Hello everyone!

Today, Wednesday May 25, 2010, I am honored to have author Amber Skyze as a guest on my blog. She’ll be posting about writing sex and the reaction it sometimes causes. To learn more about Amber, visit her blog, http://amberskyze.blogspot.com/?zx=f15897c9e226cb22 and take the time to check out her books with Ellora’s Cave Publishing and Aspen Mountain Press. You’ll never be disappointed with an Amber Skyze novel! 

Also, before I continue, let me just say that my website is currently undergoing renovations. They are almost complete and the sites, the links, and all the fun stuff such as morphing characters and book trailer for Seductive Persuasion, all should work fine. If you notice any glitches, let me know, but I hope you enjoy the ‘Happily Ever After: Untamed’ changes that have already been put into place. It’s been a fun process and I’m excited about the direction that both my writing and my website are taking. Stay tuned, along the top of each page you’ll soon see a ‘What’s New’ feature!

So now, without further delay, I bring you Amber Skyze! Be sure to comment or leave a question, Amber and I will be checking in throughout the day to respond.

You Write What?

Yes, I write erotica and yes, I hear that a lot. When people hear erotica they immediately think porn. Porn doesn’t tell a story. Porn is strictly sex for the sake of sex. The language in my stories can be bolder than so prefer, but I’m all about HEA – Happily Ever After.

A few months ago I attended an author panel with a group of multi-talented writers. Some were NY Bestsellers. As I sat at the table I grew anxious. I was the only erotica writer there. I’m a shy person and public speaking is NOT my thing. But I wanted to overcome one of my fears, because someday I’ll be a NY Bestseller. J

There I was looking out over the crowd of twenty-five people thinking I can’t tell them what I write. These people were a bit older than me and I’m not that young. I’m a grandmother. Okay, I confess a young grandmother, but a grandmother all the same. There was even a young teen in the audience. I know I wouldn’t want my 13 yr old daughter to hear an author talk about sex. I decided to tell people I write spicy romances instead of erotica. It seemed easier and judging by their age group it was unlikely they’d ask for more details.

When the MC read a short bio, she announced that an anthology I’m part of Spank Me Twice had won Best Erotica of 2009. Imagine my shock when all heads turned my way.

I gave my quick speech and I mean quick – less than 30 seconds. Much to my surprise I was asked a few questions. They weren’t related to my recent writing, but stuff I wrote fourteen years ago. With my cheeks flushed crimson I answered each and every one. At the end of the panel the guests were given the opportunity to speak to the author’s one on one. There I sat all alone, no one wanted to ask the porn writer anything in private and honestly I was a bit relieved. I told you I’m painfully shy.

Then as I’m packing my things the elderly couple (older than 70) comes up to me.

The woman whispers. “What was the name of that book? Slap me…hit me, what?”

I smiled and answered. “Spank Me Twice.”

Elderly woman asks. “Can we find it online?”

I nod and grab a post card that contains all the information to find my books. “You can find it here.”

She smiles and thanks me. She turns to her husband. “Honey we have to look this up as soon as we get home!”

My mouth hung open for a few minutes after they left. I never imagined they would be the ones to ask me about my books. They were the only ones, but they made my night.

I’ve learned that not everyone will accept erotica and that’s okay. As long as I’m comfortable with what I’m writing it doesn’t matter. The reality is sex sells and at any age. 

Hi everyone,

As the subject heading indicates, I wanted to send a big shout out and thank you to Sheldon S. Higdon and Kate George. The were gracious in agreeing to be my first guest bloggers this past week.

Sheldon’s post, (if you scroll down you can still read it, as all posts remain and are archived monthly) was the first and it was all about why he likes to write Horror or Dark Fiction. An amazing talent, you’ll find Sheldon’s blog, The Obituary of Sheldon S. Higdon, among the blogroll along the left side of my blog page.  He’s on Goodreads.com, Amazon.com’s author page, and Facebook. Take time out and read his blog, it’s really very good. And, while I know that Horror is the polar opposite of Romance, there are several things they have in common. Excellent authors and writing can be found in both genres, as well as dedicated writers who keep plugging away at their favorite genre, often including sub-genres. And, both work on emotion. While one is meant to touch the heart, (or keep it pounding with excitement if you’re cheering for the couple or reading a spicy scene and you can’t put it down even after everyone’s in bed), and the other is meant to evoke the emotion of ‘fear’, often leaving your heart racing or sleeping with the light on at night or not let you sleep at all.

So maybe they’re not so different after all? Either way, again, thank you Sheldon! 

Kudos and thanks also go out to the fabulous Kate George. Her post on creativity was awesome, and I truly enjoyed reading the responses. By the way, I very much enjoy creating a character bio, which ultimately becomes a very basic outline/synopsis, but I also find photos of actors or models that become my ‘inspiration’ for what a character looks like. Long ago, right after Dances With Wolves came out on the big screen, I had a huge crush on Rodney Grant, who portrayed Winds in His Hair. There was something about that character/role and his acting that made me believe he was Sioux. Whether he really is/was, I can’t say but he inspired me enough to write a book that featured a hero like that. Now, I admit that the manuscript remains in my files, perhaps someday I’ll pull it out, dust it off, and rewrite it for today’s market.  

