It’s February 14, Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is usually considered a day for romance, love, and relationships, and since I am a romance author, that’s usually the first thing I think of.
But it doesn’t have to be. What if you aren’t in a relationship? You could spend the day resenting all the hearts, flowers, and lace that proliferate, or you could decide to love yourself for the day. (No, not THAT way…though if that’s what you want to do, go for it.)
Treat yourself to a nice, hot bath if you’re into baths. Go out for an evening of pampering at a local spa, or at least for a mani-pedi. Take yourself out to dinner and order something you would usually pretend didn’t exist because it costs too much or has too many calories.
If you don’t have someone to share Valentine’s Day with, or if your special someone isn’t available that night for some reason, take advantage of the day to treat yourself well for once. And enjoy!
One of the things readers love the most about reading erotic romance is it’s ability to totally consume you. In just a few pages, you can go from tired and indifferent to completely awake and turned on. You can lose yourself and find yourself all at the same time. But sometimes finding ourselves takes a little effort on our own and why not get there the best way we can, right? Much like keeping a well stocked library, you should keep a well stocked sex drawer. You never know when the feeling is going to strike and you might as well make the best of it. Check out some of these go-to toys for your reading rendezvous.
A Finger Vibe:
These toys are great for getting in and getting out. This is for the girl who knows what she wants and how to get it. Don’t waste time with the toys with frills when you just need a little added vibration to get you there. Slip one on and go.
A Rabbit Vibrator:
This toy is great for the woman who needs a little more attention. Originally made famous by Sex and the City, the Rabbit continues to please women worldwide 14 years later. This toy comes with clitoral and vaginal stimulation options that can be used simultaneously or separate. Find a new way to get yourself there every time you use it.
A Discrete Toy:
Reading your books on the go? Got a feeling that you can’t shake? Ain’t no shame it, you just need a discrete toy. Discrete toys are sex toys that are designed to look like something else, like a tupe of lipstick, a compact or even a rubber duckie. Adam and Eve has a great selection of these kind of toys to choose from. Now YOU just have to be discrete.
A Glass Dildo:
These may seem a little old school, but they’ve actually been making a comeback recently because they are environmentally healthy, easy on the wallet and and even easier to clean. But let’s not forget about the perks! A glass dildo feels amazing due to its slickness, retains lube well because it’s non-porous and has the ability to be heated or frozen.
Nipple Clamps:
This may seem like a partner toy, but you can totally use it on your own. Why not distribute our love and attention equally? Don’t forget your girls when you’re getting yourself there.
Lube:
You can’t forget your sex toys’ best friend. Make your play time twice the fun by adding in a bottle of lube. To be safe, your best bet is to look for water-based lube. This kind of lube is compatible with women, condoms and sex toys.
I came here with a post already in mind… and realized I’d posted almost exactly the same thing back in November. So I guess I won’t do that again.
I’m still thinking along the lines I was then, though, about scavenging from old stories. Especially those two YA characters who could so easily be aged up to adults so they can star in an M/M novella. Or novel. Or series. Must ponder…
I’ve been doing a lot of pondering over the past month or so, which is one of the reasons I apparently missed my December posting date. Setting goals and affirmations for 2013. Doing some long-term career planning. Figuring out who I am as an author and who I want to be.
I’ve made a lot of decisions, and I’m hoping they’ll all work out. I’m pretty happy with most of them, though a couple are rather bittersweet and one outright upsets me. But sometimes you have to do things that aren’t pleasant to make way for the good things.
I hope everyone had a good holiday season and a good start to the new year. See you in February!
Lately I’ve been taking a look at some of my old stories and wondering how I could use them. For one reason or another, they can’t be published as-is, even with hefty revising. But that doesn’t have to mean none of them can be used.
For example, under another pen name (which a lot of you may already know) I write young adult fiction. There are a couple guys in one of my young adult series who, as adults, would make a really awesome couple for an M/M paranormal romance series. The rest of the YA series may never be published, but I might be able to use those two guys…
I’ve gotten rights back on the first two erotic romance stories I ever had published, and am still trying to figure out what to do with those. They can be published with some major revision, but I don’t know if I want to just revise and expand what’s already there or change things up a bit with them.
There are some secondary characters in some of my published books who really ought to have books of their own, in my opinion. For example, Julius and Marco, the couple in Nova Scotia who help out Rhys and Gwen in Eternal Love, need to have their story told. It would have to take place prior to Eternal Love, but it could still be done.
And even though I’m writing less heterosexual romance nowadays, I still think Berni, Reesa’s best friend in Their Home Port, needs her own story. She was just way too much fun to write.
Authors: Have you ever scavenged from your own stories?
And our final question for the week…
What one Pink Petal Books book is on your wish list.
Extra bonus prize: One lucky commenter will win the book.
Comment before October 21 to be entered for a chance at a paperback prize pack plus other goodies!
Today’s question is easy! Name one Pink Petal Books author whose work you’ve read in the last few months. 
Which book was it, and did you enjoy it?
Comment before October 21 to be entered for a chance at a paperback prize pack plus other goodies!
First off, congrats to JeanMP who was last week’s winner. Please contact customer service with your address.
This week we’ll be doing a lightning round. Three days. Three questions.
This question:
Name one novella in the Dangerous Men, Dangerous Places anthology.
Comment before October 21 to be entered for a chance at a paperback prize pack plus other goodies!
We’re in this author’s favorite season. She’s also been known to run around the house with joy when she gets a new book contract. With Pink Petal Books, she’s published “Reluctant Revenge”.
Name the genre of this exciting novella, and for bonus points, also name the author!
Comment by Sunday, October 14to win a prize back including a Pink Petal Books t-shirt and a gift certificate!
This author said, “my favorite part of writing for Pink Petal Books is that Pink Petal believes that love can encompass many different facets – love is just like a diamond, it takes many different facets to create a beautiful gem.”
This author writes sensual historical novellas, including “The Trinket Seller’s Daughter” and “Capturing Bliss”. Her latest release deals with a magical artifact and time travel.
Name the author, and for bonus points, name the title of her latest release.
Comment by Sunday, October 14to win a prize back including a Pink Petal Books t-shirt and a gift certificate!
That’s the tagline for Pink Petal Books, and one of the things I love about this publisher is that they really believe it. There are no difficulties about gender or number of people involved in a relationship. No “You can’t do that because it isn’t right.”
I don’t sit down and think, “Okay, I’m going to offend someone with this book I’m writing,” but people have been offended by things I’ve written. With my male/male romances. With the menage I wrote for a different publisher. With the fact that in my first Pink Petals title, Beginner’s Luck, the heroine chose to show her partner she trusted him by allowing him to have anal sex with her.
In real life, there are as many ways to love another person as there are people. And some of those ways are met with anger and opposition from people who just don’t understand, or don’t think it’s right, or believe that everyone in the world should share their values.
Love is a beautiful thing. So why can’t people just allow others to love the way they want, and not try to make them feel bad or wrong or dirty for it?
