Fantasy Pages: Perceptions and Responsibilities - a personal view...

Fantasy Pages: Perceptions and Responsibilities - a personal view...: Today, I came across something that reminded me of an old friend, an author I haven’t noticed publishing lately. Curious, I did a searc...

Fifty Reasons To Be Your Own Creative Engine

Since the dawn of a certain book series that has had housewives frequenting the "fetish" section of their local adult stores, Adam & Eve, and hardware stores across the nation, it seems that the sensation has caught on. We're seeing book after book with the same template as that infamous book series written by a certain Englishwoman. No harm no foul folks, I have nothing against the whole BDSM book genre or even rough sex in a book, but folks....let's not get caught in the rut! Just what am I talking about? Well it's simple.

First you have the dashing, sophisticated, and drop dead sexy mid 20s to early 30s mogul that has a penchant for being a Dom always in search of his next submissive and in walks the young, curious, smart, and natural beauty with a shy smile. Our mogul has a penchant for control while our seemingly shy wallflower is willing to do anything to get to the "heart" of  his soul of endless torments that have stemmed from some childhood trauma. 

While there is nothing wrong with that template, it gets old after awhile. I don't mind reading about a tortured soul but it gets a little boring as a reader to keep reading the same thing right over and over. So far Sylvia Day's Crossfire Series, Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty books, and a few others have managed to make this genre work; instead of a template mind you that in my opinion was morphed from a young adult book series that have become icons in the line of YA vampire romances. I'm really not trying to bash a certain book series (which I'm not naming but I'm sure you all know which one I'm talking about) but I'm just pointing out that the market is being flooded with really bad knock offs from potentially talented authors who are hitching on the bandwagon of this trend because that's what's hot. What I want my fellow Indie and self published authors to take from this is to be your own creative engine. Don't follow a template in your writing when it comes to wanting to write an erotic romance that entails BDSM and fetishism as the backbone of the story. Not all characters need to have been abused as children. Those who practice BDSM and other fetishes are not all from messed up childhoods. They haven't been abused and there's a stereotype developing that if one engages in such that they must have been beaten, molested, raped, or some other sort of tragic event in their lives. If one would do some research, one would find that most BDSM couples come from normal and everyday lives that most of us come from. They don't have horrific tragedies that have led them to BDSM or other fetishes. It's simply their choice of lifestyle when it comes to coitus. (I sound so Sheldon Cooper don't I?)

Fifty reasons to be your own creative engine all begin with being your own creative genius. There are plenty of ways to make a story take off, hit the climax, and have a great finisher or cliff hanger without following the above mentioned template. By following a fad or trend, you're not expressing your own creativity-you're going to end up type cast. Some authors who have done this will probably never write another book because they are going to be forever type cast as a "trend" author. What is a trend author? Someone who follows the template and adds a few quirks here and there but basically copies the same story right over and over. When Anne Rice wrote her Beauty series she wrote something seductive, erotic, and stimulating. Sylvia Day's Crossfire series has similar traits as to the template novels but she put enough of her own ideas and creativity for her series to stand on its own and hers wasn't written based on a certain YA series.

A great Erotic novel, in my opinion, isn't just about rough sex or even kinky sex-it's about seducing the reader. Any romance novel whether it be erotica, historical, contemporary, or even paranormal is based on a great story and character chemistry, along with some really steamy love scenes. There are literally thousands of porn titles that all have some cheesy lines and then just sex acts. They're not meant to have great story lines and many books are following suite. They appear to be one thing but end up being a cheesy porn movie without the cheesy music but all just fail in the lines of story, strong characters with chemistry, and bad sex scenes. Remember: Sex sells but bad sex doesn't. No one who spends their money and time on a book wants to read endless pages of bad dialogue and bad sex. Readers want to be seduced into a story and possessed by the book. You, as a writer, wants to have your readers remember your story so much that they're re-reading your book until they can get their hands on your next one. That is my goal anyhow, and it should be yours as well.

