Hot Kiss Blogfest

Thank you to Tara Fouts for hosting this blogfest.

The premise:
1. this blogfest tests your skills on writing a hot kiss scene without the sex. Of course, if it leads up to that, that's fine.
2. scenes can be up to an R rating


This is the first kiss between Mary and Charles in Courtly Scandals.  They just met and escaped a crowded ballroom together.  She doesn't even know his name. 

As if the joy were too much, the sky opened, softly coating the dark in a flutter of snow.  Their flight slowed as the delicate kiss of ice floated around them in the winter night.  Whether it was Mary herself who slowed first or her companion, after several more steps in the flurry of snowflakes, they both stood still, eyes up to the heavens, faces raised to embrace the fresh, cold air.

Panting puffs of icy breath, Mary stifled her laugh, afraid the harsh sound of her voice would ruin the beauty of the moment.  A warm hand reached to cradle her cheek, her jaw.  The warm flesh against her skin was a sharp contrast to the increasingly cold night.  Snowflakes settled on her lashes as she turned to face him.  He was a beautiful man – he belonged in this moment.  Icy flakes lay against the blond waves pulled back from his face, the shine in his blue eyes echoing the glimmer of moonlight against the ice.  She did not know who he was, but he had run with her – he had flown and laughed with her.  They had shared a moment of abandon outside of any boundary.  Slowly he drew her toward him even as his lips lowered upon hers.

The touch was so soft.  So warm.  The snow fluttered around them, but where his hands held her, she felt nothing but heat.  His lips moved and she welcomed the deeper touch.  She wanted to smile at the joy of it.  Her hands moved up to caress the planes of his chest, her fingers seeking upward toward his collar and his neck.  He was so strong, his mouth a steady pressure against hers.  His tongue teased the corner of her mouth, gliding warmly against the smooth fullness of her lower lip, coaxing her to open herself more fully for him.

He invaded her mouth, claiming it, twining his tongue with hers.  Her body was heated under his touch and she wanted to feel his hands everywhere.  Her lips moved against his, her hands seeking to learn the strength and warmth of his body.  Around them flurries of snow spiraled to stick to the frozen earth, encasing them in icy silence.  They were alone in a magical world. 

Don't forget to sign up for my Paint it Purple Blogfest on March 25th!

March 25th: Paint it Purple Blogfest

The time has come for me to host a blogfest.  I've been mulling it over for some time and it can no longer be held back.

The premise:
1) Post a short segment (a paragraph or two, really no more than 100 words) of your work-in-progess.

2) Paint it purple with enough metaphors, similes, and poetry to gag the most die hard beatnik.  This version is sure to be much longer than you original work (hence the word limit for the first selection).  Feel free to run wild, spitting in the face of good taste, genre norms, and Occam's razor.

Comparing the two selections should be a lot of fun.

Sign up below and schedule your blogfest submission to post on March 25th.

Calling a Spade a Spade

Of course, I am talking about genitalia.  What else would I be talking about?

In reading romance, I always note the terminology and/or euphemisms.  While there are some cliche expressions, in well written stories, the character's perspective leads the way in the naming of body parts.  Is she a aristocratic virgin who is unfamiliar with her own body?  Is she a doctor who looks at sexual encounters as mammalian couplings?  Or is she a dock-side strumpet with a dirty mouth sadly in need of Orbit?  Whoever she is, it will guide the way she views her experiences.  An older sister who raised a herd of younger brothers may look on the penis as a pizzle, peanut, or whatever cute name they used for the toddlers.  Her prior knowledge of it as a non-sexual organ will color her experiences when, ultimately, she discovers its other purpose.  The educated modern woman may be specific and scientific -- and if she did start talking dirty, it would be part of her character development.

But what none of these ladies would think is that the penis is a velvet encased steel lance or a pulsating rod of power.  Unless the author has established an omniscient narrator, all third person perspective descriptions are deep point of view.  The story is from the character's perspective and unless that character is a poet and completely disengaged enough from whatever sensual activity is happening in the scene, she is not going to describe her own nipples as ruched peaks of rose petals atop milky mounds of downy softness.

