhere else to exercise for the eighteen months construction would take.

Eighteen months! Didn’t they understand I was in the middle of writing a series of books? The readers would kill me if I took eighteen months off in the middle of it!

Fortunately for my peace of mind, we were given passes to another Aquatic Center, a little farther away, but just as big and exciting. So the series, “Wet and Willing” continues to be written. Thank god!

 

Berengaria Brown Bio:

Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (magic, ghosts, vampires, fairies, dragons, and werewolves), futuristic, medieval, and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men, two women/one man, three men/one woman…. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

 

Book 2 in the “Wet and Willing” series has just been released

"Cold Woman, Hot Men" blurb:

Melusine Carmichael mistakes the plunge pool at the Aquatic Center for a regular pool and almost drowns with the sudden shock of the icy-cold water. While underwater she hears a voice calling her "Melly," a name she never uses. Yehudi and Arlington are nearby in the sauna and rescue her, using their personal body heat and the sauna to warm her up. They keep in contact with her via Facebook, and finally convince her to let them teach her to swim.

But Mel hears the voice again and worries that they’re stalking her, so she cuts contact with them. Yehudi and Arlington try everything to see her and she prevents them, so they meet her parents after their swimming class. They learn about the voice saying "Melly" and that someone is stalking her.

But who is it? And how can they get Mel to spend time with them again so they can convince her of their innocence?

 

STORY EXCERPT

 

Yehudi was leaning back against the wall of the sauna, his eyes half closed, his brain counting the minutes until he could get Arlington out of his teeny tiny swimwear and his own cock buried in Arlington’s tautly delicious ass. If he’d thought to bring lube in his gym bag, he may have been able to convince Arlington to fuck in the shower, right here in the change rooms at the Aquatic Center. But with kids around, it was likely just as well to wait until they were back home. But that meant adding another twenty minutes onto a wait that was already stretching out to be way too long for the ongoing happiness of his cock.

Arlington was looking though the glass panel in the door, snorting and shaking his head.

“What’s so amusing,” Yehudi asked.

“There’s a woman staring at the plunge pool, like she’s never seen one before. She’s taking her towel off, so maybe she’s going to come in here. Oooh, nice body. I like those long legs. Nice tits, too.”

“That’s it? You’re not going to tell me her hair color and eye color, and her height to the nearest inch?”

Arlington turned to grin at him. “Five six, blonde and blue.”

Yehudi heard a lot of splashing. “What on earth is she doing?” he asked.

“Drowning!” Arlington opened the door so roughly it crashed into the wall as he raced out. Yehudi jumped up and followed him out to the plunge pool.

The woman—well, he supposed it was the woman—was definitely underwater, and this was not the kind of place to practice underwater swimming. The whole point of the plunge pool was that users of the sauna jumped into the icy cold pool, and climbed straight out again to cool off after the heat of the sauna.

Arlington had jumped in and dived under the woman’s body, using his broad shoulders and strong back to push her up to the surface and nudge her to the side of the pool. Yehudi kneeled down and leaned over, grabbing hold of the woman’s arm, which was very cold indeed, and pulling her higher out of the water. Arlington pushed her some more, and Yehudi got a good grip on her waist and lifted her up onto the edge of the pool. He turned her onto her side and banged on her back. She coughed then dragged a rasping breath into her body.

Meanwhile Arlington had climbed out of the pool. “She’s breathing. Good.”

“Let’s get her—and you—back into the sauna to warm up.

“I like that plan.”

Yehudi picked her up and carried her the short distance into the sauna, laying her on his own towel, which was on the bench where he’d left it. Arlington followed him in the door then threw more water on the hot stones of the fire to make steam.

“Her skin is still icy,” said Yehudi. He was worried about her. Was this a suicide attempt? Why would she have deliberately jumped into the water if she couldn’t swim? “I’ll get her towel,” he said, wanting Arlington to stay in the sauna and warm himself up again after the cold water.

The woman was coughing again when he returned, and he gently wrapped her towel over her shoulders. “Thanks,” she said then coughed again.

After a few minutes she sat up, hugging the towel around her body.

“What happened?” Yehudi asked, at exactly the same time as Arlington said, “Why did you get in the pool if you can’t swim?”

 

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/cold-woman-hot-men

 

Berengaria Brown

http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/

http://berengariabrown.com/

Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter.

Contemporaries Aren’t As Easy As You Think

This month, in celebration of my new release, I’m going to do something a little different. Instead of an interview of one of my favorite authors, I’m going to talk to you all about a something that’s been bothering me for a little while.

A few weeks ago, a friend who writes time travel romances, was discussing how difficult it is to write a believable way for one character to travel into another’s time. While I believe that probably does take an extra bit of finesse, the next words she said made me grit my teeth. It would be so much easier if I wrote contemporaries.

All I could think was, how are contemporaries easy?

Over the last several years the paranormal genre has exploded, taking over more and more of the market. Alongside it, newer genres have been created and expanded due to its success. Several years ago no one even knew what urban fantasy or steampunk was. While I love these genres, and have read some amazing stories in each sector, it appear the rise in paranormal fiction may have caused a few people to forget just how much work a contemporary novel is. So I thought I’d take this moment to articulate all the difficulties of contemporaries that seem to have been ignored during this new supernatural boom.

--Everything’s been done before. Since the contemporary genre has been around for so long, and many of the stories have already been told and retold, it’s much harder to come out with something unique in the contemporary genre. Not impossible, but it takes a lot more thought and research to get there. Certain storylines, such as the secret baby or forced into marriage, have been told so many times, most of the ground has been covered. To find some new land, to find a spot to plant your flag in those classic storylines, is very difficult. While I can quickly think of several ways a paranormal troupe has been reenvisioned to positive results (who knew vampire’s could sparkle), and new ground discovered.