Before that I need to concentrate on my fourth book, recently contracted with Ellora’s Cave Publishing for the Ellora’s Cave imprint, which means it is a very hot Contemporary Romance featuring an older heroine (she’s 40) and younger hero (he’s 30), titled Quarterback Blitz!  And yes, the book does feature a legendary quarterback Kyran Black who’d been injured at 27 and almost lost his whole career. On a comeback as a mentor and back up, he meets the team mascot, Anna James. To learn what happens next, stay tuned!

Happy Monday everyone,

Frances Stockton

Greetings everyone.

Before I introduce guest blogger, Kate George, I wanted to give a big shout out and thank you to Sheldon S. Higdon for guesting this week, too. He is amazingly talented and I know he’s going to be wicked successful in the future. And now, it is my honor and pleasure to introduce Kate George, author of Moonlighting in Vermont (and more to come).

Today, Kate’s talking about creativity. Join in, comment, ask questions, we’ll be around.

All this blasted creativity is costing me a fortune.

Two of the things I do to get “into” my writing are to create collages and play lists for whatever the current WIP is. Having these things helps me to get in the mood, remember where I am, and keep the tone of the work consistent. The collage gives me the visuals, what color are his eyes? Oh yeah, blue. The music sets the mood. I turn on the IPod and I’m immediately back in my world – wherever that may be.

I learned these things from Jennifer Crusie, the queen of books you read all night. Have you read Welcome to Temptation? Loved it. (Drags herself back to the topic at hand.) Collages and play lists. Yep. I’m not blaming Ms. Crusie, mind you, but they’re costing me a bleeping fortune. Why? It’s simple really - I’m picky.

For one thing I end up falling in love with these blasted songs from movie sound tracks, you know the ones that you have to buy the entire album to get. The entire album. Hell. But it’s the right song, the song I need. The song that bares my protagonist’s soul. So what I have to buy the album? It’s the song. I should just suck it up. Right? Wrong.

For one thing I might have twenty-five songs in a book’s sound track. More sometimes. If half of those songs require me to buy the album – Well you do the math. And try as I might, I just can’t seem to get my husband to understand why I NEEDED $140 worth of songs. For one book. Let’s face it; I’m not so popular that I can justify that with my royalties! I mean I will, eventually, make $140. I think. Well hope, really.

Then there are the collages. Lovely. Cheap. Made with magazines. Right?

Wrong. The problem with my collages is finding appropriate images. So after I’ve flipped through fifty magazines (half of which I bought) and can’t find what I need, I go to the Internet. Hey, that’s good. Free images. Free if you don’t count the photo paper and ink. Have you bought a color ink cartridge lately? My gawd, they want your first born for the darn thing. I’ve only got four kids; one a cartridge doesn’t get me nearly enough ink. And photo paper? Jeez, there goes the savings for those kids’ collage tuition.

Someone had the nerve to suggest I use regular paper. (I won’t name names, but I’m married to him.) I had to tell him, ‘but darling, then the images won’t match. They won’t be shiny.’ I’m like a magpie. Shiny is important. Pictures in the magazines, while there aren’t many that meet my needs, are all glossy. Pretty. So the Internet photos need to match. So the damage on the collage: Internet connection fees (I live in the boonies, not cheap) photo paper and ink cartridges. Depending on the size of the collage that can add up.

That’s just money. What about the time it takes to put together a poster board sized collage? And the time it takes to review music?  What about that?  Oh hell. Forget it. Next time I’ll let my youngest draw my collage in markers and my teenager choose the songs. That should make for an interesting novel. A cross between Shrek and The Matrix with a little Penelope tossed in for interest. Somehow, I don’t think I’m up to the challenge.

Hello and welcome!

Today I’m wicked excited because I’m hosting Dark Fiction writer Sheldon S. Higdon right here on my blog. A very talented author, with over twenty publications in magazines and books, Sheldon is also an award winning screenwriter. Take a few minutes and learn about what it’s like to write horror. What does it take? How does it differ from the genre or sub-genre you specialize in? In honor of having my first guest blogger, I’m holding a contest! Stop in anytime over the next 3 days and leave a comment for Sheldon or me (we’ll be watching) and you can have your name entered into a drawing for a giftcard to Amazon.com.

Without further delay, read on…if you dare. 

Straight From My Bleeding Heart

By: Sheldon S. Higdon

Why would someone want to write Horror? To delve into demons, creatures, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, vampires, and demented humans, to name a few. What is it that drives writers such as myself to write what some call “drivel”? And there are readers and writers alike who think that horror is nothing but drivel. It’s too bad that they either don’t get it or they have read a lot of bad horror novels. Either way, it’s too bad. 

What people forget or don’t know is that horror isn’t a genre that is about shocking its reader into submission. Or that it’s gore and nothing more. Horror “is” an “emotion”. That’s horror. To invoke an emotion of terror into its readers.