For years I referred to the female genitalia as the 'area' (usually accompanied by a vague hand gesture).  There was no slang term I liked and the technical terms just seemed too formal and specific.  With my current w.i.p., my main character is really earthy and sensual so it's going to be a challenge to label from her perspective without coming across as crass.  What are your favorite, least favorite, or just plain silly euphemisms?

My Right to Blog

I am a teacher.  I have my "18 or older" warning on my blog at the request of my school administrator.  It is a nod to preventing my students, who could easily Google my name, from reading my blog.  Why?  Because I occasionally discuss orgasms, penises, and the like.  I write romance and I blog about writing romance -- of course my content may be explicit in nature.  If a student finds my site, reads it and is offended, I would blame the parents of the child for not properly supervising his/her internet access.  Although I may occasionally mention my teaching as it pertains to writing, I consider this blog and my writing completely outside the scope of my day job.

I started this blog with the idea of developing a web-presence in order to promote my writing.  I discovered I really enjoyed blogging and the online writing community.  It never occured to me that there might be a problem.  While I am not currently in any trouble, another teacher in Pennsylvania is.  She blogged with a small following of friends and family.  Known only as Natalie M., she shared her personal feelings about her life (which included her job) but never named names or locations.  A student found her blog and it became an issue.  Why?  Because she dared to share how she felt and her feelings were not politically correct.

Read an article about it here.

Although I agree that having a public blog (you can make it available to members only) where you share that you hate your job is not a smart move in any profession, I think the response is excessive.  She never slandered anyone, she merely stated her opinion.  She has been suspended and will probably be fired in a knee-jerk reaction to please the masses.  I could understand if she was breaking the law in some way or potentially predatory, but no, she was disgruntled and disillusioned and lacked the foresight to realize something almost anonymous would become an issue.

If she is not fired, she should probably find another job.  Not only will it be impossible to teach with her students believing that she has no respect for them or their potential, but it seems like is no longer inspired to be a teacher.  And believe me, in order to survive each day, you have to honestly believe you're making a difference.  Of course, now that I've said that, I wonder if I should worry about my own livelihood? 

So this is a shout out to a fellow blogger who, foolishly perhaps, dared to state her opinion.  She can help herself to the Risk Taker Extraordinaire award if she happens by.  Best of luck, Natalie M.

Bernard Pivot Blogfest and Legalized Insanity

Thank you to Nicole at One Significant Moment at a Time for hosting this Bernard Pivot Blogfest.  You know, when I think of Behind the Actor's Studio, I always think of the Robin William's episode where he took complete control of the show.  That, and the SNL spoofs.

Anyhow, the premise is to participate in a questionnaire as if I were being interviewed by Mr. Lipton himself.  Not being as animated or high as Robin Williams*, I will just stick to the questions. 

1. What is your favorite word?  Spelunk
2. What is your least favorite word?  You sure you want to know this?  Okay... well, you strangers who don't know me now will think I'm quite foul when I'm only occasionally foul.  And, if I were on the show, the word would be bleeped out.  Ready?  Oh, I can't do it.  But it starts with a C.  The last letter is a T.  The two letters in between are N and U, not necessarily in that order.  I hate that word.  Got it?  Good.  Moving on. 
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Feelings of accomplishment (whether it's a well taught lesson or a scene that almost wrote itself).  Songs by Duran Duran and A-ha.  Wilson Creek's Almond Champagne.  Spa treatments.  Good cheese.  Down time. Critique group meetings.
4. What turns you off? Issues hanging over me like the sword of Damocles.  For example, right now I have a massive amount of grading to do.  Things not going as planned can get me so stressed out I get sick to my stomach.  Yeah, I need to address my anxiety issues.
5. What is your favorite curse word?  I say Jesus Christ a lot.  Why?  Because years ago I decided the "Lord's name in vain" was really open to interpretation (a sentiment supported by my religious studies in college) and it really offended my mother back in the day because she took it very seriously. 
6. What sound or noise do you love?  I love the sound of rain and wind against the window.  I live in the desert in So. California, so it's a rare sound and always brings me back to my childhood.  White noise machines don't work the same way.
7. What sound or noise do you hate?  Any gagging, slurping, mucousy sound.  It may very well make me vomit.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I would like to be a full time, well paid, prolific romance novelist. :)
9. What profession would you not like to do?  Anything with customer service.  I did my time and no longer have the cheery disposition to smile at jerks.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?  "Erin, I understand your doubts and lack of faith.  Heck, I gave those characteristics to you and would have been disappointed if you had chosen complacency.  Plus, it says a lot that you were a good person without the dangling carrot of salvation.  So, remember how I said I'd never leave you or forsake you?  It's true!  Come on in to paradise." 