--Takes more work to have out of the box thinking. While paranormal authors can change a few ingredients and you’ve got a whole new subgenre (think of all the different types of shifters out there, bear shifters, snakes shifters, wolf shifters, puma shifters, bird shifters, I even know of one book that was written about someone shifting into a Yorkshire terrier). Contemporary is not that easy to think outside the box. The basic principles need to stay the same, so there’s not as much room to play. There are some amazing authors, which even against all these challenges come up with some very original work, but it takes a lot of hard work to accomplish that feat.

--Not as much suspended disbelief. To some degree every novel takes a little bit suspended disbelief. If the situation in the novel weren’t a little out there, it wouldn’t be interesting enough to tell. But I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that contemporary readers felt that the characters feel in love too quickly, or they have trouble believing the heroine could win the lottery twice in one story. I don’t hear that very often around paranormal stories. Since there’s already such a need for suspended disbelief to accept the paranormal aspects of the story, rarely are authors questioned about how quickly their characters fall in love. After all, it’s natural to fall in love with your comrade when you’re chasing down evil zombies together. Contemporary authors have to be very careful about how far they push that disbelief and carefully construct their characters and interactions to make every aspect of their relationships as truthful as possible. While many paranormal authors do that as well, to great effects, making their created worlds all the more real to the reader, it appears that the contemporary author has to work harder at to keep the reader and story going against the weight of doubt.

--You have to work within a defined world. Unlike my paranormal sisters, I don’t get make the world up as I go. While that often makes my thought process and research minimal (I know the rules of the contemporary world very well, because I live in it) it can lead for many difficulties to get a new and complex story across. Take my most recent release, Midnight Mirage, which is my second novel in the Naughty Holiday List story. To create a way for two men and one woman to happily have a relationship in the modern world was difficult to comprehend and to justify to the readers. After all, how many times have you seen a happy ménage relationship in the real world. Maybe I’m sheltered, but I’ve never seen one myself. However in a paranormal setting such an unorthodox religion can be easily explained or justified by changing you’re world building. Anya Bast has made a career in this fashion, devising religions, biological or mystical reason for these connections. However it wasn’t anywhere near as easy for me. (Shameless plug—to see how I do create a loving ménage relationship, head over to http://www.bookstrand.com/midnight-mirage and buy Midnight Mirage, today is the last day of the preorder sale, discounting the value by 10%).

To be fair, I do realize there are many things that are more difficult about paranormals than contemporary. The world building is intense, the possibilities endless and the need to maintain some semblance of credibility and truth can be difficult. But each genre has its own difficulties and advantages, and I’m sick of my contemporaries being thrown under the bus as easy. No genre is easy. Writing is hard work.

I hope you all enjoyed my little knock at my paranormal rivals. This was all written in good fun. The truth is I have tremendous respect for anyone who writes a novel. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, nonfiction or science fiction, it takes extreme dedication, perseverance and drive to complete something as difficult as a novel (and that’s before we even get into submissions or rejections).

Furthermore I want to say, I love all the ladies on this site and they’re work. We have some amazing talent here. While we may write different genres we’re still fighting the same fights, battling the same demons and yet have found a way to foster and support each other. Thanks guys, for all your help and support, and encouraging me to be the best writer I can be.

Now here’s the blurb and a small snippet from my new release, Midnight Mirage, book two in the Naughty Holiday List series, available now for preorder and officially released tomorrow.

BLURB

Lincoln and Gabe, best friends and the hottest new alt-rock duo Mirage, only want one thing. Mallory. They’ve been waiting a year for Mallory to open her heart to both of them and accept the alternative relationship they wish for.

Mallory’s flattered by their attentions but can’t believe they’re any more than sweet words. They’re rock stars, surrounded by beautiful woman. They can’t possibly want a plain-Jane reporter like her.

When a crazed fan forces their hand, their protective instincts take over. Gabe and Lincoln aren’t willing to wait for their woman any longer. They initiate her with intense pleasure, ringing in the New Year in the naughtiest way possible. But when they whisper words of love and forever in her ear, she runs away.

Will Mallory be able to open her heart and return their affection, or will insecurity keep her from the men who love her?

Buy Link: http://bookstrand.com/midnight-mirage

EXCERPT

“Is tonight the night?”

His best friend’s voice invaded his thoughts, distracting Lincoln from the round hips and long black hair of the woman bouncing in front of them. Her body swayed as she made her way through the crowd toward the backstage area where they stood.

“I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on, mate,” Gabe continued, unbidden, as always. “My bollocks are turning blue waiting for you.”

Lincoln cast his eyes to the side, catching a glimpse of his best friend in the semidarkness. From Gabe’s firm stance, his focused eyes, and the bulge in his pants, he was just as interested and desperate as Lincoln was.

Lincoln turned away from his friend, staring back to where the woman bounced to the music. It would be much better if she were dancing to their music, instead of the Mötley Crüe wannabes onstage, but her passion and interest were intoxicating regardless of the drivel ringing through the air.

“God, she’s gorgeous,” Gabe smirked as his eyes scanned her temptress form. “How can you stand waiting?”

Gorgeous didn’t even start to describe her. She was beautiful, sexy, vulnerable. She wore tight dark jeans that molded to her ass, a golden corset spread across her chest, pressing her breasts high, ready to greet him like the New Year. In the past year they’d known Mallory, they’d learned a lot about her. They both knew her looks were only the beginning of her beauty.

And Lincoln wasn’t doing any better at waiting than his friend was. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her. And he’d gotten in the habit of fisting his hands at his sides any time Mallory was near, just to stop himself from reaching for her, or accidentally touching her, which he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop once he started.