The last thing you want is to bore  your reader and just like Sex In The City, people are going to get eventually tired and bored with Carrie always getting involved with a Mr. Big that has money and likes hard sex and vice versa. People who are truly book readers and not just those who pick up something because it's the latest fad, are not going to be repeat customers if that is all you're writing and publishing. People want to pick up a book and be right there in the moment in the story. They want to be able to feel the characters and want a memorable experience from reading. It's what drives them to go back to the book stores and online to purchase books and will make them want to crave your books. Award winning Canadian author, Denyse Bridger, said it best, "Publishing and the market has changed drastically in the past 10 years", and it has. It's easy to jump on the fad band wagon, and publishers who aren't worth their salt are putting out these fad books because people are buying them up but are any of these going to be memorable? Years from now will anyone look back a really remember these books other than, "Oh yeah, there was something about those, but I can't really say what was so big about them." Authors like Rice, Kenyon, Lara Adrian, and the other big names in romance fiction have proven that their books stand alone and will stand the test of time. Isn't that what we as writers want for ourselves? It's what I want. I want people to remember my name and my books as being something they really enjoyed reading and were captivated at my story lines.

Again, I'm not bashing but we've got to take the market by the horns and steer it back on track. It all starts with you dear writer. Be your own creative engine and don't fall into the rut of following a fad. Don't get stuck with shoulder pads and side shaved heads just because it's what was cool, easy, and sent a few bucks your way. Sure, one author wrote a book series using a template and now has a movie deal but will that person have any staying power or lasting success? Be your own creative engine and drive your stories down a different track!

Fantasy Pages: 10 Years and Counting @DenyseBridger #RomFantasy

Fantasy Pages: 10 Years and Counting @DenyseBridger #RomFantasy: In May of this year, I will be celebrating ten years as a professionally published author. Back in March of 2004, I entered a contest a...

L'Amour, Adventure, Seduction, and SIZZLE! Valentine Must Reads From Evolutionary Publishing

               

St. Valentine's Day is upon us once again and we'll all be out getting our sweetheart's boxes of chocolates, planning romantic dinners, flowers, and even some naughty lingerie. If you're like me, all those are great but as a book lover, a great romance novel is better than a box of chocolates!

So in the spirit of L'Amour and the celebration of romance, I give you the 2014 Valentine Book selections that are a must have for yourself or the bookworm in your life.

Two very different stories of love and passion. In Brigit Aine’s enchanting tale, Her Secret Admirer, love is being discovered, with all its magic and mystery and hope… and in the second movement of the Duet, The Conversation Cards, two people already involved in their passionate love affair learn new things about each other, and reaffirm their bond.

Brigit Aine and Denyse Bridger have delivered on romance, sensuality, and heartwarming sentiments with Pas De Deux. Right now if you visit: http://trsparties.com/2014/02/10/valentine-special-and-a-contest/

You not only get a taste of this brilliant romance novel duet but you can enter to win a special Valentine treat.

A Whisper of Humanity takes you on a paranormal ride that will leave you wanting more.

Blurb:

Devon Cartier has seen many centuries and has turned many children, but his control has always been firmly in hand. From the moment he meets Faith Prentice, something begins to wrest his control from his grasp. He is frightened and drawn to explore this phenomena. His child, Adrian Blackthorne, feels compelled to keep his master from Faith. Adrian must use his police skills as well as his vampire abilities when Faith is almost killed in a street attack.

http://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Of-Humanity-Denyse-Bridger-ebook/dp/B00HXGWK48?SubscriptionId=AKIAJHW3OEMAAIX6JUDA&tag=bittenbybooks-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00HXGWK48

 

Seduction, Desire, Hunger, and Four hundred year old Vampire that puts any Christian Grey to shame is what you will find in Kayden McLeod's sultry erotica novel LOST.

Blurb:

 Have you ever been curious about the Fetish scene? About having the attention of the hottest, deadliest vampires out there, all out for your pleasure? Well, Sara lives that life daily. Normally, it’s good to her, but one night the delicate stability in which the entire scene balances blows up in her face, and turns her world upside down, until she doesn't know which way is up. Her boyfriend Gene senses her disquiet, and turns his attention to where her veiled interests now lay. Loren is a rich cultured four-century-old vampire, who has his sights set on Sara, and has made it his prerogative have her at any cost.

http://www.kaydenmcleod.com/home.php

 What woman doesn't want a place where she can have her hair and nails done, spa treatments, a few drinks, and sexual encounters with only the most sinfully delectable studs? Mia Cornish has opened the Palace of All Pleasures and has her eyes set on only one man, her manager, Emil and he's not about to make it easy for Mia but she's not giving up that easy. Mia is going to have to go the distance with getting through Emil's massive wall.

Palace of All Pleasures  delivers on being an erotic novel and is sure to make Valentine's sizzle!

https://www.smashwords.com/extreader/read/405963/1/palace-of-all-pleasures

An ancient evil has returned and betrayal is everywhere. In the midst of all hell breaking loose, two hearts-one wild and the other one still wounded will stand before hell itself to fight for what's right and for a love forged from a Cursed Awakening.