This is only section one of the episode of Behind the Actor's Studio listed above.   Robin Williams doesn't even give Mr. Lipton a chance to ask a question.  Well worth watching

*Disclaimer: I believe this episode happened long after Robin William's drug issues.  "High" merely worked to describe the behavior.

Show Me the Love Blogfest

Thank you to Stephanie at The Writer's Cocoon for hosting this Show Me the Love blogfest.  She provided a series of questions to answer and I have to laugh at how unromantic my answers are, considering I write romance.
 


Here are the questions:

1- What is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you?  I had recently ended a relationship where my boyfriend (who truly had the mentality of a young boy) would get busy playing nintendo (he was 23, I was 20) and forget to pick me up and not answer the phone (because he was busy playing nintendo), so I had very low expectations.

After the breakup I started seeing Brian (who is now my husband of 13 years).  He was visiting from out of town (long distance relationship) and borrowed my car for the day while I was at work.  At the end of the day, I went outside to see if he was there.... AND HE WAS!  Not only was he there on time, but part of the reason he had wanted to borrow the car was so he could detail it and change the oil (himself).  That thoughtful gesture coupled with the fact that I learned I could count on him to be there for me is the most romantic memory I have.  I know, it's not chocolates, serenades, or whatever, but it was meaningful.

2- What is your favorite love song?  At our wedding we danced to "In Your Eyes" partly because NIN's "Closer" was inappropriate.  I also really love the song "Someone" by Depeche Mode and "Hunting High and Low" by A-ha.  Sigh... Morten Harket....

3- Do you have a favorite romantic movie or book?  My favorite movie is Dangerous Liaisons, which is romantic in a dark way. 

4- Do you have any romantic plans for Valentine's Day this year?  No.  It's a Monday and I have school --which is going to be hell (Middle School kids on Valentine's Day... sigh).  It's also my 35 1/2 birthday.

5- What's your favorite romantic treat?  A massage.  Head.  Back.  Full body.  Whatever.  With oil.

Valentine's Day.... Meh

I'm in the pout-pout fish mode this week.  My youngest decided to gift me with her head cold and I've spent a lot of time under the influence of Thera-flu (tm).  The good news is the doctor said it's just a cold.  The bad news is that I'm a big, whiny baby and all I want to do is sleep.  If I can make it through this week I'll be energized and wake up Saturday ready to conquer the world.  By which I mean catch up on lost writing time and scrub my kitchen floor.  Right now though, I'm about to go take a nap and let my kids eat crayons and pudding while I'm unconscious.

Also adding to the 'meh' factor of this post is the upcoming Hallmark holiday.  This is Valentine's weekend.  Valentine's day started sucking somewhere around middle school when all the slutty girls with boyfriends got presents and I, being painfully shy, did not.  It continued that way throughout high school, partly because of the lack of romantic attention thing and then, when the tide turned, because I was above it all.  I was too cool and jaded to have fun with it.  Now I get to tape heart shaped lollipops to Tinkerbell cards for my kids to pass out and it's fun.  But still not romantic.  In fact, if my husband did try to get all romantic on me, I wouldn't be able to take it seriously and it would end up being a wasted effort.  And I call myself a romance writer.

I'm not even going to try to find a picture to go with this post.  I will just fix my typos, schedule it, and call myself done for a couple days. I'm sorry this had very little to do with writing, other than the fact that I need to write.

I hope you had a great pre-Valentine's week.  Do you have anything fabulous planned for the weekend?