Sex and the Modern Woman

Paranormal saturation?

2007-05-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've been cruising several blogs lately, notably Karen's. The comments and blog posts have hinted at reader saturation for paranormals--the vamps, witches, warlocks and were-everything. I've been writing since 2003, a babe in the woods compared to others who've been around much longer. Paranormal was the hottest-selling genre when I started. For all I know, it could still be the best-selling genre of all. Without actual numbers, there's no way of knowing.

I write mostly contemporaries and futuristics. My contemporary stories have sold better than my futuristics ones, but I don't intend to stop writing futuristics. I love world-building. It's like a blank canvas and I have the freedom to create whatever I want. It's exciting. I tried my hand at a paranormal for EC once, which was turned down, by the way. Reading it now, I'm thankful it was rejected. It wasn't good at all.

It's not a stretch to say that the paranormal market has exploded. The big publishing houses in New York have their own paranormal line, as well as the ebook publishers. Is the market saturated? Maybe. Maybe not. But paranormals will always have a place in the market. Any book that's well-written and well-edited will be successful. A plot line with original twists and turns and engaging characters will resonate with readers. I know of several very successful authors who write great paranormals. They're very good at what they do and their NY contracts prove it.

Like everything else, I believe that romance books/genres are not immune to cycles. What's hot today might not be so hot in a couple of years. What's important is that authors continue to create well-written, emotionally-gripping, imagination-stirring romance stories that readers love. Whether it's erotic romance, romantic suspense, time travel, futuristic, paranormal or just plain contemporary, readers will love a good book. Romance is an industry that continues to evolves. We just have to adapt to change. And change is always good.

Sexy

2007-04-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've been watching Showtime's The Tudors and have been drooling over an actor named Henry Cavill. He plays Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk.

There isn't a whole lot of info about him. He was born in '83, which makes him only 24 years old. A bit young for my taste, but hey, he's serious eye candy. Yum. He's a total hottie, ladies. Be sure to check him out. *g*

Dark Heroes

2007-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

I read Karen's post about dark heroes in romances. Do you like them? I do. To me, a dark hero is just as appealing, sometimes even more, than one who isn't. I like angst. I like baggage. I like a man who's weathered storms that have helped shape the man he is now. That gives him character and depth. Yum. So much more fun.

Of course, being dark doesn't mean the hero can be abusive, whether physical or verbal. I have never liked or agreed with a hero who physically hit the woman. But then again, there are exceptions. Now, now, before some of you get in a snit about that, let me clarify. If the slap--and I won't let the hero get any further than a slap--works within the plot and the characterization, then I don't mind it as much. It makes me cringe, but if its done well, it works for me.

For instance? Brenda Joyce's Promise of The Rose, which I read years ago. Loved this book, by the way. I love Joyce's historicals because her heroes are dark and tormented, strong and very alpha. In Promise of the Rose, the hero Stephen discovers his wife's Mary's alleged betrayal (whoa, is this is big ol' misunderstanding plot? *g* It does exist, then)when she left him and fled to her the family castle in Scotland when she overheard Stephen talking about laying seige against her father, Malcolm, the King. Stephen surmised that Mary had been spying and left to warn her family. If I remember correctly, she was deathly afraid for the lives of her brothers and parents. Mary fled to a monastery after hearing of her husband's anger at her perceived betrayal. To make a long story short, Stephen eventually found her. Mary tried to beg him to understand. He was so angry he slapped her (and unbeknownst to him, she's pregnant here) and banished her to some faraway castle.

Okay. This was a powerful scene for me. Why? Stephen was understandably angry at her betrayal. Instead of staying by his side, which was her duty, Mary left him to go to her family. Was the slap warranted? I thought so. In the context of the time setting, during those days when the man had absolute authority over his wife, I believed it. I'm as much of a feminist as the next woman, but when I'm reading a book, it has to stay true to the time setting. Promise of the Rose's plot revolved around politics, betrayals, arranged marriage, spying and royal intrigue. In this case, Stephen slapping his wife--once--worked. Joyce handled it well, I thought.

Don't get me wrong, though. If a hero is cruel and likes to beat a woman senseless just to get his kicks, then that's repulsive to me. Can't read something like that.

So yeah, I prefer dark heroes all around. I love to show the contrast between being a strong male, yet coping with some torment of sorts. It makes him real, somehow. Still larger than life, but real.

He's Gone

2007-04-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sanjaya is finally gone. The voters got it right last week and voted him off the show. He cried and I honestly felt bad...for a second. Really, if you think about it, he doesn't belong there. I saw on the news that he made an appearance in Washington DC this weekend. Great. He'll probably be able to extend his fifteen minutes of fame to...a month?

Hmm. I wonder who'll be going next in American Idol. I have a feeling it'll be Phil Stacey. Can't wait to find out!

It's Release Day

2007-04-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

Logan's Fall is now available. You can buy it here. Yay!

Now I can take a deep breath. LOL.

Time for him to go

2007-04-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Country music was the theme of American Idol last night. I'm not a country music fan, but there are songs that I like, songs which are extremely easy to listen to. Martina McBride is awesome. She has this song "Valentine" which I really love. Classic. Her voice is just amazing.

Phil Stacey surprised the judges (and me) last night. Maybe country is his niche. His performance was better than the previous weeks. About Jordin...what can I say? For a seventeen year old, she showed poise and control. Her voice is just powerful, you know? I'm telling you she's the dark horse of the competition. I wouldn't be surprised if she ended in the top three or even two.

Lakisha sang "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. Simon was blah, and so were Randy and Paula. I think it comes down to song choice for Lakisha. She's very talented, but she needs to pick better songs. On the other hand, Blake Lewis has the uncanny ability of picking the right songs. Last night he sang a Tim McGraw song--the title escapes me at the moment--but he pulled it off. Great performance. Melinda Doolittle, as always, was perfect. Sassy, sexy and fun. I hope Chris Richardson survives this week. I thought he sang well, but Simon thought he sounded nasally.

Sanjaya sang "Let's Give Them Something To Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt. Puh-leeze. If this guy thinks he can continue winning just on hairstyles and smiles alone, he's dead wrong. Simon even said as much last night when he said, "Come on, people. What are we doing here?" He's obviously fed up because people keep on voting for Sanjaya, who plainly does not belong there compared to the rest. I think this kid is beginning to believe the press, too, because he acts like he can't do no wrong. Reality check here. HE NEEDS TO GO.

Let's hope they get it right tonight and vote off the one person whose time has come.

Tragedy in Virginia

2007-04-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

I don't know what to say except I will keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. It was a sad, senseless tragedy. I don't think we will ever understand why one person would go to such lengths. What drove him? Could it have been prevented? So many questions that we hope will be answered in the coming days.

I hope this brings us all together. Let's give our loved ones a hug, our friends a call to comfort and commiserate, and thank God everyday for our lives and blessings.

American Idol review

2007-04-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Too bad Chris Sligh got voted off. I thought he was a great singer, though he had timing problems. The guy always sang just a tad faster than the melody of the song. Oh well, I hope he goes on to bigger and better things. He's talented, that's for sure.

Haley Scarnato caught on fast and started dressing sexy these past few weeks. I think it carried her an extra week or two, but let's face it, although she can sing, she just wasn't as good as say, Melinda (who's the front runner) or Lakisha or Jordin. I figured she was getting the axe last week. But hey, she was in the top ten and I think she goes on to join them in the AI tour. Not bad, huh?

Chris Richardson is cute. I like him. He reminds me a little of Justin Timberlake. His voice is not as strong, but he somehow pulls it off, you know? He's got charisma. Blake Lewis is cool. He puts his own spin on the songs and makes it contemporary. Phil Stacey is not bad, but when he sings, he seems like he's shouting.

And now we get to Sanjaya. I don't know what to say. I really don't. They say he's one of the most popular searches on the internet. He's a good kid, but compared to the others, he's just not as strong. But people keep on voting for him, so much that he's never in the bottom three. This is a singing competition, people. Please keep that in mind. It irritates the hell out of me that he stays and that better singers have been voted off because of him. Grrr!!!

SIGH. Let's hope that this week, we all get it right and vote off the one person who just doesn't belong there.

Oopps...My Bad

2007-04-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I was going to be the featured author over at Sensual Romances this month. It turns out that it will be next month. Oopps...my bad. I'm sorry. It's not April but May.

Don't worry, though, that means you have plenty of time to sign up to receive the newsletter and I'll still be giving away two print books, Insatiable and Pleasure Planet, as well as the Ellora's Cave playing cards and bookmarks.

Sirens of Sensual Romances

2007-04-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

This month, I'm one of the featured authors at Sensual Romances. We're a group of thirteen erotic romance authors who put out a newsletter every month. The authors are: Lani Aames, Elisa Adams, Bella Andre, Treva Harte, Katherine Kingston, Titania Ladley, Judy Mays, Lacey Savage, Ruby Storm, Cassie Walder, Samantha Winston, Mary Winter and yours truly.

The newsletter features news about your favorite authors, new book releases, excerpts and even recipes. We also run a contest every month where our members get a chance to win fabulous prizes. As one of the featured authors for April, I'm giving away print copies of Insatiable and Pleasure Planet, plus a couple of decks of Ellora's Cave playing cards. I'll also include a signed Insatiable cover flat and some bookmarks.

The other featured author is Elisa Adams. I'm sure she'll be giving away an awesome prize packet, too. So if you haven't signed up yet, head on over to www.sensualromances.com, click on Newsletter to subscribe and you'll be taken to the groups page where you can sign up to be a member. As a member, you're automatically eligible to win. Join today!

Logan's Fall Cover

2007-04-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share with all of you the cover for Logan's Fall. I just got it today and I think it's very striking. I love the colors, the sexy pose, and the oh so romantic way the woman is cradling the man's face. Very nice!

Logan's Fall will be available on April 18th from Elloras Cave Publishing at www.ellorascave.com

Thanks for the Love

2007-03-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

I've gotten emails and notes regarding my blog post yesterday. A majority of them thought I was miserable because of a NY rejection. No, it wasn't because of that. Besides, a rejection letter is something to be proud of. It's like a badge of courage. You get rejected once, you fearlessly send in another submission.

Thanks for the love I received yesterday. A very good friend of mine told me to stop being a drama queen and buck up. LOLOL! Yes, only she would have the nerve to tell me that and get away with it. It hit the spot, though. I've been walking around with doldrums the past few days. My usual go-getter attitude was missing. No excuses, but maybe I was a little bit hormonal. But I'm okay now.

So my thanks to all of you who took the time to drop me a note. I love y'all too!

Unproductive

2007-03-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Ugh. Without going into detail, my world titled off its axis this week and I'm helpless to stop it. If I was the type to pop a pill, I probably would have already. Oh, stop it. I'm not advocating drug use and you know it. You only have to look at me to know that I don't have any vice at all. Proof? It's the extra pounds I carry and can never get rid of. I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. But during times like now I wish I did. I'd love a few moments of blessed ignorance or escape.

Professional and personal events in my life have wreaked havoc with my productivity. There I was, writing along, finishing Anton's story (remember him from For One Night Only?) when bam! I was blindsided by a totally unexpected event. And no, I can't divulge it at the moment because it's just not for public consumption. Suffice it to say, I haven't been able to write a damn thing. It doesn't take a lot to derail me, unfortunately, and that's the thing that I really would love to change. But we are who we are, and just like you, I try to do my best. I will bounce back. The bad thing is I haven't yet. But soon.

As for the personal side, my daughter is going through what I believe are growing pains. She's sixteen and a terrific kid. Smart, responsible, trustworthy. She's got a 4.3 GPA in school and handles club softball and honors classes with such aplomb that I really admire her.

As a parent, you want to help your children out every way you can and spare them hurt, pain, rejection and everything else. In short, you want to give them the world and take care of them forever. I'm one of those. But now, I'm learning to let my daughter grow up. Her self-confidence has been a little shaky lately and I'm hurting, folks. I just want to take her in my arms and comfort her. But a part of me is holding me back. She's got to grow up. It's time. I had a serious talk with her and told her that the only person who can help her is herself. She's got to pull herself up by her boot straps and hunker down. Get tough and grow up. It's a lesson for her and quite honestly, I think it's a lesson for me, too. I've got to give her room to work things out on her own. Remember, that which doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger.