Gothic Love

Yes, I love to read and write gothics. Do you think of them as spooky stories? I do. Of course they’re also more than that. A gothic may come close to horror, but never really is because there’s always a happy ending. Nor is it just a romantic suspense story because darker elements are always present. And almost all gothics are paranormal in some way. Modern gothics also differ from the earlier ones as far as sex goes--they can be as sensual as the author wants to make them. Earlier ones were filled with sexual yearning, but consummation was missing. (Though that’s not true of Rebecca because the hero and heroine are married even if we don’t see any consummated sex between them.)
Modern gothics differ in other ways from earlier ones, too, in that the heroine is rarely, if ever, a shy virgin. Neither, as a rule, is she too stupid to live. No more midnight ventures down a dark hall in a spooky old mansion with a wavering candle the only illumination and usually clad only in her virginal white nightgown. All gone today.
The hero does not have to be the stereotypical tortured and brooding loner, either--many times a widower suspected of killing his wife. He can be whoever an author decides is right for the story.
Many of us gothic writers have loved gothic books over the years, but have not found many gothics available today. A few years ago, because we loved the genre so much, we founded a gothic group as a RWA chapter. Last year, I and other members of the Gothic Romance Writers decided to create the Shadowed Hearts series to make readers more aware of gothic books and authors. We found a home for the series at Red Rose Publishing.
So now the Gothic Writers has a great gothic series running at RRP. Five books are out now, with the sixth coming soon:

SHADOWED HEARTS SERIES

Null and Void by Jane Toombs
The Haunting At Hastings Hall by Allison Knight
Dangerous Hearts by Mary Montague Sikes
Heart Of The Night by Karen McCullough
Veil Over Crystal Lake by Cierra James
Haunted Serenade by Anna Taylor Swerington (coming soon)

And six more yet to come!

These books and those yet to come are all very different, Most are contemporary but some are historical. Yet are all gothic in different ways. How do I know? Hey, I’ve read them all.

Check us out at www.redrosepublishing.com Click on Anthologies/Series, then on Shadowed Hearts and the six gothic book covers available now will come up.

(Watch for my next NN Midnight post on December 15 where I try to dissect why both readers and authors love were-creatures.)
Jane

Sound Off...I Can't Hear You!

This is the day you get to sound off. Tell us what happened to you last week, we want the good, the bad and the ugly. Tell us what made you mad, sad, happy, we want to hear it all.  This is where we get to come together and support one another. Anything goes, let it all out.

Happy Reading and Writing.

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

Sound Off...I Can't Hear You!

This is the day you get to sound off. Tell us what happened to you last week, we want the good, the bad and the ugly. Tell us what made you mad, sad, happy, we want to hear it all.  This is where we get to come together and support one another. Anything goes, let it all out.

Happy Reading and Writing.

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

Sound Off...I Can't Hear You!

This is the day you get to sound off. Tell us what happened to you last week, we want the good, the bad and the ugly. Tell us what made you mad, sad, happy, we want to hear it all.  This is where we get to come together and support one another. Anything goes, let it all out.

Happy Reading and Writing.

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

Writing Sex

I can't resist an intriguing prompt. The prompt was write a sex scene that takes place in a given local. I wrote a sex scene -- no love, romance, or emotional bondage intended.

Jo, a no-fear femme fatale, barred no holes in her pursuit of the object of her desire.

Mick, the tasty morsel she shared an office with, played hard to get by throwing out the morality roadblock. Mick lusted after Jo, maybe even more than Jo lusted after him. He obstructed her path with arguments about office dating, and the prerequisite rules that society demands.

That didn't hinder Jo, since she wasn't after romance, a relationship, or even morning coffee. Jo knew the backlash Mick feared would only come into play if they tried to sustain their tryst in the real world. Jo wasn't about to sweat the petty stuff. She itched to get naked and pet Mick's sweaty stuff.

She thumbed through her list of feminine wiles, and chose the tricks that would demolish his blockades. She used her brain and her charms to end up sandwiched between his solid heat and the icy bite of a metal railing. No promises, no excuses, no consequences. Hot, horny sex with her chosen stud muffin... She wanted it; she got it; she was gone.

It was a fun piece to write. Jo was no wimpy, whiny, abused damsel in distress. She could navigate her way in the world without help. It was liberating to play in her head awhile. Unfortunately, some of my readers didn't share my sense of adventure.

There were comments like "not romantic". Good, I say. I wasn't writing the great American love story. I was writing a sex scene.

Another didn't like the way Jo dallied to her point. An old fashioned tease-and-tempt was, in Jo's mind, the best route to her destination. It was her buildup to the big moment; foreplay, if you will. She was careful to choose the psychological warfare most likely to topple Mick's defenses. His body was willing. Only his psychology kept them apart.

I took the opportunity to flex narration muscles I don't normally use.

My scene was written in first person, to see if I could make a sympathetic character narrate her own story. First person makes it tough for the reader to identify with a character. In order to help the reader establish a connection with my leading lady and gent, I avoided any identifying physical traits. I was happy with the feedback I got concerning the characters. I think I pulled that off.

I wondered if I could make it go real time and be believable. I used present tense. This, it seems, I didn't accomplished so well. With words like dallying, and a comment about forgetting they were even in a stairwell… well, I think I fell flat there. It was still fun to do something different.

The last part of my experiment was to make it sizzle without using any harsh words, while escaping the purple prose trap. I think I managed to check those two items off.