But for me it’s more than just that alone. Good horror not only instills terror or fear into its readers but it should comment on something at large. Question something. Whether it’s politics or society or the latest numb celebrity raping women.  Emotion and depth. This “is” Horror. And it’s why I write it.

Now I could go into my background as a child and reveal the stories of how horror came into my life and so on. There are a lot of them too. From being an only child (and a latchkey child) watching horror films to keep me occupied for the better part of the day/night to having a library of Stephen King books handed down to me at an early age and to watching late night b-movies, Twilight Zone, and reading reprints of the beautiful EC Comics’ Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror comic books. Or maybe it was because I lived next to a cemetery. True. No matter, these are just some of the reasons how horror bled into my life as a child. There are a lot more. Trust me. But they’re too horrifying to mention. It’d probably send you into convulsing fits. Just be happy I spared you.

(Okay. Now the bloody twist. Avert your eyes!)

But my horror writing isn’t really horror per say. (Oh the horror!!! Told you to look away.) Believe me, it’s there. It’s more of a mix though. (This happened as I grew older.) Horror blended with supernatural and thriller/suspense elements. (Not to say that I don’t write the basic horror story every now and then. It’s my love after all.) But why restrict yourself as a writer? If you only write mystery then don’t you think you should know or learn a bit on how to write sci-fi as well? It may be that mystery slumps in the business. Not doing so well. So as a mystery writer you have to think of ways to make some cash in other genres to stay afloat. So why not a sci-fi novel that has a mystery element? Or a y/a fantasy novel mixed with noir. The possibilities are endless. My point is that as a writer you have to mix it up to stay on top of what’s in and what’s out. (Now unless you’re Scott Turow then you have no worries.) Besides, knowing other genres whether writing them or reading them is always helpful to any writer.     

Again, why do I write horror? Imagine if there were no roller coasters, fun houses, or Halloween. Or bungee jumping, hang gliding, or parachuting. Life would be boring. These are the things that we humans do for the adrenaline. The rush. To rev up our hearts. In one way or another these are all related to horror. To feel that emotion of terror or fear. And contrary to what you may believe it can be done without gore. The best horror makes you wonder or question if the impossible “is” possible. Could a man wear a white Halloween mask and kill people? Yeah! But if he were shot a million times would he get up, brush off the dirt from his shoulders, and continue to stalk you? No. (If you said yes, then you have bigger issues to deal with right now.) But because it’s fiction there are added elements or fibs.

So why do I write horror?

Because I love it.

To learn more about Sheldon, visit his blog ‘The Obituary of Sheldon S. Higdon’, http://sheldonhigdon.blogspot.com/      and check out his posts, his bio, and his various publications. I personally do not write horror, I’m the polar opposite in genres, but I totally agree with him when he talks of being aware of sub-genres within your genre. Don’t be shy now, delve into Sheldon’s world and learn more. You won’t be disappointed. 

Hello and greetings everyone!

I just wanted to send a shout out about a few things. First, I’ve recently had a new book accepted by Ellora’s Cave Publishing. I’m wicked excited about this venture, as it is Contemporary and it’s for the EC side of my publisher. The story, featuring a slightly older woman and a younger man (40 and 31), is about a professional QB on the last season of his contract with his team, and the team’s mascot. More will be forthcoming soon, so stay tuned! I hope to have a release date and cover art posted as soon as I can. BTW, the title is: Quarterback Blitz!

And, yes, I am going around the house singing ‘Ballroom Blitz’, by Sweet, all the time now. Anyone remember the song? Here’s a YouTube link, enjoy for Friday morning fun!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrBDivsSe3k Talk about a blast from the past, and a fun song, too.

 Speaking of fun, I have a guest post up at author Diana Rubino’s blog site. It features all the details and updates and information about RT 2010.  The link is: http://www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com/

Hope you’ll stop by and leave a comment, and you can possibly win a giftcard from Amazon.com if you do! Check it out!

Happy Friday,

Frances

Hello everyone!

It’s so great to be back home after another great and interesting experience at the annual Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. This year was classic RT, with great costumes, fantastic authors, bookfairs, booksellers, readers, authors, librarians and so much more. In coming days I’m going to be blogging about the whole experience, even guest blogging on author Diana Rubino’s blog about it! I’ll post the information and url for the blog, look for it Thursday!

To avoid giving too much away before the guest blog on Thursday, let me just say it was great to catch up with friends I’ve made from the previous two RT conventions that I attended. I’m sure there are plenty of videos on YouTube and RT was running a daily blog with photos and all sorts of fun moments. If you’ve never been to an RT and you’re a fan of the Romance genre, I highly recommend attending the convention. There’s something for everyone, no matter the stage they are as a writer or if they’re a reader/fan of books.

But now that I’m back, and while I admit my feet are going to need a week’s recovery after all the dancing, I’m anxious to get back to what I love, and that’s writing! So after some coffee and a shower, it’ll be time to park in front of my laptop and get my fingers walking across the keyboard.

Don’t forget, I’ll be guest blogging Thursday with a nice summary of the RT experience. If you were at RT 2010, let me know either here, on Facebook, Twitter or MySpace.

Until the next time, write well and read often,

Frances