These past fews days, I've been walking around tense and grumpy. Every little thing irritated the hell out of me. I found myself wishing that life was easier, that I didn't have all these concerns that stressed me out. That's a big, fat fantasy. I have to deal with it. No escape. No avoiding it. I've had to grow up, too, believe it or not. Now, I just take it one day at a time. My grandma used to say "Sleep on it, child. Things always look better when you wake up in the morning."

She was a wise woman.

300

2007-03-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

I went to see 300 last weekend and I'm glad to say, I wasn't disappointed. My husband and I, along with our daughter, caught the late afternoon showing last Friday, hoping to avoid the crowds. You see, the buzz about this movie has been such that we knew it was going to be a hit. To my surprise, the showing was sold out. I mean, we got in and found our usual seats. Then came the steady stream of people, men, women and to my surprise, children. I'm not an advocate of taking little kids to R rated movies, you see. I just don't think its appropriate.

The movie was everything I expected. Stylized, visually captivating and of course, aesthetically pleasing with all the half-naked, very buff men walking around with spears and capes. LOL! I've always been a big fan of Gerard Butler. He's on my list of all time hotties. Puh-leeze. Don't even ask me why. Just look at his picture and watch the movie.

While I enjoyed the constant parade of sculpted six pack and thick, muscled thighs--I am only a woman, after all--I did find the movie lacking in some ways. I thought Butler's Leonidas was a bit over the top. He had a tendency to scream which got to me a little. But this, I readily forgive. In fact, I will forgive Gerard anything. Even the fact that he smokes (according to the cover article in Men's Health Magazine.)He's just so hot and sooo easy on the eyes.

It was a good movie, folks. Fascinating and full of stunning visual effects. I recommend it just for the eye candy. LOL!

I've Got A Release Date, Folks!

2007-03-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

I finally got a release date for the third book in my Cyborgs series over at Ellora's Cave. Logan's Fall will be released on April 18th! Yay!
I'm so jazzed. A ton of you have badgered me (good-naturedly, of course *g*) about Logan's story since I announced it's been contracted. Of course, as soon as I get the cover, I will post it here.

Here's the blurb for Logan's Fall:

Dark, disturbing dreams…

Every night Sharra is plagued by nightmares, a confusing mixture of blood and death, of tremendous hurt and grief. Her dreams are haunted by a man she’s never seen before. She doesn’t know who he is or where he’s from—but she knows that he’s her destiny.

The secret lies within…

Logan Mi’an Tar’s past has left him emotionally scarred, his heart hardened by hatred and guilt. He lives with constant nightmares and endures the enormous pain that follows. Until he meets Sharra, who vows to heal him and breach the wall that guards his heart.

A forbidden union…

Fate brings them together. Intense desire—hot, urgent, undeniable—forges a deep bond. But for a chance at lasting happiness, Logan and Sharra will have to fight for a love that will finally bring them both out of the darkness.

How do you like that? I like it a lot! I'm very excited about Logan's Fall. I think it's such a great story of love and salvation--not to mention the very hot chemistry between Logan and Sharra. In the story, we'll also get to catch up with some returning characters, like Jed and Kate, and Tristan and Ava. Logan's Fall also introduces some new characters who will eventually have their own story.

Again, as soon as I get the cover, I'll post it here for all of you. So mark your calendars. April 18th is THE day.

For One Night Only Ecataromance Nominee!

2007-02-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

I just found out yesterday that For One Night Only has been nominated for Ecataromance's Reviewer Choice Award. That's really nice. Really, really nice. LOL. You can check out the rest of the nominees at the Cata Network Message Boards.

This really just made my day. Yay!

Need I Say More?

2007-02-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

It's sad that some people just have more money than sense. Even sadder that she's getting all the press. She's not one I'd want my kids to emulate.

Back To School

2007-02-21T11:40:00.000-08:00

I'll let you in on a secret. I've gone back to school. I want to finish the degree that I was never able to finish because I met the love of my life when I was a sophomore in college. So here I am, a student again.

It's a lot of fun and certainly challenging. You know what I also realized? It seems like I don't have the patience to study anymore. At my age, it feels a little bit weird. I leaf through the study guides and I'm groaning inside. I have to read this? Do this? What???? It feels funny to go home and crack the books, take copious notes, and review for tests. It's a strange feeling, I tell ya.

My classmates are great, a friendly bunch of kids. My son is a senior in high school, and it seems like they all act the same. I listen to them swap stories and I can't help but smile. I hear those at home! I'm thinking this will be a good thing for my writing. I can pick up story ideas to run with and develop into a hot romance. Yay!

One glaring downside of going back to school is that I've had to drastically cut back on my reading. Yes, folks, I haven't picked up a book in weeks. I feel like I'm going through withdrawal. I don't know what new book is out or will soon come out. The free time I have I spend it writing so I can finish all my projects and make my editor happy. I wake up at five in the morning every day to get some writing done, spend a couple of hours at the office with my hubby to help out with admin stuff and then go off to study. It's a crazy life, but you know what? I believe it will pay off soon. I actually like the fact that I'm busy. Time doesn't drag while I'm doing all that.

Stay tuned. I'll keep y'all posted.

Great Night for Music

2007-02-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

I watched the Grammys the other night, the actual show, mind you, not the never-ending red carpet interviews, commentary on clothes and make-up, etc. It's the biggest night for the music industry, kinda like the Oscars. The performances all have to be live. No lip synch, thank you very much. These are the real singers and artists. LOL.

It was nice to see the Police together again for so long. Look, I'm an 80s child, okay? I love 80s music. I have a whole ITunes file full of 80s music, which drives my kids crazy. It would have been nice to hear a new version of Roxanne, but I guess that's the whole point of a reunion, is to hear the classics.

Other notable perfomances were John Legend, John Mayer and Corinne Bailey Rae. Wyclef Jean and Shakira were great, too--I'd die to have her belly. It was so perfect! I thought Beyonce looked glam as usual, but her song didn't really do it for me. But I was happy the most about MJB. She's been around forever, had her ups and downs, but she's back, stronger than ever. Her new song, Be Without You, is awesome, but I also love her classics, like Sweet Thing. It's nice to see that she finally got the recognition she deserved.

Then of course, there's Justin Timberlake. I think I'm in love with him. Not in a I have to have him kind of way, but in a totally fan-nish way. Out of all the boy bands that were so big for a while, I think he's the only one who really made it big, because he is incredibly talented. He can sing, he can dance, and yes, he even plays instruments.
His duet with the Grammy moment winner was simply well-done. The lucky girl pulled it off, too. She had a great voice, she was poised, and most important of all, she could carry a tune.

I'm totally into JT at the moment, even my Blackberry's ring tone is one of his songs. Hey, what the heck, right? He brought sexy back, after all. *g*

Cleaning House

2007-02-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

I haven't been around for a couple of weeks and for that, I apologize. Never mind that I seem to be apologizing forever to all of you for being constantly absent. I'm trying, I really am, to fit everything into the 24 hours that I'm given everyday. Sadly, I'm not very good at it. *g*

When January came around, my husband and I agreed to start cleaning up the clutter in our house. Now it's a pretty sizeable house, mind you, so we've decided to take it one space at a time. We tackled the messiest place to begin with--our closet. I'm no Martha Stewart, I assure you. I confess to having a cleaning lady come once a week and do the hard stuff. You know, the floors, the bathrooms, the whole house, really. But I draw the line at having my laundry done. There's something about having somebody else touch my clothes (read: undies) that really give me the creeps. It's too personal, if you know what I mean. Although there are days when I'm tempted to have her do that, too, when I look at the heaping mound of clothes to be done. There's only four of us in this family, but we produce enough dirty laundry that a family of eight probably would. Grrr!

Anyway, I digress. Looking at my closet, I never realized how much clothes I've accumulated over the years, and most of them, I haven't worn in a long time. I'm not a clotheshorse, trust me, but I never realized I had so many freaking clothes. There were a number of them that were two or three sizes too small. Yeah, yeah, that was eons ago when I was actually a lot skinnier than I am now. LOL. So they all had to go. My husband and I packed them in boxes and bags. By the time we were done, we had five boxes full of clothes and a smattering of large plastic bags containing even more. Even my kids pitched in and cleaned out their stuff. Mind-boggling!

Look at that! Isn't it pretty? I can actually see the floor of my closet. You'll also see from the picture that my husband has arranged his clothes (top photo) by color. How disgusting is that? He's forever trying to get me to do the same, but I resist. In a bid to retain my independence, I have steadfastly refused. LOL. It's just an excuse, really. I'll get to it someday. Hey, it only took me about seven years to clean my closet. In another seven, I'll color coordinate my clothes, too!

Can Covers Make or Break A Book?

2007-01-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

Fair question, isn't it? How many times have we read smart-alecky, snarky comments about covers? Some are well-deserved, that's for sure. Others poke fun -- if you haven't been to Bam's blog, you've got to check out her cover snarks here. She's simply hilarious.

How much impact does a cover have on a book?

A cover tells a lot about the story. The mood, the theme, the overall feel. It is the first thing a reader sees. A vampire/werewolf book would typically have a dark mood, emphasizing the darkness of the creatures/humans that are the main characters in the story. A chick-lit would often have a cartoon in the front, indicative of light humor. BDSM? Usually a cover that involves handcuffs or any instrument that would bring to mind bondage. Sounds simple and straightforward enough. You would think. *g* Here's a sample of a cover that I think is really hot:

Nice, isn't it? It's sexy yet understated. Tells you right away it's erotic. The arm around the woman screams possession, mastery. (Or am I reading too much into it? LOL)I really liked it. And no, I don't write for that publisher, nor do I know the author. But I do like the cover.

An attractive cover will certainly draw the reader's eye, enough to make her pick up the book and read the blurb -- or in the case of ebooks, click on it and check out the blurb. Dramatic colors and evocative poses help, too. Romances almost always feature "clinch" covers. Lately, covers have been more daring. A body part here, a buttock there. Hey, we've all seen the hot EC covers. *g*

On the flip side, there are covers that just suck great, big, hairy donkey balls. This can be somewhat of a death knell for a well-written book. An ugly cover can turn off a reader before she even ventures to read the blurb. As an author, how much control do we have over covers? Some, but not a lot. I have a vision for my covers, and I try my best to communicate that to the cover artist. Of course, there are always things that will limit the cover artists, like budget, availability of photos, etc, etc. That's where computer programs come in. Remember, it's a business, folks. Bottom line is the profit margin.

So yes, I think covers play a large part in a book's success. Of course, it's still up to the author to weave a gripping plot line to hook a reader from start to finish. Then again, you don't want to lose a reader before she even reads the story. A beautiful cover is like icing on a delicious cake.

Feel free to point me to covers that you love. Better yet, tell me of some horrendous ones you know. *g*

Bandar: Pursuit of Pleasure Available Today

2007-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

The third book in my Bandar series for Changeling is available today. Pursuit of Pleasure is the story of Dax and Ariana, and the race across space to save her family and her home. To read an excerpt, you can go http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=512. As always, you can let me know what you think of the story. I'm a little bit torn because I think this is the last of my Bandar series. I really don't want to see it end.

We'll see what the muse says. Happy reading!

Too Much Sex?

2007-01-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

When I was in my early teens, I read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. But when I started imagining Nancy in love with the Hardy Boys, I knew it was time for a change. No kidding. And that's when I discovered the lovely world of romance books. Like most other readers, I grew up reading series romance. Over the years, their appeal began to pall. I wanted more. More details, more sex. Don't lead up to the bedroom and shut the door in my face. I've been with you through all the preliminary stuff. Let me in on the good stuff, too. Right? This is about the time I discovered Ellora's Cave. Pretty soon, I finished a manuscript and turned it in. Hallelujah, they got back to me within a couple of weeks and wanted it! That was Abduction of Emma. The rest, as you know, is history.