Even though I missed my mark with my audience, the experience was enlightening. The best part is the responses got me thinking about rules for writing sex. I've read them before, but they really sink in when you have something personal to relate them to. We all struggle with our sex scenes a bit, so I thought I'd share my thoughts.

Number one on my list: Know your audience. If your readers expect the raging inferno of raunchy sex in exotic locals – that is what you must give them. Dish up a helping of that course to an audience hungry for a sweet shaky first kiss to plant the seed of forever love; you'll spoil their appetite.

Number two isn't very far from number one. Understand what the sex is about. People have sex for all varieties of reasons: Because it feels good. Maybe they are looking for love, starved for a human connection, or they can't help themselves – as in addiction. For some, it's a way to get what they want, distract a lover from their true purpose, ease some emotional pain, or even because they are bored. And once again - it's my favorite - because it feels good. There's a whole host of sexual motivations I haven't touched on, but that isn't my point. You have to understand why your characters are about to lose their laundry. And, refer back to rule one, and decide if your audience can connect with your reason.

List item number three: Avoid the ick factor, but don't slip into the so-so everyday boring rut of tameness. Be open-minded, but know when to slam the gate before that train of thought derails. I'm not able to elaborate on this one much. I hope that we'll know it when we see it as writers and critters.

Number four: Last, but absolutely not least… switch it up and have fun. Live vicariously through your characters. Put on the Goddess Gown and play with attitudes that may be out of your reach, but so within the grasp of your fiction-vixen. Explore, dream, and give your reader something more than they get in the confines of their reality. Fiction is fantasy.

Thanks for visiting us here at Tabby's!

U-Tube and Romance

This week I thought I would give you all a little laugh. We get made fun of a lot as romance writers but sometimes we have to laugh right along with them. Hope you enjoy these clips from U-Tube. I know I did. They had me rolling on the floor laughing. Oh and the Bing commercial is just there because I love a sexy vamp.

Tabby

Wicked Word Wednesday - Episode 3 - Farewell

Rational talks, insane screamfests, and more sadness than she cared to recount hadn't won her his respect or trust. Five years and over a thousand soul-shaking orgasms later, it's time to pen The End and close the book. Jeff and his bossy, pushy, clingy, controlling attitudes were about to be history.

Grace couldn't force herself to remain committed to a relationship that filled most of her waking hours with misery. At some point, she hadn't had the strength to leave. Back when she was still familiar with the concept of hope.

Now, walking away had become easier than staying. Sure, there'd be tears – but they'd be the last Jeff would ever cost her. Small price to pay for the return of her self-respect, dignity, and confidence he'd held hostage.

Jeff's car pulling into the garage set her knees to trembling. Grace glanced around the room cluttered with boxes of his belongings, and for a microsecond, doubt tickled her resolve. She took a deep breath, and squared herself to the door when she heard the rattling knob announce his entrance.

Their eyes locked as he crossed the kitchen. Jeff eyed the boxes stacked in the living room, and laid the cut flowers on the top of the nearest pile. "You were serious."

"Very."

"I love you."

Grace took his hands in hers. She hated the slump of his shoulders, the pain in his eyes. Flashes of all the times he'd left her dejected flitted through her mind, and bolstered her courage. "Maybe you do. You don't trust me. You don't respect me. You don't encourage or understand me. I love you; I can't live with you."

"I've got nowhere to go."

"You've got the rest of the week to figure it out. I'm going to visit mom. I'll be back Saturday night, you need to be gone."

"I will. I'm sorry."

"Me too. It's not enough."

Jeff pulled her close, and wrapped her in his arms. His breathing stuttered and the tremble in his voice stole her breath. "I know."

Grace closed her eyes, and tried to still the fuzzy brainwaves and boiling blood their bodies always created on contact. If only their emotional bond rocked like their physical connection did. If. She locked with his gaze, and swam away in desire. She couldn't stop the pounding of her pulse or the stiffening of her nipples any more than she could stop breathing.

He covered her lips with his, and the sensations continued to swirl until her knees were weak. He took her hand and led her toward the bedroom; she never considered resisting.

Grace sat on the edge of the bed while Jeff rifled through her vanity. The idea barely occurred to wonder what he was up to before he emerged holding a fluffy blush brush. He wore the sexy grin that captured her heart in the beginning.

He tossed the brush on the bed, and pulled her to her feet. Time ticked in reverse as he peeled her clothing, and tossed each piece aside. He turned her to face the bed, pressed his body to her, and nuzzled her neck.

Mesmerized by his touch, she gave up any attempt at coherent thought, and willed herself to memorize this moment. With every caress, the heat of his lips slipped beneath her skin to awaken all of her senses. Every breath she took ground his spicy scent into her memory. Each place their skin kissed, flames of desire raged.

Jeff's gentle touch urged her down to the mattress, and she did as he bid.

Every feathery touch of the brush up her leg stoked the fire rising inside her. She arched against his caresses, wanting more, needing his skin on hers. He painted desire over her entire backside, with sadistic slowness. Time moved backwards, while she writhed and moaned below him and the ache inside swelled.

Grace sighed at the feel of his hands on her, and bit back disappointment when she discovered they were only there to turn her over. Without hesitation, he moved to her feet and began his delicious torture anew. By the time he painted his way to her breasts, her grip on sanity had lost a lot of ground.

She grabbed his head and brought his mouth to her nipple. The motion brought most of his body in contact with hers, and the need to have him inside of her made her dizzy.

Jeff dropped the brush, and continued exploring with his fingers. Grace wriggled closer to him, and positioned her opening against his erection, but he didn't accept her invitation. She ground her hips toward him, but he had her pinned in a way that limited how much of him she could consume.