Ivy Morgan has re-invented herself and is looking forward to the future for the first time, in a very long time. Since fleeing for her life from an overzealous religious cult, she is able to be a modern woman that is gaining her independence; so taking up with a sexy stranger named Nyx is the last thing she needs. Or, is it?

Nyx Wahpeton can’t stop thinking about the young woman he’s met. It couldn’t have come at the worse possible time with the clans meeting and his family wrapped up in a centuries old war that’s nothing short of what horror movies are made from. He’s been a protector of his people and those that reside at the Reservation. There’s betrayal and evil at his front door; but, in his heart he knows Ivy is the one for him. She’s surrounded by secrets that he’s vowed to unlock, as well as her heart. However, can he keep her safe from his own secrets?

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cursedawakening-1405474-142.html

http://www.amazon.com/Cursed-Awakening-Nikki-Noffsinger-ebook/dp/B00HXGWNV8/

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/398097

Stealing Cupid's Bow
Jewel Quinlan

Nothing says "Valentine's Day" like a romance novel with the infamous Cupid/Eros in the starring role.

Blurb:

Raine Daniel’s world is falling apart. When she discovers Cupid is real, divorced, and living in Las Vegas, she asks for his help. He refuses, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. But she quickly finds out that stealing Cupid’s bow creates more problems than it solves.

Fantasy/Paranormal Romance, Erotica, or Contemporary romance not your thing? Perhaps your tastes are more towards the historical side of romance. Here are some of my favorite historical romance authors.

Lynsay Sands, who is well known for her Argeneau series also is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her many historical romance titles. An English Bride in Scotland will conjure images of when men were rugged and the fierce hot love they had for their women. 

Blurb: 

She never expected to marry

Annabel was about to take the veil to become a nun when her mother suddenly arrives at the Abbey to take her home…so that she can marry the Scottish laird who is betrothed to her runaway sister! She knows nothing about being a wife, nothing about how to run a household, and definitely nothing about the marriage bed.

He never expected to fall in love . . .

From the moment Ross MacKay sets eyes on Annabel, he is taken with his shy sweet bride…and the fact that she's blessed with lush curves only makes him utter his own prayers of thanks. But when an enemy endangers her life, he'll move the Highlands themselves to save her. For though Annabel's not the bride he planned for, she's the only woman he desires.
http://www.amazon.com/English-Bride-Scotland-Lynsay-Sands/dp/0061963119/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361974962&sr=8-1&keywords=en+english+bride+in+english

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-english-bride-in-scotland-lynsay-sands/1113200717?ean=9780061963117

http://www.lynsaysands.net

Nothing speaks to the heart more than a lost love and the heart that gets a second chance. Denyse Bridger's Return to Love is a beautifully and sensuous tale of a heart that gets a second chance in this historical western novel that is also available in Audio from Amazon.

Blurb:

Clay Butler is a man who rules the quiet town of Cedar Springs with an iron will, and a code of honor that defines all he is. But the past haunts him, and the loss of a woman who was his second chance at happiness weighs heavily on his over-burdened mind. 

http://www.amazon.com/Return-to-Love/dp/B00BJP4SQW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392159974&sr=8-1&keywords=Return+to+Love+by+Denyse+Bridger

http://www.denysebridger.com/home.php

The Pirate Prince 

by Connie Mason 

Blurb:

Virgin Treasure
She was a jewel among women, brighter than the moon and starts. Her hair shone like newly minted gold, and her skin was as smooth and iridescent as an exquisite pearl. Her lips were lush and pink, made for kissing. She was a pirate’s prize, yet he could not so much as touch her.

Virgin Trouble
Destined for the harem of a Turkish potentate, Willow wondered whether she should rejoice or despair when her ship was beset by a sinfully handsome pirate. Now is seemed she was a helpless pawn in a power play between two brothers. Fortunately for Willow, neither Ibrahim nor Dariq realized that a clever woman is never without resources. No matter how much he tempted her, she would teach her captor a thing or two before she gave her heart to … The Pirate Prince.

http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Prince-Connie-Mason-ebook/dp/B00CEHGWYA/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1392160135&sr=1-11&keywords=historical+romance

Let me know what your favorite Valentine's Day reads are below in my comments and tell me what your tastes are; do you go for the fantasy/paranormal, Erotica, Contemporary, or are you more along the lines of the historical when it comes to one of the most romantic holidays on the calendar.