I came across a pretty interesting discussion the other day in one of the lists I belong to. The topic was about sex and having to put too much of it in a book. What snagged my attention was the fact that some bemoaned the fact that they were being asked to add more sex to their finished stories. I guess I'm fortunate enough that I've never been asked to do that. What that says about me, I don't know. You tell me. *g*

When I write, I don't consciously tell myself that I have to put a certain number of sex scenes in it. To me, if I do that, it will come across as forced. It disturbs the natural flow of the story and will seem out of place. I can't insert a sex scene in the middle of a chapter for the sake of it. But having said that, I also have to keep it mind that I am writing an erotic romance. The plot, while it can involve other elements (paranormal, suspense, vampire or what-have-you) has to revolve around romance and the development of it and of course, sex (which comes naturally with romance, IMO).

I've heard some people grouse that you can't have sex every ten pages. True, you can't. But what sex the story does have, it's got to work. You have to delve deep in the reader's emotions. Make them feel every sensation the characters feel. Add sensory details. What's the heroine feeling, smelling, touching? What does the room look like? The atmosphere? Even if it's a short sex scene (like some romantic suspense I've read lately. I found myself turning the pages and gasping when there wasn't anymore), you've got to ramp up the heat. Turn it up a couple of notches and make it satisfying.

If you're having to add more sex to a finished book, maybe it's not erotic romance, you know? Maybe it's conventional romance that's being spiced up to be erotic.

Resolutions

2007-01-04T14:13:00.000-08:00

Every year, like millions of people out there, I write down some resolutions that I'd like to fulfill for the next 365 days. All in the name of becoming a better me!
Here's a few I'd like to share with you.

1) Lose the extra weight I've been carrying around. This is a universal resolution. Everybody wants to lose weight. Just don't write me and tell me you need to lose three or five pounds. Puh-leeze. Don't make me sick.

2) Addendum to #1. Use the treadmill and elliptical for the express purpose of exercise. They're pretty much furniture right now. LOL.

3) Make more at-home meals instead of eating out. In a perfect world, you'll find me in the kitchen every night, wearing an apron over my dress, whipping up delicious, nutritious home-cooked meals. Reality is, I'm not able to do that most of the time. I'd love to, though. Eating out gets old after a while. Plus, it can drastically cut down on expenses.

4) Be more sociable. Believe it or not, I'd rather stay home with a good book than party. I'm the complete opposite of my husband, who is very outgoing, knows practically everyone and will talk to all of them every chance he gets. I always tell my kids I'm moving to an island somewhere when I retire. They think I'm kidding. Not.

5) Travel. I'd like to take a few weeks in the summer to explore Europe. My idea of a good time would be to get lost in ancient castles and spend hours exploring. Less work, more fun kind of thing. Of course, this is more like a dream, really, than a resolution. LOL.

6)Write faster. Okay, faster might be the wrong term. While I've matured a lot in the past few years that I've been writing, I haven't gotten to the level where I'm comfortable putting out books on a regular basis. I'd like to get to the point where I have three or four books in the cue--without sacrificing quality and plot. Damn it, life. Stop intruding!

7)Try New York. This year, I'd like to try my hand at submitting to a NY pub (again). Last year, I received ONE rejection letter and I consider that my rite of passage. Time to get back on the horse and try to ride that baby one more time.

8) Clean out my closet. Y'all know what I mean. If it hasn't been used in a couple of years, it ain't never gonna be used at all. Throw it out.

9) Other women have Blahnik or Choo fetishes. Mine is for cute, fashionable sneakers. I have more than a dozen pairs that I wear, and more stowed in boxes in the garage. Have got to STOP shopping for sneakers.

10) I'd like to be a better wife and mother in the sense that I'd like to have more patience and cut down on the hormonal rants (another term for pms). Hey, I can dream, can't I?

I will keep my resolutions to ten only. Gotta keep it realistic and most of all, doable. If you have any good ones you'd like to share, let me know. I just might add it to my list.

Current Reads

2006-12-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

I had lunch today with some of my Ellora's Cave friends. My editor, Heather, is in town for the holidays and as always, organized a little get together for the So Cal people. Unfortunately, Jennifer (the other half of the amazing Ashleigh Raine) couldn't make it due to an illness, so we missed her today. The awesome Lena Matthews just had a baby, so she she wasn't there, either. I love her, by the way. She sent me a picture of her beautiful family (thanks, Lena!) We also missed Mari Byrne and Mary Wine. All in all, there were five of us. Sylvia Day, Lisa (the other half of Ashleigh Raine), Donna (EC editor), Heather and yours truly.

The day started off at Borders where we oohed and aahed over new books. Afterwards, we trekked over to the Elephant Bar and had a long, fun lunch. Some of the stuff we talk about would make an ordinary person blush, but hey, it was par for the course for us. LOL. Had a great time. Thanks, ladies. Looking forward to seeing all of you again soon.

At Borders, I picked up a couple of books. Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm supposed to be working on my new futuristic series for Ellora's Cave. I'm taking a little time off (an hour here and there surely won't hurt, right) to read. I picked up Sylvia's The Stranger I Married (she very graciously autographed my copy, yay!) and Shayla Black's Wicked Ties.

Both of these authors are great, so I'm looking forward to reading their books. If you've read anything good lately, let me know. When I need a break from writing, what do I do? I read, of course. LOL. What else is there?

Holiday Madness

2006-12-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

I've yet to recover from the madness that holidays usually bring. As always, I've indulged too much in food! *groan* I'm going to have to start a new diet (again!) next week. LOL. I'm good for the first week or so. After that, it's all downhill.

This Christmas, I decided to give gift cards to a majority of my family. I figured it was easier. For one thing, they won't have to stand in line the day after Christmas to return the unwanted or wrong-sized gifts. And at the very least, they'll be able to choose what they really want, and I won't have to go nuts trying to figure that one out. LOL.

I've noticed that people seem to have less patience during the holidays, too. Instead of being filled with joyous spirit, people snarl and growl and generally freak out at the drop of a hat. Parking is hopeless, bringing out rude, uncivilized behavior in humans. There was one guy who cut an elderly lady out of a spot she'd been waiting for. And what does he do? He calmly gets out of his car and walks away. Merry Christmas to you too, dude!

Long lines are a given. It doesn't matter where you are or what time it is. If you're going Christmas shopping, then you better expect long lines. There's no use bitching about it or muttering under your breath. Patience is the key here, folks. Ranting and raving won't make the line move any faster, trust me. You're just ruining your day and mine.

Aside from that, I spent a nice Christmas with my family. This year I'm so proud of my son, who works for a major coffee company (they have one in every corner). *g* He worked extra hours to earn money for the holidays and bought gifts for everyone. It was such a nice thing for him to do and I can tell that he was happy to be able to do it. *sigh* My son is growing up. Finally. LOL. About time. He'll be going off to college next year.

I hope you had a fun, peaceful holiday with your family. Remember to say thanks for your blessings and don't forget those who are not as fortunate as you are. Have a Happy New Year everyone!

Coming Soon from Changeling Press

2006-12-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the silence lately. With the holidays going on, I've been swamped. I have a large, extended family, so you know I'm up to my ears in shopping, wrapping gifts and just getting ready for a big get-together on Christmas Day. Not to mention the annual New Year's Eve party at my house. We ring in the new year at my place every year. Big party. Great fun. Hangover the next day, but hey, it's all worth it. *g*

My new book, Bandar: Pursuit of Pleasure will be coming out on January 12 from Changeling Press. Isn't the cover pretty? I'm not a big fan of poser, but Sahara Kelly, who has done two of my covers, does a really great job. I'm grateful for that. I love it.

Here's the blurb for Bandar: Pursuit of Pleasure

Desperate and on the run, Ariana abducts Earth Federation Commander Dax Morrison. How hard would it be to convince the handsome commander to help her and her family get to safety? She’s willing to pay him anything. Whatever he demands…

Dax Morrison is outraged at being tricked by a mere female. But once he learns of the menace that threatens his beautiful captor, he’s duty bound to give aid. The catch? He has to fly them through perilous space in an old bucket of a ship without a weapons system.

Things take an erotic turn when Ariana agrees to pay him personally for his services. In the shadow of danger and the constant threat of discovery by the enemy, Dax and Ariana will find stolen moments to indulge…in the pursuit of pleasure.

Here's a hot little excerpt.

“I’m grateful for your help. I know the decision didn’t come easy, considering what I had done to you. I’m glad it was you at the club that night.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake. “I’m simply helping because if the Xerexians are not stopped, we’ll all be in a hell of a lot more trouble,” he tossed back gruffly.

It didn’t faze Ariana. “Still, you could’ve just overpowered all of us and escaped. You’re a good man, Dax.”

She thought he was a good man? He stifled a disgusted snort. He’d rather she thought of him as sexy, irresistible, hot. Dax stepped close to her, intentionally invading her personal space. “You might not think so after I demand payment for hauling all your asses to safety.”

She blinked. “What do you mean?”

His gaze dropped to her chest. The meaning was unmistakable. “No jump drive. No weapons. That means if the Xerexians ever get wind of us, we’re good as dead. For putting my life on the line for you and your family, I figured I deserve a payment that’s equal to the risk I’m taking.”

Ariana took a jerky step back. “The crown jewels are worth an awful lot of cash currency.”

“I’m interested in more than the crown jewels.” He boxed her in, the console at her back preventing her from moving away. “I’m interested in the body that wears them.”

She swallowed. “My mother?”

Through the lust that zinged through his flesh, Dax managed a chuckle. “Nice try. You know exactly what I mean.” He dipped his head toward her.

“W-wait…”

Heat swirled in his stomach, spreading lower to wrap fingers of fire around his suddenly erect shaft. Ariana’s lips were damp, quivering ever so slightly. This woman was dangerous. That alone should have driven him to step away and put some distance between them. But like a lamb being led to slaughter, he couldn’t stop himself from leaning in until he was just a hair’s breadth away. Her light scent teased his nostrils, evoking memories of a summer rain shower back home on Earth.

The darkening of her eyes told him she wasn’t immune. Good. At least he wasn’t the only one hot and bothered. “Let me show you what I want.”

“I don’t think—”

Dax never gave her a chance to finish what she’d been about to say. He wanted to proceed nice and slow, intending to coax a response. Her taste, sweet and fresh, exploded in his senses. The softness of her bottom lip roused the predator in him. Forget nice and slow. His good intentions flew out the proverbial window. With a low growl, Dax changed the angle of the kiss, intensifying the contact, his tongue delving deep in the damp cavern of her mouth.

Ariana’s soft moan could barely be heard over the hum of the engine, but it was enough to send fire shooting in his veins. Lust suffused his entire body, igniting places Dax never knew existed. He pulled her closer, kissing her like a starving man, greedy for more. Finesse didn’t even enter into it. He wanted more of her.

Bewildered by his unprecedented reaction to a mere kiss, Dax drew back. He was panting hard. His heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. His memory of their kiss at the club didn’t fail him. All along, he’d thought it was the spiked drink that made their encounter unforgettable.

Stunned, he stepped back, ignoring the vicious protest from his cock that demanded he stay. No other woman had ever aroused him with such intensity and swiftness. Damn.
“I don’t want the crown jewels. Nor do I need cash credits.” He ran a thumb over her damp lower lip. “There’s only one thing I want as payment for my services.” He tipped her chin up. “You.”

© 2006 Beverly Havlir

Hope you liked that. I had a lot of fun writing this story. The chemistry between Dax and Ariana was amazing, at times funny, certainly erotic. Bandar: Pursuit of Pleasure will be available from Changeling Press on January 12, 2007.

Publicity Shy

2006-12-12T10:52:00.000-08:00

My family knows I write and some of my friends do. Not a whole lot of others, though. And for good reason. I'm publicity shy. I'd rather wander anonymously in a bookstore and snap a picture of myself with my phone when I see my book on the shelf (I've actually done this, BTW). It doesn't take a lot to amuse me.

One day, I came across a lady at the local Borders who happened to be reading the blurb of Bodyguard. She looked up and saw me take the same book--I just had to touch it, of course. Wouldn't you know it, she asked me if I liked the author. I swiftly debated whether I should tell her it's me, but then, for some unknown reason, I decided not to. I told her it's a book that's been reviewed well and to try the author's other books on her website. The lady ended up buying Bodyguard. I asked myself why I didn't tell her the truth. I have no answer for that. Except that I wasn't prepared at that moment to be Beverly Havlir, you know? Weird, huh? I can't explain it, either.