Grace put both hands against his chest, pushed, and rolled on top of him. She straddled his thighs, and began a smoldering exploration of her own. The soft curls on his legs yielded to her touch. Her eyes locked on his hard cock. She would miss it, but first, a kiss goodbye was in order.

His closed eyes and rocking hips spurred her on. She teased and licked for an eternity before she brought her mouth all the way to the base, and moaned against him. Unable to resist herself, she climbed up to mount him.

Something snapped in Grace the instant she had him buried to the hilt. Her desperate bid for happiness and independence surfaced. She no longer focused on giving him pleasure. Grace ground into him with a furious appetite to reach her peak. She didn't care if he came along for the ride or not.

She rode his stiff body until the wave hit, every muscle in her body quivered to the beat of her heart, and still she ground against him. Her world got more colorful; the scent of sex that hung in the air invigorated her. Every sound of release and joy they shared pushed her further and harder until she collapsed spent.

When her knees stopped quaking enough that she trusted them to carry her, she climbed off the bed and put her clothes on.

"Where you going, baby?"

"We're done here. I'm leaving."

Jeff's only response was to meet her eyes.

Grace didn't bother to analyze everything she saw there. They'd gone beyond all that. She took one long last look at his body, remembered how he had brought her so much pleasure, and remembered the pain it had cost. She picked up her bag from the floor, and whispered, "Thanks, sexy." Grace stepped away, and closed the door behind her.

Whining Damn it! Put Your Big Girl Panties On An Shut the f*^k Up!

This is one of those days I feel like the walls are closing in on me. I have so much to do but my brain is stuck in repeat mode. All the things I need to get done are screaming at me but none of them are actually getting done. I am in sensory overload, which usually means my brain is stuck in a nasty loop that consist of a long list of to do’s that need to get done. This is where I take a few deep breaths and hope to feel more relaxed and be able to function better. No my brain is still in hyper drive but not getting much done.

I am usually really good under pressure but sometimes it catches up to me. I also tend to over extend myself all the time. Yeah, that’s me I finish one thing and add something else to the mix. I am a glutton from punishment. LOL!

Right now I have to get this blog done by Thursday. Okay not a problem but all I can think about is all the other things I need to do. Grr! So I stop to write it and all that comes to mind is all the stress clouding my brain.

I am in the process of having a contest for my website right now and that has taken up a lot of time. Which is fine it was my idea and I am very excited about it. I can’t wait to read all the stories and find out what the judges have to say. So it is a good thing but has added to my stress.

I just finished my writing course so that is one thing off my plate. What a relief that one is. I was reading textbooks all the time and taking test and writing short stories. I can’t complain, my grades have stayed very high. All I ask for is to graduate with an A and it looks like I am going too. I have one story to clean up and send off then I am done.

I also update my website once a week. Which isn’t bad most of the time but sometimes I am just tired and don’t want to deal with the site. But that pretty much goes for anything once I hit that point.

I also just signed up for a workshop. This one I am excited about. I think it is going to be a blast. A few of my friends are taking the course as well and that will only make it even better.

Then come the fact that my house needs to be cleaned. The hubby needs some attention and gets all crabby when he doesn’t get it. LOL! Add a grumpy husband to the mix and the day just gets worse.

Oh and I have to find the time to write my next chapter. Where to find the time when all these things are dragging me down. I have to tread water to reach the top because I feel like I am drowning. I haven’t been able to swim fast enough lately.

I have a beta read I have finished but promised to look at it chapter by chapter and haven’t had the time for that either and I feel really bad about it. My crit partner is so sweet and said don’t worry about it, get it done when you can. But I committed myself to this and feel it needs to get done asap.

So here I am all this is running through my head and as I sit at my pc my mind is pouring over all the things that need to get done. Needless to say nothing is getting done. My brain wants to take a vacation from the stress of my life. It is a non-stop battle. I will get over it and I do handle stress pretty well but I am so behind from having all six of our kid for the summer, now I am looking at it and wondering where to start. I may take a few days off and regroup.

I am also worried my son graduates from his AIT in October and will find out where he will be shipped too. It will probably be Afghanistan of Korea. This is just another thing that keeps me awake at night. I pray he will stay safe.

Sorry this was just a great big whine fest. Too many things to do and never enough time. I need a secretary and an editor and someone to run my website. Then I could just write. LOL! Yeah, right, I don’t have the money for any of those things. So I guess I am going to have to put my big girl panties on and suck it up. Ok, I am putting my big girl panties on now. No don’t feel any different but hopefully by next week I will.

Sorry for my big whiny ass this week. I just really needed to get it all off my chest and actually I do feel a little better. Maybe the big girl panties are starting to work after all. LOL!

When night falls passions blaze.

Tabitha Blake

Tabithablakesnocturnalnights.com

Part Two Sensual or Erotic?

What is the difference you ask? Well, there is a fine line that can be drawn between the two. It’s not just about the sex and the way it is presented because both types of romances write it and write it well. The biggest difference I see is what drives the story line. Romance thrives on love and erotic romance thrives on sex. You take a romance minus love it’s no longer a romance. You take an erotic romance minus the sex it’s no longer an erotic romance. Let’s talk about what makes these two writing styles so different and the things that can cross over to make them similar.

The dictation between sensual romance and erotic romance are two very different types of words. Sensual romance in many cases uses the tame terminology romance has used since the beginning. Tame meaning euphemisms.

Euphemisms-The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive.  Here are a few examples of words used in romance to describe a sex scene. (cock, center, sheath, thrusting, pumping, bundle of nerves)

Now let’s talk about the erotic romance. Erotic romance takes the words people use today and waves them proudly for all to see. Modern/urban colloquial terms are the cornerstone of erotic romance.