I'm rabidly shy. Really. My inner vixen comes out in my books. The things I write about are the stuff of fantasies. Mine and a whole lotta other women out there. My kids go to private Catholic school, and I don't know how thrilled the school officials would be to find out what I write. Now before you jump on me for being ashamed of what I write, I'm not. Really. But I have to think of my kids, too. It's not all about me. I don't hide it, but I don't broadcast it, either. There are a select few who knows. Other than that, they think I'm an ordinary Mom actively involved in school fundraising.

Henrietta (names have been changed to protect the innocent *g*) has a son whose friends with my son since they were little freshies in high school. My husband told her about my writing, and Henrietta asked me what my pseudonym was so she can buy my book. I gave her a free one, an autographed copy, and hoped she'd enjoy it. I did warn her that it's not for the faint of heart. Her reponse? She reads Zane, and she likes erotic romance. But when she didn't call me for a week, I thought, there goes a friend. She probably thinks I'm too freaky to hang out with. A few days later, I gathered the nerve to call her. It turned out Henrietta loved it! She was so enthusiastic about it, to my relief, and confessed that she'd read aloud some excerpts to her husband. Now that got me blushing. I'll never be able to face him again. She said, "Girl, at our age, we need that kind of stimulation." Yeah, baby! Someone who understands. I love it. Henrietta passed the book on to another girlfriend then looked up Ellora's Cave website and bought my entire backlist. I couldn't believe it. That made all the stress and hard work worth it.

Hey, inner vixen? You can come out and play anytime. *g*

A Heart-Wrenching Tale

2006-12-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

I've been riveted by a story that's been in the media for the past few days. The Kim family, on a road trip in Oregon after celebrating Thanksgiving, took a wrong turn and their car got trapped in the snow. They were missing for nine days. The husband, James, took off on foot to try to find help. HIs wife and two daughters were left in the car. They were eventually found by a search helicopter.

James Kim was not so lucky. The devoted family man hiked ten miles, unknowingly going in a loop, and succumbed to hypothermia.

This is a heartwrenching story that broke my heart. I followed the story in the news and when they announced that his body had been found, a scant mile away from their stranded car, I cried. I said a prayer for the family. For the wife who lost the man she loved and for the two daughters who will never know the dedicated father who loved them.

Please say a prayer for them. It's never easy to lose a loved one in such a tragic way, but to lose him during this time of the year is even more painful.

What Kind of Hero Do You Prefer?

2006-11-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

Romance heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Well, okay, chunky heroes are few and far between. The norm, it seems, is the tall, dark (or blonde) and handsome. Successful, self-made (or not), confident to the point of arrogance, and smart. Let's not forget sexy. He has to ooze sex appeal. Otherwise, what's the point?

I love alpha males as much as the next reader. I love men who know what they want and how to get it. No vacillating or indecisiveness. Strength of will and steely determination also are necessary.

I heard a song on the radio the other day. Don't know the title but the tune was catchy. It's about a couple who broke up and the girl saw her ex with his new girlfriend. Part of the lyrics went something like this, "Does she rub your feet when you've had a long day?"

My first thought was, it should be, does he rub your feet when you've had a long day? I know, I know. It's just a song. I should lighten up. As I sat down in front of my computer, it got me thinking. What kind of hero do most women prefer? Or more appropriately, how alpha do you want him to be? Do you want him to be the type who wants to be waited on hand and foot?

In some of the books I've read, the alpha(ness) of the hero just went too far out there for me. Some made me cringe. Some made me groan out loud. And then again, some made me want to slap the heroine and tell her to wake the hell up. For me, there's a fine line between being an alpha male and being an obnoxious ass.

I've delved into mild BDSM elements in a couple of my books. Now my stories in no way represent a real bdsm relationship or the real dynamics between a Dom and a sub. I've always emphasized that fact. One BDSM author told me, there are no set rules. The people involved make them up themselves. I agree. I don't think I can actually write a real, stark, no-holds barred story about a Dom/sub relationship. You see, there's a part of me that struggles with the notion that another human being has total say in what I do. I have no problem writing about it AS LONG as the woman is not a doormat and the relationship is consensual. That means, she agrees/allows whatever happens. And realistically, bdsm adds a very erotic element to romance. This isn't the romance your grandma used to read, honey. *g*

BDSM aside, I have to admit, and I'm being honest, I like an alpha male in the bedroom. I want him to take the initiative, to make the move. In the privacy of the bedroom, I like the Me Tarzan, you Jane kind of thing. *g* But I'm also careful to balance that out with humor, well-placed tenderness or gentleness from the guy. If he insists on being alpha in ALL facets of our life, then see ya!

It's human nature to be drawn to a strong, alpha male. It's survival of the fittest. You know that the alpha male will take care of you in good times and bad. Hey, I'm all for that. But I also want a man who has a sense of humor, who can laugh at himself, who can admit to the mistakes he's made, who can say sorry, who knows when to be gentle and how to communicate. I try to incorporate those qualities in my books. I guess it means I want my cake and eat it, too. Nothing wrong with that!

You want that, too. Don't you?

Daniel Craig is the shiznit!

2006-11-27T14:09:00.000-08:00

Okay. I admit. When they announced that a new Bond was chosen, I was hoping it would be Clive Owen. Or Hugh Grant. Even Gerard Butler. When it was revealed that Daniel Craig was the new 007, I was like, blech. He just didn't possess the flair that previous Bonds had. You know, the finesse, the smoothness. For me, he just wasn't as suave as Pierce Brosnan. You see, I had seen Daniel in a movie called Layer Cake. Didn't impress me, although it might have had something to do more with the storyline than with his acting and looks.

When Casino Royale came out, it garnered VERY GOOD reviews. From blogland to tv critics to newspapers. Finding myself with a lot of free time this long holiday weekend, hubby and I trekked to the nearest theater to go see the new Bond movie.

All I can say is: HOLY COW.

Daniel Craig was awesome, HOT!!!, and gosh darnit, totally believable as the new 007. He's not your usual pretty boy actor, but he just lights up that screen like nobody's business. Beautiful, piercing blue eyes. Oh, and did I say he was built? When he came out of the water in those blue trunks, I nearly fell off my chair. The popcorn I was chewing went down the wrong way and almost killed me. LOL. Ladies, he is sexy. Seriously sexy. Kudos to the producers for picking him. Apparently, they knew what they were doing!

The story was great. Bond didn't have the usual high-tech gadgetry that he'd always relied on to get him out of sticky situations. This Bond is rough and tumble, buff (yummy!) and, drumroll please, emotionally available. There was a quality to him that even when he was boffing a woman, you know it meant something to him. Daniel had great chemistry with his co-star Eva Green (Vesper Lynd). They just sizzled from the start. My heart broke for him when she--SPOILER ALERT--died in the end. But I kinda knew she would die. James Bond just doesn't have a history of lasting relationships.

I have to admit, out of all the Bond films, Casino Royale ranks up there. It was well made, with plenty of action scenes (as expected) and a rockin' story. I loved the poker scenes. They were great.

Hey Daniel, we can play poker anytime. Uh...strip poker, too, if you like! LOL.

Things I Am Thankful For

2006-11-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

As always, during this time of the year, I think of what I'm grateful for. Here's a list:

1) I'm thankful for waking up every morning. That means I'm still alive!

2) I'm thankful for making breakfast for my husband and my kids. That means I'm surrounded by loved ones.

3) I'm thankful for my children kissing me before they leave for school. That means they love me.

4) I'm thankful for showers in the morning. It's the miracle of indoor plumbing. *g*

5) I'm thankful for going to work everyday. That means I get paid.

6) I'm thankful for extra work given to me. That means my work is trusted and appreciated.

7) I'm thankful for life's little ups and downs. It keeps me grounded in reality.

8) I'm thankful for frozen dinners. They're ready in a few minutes. Who can beat that?

9) I'm thankful for DVR. I get to record my favorite shows and miss none of them!

10) I'm thankful for reader email, good and bad. That means people buy my books. It gives me a reason to keep writing.

11) I'm thankful for reviews, good and bad. What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger.

12) And finally, I'm thankful for chocolate. It hits the spot every time!

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

A Good Writing Day

2006-11-20T18:23:00.000-08:00

Today, I wrote an entire chapter. Yay!!! To those of you who churn out chapters without blinking an eye, then this is nothing to cheer about. But for me, who hasn't been in the writing zone lately, a whole chapter is an accomplishment. Yay me! I'm patting myself on the back.

Now to write the other twelve chapters. LOL!

I guess I woke up on the right side of the bed today. I mean, my thoughts were racing, my fingers were flying over the keyboard and my creative juices were flowing. It was like--bam! I'm writing and the muse is talking to me. Oh yeah! I was on a roll.

Then it happened.

I had to stop to run my errands--had to buy the turkey and all the trimmings. Oh and there was dinner to prepare. Dinner? Who cares about that? I've got some serious writing to do! Can't you guys feed yourselves? No, sadly, they can't. No worries. I went into Mommy mode. I popped some chicken in the turbo convection oven (greatest kitchen gadget ever!) and set the timer. An hour later, voila, dinner was served. *g*

Seriously, I'm happy. Without going into too many details, my life has been kinda crazy lately. In fact, this whole year has been a little difficult. I'm looking forward to 2006 ending. A new year, a new beginning. And hopefully, all my planned projects will come into fruition. I've got books to write and a new futuristic series that I'm wayyy excited about.

Though you can't see me, I'm doing the happy dance! LOL.

It's All Good

2006-11-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Emmitt and Cheryl won! Yay! I'm glad. I was rooting for him to win. Sure, in a technical sense, Mario was the better dancer. But Emmitt had the charm and the grace. I mean, come on, he went so far out of his comfort zone and came out such an awesome dancer that I couldn't help but root for him. Did you ever think a three time NFL MVP could move the way he did? And you know what else? He had fun out there. It was obvious. He was enjoying himself. He also brought with him that intensity, that competitive drive to win. Those guns didn't hurt, either. *g*
And Cheryl is not only a great dancer, but a great teacher. Congrats!

Also, my man George was named Sexiest Man of the Year. Again. I'm so NOT surprised. Not only is he good-looking, he does GOOD things. He takes up important causes. So what if he's a serial dater and (allegedly) comittment-phobic? All that aside, he's not a waste of space. He has a purpose. I like that in a man. Yay George!

My Take

2006-11-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

Much ado has been made about Lisa Valdez's remarks on Sybil's blog about Patience. If you want to read it, click here. Sybil dropped me a note and asked for my input, but I decided not to join the fray, and for good reason--if you've read the thread at AAR. If you've been living under a rock, Patience is the sequel to Lisa's first book, Passion. I gotta say, I loved Passion. It had lots of hot, heavy sex and it was peppered with graphic words. Shocking? Not to me. I enjoyed it! Passion was unique in the way that it brought out strong reactions from readers. There were those who loved it (like me) and those who hated it. It's par for the course.

As expected, Lisa's response generated a lot of hoopla. Mainly from people who took it to mean that she couldn't handle criticism and let it get it to her. Some questioned why Lisa let it affect her that much. As a professional, she should be used to criticism and hate mail. If you put your work out there, then you better be prepared to hear stuff you won't like, right? My opinion (and I'm entitled to one *g*) is that Lisa merely explained what happened to her and why Patience was delayed.

To some extent, I agree that an author should be used to criticism. What I don't agree with is saying you shouldn't let it affect you. Sort of like brush it off your shoulders and move on. Authors are told early on that it's imperative to develop a thick skin. Easier said than done, I tell ya. When you've sweated endless hours over your book, spending late nights honing and perfecting your story for publication, you're emotionally invested. It will affect you, no matter what you say. You can swear to high heavens that sticks and stones and all that stuff, but in the end, it'll sting. A little or a lot, but it will. Sure, it's easy to say, you should be prepared for criticism from the outset. Put yourself in Lisa's place. Let's say you work for an ad agency. You conceptualize what you think is a brilliant ad campaign for a product, you pitch it and hear someone say, your work is shitty, slutty, trashy and reflects your moral values. How would you feel?

Lisa let hate mail and criticism bog her down, even admitting that she changed Patience's story because of that. Drastic, isn't it? But I totally understand. Really. I'm just glad to hear that she bounced back and went back to her original plan and included (even added on) to the spanking scene she'd originally written. Kudos to her. The triumph is in the recovery. In getting up after you've been down.

When my book Jed's Revenge was reviewed on RT and was given a 1 star rating, I was devastated. The reviewer made reference to a rape scene and had nothing good to say about it. I was flabbergasted. Rape scene? Did she read the same book I wrote? I will admit, I let it get to me. I cried. I didn't--couldn't write anything for some time after that. I received emails from fellow author friends cheering me up, saying they disagreed with the reviewer and to please not to let it get to me. I even got hugs in person. For that, I will be eternally grateful. My husband, that dear, dear man, took me to Rodeo Drive, marched me into the Louis Vuitton store and paid for the (smallish) purse without batting an eyelash. Great retail therapy--works all the time. After that, he took me to the movies, wined and dined me, and told me I was still the most beautiful woman in the world for him and that it would be a mistake to stop writing. Was I weak and unprofessional in letting it get to me? Maybe. Maybe not. Was I too sensitive? Sure. I'm a Cancer, for heaven's sake. The moon rules my moods and let me tell ya, it swings a lot. In general, I believe that creative types are sensitive. Romance authors write with emotions, creating love stories with complicated twists and turns. See the connection?

As for the hate mail Lisa received, there will always be people out there with too much time on their hands and never hesitate to share their opinion. Lisa wrote a romance, people. Get a grip. She didn't write about politics or religion. She didn't drastically change the moral climate in the whole country.

Me? I read for entertainment. For escape. In my reading material, I'm not too concerned with historical accuracies or whatever little details that others pick on. If I read a book and it draws me into the story, whether the sex is hot and graphic words are used, hey, it's no skin off my nose. It's a couple of hours of escape. Fantasy. Daydreams. The scene in Lisa's Passion where Mark and Passion had sex while she was breastfeeding also got some comments. To me, what's the big deal? Once you've had a baby, trust me, you're lucky to find time to have sex. When the opportunity arises, grab it with both hands. Kids have a way of altering your lives, and if it offends other people's sensibilities that the characters had sex while breastfeeding, well, to each his own, right? It certainly didn't offend me. Let me put it this way. If my husband wanted to have sex with me after I've had a baby (with all the accompanying weight gain, loss of sleep and lack of interest in primping) well and good. Let's have it. It would make me feel sexy, wanted, and LOVED. As for assuming an author's morals, values and world views are based on the characters she writes, well, I'd have to disagree. Again, it's creativity at it's best. CREATIVITY. We create characters in our heads, not live their lives. There's a difference. There are some out there who incorporate their lives into their books, but that's the exception, not the rule.

I'm sure there will be those who disagree with me. I've probably ruffled some feathers. Such is the way of life, I'm afraid. We can't agree with everybody all the time, just like we can't please everybody all the time. I just don't think people should come down on Lisa Valdez for being human. I commend her for her honesty in relaying what happened and most of all, congratulations for bouncing back. I'm eagerly awaiting Patience and will no doubt devour it as soon as I get it in my hot little hands.

Off To...

2006-11-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

Phoenix for the weekend. I'll be bringing my laptop along, since I have to work. I have a deadline that I totally missed and if I don't want my editor to kill me, I'm going to have to get my ass in gear and work feverishly until I'm done.

On the other hand, I also stashed a couple of books for the short plane ride. I have Kinley MacGregor's latest, Knight of Darkness, and Stephanie Laurens' To Distraction to keep me company.

Be good this weekend. Go shopping or something. Christmas is all over in the malls and department stores. *groan* I'm not ready for Christmas yet!

De-lurking

2006-11-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about the internet is the fact that I can surf websites, check out blogs and message boards anonymously. I admit I'm guilty of lurking most of the time. There are very few places where you'll see me post. One place is Karen's blog. I like her. We're pretty much on the same wavelength and she has such a unique way of expressing herself. I think she's rubbing off on me--I find myself cussing a whole lot more nowadays. *g*

I put a little counter here on my blog so that I can find out how many visitors I have. Trust me, that alone was an experience. I had to follow directions, copy the html and yada, yada, yada. After sweating it out for I can't remember how long, I finally made it appear. I was stoked! I did it. All by my lonesome. LOL. There's hope for me after all.

While the counter is nice, it doesn't tell me WHO my visitors are and WHERE they're from. To that end, I'd like to ask all of you who visit my blog to post a comment and tell me where you're from and how you found me. Tell me if you've ready any of my books or are you just a casual passerby? I'm curious. I'd like to know a little bit about you guys.

So, come on. Talk to me, people. I invite you to de-lurk for a few minutes and tell me about yourself. Trust me, after that, you can go back in the wonderful world of anonymity--which I inhabit as well. *g*

I'll be waiting...

Notable Reads

2006-11-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

I've often been asked what I like to read. Obviously, I'm a romance reader. When it comes to books, my husband calls me disgustingly one-dimensional. It's hard to convince me to venture into books where romance isn't a big part. I've got to have romance, people! Sure, I like suspense, mystery and even funny elements mixed in the pot, but if there is no love story to tie it all together--bleh. Forget it. Here's three of my notable reads:

Cherry Adair: Edge brothers series

I just finished reading all three. It took me a while because, frankly, any reading time I have is usually very, very late at night or very, very early in the morning. I kinda have to squeeze it in on top of everything else. But this series is worth it. In the Edge brothers, Adair has created heroes that are alpha, strong yet vulnerable to the curse that they were born with.

Without going into too much detail, I will tell you that the Edge brothers all work for TFLAC, an anti-terrorist organization. Gabriel (Edge of Danger), Caleb (Edge of Fear) and Duncan (Edge of Darkness) are all wizards. They each have different powers and they all yield it so DELICIOUSLY. But with the curse hanging over their heads, the brothers are resigned to spending their lives alone and have sworn not to fall in love.

Adair is a great storyteller. The Edge series is the first of her books (connected to the TFLAC org) that I've read. I simply loved it. From the first moment the brothers meet their Lifemates, it's a non-stop roller coaster ride of adventure, danger and of course, sexual tension. My favorite of the three has got to be Gabriel. Of all three, he was the most averse to falling in love, to developing an emotional attachment, to even just physically touching his heroine, Eden. By the time they kissed, man, I was absolutely ready for it to happen. Some of the scientific terms and facts kinda made my eyes glaze over, but it was necessary to the story because Eden was a gifted scientist. Caleb and Duncan's story were just as good, though there was something about Gabriel and Eden's story that resonated with me.

My advice? Read the Edge series. You'll like it.

There's also a Harlequin Blaze book that Adair wrote years ago, Take Me, that I really liked. It has your usual series elements, but this was above par, in my opinion. Okay, just suspend your disbelief at the rather outlandish premise of the story (hero meets waitress heroine at a diner and asks her to marry him--on the spot) and immerse yourself in their journey. It's some years later, and the heroine, Jessie, has grown up, polished herself and made a career as an interior designer, all without Josh at her side since their marriage was a business arrangement. It was a little hard to believe that Josh (the hero) didn't recognize her when he met her at a party, but I guess they never had any extended contact. Josh is your typical hard-hearted magnate who keeps mistresses for a year, complete with contract and all. All that aside, these two positively sizzle in the bedroom. It was also very interesting to watch Josh as he slowly fell further and further in love with Jessie. The baddest, coldest ones always fall the hardest. This was a good one.

Next up: Anne Stuart's Black Ice and Cold As Ice. Karen positively sang Stuart's praises, along with everybody else. Will read it soon.

Just Spit It Out

2006-10-31T10:33:00.000-08:00

I was watching Laguna Beach: The Real OC the other day with my teenaged daughter. Yeah, yeah, say what you will. It's one of my guilty pleasures. I mean, what's better than watching rich, bored, spoiled kids backstab each other, make faces behind huge designer sunglasses, roll in a Mercedes Benz or Range Rover while flirting with each other, drinking coffee or eating out at a restaurant? (That's all they do on that show. Hang out at the beach. Drink coffee at what seems like the ONLY coffee place in Laguna, or have dinner at a restaurant. When do they ever go to school?)

Anyway, Rocky and Alex (hope I get his name right. They all look the same to me) are having relationship problems. Things are cooling down after...two long weeks? *snicker* They see each other at a bonfire (another yearly event for this show--they have a bonfire every season). The conversation goes something like this:

Rocky: I want to make things work. I want us to work.
Alex: Me too.
Rocky: Really? But every time we're together, it's like there's a wall.
(Get a clue, girly!)
Alex: Just looks at her. Doesn't say anything.
Rocky: Are you happy?
Alex: I am.
They stare at each other. Cut to a shot of the waves hitting the shore. Murmured conversation. More looking at each other.
Rocky: Are we done then?
Alex: Yeah. I guess.
More staring. Then they eventually separate and walk their separate ways.

Now previous to this scene, Alex tells a friend that he's over Rocky. That she's a "stage-five clinger". Upon hearing that, I--typical defender of women's pride--promptly declares him a gutless dog after watching the bonfire break-up. I mean, didn't he just tell his friend that he was over her? Then why doesn't he just tell her outright and get it over with? What's up with the "yeah, i'm happy" crap?

My seventeen year old son looks at me and rolls his eyes and laughs. Tells me to get a grip. Then my daughter tells me her best friend's ex used what must be men's universal reason out there for breaking up. It's not you. It's me. Hey, if that was me, I'd have asked, "so exactly what is it about you that's causing you to break up with me? Then let's see what he says.

Jeez, louise. Is there a book out there that's entitled 101 Stupid, Inane Reasons Men Use to Break-up With Their Girlfriends because they don't have the guts to just come right out and say I don't feel the same way anymore? Personally, I'd prefer the truth to a bs reason like "I need space right now." WTF? Space? I'll give you space. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out, buddy.

Then there's the guy who just doesn't call anymore. ABRUPTLY. For no reason at all. Sure, a woman with half a brain would figure out right quick that things were kaput. But to a female hopelessly in love, she'll forever wonder what did I do wrong? Worse, she'll take the blame on, thinking she MUST have done something to turn off the boyfriend and drive him away.

Puh-leeze. More likely, he didn't have the guts to tell you goodbye. So he just doesn't call. Leaving you hanging and possibly needing years of therapy. What crap. Look, the truth hurts and all that stuff, but wouldn't you rather get that than some made up reason that's transparently false anyway?

My kids say I have issues. Hell yeah, I do. If I had the answer to why men do stupid things, I'd write a bestselling women's self-help book about relationships. I don't. I just think that if a guy breaks up with you using a crappy reason, then good riddance. You don't want a man who can't come right out and say what he's thinking or feeling about something as important as your relationship. Sure, men and women are different creatures. Men are not as communicative as women. But do they have to lie? Heck, no. The truth hurts, but at least there will be closure.

What about you? Have you had a ex-boyfriend who gave you a patently false, crappy reason for breaking up with you? Do you want the truth? Or some generic, made-up bit?

Reviews

2006-10-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

I've gotten several reviews for For One Night Only and I'm so excited. Two reviewers from Just Erotic Romance Reviews both gave it 5 stars! I'm so stoked. Thanks to Julie Esparza and Ginger Boucher for the great rating. Here are some snippets of the reviews:

Julie said "Yummy and tasteful, *For One Night Only* is a feast of sexual energy." She goes on to add, "I was expecting several chapters...When you write sex as well as Ms. Havlir does, you don't want it limited."

LOL! I will take that as a compliment. I write great sex, folks! Hey, sex is one of the things that makes the world go round, you know. Deny it all you want, but I firmly believe that.

Finally, Julie ends with, "In the end, it is the intensity of Lily and Michael's relationship, which is beautifully written that makes this story so enjoyable to read. Don't miss this story because *For One Night Only* will keep you warm on a cold night."