Colloquial- characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal. Here are a few examples of words used in erotic romance to describe a sex scene. (Cock, dick, cunt, pussy, twat, fucking)

There is a wide range between the two. Sensual romance tries to stay on the subtle side while erotic romance tends to go full force, no holds barred. Sensual romance is the equivalent of an R rating, while erotic romance is the equivalent of an X rating.

Let’s talk about what makes a good sensual romance novel. The pieces that must be there in order for a reader to walk away saddened that they reached the end. Plot and characterization are key, in a great sensual romance. You want the reader to believe in your characters and their situations. If they don’t the whole novel is a lost cause. The reader needs to believe these people could actually fall in love. You can’t have a romance without LOVE. Love is the backbone of every good romance. Without love it’s no longer a romance. You can have a romance novel with no sex but you can’t have one with no love. In romance the relationship drives the story. It’s all about the happily ever after when writing or reading romance.

Now let’s talk about what makes a good erotic romance. Even though sex is a key factor in erotic romance and you can’t have erotic romance without it. The sex isn’t just about adding as many hot, juicy, steamy scenes as you can. You have to think about the big picture. What about the characters? Is the sex true to the characters you created? Does it make sense for them to be having sex? You can’t take the sex lightly. In an erotic novel, you have to be serious about the sex. A good erotic novel should highlight the characters sexual journey. The idea of journey assumes character growth, movement, and the progress the characters make in the story. Ideally the sex will take the reader somewhere and move things along in the story. “Why the heck are they having sex again?” That isn’t good in an erotic novel.

I think both take a lot of effort to write. They should both be treated with respect because these stories come to life in an authors mind. Writing in any form is an art. I think it all come down to your comfort level and what you are willing to accept. I love reading a wide range of genres whether they are sweet or hot and steamy. They all have a place in the publishing industry. I hope you all enjoyed my take on sensual romance versus erotic romance. You never know, if you’ve never read one, try it you might like it.

Here is an excerpt from A Vamp To Remember. Just for those that don’t know Caleb is a shifter. Hope you enjoy it.

Tabitha Blake

Caprice crossed Caleb’s office in a few quick strides, her stilettos clicking a steady rhythm on the tile floor. He held up a finger and pressed the phone tighter to his ear as the fingers of his other hand tapped the keys on his computer.

She smiled and flipped her hair over her shoulder. He wouldn’t be able to ignore her for long. Staring out the balcony doors, a cool breeze blew long strands of black hair around her face. Roses bloomed, bright reds and yellows, in the garden below. The smell of lilies was carried on the gentle wind.

Caprice turned her head in Caleb’s direction, and another smile curved her lips when she noticed  his coppery eyes undressing her. He had the most gorgeous and unique eyes, the color reminded her of a brand new penny. His gaze alone did dangerous things to her. One look and she melted. All thoughts gone but the thought of what he could do to her body. The man was beyond sinful with a physique to match. Tall and lean with sinewy muscles that carved his body, he was built like a golden god.

A seductive smile played across his lips as he hung up the phone and made his way over to her. He stood behind her. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her back against his hard chest.

“Sorry, that was my broker,” he murmured against her neck.

A shiver danced along her spine. “I was thinking . . .”

He nuzzled her ear. “What were you thinking?”

Goose bumps broke out over her body as his breath grazed her ear. The simplest little thing and he had her all out of sorts. “I want to put a koi pond in the garden.”

He kissed the hollow of her neck, feather light brushes of his lips that heated her blood. She felt his nostrils flare as he drank in her scent. Desire scorched through her veins and coiled between her thighs as his hand smoothed up her legs.

She moaned in response. “Are you listening to me?”

“Absolutely. A koi pond…” He nipped at her neck and his words came out as a sultry growl. “That…sounds…great… but you know what I really want to do?”

“What would that be?” she said on a breathless whisper. The need to inhale his masculine scent had her gasping for the tantalizing musk and spice that lingered in the air. She loved his aroma, it was heady and sexy as hell.

“Should I tell you or would you like me to show you?”

She raised a finger to her lips and replied. “Well, let me see… show me.”

Pulling her hips back to meet his, he trailed a hand over her belly, down the front of her skirt. “I was hoping you would say that.”

Her body smoldered as liquid heat seared her to the bone. His touch was decadent and provoked feelings…no not feeling, urges. He brought out the animalistic impulses in her, and she liked it; he was the only man that made her forget to breathe. His erection pushed against her backside. Her panties dampened in anticipation. The need to touch him clawed at her every nerve.

Deep masculine laughter rumbled through him as his hand disappeared under her skirt. “I was thinking of dipping into something wet but it has nothing to do with a pond.”

His touch abraded the tender skin of her inner thigh. She leaned her head back on his shoulder and rubbed her hips against his hard groin. “Tell me more.”

“I want to peel the clothes from your body and take you right here on my desk.”

Caprice glanced back at his mahogany desk. “Bending over your desk might be nice.” She smiled, a devilish smile over her shoulder.

He spun her around and tugged her forcefully against his chest. “You do…do ya?”

He gripped her hand and placed it on his rock hard bulge. “Do you feel what you do to me?”

Her long fingers ran the length of his zipper. He bucked his hips towards her. “Mmmm…yes, I like it.” She ran her tongue over her suddenly dry lips.

His gaze followed her tongue and his eyelids grew heavy with passion. The urges tugged at her self-control. She reached for his shirt and tore it open, buttons flew, hitting the floor like little pin drops. Her nails traced his right nipple. He sucked in a deep breath.

“You tease.” He grabbed the back of her hair and jerked her into submission. Tilting her head back, he ran his tongue from her collarbone to her jaw. She hummed as heat radiated through her body.