The other reviewer, Ginger, writes "The story line in this book grabbed me (and BDSM is not normally my cup of tea at all). *For One Night Only* is well written and cleanly edited." She goes on to add "The sex is amazingly hot, with descriptions that made me wonder why I hadn't ventured into the genre earlier. The Dom/sub relationship in the bedroom was cooperative, without force or reluctance. It was fully pleasurable for Lily and Michael... and for me."

Ginger ends with "Several secondary characters intrigued me. I hope Ms. Havlir will continue to develop them and, in time, tell the stories of Lily's friends. Anton's story cries out to be told."

If any of you out there wants to sign up to receive the JERR newsletter, you can sign up here. It's a great newsletter. They feature author interviews, website reviews and book reviews.

As for Anton, well, let me just say that I'm currently working on his story right now. I can't tell you much more than the fact that this is shaping up to be another hot one. I'll be posting a blurb as soon as I have one.

You can also sign up here to join my yahoo group bev_havlir_readers and you'll automatically receive my monthly newsletter Sex and the Modern Woman--I post early excerpts and news about my current works in progress there. Once you're signed up, you're eligible to join my monthly ebook or print book giveaway, as well as other fun stuff. It's a win-win proposition, guys!

If you've read For One Night Only, drop me a note. I'd love to know what you think!

A Baseball Hottie

2006-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

One thing I'm not is a football fan. To me, the only redeeming factor for football? Those tight-ass uniforms. Other than that, can't stand the sport even if my son played it. Too violent for me. Since my beloved Red Sox had an early end to their season (better luck next year, guys!), I've taken to watching other baseball games. By the way, all you Red Sox haters out there--don't bother emailing me. I love my Red Sox. *g*

Yes, I admit. I'm a baseball freak. I'm on the fence about October. I'm sad that it signals the end of baseball season, yet happy that it's the playoffs and then the World Series. I watched the LA Dodgers get killed by the Mets. Though I'm not a Dodger fan, I rooted for them just because they're the hometown team. But while watching the Dodgers-Mets playoffs, I discovered David Wright.

He's hot. And no, my husband won't kill me. He knows it's harmless. I just like looking at hot guys. Who doesn't? If you tell me you don't, then you're a big, fat liar. *g*

Back to David Wright. This guy is seriously hot. Studly. I watched him the whole time. Double plays? What double plays? Who struck out and who hit a home run? Don't know. Don't care. I couldn't take my eyes off David Wright, New York Mets third baseman.

This pic doesn't really do him justice. But he's cute, isn't he?

He's the one on the right. Slightly better picture of him here. Hey, is that guy in the middle grabbing his crotch? Eew.

Another pic. Still looks cute to me.

Now I wish I can find a better photo of him. I'll be scouring the internet so I could post it here. But do you guys agree with me? He's hot. Too bad the Mets didn't make it to the World Series. By the way, I'm taking the Tigers over the Cardinals. Hope they don't let me down.

They're Starting To Come In

2006-10-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today, since I couldn't write anything worth a damn (cold medication does that to me--makes me groggy and woozy) I decided to surf the net, just to see if there are any early reviews of For One Night Only.

I found one!

It's from a BDSM review site. If you want to read the review, you can find it here.

The reviewer scored For One Night Only 3 out of 5. Hey, I'll take it. Overall, the review was positive. First, the reviewer pointed out what she liked about the story then what she didn't like. Fair enough. All valid points. I still think it was a generally good review. Thanks, Elise.

For One Night Only got a BDSM rating (or genre) from Ellora's Cave. Since I don't want to spoil it for those of you yet to read it, I'm not going to go into detail. I had a lot of fun writing Lily and Michael's story. I actually bought a couple of BDSM how-to books, which raised a couple of eyebrows in my house, but of course I chalked it up to research. Hey, don't smirk. It's true. *wink*

A dom/sub relationship has too many intricacies to adequately portray in a category length book. I tried, though. I asked a well-known bdsm author for some pointers regarding a dom/sub relationship, and she told me there are no set rules. So I ran with it. If you guys liked For One Night Only, then I will have done my job. I'm thinking of writing a sort of sequel to the story, featuring Anton. This time I'll probably write a longer, more comprehensive peek into the lifestyle, but first...I'd have to do a lot more research. *g*

Since I've discovered that my readers are not shy about letting me know what they think, I invite all of you to drop me a note. You can post it here or email it me directly.

Now I'm off to lie down and nurse this stupid cold. I hate being sick. Hate, hate, hate. The only upside? I get to tackle a couple of books from my tbr list. There's nothing like being forced to snuggle under the covers with a sexy book. LOL.

A Glimpse Into My Life

2006-10-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

This week my husband and I will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversay. Yup. Eighteen years, folks. My husband and I were just kids when we met, fell in love and had two beautiful babies in a row. In honor of that, I will push aside my habitual shyness and post some personal pictures. (like it or not...LOL!)

That's us approximately ten years ago. He took me to Morton's that night, just like he does every year for our anniversary. We feast on prime rib, lobster and delicious wine while we marvel at the years gone by.

San Francisco, July 2000. That was nice!

That's us now. We've aged and gained weight (yikes! big difference, huh?) over the years, but nothing much has changed between us. He's still my best friend. He can tell when something's bothering me, even if I don't say anything. He can finish my sentences, which is downright scary sometimes, but that's how well he knows me. He knows I write hot romances, has never read my work (just snippets), but he's always a willing test subject and excellent source of male perspective. He's a laid back alpha (yes, there is such a thing). He lets me have my way (most of the time) and is generally a push over when it comes to his kids. He's an excellent provider. He gave me a beautiful house and an awesome car. Most of all, he gave me two beautiful children, of whom we couldn't be more proud. We're getting ready to send one off to college next year. Soon after that, it'll be my daughter's turn.

Life with him isn't all hunky-dory. He drives like a maniac on the freeway (proof: he recently got clocked at 98 mph by the Highway Patrol. Needless to say, that ticket was EXPENSIVE). He prefers movies with car chase scenes, shootouts and explosions. Puts too much butter in the popcorn *shudder* and loves to scarf down hot links. And he loves to go to the shooting range. Me? I abhor guns.

But you know what keeps us going? We compromise. For my birthday years ago, he took me to see My Best Friend's Wedding...and he stayed awake the entire time. *g* In return, I watch the kind of movies he likes, which I admit, sometimes I like, too. (Case in point: The Departed. Great movie)

It's hasn't been smooth sailing the whole time, but we've managed to stay together. It means not giving up, working through problems and always counting our blessings. One day at a time.

So to my husband and best friend, Happy Anniversary. You'll always be the one for me.

A Little pre-Halloween humor

2006-10-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

I borrowed this (shamelessly) from a loop I belong to. Don't worry, it's not like its copyrighted or anything like that. It's funny, though. *g*

An old couple who hadn't
celebrated Halloween in a long time
decided to dress up and go out.

The old woman went into her bedroom, stripped
naked and tied a lemon between her legs.

When she came out, the old man cried, "You can't
go out like that!"

She said, "I can go anyway I like and so can
you."

Whereupon he retired to the bedroom and came out
stark raving naked with a potato tied to his tallywhacker.

The old woman says, you're going out like that?"
and he replies,

"Yep, if you can go as a sour-puss, I can go as a
dick-tator."

*wink*

Sexy and Hot

2006-10-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a hot excerpt from For One Night Only:

Lily stood still, waiting with bated breath, anxiously anticipating what he was going to do next. She tensed when a black cloth came over her eyes.
“Do you have fantasies, Lily?”
Darkness engulfed her. “Y-yes.”
“Tell me about them.”
Oh God. “T-they’re just fantasies, like anybody else’s.”
“You have to learn never to question, hesitate or disagree with me.” His tone was low, but his displeasure was clear. “All or nothing. Otherwise we stop this right here, right now.” He stepped away from her.
Lily instantly missed the warmth of his body. “No! I-I don’t want to stop.”
There was a moment of silence. Then his breath feathered over her too-hot skin. “I’m waiting.”
Mercy. He was asking her to lay herself bare, to divulge her innermost thoughts—and he starred in all of them.
“Are they fantasies of you and me together?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
“Even better. Go on.”
The blindfold somehow gave her courage. “I’m working late,” she began softly. “E-everybody else has gone home. The office is deserted. Quiet.”
“Yes?” He ran the whip over her belly and around her hips, pressing just enough to make her shiver in reaction.
This particular fantasy was her favorite, one that sustained her through long, lonely nights. As always, the familiar scenario began to work its magic on her. “I’m leaning over my desk when you come up behind me.”
Michael moved closer. “Like this?”
Lily wet her lips. “You order me to stay still and not to turn around. You put your hand under my skirt and slide it up my leg.” She jumped when a hot, dry palm landed on her thigh. “T-then you touch me…”
Strong fingers fluttered over her skin. “Here?”
“No,” she whispered, trembling. “Higher.”
“Here?”
“No,” she moaned.
“Tell me exactly where I touch you.”

© Beverly Havlir

Did you like that? *g* For One Night Only is available this Wednesday, October 18 at www.ellorascave.com.

A Positive Spin

2006-10-15T19:13:00.000-07:00

The two Ja(y)nes from Dear Author
reviewed Bodyguard. You can find the review here.

In my opinion, it really wasn't as scathing as much as it was honest. So it rankled a little. Okay, maybe it rankled a lot. *g* I'm only human. You all know an author's book is born from blood, sweat and tears. Ergo, a bad review hits home hard. Yadda, yadda, blah, blah. I won't belabor that point. We've all been there, done that.

However, I'm not one to fire back a nasty note or email to the reviewer and contest whatever was found objectionable or lacking in the story. I've always accepted the good and the bad. Comes with the territory, trust me. If I let a bad review get me down, I'll never get up. *g*

I sat down with my dinner and read the review over. I thought of my story, and what I could have done better. I've only been writing for a few years, folks. I have a lot of learning (still) to do, not that it's an excuse. But I did establish the fact that Paige was sexually repressed and that at the time of witnessing the murder, had already decided to make some very important changes in her life. Okay, so maybe it wasn't plausible that Paige thought the killer wouldn't come after her (Jayne thought she was an idiot for thinking that). But Paige was a really late bloomer, having finished college at 16 and then had gone on to study medicine. She didn't experience the whole teenage hot and heavy sexual phase, the parties, the dating, the sexual experimenting. Maybe I didn't establish that fact about Paige as well as I thought. My Mom would probably shake her head and say I haven't learned a damn thing from her.

You see, my dear Mom used to be a screenwriter. As a young girl, I used to read over her shoulder as she wrote her soap opera screenplay because I just couldn't stand not knowing what happened next to her characters. My point is, early on in life, I've learned to establish, establish, establish. To set up, to begin, to be let known. This was one of my Mom's cardinal rules of characterization. Establish something about the main character so that when an action is done, it won't seem to be strange, weird, or worse, out of character.

Looking back, maybe I wasn't clear enough in establishing Paige's character. Maybe it wasn't realistic of me to think that a person would react that way after witnessing a murder. Maybe my mindset is not as common as I'd thought. I'm forever on a learning curve, folks. We all learn something new every day. Having said that, I'm proud of having written Bodyguard, a book that (most) people liked and sold fairly well.

Reviews are subjective. It's a person's opinion of the story. I respect Jayne's opionion about Bodyguard. I only hope that she won't write me off and swear never to come near any of my books again. *g* My only regret? I wish Jayne would have given Bodyguard a chance and read it to the end. Maybe she still would have hated it. Then again, maybe not. Still, thanks for the review, Jayne.

And really, Jayne's comments weren't all negative. She did say she enjoyed my writing style and that I conveyed emotion and tension well (again--thanks, Mom!).

By the way, I've been thinking. Which is better? DNF review or F review? Food for thought--for me. For my sake, I prefer to think DNF is better. LOL. Makes me feel better.

Imperfect? No thanks!

2006-10-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

I read Eve Vaughn's post over on Sexual Chocolate Authors blog about imperfect heroes. She asks why we never seem to have (physically) imperfect men in romance novels. Good question. Why don't we?