She liked her men dominate in bed. A man that knew what he wanted and took it without

hesitation.

*/*/*

The animal inside Caleb growled in satisfaction. He turned to his desk and cleared it in one quick swipe of his hand. Folders, papers and pens flew to the floor. He smiled as the heat of his passion raged out of control. He needed her more than he needed to breathe. She brought out the cat he shared his mind, body and soul with. A snarl escaped his parted lips as he lifted Caprice onto the desktop. She writhed under his touch. She liked it a little rough and his animal purred at her response to his dominance.

She reached for his pants and freed his pulsing shaft. “Caleb I need you now. I can’t wait any longer. I am burning up.”

Her hand ran the length of his desire and his body jumped as she caressed him. He raised her skirt and tore away the small scrap of lace she called panties. Why she even wore any was beyond his comprehension. Moaning in his ear, she parted her long graceful legs for him. An invitation he welcomed. In one quick motion, he drove into her moist heat. As her wet sheath gripped him, he roared his pleasure echoing through the room. Her body contracted around his shaft, wringing another moan from them both. She clawed his back, urging him on. The need to feel her milk him to completion pulsed through his body. “So soft and wet.” He growled into her ear.

Caprice tilted her head, exposing the smooth, pale skin of her throat. A pleasurable cry tore from her as her sex grasped him in her release. She was so beautiful, eyes closed, her legs squeezing his hips as she rode wave after wave of pleasure. His body tightened with each contraction. Trusting deeper and faster until he yelled out in ecstasy. He collapsed over her, trying to catch his breath.

“About that Koi pond,” she said in a breathless whisper.

His eyes widened. “What?”

Her passion hazed eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. “I’m just kidding. That was amazing.”

He relaxed into her soft body, and his own smile stretched his lips wide. “You're going to kill me one day woman. But what a hell of a way to go.”

Wicked Word Wednesday - Episode 1 - Kiss

Welcome to the first installment of Wicked Word Wednesday. Today, I'd like to hit you right in the kisser with the wonderful, and wicked word, kiss. Mwah!

If smooching with a number wiz is high on your list of things to do, you might know that osculation is a term for kissing. Osculation happens in mathematics when there is contact between two curves or surfaces at three or more common points. They call this a kiss.

Though the origin is unknown, and at least one respected wordsmith reference has called it archaic, the word buss is interchangeable with the word kiss. Buss equals kiss, as bussed, bussing, and busses align with kissed, kissing, and kisses. I didn't find anything that said a busser would be a kisser – but if you're going to use such an obscure word, I guess the rules are yours to make and break at will.

Does anyone else notice how many food terms creep into the sexy stuff, and vice versa? Food can be sexy-sexy-sexy. Honey licked from a lover's body, whipped cream covered naughty bits, shots from a navel, trading mints during a kiss, all very erotic. It's no small wonder we have cookie kisses, chocolate kisses, meringue kisses, and scotch kisses.

Before all of this kissing, bussing, and osculating gets you all worked up, let's look at the seedier side of the kiss. Kiss ups, or kiss asses are everywhere. Don't you just want to tell them to kiss off? Just be careful if you do, so you don't kiss away something important, like your job. We cautious types like to avoid those kisses of death. Although, you might find that the new job you land in its place is the kiss of life that resuscitates you.

There are kiss similes to consider, like the kiss of perfume on your skin. In contrast to that, might be that little kiss you gave your co-worker's bumper in the overcrowded parking lot last week. Combination kisses are good too. Kisses and hugs at the end of a note, abbreviated with those darling X's and O's always encourage fuzzy warmth. A snog is a kiss that includes cuddles.

Don't forget the band, KISS. Who could? Still, they merit a mention. Also worth mentioning, are all the acronyms that are made from KISS. There are dozens, but since space and attention spans are limited, I'll only share my faves. Keep It Simple Sweetie would be number one on my list. Keep It Super Simple is a great reminder when you're introducing a new concept to someone. Keep It Safe & Sound is hard to argue with, no matter what 'it' may be.

A smack is enthusiastic, like a smooch. Smacks can also be light, like pecks. It depends on the context, and more than likely, on the recipient. These are usually reserved for those people we love, not the people we desire. That doesn't mean we can't plant a peck on the object of our desire - we can, and should. But, that's not the lip-lock we've been holding our collective breath for.

What we want, what our characters want, what our readers want our characters to want … is that deep, slow motion, set the world afire, soul kiss. Otherwise known as the French kiss or deep kiss, it's the Queen of Kisses. This kiss, it steals your breath, vanishes the outside world, erases common sense, makes your knees weak, your pulse race, your body quiver, and it has got to be shared. So, go hit your favorite hottie right in the kisser with one now. Kiss and tell; disguise it as fiction, but do kiss and tell.

Normal History Goes a Little Abnormal (Guest Blogger A.R. Cummings)

I love writing historical fiction. I love inventing a hunky hero and a spunky, determined heroine to match him and placing them in a story that depicts the way the past unfolded. I always know that whatever the odds, they’ll come together at the end for that satisfactory happily-ever-after.

With historical fiction a lot of research has to go into the background if you aren’t already knowledgeable in the era. I try not to play in the eras I don’t know much about but sometimes you have to cross the lines you’re unfamiliar with and go boldly where no writer has gone before.