Before we get too deep into this, let me just say that IMO romance is essentially a fantasy. I've said this before. It's fantasy grounded in reality. Certainly, not all the men in the world today have sculpted bods, washboard abs you can toss a quarter off of, or really tight asses that look awesome in jeans. Not all men look good in whatever they wear, who can strut around in leather jacket and pants without looking like a freakin' biker (no offense to the biker-lovers out there) or wear a suit and tie without looking like a stuffy IRS accountant.

We all have our own ideas of our ideal man. The perfect hero. And woman seem to want to see that perfection in romance books. But a story with an imperfect hero is not impossible. Just not common.

I've read books where the hero is physically handicapped. When handled right, it's a great plot. I read one years ago (can't for the life of me remember the title or author)about a hero who gets into an accident and is crippled for life. It struck me deeply how the author portrayed the hero's bitterness and anguish and how he lashed out at the heroine at first. She bore the brunt of his anger with dignity and refused to back down. It was, quite simply, a deep and abiding love. I empathized with the characters. So much so that I actually teared up. See? It can be done. An imperfect hero can exist between the pages of a romance novel. Just depends on the plot and how it's handled. It was beautifully written. I loved it.

I also read a book about a viscount, or marquis or something, who was a great boozer and let his body go. By the end of the book, he was fit and healthy. And hot. It seemed too easy but hey, there you go.Take from that what you will.

Other romance books highlight other imperfections, like character flaws. A hero can be arrogant, selfish, obnoxious (not too much, though), ultra-alpha (if you consider that an imperfection *g*), has slept around with too many women (again, if that's an imperfection), afraid to commit, etc., etc. Then during the course of the story, the hero evolves into a better person. Somebody who realizes the folly of being selfish, or somebody who is humbled along the way. The denouement, so to speak. Then comes the happy ever after.

So why don't we have more physically imperfect heroes in romance novels? Maybe emotional imperfections or character flaws are more readily acceptable than physical ones. I don't really know the answer. Something to chew on, that's for sure.

Older women and younger men

2006-10-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of writing a May-December romance about an older woman and a younger man. But I'm stumped. Really, what constitutes an older woman? To me, if the age difference is, say, five or six years, that doesn't really make the woman that much older, right? I'd have to say at least ten years age difference. But...I've never written about a hero that's around twenty four, twenty five years old--see picture to envision him *g* (because I'd like the woman in her thirties--don't ask me why).

But what about a woman in her forties?

I know, I know. I'm making it needlessly difficult. I'm just not sure how readers will react to a fortyish heroine. I've asked a couple of readers about that and they were okay with it. But then they were rabid romance addicts who'll devour any books of any genre, as long as it romance. LOL. Gotta love them, though.

Seriously, will a story about a fortyish woman in love with a younger man sell? Hmmm...

Irresistible revisited

2006-10-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a bunch of reader emails about my story Irresistible. Most were positive, but some were downright demanding. Why did I write such a story? Don't I know that romance is essentially about fantasy? That nothing should mar the rosy glow that surrounds the lovers? No hint of mistrust or infidelity? It's just not romantic.

I had to smile. First of all, I was pleased that at least I'd gotten some reactions. I got readers to actually talk to me and tell me what they think. None of them held back, trust me. LOL. Second, the emails usually ended with "But you really made the story work. In the end, I wanted Gavin and Maddie to get back together." Gotcha.

Okay, I have to admit that the blurb wasn't the best I've ever written in the entire world. I didn't think about it well enough to make it universally appealing. At first, I thought, why should I not put the fact that Maddie thought Gavin had cheated on her? Personally, I've never liked a book that turned out to be different from the blurb in the back. Sure, a blurb could entice me into buying a book not kowing what's inside the pages. once. After that, I'd be really leery of buying that author again. I don't care if I have to practically read the book in the bookstore, I'm not buying it until I know the blurb is dead on. It's that fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me kind of thing.

To borrow one of Karen's classic, witty expressions--my blurb sucked great big hairy donkey balls. No sense sugarcoating it. It's not that it was god awful. It just wasn't enticing enough. I admit, I needed to make it better. Hindsight is always 20/20, right? Other than that, most of the reviews for Irresistible has been positive. It was even nominated for Ecataromance's Reviewer's Choice Award. Pretty nice, huh?

I've been published since 2004. Compared to others, I'm a baby. And no, I'm not using that as an excuse. I'm only saying that I still have a lot to learn. Irresistible was certainly a learning experience. A good one, I might add.

This was a story I had to write. As a married woman, I've often wondered what it would be like to experience your man cheating on you, straying from the fold, so to speak. Personally, I've always told my husband don't bother cheating on me. Just tell me. That way, we can minimize the bloodshed. LOL. I'm realistic enough to know that it can and does happen to the best of us. Thankfully, he still declares he loves me everyday and adds a kiss to boot. *g*

Romance is indeed fantasy. I've been reading romances since I was around twelve or thirteen. But I contend that fantasy should be grounded in reality. I mean, how many stories of dashing Princes getting together with ordinary women can you write? That kind of thing just doesn't happen everyday. Most stories I read nowadays feature women who are take charge, career driven, sexually experienced. Now that's reality, right? The world evolves, so should we.

In the end, I thank everyone who wrote me and expressed their thoughts and rather forceful opinion of Irresistible. *g* Thanks so much. I welcome good and bad comments. Praise and scathing criticism alike. I'm of the mind that if I've gotten people to think and to sit down in front of a computer and take the time to send me an email, then it's all good. I did my job.

Can't Quite Make Up My Mind

2006-10-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

Now that tv's new fall season is here, I'm SO glad for DVR. There are so many shows I want to watch and most of the time, they're up against each other! Honestly, can't they bump the low rated shows and just fill the schedule with the good ones? I end up recording others and have to settle for watching it later. Like CSI up against Grey's Anatomy. Now I'm a Grey's Anatomy fan, but how can I miss CSI? So Grey's usually ends up in the recorder, to be viewed later. What's bad about that? Sometimes I hear about notable scenes between Meredith and McDreamy before I see it. Kinda takes away the thrill of it, you know?

Of course, there are the old favorites. I've already mentioned two above (CSI and Grey's). There's Supernatural. I'm totally hooked. Love Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. I used to think Jensen was on the short side until he said in an interview that he's actually six feet tall! It's just that Jared is six-five or six-six. Soo tall. I like Jensen more, though. There's something about him...LOL. Then there's Gilmore Girls. I've always liked that.

In my opinion, one of the better shows this season is Heroes. It's about a bunch of people who discover they have superpowers. It's very interesting and thought provoking. I especially like the single Mom (played by Ali Larter) who seems to have some sort of alter-ego who has the guts to do the things she won't. Like kill people. Bad people, though. *g* Then there's the cheerleader who doesn't get hurt, won't die, yadda yadda. And the brothers who can fly. So cool. Of course they're all going to meet up sooner or later and then we'll find out what their purpose is. But it's a great show. I like it a lot.

There's also The Nine. It's about a bank robbery and the nine people who were caught up in it. Seems interesting. I'd have to watch the first episode to see. I've also started watching Smith, with Ray Liotta. I'm reserving judgment on this one. Can't quite make up my mind whether it's a keeper or not. *g*

HBO always has good shows. Notables? Sopranos, of course. Too bad they only have so many episodes left. I also like Rome. Can't wait for their new season. I've heard good stuff about Big Love--just can't get around a man who has more than one wife, so I can't get into that one. *g* My latest passion is Entourage. Funny and crazy, yet I can't help but cheer for Vince, E, Turtle and of course, Drama. Love Ari. He's the quintessential Hollywood agent. Shallow, greedy, rude and unbelievably funny. Breakaway character? Lloyd, Ari's assistant. He cracks me up.

As for reality shows, I'm SO over Bachelor. I watched it the first couple of seasons, then it quickly got old. Now they have a prince something-or-other who's on it. Blah. No interest. Same thing for Survivor. So over it. The only reality show I'm still watching is Amazing Race. Fascinating and never boring. Love it.

So there you have it. So many shows, so little time. I'd be interested to know if there are others out there who like the same shows I do.

November 18th is THE day

2006-09-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, ladies and gents, I just got word that my Ellora's Cave release is scheduled for...drumroll please...October 18th. I can't tell you how long I've waited for this. I'm so happy. I'm posting the blurb--just to jog your memory since I've only been talking about this forever. *g*

For One Night Only
Beverly Havlir

Lily McIntyre is in love with her boss. Every day she goes to work hoping it will be the day Michael Rutherford finally notices her. For twelve long months, she’s waited. No more. With the help of a friend, Lily puts into motion her plan to spend one hot night with Michael. One special night to let loose all the pent-up lust she harbors for him.

Michael Rutherford doesn’t have a clue how Lily feels about him. When he receives an anonymous invitation to play during a BDSM party, he’s intrigued. To his shock, he finds out it is Lily who issued the sexy invitation. She offers him one night. No holds barred. Anything he wants.

For Lily, the memories of their night will have to last her a lifetime. For Michael, it isn’t nearly enough. He will have to do everything in his power to convince Lily that their relationship should not be limited to one night only.

So there you have it. For those who don't know, my hero in For One Night Only is Michael Rutherford. You all met him in my first book, The Abduction of Emma. He was Emma's fiance before Luke Forrester came back and well...took back his woman. LOL. I've been asked time and time again when Michael would get his own story. Well, here it is. Finally. Michael finds that Lily, his heroine, is more than a match for him. I had fun writing this one. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. October 18th is the magic day. Be sure to let me know what you think of it. I look forward to your comments!

I like it. I like it a lot...

2006-09-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I haven't blogged since the start of September. I'm sorry. Just be forewarned that I won't post everyday. Simply can't. Physically impossible. *g* First of all, I don't have that much to talk about. Maybe I'm not that interesting? Hmmm...something to ponder.

So I was surfing the net the other day, conducting a periodic search for my name to see if anything interesting comes up. Guess what I came across? A list of recommended authors from All About Romance. To my surprise, I'm one of them!!!

The list was originally created in 1996, revamped in 2002 and was last updated on August 8, 2006. (Yeah, I'm a month late. I'm always the last to know) The list was long and comprehensive, encompassing different romance genres and containing some of my favorite authors. In the Romantica section, there were seventeen authors mentioned, and my name was in there. Really, I've got to confess to being stunned. I've never been mentioned anywhere like this before and have only been nominated for an award once. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It was just very unexpected. My second reaction was...whoopeee!! I shrieked at the top of my lungs and called my husband into my office--scaring the living daylights out of him, by the way. I felt proud that my writing has been noticed and acknowledged this way. Sort of like a validation, if you know what I mean. And don't tell me you've never needed/wanted validation. We all like to hear that what we're doing is appreciated, especially authors. When we write, we pour blood, sweat and tears into our work. It's always nice when somebody tells me they loved my story, that they enjoyed it. Then at least I know I'm not just wasting my time here. LOL.

It's awe-inspiring to be in the company of such distinguished authors as Lora Leigh, Jaci Burton, Joey W. Hill (have you read Natural Law? If you haven't, run--don't walk. It's amazing), Rhyannon Byrd, and Shelby Reed, just to name a few. I still can't believe it. Can you? *g*

Looking back

2006-09-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

I went to Karen's blog today and read her latest post about The Wonder Years and Elvis Presley. You know, she got me thinking about the good old days when I was growing up. I remember growing up on a street where we actually knew our neighbors. We really did. We knew their names, knew what they did for a living, knew their kids. Surprise, surprise. How many can say that now?

When I was growing up, we didn't have video games or personal computers. We rode the school bus to and from school. Every afternoon, as soon as we got home, we'd eat a snack and run out to meet the rest of the neighborhood kids for a rousing game of...whatever we could think of. Like in the movie Sandlot, the vacant lot across the street was our playground. There, we played cops and robbers, tetherball, handball, volleyball, kickball...any kind of ball. We'd play until close to sundown, when our Moms would poke their heads out of our respective doors and call us home. We parted reluctantly, dirty and tired, but grinning like fools and promising to do it again the next day. I miss those times. That was some of the most fun, innocent years of my life.

One by one, the families moved away. We moved too, not really far, but far enough that I never saw my friends again. I've lost touch with them. Over the years, I've often wondered how they're doing, where they are. Do they look back on those times with the same fondness and nostalgia that I do? I hope so.

Life now is different. I know my immediate neighbors, but not the family further down the street. Apart from an occasional greeting, I don't know anything about them. My kids are involved in sports, and when they get home, they switch on the computer and do their homework. They watch tv and play video games. Everything's changed.

I will always cherish my childhood memories. I understand that the world changes, and we have to change with it. I only wish that my kids experienced the same innocent fun that I did, the friendships, and the memories. Someday, I want to take them back. The old neighborhood won't be the same, but I want them to see it through my eyes. I want to share my memories. Maybe, just maybe, I can relive my childhood too. For a brief moment in time.

Sexual Chocolate Authors

2006-08-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

I'd like to invite you to check out the Sexual Chocolate authors' blog. It's at http://sexualchocolateauthors.blogspot.com. The grand opening was awesome! We held contests and gave away lots of prizes. We're going to continue doing that, plus all the authors take turn blogging. The sexual chocolate authors are: (not in any kind of order..please...it's Monday after all, and I've only had one cup of coffee) Melissa Schroeder, Kally Jo Surbeck, Eve Vaughn, Lena Matthews, Maggie Casper, Liz Andrews and Me! The idea was born during the Romantic Times Convention. We spent some time together and got to talking. Actually, they sort of adopted me since I attended the convention alone. These ladies are so much fun. They're nutty and crazy, and yes, they don't hesitate to talk about anything. And I mean ANYTHING. LOL.
So check us out. We've got a bunch of stuff planned. Even a newsletter, if I'm not mistaken. Come on over to the blog and leave us a comment. You're always welcome!

Next Up: For One Night Only

2006-08-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to say that my next release for Ellora's Cave will be out (hopefully) in September. The title is For One Night Only. My heroine, Lily, is the cousin of Maddie from my book Irresistible. The hero? Michael Rutherford. Remember him? He's Emma's ex-fiance from Abduction of Emma. I've gotten emails from a number of you out there, asking me if Michael will get his own story. Well, here it is. This one's for all of you!

Here's a little blurb:

Lily McIntyre is in love with her boss. From the first day she starts working for Michael Rutherford, she fantasizes about being with him. Every day she goes to work hoping it will be the day he finally notices her as a woman. For twelve long months, she’s waited. No more. With the help of a friend, she puts into motion her plan to spend one night with Michael and let loose all the pent-up lust she harbors for him.

Michael doesn’t have a clue how Lily feels. When he receives an anonymous, private invitation to play during a weekend BDSM party, he's intrigued. To his shock, he finds out it is Lily who issued the sexy invitation. She offers him one night. No holds barred. Anything he wants…

After an erotic, torrid night, two different realities set in. For Lily, the memories will have to last her a lifetime. For Michael, it isn’t nearly enough. He will have to convince Lily that their relationship is not limited to one night only…

Watch out for this one!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

2006-08-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost over. In a way, I'm glad yet sad. This summer, I've probably traveled the most since...well, I can't remember when. First it was to Florida for the RT convention. Barely a week after that, I flew to New York for my daughter's softball tournament. A couple of weeks after, we were in Vegas (yeah!) Vegas is always fun. Then to Stockton fourth of July weekend. Then finally, Seattle at the end of July for the granddaddy of all softball tournaments. Airplanes and airports have never been my favorite thing and that was the most difficult part for me. Long lines (groan) and the waiting was interminable.

All in all, it was fun to spend time with my family and see new places. I think I gained a couple of pounds just from all the food we ate. A couple of pounds that I don't need, mind you. LOL. Now? I'm just getting back into the swing of things. My life is getting back to normal. In other words, I'm writing regularly again. Just finished a book and sent it off to my editor. Now it's time to start a new one. *g* It's a vicious cycle, folks. It never ends.

Allow me to share some pictures of my travels. Enjoy!

Niagara Falls

Seattle's Pike Place Public Market with my honey

Seattle skyline at night (hope you can see it *g*)

Lunch at the Crab Pot

Birthday Musings

2006-07-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

So it was my birthday yesterday. The whole family took the day off and spent it together. My two teenagers had a ceasefire (thank God!) and for once, didn't drive me nuts with their bickering and teasing. They actually get along very well, but when the mood strikes, and it seems to often, they just get on each other's nerves. After a very nice morning, we had a great lunch. Sometimes its nice to just catch up, talk, and laugh. I really liked that. Cheesecake Factory is a family favorite, and we ate off each other's plates. Afterwards, they took me to see Pirates of the Caribbean (which was okay but loooong). Finally, hubby and I relaxed at home, and had a couple of drinks by the pool under a beautiful, clear night sky.

You know, birthdays always make me reflect on life. I have a lovely home, wonderful husband and lively, vivacious kids that keep me on my toes. I also have my writing, for which I am very thankful, because it's always been my lifelong dream to write. Sometimes, with life's ups and downs, I have a tendency to focus on the negative. But really, if I actually sit down and take the time to make a list, the blessings far outnumber the hard times. But human nature being what it is, most of the time I tend to overlook all the blessings in my life.

Birthday wishes? I wish to be more successful at writing. *g* I fervently wish my kids will grow up to be smart, stable, practical adults. I wish for them to finish college and experience life at its fullest. But at the same time, I wish we can keep the closeness we have now. Most of all, I wish there were more hours in the day so I can devote it to writing. Real life has a nasty habit of intruding. LOL.

Happy Birthday to Me!

My Review: Miss October by Madison Hayes

2006-07-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

Before I became an author, I was, and still am, a reader. When I was a young girl, I devoured Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. Soon after, I moved on to Harlequin, Loveswept, and Sil. I discovered historicals and graduated to erotic romance. I have a ton of books at home that the hubby is just itching to get rid of. He keeps threatening to donate all of them to a local bookstore, or put them up for sale at Ebay. Horrors! Those are all keepers! Lately, I've been reading a lot of ebooks, which is good. I can store them in my computer and hubby won't be any wiser. Bwa ha ha ha!

When the muse takes a day off, I like to read. Sybil asked me to be a guest ebuzzer on her site. I was in the mood for something funny and sexy, so I reviewed Miss October by Madison Hayes (love her and love her books!). You can find my review here.

How Much Sex Are You Having?

2006-07-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Eighteen years ago, my husband and I were married. We were kids madly in love -- I was nineteen and he was twenty. Within two years, we had two beautiful kids. After eighteen years, I know him like the back of my hand. We can finish each other's sentences and think pretty much along the same lines. Our kids hate that, of course, because they can't play Mommy against Daddy, and they claim our ultimate plan is to control their lives. Bwa ha ha ha...what took them so long to figure that one out?

I was listening to the radio the other day while driving -- no, sitting-- on the 405. Anybody from So Cal knows that it doesn't matter what time of the day it is, the 405 is damn crowded! Everybody and their mama were on it the same time I was. But I digress. The topic on the radio was how little sex (or sometimes none at all) married couples are having nowadays! GASP! You mean people don't screw like rabbits anymore after they've been married for some time? You don't say!Which brings me to my question: How much sex is normal when you're married? By married, I don't mean two months, six months or even a year. I mean eight, nine, ten years. Even fifteen. Are you having sex once a week? Twice a week if you're lucky? What's normal anyway?

(I've read somewhere that men reach their sexual peak in their twenties. So their sexual urges were strongest at that time, I'm assuming. Women? In their thirties. So by the time women reach their sexual peak, men are over theirs. So should women go out with younger men who can match their appetites? *bg* Just food for thought. We'll talk about that another day.)

There are so many factors that can affect a married couple's sex life. For one thing, marriage carries so much more responsibility. Job pressures and financial issues are just a couple. Both can adversely affect a couple's sex life. Suddenly, settling down doesn't seem so peaceful and well..settled.

I also believe that married couples go through a period of adjustment after the initial intensity of the passion wears off after a few years. Like in my case, the things that my husband did back then that I thought were so cute and endearing now just irritate the hell out of me. Sound familiar? LOL. If I'm pissed, trust me, the last thing I feel like having is sex.

I'll be honest. After eighteen years, I've decided that I like quality over quantity. I've come to realize that sex is better when it's with deep intimacy and maturity. SO much better. Over the years, we've learned to discuss what works for both of us. You know what else is amazing? I tell him what I like and he tells me what he likes (I'll give you two guesses what that is) and we go on from there. Sex is important in a relationship and I don't think anybody can really say what's normal and what's not. Whatever floats your boat, so to speak. If spanking gets you off, hey, knock yourself out. *g* Different strokes for different folks. As long as you are having sex, right?

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

2006-07-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

I have a friend visiting from San Fran. Julie (names have been changed to protect the innocent) is in her late twenties, attractive, successful and smart. Lately, she's felt frustrated because she's still single. According to her, finding a good man nowadays is almost impossible.

I have to admit, I'm surprised. Surely, there are good men out there? I don't know what the population statistics are, but I doubt very much if women outnumber men. Besides, what's considered a good man anyway? Julie says she'd like a man without 1) any substance abuse problem 2) emotional baggage (yeah, right) and third and most important of all, will be faithful to her. Oh, and it doesn't hurt if he's got a full head of hair and is gorgeous to boot. My other girlfriend, Chris, in her infinite sarcastic wisdom, snorted and said good luck.

So if you're a single woman, where do you find men? In a bar? Nah. Too much of a meat market atmosphere. Besides, meeting a man while under the influence of alcohol is never good. Gee, he looked gorgeous the last time I saw him. LOL. Wrong. Girlfriend, it was the damn margarita that made him look so good. What about the workplace? Possible. But if you're higher up than he is, that could be grounds for sexual harrassment. Blind date? *shudder* Matchmakers? No way. Friends and relatives have been known to find every weirdo in town. Me? I met my hubby in the parking lot of a mall (of all places) after my then boyfriend stood me up! Looking back, I'm glad ex-boyfriend didn't show. Otherwise, my hubby probably never would've asked for my phone number.
Julie's honest enough to admit what her problem is.She's hoping to find a man much like the heroes in romance books. You know, an alpha male who is strong, confident and has unbelievable sexual prowess. Gawd. I mean really, does a man like that exist? If she ever finds somebody like that, she should hide him from the rest of the female population.

So do you think that romance readers tend to look for the kind of men that can only be found between the pages of a romance book? You've read about the mysterious, leather jacket-wearing"bad" boys who don't have a care in the world. Reality check. That man riding that crotch rocket with all the tattooes? Do you think he'll still look sexy three, four years from now when he refuses to give up his motorcycle for a minivan? What about the gazillionaire who can't find a woman who isn't after his money? Or who needs a nanny to take care of his orphaned neice or nephew? (Hey, I read series books, too!) Rich guys aren't really into nannies, unless they're Jude Law. Romance book heroes, once they realize they're in love, show a willingness to commit, know how to say sorry, and most important of all, will stop to ask for directions, if necessary. I'm not saying they don't exist in real life. Just very rare. If you've got a man like that, hold on tight and don't let go. *g* Reality is much different. Men leave socks (and clothes) on the floor, hate doing dishes, won't ask for directions and spend way too much time watching football on tv. I will never forget one of hubby's famous lines-- "I don't know what you're thinking unless you tell me. I'm not psychic. There are times when I will forget to tell you I love you and I don't always want to "communicate". I'm just a regular man!"

Aww, honey. Even if you've driven me to the brink of insanity sometimes, I wouldn't exchange you for all the romance heroes in the world. As for Julie, I told her to keep looking. She'll find her man. He may not look like Hugh Jackman. He may not have perfect abs, tight ass, and chiseled looks but the perfect man for her is out there. It's just a matter of time.

Me too! Me too!

2006-07-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

I've joined the blogging bandwagon!
I probably won't be able to post every day (not that anybody cares anyway) *g* but I'll be around. This is where I can think out loud, express my opinion and observations. I've gotta warn ya, I'm not interested in drama, snarky comments or hate mail. I've got two teenagers, so trust me, I've got enough drama in my life. Come and visit my blog. Read my posts. Leave a comment or just say hi. I appreciate it. Thanks for stopping by.