Or in my case I went crazy and started writing a steam punk/paranormal romance set in Australia. I know next-to-nothing about steam punk and only marginally more than nothing about Australia. But I dove in anyway and came up with a novella currently in the editing stages. It was so much fun to write. Since it was steam punk and that’s largely set in Victorian England, I had a pretty good idea of what the dress code was, how people acted, and what was expected of a woman back then. My heroine didn’t want be lumped in as a model of society. She’s bold, adventurous, and best of all was brought up to believe she could do anything a man could do--including swear like a sailor. The perfect heroine to use steam punk technology. She brandishes a laser pistol at the hero, flies across the continent of Australia on an airship, floats along the Swan River in a steam-powered boat and faces down a creature of legendary proportions to help save the day. The obstacles and situations presented through this technology helped bring the hero and heroine closer together--in spite of the fact that she held a gun on the hero.

I’ve read that some editors frown on taking a perfectly good everyday object and turning it into something “new” and giving it a new name. So strive for unique items in your stories. There’s nothing wrong with adding a laser to a gun or even coming up with something far-fetched to make ordinary objects stand out. One of my favorite resources for ideas, be they a story line or a pirate ship name is Seventh Sanctum (http://www.seventhsanctum.com) a randomizer than can help cut through the writer‘s block.

Besides adding fantasy technological elements to a story, I’ve also tried adding some magic. Folklore has always interested me. Particularly with movies like Sleepy Hollow and An American Haunting. The paranormal genre is booming. I thought, why not jump on the wagon? Shoot for something a little different. Vampires and zombies might be right up your alley. They’re oldies, but goodies and everyone can offer a twist on the usual vamp story. On the other hand, I was looking for something a hair different.

I started researching American folklore and found a little known, but spooky story to form a romance out of. Every story needs a conflict, so I added demonic hags to form a love triangle. The first step might be to look at your area and the kinds of stories you grew up on. If none of those provide the inspiration you need, the web and a local library are additional resources. The best part of all is you have the creative license to bend, mold and shape folklore to meet your needs. Not only is this a great way to express your creativity, but it might also spark an interest in your readers to take a closer look at the myths and legends in their area. Stories focused around folklore provide entertainment and also help reinforce local history.

A.R. Cummings

Character Inspiration

Writing ideas come from the strangest places. I have heard writers tell me they had a dream or even a person just popped into their head out of nowhere, and they were inspired to write their story. One thing I know for certain, writers are a strange bunch. We can weave the most extravagant tales from nothing. And yes we hear voices. LOL Ok most would say that’s a mental disorder but it’s not for a writer. That’s how we get in touch with our characters and take them from an idea to the characters you know and love dearly. So let’s take a ride through the mind of a writer, Watch out this might be a little scary. HeeHee.

Let’s start with character. The characters in a book are the backbone, they are what holds the story together. Finding your characters is the first thing you must do before you start writing. Where do you find them? Characters can come from anywhere. Mine usually start in my head. I think about what I plan to write, not the whole story just a general idea. That helps me to think about my characters, what they will face and what kind of characters I need. Do they need to be strong, helpless, sweet, evil? Ok now you know the type of personality you need. Once I do this it helps me picture them in my mind. If you are writing about the girl next door, I can almost bet she won’t be a tall red head with a voluptuous figure. She will look like the average person. So for me personality plays a big part in who my characters are and what they look like.

My alpha male in A Vamp To Remember is tall, dark and handsome. Sounds typical right? Well this is where you make them just a little different. Zan is over six feet tall, has long black hair with metallic silver streaks and his eyes are dark almost black with silver encircling them. This is what I mean when I say make them just a little different. You don’t have to take drastic measures just give them something that makes them stand out in a crowd. His eyes alone would do that for me as a reader. I write paranormal and the characters in this genre can get pretty bizarre at times, so remember to give them something that connects them to the reader. They have to be believable. It can be as simple as the big bad monster that falls in love and shows a tender side to the woman that has tamed the savage beast.

Now you have a general idea. Let’s take it a little further. I like to look for pictures of my characters and hang them in front of me while I write. It really makes my characters come to life. It’s amazing you look at pictures and think nope not him. Then all of a sudden you find the one you have been looking for. That’s when you realize you knew what he looked like all along. This really helps me connect with my characters on a deeper level. I know you are thinking a picture come on, but you would be shocked how inspiring a picture can be.  I find myself staring at them and wonder what next? Sometimes they answer and sometimes they just stare back. LOL

We talked a little about their personality. Let’s talk about really getting to know your characters. How do you do that? The best place to start is a character chart. It will ask your characters questions you never thought to ask. What are their likes and dislikes? Goals and hopes? Fears? Motivation?  These are just a few, there are too many to list. I will give you a link to a good character chart at the end of the blog. You won’t need to use all the questions asked on a character chart but they are handy to have around. They are helpful when you need a personality trait or description. It’s also helpful if you are in the middle of a chapter and you forget his eye color. LOL Yes it happens to the best of us.

Most writers form a bond with their characters. I know it sounds weird but this is the case with me. I grow very close to my characters. I have had writers even tell me they felt a loss when a story came to an end. They become real in a writers mind. But I think you have to form this bond in order for the characters to come across as real to the reader. If you force characters you don’t believe in they will come across as forced. Then the story just falls flat. You need to feel the characters are close friends in order for them to intrigue the reader and tug at their emotions. If the reader loves your characters the odds are they will love the story as well.

Characters can be found everywhere. All you have to do is open your eyes and look around. They are the people you see in the grocery store, the mall, at work or passing you on the street. Inspiration comes when we open our eyes to the real world and watch others at a distance. Watch the way people act, move and talk. It really is amazing what we miss as we go about our daily lives. Open your eyes to inspiration it’s all around you.

I would love to hear where you find inspiration for your characters.

Character Chart:

www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html

Happy Reading and Writing

Tabitha Blake

In my head I hear voices screaming to be heard. So I write their stories. My characters speak to me and lead me through their joys and sorrows.
Tabitha Blake